*' ~ *'~ k*~.'+i9 99 9 ~rrr'.99 —,,. ~.9999 ~ ~ ~ 99 99."9.~'9 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ it~~;~~.t:~~ ~~~~~:~: 9'9....~.99'99~9999999 ~: r.;9*:9**9,'.,, I: ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 9~9 9.. 9. 9.***9999' 9'999'..99999 999.'99'9999~99~99 999 9. 9 ~ 9.9.999.'. 9.99'9999.~'."9:9 99999:,** 99...~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 99.99.'9'9'9~'99999l999999999999999 999 999999999.9999.99'99...9999......9.999.99..'999.99~99999999~999999 ~9:::.99.9999.9'9.9999.~~~~~99~'9...999999.9999.~~~~...9999.~~~.9.'V"9'"' 999999999..99999999.~~~~~~ ~-. 9.9.9;~.9. 994'.9.i 9 9' $: ~~~;~~..9..~9939'99.9'9"9'99'9'9'9'9"9"Z9'9 _I~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~99999999 999999 9'9)99 999. ~999.9~9'999'.' 999***.99..9.9~~~~~~~~~~9~~999 9. 9~~~~~~~~~~~' ~~~~*99~~~~~ 9~~~. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~'.'9. 9'9.~~ii~i:::::...9.9......9999999...9999..9.99'999.9..'99'9'9"9~~~~~"9~<"9;' ~~~. 9.9. ~ ~...9999999999999.99.99.99999999.9999...~~~~~~~~~~ 9l'999~~~~~'9'9i~~~~~~99""9' 99'999Z~~~~~~~~~~~~44~~~~'..'9A~~~~~~ 99 9999999.99999.999999.9999.9999999999.999999....999)'9~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~j:::::'9. 99994~99~..999'9~.9.9999999999999~99999~ 9'9999999999'9 999999999999999999 9999999.949.999'9'9~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~999999'999ii~ii~'9 9 4 99~':~,.9i;.99 9.999+9999 9999999...9.~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ji:~:~~~:~~~::~:B: THE LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, fmvgror of tet tilent BY SIR WALTER SCOTT, COX'PETE I2 O.NE VOLUM.. NEW YORK: P. UBLISHED BY LEA VITT & ALLEN 1858. ADERITISEMENT. Pag. I _-Murder the Body Guards-The queen's safety endangered-La Fayette's arrival with his force restores orCHAPTER 1. der.-King and royal family obliged to go to reside at Review of the state of Europe after the peace of Ver- Paris-Description of the procession-This step agreesaiiles. —England —France-Spain —Prussita. - Iprt- able to the views of the constitutionalists, and of the dent innovations of the Emnperor Joseph-Disturbances republicans, and of the anarchists.-Duke of Orleans in his donainions. -Riussia.-Franlce-Her ancient sys- sent to England. Png. 40 tern of monarchy-how organized-Causes of its decay. -Decay of the nobility as a body-The new nobles -The country nobles —The nobles of the highest order.- La Fayette resolves to enforce order.-A baker is nturThe church —The higher orders qt the clergy-The lower dered by the rabble-One of his murderers executed.orders.-'The commtlons-Their increase in v(~.Jer and Decree imposing martial law in. case of insurrection.importance- Their claisns opposed to thos. vfJ the privi- Democrats supported by the audience in the gallery of leged classes. 2 the assemnbly.-Introduction of the doctrines of equality A-They are is their exaggerated senlse inconsistent with CHAPTER II. human nature and the progress of society. — The assembly,State of Franece continued.-State of public opinion.-Men abolish titles of nobility, armorial bearings, andphrases of letters encouraged by the great-Disadvantages of courtesy.-Reasoning on these innovations.-Disordler attending this patronage.-Licentious tendency of the of finance.- Necker becomes unepopular.-Seizure of French literature-Their irreligious and infidel opi- church-lands.-Issue of assignats.-Necker leaves France nions.-Free opinions on politics permitted to be ex- in unlpopularity.- -New religious institutiont.-Oath impressed in an abstract and speculative, but not in a posed on the clergy-Resisted by the greater part of the practical form.-Disadvantages arising from the sutp- order-Bad effects of the innovation. —General view of pression of free discussion.-Anglomnania.-Share of the operations of the Constituent Assembly.-Enthusiastn France in the Amnerican woar.-Disposition of the troops of the peoplefor their new privileges.-Lizited privileges who returioed jrom America. 11 of the crown. —King is obliged to dissemble-His negotiations with Mirabeanu —With Bouill. —Attack on the C HAPTER III. palace of the king-Prevented by La Fayette.-Royalists Proximate cauese of the Revolution. —Deranged state of expelled from the palace of the Tuileries.-Escape of the finances.-Reforsms i7n the royal household.-Systent Louis.-He is captured at Varennes-Brought back to of Turgot an7d Necker-Necker's exposition of the state Paris-Riot in the Champ de Mars-Put down by niof the pzublic revenue. —The Red-book. —Necker dis- litaryforce.-Lolis accepts the constitution. 46 placed-Succeeded by Calonne.-General state of the revenue.-Assembly, of the Notables.-Calonne dismissed. CHAPTER VII. -Archbishop of Sens administrator of the finances.-The Legislative Assem bly-Its composition.-Coenstituttioealiste kinsg's contest with the parliament.-Bed of Justice.-Re- -Girondists or brissotins —Jacobins.- Views and sentisistance of the parliament, eand general disorder in the ments offoreignl nations-England- Views of the tories kingdom. —Vacillating policy of the miniister-Royal and whigs-Anacharsis Klootz-Austria-P'russiaSitting-Scheme of forming a Cour Pleniere-It proves Russia-Sweden. —Emigration of the French princes ineffectual.-Archbishop of Sens retires, and is succeed- and clergy-Increasing tunpopularity of Louis from this ed by Necker-He resolves to convoke the States-general. cause.-Death of the Emperor Leopold, and its effects. -Second Assembly of Notables previous to convocation -France declares war.- Views and interests of the difof the States.-Questions as to the seucmlbers of which the ferent parties in France at this period.-Decree against tiers itat should conssist, and the mode in which the Es- Monsieur.-Louis ieterposes his ueto.-Decree agaicst tates shoul deliberate. s'the priests who should refeuse the constitutional oathLolis again interposes his veto-Conasequen2ces of these CHAPTE1R IV. refeusals.-Fall of De Lessart. —Ministers now chosen.M eeting of the States-general.-Predocminant Influence of fromn the brissoticns.-Allpartiesfavoerrable to war. 58 the tiers etatt-Property not represented sufficiently in that body-General character of the meembers.-.'Dispo- CHAPTER VIII. sitiont of the estate of the nobles-and of the clergy.- Defeats of the French on the frontier.-Decay of the party Plan oJ fiforming the three estates into two hoeses-Its of coenstitutionalists-They form the club of feucillans, advantages-It Jfils. —The clergy scunite with the tiers and are dispersed by thejacobinesforcibly.-The ni2iistry &tat, which assezmes the title of the National Assem- -Dutecourier — Versatility of his character.-Breach of bly. —They asseume the task of legislation, and' declare confidence betwixt the king anud his ministers. —Dissoluallformer fiscal regulations illegal.-They assert their tion of the kisg's conlstitutional guard. —Extravagant determisnation to continsue their sessions.-Royal Sitting measures of the jacobins-Alarmcs of the girocldists.-Termisnates in the trilumph of the Assembly.-Parties Departmental army proposed.-King psuts his veto on ina that body —M'otseier-Cocnstituttionalists-Repueblicans the decree, agaicnst Dumouerier's representationls.-De-Jacobins —Duke of Orleans. 27 cree against the recuesant priests-King refuses it.-Letter of the ministers to the king-He dismisses Roland, CH1APTER V. Claviere, and Servan —Dttmo2urier, Duranton, and LaPlan of the democrats to bring the king and assembly to coste, appoinsted icn their stead.-King ratifies the decree Paris. —Banquet of the Gardes du Corps.-Riot at Paris concerning the departmental army —Duemourier retorts -A formidable mob of women assemble to msarch to Ver- against the late ministers ine the assembly-Resigns, and sailles-The National Guzard refuese to act against the departsfor thefrontiers-New ministers namelfrom the {esurgents, and denmand also to be led to Versailles- constitutionalists.-Insurrection of the 20th of JunceThefemale mob arrive —Their behaviour to the assembly Armed mob intrucde into the assembly-Thence into the -to the king-Alarmingy disorders at night-La Fayette Tuileries-Assemil'y send a deputationt to the palaceitrrives with the National Guard-Mob force the palace And the mob disperse.-La Fayette repairs tb Paris__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _ Ga. V1 - CONTENTS. Remonstrates infayour of the king-But is compelled to plary patience-The king deprived of his son's society. return to thefrontiers, and leave him to his fate.-Mar- — uzot's admission of the general dislike of France to seillais appear in Paris.-Duke of Brunswick's mani- a republican form of government.-The king brought to festo-Its operation against the king. Pag. 68 trial before the Convention-His first examinationCarried back to prison amidst insult and abuse.-TuCHAPTER IX. nmut in the assembly.-lThe king deprived of' intercourse The day of the 10th of August-Tocsin sounded early in with his facmily.-Maesherbes appointed as counsel to the morning. —Swiss Guards, and relics of the royal defenld the king-and Deseze.-Lonis again brotught beparty, repair to the Tuileries.-M-andat assassinated.- Jfore the Convention-Openting speech of Deseze-King Dejection of Louis, and energy of the queen. —King's remaded to the Temple.-Storny debate in the Convenministers appear at the bar of the assembly, stating the tion.-Eloquent attack of Vergniaitd on the jacobins.peril of the royal family, and requesting a deputation Sentence of death pronounced against the kilg-General might be sent to the palace-Assembly pass to the order sympathy for his fate.-Dinmourier arrives in Parisof the day-Louis and his family repair to the assembly Vainly tries to avert the king's fate.-Lotis XVI. be-Conflict at the Tuileries.-Swiss ordered to repair to headed on 21st January, 1793-Marie Antoinette on the lfth the king's person-and are many of them shot and dis- October thereafter-The Princess E]isabeth in May, 1794 persed on their way to the assembly-At the close of the -The dauphin perishes, by cruelty, June 8th, 1795.-The day almost all of them are massacred.-Royal family princess royal exchanged for Beurnonville and others, spend the night in the neighbouring Convent of the 19th December, 1795. Pag. 104 Feuillans. 76 CHAPTER XIV. CHAPTER X. Dumourier-His displeasure at the treatment of the FleLa Fayette compelled to escape from France-Is made mish provinces by the Convention-His projects in conprisoner by the Prussians, with three comnpanions.-Re- sequence-Gains the ill-will of his army-and is forced flections.-The triumvirate, Danton, Robespierre, and tofty to the Austrian camp-Lives many years in retreat, Mlarat.-Revolutionary tribunal appointed.-Stupor of and finally dies in England. —Struggles betwixt the githe Legislative Assembly.-Longwy, Stenay, and Verdun, rondists and jacobins in the Conventiosn.-Robespierre taken by the Prussians.-Mfob of Paris enraged.-Great impeaches the leaders of the girondists-and is denoulzcmassacre of prisoners in Paris, commencing on the 2d, ed by thez. —Decree of accusation passed against Mfarat, and ending 6th September.-Apathy of the assembly who conceals himself.-Commission of Twelve appoinlted. lltrin-g and after these events-Review of its causes. 80 -Marat acquitted, and sent back to the Convention with a civic crown.-Terror and indecision of the girondists. — Jacobins prepare to attack the Paleis Royal, but are Election of representatives for the National Conventio;n. repulsed-Repair to the Convention, who recal the Co.m-Jacobins are very active.-Right hand party-Left mission of Twelve.-Louvet and other girondist leaders hand side-Neutral members.-The girondists are in fly from Paris.-Convention go forth in. procession to possession of the ostensible power-They denounce the expostulate with the people-Forced back to their hall, jacobin chiefs, but in an irregular andfeeble manner.- and compelled to decree the accusation of thirty of their lMarat, Robespierre, and Danton, supported by the body.-Girondists finally ruined-antd their principal Community and populace of Paris.-France declared a leaders perish in prison, by the guillotine, and by faRepublic.-Duke of Brunswick's campaign-Neglects mine-Close of their history. 112 the French emigrants-Is tardy in his operations-Occupies the poorest part of Champagne-His army becomes CHAPTER XV. sickly-Prospects of a battle.-Dumourier's army re- Views of parties in Britain relative to the Revolutioncrtcited with Carmagnoles.-The duke resolves to retreat Affiliated Societies-Counterpoised by Aristocratic Asso-Thoughts on the consequences of that measure-The ciations-Aristocratic party eagerfor war with France. retreat disastrous.-The emigrants disbanded in a great -The French proclaim the navigation of the Scheldt.measure-Reflections 05o their fate.- The Prince of Con- British ambassador recalled from7 Paris, and French de's army. 87 envoy no longer accredited in Londo. —France declares war against England.-British army sent to Holland, under the Duke of York-State of the army.Jacobins determine utpon the execution of Louis.-Progress View of the military positions of France-in Flandersand reasons of the king's unpopularity.-Girondists on the Rhine-in Piedmont-Savoy —on the Pyrenees.taken by surprise, by a proposal for the abolition of State of the war in La Vendee-Description of the counroyalty made by the jacobils —Proposal carried.- try-Le Bocage —Le Louroux-Ctose union betwixt the Thocyghts on the new system of government-Compared nobles and peasantry-Both strolngly attached to royalwith that of Rome, Greece, America, and other repub- ty, and abhorrent of the Revolution.- The priests.-The lican states.-Enthusiasm throughout France at the religion of the Vendeans outraged by the Convention.change-Follies it gave birth to-And crimes.-Monu- -A general insurrection takes places in 1793. — ilitary menots of art destroyed.-Madame Roland interposes organization and habits of the Vendeans.-Division in to save the life of the king.-Barrere.-Girondists move the British Cabinet on the mode of condueting the warfor a departmental legion-Carried-Revoked-And gi- Pitt-Windhlam-Reasoning upon the subject-Capite-. rondists defeated.-The authority of the Community of lation of Mentz enables 15,000 veterans to act in La VenParisparamount even over the Convention.-Doctuments die-Vendeans defeated, and pass the Loire-They deof the Iron-Chest.-Parallel betwixt Charles I. and feat, in their turn, the French troops atLaval-But are Louis X VI —Motion by Petion, that the king should be ultimately destroyed and dispersed.- Unfortunate expe. tried before the Convention. 92 dition to Quiberon.-Charette defeated aid executed, and the war of La Vende.efinally terminated.-Return to the state of France in spring 1793.- Unsuccessful resistance Indec n of the girondists and its eff'ects.-The royal of Bordeaux, Marseilles, and Lyons, to the Ctonvention. #family in the Temple-Insulted by the agents of the com- -Siege of Lyons-Its surrender anld dreadfull punishmunity, both within and without the prison-Their exem- ment.-Siege of Toulon. 12 I_ CONTENTS. Adopted.-Anecdotes during the siege.-Allied Troop. CHAPTER XVI. resolve to evacuate Toulon-Dreadful particularos qo Views of the British cabinet regarding the French Revolu- the evacuation-England censured on this occasion, — tion.-Extraordinary situation of France.-Explana- Lord Lynedoch.-Foame of Bonaparte increases, and heis tion of the anomaly which it exhibited.-System of terror. appointed Chief of Batf alion in the Army of Its ty-Joins -Comnmittee of Public Safety-Of Public Security.-Da- head-quarters at Nice.-On the fall of Robespie.rre, Bocid the painter.-Law against suspectedpersons.-Revo- naparte superseded in command-Arrives in Paris in lutionary Tribunal. —Effects of the emigration of the SIay, 1795, to solicit enmployment —He is unsuccessful. — princes and nobles.-Causes of the passiveness of the Talma.-Retrospect of the Proceedings of the National French people under the tyranny of the jacobins.-Sin- Assembly.-Difficulties informing a new Constitution.gular address of the Committee of Public Safety.-Gene- Appointment of the Directory-of the Two Councils of ral reflections. Fag. 134 Elders and of Five Hundred.-Nation, at large, and Paris in particular, disgusted with their pretensions.Paris assentbles in sections.-General Danican appointSiarat, Danton, Robespierre. —farat poniarded-Danton ed their Commander-in-chief. —Menou appointed by the and Robespierre become rivals.-Commune of Paris- Directory to disarm the National Guards-but suspendTheir gross irreligion.- Gobet.-Goddess of Reason.- ed for incapacity-Bonaparte appointed in his room. Marridge reduced to a civil contract.- Views of Danton -The Day of the Sections.-Conflict betwixt the Troops -and of Robespierre.-Principal leaders of the com- of the Convention under Bonaparte, and those of the mune arrested-and nineteen of them executed.-Danton Sections of Paris under Danican. —The latter defeated arrested by the influence of Robespierre-and, along with with much slaughter.-Bonaparte appointed second in Camille Desmnoulins, Westermann, and Lacroix, taken command of the Army of the Interior-then Ge neral-inbefore the Revolutionary Tribunal, condemned, and chief-Marries.Madame Beauharnais-Her character. executed.-Decree issued, on the motion of Robespierre, -Bonaparte immediately afterwards joins the Army acknowledging a Supreme Being.-Cdcile Regnaud.- of Italy. Pag. 107 Gradual treotge in the public mind.-Robespierre be- CHAPTER XX. comes unpp)juidar-Makes every effort to retrieve his power.-Stormydebate in the Convention.-Collotd'Her- The Alps.-Feelings and views of Bonaparte on being bois, Tallien, etc., expelledfrom the Jacobin Club at the appointed to the command of the Army of Italy-General instigation of Robespierre.-Robespierre denounced in account of his new principles of warfare-Mountainous the Convention on the 9th Thermidor (27th July), and countries peculiarly favourable to them -Retrospect of afterfurious struggles, arrested, along with his brother, military proceedings since October, 1705.-Hostility of Couthon, and St-Just.-Henriot, Commandant of the the French governtment to the pope.-Massacre of the National Guard, arrested.-Terrorists take refuge in French envoy Basseville, at Rome.-Ausrian army unthe Hotel de Ville-Attempt their own lives.-Robespierre der Beaulieu-Napoleon's plan for entering IalywounlCds himself-but lives, along with nost of the others, Battle of Monte Notte, and Bonaparte's first victorylong enough to be carried to the guillotine, and executed. Again defeats the Anstrians at Millesimo-and again -His character-Struggles that followed his fate.-Fi- under Colli-Takes possession of Cherasco-Kig of nal destruction o the jacobinical system-and return Of Sardinia requests an armistice, which leads to a peace, a~tul~ ty.-Is lccololr givel tolsociety in destruiaroos.f concluded ont very severe terms.-Close of the Piedtranquillity.-Singular colour given to society in Paris. LBazl of the r~ctints. 40 montese camtpaing7.-Napoleon's character at this pe-Ball of the Victims. 40 rind. 180 riod. 180 CHAPTER XVIII. CHAPTER XXII. Retrospective viewt of the external relations of France.Her great military successes-Whence they arose.- Furtherprogress of the French ar-oy under BonaparteEffect of the computlsory levies.-Military gelniuzs and He crosses the Pot at Placenza, on 7th May.-Battle of character of the French generals.-New mode of training Lodi takes place on the lOth, in which the French are the troo2ps.-Light troops.-Successive attacks iou colunnut. victorious.-Remnarks on Napoleon's tactics in this cele-Attachinent of the soldiers to the Revolution.-Also of brated action.-Frenlch take possession of Cremona and the geuuerals.-Carutot.-Efect of the French principles Pizzighittone.-Milaun deserted by the Archduke Ferdipreached to the coulcntries inuvaded by their arns.-Close nantd and his duchess.-Bonaparte enters Milan on the of the Revolution with the fall of Robespierre.-Reflec- 14th M'ay.-General situation of the Italian States at tiosns uTpoon what wvas to succeed. 157 this period.-Napoleont itflicts fines upon the neutral and unoffiending States of Parma and Modena, and extorts CHAPTER XIX. the surrender of some of their finest pictures.-Remarks Corsica. —.amily of Bonuaparte.-Napoleon born 15th tupon this novel procedure. 186 AuZCust, 1769-His early habits-Sent to the Royal Mili- CHAPTER XXIII. tary School at Brienne-His great progress in matheunaticalscience-Deficiency in classicalliterature-Anec- Directory propose to divide the Army of Italy betwixt dotes of' him while at school-Rentoved to the general Bonaparte andKellermann-Bonaparte resigns, andthe school of Paris-W-hen seventeen years old, appointed Directory give up the point.-Insurrection against the 2d lientenant of artillery-His early politics-Promoted French at Pavia-crushed-and the leaders shot-Also to a captainlcy.-Pascal Paoli.-Napoleon sides with at the Imperial Fiefs and Lugo, quelled and punished the French government against Paoli-Along with his in the same way.-Rejtections.-Austrians defeated at brother Lucien, he is banished from Corsica-Never Borghetto, aund retreat behind the Adige.-Bonaparte risapits it-Always unpopular there. 162 narrowly escapes being made prisoner at Valleggio.Mantua blockaded —Verona occupied by the French.-. CHAPTER XX. King of Naples secedes from Austria.-Armistice pur. Siege of Toulon.-Recapitulation.-Bonaparte appoint- chased by the pope.-'The neutrality qf Tuscany vioed brigadier-general of artillery, wcith the command of lated, and Leghorn occupied by the French troops.Mte artillery at Toulon —Finds everything in disorder- Views of Bonaparte respecting the revolutionizing of His plan for obtaining the surrender of the place- Italy-He temporises.-Conduct of the Austrian govern rvu CONTENTS. ment at tAis crisis.-Beaulieu displaced, and succeeded the most humiliating sibmissions.-.Napoleon's speech to by Wurmlser. —Bonaparte sitsdown before Mantua. P.195 the Venetian envoys-He declares war against Venice, CHAPTER XXIV. and evades obeying the orders of' the Directory to spare it.-The Great Council, on 31st May, concede everything Campaign on the Rhine-General plan.-WYartensleben to Bonaparte, and disperse in terror.-'Terms granted and the Archduke Charles retire before Jourdan and by the French general. Pag. 224 MSoreau.- The Archdlckeforms a junction with Wartensleben, and defeats Jourdan, wcho retires-A-oreau, also, CHAPTER XXVIII. makes his celebrated retreat through the Black Forest.- Napoleon's amatory correspondence with Joslphine.Bonaparte raises the siege of Mantua, and defeats the His court at Montebello-Negotiationls and pleasure Austrians at Salo and Lonato.-Misbehaviour of the mingled there.-Genoa-Revolhtionary spirit cf the French General, Valette, at Castzglione.-Lonato taken, Genoese —They rise in insurrection, but are qucelled by with the French artillery, on 3d August-Retaken by the government, and the French pluundered and impriAIassina and Augyereau.-Singular escape of Bonaparte soned-Bonaparte interferes, and appoin ts the outlines from being captured at Lonato. —Turmser defeated be- of a new government.-Sardinia.-aples.- Jl Cistween Lonato and Castiglione, and retreats on Trent padale, Transpadale, and Emilianc Repu2blics, uCited and Roveredo.-Bonaparte resumes his position before under the name of the Cisaline Republic-'he lteMlantua.-Effects of the French victories on the different nder the risof the Vaieline united ts Lomba ry Italian States.-Inflexibility of Austria.- Wurmser re— Great improvement of Italy, and the Italian chacrutited.-Battle of Roveredo.-French victorious, and AMasselca occ~upies Trent.-Bou na parte dejfeats Wurmnser racter, front these changes.-Di ictulties in the way of at Primnolano-and at Bassaznlo, 8th Septenber.-Weurm- pacification betwixt France and Austria.-The Directory serfliesto Vicenza.-Battle of Arcola. —Wurmserfially and Napoleon take different views-Treaty of Campo shut uzp within the walls of Manltua. 201 Formio.-Bonaparte takes leave of the arimy of Italy, to act as French plenipotentiary at Rasladt. 232 CHAPTER XXV. Corsica re-united with France.-Critical situation of Bo- CHAPTER XXIX. naparte in Italy at this period.-The Austrian general Retrospect.-The Directory-they become unpopnlarr.Alvinzi placed at the head of a new army.-Various Causes of their unpopularity-Also at enmzity among contests, attended with no decisive result. —Yant of thentselves.-State of publiefeeling in France-I- L point concert among the Austrian generals. —French army of numbers, favourable to the Bourbons; but the artmy begin to murmuzr.-First battle of Arcola-Napoleon in and monied interest against thent.-Picheyru, head of personal danger-No decisive result.-Second battle of the royalists, appointed President of the Council of Arcola —Te French victorious.-Fresh want of concert Five Hundred.-Barbh Marbois, another royalist, Preamong the Austrians generals. —General views of mili- sident of the Council of Ancients.-Directory throo tary and political affairs, after the conclusion of the themselves upon the succour of Hoche and Bonaparte. fourth Italian campaign. —Austria commences a ffth -Bonaparte's personal politics discussed.-Pichegru's campaign —but has not profited by experience.-Battte corresponldence with the Bourbons —known to Boonaof Rivoli, and victory of the French-Further success- parte-He dispatches Augereau to Paris.-Directory ful at La Favorita.-French regais their lost ground arrest their principal opponenlts ins the councils on the in Italy.-Sterrender of Manltual-Insataznces of Napo- 18th Fructidor, and banish them to Guiana. —Narrow leon's generosity. 208 and impolitic conduct of the Directory to Bonaparte. CHAPTER XXVI. -Projected invasion of England. 237 CHAPTER XXX. Situation and views of Bonaparte at this period of the campaign-His politic conduct towards the Italians- View of the respective situations of Great Britain and Popularity.-Severe terms of peace proposed to the France, at the period of Napoleon's return from Italy. pope-rejected.-Napoleon differs from the Directory, -Negotiations at Lille-Broken off, and Lord Malnoesand negotiations are reinewed-but again rejected.- bury ordered to quit the Republic.-Army of Enygland The pope raises his army to 40,000 men —Napoleon in- decreed, and Bonaparte iamend to the command-He vades the Papal Territories-The papal troops de- takes up his residence int Paris —Description of his perfeated near Iniola —and at Ancona-which is captured sonal character and manners.-lMadame de SCtal.-Loretto taken.-Clemency of Bonaparte to the French Public honours paid to Napoleon.-Project of invucasion recutsant clergy.-Peace of Tolentino.-Napoleon's letter termirated, and the real views of the Directory discoto the pope.-Sacn Iarino.- View of the situation of the vered to be the expeditiocl to Egypt.-Arcies of Italy differeint Italian States-Ronme-Naples-TTuscany-Ve- acnd the Rhine, conmpared and conlrasted. —Napoleon's sice. 216 viewus and notions in headicig the Egyptian Pxpedition -those of the Directory regarding it-Its actual irnCHAPTER XXVII. policy.-Curious statemenett regarding Bonaparte, IreArchdcuke Charles-Compared with Napoleon-Fettered viotes to his departure, given by JMiot.-The trm:tt,ie,et by the Aulic Council.-Napoleon, by a stratagem, passes sails from Toulon, ont 19th May, 1798. —Na)e,'pe.n itrires the Tagliamento, and compels the archduke to retreat. before Malta on the 10th of June —Proceeds on his course, -Gradisca carried by storm.-Chiusa- Veneta taken by and, escaping the British squadrocn, lands iit AlexanMassina, with the loss of 5000 Austrians, baggage, dria ont the 1st qf July.-Description of the variouts cannon, etc.-The seaports of Trieste and Fiume oc- classes of nations who inhabit Egypt -1. The Fellahs cupied by the French-.Venice breaks the neutrality, and Bedouins-2. The Copts-3. The Manmelukes.-Napoand commences hostilities by a massacre of 100 French- leon issues a proclamation from Alexandria, agaicst men at Verona-Terrified on learning that an armistice the Manmelukes-Marches against them on the 7th July. had taken place betwixt France and Austria-Circum- -Mameluke mode of fighting.-Discontent and disapstances which led to this.-The archduke retreats by pointment of the French troops and their commcanders hasty marches on Vienna-His prospects qf success in -Arrive at Cairo.-Battle of the Pyramids on 21st of defending it-The government and people irresolute, July, in which the Mamelukes were completely deand the treaty of Leoben signed-Venice now makes feated and dispersed.-Cairo surrenders. 2 CONTENTS. rx CHAPTER XXXI. CHAPTER XXXIV. French naval squadron —Conflicting statements of Bona- General rejoicing on the return of Bonaparte-He, meanparte and Admiral Gantheaume in regard to it.-Battle while, secludes himself in retirement and literature.of Aboukir on 1st August, 1798-Numtber and position of Advances made to him on all sides.-Napoleon coalesces the enemy, and of the English-Particulars of the action. with the Abbe Sieyes.-Revolution of the 18th Brumaire -ThLe French admiral, Brueis, killed, and his ship, -Particulars of that event.-Clashing views of the l'Orient. blown tup-The victory complete, two only of Councils of Ancients, and the Five Hundred.-Barras the Frenlchfi.eet, and two frigates, escaping on the morn- and his colleagues resign, leaving the whole power in the tZig of the 2d.-Effects of this disaster on the French hands of Napoleon.-Proceedings of the councils on the army —Mleans by which Napoleon proposed to establish 18th-and 19th.-Sittings removed from Paris to Sthimself in Egypt.-His administration in many respects Cloud-Bonaparte visits both on the latter day.- Violent usefuCl and praiseworthy-in others, his conaduct impo- commotion in the Council of Five Hundred-Napoleon litic and absurd.-He desires to be regarded an envoy received with great hostility, menaced and assaulted, of the Deity, but without success.-His endeavours and, finally, extricated by his grenadiers, breathless and equally ounsuccessful to propitiate the Porte.-The Fort exhausted.-Lucien Bonaparte, the presidenlt, retires of El Arisk falls into his hands.-Massacre of Jaffa. — from the hall with a similar escort-Declares the CouutAdmitted by Bonaparte himself-His argtuments in its cil of Five Htundred dissolved —They are then dispersed defence-Replies to them-Generalconclusionts.-Plague by military force. —Various rumnzours stated and disbreaks ozt in the Frenckh army-Napoleon's humanity cussed.-Both councils adjourn to the 19th February, and coucrage upon this occasion —Proceeds against Acre 1800, after appointing a Provisional Consular Governto attack Djezzar Pacha.-Sir Sydnedy Smith-His cha- nmeat, of Bonaparte, Siiyes, and Ducos. Pag. 271 racter-Captures a French convoy, and throws him- CHAPTER XXXV. self in(o Acre.-French arrive before Acre on 17th MSarch, 1799, and effect a breach on the 28t, bt are Efects of the victory of the 18th and 19th Brtm aire.-Cledriven back-Assaulted by an Army of Moslems of va- mency of the new Consulate.-Beneficial change in the rionus nlations assembled without the walls of Acre, finances.-Law of Hostages repealed.-Reiigiozus liberty whom they defeat and dtisperse.-Interesting particulars allowoed.-nImprovements in the war department.-Subof the siege.-Personal misunderstanding and hostility mission of the Chouans, and pacification of La Vendle. betwixt Napoleon and Sir Sydney Smith-explained -Ascendancy of Napoleon int the Consulate.-Disapand accotunted for.-Bonaparte is finally compelled to pointmentt of the AbbW Silyes.-Committee formed to raise the siege and retreat. Pag. 253 consider Silyes' plan of a constitution-Adopted in part-but rejected in essentials.-A new one adopted, CHAPTER XXXII. monarchical in everything butform,-Sieyes retires from Discussion concerning the alleged poisoning of the sick in public life on a pensiot. —General view of the new contthe hospitals at Jaffa-Napoleon acquitted of the charge. sularform of government.-Despotic power of the first -Frenchi army re-enter Cairo on the 14th June.-Re- consul.-Reflections ont Bonaparte's conduct zupon this trospect of what had taken place in Upper and Lower occasiont. 278 E.ypt during his absence.-Ir nursion of Miurad Bey.- 18,000 Turks occupy Aboukir-Attoicked and defeated by Bonaparte — This victory terminates Napoleon's career Proceedings of Bonaparte in order to contsolidate his in Egypt- Views of his situation there after that battle. power-I-is great success-Causes that led to it.-Cam-Admiral Gantheanzue receives orders to make ready bacrles and Lebrunz chosen second and third consuls.for sea.-Ont the 23d August, Napoleon embarks for Talleyrand appointed minister for foreign affairs, France, leaving Kilber and. lenon first and second in and Fouchi minister of police-Their characters.command of the army-Arrives in Ajaccio, in Cors.ca, Other ministers nomiuated.- Various chatzges made, ii on the 30th September, anld lands at Frejues, in France, order to mark the commnencemenit of a new era.-Napoon the 9th October. 261 leon addresses a letter personally to the King of EngCHlandc-Answered by Lord Greonvi~le,-Negoliation for peace, that followed, speedily broken of.-Campaigns Retrospect of public events since the departure of Napo- in Italy, and on the Rhine-Successes of M'oreauc-Cenleon for Egypt. —Ivasion and conquest of Switzerland. sored by Napoleontfor over-caution.-The charge con-Seizure of Turin.-Expulsion of the pope.-The Nea- sidered.-'The chief cotsult resolves to bring back, int politans declare wtar against France-are defeated- person, victory to the French standards it Italy-His and the French entter Naples.-Disgraceful avarice measuresfor that purpose. 284 exhibited by the Directory-particularly in their nego- CHAPTER XXXV tiations with the United States of America-Are untsuccessful, and their shame macde public.-Rucssia comes The chief cotnsul leaves Paris on 6th MIay, 1800-Has an forwastrd in the general cause —Her strength and re- interview with, Necker at Geneva ont Sth-Arrives at sources.-Reverses of the Frentch in Italy, and on the Lausannte on the 13th — Various corps put in mo2tiex to Rhine. —Itsierrections in Belgium and Holland against cross the Alps.-Napoleont, at the head of the main the Frlench. —Anglo-Russia expedition sent to Holland. army, marches on the 15th, and ascends Monott St Ber-The, Chouans agains in the field.-Great and universal nard-Die -dlties of the march surnmounted.-On the unpopularity of the Directory —State of parties int 16th, the van-guard takes possession of Aosta.-ForFruace. —Law of Hostages.-AbbW Sieyes becomes one tress and towun of Bard threaten to baffle the owhole plan of the Directory-His character and genius —De- -The town is captured —and Napoleon contrives to seond scription of the cotnstitulion proposed by him for the his artillery through it, utrnder the fire of the fort, his Year Three.-Ducos, Gohier, and Motulins, also intro- infantry and cavalry passing over the Albaredo.duced into the Directory.-Fanlily of Napoleon strive to Latnnes carries Ivreet.-Recapitulation.-Oper-ationts of keep him inl the recollectiont of the people.-Favoturable the Austrian general Melas-At the commestcemlent of change in the French affairs. —Holland evacuated by the campaign Melas advatncestowards Genoa-Many the Anglo-Russian army.-Korsakow defeated by AIas- actions betwixt him anld Ml~assona. —In March Lord sna-ancld SuwarrowC retreats before Lecourbe. 25 Keith blockades Genoa.-Melas cospelled to retreat l~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ X CONTENTS. from Genoa-Enaters Nice-Recalled from thence by the Bolnaparte.-Affairs of Egypt-Assassination of Kliber news of Napoleon's having crossed lont St Bernard- — enmou appointed to succeed him.-British army lands Genoa surrenders-Bonaparte enters MA[ilan-Battle of in Egypt-Battle and victory of Alexadiria-Death of Mfontebello, and victory of the French —The chief conszl Sir Ralph Albercromnie-General Hutchinson sulcceeds is joined by Desaix during the battle.-Great Battle of him.-'The French general Belliard, capizulates-as does Marengo on the 14th June, and complete victory of the Mf!enou.- War in Egypt brought to a victorious concl?French —Death of Desaix-Capitiulation on the 15th, by siolI, Pag. 311 which Genoa, etc., are yielded to the French.-Napoleon CHAPTER XLI. returns to Paris on the 2d July, and is received with all Preparctions nade for the Invasion of Brilcin.-Nelson the acclamations due to a great conqzueror, Prag. - 2 put in command of the sea.-Attack of the Boultogne FloCHAPTER ~X~XXV1I1. tilla.-Pitt leaves the ministry-succeedeod by Mr Addington.-Negotiations for peace. —Just punishiment of Napoleon offers, and the Austrian envoy accepts, a new England, in regard to the conquered settlemetels of the treaty-The emperor refuses it, unless Englanid is in- enemy-Forced to restore them all, save Ceylon aOnd cluded.-Negotiations then attenmpted with England- Trinidad. — atlta is placed under the guarantee of a TheyfJ!il, and Austria is encouraged to a renewal of neutralpower.-Preliminaries of peace siged —Jouy of the war.-Reasoning on the policy of this conclusion.- the English populace, and doubts of the better classes.An armistice offorty-five days is followed by the resump- Treaty of Aniens signed.-The ambitious projects of tion of hostilities.-Battle of Hohenlinden gained by Napoleon, nevertheless, proceed withouEt interrzuption2Moreau on the 3d December, 1800. —Other battles take Extension of hispower in Italy-He is appointed consul place, by which the Austrian affairs are made desperate for life, with the power of naming his successor-His and they agree to a separate peace.-Ant armistice takes situation at this period. 314 place, wshich is followed by the treaty of Lunzville. — Convention between France and the United States.- CHAPTER XL1I. Explanatory recapitulation.-The Queen of Naples re- Dzflerent views entertained by the Engiish ministers and pairs to Petersburg to intercede with the Emperor Paul the chief consul of the effects of the treaty of Amiens.-His capricious character: originally a violent anti- Napoleon, misled by the shutcs af a London mzob, n mis- Gallican, he growos cold and hostile to the Austrians, understands thefeelings of thepeople of Great Britain. and attached to the famle and character of the chief -His continued encroachments on the independence of consul-Receives the Queen of Naples with cordiality, Europe-His conduct to Switzerland-Interferes in their ansd applies in her behalf to Bonaparte-His envoy re- politics, and sets himself up, useninvited, as mlediator in ceived at Paris with the uttmost distinction, and the theirconcerns-His extraordinary manifjesto addressRoyal Family of Naples saved for the present, though ed to then. —Ney eneters Switzerland at the head of on severe conditions. —The Neapolitan general compelled 40,000 nmen-Thze patriot, Reding, disbaznds his forces, to evacucate the Roman territories. —Rome restored to ansd is imprisoned.-Switzerlacnd is comspelled tojitrtish the authority of the pope.-Napoleon demands of the France with a subsidiary armey of 16,000 troops.-Thee King of Spain to declare war against Portugal.- chief coensul adopts the title of Grated Mediator of/' the Olivenza and Almneida taken.-Bonaparte's conduct to- Helvetic Repeu3blic. 318 wards the Peninsuelar powers overbearing and peremptory.-lThe British alonze active icn opposing the French. CAPTER XL -Mailta, after a blockade of two years, obliged to sub- Increasing jealou2sies betcwixt France and Etcnglaeed-A (ddi. mnit to the English. 297 tioczal encroachments and offeeces os the part of the fornmer.-Singular instreuctionss given by thefirst cocesetl C5,HAPTER XX~XIX. to his commercial agents in British ports.-Orders isseted lecternsal govetrnmeent of France.-General attachment to by the Enzglish miniisters, for the espulsion of all persons the chief coenstl, thoucgh the two factions of repeublicans actineg sneder then.-Violence of the press o0 both sicles and royalists are hostile to him.-Plot of theformer to of the Chaennel.-Peltier's celebrated royalist peblicCaremove hine by assassinatioe-Deofested.- Vain hopes of tion., I'Anmbigu.-Bolaparte answere-s through the Monithe royalists, that Napoleonl woutld be the it.strument of ter. -ionsiecr Otto's ceote of renuolstranece- Lord restoring the Bocurbons-Applicatio:ns to him for that Hazctkesbeery's reply-Peltier tried for a libel agaiest effect disappointed.-Royalists meethodize the plot of the the Inefern7alMachinee-Descriptione of it-Itfails-Suespicitn senirst conseapoleoels conilty-beet not brleght re. -A or first falls on the republicans, and a decree of transpor- sentecee-Napoteoc's coelieeed displeasere.-Acgry tation is passed against a great number of their chiefs Ofenlsive report of Geleral Sebastia: —Re.\ 0ottionl o./ the -but is not carried into execution. —The actucal conspirators tried and execcuted.-Use made by Bonaparte of Britise goveretnecet ien consequence.-Coteferences bethe conespiracy to consolidate despotism.- Variouts mea- twixt Bocaparte utet Lord Wf'hitworlh. The king sedcts sures devisedfor that pucrpose.-System of the police.- a -essage to prrlizmect, demacdiceg aelditioteal aid - Fouche-His skill, itnfluence, and power.-Napoleocn be- Boncaparte qcarre/s with Lord Wrhitovort/e at cc levercomes jealous of tiim, and organzizes seeasures of pre- Particlc/ars-Reseetccleet of Etglateld cpol lhis occas it. cauttione against him.-Apprehensiosn ecztertained by the -Farther /iscussiouns conlcerlitE/g Aalta. —Reasocs u'Jon chief conzscel of the effects of literattre, acld his efforts Boncaparte migh.t desire to break off' eegotiationLs.-i-riagainst it.-Persecutionl of M~adacme de Stal. —The Con- taine declares war against F rance on 18th Mfay, 1803. 221 cordat-Variouss views takenl of that measucre.-Plan for a gecneral systelc2 of Julrisprucdecce-Amnsesty grasnted to the emnigrants.-Placs of peublic edcccatiocn.-Other Retrospect.-St Domizgo —The Negroes, victorious oser plans of imtprovemnent. —Hopes of a ge eral peace. 303 the TWhites and Multlattoes, split into parties under dij:' ferent chiefs- Toussaintt Locuvertuire the most distilt CHAPTER XL. gtished of these-SIis plans for the amelioration of hi. Return to the external relations of France-sHer?ztiver- szubjects-Appoinlts, in inmitatione of Franlce, a conlslnar sal aseceldancy.-Napoleon's advances to the Esmperor goverctmecnt.-Fransce sends ace expeditiont againcst St Paul.-Plan of destroying the British power in India.- Dominglo, uctler G eneral Leclerc, in Deceember, 1801, Right of search at sea.-Death of Pacl.-Its effects on which is seuccessfuel, and Totessaitet slebuzits-After a CONTENTS. _ brief interval, he is sent to France, where he dies undter the hardships of confinement.-The French, visited by yellowfever, are assaulted by the Negroes, and war is Napoleon addresses a second letter to the King of Engcarried on of new with dreadfulfury. —Leclerc is cut off land personally-The folly and inconvenience of this by the distemper, andu is succeeded by Rochambeau.- innovation discussed-Answered by the British secreThe French finally obliged to capitulate to an English tary of state to Talleyrand.-Alliance formed betwixt squadron, on 1st December, 1803.-Bonaparte's scheme Russia and England.-Prussia keeps aloof, and the to consolidate his power at home.-lThe Consular Guard Emperor Alexander visits Berlin. —Austria prepares augmentted to 6,000 men-Descrip/ion of it.-Legion of for war, and marches an army into Bavaria-H-er intHonourc-Account of it.-Oppositionformned, on the prin- policy in prematurely commencing hostilities, and in ciple of the Esnglish one, against the consular govern- her conduct to Bavaria.-Unsoldierlike conduct of the ment. —Tsey oppose the establishment of the Legion of Austrian general, MSack.-Bonaparte is joined by the Honour, which, however, is carried.-Applicationl to Electors of Bavaria and Wirtemberg, and the Duke of the Count de Provence (Louis XVIII.) to resign the Baden. —Skilful manlzuvres of the French generals, and crown —Rejected. Pag. 328 successive losses of the Austrians.-Napoleon violates CHAPTER XLV. the neutrality of Prussia, by marching through Anspach and Bareuth.-Further losses of the Austrian leaders, Mutual feelings of Napoleon and the British nation, on and consequent disunion among them.-A-ack is cooped the renewnal of the war.-First hostile measures on both up in Ulm-Issues a formidable declaration on the sides.-England lays an embargo on French vessels in.16th October —and surrenders on the following day.her ports-Napoleon retaliates by edetaining British sub- Fatal results of this man's poltroonery, want of skill, jects in France-Effects of this unprecedented measure. andprobable treachery. Fag. 354 -Hanover and other places occupied by the French.- CHAPT Scheme of invasion renewed.-Nature and extenct of Napoleon's preparations.-Defensive measures of England. Position of the French armies.-Napoleon advances to-Reflectiosns. 332 wards Vienna.-The Emperor Francis leaves his capiCHAPTER XLVI. tal. —French enter Vienna on the 13th November.-Review of the French successes in Italy and the Tyrol.Disaffection begins to arise againlst Napoleon amog te Schemes of Napoleon toforce on a general battle-ie soidciery.-Puzrpose of seftinfg utp fosreat angai2nst him.- succeeds.-Battle of Austerlitz is fought on the 2d DenCharacte.Pr ofc.heau-Cars es of his esrangecmienttfroms cember, and the combined Austro-Russian armies comBonaparte.-Pich egrc. —The Dueke d'Enyh ienz.-Georges pletely defeated.-Interview betwixt the Emperor of Cadouedcal, Pi-heyrzn, and other royalists, landed zn Austria and Napoleon.-The Emperor Alexander reFrance. —Desperate enterprise of Georges-Defeated.- treats towards ussia.-Treaty of Presbury signed on Arrest o.fioreau-sof Pichegrns-anld Georges.n —Captane the 27th December-Its conditions.-Fate of the King of t right. —Duke d'Egheinz seized at Ettenheim-hurried Sweden-and of the Two Sicilies. 359 to Paris-transferred to Vincennes-Tried by a MMilitacly Comn7ission-Condemnaed-and executed-Univer- CHAPTER LI. sal horror of France and Esurope.-Bonaparte's vindi- Relative situations of France and England.-Hostilities cation of his con2duct-His defence considered.-Pichegru commenced with Spain, by the stoppage, by Commodore found dead n hisprison-Attempt to explain his death by AMoore, of four Spanish galleons, when three of their chargitng him with suicide.-Captain Wright found with escort were taken, and one blew up.-Napoleon's plan his throat cut-A similar attenmpt made.-Georges and of invasion stated and discussed.-John, Clerk of Eldinvs other conspirators tried-Condemned-and executed.- great system of breaking the line, explained-T Whether Royalists silenced.-A-oreaun sent into exile. 337 it could have been advantayeously used by France?CHAPTER XLVII. The French admiral, Villeneuve, forms ajunction with General indignation of Europe in consequtence of the the Spanish fleet snder Gravina-Attacked and demuzrder of' the Duke d'Enyghien.-Runssia complains to feated by Sir Robert Calder, with the loss of two ships Talleyrand of the violation of Baden; and, along with of the line.-Nelson appointed to the command in the Sovedesn, r emosnstrates in a note laid before the German Mediterraneasn.-Battle of Trafalgar fought on the 21st Diet-but without effect.-Charges brought by Bona- October, 1805- Particulars of the force on, each side, parte against Mlir Drake, and MIr Spetncer Smith-who and details of the battle-Death of Nelson. —Behaviour are accordingly dismissed from the courts of Munich of Napoleon on learning the intelligence of this signal and Ststtgard.-Seizucre-imprisoonmesnt-anld dismissal defeat. - Villeneuve cosmmits suicide.-Address of Boof Sir George Rumbold, the British envoy at Lower naparte to the Legislative Body.-Statemeat of MIanSaxony. —Treachery attenmpted against Lord Elgin, by sieur de Champagny on. the internal improvements of the agents of Bonaparte - Details -Defeated by the France. —Elevation of Napoleon's brothers, Louis and exenmplary prudence of that nobleman. —These charges Joseph, to the thrones of Holland and Naples.-Principabrought before the House of Commons, andperemptorily lity of Lucca conferred ont Elisa, the eldest sister of Bodenied by the chancellor of the exchequer. 345 naparte, and that of Guastalla on Pauline, the youngest. CHAPTER XLVIII. -Other alliances made by his family. - Reflections.Napoleon appointts a new hereditary nlobility. -- The Napoleon meditates a change of title from chief consul to policy of this measztre considered.-Co0lverts Jrom the emperor.-A mnotion to this psurpose brotught forward policy of this measure considered.-Cosverts ron- the in e Trib ae-Opposed by Carnot-Adopted by the old noblesse anxiously sought for and liberally rewvardTribusnate atd Sesate-Ontisen byd ofby the new system- ed.-Confederation of the Rhinle established, and NapoTribunate and Sen2ate. —O uti lne of the nzewo system — leon appointed Protector. —The Emperor Fr anecis lays Coldly received by the people. —Napoleon visits Bo- leon appointed Protector aside the Imnperial Crown of Germasny, retabisiny only logwe, Aix-la-Chapelle, asnd the Frontiers of Germansy, aside the Imperial Cron of Germa ly, retaisig only where he is received with respect.-'he coroation-f Emperor of Apolitic conducct of Prucssia. 396 Pius VIL. is suzmmosned from Rnome to the ceremony at Paris-Details. —R eflections. — Changes that took place CHAPTER LII. in Itafy.-Napoleon appoin ted Sovereigys of Italy, and Death of Pitt-He is succeeded by F'ox as vtrime minister. crownted at Milant. —Genna alnnexed to France. 348 -Circsumstances which led to Negotiation with France. :X11 CONTENTS. -The Earl of Lauderdale is selnt to Paris as the British mercial views, and military plaits, of the British minegotiator.-Negotiation is broken off in consequence of nistry.- Unsuccessful attack on Buenos Ayres —General the refusal of England to cede Sicily to France, and Whitelocke-is cashiered. —Expedition against Turkey, Lord Lauderdale leaves Paris.-Reasonings on the sta- and its dependencies.-Admiral Duckwtorth's squadront bility of peace, hadpeace been obtained.-Prutssia-her sent against Constantinople-Passes and repasses the temporizing policy-She takes alarm-An attempt made Dardanelles, without accomplishing anything.-Expeby her to form a confederacy, in opposition to that of dition against Alexandlria-It is occupied by General the Rhine, is defeated by the machinations of Napoleon. Fraser.-Rosetta attacked-British troops defeated-Strong and general disposition of the Prussians to and withdrawn from Egypt, September, 1807.- Cutvar-Legal murder of Palm, a bookseller, by autho- racoa and Cape of Good Hope taken by England.rity of Bonaparte, aggravates this feeling.-The Em- Assumption of more energetic measures on the part of peror Alexander again visits Berlin.-Prussia begins to the British government. - Expedition againlst Copenarm in August, 1806, and, after some negortiation, takes hagen-its causes and objects-its citadel, forts, and the field in October, under the Duke of Brunswick.- fleet, surrendered to the British-Effects of this proceedImpolicy of the plans of the campaign. —Details.- ing upon Frantce-and Ruessia.-Coalition of France,.Action fought, and lost by the Prussians, at Saalfeld- Russia, Austria, and Prussia, against British comFollotoed by the decisive defeat of Auerstadt, or Jena, merce. Pag. 405 onL the 14th October-Particulars of the battle-Duke of CHAPTER LVI. Brunswtick mortally wounded-Consequences of this View of the internal government of Napoleon at the petotal defeat.-All the strong places in Prussia given Iup riod of the peace of Tilsit.-The Tribunate abolished.without resistance.- Bonaparte takes possession of Council of State.-Prefectures-Their nature antd obBerlin on the 25th.-Explanation of the different situa- jects described.-The Codre Napolion —Its provisionstions of Austria and Prussia after their several defeats. Its merits and defects-Comparison betwoixt that code -Reflections on the fall of Prussia. PFag. 376 and the jurisprudence of England.-Laudable efforts of C HAPTER LIII. Napoleon to carry it into effect. 410 Ungenerous conduct of Bonaparte to the Duke of Bruns- CHAPTER LVIT. swick.-The approach of the French troops to Brunswick System of edutcation introduced into France by Napocompels the dying prince to cause himself to be carried leon.-National University-its nature anld objects - to Altona, where he expires - Oath of revenge taken Lyceums.-Proposed establishment at Mendon. 424 by his son.-At Potsdam and Berlin, the proceedings of Napoleon are equcally cruel and vinEdictive-His clenency toswards the Prince of Hatzfeld-His treatment Military details.-Plan of the conscription-Its nature of the lesser powers.-Jir6me Bonaparte.-Seizure of -and effects —Enforced with unsparisg rigour-Its inHanmburg.-Celebrated Berlin Decrees against British fluence upon the general character of the French solceosmmerce-Reasoning as to theirjustice-Napoleon re- diery.-New mode of conducting hostilities iLntroduced jects all application from the continental commercial by the Revolution.-Constitution of the Fresnch armies. towns to relax or repeal them.-Coummerce, nevertheless, -Forced marches.-La maraude-Its nature-and effltorishes itn spite of them. -Second anticipation calledfor fects-on the enemy's coentry, andt onl the French solof the conscription for 1807.-The King of Prussia ap- diers themselves.-Policy of Napoleon, in his personal plies for asn armsistice, which is clogged with such harsh conduct to his officers and soldiers.-AlIeresd character terms that he refuses thent. 387 of the Fretchl soldiery durilyg, anld acter, the RevohuCHAPTER LIV. tion —Explained. 426 Retrospsct of the partition (f Poland.-Napoleon receives CHAPTER LIX. addresses from Polasnd, Wohichl he evades-He advances Effects of the peace of Tilsit. —Napoleosn's views of a state isito Poland, Beslnigsen retreatisng before him.-Cha- of peace-Contrasted with those oJ' England.- The Conracter of the Rlussian soldiery.-The Cossacks.-En- tinental System-Its natutre —alnd efJects.-Berlins and gagenment at Pulttsk, onl 26th December, terminating to Milan Decrees.-British Orders int Council.-l-Sain — the disadvantage of the French.-Beslnigsent continues Retrospect of the relations of that cousotry with France his retreat. —lhe French go inlto wlinter quarters.-Ben- since the Revolution.-Godoy-His intflsuence-Ch]aracter tligsen appointed Commtander-in-chief in the place of -and political views.-Ferdinanld, Princeof Asturias, Kaminskoy, who shows symlptomsos of inssanity-I- e re- applies to Napoleon for aid.-Affairs of Portlsgal.sumtes offensitve operations.-Battle of Eylat?, fought on Treaty of Fonltainebleau.-Departozre of the Prislce 8th Febrouary, 1807-Claimed as a victory by both par- Regent for Brazil.-Esntrasnce of Jnlsot iltto Lisbot — ties- The loss on both sides amotcnts to 50,000 men killed, His untbouncded rapacity. - Distuerbarnces at M7adrid.the greater part Freinchmen.e-Bestnigsens retreats upon Ferdisnasnd detected in a plot agctinst hisfather, and1 irn-.Konigsberg.-Napoleos offers favostrable termns for an prisoned.-Kilng Charles applies to -Natpoleolz.-r'ily armistice to the King of Prutssia, who refutses to treat, policy of Bonaparte-Orders the Fresnoh arsty to enter save for a gesneral peace.-Napoleon fails back to the Spain. 429 line of the Vistsla.-Dantzic is besieged,and sucrrenders. CHAPTER LX. -Russian armny is poorly recruiteid-the Frenoh power- Pamtpehlna, Barcelona, AIoontjouy, andl St Sebastianlls, fully.-Actions during the summer.-Battle of Heils- are frauduslently seized by the FIrench.-King Charles berg, antd retreat of the Ruossians.-Battle of Friedland proposes to sail for South Anterica-Isssssrrectiosn at on 14th June, and defeat of the Russiants, after a hard- Araltj-uez inl conssequtence.-Charles resignss the crown in fought day.-An armistice takes place on the 23d. 391 favotur of Ferdinand. —.turat enters Madriod.-Charles CHAPTER LV disavowvs his resignatiosn. —General Savary arrives at. Madrid.-Napoleon's letter to Murat, touchinsg the inBritish expedition to Calabria, under Sir John Stuart- vasion of Spait.-Ferdisnavd is instigaled to set ouct to Character of the people-Opposed by General Righsier meet Napoleon —Halts at Vittoria, and learns too late — Battle of.aida, 4th July, 1806-Defeat of the French. Napoleon's designs against hint-Joins Bolnaparte at — Calabria evacuated by the British.-Erroneouzs com- Bayonne.-Napoleon opens his designs to Escoiqu2z and CONTENTS. x1 Ceaillos, both of whom he finds intractable-He sends in Spain.-Catalonia.-Return of La Romana to Spain..for Charles, his queen, and Godoy, to Bayonne.-Shock- Armies of Blake, Castanos, and Palafox.-'ixpedltton ing scene with Ferdinand, who is induced to abdicate of General Moore-His der"qnding views of the Spanish the crown in favour of his father, who resigns it next cause-His plans.-Defeat of Blake-and Castanos.day to Napoleon.- This transfer is reluctantly con- Treachery of Morla.-Sir John Moore retreats to Coflrmed by Ferdinand, who, with his brothers, is sent runna-Disasters on the march.-Battle of Corunna, to splendid intprisonment at Valencey. -Joseph Bo- and death of Sir John Moore. Pag. 454 naparte is appointed to the throne of Spain, and joins CHAPTER LXV. Napoleon at Bayonne.- Assembly of Notables convoked. Pag. 434 General Belliard occnupies _M~adrid on 4th December, 1808. C HAPTER LX. _ —Napoleon returns to France.-Singular conversation at Valladolid, betwixt him and the AbbU de Pradt.State of morals and manners in Spain.-The nobility- Cause of his hurried return. - View of the circumthe middle classes-the lower ranks.-The indignation stances leading to a rupture suith Austria.-Feelings of of the people strongly excited against the French.-In- Russia upon this occasion.. —Secret intrigues of Talsurrection at Madrid on the 2d Mfay, in which many of leyrand to preserve peace.-Immense exertions made the French troops fell. —Muerat proclaims an amnesty, by Austria-Distribution of her armies.-Counter efnotwithstanding which, upwards of 200 Spanishprisoners forts of Bonaparte. —The Austrian army enters Bavaare put to death.-King Charles appoints Murat Lieu- ria, 9th April, 1809.-Nacpoleon hastens to meet them.tenant-general of the kingdom, and Ferdinand's re- Austrians defeated at Abensberg on the 20th-and at signation of the throne is announced. —Murat unfolds Eckimuhl on the 22d, with great loss.-Thtey are driven out the plan of government to the Council of Castile, and of Ratisbon on the 23d.-The Archduke Charles retreats addresses of submission are sent to Bonaparte from into Bohemia.-Napoleon pushes forvward to Vienna, variouts quarters. — Notables appointed to meet at which, after a brief defence, is occupied by the French on Bayonne on 15th June -Theflame of resistance becomes the 12th of May. -Retrospect of the events of the war in universal throughout Spain. 441'Poland, Italy, the North of Germany, and the Tyrol. CHAPTER LXIT. -Enterprises of Schill-of the Duke of Brunswick Oels. pMovem ents in the Tyrol —Character anld manners Plans of defence of the Spanish Juntas-defeated by the -Movements in the Tyr ol- Character and manners ardour of the insurrectionary armies-Cruelty of the of the Tyrolese. - Retreat of the Archduke John into ardoucr of the insurrectionary arnmies. —Crztelty of the French troops, and inveteracy of the Spaniards.-Suc- Hungary. - cesses of the invaders.-Defeat of Rio Secco-Exult- CHAPTER LXVI. ation of Napoleon. —Joseph enters M'adrid-His recep- Positions of the French and Austrian armies after the tion,-D2uhesme compelled to retreat to Barcelona, and battle of Eckmiuhl.-Napoleon crosses the Danube on Monqey fromn before Valencia.-Defeat of Dupont by 20th May.-Great conflict at'Asperne on the 21st and Castanos at Baylen-His army surrenders prisoners 22d, when victory was claimed by both parties.-Both of war.-E ects of this victory and capitulation.- armies are strongly reinlforced.- Battle of Wagram Unreasonable expectations of the British public. —Jo- fought on the 6th July, in which the Austrians are comseph leaves MAadrid, and retires to Vittoria.-Defence pletely defeated, tuith the loss of 210,000 prisoners.-Arof Zaragossa. 445 mistice concluded at Znain. —Close of the career of CHAPTER LXIII. Schill and the Duke of Brunswick Oels — Defence of the Tyrol-Its final unfortunate result. —Growin g resistance Zeal of Britain with regard to the Stanish sttegle-It is becomes manifest throughout Germany — Its effects on resolved to send an expedition to Portugal.-Retrospect Bonaparte-He publishes a singular manifesto in the of what had passed in that country.-Portuguese As- Moniteur- This manifesto exantined. 470 sembly of'Notables summoned to Bayonne-Their singular auldifcce of Bonaparte.-Effects of the Spanish CHAPTER LXVII success on Portutgal.-Sir Arthur Wellesley-His cha- Conduct of Russia and England during the war with racter as a general - Dispatched at- the head of the Auzstria.-MIeditated expedition of British troops to the expedition to Portugal-Attacks and defeats the French Continent-Considerations respecting it-Sent to YValat Roleia. —The insurrection becomes wide and gene- cheren-Its calamitous details and resuzlt.-Proceeclings ral.-Battle and victory of Vimeira-Sir Harry Bur- of Napoleon with regard to the pope-injudicio-es and rard Neale assumes the command, and frustrates the inconsistent-E xplained and accounted for.- General resuclts proposed by Sir Arthur Wellesley from the battle Miollis enters Rome. - Napoleon publishes a decree, -Sir Harry Burrard is superseded by Sir Hew Dal- uniting the States of the Church to the French empire-Is rymple; so that the British army has three generals excommunicated.-Pius VII. is banished front Romne, withint tuwenty-four hours.-Convention of Cintra-Its and sent to Grenoble- afterwuards brought back to unpopularity ist Ensgland —A Court of Inquiry is held. 449 Savona.-Refiections uzpon this proceduzre.-Bonaparte.CHAPTER LXIV. is attacked by ant assassin —Views and object of tihe criminal.-Definitive treaty of peace signed at SchoenDtuplicity of Bonaparte on his return to Paris.-Official brzlot-Its provisions.-Napoleon retursts to France Ott statements itn the Moniteur-poor and humiliating.- the 14th November, 1809. 477 Ttwo reports isstued by Champagny, minister of the foreign department-Difference betwixt them; —the se- CHAPTER LXVIII. cond demandinsg another conscription of 80,000 mnen- Change which took place in Napoleon's domestic life, after Agreed to by the Senate.-Review of the French relations the Peace of Vienna-Causes which led to it-His anx. with tlhe different powers of Eerope.-Universal spirit iety for an heir-A son of his brother Louis is fixed of resistance throughut Germany-Russia.-Napoleon upont, btut dies in childhood.-Character and inflitence of and Alexander mneet at Erfurt on 27th September, and Josiphine-Strong mutual attachmenlt betwixt her and separate in apparent friendlship on 14th October-Actual Napoleon.-Fouchi opens to Josiphine the plan of a feelings of the autocrats-Theirjoint letter to the King divorce-her extreme distress-Ott 5th December, Napoof Great Britain, proposing a general peace onl the leon announces her fate to Joseiphine —On 15th they are principle of uti possidetis-Why rejected.-Procedure formally separated before the Imperial Council-Jose. ___ I, xltv CONTENTS. phine retaining the rank of empress for life.-Espousals I peace, broken off by Bonaparte's unreasotlable deof Bonaparte and Maria Louisa of Austria take place mands.. pa 9. at Vienna, 11th March, 1810.-Comparison, and con- CHAPTER LXXII trast, betiwixt Josephine and her successor. —The results of this union different from uwhat was expected-Fore- View of Napoleon's gigantic power at the present period. seen by the Emperor Alexander. Pag. 484 -The Empre-ss MlIaria Lpuisa delivered of a sonl-Criticism on the title given hint, of King of Romle-SpecuCHAPTER LXIX. lations in regard to the advantages or disadvantages Almost all the foreign French settlements fall into the arising from this event. —Retrospect.-Ex- Queen of bandts of the British. —French squatdron destroyed at the Etruria - Her severe and utnjustifiable treatment by Isle of Aix, by Lord Cochrane-and in the bay of Rosas, Napoleon.-Lucient Bonaparte is invited to England, by Lord Collilgwvood.-Return to the proceedings in where he writes epic poetry -Attempt to deliver FerSpatn.-Soult takes Oporto-Attacked and defeated by dinand, defeated.- His pusillanimiy.. - Olperations in Sir Arthur WVellesley, and compelled to a disastrous Portugal.-Retreat of Massiaun-View of his conduct retreat.-Ferrol and Corunna retaken. by the patriots.- as a man and as a general.-Skill displayed ons both Battle of Talaevera, gained by Sir Arthur Wellesley- sides.-Battles of Fuentes d'Onorrofought by Lord Tlelwho, nevertheless, in consequence of the obstinacy and linyton —on the south J'rontier of Portugal, by Lord Bebigotry of Cuesta, is compelled to retreat upon Portugal res.fordc-of Barossa, by General Graham-Ist all of -Created Lord Veilingtor.-The French armies take which the English are victorious. —Eniterprise of Arroyomany townls anzd strong places.-Supreme Junta retreat Molinas.-Spaniards defeated cunder Blake —Valenlcia to Cadiz.-rUnsubduCed spirit of the Spanish people.- captured by the French, and he anld his army nmade pri-'lThe Guerilla system.-M-iutual cruelties of the Guerillas soners of war.-Disutnion among the 1i'eich genoerals.and the French troops.-Growing disappointment of Bo- Joseph writes to Napoleon, wishilng to abdicate the naparte. —His inmmense exertions.-A large army raised, throne of Spain. 08 under the name of the army of Portugal, commanded by Massna,-Lord IWellington comnpelled to retmain in- CHAPTER LXXIII. active, front his iniferiority of force.-Battle of Busaco, Retrospect of the causes leading to the rupture with Rusin which the French are defeated with great loss.-Lord sia-Originate in the treaty of Tilsit.-Rutssian's alleged Wellington's famous retreat on Torres Vedras. 489 reasons of comoplaint. - Argulments sf" Napoleon's counCHAPTER- LXX. cillors against war with Russia.- Fouche is against the,=a~rg in.apolpolls pwar-Presents a memorial to Napoleon upon the sltbChange in Napoleon's principles of government-Casuses ject-His answer.-Napoleon's views in favour qf' the leading to this.-Becomes suspicious of Talleyrand and war, as urged to his various advisers. 514 Fouchcl —Remzonstrates Wzith the latter, who satisfies hint for the time. - Fouchg endeavours, without the know- CHAPTER LXXIV. ledge of Napoleon, to ascertain the views of England with respect to peace-His plan is defeated by a sin- Allies on whose assistance Bonaparte might cosunt. — gular collisiost w/ith a similar onle of Napoleons, broutght Causes which alienated front himt the Prince Royal of forward without the knowledge of his mninister - and Swedesn —who sigsns a Treaty with Rlessia. - Delicate Fouchi is senzt away as Governor general of Rome — situation of the Kintg of Prussia, whose allianlce the EmVis moral and political character-His disumissal re- peror Alexander on that accoount declines.- -A treaty gretted. - Murzeurings of the people against the Aus- with France dictated to Prussia.-Relationt s betweeno trian al;iance, and its supposed effects.-Conztinenltal Asustria and Frantce-in order to preserve them, Bonasystem —Its object. -Ignorance of Napoleon of the ac- parte is obliged to come under asn esgagezlmezt nzot to tual politicalfeelilngs of Great Britain. —License system revoloutionize Poland.-His error of policy isl neglectizog -Its natutre and effects. - Louis Bonaparte —Esndea- to cultivate the alliance of the Porte.-Amoozon2t of Boours isn vain to defend Holland from the effects of the naparte's army.-Levies of the Bans, the Secoznd Batn, conltinlental system-He abdicates the throsne, and retires and Aritre-Ban, for the protection of IFrance inl the to Gratz i Styria. —Hollanc d is annexed to the Frencsh eumperor's absence.-Stormiong of Cicudtad Roidrigo, by enpire-This step reznders Napoleon extrenmely suozpo- Lord Wellington. - Bosnaparte mtakes overtsures of pular. 494 peace to Lord Castlereag/h-The correspoz dlenzce brokelo off.-Ultisnatum of Russia rijected, aod mzade the direct CHAPTER LXXI. cause o' hostilities by Napoleos - who sets ostt fron Gutstavucs IV. of Slvedens is dethrooned anod suocceeded by Paris, Oth Mfay, 1812-and mseets the sozrereignys his allies his euncie.-The Crown Prisnce killed by a fallfrom his'at DresdEen, where a variety of royal festivities are horse.-Cancdidates proposed for the suzccession. —The held.-A last attempt of Napoleon to nzegotiate wuith Soweles, thinsking to cosciliate Napoleon, sneditate fixinfg Alexasndlerproves unsuccessfful. 518 on Bernladotte, Prince of Posnte-Corvo.-Reasons fbr sucpposing that the choice woas snot altogether gyreeable CHAPTER LXXV. to Bonaparte-who relsuctaistly acquiesces in the choice. Napoleon's plan of the campaign, against Ruessia- Uender-Parting interview betwoeen Berncadeotte asnd Napoleosn. stood astd provided agaisnst by Barclay dle Tolly, the -Subsequeent attemnpts of the latter to bisndl Sweden to RuBssian gesneralissinmo.-Statemenlt of the grand Fresch the policy of Fransce. —The Croswn Prinsce olozosillintgiy aromy-Of the grand Rucssian armsy.-Disaster on the accedes to the cosntinenltal system.-Napoleozo makes a river WVilia.-Diflculties of the canmpaign, on the part of toubr through Fla1nders and Holland —returns to Paris, the Frencsh, stated asld explaissed- -Their defective coo7atned takes mzeassures for extesndiny the conotintental systemn. nissariat and hospital depart7eszt.-Great consequcent -Seizure of the Valalis.-Coast along the Germzan Ocean losses.-Cause of Boltaparte's determ7tinatiozn to advance. annuexed to France. —Protest by the czar agatinst the -His forced moarches occasion actiual delay.-Napoleon appropriatiosn of Olde.lnburg.-Russia allows the in port- remeains for somse days at Wilta.-Abbt de Pradt-His ationo, at certains seaports, of various articles of ittrigues to excite the Poles-Neustralized by Napoleot's British cosozserce. —Negotiations for exchasnge of pri engagemensets wzith Aucstria. —An attempt to excite instursorners betweess Frasnce sanLd ]England anod for a general rectionl in Lithuansia also fails. W6 CONTENTS. xv arrives at Smolensk, with the headmost division of the grand army.-Sketch of the calamitous retreat of Ney's Proceedings of the army under Prince Bagration-Napo- divisiona. -The whole French army now collected as leon's manoeuvres against ait-King Jirime of West- Smolensk.-Retrospect of proceedings on the extreme phalia is disgraced for alleged inactivity.-Bagyration flanks of Napoleon's line of advance.-Cautious conduct is defeated by Davoust, but succeeds in gaining the of Prince Schwartzenberg.-Winzengerodefreed on his interior of Russia, and re-establishing his commnunica- road to Paris, by a body of Cossacks -Tchitchagc,' tion with the grand army-which retreats to Drissa.- occupies Mlinsk on 14th November, and Lambert, one of Barclay de Tolly and Bagration meet at Smolensk on his generals, captures Borizoff, after severe fighting.the 20th July.- The French generals become anxious that Perilous situation oJ' Napoleon. Pag. 264 Napoleon should close the campaign at Vitepsk for the season —He persists in proceeding.-3-Ianoeuvres of both CHAPTER LXXX. armies in regard to Smolensk-It is evacutated by Bar- Napoleon divides his army into four corps, which leave clay de Tolly, after setting fire to the place.-Reduced 6Smolensk on their retreat towards Paland.-Cautious condition of the French, and growing strenlgth of the proceedings of Koutousof.-The viceroy's division is Russian armies.-Peace effected between Russia, and attacked by Miloradovitch, and effects a junction with England, Ssweden, and Turkey.-Napoleon resolves to Napoleon at Krasnoi, after severe loss.-Koutousoff advance upon MIoscow. Pag. 532 attacks the French at Krasnoi, but only by a distant cannonade.-The division under Davoust is reulited to.CHAPTER ~LXXYVII. Napoleon, but in a miserable state.-Napoleon marches Napoleon detaches Murat and other generals in pursuit of to Liady, and AMortier and Davoust are attacked, and the Russians. —Bloody, but indecisive action, at Valon- suffer heavy loss in killed, wounded, prisoners, and artian.-Barclay de Tolly's defensive system relinquished, tillery.-Details of the retreat of Ney-He crosses the and Koutousoff appointed to the chief command of the Losmina, with great loss of men and baggage, and joins Russian armsy.-Napoleon advances fJrom Smolensk.- Napoleon at Orcsa, with his division reduced to 1500 Battle of Borodino fought, on 5th September.-Victory men.-The whole grand army is now reduced to 12,000 remsfins with the French, but without affording them any effective men, besides 30,000 stragglers.-Dreadful disessential service-Prince Bagration anmong the slain.- tress and difficulties of Bonaparte and his army.-SinKoutousoff retreats upons M3ojaisk, and thence supon Mos- gular scene betuwixt Napoleon, and Duroc, and Daru.cou. —Napoleon continues his advance on the 12th.- Napoleon moves towards Borizoff, andfalls in nith the Coutnt Rostopchin, governor of Moscow-His character. corps of Victor and Oudinot.-Koutousoff halts at -The Russians abandclosn Moscow, which is evaczuated Kopyn, without attacking Bonaparte.-Napoleon crosses by the inhabitants, after the removal of the archives ansd the Beresina at Studzianka.-Partouneaux's divisiona public treasures, and the emptyinlg of the magazines.- cut off by Wittgenstein.-Severe fighting on both sides On the 14th September, the grand Russian army marches of the river.-Dreadful losses of the French in crossing through Mloscow-Last public court of justice held there it.-According to the Russian official account, 36,000 by Rostopchin, after which he follows the march of the bodies were found in the Beresina after the thaw. r58 army H 538 CHAPTER LXXXI. Napoleon determines to return to Paris-He leaves SmorOn 14th September, Napoleon reaches Mloscow, which he goni on 5th December-reaches Warsaw on the 1Oth.finds deserted by the inhabitants.-The city is discovered:'urious interview with the AbbU de Pradt-Arrives at to be on fire about micdnight.-Napoteo ca cvs 2up tics Dresden on the 14th-and at Paris on the 1Ith, at midquarters in the Kremlin.-The fire is stopt next day, but night.-DreadJctl state of the grand army, when l:it by arises again at night-Believed to be wi'ful, asnd several Napoleon —Arrive at tWilna, whence they are driven by Russians apprehended and shot. —On the third night, the Cossacks, directing their flight upon Kowno.1-DissessKremlin is discovered to be on fire-Bonaparte leaves sions among the French generals.-Cautions policy (f it, and takes his abode at Petrowsky.-The fire rages the Austrianstnulder Schwartzenberg.-Precarious stage till the 19th, svhesn four-fifths of the city are burnt down. of Macdonald.-He retreats upon Tilsit. —D' Yorck sepa-On the 20th, Bonaparte returns to the Kremlin. —Dis- rates his troops from the French.-Macdonald effects cussionu as to the origins of this great conflagration.- his retreat to Konigsberg.-Close of the Russian expeDisorganization and indiscipline of the French army.- dition, with a loss on the part of the French of 450,00U Difficulty as to the route on leaving MIoscowu.-Lauriston men in killed and prisoners.-Discission of the causes sent with a letter to the Emperor Alexander.-Retlrospect which led to this ruinous catastrophe. 5 4 of the tmarch of the Rulssian army, after leaving Moscow. -Lauristosn has an interviewo with Kouetousof on.5th CHAPTER LXXXII. October-Th-e resuzlt.-Atrmistice nmade by Mtuicrat.-Pre- Effects of Napoleon's retuern upon the Parisians.-C-onparatiosus for retreat.-lThe Emfperor Alexanuder refuises gratulations and addresses by all the public functionto treat. 542 aries.-Conspiracy of Malet-very nearly successful — CHAPTER LXXIX. How at last defeated-The impression made by this Murat's armistice broken off-He is attacked and defeated, event upon Bonaparte, both while in Rucssia, acd on his -Napoleon leaves Moscow on 19th October.-Bloody return.-Discussions wuith the pope, who is brought to skirmish at M~iala- Yarowslavetz.-Napoleoun in great France, but remains inflexible.-State of affairs in danger while reconnoitring-He retreats to Vereia, Spain.-Napoleon's great and successful exertions to swhere he meets Mortier and the Young Guard. — Winzen- recruit his armry.-Guards of Honour.-Inl the snonth of gerode made prisosner, and insulted by Bonaparte.-The April, the army is raised to 350,000 men, independently Kremlin is blownt up by the French.-Napoleon co0n- of tise troops left in garrison in Germany, asnd in Spain timnes his retreat towards Poland-Its horrors.-Con- and Italy. 573 flict near Wiazmsa, on 3d November, where the French CHAPTER LXXXIII lose 4000 men-Cross the river TWiazma dlsring the 1Murat leaves the grasnd army abruptly —Eunge appointed, nigat-Proceedings of the Viceroy of Italy —He reaches in his place.-Measures taken by the King of Prussia Snmolensk. inl great distress, onl the 13th.-Bonaparte for his disenthraldom-Argumenats in his favour, op xvI CONTENTS. posed to those of the French historians-He leaves Dissensions betwixt them and the emperor-Napoleon Berli.nJfor Breslant.-Treaty signed between Russia and at length resolves to retreat upon Leipsic. Pag. 58 Prussia early in Mfarch.-Alexander arrives at Bresln CHAPTR LXXXVI. CHAPTreR LXXXV1lI. on 15th; on the 161h Prsssia declares war against France. — Warlike preparations of Prussia —Us versal Napoleon reaches Leipsic on 1l5th of October.-Descripltion enth/ssiasm thrtwghont all the land —Blucher appointed of that town.-Statement of the French and allied lyeueralissinso.-Vissdication of the Crown Prince of forces. —Battle of Leipsic, commenced on 16t(h, and terSvelede for joisning the confedleracy against France.- mntates with disadvantage to the French at nightJ/ll. — Proceetsings of Austria-Unabalted spirit and preten- Napoleon dispatches General Merfeldt (his prisoner) sionss of Napoleon. —A regency is appointed in France to the Emperor of Asustria, with proposals bfor an as'dulring his absence, and Maria Louisa appointed regenit, mistice-No answser is retsrssed.-The battle is renewsed with nontinal powers. Fag. 578 oni the mornig of /the 18th, and lasts till night, whess the French are conmpelled to retreat, after insssessise loss on CHAPFTER LXXXIV. French gr~~aPTEd aRm s L IV.bot/h sides.-They e:acuate Leipsic on the 19th, the allies Sate of e Frecs grsd arssy.-The sssias ad in Jfull pisrsuit.-The retreat rendered more bloody by ansi s/how tIheosselves on I/e Elbe, joined everyswhsere by the Mowning up of one of the bridges.-P:-ince Poniatowski the inhabitansts.-The French evacuate Berlin, and re- drowned in the E/ster.-25,000 French are nmade pcitreat ons the Elbe. —T/e Crown Prtince of Sweden joins sors.-rsThe allied sovereigns meet us trisip/, at soon, Ithe Allies, with 35,00)0 ens. —Dresden is octctpied by the it the great scsare at Leipsic-Kiss of Saxosy sens sovereigns if Russia acnd Prsssia.-Marshal Bessieres sssder a gsarel to Berlis.-Ieflectiois. 603 killed on Ist,May-Battle of Lutzen fought on the 2d.T'he A/i'lies lose 20,000 smen in killed and wounsded, astd CHAPTER LXXXIX. the French keep the field, after very dreacl/il loss.-The Details of the retreat of the French from Germans y. —CeAllies retire to Bautzen.-Hanmburg takes possession of neral defection of Nsapoleon's partisans.-Battle of by tIe Danes and French.-Battle of Bautzenfought on Hasart fought oin 3011th and 31st October-is wc/ich t/he the 20l/ and 21st Msl c, with great loss on both siles, the French are siccessfiel-They prosecute their retreat.flrench remaining masters of thefielt. —The allies retire Napoleon arrives at Paris on 9t/ November-Stale in in good order.-The FrenIch generals, Bruyhres and which he jinds the public mind in the capital.-Fate of Duroc, killed on t/se 22d-Grief of Napoleon Jbfr the the French garrisons left in Gersmany.s-Arrival of the death of' the latter.-An armnistice signeel on 4th Jisne. 582 allied armies on the bassles of the Rhine- Their exultaCHAPTrER ULXXXV. ti/on, which is ltniversal throughout Geriany.-T'he allies halt on the lisse. —General viesw of Napoleon's change in the results formerly produced by the French victories.-Despodecy of the geerals-Decay e political relations at the presesst period. —.Italy.-Spain. victo ries. —Despond~ency of the genrerals. —D~ecasy i~ the isciplie of the troops.-iews of Austria-Ar e -s -Restoration of Ferdinand.-Liberation of the pope, discipline of the troops. — Views of Aust~ria.-Argum~ents h elr t oe.Ennci ~c:o L f lnlE (0 who returns to Rome.-sEmancipation oJ' Hollasd. 609 in favosr of peace stated and discussed.-Pertinacity of Napoleon. —St ate of the French interior —hid from CHAPTER XC. his by thIe slavery of tI/e press.-linterview betwixt Na- Preparations of Napoleon against the invasion of Frasce. poleons ald the Austrian minister, Mietternich.-Delays -Terms of peace offered by the allies, through /the Baron in thIe negotiations.-Plan of pacification proposed by de St-Aignan.-Bases of the treat,.-Consgress held at Austria, on 7th August.-Tlte armistice broken off oat the Masnheimt. —Lord Castlereagh. —Mansifesto of the allies. o0th, wthen Austria joins the allies.-Sudden placability -Bonaparte's reply-Its insincerity.-State of parties of Naspoleon at this period-Ascribed to the news of the in France. —]. The adherents of the Bourbons-their battle of Vitltoria. 587 chief partisans.-2. The old replublicants. — The population CIhAPTER LXXXVI. of France, in general, wearied of the owar, and desirous of the deposition of Bostaparte.-His stnsstccessfstl atAimolsnt asld distribution of the French army at the re- oplf to d rop se the a Biontsl spirile -Cistsucil of slate tempts to arouse the national spirit. —Coltncil of' state sunsptiols of'hostilities —JOf the armies of the allies.-Plan extraordinsary held, ott NIovelsber 1lth, when nels, taxes of /the caipaign on both sides. —Return of Morealt fromnt are imnposed, and a neut conscription of 300,000 ImenI Aster/ca, to join the allies.-Attack on Dresdeon by the secreed-Cloos oft/e cusscil, asln violeste of Biisallies, oil 26th Asugust-Napoleon arrives to its succostr parte. —Report of the state of thie nation presented to -Battle cosntinsued on the 27th-Death of General Mo- Napoleon by the Legislative Body. —His indignation on reau —Defeat and retreat of the allies, with great loss- receiving it.-The Legislative Body is proroguedt.Napoleont retrns Jf'rom the psrsu.sit to Dresden, isndis- Commsissioners sent to the departments to rouse the posedl. —Valdailnse attacks the allies at Culnt-is op- people-but is vain. —Usceasing activit.y of the emperor. posed, asld dcriven back towvards Peterswalsl.-Siisgutlar -National Gard csalled osst. —Napoleons, presesnting to cosflict betwoeen the French and Prussians on 1t1e heights them his entpress and child, takes leave of the people. of Peiersald/ — Vandamme is defeated and mnade pri- -He leaves Paris for the armies on 25/t/ Jsanuasry, 1814, sosser, with great loss.-Effeots of the victory of Csulm on full of melancholy presages. 616 It e allies —anl on Napoleon. 5'3APTER XC. CIIAPTE R XCI. CH1APTER LXXXV11. ~CHA~PTER~ LXXXVII.~ f ~Declaration of the views of t/e allies is esteritsg Franice. Military proceedlings in the north of Germany, in which -They enter Switzerlandl, and take possession of Gethe French swere generally ssnsusccessful.-Lssckas sutb- neva.-Prince Schwartzenberg crosses the Mhhine.nmits to the CrosLn Prince of Sveden. —Battles of Gross- Apathy of the French. —Jsntction of Blitcher with the Beeren and the Katzbach, cwhere the French suffer grand arshy.-Proceedings of the Croswn Prince of heavy loss in nent and guns. —Operationss of Ney upon0 Stveden.-Tarsdiness of the allies.-I-nJeriority o' NapoBerlin-He is defeated at Delsnesaitz on the stth Sep- leon's nltmerical force.-Battles of Brienlse-and La lenmber.-Difficslt and emsbarrassisng situtation of Napo- Rothi/re.-Dilfisclties of Bonaparte, de/rissg which he leon-He abandlons all the right side of the Elbe to the medlitates to resign the crovwn.-I-e nmakes a sucessful allies.-Operations of the allies in order to effect a attack on the Silesian army at C/haonpasbert.-Bluch/er jsstctiost-Cotet.tnter-exertiots o0' Napoleon.-The Fresch is compelled to retreat.-The nralnd arny of the allies,generals averse to continsisis the war is Germanyg — carries Nogent and slMontereals —atlacke by Napoleoo., CONTENT S. xvlr annd Schwartzenberg sends him a letter of remonstrance. I all sides.-A trace is applied for, and accorded; —Joseph -Montereau is taken by sform.-Bonaparte's violence Bonaparteflies, with all his atttndants. Pag. 6d to his generals. —The A ustrians resolve on a general retreat, as far as Nancy and Langres.-Their motives.- CHAPTER XCV. Consequent indignation and excesses of the Austrian State of parties in Paris.-Royalists -Revolutioniststroops.-Answer of Napoleon to the letter of Prince Bonaparists.-Tl'alleyrand-his plans and views.-Ch&Schwartzenberg.-Prince lYenceslaus sent' to Bona- teaubriand-influence of his eloquence infarour of It parte's head-quarters, to treat for an armistice. —The royalists. - Mission7 to tlhe allied sovereigns from the French bombard and enter Troyes on 23d February.- royalists.-Their answer.-Efforts of the Bonapartists. Execution of Gouault, a royalist.-A decree of death -Feelings of the lowest classes in Paris —of the 1nidis denounced against all wearing the Bourbon emblems dling ranks.-Neutrality of the National Guard.-Growa and all emigrants who shoald join the allies.-Retrospect ing strength and confidence of the royalists. —They issue of movements wpon thefrontiers. Pag. 623 proclamnations, and white cockades.-Crowds assemble at the Boulevards to uwitness the entrance of the allies. CHAPTER XCII. -Mutability of the French character.-The allies are Retrospect of military events on the French frontiers.- received with sholuts of welcome. —Their army retires to Defection of Murat, who declares infavocur of the allies quarters, acd the Cossacks bivouac to the Chanmps -Its consequences.-AAugereau is comnpelled to abandon El/yses. 652! ex; and Franche- Comti. —The north of Germany a~nd CHAPTER XCVI. Flanders lost to France.-Carnot intrnusted with the Fears of the Parisians.-Proceedings of Napoleoen —ie is command of Antwerp.-Bergen-op-Zoom nearly taken inJforneed of Ihe'dissolhtian of the coneyress at Cheitillon. by Sir Thomas Graham, but lost by the disorder of the -Operations of the French cavalry in rear of the altroops in the moment of success.-The allies take, acld lies.-Capture of the Acustriane baroen Weisseumberg.evacuate Soissons.-Buzlow and WVinzengerode unite' The Emperor Francis is nearly surprised.-Napoleon with Blucher.-The Duke of WTellington forces his way hastens on to Paris, and reaches Troyes on the night oeF tlhroutgh the Pays des Gaves.-State of the royalists in the 29th March.-Opinion of 3IMacdonald as to the posthe west of France.-Discocntent of the old republicans sibility of relieving Paris.-Napoleoie leaves Troyes on0 with Napoleon's governmenat. —Views of the different the 30th, alnd meets Belliard, a few miles from Paris, members of the alliance as to the dycnasties of the Bour- infull wetreat.-Conversation betwixt them. —He deterbons and of Napoleon.-Proceedicngs of the Dukes of mines to proceed to Paris, but is at length dissuaded-. Berri and Angouleme, and Mlonsieuer, the two latter of and dispatches Cauclaincoucrt to the metropolis, to rewhom enter France.-The French defeated by Welling- ceive terms from the allied sovereigns.-He hiamstlf reton at Orthez.-Bordeaux is voluntarily surrendered to turlns to Focntainebleau. 614 MIarshal Beresford by the inzhabitants, who mount the white cockade. - Details of the Negotiations of Chd. CHAPTER XCVII. tillon.-Treaty of Chaucmont, by which the allies bind The allied sovereigns issue a proclamation that they will themselves of new to carry on the war twith vigoutr.- not treat with Bon-aparte.-A Provisional Governmenet Napoleon presents a sincgularly unreasonable contre- is named by the Conservative Senate, who also decree projet at Chtillocn.-Congress at Chetillon brokenup. 631 the forfeituzre of Napoleon-T'his decree is sanctioned by declarations from all the public bodies in Paris.The legality of these proceedings discussed.-Feelings Dificulties of Bonaparte-He marches upon Bluecher; who towvards Napoleon, of the lower classes, and of the miis in possession of Soissons-Attacks the place without litary. — On 4th April, Bonaparte issues a documenet success.-Battle of Craoune, on 7th March, attended abdicating the throne of France. —His subsequent agiby no decisive reslt. - Bluccher retreats on Laon.- tation, and wish to continue the war.-'The eleed i Battle of Laon ont the 9th.-Napoleon is compelled to finally dispatched. 67 withdraw on the 11th, ewith great loss.-He attacks Rheims, which is evacunated by the Ruessianls.-Defeat at CHAPTER XCVIII. Bar-sur-Aube of the French divisions under Oudisnot Victor, and others of the French marshals, give hi their and Gerard, cwho, with Macdonald, are forced to re- adhesion to the Provisional Governlment. — arnmont treat upon the great road to Paris.-Schwartzenberg ecnters into a separate convention, but assists at the conwishes to retreat behind the Aube —but the Emperor ferences held at Paris, leaving Souhant second be comAlexander and Lord Castlereagh oppostng the measure, nacand of his army.-The commanders have an interit is determicned to proceed supon Paris.-Napoleon occu- view with the Emperor Alexaender. - Souham enters, pies Arcis. —Battle of Arcis on the 20th.-Napoleon is with his army, into the lin7es of the allies; in consejoined, in the night after the battle, by Macdonald, Ou- quence, the allied sovereigns insist upon the tcncondinot, and Gerard-Nevertheless he retreats along both ditional submission of Napoleon. - His behaviour on sides of the Aube, with little loss. 639 learnineg this result-and reluctant acquiesceece.-'The CHAPTER XCIV. terms pranted to hime-Considerations as to their policys. Disacpprobation of Lord Ca'tlereagh.-General deserPlans of Bonaparte in his present difficulttes considered. tion of Napoleone.-The Enmpress Maria Louisa returns -Military and political qseestions regarding Paris.- to her father's protection.-Death of Josephine. —SinNapoleon determines to pass to the rear of the eastern gular statement wade by Baron Faie, Napoleon's frontier, and crosses the Marne on 22d March.-Retre- secretary, of the eneperor's attempt to commit suicid4. spect of events in the vicinity of Lyons, etc.-The allies -After this he becones more resigceed -its viecs ceadvance upon Paris.-Defeats of the French in various specting the best policy of the Bourbons, as his suceesquarters.-Marmont and Mortier, with their discou- sors.-'Leaves Fontainebleae, on his journey to Elba, raged and broken forces, retreat under the walls of on 20th April. Paris-Paris, howfar defensible. — xertions of Joseph Bonaparte. —The Enmpress Maria Louisa, with tice civil CHAPTER XCIX. authorities of government, leave the city.-Attack of Commissioners appointed to escort Napoleon —He leaves Paris on the 30th, when the French are defeated on Fontainebleau on the _ _ _ _ April.-His intervisw wit Fontainebleau on the 20tl~ ApriL —His intervietv will~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~t xvI n ICONTENTS Auqereau at Valence.-Expressions of popular dislike,-Freedom of tile press granted, and outratged.-Inde. towards Napoleon in the south of France-Fears for pendent conduct of Comte, editor of. le Censeur.-Di/his personal safety.-His own alarm, agitation, and affections anong the lower orders - Part of theta atprecautions.-He arrives at Friejus-and embarks ott tached to Bonaparte-These assemble before the T(iboaerd the Undaunted, wit:.l the British and Anstrian leries, and applanud the enrperor. - Festival of te comrmsssioners.-Arrives at Elba on 4th Macy-and lands Federates.-New constitution —It is received with dis at Portfo Ferrajo. Pag. 668 satisfaction - Meeting of the Champ-de-JMai to retrifj it. - Bonaparte's address to the Chamlbers of Peers CHAPTER C. and Representatives —The spirit f jacobinrism predoatiElba-Napoleon's mnode of life and occupation there.- nant in the latter. Pag. 703 Effects produced by his residence at Elba upon the ad- CHAPTE. joi.inisg Kinigdomt qf' Italy.-HHe is visitedl by his nother and the Princess Patnline-atnd by a Polish lady.-Sir Preparatiotns to rentew the war.-Positions of the allied Niel Campbell the only commissiotner left at Elba.- forces, antiotnting in the whole to onte omillionl of ttene.Napoleon's conversations on the state of Etcrope.-His Bonaparte'sJforce ntot more than 200,000. - Conscription pecuttniary difculties-and fears (f assassination-His not ventured supon. —National Gcutrd-their reluctanice intpatieece aunder these causes of complaient. -Motley to serve.-Many provinces hostile to Napoleon's cautse ttatture of his court-He withdraws himself within coutrt- -Foulchl's report makes knowen the wide-spread disafforms front intercocurse with Sir Niel Campbell-Symp- fectiot.-Instrrectioas in La Vetehe qttelled.-ailtac-y toses of santeL appro aciking crisis. —A part of the Old resources of France.-Napoleon's plan of camtpaign.Getard disbatnded, who retnuro to Furance. —Napoleos Paris placed in a conplete state of defesece —Theironescapes from Elba. - Fruitless pursuit by Sir Niel ier-passes ad towns e Geera Campbell.' 671 tier-passes attd towns fortified ls,,. - Generals who accept command under Napoleon.- He annolntces a.is CHAPTER Cl., purpose to measure himself with UWellington. 709 Retrospect.-Restoration of the Bourbons displeasing to the soldiery, btut satisfactory to the people. —Terms favoutrable to France granted by the allies.-Discontents Army of Wellington covers Bruessels-that of Blrec]ter aboutt the manner of conceding the charter- Other concentrated on the Sanmbre and Metse. - Napoleost grouncds of dissatisfaction. - Apprehensions lest the reviews his grand army on 14th Jttte.-Advatces upont churck and crown lasnds should be resumzeed. -Restus- -Charleroi-His platn to separate the arnmies of the two citation of the jacobinfaction.-lecreaoed dissatisfac- opposing generals fails.-Itterview of Wellingtos atd tionts in the army.-The claims of the emigrants mooted Blucher at Bric.-British army concesttrated at Queatrein the Chamber of Delegates. - Marshal Macdonald's Bras. - Napoleole's plan of attack.-Battle o Ligny, propossal-Fistattcial disfictelties. -Restricliosts oct the and defeat of Blucher on 16th Jlcne-Actione at QueatreBras on the samne day — the British retaine possession CH~rAPTER CII. of the field.-Blucher eludes the Frenlch pursuit.-Napoleon joins Ney.-Retreat of the British utpon Waterloo, Carnot's mtemorial on pulblic affairs.-Fouchd fails to where the Dueke of Wellingtocn resolves to make a stanld. obftain the favoutr of the kineg, aned joins the jacobists- -Localities of that celebr-atedjfield. 13 Variouts projects of thttt party; which finally joins the Bontapartists.-Active ittriguees comnmenced.-Congress CHAPTER CVII. of Vielnna — ttrat, alarmed at its proceedings, opens ate intercoucrse with Napoleon.-Plans of the conspi- Napoleon's expectatiosn that the allianlce zwould be broken rators. —Bonaparte's escape from Elba —He lands at tsp in case of his defeating the Ectglish in Belgiumne.Catsnnes, a7nd advances throusah France —Is joined, at'he Enlglish army take tup their groeund on 17th Jtnte. Glrentoble, by 3000 troops-Halts at Lyons, appoints a and the French snext mornting.-Strenyti of th& two arMtististry, aendtl issuees several decrees. - Distmay of the oies. —Plans of their generals.-The Battle of Waterloo oytal governmentt. - Intrigues of Fouch. —Treachery commenecteed on the forenoon of the 18th Jltune-Fresnch atof Ney. - Revolt of the Bourbon army at Moeltun. - tack directed against the British cecetre-shifted to their The kisng leaves Paris, and Bonaparte arrives there right-charges of the cucirassiers-accd their receptions -His reception. 687 -Advantce of the Prucssiasns-Ney's charge at the head CHAPTrER CIII. of the Gitards-His repulse -and Napoleons's orders for retreat. - The victorious geeerals meet at La Belle Various attempts to organize a defezce for the Boeurbons Alliance. — Behaviosur of Napoleon duriing the esgagefail. —.Bonaparte, agaisn reinstated on the throne of nlent. - Blccher's pursu1it of the French.-Loss of the France, is desirous of contirtnuingy the peace wlith the British - of the Frenlch, - Napoleon's sutbsequent atallies —butt sno afswer is rettersned to his letters.-Treaty temtpts to undervaluee the nmilitary skill of the Dueke of of Vietnsa.-Grievantces alleged by Bosnaparte in jutsti- Wellington acswered.-His usjlust cecnsures of Grouchy. fication of the step he had taken. —Debates in the Bri- -TThe sotions that the British were on the point of losissg isth Hozuse of Comnmons, on the renetoal oJ war. —Mirat Mte battle when the Pruzssians came tzp showl to be occupies Rome with 50,000 ment-his proclamation sum- erroneous. 717 nmoisng all Italians to arms.-He advan!ces against the Austrians - is repulsed at Occhio-Bello - defeated at CHAPTER CVIII. Tolentito-fties to Naples, ancd thesce, in dcisgucise, to France-owhere Napoleon refteses to receive hin. fi99 Bonaparte's arrival at Paris.-The two Chamnbers assemble, and adopt. resoluztions, indicating a wish for NaCHAPTER CTV. poleon's abdication.-Bonaparte holds a general council..Fouchi presents to the representatives Napoleon's Bonaparte's attempts to conciliate Britain.-Plot to carry abdication, which stipulates thkat his son shall succeed off Maria Louisa fails.-State of feelieng in France with him.-Carnot's exaggerated report to the Peers, of the ie qard to Bonaparte's returne-the army —the jacobinas means of defence-contradicted by Ney.-Stormy debate t-4/e cosetitutionalists.-FoutcCA and Sicyes made peers. in the Peers on the abdication act. — Both Chambers CONTENTS. ~x evade formally recognizing Napoleon II.-Provisional CHAPTER CXl. Governnfent appointed. - Napoleon required to retire to Malmaison-His offer of his services int the defence Bonaparte's alleged grievances considered.- Right of of Paris rejected-He is placed under the surveillance Great Britain to restrict his liberty.-Propriety of swithof General Becker - -eans provided at Rochefort for holding the title of emperor.- The right of inspecting his departure to the United States —He arrives at his correspondence might have been dispensed with.Rochefort on 3d July. — The Provisional Government Regulation that a British orderly officer should see Naattempt in vain to treat with the allies, or to excite poleon at certain times in the day-its importance.the French to resistance.-'The allies advance to Paris, Limits allowed Napoleon for his walks and rides.and, an armistice being concluded, enter it on 7th'uly. Complainlts urged by Las Cases against Sir George -Chamber of Peers disperse, and the members of the Cockburn.-MIeas:lures adopted by the European powers other Chamber are excluded from the place of meeting, to secure Napoleon's safe custody.-Sir Hudson Lowe -Louis XVIII. re-enters Paris osz $th Jutly.-Reftec- appointed Governor of St Helena-his qualifications tions upon this second restoration of the Bourbons. P. 726 for the office considered.-Information given by General Gourgaucd to government. —Agitation of various plans CHAPTER CIX. for Bonaparte's escape.- Writers on the subject of Napoleon's residence at St Helena.-Napoleon's irritating Disposition of the British fleet along the western coast treatment of Sir Hudson Lowe. - Interviews between oJ France, in order to prevent Bonaparte's escape.- them. Pag. 7Z3 The Bellerophon appointed to the station off Rochefort. -Orders under which Captain Mfaitland acted.-Plans CHAPTER CXIII. agitated for Napoleon's escape.-Circumstances which show that his surrender, if made, could not be a matter Instructions to Sir Hudson Lowe for his treatment of Naof choice.-Savary and Las Cases open a negotiation poleon.-STm allowed by the British govertntment for the with Captain Maitiand- Captain Maitland's Account ex-emperor's expenses. - The allegations that his table of what passed at their interviews —Las Cases' ac- was not sutfficiently stupplied, cotnsidered.-Napoleon's count - The two statements compared, and preference proposal to defray his ownz expenses. —Sale of his plate givenl to Captains MIaitland's.-Napoleon's letter to the -ntade in order to produlce a false imnpressiont of the Price Regent - He sutrrenders himself on board the state to which he was reduced.-l'he fact, that he had at Bellerophon, on 15th July-His behaviour during the that time a large sutm of money in his strong-box, stated, passage —His arrival off Torbay-off Plymouth.-Great' — Wooden house constructed int Lostdon for Bonasparte, cturiositt' prevails amnong the English people to see him. and transported to St Helena.-Interview betwoeen Sir -All approach to the ship prohibited.-Final determi- Hutdsons Lowe and Napoleont ont its ar-rival. -Delacs nationt of the Elglish government that Bonaparte shall in the erection of it.-When finished, Bonaparte's illbe sentt to St Heletta, communtticated to hint-His protest health preveltted his beitlgretmoved to it. —The regutlatiot and remotnstrances against it. 737 that a British officer should attend Napoleon itn his rides, a slubject of miltch displeasture to him.-Free comCHAPTER CX. muntnication Uwith Europe carried on0 by the inmates of Lontgwood, withoutt the knowledge of the govertnor.Vapoleont's real view of the mteasure of seteling him to St Regutlationt respectitng Napoleon's inrtercourse with the Helena.-Allegation that Captain tMaitland made terms inthabitansts of St Helena. - General reflections on the with him - disproved-Probability that tne t,.,nntar,,n t os u.... r" —-s h: nn a Sir Hudson Lowe. 765. arose with Las Cases, wtho was disappointed that a negotiatiosn which he had condtucted ewas not stuccessful.- CHAPTER CXIV. Scheme of remnovitg Napoleon from the Bellerophon, by citing hint as witness itn a case of libel.-Threats of self- Napoleon's domestic habits - oaftter in which he spenzt the day - his dress. - Nature of thefragmetets of M~edestruction by Napoleon- by his followers that they moirs he dictated to Messrs otrgatd admetholft. uwozldl ptCt hin to death-o0tly ntade to intimidate the — His particultar taste itt belles lettres led him to admire goverlenteslf. -- cNpoleont goes olt board' the Northumgovertntestt. -Napoleost goes onct board- the Northum- Ossian. - His attachtent to the drama-prefers Racine betrland, cwhich sails for St Helena.-I-His behaviour ont and Corneille to Voltaire-Dislike of Tacis-His viand Cornleille to Voltcire. —Dislike of Tacitues. —His vinthe voyage. - Maitnner in which he was treated by Sir dication of the character of C.lication of the character of Ccesar. —His beharviocr foGeorge Cockburn. —He arrivces at St Helena, atnd lattds wards the persons of his houtsehold — amusemenlts andl on 16th October. 744 exercises. —His character of Sir Pulteney Jllalcolm?. — CHAPTER CXI. Degree of his intercourse with the islatnders, ascd willt visitors to the island.- Itterview with Captaitn Basil Causes uwhich justlif the English governsment in the mea- Hall-with Lord Amherst atld the gentlentetn attached to sure of Napoleosn's banishAtnent-He was a prisoner of the Chinese embassy. war, and had already shown, by breach of the treaty of Fonttainlebleau, that tno cotfildence could be reposed in CHAP1ER CXV. him.-The governmtent was even censuredfor not taking stronger precauttions to prevent his escape from Elba. N2apoleosn's illtness —viz. Catcer in the stomnach.-Dr -Naposeon's twish to retire to Etngland, int order that Arnott's opinion that it waons not the etfect of clintate, beinlg near France, he might again interfere in her af- but had been growing upon hint sintce 1817.-The disfairs.-Reasons for withholdintg from him the title of positiont which might have obtained a relaxatiost of the emperor.-A dvacntages of St Helena, as a place of ba- restrictionts by which Napoleon was guzartled, not neanishmenlt.-Sir George Cockbtrn's instructions for the nifested by hint.-Removal of Las Casesffrom his housetreatment of Napoleon.-Longwoodflxed on as the place hold.-Montholon's uvarious contplaitsts brotoghtforwoard of residence of the ex-emperor.-Temporary accommo- by Lord Hollanld in the House of Lords, and replied dation prepared for himn at Briars. -He removes to to by Lord Bathturst.-Effect qf thefai t/re of Lord HolLongwood.-Precautiosns taken for the safe custody of land's motion upon Bonaparte. - Symptoms of his the prisoner.-Regtlations concerning the vessels per- illness increase —his refusal to take exercise or merimitted to estr LAe harbasur. 749 cine.-Removal of Dr O'Meara from his attendance 3i CONTENTS. on Bonaparte- who refuses to permit the visits of any No. l'-Instructions by Napoleon to Talleyrand, other English physician. —Ttoo Roman Catholic priests Prince of Beneventum Par. 813 sent to St Helena at his desire.-Napoleon's opinions on No. 5-Further particulars concerning the arrest, the subject of religion. -Dr Antomnmarchi arrives to trial, and death of the Duke d'Enghien. 814 supply the place of O'Meara.-Continued disputes be- No. C-Reflections on the conlrsct of Napoleon totween Napoleon and Sir Hedson Lowe.-Plans for ef- wards the Prince Royal (f Sweden. 823 fecting Bonaparte's escape. - Scheme of Johnstone, a No. 7 —Extractfront manuscript observations on Nadaring smuggler, to approach St Helena in a submarine poleon's Russian campaign, by an EJnglish vessel, and receive the prisoner on board-frustrated officer of rank. 827 by the seizure of the vessel.- The distturbed state of No. 8-Retmarks on the Campaign of 1815, by Capt. Italy and other causes renderfresh vigilance in the cus- John WV. Pringyle, of the Royal Engitody of Napoleon's person necessary. - His disease neers. 829 increases.-Letter expressing his )najesty's interest iin No. 9-Bonaparte's protest. 844 the illness of Napoleon.-Consent of the latter to admit No. 10-States of thermlometer, as taken at Deadthe visits of Dr Arnott. - Napoleon employs hintself wtood, Island of St Helena, duriog 12 cain making his will-and gives other directions connected lendar months, viz. from 1st Sept. 1820, to with his decease.-Extreme unction administered to hint. 31st Aug. 1821, inclusive. 847 -His Death, on 5th May, 1821.-Anatomsizatiotn of the No. II-.fentoranduLt of the Establishment at Iongbody.-Hisfitneral. Pag. 781 wood. ib. CONCLUSION. 792 No. 12-Interviewa betwixt Napoleon Bonaparte and APPENDIX. Henry Ellis, Esq., third commissioner of No. I-Additionlal notices on Napoleon's early ca- Lord Amherst's Emnbassy to China. 818 reer. 800 No. 13-Botnatparte's last will snd testament. 851 No. 2-Descent of the French in South Wales, under No. 14-Interview between Bonaparte an:d the widoao Colonel Tate. 806 ( l'Theobald Wolfe Tone. 857 No. 3 —istorical totes ont the 18th Brumanire. 807 UO_. _.M.,____ ___..I......... THE PROS E WORKS S oF WITH A P'RELIMIINARY VIEW OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. -------- Sed non in Cmsare tantulm Nonmen erat, nec fama ducis; sed nescia virtusStare loco; solusque pudor non vincere bello. Acer et indomitus, quo spes, quoque ira vocasset, Ferre manum, et nunquain temerando parcele ferro: Successus urgere sues: instare favori Numinis, impellens quidquid sibi summa petenti Obstaret, gaudelsque viam fecisse ruina. LUCANI Pfharsalia, Lib. I. ADVERTISEMENT. several articles of novelty and interest. Though not at liberty in every case to mention the quarter TaE extent and purpose of this work have, in from -which his information has been derived, the the course of its progress, gradually but essentially author has been carefiul not to rely upon any which changed friom what the author originally pioposed. did not come from sufficient authority. FIe has neiIt was at first intended merely as a brief and popu- -ther grubbed for anecdotes in the libels and private lar abstract of the most wonderfill man and the scandal of the time, nor has he solicited information most extraordinary events of the last thirty years; from individutals who could not be impartial wit.. in short, to emulate the concise yet most interesting nesses in the facts to which they gave evidence. history of the great British admiral by the Poet Yet the various public documents and private inLaureate of Britain. The author was partly induced formation which he has received have materially ento undertake the task by having formerly drawn larged his stock of materials, and increased the whole up for a periodical work (the Edisnburg#l Aznnual work to more than twice the size originally intended. Register) the history of the two great campaigns On the execution of his task, it becomes the anof 1814 and 18157, and three volumes were the thor to be silent: lie is aware it must exhibit many compass assigned to the proposed work. An intro- faults; but lie claims credit for having brought to ductory vrolume, giving a general account of' the the undertaking a mind disposed to do his subject as rise and progress of the French Revolution, was impartial justice as his judgment could supply. I-le thought necessary; and the single volumne, on a will be found no enemy to the person of Napoleon; theme of such extent, soon sw-elled into two. the term of hostility is ended when the battle has As the author composed under an anonymous been won and the foe exists no longer. His splendid title, he could neither seek nor expect information personal qualities-his great military actions and tifron those who had been actively engaged in the political services to France, wvill not, it is hoped, be changeful scenes which he was attempting to re- found depreciated in the narrative. Unhappily, the cord; nor was his oblject more ambitious than that author's task involved a duity of' another kind, the of compressing and arranging such information as discharge of which is due to France, to Britain, to the ordinary authorities afforded. Circumstances, Europe, and to the world. If the general system however, unconnected with the undertaking;, in- of Napoleon has rested upon force or fraud, it is ducedi IirM to lay aside an izcognsito, farther attempt neither the greatness of his talents nor tlhe success to preserve whichs must have been considered as of his tundertakings that ought to stifle the voice or affectation; and since his having done so he has dazzle the eyes of him who adventures to he his been favoured with access to some valuable mate- historian. The reasons, however, are carefully rials, llost of' wlich have now, for the first time, summed tup where the author has presumed to exseen the lighllt. For these lie refers to the appendix press a favourable or unfavourable opinion of the at the close of the work, where the reader will find distinguished person of whom these pages treat; so that each reader may judge of their validity for 4 Several extracts froin these annals have been blended himself. wlth the present account of the same events. Edinburgh, 7th June, 1827. VOL, VI. I 2 ILIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. sustained, and by the sense that her naval superioCHAPTER I. rity was an object of invidious hatred to united Europe. This had been lately made manifest, by the Review of the state of Europe after the peace of Ver- armed alliance of the northern nations, which, sailles.-England-France-Spain- Prussia. -- Iprlt- thoulgh termled a neutrality, was, in fact, a league dent innovations of the Emperor Joseph-Distrbalces made to abate the pretensions of England to mariin his doinions. -Russin.-Frane-Her ancien.t sys- time suprenmacy. There are to be added, to these tens of monarchy-how organized-Causes of its decay. tening and depressing circumstances, the disheartening and depressing, circumstances, the -Decay of the nobility as a body —The new nobles -The country nobles-The nobles of the highest order. — -state Cit~ t Nobles — T~e nobles Qf' the highest orcder. — decay of conmnmerce during tile long course of hosThe clhurch-ThSe higher orders of the clergy-The lotwer tilities, with the want of credit and depression of the orders.-The commons —Their increase in power asld price of land, which are the usual conseqciences of imlpoortalce-'Their claims opiposed to those of thie privi- a transition from war to peace, ere capital has releged classes. gained its natural channel. All these things being considered, it appeared the manifest interest of WHEN we look back on past events, however England to husband her exhausted resources, and important, it is difficult to recal the precise sensa- recruit her diminished wealtih, by cultivatinng peace tions with which we viewed them in their progress, and tranquillity for a long course of time. William and to recollect the fears, hopes, doubts, and dif- Pitt, never more distingurished than in his financial ficulties, for which Time and the course of Fortune operations, was engaged in new-modeling the revehave formed a termination, so different probably nue of the country, and alding to the return of the from that which we had anticipated. When the taxes, while he diminished their pressure. It could rush of the inundation was before our eyes and in scarcely be supposed that any object of national our ears, we were scarce able to remember the state ambition would have been permitted to disturb him of things before its rage commenced, and when, sub. in a task sa necessary. sequently, the deluge has subsided within the natural Neither had France, the natural rival of England, limits of the stream, it is still more difficult to re- come off from the contest in such circumstancoes of collect with precision the terrors it inspired when at triumph and advantage, as were likely to encourage its heighlt. That which is present possesses such her to a speedy renewal of the struggle. It is triue, power over our senses and our imagination, that it she had seen and contributed to the humiliation of requires no conlmon effort to recal those sensations her ancient enemy, but she had paid dearly for the which expired with preceding events. Yet, to do gratification of her revenge. as nations and indivithis is the peculiar province of history, which will duals are -wont to do. Her finances, tampered with be written and read in vain, unless it can connect by successive sets of ministers, who looked no farwith its details an accurate idea of the impression ther tIhan to temporary expedients for carrying on which these produced on men's minds while they the necessary expenses of government, now prewere yet in their transit. It is with this view that sented an alarming prospect; and it seemed as if the we attempt to resume the history of France and of wildest and most enterprising ministers would hardEurope, at the conclusion of the American war, a ly have dared, in their most sanguine moments, to period now only remembered by the more advanced have recommnended either war itself, or any nieapart of the present generation. sures of which war might be the consequence. The peace concluded at Versailles in 1783 was Spain was in a like state of exhaustion. She had reasonably supposed to augur a long repose to Eu- been hurried into the alliance against England, rope. The high and emulous tone, assumed in former partly by the consequences of the family alliance times by the rival nations, had been lowered and betwixt her Bourbons and those of France, but still taimied by recent circumstances. England, under the more by the eager and engrossing desire to possess guidance of a weak, at least a most unlucky admi- herself once more of Gibraltar. The Castilian pride, nistration, had pu chased peace at the expense of long galled by beholding this important folrtress in her North American Empire, and the resignation of the hands of heretics and foreigners, highly applauldsupremacy over her colonies; a loss great in itself, ed the war, wlhich gave a chance of its recovery, and but exaggerated in the eyes of the nation, by the seconded, with all the power of the kingdomi, the rending asunder of the ties of conunion descent, and gigantic efforts mrade for that purpose. All these exclusive conimercial intercourse, and by a sense of innmmense preparations, with the most formidable the wvars waged, and expenses ellcountered for the means of attack ever used on such an occasion, had protection and advancement of the fair empire which'totally failed, and the kingdom of Spain remained at England forllm herself obliged to surrender. The once stunned and mortified by the filuire, and broken lustre of the British arms, so brilliant at the peace down by the expenses of so hulge an undertaking. of Fontainebleau, had beer, tarnished, if not extin- An attack upon Algiers, in 1784-5, tended to exguishted. In spite of the gallant defence of Gibral- haust the remrains of her military ardour. Spain, tar, thie general result of the war on land had been therefore, relapsed into inactivity and repose, disunfavourable to her military reputation; and, not- pirited by the miscarriage of her favourite scheme, withstanding the opportune and splendid victories and possessing neither the means nor the audacity of Rodney, the coasts of Britain had been insulted, necessary to rneditate a speedy renewal. and her fleets compelled to retire into port, while Neither were the sovereigns of the late belligerent those of her combined enemies rode masters of the powers of that ambitious and active character which Channel. The spirit of the cotuntry also had been was likely to drag the kingdoms which they swayed lowered, by the unequal contest which had been into the renewal of hostilities. The classic eye of the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 3 historian Gibbon saw Arcadius and -lonorius, the sia, as a reformer, and as a conqueror. It wonid be weakest and most indolent of the Roman Emperors, unjust to deny to this prince the praise of considerslmnbering upon the thrones of the house of Bour- able talents, and inclination to employ them for the bon; and the just and loyal character of George III. good of the country which he ruled. But it frequently precluded any effort on his part to undermine the happens, that the talents, and even the virtues of >ace which lhe signed unwillingly, or to attempt sovereigns, exercised without respect to time and the eslumption of those rights which lhe had form- circumstances, become the misfortune of their goally, thouigh reluctantly, surrendered. His expression vernment. It is particularly the lot of princes, ento the ambassador of the United States was a trait of dowed with such personal advantages, to be c)nfident character never to be omnitted or forgotten; —"I have in their own abilities, and, unless educated in the been tile last man in my dominions to accede to this severe school of adversity, to prefer favourites, who peace, which separates America from my kingdoms assent to and repeat their opinions, to independent -1 will be the first man, now it is made, to resist counsellors, whose experience might correct their anly attempt to infringe it." own hasty conclusions. And thus, although the perThe acute historian whom we have allready quot- sonal merits of Joseph II. were in every respect ed seems to have apprehended, in the character acknowledged, his talents in a great measure recogand ambition of the northern potentates, those causes nized, and his patriotic intentions scarcely disputof disturbance which were not to be found in the able, it fell to his lot, during the period we treat of, western part of the European republic. But Cathe- to excite more apprehension and discontent among rine, the Senmiramis of the north, had her views of his subjects, than had he been a prince content to extensive dominion chiefly turned towards her east- rule by a minister, and wear out an indolent life in ern and southern firontier;and the finances of her the forms and pleasures ofa court. Accordingly, iummuense, but comparatively poor and unpeopled the emperor, in many of his schemes of reform, too empire, were buirthened with the expenses of a hastily adopted, or at least too incautiously and luxurious court, requiring at once to be gratified peremptorily executed, had the misfortune to in[withll the splentdour of Asia and the refinements of troduce fearful commotions among the people, whose Europe. The strength of her empire also, though im- situation he meant to ameliorate, while in his extermense, was unwieldy, and the empire had not been nal relations lie rendered Austria the quarter fiom u niformly fortunate in its wars with the more prompt, which a breach of European peace was most to be though less numerous armies of the king of Prussia, apprehended. It seeimed, indeed, as if the emperor her neighbour. Thus Russia, no less than other had contrived to reconcile his philosophical profespowers in Europe, seemed more desirous of repos- sions with the exercise of the nlost selfish policy ing her gigantic strength, than of adventuring upon towards the United Provinces, both in opening the new and hazardous conquests. Even her views Scheldt, and in dismantling the harrier towns, which lupon Turkey, which circumstances seemed to ren- had been placed in their hands as a defence against der more flattering than ever, she was contented to the power of France. By the firstof these measures resign, in 1784, when only half accomplished; a the emperor gained nothing but the paltry suln of pledge, not only that her thoughts were sincerely money for which he sold his pretensions, and the bent upon peace, hut that she felt the necessity of shamle of having shown himself llng-rateful for the resistiing ever, the most tempting opportunities for important services which the United Provinces had resuming the course of victory which she had, four rendered to his ancestors. But the dismantling of years before, pursued so successfully. the Dutch barrier was subsequently attended by Frederick of Prussia himself, whlo had been so circumstances alike calamitous to Austria, and to long, by dint of genius and talent, the animating soul the whole continent of Europe. of tle political intrligues in Europe, had run too many In anothel respect, the reforms carried through risks, in the course of his adventurous and eventful by Joseph TI. tended to prepare the public mind reign, to be desirous' of encountering new hazards in for future innovations, made with a ruder hand, and the extremity of life. His empire, extended as it upon a much larger scale. The suppression of the wvas, fiom the shores of the Baltic to the frontiers of religious orders, and the appropriation of their reHolland, consisted of' various detached portions, venues to the general purposes of government, had -which it required the aid of time to consolidate into in it something to flatter the feelings of those of the a single kingdom. And, accustomed to study the reformed religion; but, in a moral point of view, signs of the times, it could not have escaped Frede- the seizing upon the property of any private indivirick, that sentiments and feelings were afloat, con- dual, or public body, is an invasion of the most nected with, and fostered by, thle spirit of unlimited sacred principles of' public justice; and such spoliainvestigation, which he himself had termned philo- tion cannot be vindicated by urgent circumstances sophy, such as might soon call upon the sovereigns of state-necessity, or any plausible pretext of stateto arm in a common cause, and ought to prevent advantage whatsoever, since no necessity can vindithemn, in the meanwhile from fwasting their strength cate what is in itself unjust, and no public advantage in mutual struggles, and giving advantage to a con- can compensate a breach of public faith. Joseph mon enemy. was also the first catholic sovereign who broke ifsuch anticipations occupied and agitated the through the solemn degree of reverence attached last years of Frederick's life, they had not the same by that religion to the person of the sovereign pontiff. effect upon the Emperor Joseph 11., who, without The pope's fruitless and humiliating visit to Vienna the same clear-eyed precision of judgment, en- furnished the shadow of a precedent for the conduct deavoured to tread in the steps of the King of Prus- of Napoleon to Pius VII.... 4 XLIFE OF NAPOLE~ON BONAPART'EPL Another and yet less justifiable cause of innova- a brief period of two years,. Flandera rem;i,,,ned ia z tion, placed in peril, and left in doubt and dis- state of suppressed, but deeply-founded and wvwidie content, some of the fairest provinces of the- Austrian extended discontent, watching for a moment favourdominions, and those which the wisest of their able to freedom and to vengeance. It proved as princes had governed with peculiar tenderness and ample storehouse of comblstibles, prompt to cact:a muoderation. The Austrian Netherlands bad been. fire, as the flame now arising in France began to exin a literal sense dismantled and left open to the pand itself; nor can it be doubted, that the condRi.os first invader, by the demolition of the barrier for- of the Flemish provinces, whether colsidered in a tresses; and it seems to have been the systematic military or in a political light, was one of the -prinpurpose of the emperor to eradicate and destroy cipal causes of the subsequent success of the French that love and regard obr their pri ce and his govern- republican arms. Joseph himself, hroken-healted ment, which in time of need p!:oves the most ef- and dispirited& died in the very beginning of th3 fectual moral substitute for moats and ramparts. The troubles he had wantonly provoked. Desirous of history of the houase of Burgundy bore witness on fame as a legislator and a warrior, and certainly every page to the love of the Flenmings for liberty, born with talents to acqun'e it, he left his arms disa and the jealousy with which they have from the honoured by the successes of the dcespised Turks, earliest ages watched the privileges they had ob- and, his fair dominions of the Netlerlands and of:' tained from their princes, Yetin that country, and Hungary upon the very eve of isnurrection. A amongst these people, Joseph carried on his mea- lampoon, written upon the hospital for lunatics at' sures of innovation with a hand so ua;sparing, as if Vienna, might be said to be no unjust epitaph for a, lie meant to bring the question of liberty or arbitrary monwarch, once so hopeful and so beloved-JosepAu.e power to a very brief and military decision betwixt sbsiqese Seezcarrhs-h-ic S'iM2S. him and his subjects. These Flenish disturbances mnight be regardeS His alterations were Mot in Flanders, as else- as symptoims of the new opinions hwlich we're tacitly where, confined to the ecclesiastical state alone, gailiung ground in Europe, and which preceeded th?> although such innovations were peculiarly offensive grand explosion, as li-hlt shocks of an ear thquake to a people rigidly catholic, but were extended usually annoince the approach of'its general conthrough the most important parts of the civil govern- vulsion. The like may be said of t3he ahoirt-liver ment. Changes in the courts ofjustice were threat- Dutch Revolution of' 17T7, in which the anciemn. ened —the great seal, which bad hitherto remained faction of Louvestein, under the enoluragement ef with the chancellor of the states, was transferred to France, for a tix.e completely trilniphed ove'r that I tl imperial imiinister-a council of state, composed of the stadtholder, deposed him fiom lis iler edit- I cf commissioners nominated by tIhe emperor, was ary command of Captain genelral of' the Army, (in i appointed to discharge the duties, hitherto intrusted the States, and reduced, or endeatoureelto redirce,. to a Standing Committee of the Statea of Brabant- the Confederation of the United Provinces to a pu-e their universities were altered and new-model:ed- democracy. This was also a strong sign of thliand their nlagistrates subjected to arbitrary arrests times; for although totally opposite to t1he inclinatiio2 and sent to Vienna, instead of being tried in their of the majority of, tie states-general, of the eqite.own country and by their own laws. The lFlemish trian body, of the landed; proprietolrs nay, of tirl people beheld these innovations avith the sentiments ve,;y populace,. most of thoma; were firoml lm i. I3, natural to freemen, and not a little stimulated cer- principle attached' to the houose of Otrange,. tl-' tainlhy by the scenes which had lately passed in burgliers of the large tovwns drove on tlme work of North Amimerica, where, under circumnstances of far revolution with mhll ivarmthl of''ec- anal prmiiPt t.less provocation, a large empire had emancipated ituude of action, as sllowVed a greatt }limt of titt itself from the m other oulltry. The staties re- middling classes oto be deeply tiLci -red vwiihl t}i.e monstrated loudly, ancd refulsed aubnission; to the desire of gaiing fimrther liberty, antd a l;ar'er 1ihare decrees which encroa'cled on their con.stits'tional ius the legislation andf admini.mst-ration of' tle:o,,t i.t liberties, and at length -arrayed a military force in th an pertained to them unde, the old o!igam-ici. support of their patriotic opposition.. constitution. Josephi, who, at the same timle lie thus wantonly The rev olutionalyn government, ni Clhe Dutch rtl,provoked the states and people if Flanders, had vinces, (id not, however, conduluct ttheil- arlfaiaa miti' been sentuced by Russia to join her ambitious plan prludence. Without waiting to organ-ie!t:.eir nowm upon Turkey, bent apparently before the storm he force, or weaken that of the enemy —wiioliut (oA, had excited, and for a tiime yieldede to accomnmoda.- taning the necessary counte-nance and imttotecm lion tion with his subjects of Flanders, renolnced the of:France, or co-operating with the malcon tents iil most obnoxious of his new measures, and confirmed the Austrian Netherlands, they gave, by arrestiml the privileges of' the nation at whst was called t'he tihe Prince..ss of Orange (sister of' thle.King of Pm1us. joyous entry. But this spirit of conciliation was sia), an opportunity of foreign interfeetlnce, of whiic only assumed for the purpose of (leception; for so that prince failed not to avail hiinselst Hiis armties soon as ihe had;ssembled in FlandPers what was commanded by the Duke of' B:runswick, poutrcci' deemed a sufficient armed' force to sastain his des- into the United Provinces, and with little cttictl:cylv potiC purposes, the emperor threw off the mask, possessed: tlemselves of Utrecht, Amsterdalm, ant. and, by the most violent acts of military force, en- the othe.r cities which constituted the sthengih of deavoured to overthrow the constitution he had the Louvestein or republican faction. The king agreed to observe, and to enforce the arbitrary then replaced the house of Orange im all its pouselr, nieasures which he had pretended to abandon. For privileges,and functions Tlme conduct ef the Dutel i a. ~ieeran wta ^ r -LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 5 republicans, daring their brief hour of authority, had and without which he cannot be led to conquest. Ibeen neither so moderate nor so popular as to make Every true Frenchman, iherefore submitted: their sudden and anliost nnresisting fall a matter of withoruit scruple, to that abrie gement of personal general re gret On thie contrary, itwas considered liberty which appeared necessiary to render the as a probable pledge ofrhbe continuance of peace in monarch great, avd France victorious. The king, Europe, especially as Fiance busied with her own according to this system, was regarded less as an affairs, declined interfernsce in those of the'United individual than as the representative of the concenrrovinces. trated honour of the kingdom; and in this sensiThe intrigues of Rassia had, in accomplishment meot, however extravagant and Quixotic, there of the ambitions scheaes of' Catherine, lighted up mingled mouch that was generous, patriotic, and ~war with Sweden, as well as waite Turkey.;'but in disinterested.'The sane t'eeliug was awakened,,both cases hostilities were comnieced upon the old after all the changes cf the Revolution, by the wonplan of fighting one or two battles, anid wrsting a derful successes of' the individual of whonm our.fortress or a.provi nce fEornom a neighbonriDu state; filture pages are to treat, and who transferred in and it seems likely, that the interventionu of France many instances to his own persuon, by deeds alsost und Engltan, equally interested in preserving the enceelding credibility, the species of devoted attach-'balance ofpxwer, miglit have e.ded these troubles, nment with which Franvce fore eriy reeard'ed the',ut fio thile pogress of tih Igretat and hitherto un- ascient line of hee kigs.;heard-of;ourse of e',ents which pirepred, carried The nobility sharied witi the lieg in the advan0on, and enatased, the Pscwzeea R"voiacrm.N tages which this predilection spsread around him. If It is necessary, fe the erecution of our plan, that the monarch was regarded as the chief ornanment of've should review this pieriod of hlisory, the most the community, they vwere the minor genms by whose,nimportnaut, perhaps, during its currency, and in its lustre that of thle crown was relieved or adonield.,consequences, which tele annals of mankind afford; If'he was the supree general of the state, they;caud althouegh th- v'ery title is sufficient to awaken wers the onicers attached to his person, c;ld necesin miost bosoms ither horror or admirafion, yet, sasy to the execution of his commaaids, eahl in his neither insensible of'the blMessing of national liberty, degree bouncd to advance the honour and glory o' aor of' those which flow -frou the protection of just the conmmon country. When such sentiments wse-e lvaws, aend nioderate but firm executive govern- at their height, there could be no nerunurieg against see nt, we may perhaps be enabled to trace its the peculiar privileges of the nobiity, aey ore Vvents ceith tihe candocr of one, who, looking back than against the almeost absoluio authority of' the,on past'cenes, feels divested of the keen and angry monarcic. Each had that racnk in the state wiicia sopMit vwith xwhich, in common wi-t his contempo- was regarded as their birethright, and fobr one of t.lce raries, he'ay hawe judg-ed thete while they wepe Jowver orders to repine that he enjoyed not the iinyeticll proegress. nmunities peculiar to the noblesse, coc,!d haie b eea WVe haI-e shortly re';iewed tie state ofEurope in as unavailing, and as foolish, as to iane~ thaint he gener c, w hich we have seen to be either.pacific, sas not born to ani independent esatec.'lmisi the r' distucliedX by troub-les of no lonrg duration.; but it Frinchman, contented, though avith an iclsio n,.,ces in i Fe:ace tihat,c thousand circunmstances, soime lacghed, dased, and iadulged all the gaiety of iis arisicng oni' of the general hiseory of the world, national character, in circuistances ucnder which sonce pieculi.ar to thuit.countey herself;, sinagled,;his insular neighourns swoud hiave thought thie l;ke thle incredients in thie wxitceis' canldy'on, to pro- sibhtest tocen of patience dishonourable aud delice in scssiore,tso as a fobrmidable but.assing grading. Thl e ditiess oe pr ivafion which tile French lcqpiaritioc, mntil cenclded by the stern Vision of' plebeian suafl'eretl in ihis owxen person. was cmade tii -asolute anht d miltitary poser: as those in the drasuca to hlim in imaeginatio n by his interest in the national,are introduced b y that of the A~rmed Head. gle. Tice fist and nmost effectice cause of the,evol- Was a cutizen of Pares postponed in rank to the lion was athie cii.cmge xwhich Ilad taken place cin tis lowest military oy aicer, hue consoied hirmself by readeeling'os of the I re-.ch tawards nrs ir u goseenn-eamt, ad iang the victories of the Fiench arntls in the gazette;,thie amocrchli wsho was its tcead.'Ise devoted and wvas be enduclyand unequally fas ed to support oyall.y o' the people to their king had been for se- lhe expense of the crown, still the public feasts s'eral ages the most mniarkecd els-racteristic of' tice wvhich were given, and thIe palaces wchich were nation; it was their honnur in their own ewes, and built, wsee to himc a source of compensation. lie matter of contecupt and ridicuJ e iua those of the Eug- looked on it thice Carrousel, he admired the splenJisi, [ecause it seemced in its excess to swallow up dosr of' Versailles, and enjoyed a reflected share of all ideas of lpariotiss. That vIery excess of loy- their splendonu, in recollecting that they displayed,alty, hxcvveer, was udanded aot on a servile, but oa the emagnificence of his country. This state of:a generonus Iieiciple. Frarnce is aiabitious. fond of things, however illusory, semed, while tice illusion militaip glory, and whllingly idenltifies herself with lasted, to realize Ithe wish oC those legislators, wshho thue fahne acqmfiased by her soldiers. Down to thie have endeavourned to form n generial fund of national reisn of Louis XV, thse Frencih monarch hsas, in happiness, fronm [hicci each indieixdual is to draw thue eyes of lis subjects, a general, and tleh e ole his per, enal sicare of enio3 cuent. If tihe monsirch people an amy. An aec rmy iust b'e iunder severe eca:oyed thile display of his own grace anid agility, -discipliue, and a general must possess absolute cwhile lie'uiatcd ous rt'cAe at tie riig, the spectators power; but tihe soldier-;els no degradation firc-., Iacd tleirc share cfplehs-cure i wcnessig ieg t if'Louis the restraint wvich is necessary to his profess-ion., Iad the soit atioU of beholding tihe splendid piles (6i LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. of Versailles and the Louvre arise at his command, narchli's old age, as she had previously yielded them the subject admired them when raised, and his real to secure and extend the victories of his early reign. portion of pleasure was not, perhaps, inferior to Louis had perfectly succeeded in establishing the that of the fthunder. The people were like men in- crown as the sole pivot upon which public affairs conveniently placed in a clrowded theatre, who turned, and in attaching to his person, as the reprethink little of the personal inconveniences they are sentative of France, all the importance which in subljected to by the heat and pressure, while their other countries is given to the great body of the mind is engrossed by the splendours of the repre- nation. sentatioL Inr short, not only the political opinions Nor had the spirit of the French monarchy, in of Frenchmen, bhlt their actual feelings, were, in surrounding itself with all the dignity of absolute the earlier days of the eighteenth century, express- power, failed to secure the support of those auxied in the motto which they chose for their national liaries which have the most extended influence upon -pa-ace —" Earth hath no nation like the French-no the public mind, by engaging at once religion and nation a city like Paris, or a king like Louis." literature in defence of its authority. The Gallican The Frenchl enjoyed this assumed superiority Church, more dependent upon the monarch, and less with the less chance of being undeceived, that they so upon the pope, than is usual in catholic countries, listened not to any voice from other lands, which gave to the power of the crown all the mysterious pointed out the deficiencies in the frame of govern- and supernatural terrors annexed to an origin in ment under which they lived, or which hinted the divine right, and directed against those who ensuperior privileges enjoyed by the subjects of a more croached on the limits of the royal prerogative, or free state. The intense love of our own country, even ventured to scrutinize too minutely the foundaand admiration of its constitution, is usually accorm- tion of its authority, the penalties annexed to a panied with a contempt or dislike of foreign states, breach of the divine law. louis XIV. repaid this and their modes of government. The French, in important service by a constant, and even scruthe reign of Louis XIV., enamoured of their own pulous attention to observances prescribed by the institutions, regarded those of other nations as un- church, which strengthened, in the eyes of the worthy of their consideration; and if they paused public, the alliance so strictly formed betwixt thle for a moment to gaze on the complicated constitu- altar and the throne. Those who look to the private tion of their great rival, it was soon dismissed as a morals of the monarch may indeed fborm somne (doutbt subject totally unintelligible, with some expression of the sincerity of his religious professions, cmlsiderof pity, perhaps, for the poor sovereign who had the ing how little they influenced his practice; andl vt, ill luck to preside over a government embarrassed when we reflect upon the frequent inconsistelcies by so many restraints anld limitations.+ Yet, into of mankind in this particular, we mmy hesitate to whatever political errors the French people were charge with hypocrisy a conduct, which was dicled by the excess of their loyalty, it would be unjust tated perhaps as much by conscience as by political to brand them as a nation of a mean and slavish convenience. Even judging more severely, it must spirit. Servitude infers dishonour, and disbonour be allowed that hypocrisy, though so difierent to a,iFrenchmian is the last of evils. Burke more from religion, indicates its existence, as smoke justly regarded them as a people misled to their points out that of pure fire. Hypocrisy cannot exist disadvantage, by high and romantic ideas of honour unless religion be to a certain extent held in esteem, and fidelity, and who, actuated by a principle of because no one would be at the trouble to assume a public spirit in their submission to their monarch, mask which was not respectable, and, so far, comworshipped, in his person, the Fortune of France, pliance with the external forms of religion is a tritheir common country. bute paid to the doctrines which it teaches. The DurIin the reign of Louis XIV., everything tend- hypocrite.assumes a virtue if lie has it ilot, and the ed to support the sentiment which connected the example of his conduct may be salutary to others, natioial honour with the wars and undertakings of though his pretensions to piety are wickedness to the king. His success, in the earlier years of his Him who trieth the heart and reins. reign, was splendid, and he might be regarded, for On the other hand, the Academy formed by the many years as the dictator of Europe. During this wily Richelieu served to unite the literature of period, the universal opinion of his talents, together France into one focus, under the immediate platronwith his successes abroad, and his magnificence at age of the crownv, to whose bounty its protessors home, fostered the idea that the G(rand Monarque were taught to look even for the very means of was in himself the tutelar deity, and only represent- subsistence. Tihe greater nobles caught this ardour at-ie, of the great nation whose powers he wielded. of patronage from the sovereign, and as the latter Sorrow and desolation came on his latter years; pensioned and supported the principal literary chiabut be it said, to the honour of the French people, racters of his reign, the former granted shelter aisd that the devoted allegiance they had paid to Louis support to others of the same rank, who were lodged in prosperity was not withdrawn when fortune seem- at their hotels, fed at their tables, and were admitted ed to have turned her back upon her original fa- to their society upon terms somlewvl at less degrading vourite. France poured her'touthl forth as readily, than those which wvere granted to artists and nmusiif not so gaily, to repair the defeats of her lao- cians, and who gave to the great, knowledge or aminusement in exchanze for the hospitality they re+ The old Freinchi ploverb bore ceived. Men in a sitlation so subordinate, collo, Le roi d"Aegleterre only at first accommodate their compositions to the. Est le roi d'Enfer. taste and interest of their protectors. They height LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 7 ened by adulation and flattery the claims of the king as acquiring their fortunes at the expense of the and the nobles upon the community; and the nation, state. These numerous additions to the privileged indifferent at that time to all literature which was body of nobles accorded ill with its original composinot of native growth, felt their respect for their tion, and introduced schism anti disunion into the own government enhanced and extended by the body itself. The descendants of the ancient chivalry works of those men of genius who flourished under of France looked with scorn and contempt upon the its protection. new men, who, rising perhaps from tlhe very lees Such was the system of French monarchy, and of the people, claimed from superior wealth a share such it remained, in outward show at least, until in the privileges of the aristocracy. the peace of Fontainebleau. But its foundation Again, secondly, there was, amlon gst tlie ancient had been gradually undermined; public opinion nobles themselves, but too ample room for division, had undergone a silent but almost a total change, between the upper and wealthier class of nobility, and it might be compared to some ancient tower who had fortunes adequate to maintain their rank, swayed from its base by the lapse of time, and and the much more numerous body, whose poverty waiting the first blast of a hurricane, or shock of aii rendered them pensioners upon the state for the earthquake, to be prostrated in the dust. How the means of supporting their dignity. Of about one lapse of half a century, or little more, could have thousand houses, of which the ancient noblesse is produced a change so total, must next be con- cormputed to have consisted, there were not above sidered; and this can only be done by viewing two or three hundred families who had retained the separately the various chainges which tie lapse of means of maintaining their rank without the assistyears had producedon the various orders ofthe state. ance of the crown. Their claims to monopolize First, then, it is to be observed, that in these latter commissionls in the army, and situations in tile gotimnes the wasting etfects of' luxury and vanity had vernmenext, together with their exemption froml taxes, totally ruined a great part of the French nobility, a were their sole resources; resources burthensonme to word which, in respect of that country, corlpre- the state, and odious to the people, without being hended what is called in Britain the nobility and in the same degree beneficial to those who enjoyed gentry, or natural aristocracy of the kingdom. This them. Even in n;ilitary service, which was cosnbody, during the reign of Louis XIV., though far sidered as their birthright, the nobility of the second even then from supporting tile part which their fa- class Nere seldom permitted to rise above a certain thers had acted in history, yet existed, as it were, limited rank. Long service might exalt one of them through their remembrances, and disguised their to the grade oflieutenant-colonel, or the government dependence upon the throne by the outward show of some small town, but all the better rewards of a of fortune, as well as by the consequence attached life spent in the army were reserved for nobles of to hereditary right. They were one step nearer the the highest order. It followed as a matter of course, days, not then totally forgotten, when the nobles of that amidst so many of this privileged body who France, with their retainers, actually formed the languished in poverty, and could not rise frolm it by army of the kingdom; and they still presented, to the ordinary paths of industry, some must have had the imagination at least, the descendants of a body recourse to loose and dishonourable practices; and of chivalrous heroes, ready to tread in the path of that gambling-houses and places of debauchery their ancestors, should the times ever render neces- siiould have been frequented and patronized by insary thIe calling forth the Ban, or Arriere-Ban-the dividuals, whose ancient descent, titles, and emfeudal array of the Gallic chivally. But this delu- blems of nobility, did not save them- fromn the suspision had passed away; the defence of states war cion of very dishonourable conduct, the disgrace of intrusted in France, as in other countries. to the ex- which affected the character of tile whole body. ertions of a standing army; and, in the latter part There lmust be noticed a third classification of the of the eighteenth century, the nobles of France pre- order, into the h/aute noblesse, or nlen of thile highest sented a melancholy contrast to their predecessors. rank, most of whom spent their lives at court, and The number of the order was of itself sufficient in discharge of the great offices of the crown and to diminish its consequence. It had been impru- state, and the noblesse camnpagnarde, who condently increased by new creations. There were in tinued to reside upon their patrinlonial estates in the the kingdom about eighty thousand famuilies enljoying provinces. the privileges of nobility; and the order was divided The noblesse of the latter class had fallen grainto different classes, which looked on each other dually into a state of general contempt, which was with mutual jealousy and contempt. deeply to be regretted. They were ridiculed and The first general distinction was betwixt the scorned by the courtiers, who despised the rusticity ancient, and mlodern, or new noblesse. The fbriner of their mnanners, and by the nobles of newer creawere nobles of old creationi, whose ancestors had tion, who, conscious of their own wealth, contenlned obtained their rank from real or supposed services thle poverty of these ancient but decayed families. rendered to the nation in her councils or her battles. The " bold peasant" himself, is not more a kingdoua's The new nobles had found an easier access to tile pride than is the plain country gentleman, who, living same elevation, by the purchase of territories, or of onl his own means, and amongst his own people, beoffices, or of letters of nobility, any of which easy comes the natural protector and referee of the ifarlmer modes investet the owners with titles and rank, al d the peasant, and, in case of need, either the often held by mnen whose wealth had been accumu- firmest assertor of their rights and his own against lated in mean and sordid occupations, or by farmers- the aggressions of the crown, or the independent and general, and financiers, whom the people considered unudalunted defender of the crown's rights, against LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. the innovations of political fanaticism. In La Vend6e There were noble exceptions, but in general the alcne, the nobles had united their interest and their order, in everything but military courage, had asfoirtune with. those of the peasants who cultivated sumed a trivial and efifemninate character, from which their estates, and there alone were they found in patriotic sacrifices, or masculine Nwisdom, were their proper and honourable character of proprietors scarcely to be expected. residing on their own domains, and discharging the While the nobles of France were engaged in these duties which are inalienably attached to the owner firivolous pursuits, their procureurs, bailiffs, stewards, of landed property. And-mark-worthy circunl- intendants, or by whatsoever naime their agents and stance!-in La Vendde alone nwas any stand nlade lmanagers were designated, enjoyed tile real influence in belialf of the ancient proprietors, constitution, which their constituents rejected as beneath them, or religion of France; for there alone the nobles and rose into a degree of authority and credit, which the cultivators of the soil held towards each other eclipsed recollection of the dlistant and regardless their natural and proper relations of patron and proprietor, and fornied a rank in the state not very client, faithful dependents. and generous and affec- different fromn that of the middle-men in Ireland.4 tionate superliors. In the other provinces of France, These agents were necessarily of plebeian birth, and the nobility, speaking generally, possessed neither their profession required that they should be fiamipower nor inifluence amnong the peasantry, while tile liar with tile details of public business, which they population aroundl them was guided and influenced administered in the name of their seigteurs. Many by men belonging to the church, to the law, or to of this condition gained power and wealth in the business; classes which were in general better edu- course of the Revolutition, thus succeeding, like an cated, better informed, and possessed of niore talent able and intelligent vizier, to tile power which was anrd kniowledge of the world, than the poor noblesse fol-feited by the idle and voluptuous sultan. 01' the caenprgnsadcle, wvho seemed as mnch limited, caged, high noblesse it might with truth be said, that they and imprisoned, within the restraints of their rank, still formed the grace of tile court of France, ttougll as if thley had been shuit up within the dungeons of they had ceased to be its (defence. They were actheir ruinouis chateaux; and who had only their complished, brave, fill of honour, and in many titles atnd dcsty parchments to oppose to the real instances endowed with talent. But the commtanisupeliority of wealth and information so generally cation was broken off betwixt them and the suborto be found in the class -which they affected to dinate orders, over whvllo, in just degree, they ought despise. Hence, S6gur describes tile cotinitry gentle-. to have possessed a natural influence. The chain of imen of his younger days as punctilious, ignorant, gradual and insensible connexion was rusted by and quarrelsome, shunned by the hetter iniformed of time, in almost all its dependencies; forcibly disthe middle classes, idle and dissipated, and wasting torted, and contenmptuously wrenched asunder, in their leisure hours in coffee-houses, theatres, and many. The noble had neglected and flung ifrom him billiard-rooms. the most precious jewel in his coronet-the love and The more wealthb families, and the high noblesse, respect of the country gentleman, the farmter, and the as they were called, saw this degradation of the peasant, an advantage so natural to his condition in inferior part of their order without pity, or rather a well-constituted society, and founded upon prinwith pleasure. Thliese last had risen as mutchl abote ciples so estimable, tlat lie who contemnns or destroys their natural duties, as the rural nobility had stink it is guilty of little less than bigh tieason, both to beneath themlu. They hal;d too well fbllowed the his own ratlk, and to thie commiunity in general. Such course shluich Richelieu hIad contrived to recommenld a chance, however, had taken place ill France, so to their fathers, and, instead of acting as the natural that thie noblesse mighit be compared to a courtchiefs and leaders of tile nobility and gentry of tihe sword, the hilt carved, orRramented and gildedr, such provilnces, they were continiually engaged in in- as utight grace a day of parade, but the blade gone, triguing for charges round the king's person, for or cuunposed of thle most worthless naterials.. peosts in the administration, for additionlal titles and It only renmains to be nmeutioned, that thiere suhbdecorations-for all and everything which could sisted, besides all the distinctions we have noticed, make the successfil corn'tier, and distiniguish hima an essential dilffereulce in political opinions among from the independent noble. Thleir edtcation and the noblesse themselves considered as a body. habits also were totally uunfavorablle to grave or There were nmany of the order, who, looking to the serious thought and exertion. If' thie'trmpet had exigencies of the kingdrlom, were patriotically dissounded, it would have fontd a ready echo in their posed to sacrifice their own exclusiv'e privileges, in bosoms; bit light literature at best, and umuch more order to atbord a chance of its regeneration. These frequently silly and frivolous amlutsements, a constant of' course N-ere disposed to favour an alteration or puisuit of pleasure, and a perpetual succession of refourm ini the original constitution of France; but intrigumes, either of love or petty politics, made their besides these enlightened inidividuals, thle nobility character,in time ofpeace, approaci ininsignificance had the inisfolrt(lne to include many disappoinrted to thiat of tile woumsen of thie colurt, whoin it was the and desperate men, ungratified by nany of thle ahdbusiness of thleir lives to captivate and amuse.~ vanltages whiich their rank made thein capable of receisving, and whose advantages of birth au(l educa-' See, foir a curious picture of the life of the French tion onny rteldered them mnore deeply dangerous, or nobles of fifty years sinc, tile first volume of Madame de Geulis' Memoirs. HIad there been any miore solid pumsuits | A class of persons int Ireland who have ob7tained the in society titan the gav trifles she so pleasantly discribes, name of u3iddle-mnen froet their holiing an interest in lands they could u>t have escaped sto intelligent asn observer. between the proprietor and the terre-tenant. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.. nmore daringly profligate. A plebeian, dishonoured extravagant doctrines of the Church of Rome, had by his vices, or depressed by the poverty which is artfully availed herself of those abuses, as if they their consequence, sinks easily into the insignificance had been really a part of the christian religion; and from which wealth or character alone raised him; they, whose credulity could not digest the grossest but the noble often retains the means, as well as the articles of the papist creed, thought themselves endesire, to avenge himself on society, for an expul- titled to conclude, in general, against religion itself. sion which he feels not the less because he is con- from the abuses engrafted upon it by ignorance and scious of deserving it. Such were the debauched priestcraft.'The same circumstances which favourRoman youth, among whom were found Catiline, ed the assault, tended to weaken the defence. Emand associates equal in talents and in depravity to barrassed by the necessity of defending the mass of their leader; and such was the celebrated Mira- human inventions with which their church had b,.au, who, almost expelled fiom his own class, as obscured and deformed christianity, the catholic an irreclaimable profligate, entered the arena of the clergy were not the best advocates even in the best Revolution as a first-rate reformer, and a popular of causes; and thoughl there were many brilliant exadvocate of the lower orders. ceptions, yet it must be owned that a great part of The state of the church, that second pillar of the the higher orders of the priesthood gave themselves throne, was scarce more solid than that of the nobi- little trouble about maintaining the doctrines, or lity. Generally speaking, it might be said, that, extending the influence of the church, considering for a long time, the higher orders of the clergy had it only in the light of an asylum, where, under the ceased to take a vital concern in their profession, or condition of certain renunciations, they enjoyed, in to exercise its functions in a manner which interest- indolent tranquillity, a state of ease and luxury. ed the feelings and affections of men. Those who thought on the subject more deeply were The catholic church had grown old, and unfortun- contented quietly to repose the safety of the church ately did not possess the means of renovating her upon the restrictions on the press, which prevented doctrines, or improving her constitution, so as to keep the possibility of free discussion. The usual effect pace with the enlargelsment of the human understand- followed; and many who, if manly and open debate ing. The lofty claims of infallibility which she had upon theological subjects had been allowed, would set up and maintained during the middle ages, claims doubtless have been enabled to winnow the wheat which she could neither renounce nor modify, from the chaff, were, in the state of dalkness to now threatened, in more enlightened times, like which they were reduced, led to reject christianity battlements too heavy for the foundation, to itself, along with the corruptions of' the Romish be the means of ruining the edifice they were Church, and to become absolute infidels, instead of designed to defend. Yestigia nzlla retrorsumn, reformed christians. continued to be the motto of the Church of Rome. The long and violent dispute also betwixt the She could explain nothing, soften nothing, renounce jesuits and the jansenists had for many years tended nothing, consistently with her assertion of impecca- to lessen the general consideration for the church bility. The whole trash which had been accumu- at large, and especially for the higher orders of the lated for ages of darkness and ignorance, whether clergy. In that quarrel much had taken place that consisting of extravagant pretensions, incredible was disgraceful. The mask of religion has been assertions, absurd doctrines which confounded the often used to cover more savage and extensive perunderstanding, or puerile ceremonies which revolt- secutions; but at no time did the spirit of intrigue, ed the taste, were alike incapable of being explained of personal malice, of slander and circumvention, away or abandoned. It would certainly have been appear more disgustingly fiom, under the sacred (humanly speaking) advantageous, alike for the disguise; and in the eyes of the thoughtless and the Church of [Rome, and for christianity in general, vulgar the general cause of religion suffered in prothat the former had possessed the means of relin- portion. quishing her extravagant claims, modifying her more The number of the clergy who were thus indifferobnoxious doctrines, and retrenching her super- ent to doctrine or duty was greatly increased, since stitions ceremonial, as increasing knowledge show- the promotion to the great benefices had ceased to ed the inrjustice of the one, and the absurdity of the be distributed with regard to the morals, piety, other..13ut this power she dared not assume; and talents, and erudition of the candidates, but was hence, perhaps, the great schism which divides the bestowed among the younger branches of the nochristian world, which might otherwise never have blesse, upon men who were at little pains to reconexisted, or at least not in its present extended and cile the looseness of their former habits and opinions embittered state. But, in all events, the Chnrch of with the sanctity of their new profession, aid who, Rome, retaining the spiritual eumpire over so large embracing the church solely as a means of mainand fair a portion of the christian world, wonld not tenance, were little calculated by their lives or have been reduced to the alternative of either de- learning to extend its consideration. Among other fending propositions, which, in the eyes of all enlight- vile innovations of the celebrated regent Duke of ened men, are altogether untenable, or of beholding Orleans, he set the most barefaced example of such the most essential and vital doctrines of christianity dishonourable preferment, and had increased in confounded with them, and the whole system ex- proportion the contempt entertained for the hierposed to the scorn of the infidel. The more enlight- archy, even in its highest dignities, since how was ened and better informed part of the French nation it possible to respect the purple itself, after it had had fallen very generally into the latter extreme. covered the shoulders of the infamous Dubois? Infidelity, in attacking the absurd claims and It might have been expected, and it was doubtVOL VI. 2 _LI LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. less in a greet measure the case, that the respect of the moneyed interest of France, but a large paid to the (characters and efficient utility of the share of the landed property was also in their curates, upon whom, generally speaking, the charge possession. of souls actually devolved, might have made up fobr There was, moreover, the influence which many the want of consideration withheld from the higher plebeians possessed, as creditors, over those needy orders of the church. There can be no doubt that nobles whom they had se.ipplied with money, while this respectable body of churchmen possessed great another portion of the same class rose into wealth and deserved influence over their parishioners; and consideration, at the expense of the more but then they were themselves languishing under opulent patricians who were ruining themselves. poverty and neglect, and, as human beings, cannot Paris had increased to a tremendous extent, and be supposed to have viewed with indifference their her citizens had risen to a corresponding degree of surperiors enjoying wealth and ease, while in some consideration; and, while they profited by the luxury cases they dishonoured the robe they wore, and in and dissipation both of tile court and courtiers, had others disowned the doctrines they were appointed become rich in proportion as the governmlent and to teach. Alive to feelings so natural, and mingling privileged classes grew poor. Those citizens who with the middling classes, of which they formed a were thus enriched, endeavoured, by bestowing on most respectable portion, they must necessarily have their fanilies all the advantages of good education, become imbued with their principles and opinions, to counterbalance their inferiority of birth, and to andia very obvious train of reasoning would extend qualifty their children to support their part in the the consequences to their owvn condition. If the scenes to which their altered fortunes, and the state was encumbered rather than benefited by the prospects of the country, appeared to call thenm. privileges of the higher order, was not the church In short, it is not too much to say, that the middling in the same condition? And ifsecular rank was to classes acquired the advantages of wealth, conbe thrown open as a general object of ambition to sequence, and effective power, in a proportion more the able and the worthy, ought not the dignities of than equal to that in which the nobility had lost the church to be rendered more accessible to those these attributes. Thus, the third estate seemed to who, in humility and truth, discharged the toilsome increase in extent, number, and strength, like a duties of its inferior offices, and who might there- waxing inundation, threatening with every increasing fore claim, in due degree of succession, to attain wave to overwhelm the ancient and decayed barhigher preferment? There can be no injustice in riers of exclusions and immunities, behind which ascribing to this body sentiments which might have the privileged ranks still fortified themselves. been no less just regarding the church than advan- It was not in the nature of man, that the bold, tageous to themselves; and, accordingly, it was not the talented, the ambitious, of a rank which felt its long before this body of churchmen showed dis- own power and consequence, should be long continctly that thei- political vievws were the same with tented to remain acquiescent in political regulations, those of the third estate, to which they solemnly which depressed them in the state of society beneath united themselves, strengthening thereby greatly men to whom they felt themselves equal in all rethe first revolutionary movements. But their con- spects, excepting the factitious circumstances of duct, when they beheld the whole system of their birth or of church orders. It was no less impossible religion aimed at, should acquit the French clergy that they should long continue satisfied with the of the charge of' self-interest, since no body, consi- feudal dogma, which exempted the noblesse from dered as such, ever showed itself more willing to taxes, because they served the nation with their encounter persecution and submit to privation for sword, and the clergy, because they propitiated conscience' sake. Heaven in its favour with their prayers. The maxim, WVhile the noblesse and the church, considered however true in the feudal ages when it originatedl, as branches of the state, were thus divided amongst had become an extravagant legal fiction in the themselves, and fallen into discredit with the nation eighteenth century, when all the world knew that sat large; while they were envied for their ancient both the noble soldier and the priest were paid for immunities, without being any longer feared for their the services they no longer rendered to the state, power; while they were ridiculed at once and hated while the rotur'ier had both valour and learning to for the assumption of a superiority which their per- fight his own battles and perform his own desonal qualities did not always vindicate, the lowest votions; and when, in fact, it was their arms which order, the commons, or, as they were at that time combated, and their learning which enlightened termed, the third estate, had gradually acquired an the state, rather than those of the privileged orders. extent and importance unknown to the feudal ages, Thus, a body, opulent and important, and carryin which originated the ancient division of the es- ing along with their claims the sympathy of the tates of the kingdom. The third estate no longer, as whole people, were arranged in formidable array in the days of Henry IV., consisted merely of the against the privileges of the nobles and clergy, hunrghers and petty traders in the small towns of a and bound to further the approaching changes by feudal kilgdoml, bred up almost as the vassals of the strongest of human ties, emulation and selfthe nobles aond clergy, by whose expenditure they interest. anc:il-ed their living. Commerce and colonies had The point was stated with unusual frankness by it.(tirdlced velth, firom sources to which the nobles Emery, a distinmuished member of the National anl( t]he chur'c illelli hia(l no access. Not only a very Assembly, and a man of honour and talent. In the,'eat r pl}ortion of' the displosable capital vas in the course of a confidential communication with the cei:ot ls f thie tird estate, who tlls formed thle bulk lebrated Marquis de Bouill6, the latter had avowed e LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. I1 his principles of royalty, and his detestation of the I renouncing their aristocratic superiority,-which, on new constitution, to which he said he only rendered the contrary, was rendered more striking by the obedience because the king had sworn to maintain contrast,-permitted literary talents to be a passit. " You are right, being yourself a nobleman," port into their saloons. The wealthy financier, anti replied Emery, with equal candour; "and, had I opulent merchant, emulated the nobility in this as been born noble, such would have been my princi- in other articles of taste and splendour; and their pies; but I, a plebeian avocat, will adhere to that coteries, as well as those of the aristocracy, were constitution which has called me, and those of' my open to men of letters, who were in many cases rank, out of the state of incapacity and degradation contented to enjoy luxury at the expense of indein which the Revolution found us." pendence. Assuredly this species of patronage, Considering the situation, therefore, of the three while it often flowed from the vanity or egotism of, separate bodies, which, before the revolutionary the patrons, was not much calculated to enhance impulse comnmenced, were the constituent parts of the character of those who were protected. Prothe kingdom of France, it was evident, that in case fessors of literature, thus mingling inll the society of of a collision, the nobles and clergy might esteem the noble and the wealthy upon sufferance, held a themselves fortunate, if, divided as they were among rank scarce more high than that of musicians or themselves, they could maintain an effectual de- actors, from amongst whom individuals have often, fence of the whole or a portion of their privileges, by their talents and character, become members of while the third estate, confident in their numbers the best society, while the castes, to which such inand in their unanimity, were ready to assail and dividuals belong, remain in general exposed to the carry by storm the whole system, over the least most humiliating contempt. The lady of quality, breach which might be effected in the ancient con- who smiled on the man of letters, and the man of stitution. Lally TPolendal gave a comprehensive rank, who admitted him to his intimacy, still review of the state of parties in these words:-" The tained their consciousness that he was not, like commons desired to conquer, the nobles to preserve themselves, formed out of the " porcelain clay of what they already possessed. The clergy stood the earth," and even while receiving their bounties, inactive, resolved to join the victorious party. If or participating in their pleasures, the favourite there was a man in France who wished for concord sanant must often have been disturbed by the reand peace, it was the king." flection, that he was only considered as a creature of sufferance, whom the caprice of:action, or a sudden reaction of the ancient etiquette, might fling out of the CHAPTER II. society where he was at present tolerated. Under this disheartening, and even degrading inferiority, State of France continued.-State of pubtlic opiioen.-Men the man of letters might be tempted invidiously to, of letters encouraged by the great-Disadvantages compare the luxurious style of living at which he attending this patronage.-Licentious tendency of thle French literature-Their irreligious and infidel opi- sat a permitted guest, with his own paltry hired nions.-Fr ee opir iens en peliptics permitted to ie ex- apartment, and scanty and uncertain chance of suppressed in an abstract antd speculative, but not in a port. And even those of a nobler mood, when they practical form.-Disadvantages arising from the sup- had conceded to their benefactors all the gratitude pression of free tlisclussion.-Aniglomania.-Shetre of they could justly demand, must sometimes have reFrance in the American war.-Disposition of the troops gretted their own situation, wndo r~eturnedj fri~on Armrerica. Condemn'd as needy supplicants to wait, While ladies interpose and slaves debate. VVs have viewed France as it stood in its grand political divisions previous to the Revolution, and It followed, that many of the men of letters, thus we have seen that there existed strong motives for protected, became enemies of the persons as well as change, and that a great force was prepared to the rank of their patrons; as, for example, no one level institutions which were crumbling to pieces in the course of the Revolution expressed greater of' tlemselves. It is now necessary to review the hatred to the nobility than Chatnpfort, the favourite state of the popular nmind, and consider upon what and favoured secretary of the Prince of Cond6. principles, and to what extent, the approaching Occasions, too, must frequently lhave occurred, in changes were likely to operate, and at what point which the protected person was almost inevitably they nmight be expected to stop. Here, as with re- forced upon comparing his own natural and acquired spect to the ranks of society, a tacit-but almost total talents with those of his aristocratic patron, and the change had been operated in the feelings and senti- result could not be other than a dislike of the instimtlents of the public, principally occasioned, doubt- tutions which placed him so far behind persons less, by the great ascendancy acquired by literature whom, but for those prescribed limits, he must have -that tree of knowvledge of good and evil, which, passed in the career of honour and distinction. amidst the richest and most wholesome fruit, bears Hence arose that frequent and close inquiry into others, fair in show, and sweet to the taste, but hav- the origin of ranks, that general system of impugning ing the properties of the most deadly poison. the existing regulations, and appealing to the oriThe French, the most-ingenious people in Europe, ginal states of society in vindication of the original and the most susceptible of those pleasures which equality of mankind-hence those ingenious arguarise firom conversation and literary discussion, had mlents and eloquent tirades ini favour of primitive and carlv called in the assistance of men of genius to even savage independence, which tile patricians of enhance their relis'h for society. The nobles, without the day read and applauded with such a smile of LIFE OF NAPOLEO1 N BONAPARTE, mi.ned applause and pity, as they wouldt have given not the purport of these remarks to blame the French to the reveries of a crazed poet, while the inferior aristocracy bfor extending their patronage to learning ramnks, participating the feelings under which thley and to genius. The purpose was honourable to were written, caught the ardour of the eloquient themselves, and fraught with high advantages to the authors, and rose friom the perusal with minds pre- progoress of society. The favour of the great suppared to act, whenever action A should be necessary plied the vwant of public enootragement, and fosterto realize a vision so flattering. ed talent which otherwise might never have proit inight have been expected that those belongingt dnced its important and inappreciable fruits. But to the privileged classes, at least, would have caught it had been better for France, her nobility, and her the alarm, fionn hearing doctrines so fatal to their literature, 1had the patronage been extended in own interests avowed so boldly, and maintained some manner which did not intimately associate the wi-th so much talent. It imight have been thought two classes of men. The want of independence of that they would liave started, when Itaynal pro- circumstances is a severe if' not an absolute check claiimed to the nations of the earth that they could to itndependence of spirit; and thus it often happenonly be firee and happy when they had overthrown ed, that, to gratify the passions of their protectors, every throne and every altar; but no such alarm or to advance their interest, the mien of letters were,was t aken. Men of rank considered liberal priil- involved in the worst and most scandalous labyrinths cipies as the fashion of the day, and embraced theml of tracasserie, slander, and malignity; that they as the readiest mode of showing that they were were divided into desperate factions against each above vulgar prejudices. In short, they adopted other, and reduced to practise all those arts of dispolitical opinions, as they put on round hats and siiimulation, flattery, and intirigue, which are the jockey coats, merely because they were current in greatest shame of the literary profession. good society. They assumed the tone of' philo- As the eiglhteenth century advanced, the mnen of soplaers, as they would have done that of Arcadian literature rose in importance, and, navare of' their shepherds at a masquerade, but without any more own increasing power in a society whliich was dethoughts of sacrificing their own rank'and immunities pendent on theni ftr intellectual gratification, they in thCe one case, thllan of actually driving their flocks Supported each other in their claims to what began a-field in the other. Count Sdgur gives a most to be considered the dignity of a ian of letters. interesting accomlt of the opinions of the young This was soon carried into extremes, and assumed, Frenchliobles, in which he himself partook at this even in the halls of their protectors, a fhtnatical vioeventful period. lence of opinion, and a dogmatical niode of expresImpededt in this light career by the antiquated sion, which made the veteran Fortenelle declare pride of the old court, the irksome etiquette of' the himlself terrified for the frightful degree of certariZtfy old oider of things, the severity of the old clergy, that folks met with everywhere in society. The the areision of our parents to our new fashions and truth is, that men of letters, bein usually tuen of our costuLmes, which were favourable to the prin- mere theory, have no opportunity of measuring the ciples of equality, we felt disposed to adopt with opinions which they have adopted upon hypotletical enthusiasm the philosophical doctrines professed by reasoning', by the standard of' practical experiment. literary nien, remarkable fbr their boldness and their They feel their mental superiority to those whomn wit. Voltaire seduced our itmsagination; Rousseau they live with, and become habitual believers in, touched our hearts; we felt a secret pleasure in and assertors of, their own infallibility. lf modleraseeing that their attacks were directed against an tion, command of passions and of temper, be part old fabric, -vwhich presented to us a Gothic and ridi- of philosophy, we seldom find less philosophy acculous appearance. tusally displayed, than by a philosopher inl defence' \Ve were thus pleased at this petty war, al- of a favourite theory. Nor have we found thlat though it was undermining our own ranks and pri- churchmen are so desirous of forninug proselytes, vileges, and tile remains of our ancient power; but or soldiers of extending conquests, as philosophers we felt not these attacks personally; we merely of' making coniverts to their own opinions. witnessed them. It was as yet but a war of swords In France they had discovered the command and paper, which did not appear to us to threaten which they had acquired over the public mind, and the superiority of' existence we enjoyed, consolidat- united as they were (and more especially the Encyed, as we thought it, by a possession of many cen- clopedists), they augmented and secured that inturies. pression, by never permitting the doctrines which 4' ~ + they wished to propagate to die away upon the public "W'Xe were pleased with the courage of liberty, ear. For this purpose, they took care their docwhatever language it assumed, and with the con- tlines should be echoed, like thunder amrongst hills, venience of equality. There is a satisfaction in friom a hundred different points, presented in a descending fionl a high rank, as long as the resump- hundred new lights, illustrated by adlandred various tion of it is thought to be frtee and unobstructed; methods, until the public could no longer help reand regardless, therefore, of consequences, we en- ceiving that as undeniable which they heard fiom joyed our patrician advantages, together with the so many different quarters. They could also direct sweets of a plebeian philosophy." " every weapon of satirical hostility against those who We anxiously desire not to be mistaken. It is ventured to combat their doctrines, and as their wrath was neither easily endured nor pacified, they' Medmoires et Souvenuirs de M. de $Sgiur, vol. I, p. 41: drove fiom the field most of those authors, who, in 8vo, Paris, 1824. opposition to their opinions, might have exerted LIF E OF NAPOLE N 13NAPA 1 T 1 E. T? themselves as champions of the cl:r:ch and inol- }hturtful to delicacy and dangero-us t)o morals, inj the narchy. tl'uiation of their fluture character. The latter alsWVe have already'hinted at the disadvantages ternative was universally adopted3 for the curiouas under which literature labohrs, when it is under the will read as the thirsty will drink, though the clp protection of private individuals of opulence, rather ad page be polluted. than of the pulblic. Bat in yet another important So ftr hadc an indilfference to delicacy infiuersed. respect, the air of salons, ruelles, and boudoirs, the society of France, and so widely spread wava is fatal, in many cases, to the masculine spirit of this lhabitual inipurity of languiage and ideas, espephilosophical self-denial wvlich gives dignity to li- cially among those who pretended to philosophy,. terary society. They who make part oft' the gay that Mladalre Roland, a womian admirable for cousociety of a corrupted metropolis must lend their rage aind talents, and not, so far as appears, vicious countenance to follies and vices, if they do not in her private nmorals, not only mentions the profli-i themselves practise them; and hence, perhaps, gate novels of' Louvet as replete with the graces of French literature, amore than any other in Europe, imagination, the salt of criticism, and the tone of has been liable to the reproach of lending its power- philosophy, but affords the public, in her own perfil arm to undermine whatever was serious in son, details with which a courtezan of the hIigler morals, or hitherto considered as fixed in principle. class should be unwilling to season her private con, Some of their greatest authors, even Montesquieu versation.* himself, have varied their deep reasonings on the This license, with the corruption of morals, of origin of government, and the most proround pro- which it is both the sign and the cause, leads dsrectly blems of philosophy, with licenltious tales tending to feelinigs the most inconsistent with manly and to inflame the passions. Hence, partaking of the virtuous patriotism. Voluptuousness, and its conlicense of its professors, the degraded literature of sequences, render'the libertine incapable of relis.h modern times called in to its alliance that immora- for what is simply and abstractedly beautiful or lity, vhich not only christian, but even heathen sublime, whether in literature or in the arts, an0 philosophy had considered as the greatest obstacle destroy the taste, while they degrade and blunt the to a pure, wise, and happy state of existence. understanding. But, above all, such libertinism. The licentiousness which walked abroad in such leads to tl-e exclusive pursuit of selfish gratification, disgusting and undisgised nakedness was a part of for egotism is its foundation and its essence. Eotthe unhappy bequest left by the regent Duke of ism is necessarily the very reverse of patriotism, Orleans to the country which he governed. The since the one principle is founded exclusively iupolf decorum of the court during the times of Lonis XIV. the indlisidual's tpursuit of his own peculiar objects had pre vented such excesses; if there was enough of of pleasure or advantage, while the other demliamds vice, it was at least decently veiled. But the con- a sacrifice, not only of these individual pursuits, >but duct of Orleans and his minions was marked with of fortune and life itself, to the cause of the public open infamy, deep enough to have called down, 5n wveal. Patriotism has, accordingly, always been the age of miracles, ant immediate judgment from found to flourlish in that state of' society which is Heaven; and crimes which the worst of the Roman most favourable to the stern and manly virtues of emperors would have at least hidden iu his solitary self-denial, temperance, chastity, contempt of lxulrer, Isle of Caprea, were acted as publicly as if men patient exertion, and elevated contemplation; and uhad no eyes, or God no thunderbolts. the public spirit of a nation has invariably borne a From thwis filthy Cocyttis flowed those streams of just proportion to its private morala. impurity which disgraced France during the reign Religion cannot exist where immorality generally of Louis XV., and wlhich, notwitLstanding the prevails, any niore than a light can burn where the example of a prince who was himself a model of air is corrupted; and, accordingly, infidelity was so domestic virtue, continlued in that of Louis XVI. to general in France, as to predominate in almost every infect society, morals, and, above all, literature. rank of society. The errors of the Chrch lofiRome, We do not here allude merely to those lighter pieces as we have alleady noticed, connected as they are of indecency in which humour and fancy outrun the with her ambitious attempts towards dominion over bounds of delicacv, These are to be found in the men, in their temporal as well as spiritual capacity, literature of most nationls, and are generally in the had long become the argument of the philosophelr, hands of mere libertines and men of pleasure, so and tihe jest of the satirist; but in exploding these well acquainted with the practice of vice, that the pretensions, oand holding them up to ridictule, the theory cannot make them worse than they are. But philosophers of the age involved with them thile gethere was a strain of voluptuous and seducing irn- neral doctr-ines of' christianity itself; nay, some went morality which pervaded not only the lighter and so far as not only to deny inspiration, but to extingayer compositions of the French, but tinged the guish, by their sophistry, the lights of natural reliwritings of those who called the wclld to admire gion, implainted in our bosoms as a part of our birththern as poets of the highest mood, or to listen as to right. Like thie disorderly rabble at the tiume of thie philosophers of the most lofty pretensions. Voltaire, Ronsseau, Diderot, -Montesquieu -names wvhichl Rousseau, Diderot, Motesquie-names which Tihe particulars we allude to, though snppressem in the France must always esteem her hig'iest honour- u edii of imudae s Sreiers, air rstorei t1 o. * rJ~second edition ofMadaame Roland's.AfJtoires, are restored were so guilty in this particular, that thle young and im the collection of _Aimeoires respesting the Revolutioll, virtuous must either altogether abstain from wvorks ilow pubhlishing at Paris. This is fair play; for if the dewhich are everywhere the topic of' or-diary discus- tails lbe (iisgmusting, the light \hyiichl they cast upons the Clhaaion and admiration, or inust peruse Omuch that is rceter of the authocr is too valuable to be lost. i, —" hLIFE OF NAPOLEON BON ONAPARTE. Reformafton (but with infinitely deeper guilt), they should have looked on religion not alone with that not only pulled down the symbols of idolatry, which indifference, which was the only feeling evincd by ignorance or priestcraft had introduced into the the heathen philosophers towards the gross mythology christian church, but sacrilegiously defaced and of their time, but with hatred, malice, and all Undesecrated the altar itself. This work the philosa)- charitableness. One would rather have expected, pliers, as they termed themselves, carried on with that after such a review, men professing the real such an unlimited and eager zeal, as plainly to show spirit which searches after truth and wisdom, if that infidelity, as well as divinity, hath its fanaticism. unhappily they were still unable to persuade thermAn envenomed fury against religion and all its doc- selves that a religion so worthy of the Deity (if se ch trines; a promptitude to avail themselves of every an expression may be used) had emanated directly circunstance by which christianity could be misre- from revelation, might have had the modesty to lay presented; an ingenuity in mixing up their opinions their finger on their lip, and distrust their own judgin works which seemed the least fitting to involve ment, instead of disturbing the faith of others; or, if such discussions; above all, a pertinacity in slander- confirmed in their incredulity, amight have taken the inlg, ridiculing, and vilifying all who ventured to leisure to compute at least what was to be gained by oppose their principles, distinguished the corres- rooting up a tree which bore, such goodly fruits, tondents in this celebrated conspiracy against a without having the mneans of replacing i. by aught religion, which, however it may be defaced by which could produce the same advantage to the thuman inventions, breathes only that peace on earth, commonwealth. and good-will to the children of men, which was Unhappily blinded by self-conceit, heated with the proclaimed by Heaven at its divine origin. ardour of controversy, gratifying their literary pride If these prejudiced and envenomed opponents had by becoming members of a league, in which kings possessed half the desire of truth, or half the bene- and princes were included, and procuring followers volence towards mankind, which were eternally on by flattering the vanity of some, and stimulating the their lips, they would have formed the true estimate cupidity of others, the men of the most distinguished of the spirit of christianity; not from the use which parts in France became allied in a sort of anticrusade had been made of the mere name by ambitious against christianity, and indeed against religious priests or enthusiastic fools, but by its vital effects principles of every kind. How they succeeded is upon mankind at large. They would have seen, that too universally known; and when it is considered inder its influence a thousand brutal and sanguinary that these men of letters, who ended by degrading superstitions had died away; that polygamy had the imorals, and destroying the religion of so many of been abolished, and with polygamy all the obstacles the citizens of France, had been first called into which it offers to domestic happiness, as well as to public estimation by the patronage of the higher the due education of-youth, and the natural and gra- orders, it is impossible not to think of the Israelitish dual civilization of society. They must then have champion, who, brought into the house of Dagon to to regard with such horror, had first been gradually pulling it down upon the heads of the guests-and ameliorated, and finally abolished by the influence upon his own. of the christian doctrines-that there was no one We do not tax the whole nation of France with virtue tending to elevate mankind or benefit so- being infirmin religious faith, and relaxed in morals; ciety, which was not enjoined by the precepts they still less do we aver that the Revolution, which endeavoured to misrepresent and weaken-no one broke fbrth in that country, owed its rise exclusively vice by which humanity is degraded and society to the license and infidelity which were but too endangered, upon which christianity lath not im- current there. The necessity of a great change in posed a solemn anathema. They might also, in their the principles of the ancient French monarchy had capacity of philosophers, have considered the pe- its source in thle usurpations of preceding kings over iculiar aptitude of the christian religion, not ouIs to tIle liberties of the subject; and the opportunity for all ranks and conditions of mankind, but to all cli- effictiug this change was afforded by the weakness mates and to all stages of society. Nor ought it and pecuniary distresses of the present governmelt. to have escaped them, that the system contains Th'lese would have existed had the French court, and within itself a key to those difficulties, doubts, and her higher orders, retained the simple and virtuous mnysteries, by which the human mind is agitated, so manners of Sparta, united with the strong arid pure soon as it is raised beyond the mere objects which faith of primitive christians. The difference lay in interest the senses. Milton has made the maze of this, that a -simple, virtuous, and religious people metaphysics, and the bewildering state of mind would have rested content with such changes and which they engender, a part of the employment, and alterations in the constitution of their government, perhaps of the punishmlernt, of the lower regions. as might remove the evils of which they had just Christianity alone offers a clew to this labyrinth, a and pressing reason to complain. They would have solution to these melancholy and discouraging endeavoured to redress obvious and practical errors doubts; and however its doctrines may be hard to in the body politic, without being led into extremes unaided flesh and blood, yet explaining as they do either by the love of realizing visionary theories, the the system of the universe, which without them is so vanity of enforcing their own particular philosophiincomprehensible, and through their practical in- cal or political doctrines, or the selfish arguments of fluence rendering men in all ages more worthy to demagogues, who, in the prospect of bettering their act their part in the general plan, it seems -wonder- own situation by wealth, or obtaining scope for their ful how those, whose professed pursuit was wisdom, ambition, aspired, in the words of the dramatic poet, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 15 to throw the elements of society into confusion, and expense, was also selfish in its expenditure. The thus enriching of needy favourites, their relations, and their parasites, had none of the dazzling munificence - disturb the pace of all the w.orld, of the Grand Monarque; and while tile taxes beTo rule it when't was wildest. came daily more oppressive on the sutbjects, the It was to such men as these last that Heaven, in mode in which the revenue was employed not only punishment of the sins of' France and of Europe, and became less honourable to the court and less creditperhaps to teach mankind a dreadful lesson, aban- able to the country, but lost the dazzle and slhowo doned the management of the French Revolution, which gives the lower orders pleasure as the bethe original movements of which, so far as they went holders of a pageant. to secure to the people the restoration of their natu- The consolation which the imagination of the ral liberty, and the abolition of the usurpations of the French had found in the military honour of their crown, had become not only desirable through the nation seemed also about to fail them. The bravery change of times, and by the influence of public of the troops remained the same, but the genius of opinion, but peremptorily necessary and inevitable. the commanders, and the fortune of the monarch Th'l'lle feudal system of France, like that of the under whose auspices they fought, had in a great rest of Europe, had, in its original composition, all measure abandoned them, and the destiny of France the germs of national freedom. The great peers, in seemed to be on the wane. The victory of Fonte-.whose hands the common defence was reposed, noy was all that was to be placed in opposition to acknowledged the king's power as suzerain, obeyed the numerous disasters of the Seven Years' W~ar, his commands as their military leader, and attended in which France was almost every where else dehis courts as their supreme judge; but recognized no feated; and it was little wonder that, in a reign despotic authority in the crown, and were prompt to attended with so many subjects of mortification, the (lefend the slightest encroachment upon their own enthusiastic devotion of the people to the sovereign rights. If they themselves were not equally tender should begin to give way. The king had engrossed of the rights and liberties of their own vassals, their so much power in h's own person that he had acts of encroachment flowed not from the feudal become, as it were, personally responsible for every system, but from its imperfections. The tendency miscarriage and defeat which the country underand spirit of these singular institutions were to pre- went. Such is the risk incurred by absolute moserve to each individual his just and natural rights; narchs, who are exposed to all the popular obloqny but a system, almnost purely military, was liable to for mal-administration, from which, in limited gobe firequently abused by the most formidable soldier, vernments, kings are in a great measure screened and was, besides, otherwise ill fitted to preserve by the intervention of the other powers of the conrights which were purely civil. It is not necessary stitution, or by the responsibility of ministers for the to trace the progress from the days of Louis XIII. measures which they advise; while he that has downwards, by which ambitious monarchs, seconded ascended to the actual peak and extreme summit by able and subtle ministers, contrived to emanci- of power has no barrier left to secure him from the pate themselves from the restraints of their powerful tempest. vassals, or by whichl the descendants of these high Another and most powerful cause fanned the feudlatories, who had been the controlers of the rising discontent with which the French of the prince so soon as he outstepped the bounds of legi- eighteenth century began to regard the government titmate authority, were now ranked around the throne under which they lived. Like men awaking from a in the capacity of mere courtiers or satellites, who flattering dream, they compared their own condition deri ved their lustre solely fronm the favour of royalty. with that of the subjects of free states, and per. This unh)lhppy and short-sighted policy had, how- ceived that they had either never enjoyed, or had ever, accolmp)lished its end, and the crown had con- been gradually robbed of, the chief part of the most centred within its prerogafive almost the entire valuable privileges and immunities to which man liberties of the French nation; and now, like an may claim a natulral right. They had no national overgorged animal of prey, had reason to repent its representation of any kind, and but for the slender fatal voracity, while it lay almost helpless, exposed barrier offered by the courts of justice, or parliato the assaults of those whoml it had despoiled. ments, as they were called, were subject to unlimited We have already observed, that for a consider- exactions on the sole authority of the sovereign.able time the Frenchman's love of his country had The property of the nation was therefore at the disbeen transferred to the crown-that his national posal of the crown, which might increase taxes to delight in mnartial glory fixed his attachment upon any amount, and cause them to be levied by force, the monarch as the leader of his armies-and that if force was necessary. The pelsonal freedom of this feeling had supported the devotion of the nation the citizen was equally exposed to aggressions by to Louis XIV., not only during his victories, but lettres de cachet. Tile French people, in short, even amid his reverses. But the succeeding reign had neither, in the strict sense, liberty nor property, had less to impose onl the imagination. The erection and if they did not sffler all the inconveniences in of a palace obtains for the nation the praise of mag- practice which so evil a governlnert announces, it uificence, and the celebration of public and splendid was because public opinion, the softened tenmper of festivals gives the people at least the pleasure of a the age, and the good disposition of the kings themholiday; the pensioning artists and men of letters, selves, did not permit the scenes of cruelty and desagain, is hononrahle to the country which fosters the potism to be revived in the eighteenth century which arti; but the court of Lois XV., undiminished in Louis XI. had practised three ages before. 16 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. These abases, and others arising out of the dis- accurate knowledge of her malady, its symptoms, proportioned privileges of thle noblesse and the and its progress. In this manner the theory of clergy, who were exempted from contributing to government was kept studiously separated friom thle the necessities of the state-the unequal mode of practice. The political philosopher might, if' he levying the taxes, and other great errors of thle con- pleased, speculate upon the former, lbut he was stitltion-above all, the total absorption of every prohibited, under severe personal penalties, to illusrigllit and authority in the person of the sovereign- tr-ate the subject by any allusion to the latter. these were too gross in their nature, and too de- Thus, the eloquent and profound work of Montesstructive in their consequences, to have escaped quieu professed, indeed, to explain the general rights deep thought on the part of reflecting persons, and of the people, and the principles upon which governhatred and dikil;e from those who suffered more or ment itself rested; but his pages show no mode by less under the practical evils. which these could be resorted to for the reformation They had not, in particular, eluded the observa- of the constitution of his country. He laid before tion and censure of the acute reasoners and deep the patient a medical treatise on disease in general, thinkers, who had already become the guiding spirits instead of a special prescription, applying to his of the age; but the despotism under which they peculiar habits and distemper. lived prevented those speculations from assuming a In consequence of these unhappy restrictions practical and useful character. In a free country, upon open and manly political discussion, the French the wise and the learned are not only permitted, government, iri its actual state, Nwas never reprebut invited, to examine the institutions under which sented as capable of either improvement or regenerthey live, to defend them against the suggestions (ef ation; and while general and abstract doctrines of rash innovators, or to propose such alterations as the original fireedom were everywhere the sul)ject of lapse of timie and change of manners may render eulogy, it was never considered for a moment in necessary. Their disquisitions are, therefore, use- what manner these new and more liberal prlinciples filly and beneficially directed to the repair of the could be applied to the improvement of the existing exist;ug government, not to its demolition, and if system. The natural conclusion mast have been, that they propose alteration in parts, it is only for the the monarchical government in Firance was either purpose of securing the rest of the fabric. But in perfection in itself, and consequently stood in need France, no opportunity was permitted of fiee dis- of no reformation, or that it was so utterly iliconsistcussion on politics, any more than on matters of ent with the liberties of the people as to he sisreligion. ceptible of none. No one was hardy enough to An essay upon the French monarchy., showing by claini for it the former character, and, least of' all, what means the existing institutions might have been those who presided in its councils, and svelled to brought more into union with the wishes and wants acknowledge the imperfection of the system, lby of the people, must have procured for its author a prohibiting all discussion on the subject. It seerled, place in the Bastille; and yet subsequent events therefore, to follow, as no unfair inference, that to have shown, that a system, which might have intro- obtain the advantages which the new elementary duced prudently and gradually into the decayed doctrines held forth, and which wvere so desirable frame of the French governm.ent the spirit of liberty, and so much desiled, a total abolition of the existing which was originally inherent in every feudal mno- government to its very foundation was an indispensnarchy, would have been the most valuable present able preliminary; and there is little doubt that this Nwhicll political wisdom could have iendered to the opinion prevailed so generally at the tile of the country. The bonds which pressed so heavily on ]Revolution, as to prevent any firm or resulute stlan the subject might thus have been gradually slacken- being made in defence even of such of the actual ed, and at lengths totally removed, without the peril- institutions of France, as might have been amlalgaois expedient of casting theeln all loose at once. mated with the proposed reform. But the philosophers, wvho had certainly talents While all practical discussion of the constittltion sufficient for the pu:pose, were not permitted to of France, as a subject either above or Ieneath apply to the state of the French government the philosophical inquiry, was thus cautiously olmitted original princille:s on Mvbich it was founded, or to in those wor(tks which pretended to treat of civil trace the manner in'which tusurpations talnd abuses rights, that of England, with its counterpoises and had taken place, and lpropose a mode by which, checks, its liberal principle of equality of rights, tlhe without varying its f)rma those encroachments might security which it affords for personal liberty and ilbe restrainesl, and th.ose abuses corrected. An dividual property, and the free opportunlities of disauthor w as indeed at liberty to speculate at any cussion upon every sulbject, becamne natlrally the length upon general doctrines of government; lie sublject of eulogy amongst those who were awakenmigllt imagine to himself an Utopia or Atalantis, and ing their countrymen to a sense of the benefits of argue upon abstract ideas of the rights in which national freedom. The tine was past, when, as in governisment originates; but on no accouint was he tile days of Louis XIV., the French regarded the permnitted to render any of his lucubrations practi- institutions of the English with contempt, as fit only cally uisefill, by adlapting them to the municipal for merchants and shopkeepers, but unworthly of a regulations of France. The political sage was I nation of walriors, whose pride -was in their siborplaced, with regard to his country, in the condition dinationto their nobles, as that of the nobles consisted of a physician prescribing fstr the favourite sultala in obedience to their king. That prejudice had long of some jealous despot, whom he is required to cure passed away, and Frenchmen now admired, not withoult seeing his patient, and;sithout obtaining any without envy, the noble system of masculine freedom LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 17 which had been consolidated by the successive tial distinction, w\ere in general desirous of war, and efforts of so mlany patriots inso man;y ages. A sld- most of' thenl, the pupils of the celebrated.Encyden revulsion seemed to take pl;ce in teiir general clojy)die, were doubly delighted to lend their swords feelings towards tlieir neighllbors, and France, \\ Iho to the cause of' fiieedonm. The statesmen inagined had so long dictated to all Europe in matters of that they saw, in the success of the American insturfashion, seemed now herself disposed to borrow the gelots, the total downfall of thle English empire, more simple forms and fasllios of' ler ancient rival. or at least a fal descent fiom that pinnacle iof ditg. The spirit of imitating the English was carried even inity which she had attained at thle pleace of' 1763, to the verge of absurdity. Not only did Frenchilmen and they eagerly urged Louis XVI. to profit by tlhe of quality adopt tile round hat and frock coat, whichl oppolrtunity, hitherto sought in vain, of humbling a set etiquette at defiance-not only had they Eng- rival so formidable. In the courtly circles, and parlish carriages, dogs, and horses, but even Eng- ticularly in that which surrounded Marie Antoinette, lish butlers were hired, that the wite, which %; as the American deputation had the address or good the growth of France, might be placed on tile table fortune to become popular, by mingling in themn with the grace peculiar to England. These were, with manners and sentiments entirely opposite to indeed, the *mere ebullitions of fashion carried to those of courts and courtiers, and exhibiting, amid excess, but, like the foam on the crest of the billow, the extremity of refinement, in dress, speech, and they argued the depth and strength of the wave manners, a republican simplicity, rendered interestbeneath, and, insignificant in themselves, were for- ing both by the contrast, and by the talents which midable as evincing the contempt with which the Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane evinced, not French now regarded all those forms and usages only in the business of diplomacy, but in the interwhich had hitherto been thought peculiar to their course of society. Impelled by these and other own country. This principle of imitation rose to comnbining causes, a despotic government, whose such extravagance, that it was happily termed the subjects wvere already thoroughly imbued with opiAnglomania.+ nions hostile to its constitution in church and state, XWhile the young French gallants were emulously with a discontented people, and a revenue well employed in this mimicry of the English fashions, nigh bankrupt, was thrust, as if by fttality, into a relinquishing the external signs of rank which al- contest conducted upon principles most adrerse to ways produce some effect on the vulgar, men of its own existence. thought and reflection were engaged in analysing The king, almost alone,, whetller dreadingp the those principles of the British government, on which expense of a ruinous walr, whether alarmed already the national character has been formed, and which at the progress of democratic principles, or w\\Iletie have afforded her the means of rising from so many desirous of observing good faith with Engianrl;, conreverses, and maintaining a sway among the king- sidered that there ought to be a stronger mlotive ft:r, doms of Europe, so disproportioned to her popula- war, than barely the opportunity of' waging it with I tion and extent. success; the king, therefore, almost alone, opposed To complete the conquest of English opinions, this great political error. It was not the onlly oceven in France herself, over those of French origin, casion in which, wiser than his counsellois, is e i came the consequences of the American war. nevertheless yielded up to their urgency opinions Those true Frenchmen who disdained to borrow the founded in unbiassed morality, and,mupretendlilng sentiments of political freedom from England, might common sense. A good judgment, and a sounl now derive them from a country with whom France moral sense, were the principal attribtutes oft Iis could have no rivalry, but in whom, on the contrary, excellent prince, and happy it %would have been hladl she recognized the enemy of the island, in policy or they been mingled with more confidence in ihilselt, prejudice ternmed her own natural foe. The deep and a deeper distrust of others. sympathy manifested by the French in the success Other counsels prevailed over the private opiniiol of the Alerican insurgents, though diametrically of Louis-the war was commenced-successfdullv opposite to the interests of their government, or carried on, and victoriously concluded. We lase perhaps of the nation at large, was compounded of seen that the French auxiliaries brought witit them!l too many ingredients, influencing all ranks, to be to America minds apt to receive, if not alreeady- illaovercome or silenced by cold considerations of poli- bued with, those principles of freedom for whvich tical prudence. The nobility, always eager of mar- the colonies had taken up arms against thle mnothe country, and it is not to be wondered if ilh re-' An instance is given, ludicrous in itself, but almost turned to France strongly prepossessed in ft'voulm oft proplhetic,. whern connected with subsequent events. A a cause, for which they had encountered da-iger, courtier, deeply infected with the fashion of the time, was and in which the3 had reaped honour. riding beside the king's carriage at a full trot, without ob- The inferior offiers of tls French auxiliary;ll, serving that his horse's heels threw the mud into the royal chiefly men of birth, agreably to the eFistii hlules vehicle. " Vous e croltez, monsieur," said the king. of the French service, belonged, most of tem, t The horsemnan, considetrinI tie words wrere'' Vos trot- of the French service, belonged, most of them, to The horseman, considtering the words were " Voms trottce," and that the prince complimented his equestrian per- + By some young enthusiasts, thp assumptiuon of repubformance, ansuwered, "O t, sire, ed l'anglaise." The good- lican habits was carried to all the heights of revolutionary humtoured monarch drew up the glass, and only said to the affectation and extravagance. SUgur mentions a young gentleman itl the carriage, " Voiir/ see anglonzanlie bient coxcomb named Mauduit, who already distinguished hinforte!" Alas! the unlliappy prince lived to see the example self by renouncing the ordinary courtesies of life, and inof England, in hler most dismnal period, followed to a muach sisted on being called by his christian and surname, withmore formidable extent. out the usual addition of Monsieur. VOL. vt. I8 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. the class of country nobles, who, from causes already the Revolution derived many of its most formidable noticed, were far from being satisfied with the champions, and it was their example which detached system which rendered their rise diifficult, in the a great proportion of the French soldiers from their only profession which their prejudices, and those of natural allegiance to their sovereign, which had France, permitted them to assume. The proportion been for so many ages expressed in their war-cry of plebeians who had intruded themselves, by con- of' Vive le roi! and which was revived, though nivarnce and indirect means, into the -military ranks,;with an altered object, in that of Vive l'empereur! looked with eagerness to some change which should There remains but to notice the other proximate give a free and open career to their courage: and cause of the Revolution, but which is so intimately their ambition, and were proportionally discontented connected with its rise and progress, that we cannot with regulations which were recently adopted, cal- disjoin it from oulr brief review of the revolutionary culated to render their rise in the army more dilli- movement to which it gave the first decisive imcult than before.* In these sentiments were united pulse. the whole of the non-commissioned officers, and the ranks of the common soldiery, all of whom, confiding in their own courage and fortune, now became indignant at those barriers which closed against them the road to military advancement, and to Prxi te cause f the Revolution.-Dernged stale of the finances.-Ref'orms in the royal hoeusehold.-Systenz superior command. The officers of superior rank, of Turyot and Necker-Necker's exposition of the state who derived their descent from the high noblesse, of the public revenue. —T'e Red book.-Necker diswere chiefly young men of ambitious enterprise and placed —Succeeded by Calonnle.-G'eneral state of the *warm imaginations, whom not only a love of honour, revenue. —Assembly of the Notables.-Calonnerdismissed. but an enthusiastic feeling of devotion to the new -Archbisheopof Sens administrator of thefinances.-The philosophy, and the political principles which it king's contest with the pariiament.-Bed of Jusltice.-Reinculcatedl, had called to arms. Amongst these sistance of the parliament, and general disorder in the were locFlambeau, La Fayette, the Lamethls, Chas- kingdom.-Vacillating policy of the mninister-Royal tellux, S6gur, and others of exalted rank, but of no Sztting-Scheme of forming a Cour Pldnibre-It proves less ex-alted feeling~s for the popular cause. They ineffectual.-Archbishop of Sens retires, and is succeeded by Necker-He resolves to convoke the States-general. readily forgot, in the full current of their enthu-Second Assembly of Notables previous to convlocation siasni, that their own rank inl society was endan- of the States.-Qestionsas to the nsubers of sehich the gered by the progress of popular opinions, or if they Tiers Etat should consist, and the mode in which the Es-at all reomembered that their interest was thus impli- tates should deliberate. cated, it was with the generous disinterestedness of youth, prompt to sacrifice to the public advantage XvE have already compared the monarchy of whatever of selfish immunities was attached to France to an ancient building, which, however detheir own condition. cayed by the wasting injuries of time, may long The return of the French army from America remain standing, fiom the lere adhesion of itsparts, tihis brought a strong body of auxiliaries to the po- unless it is assailed by some sudden and unexpected pular and now prevalent opinions; and the French shock, the immediate violence of which completes love of military glory, which had so long been the the ruin which the lapse of ages had only prepared. safeguard of the throne, became now intimately Or if its materials have become dry and combusidentified with that distinguished portion of the tible, still they may long wait for the spark which army which had been so lately and so successfully is to awake a general -conflagration. Thus, the m-oengaged in defending the claims of the people narchical government of France, notmithstanding against the rights of an established government. the unsoundness of all its parts, mighlt have for Their laurels were green and newly gathered, while some time continued standing and unconsumled, nay, those which had been obtained in the cause of with timely and judicious repairs, might have been nionarchy were of an ancient date, and tarnished entire at this moment, had the state of the finances by the reverses of the Seven Years' War. The re- of the kingdom permitted the monarch to temporize ception of the returned soldiery and their leaders with the existing discontents and the progress of new was proportionally enthusiastic; and it became soon opinions, %without increasing the taxes of a people evident, that when the eventful struggle betwvixt already greatly oxerburthened, and now become the existing monarchy and its adversaries should fuilly sensible that these burthens were unequally commence, the latter were to have the support in imposed, and sometimes prodigally dispensed. sentiment, and probably in action, of-that distin- A government, like an individual, may'be guilty guished part of the army, which had of late main- of many acts, both of injustice and folly, with some tained and recovered the military character of chance of impunity, provided it possess wealth France. It was, accordingly, from its ranks that enough to command partisans and to silence oppo* Plebeians formerly got into the army by obtaining the ition; ad istory shows us, that as, on the ore subscription of four men of noble birth, attesting their pa- hand, wealthy and money-saving monarchs have trician descent; and such certificates, however false, could usually been able to render themselves most indealways be obtained for a small sum. But by a regulation pendent of their subjects, so, on the other, it is from of the Count Sgur, after the American war, candidates needy princes, and when exchequers are empty, for the military profession were obliged to produce a certi- that the people have obtained grants favourable to ficate of noble birth from the king's genealogist, in addition freedom in exchange for their supplies. The period to the attestations which were formerly held sufficient. of pecuniary distress in a government, if it be that LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 19 when the subjects are most exposed to oppression, banishment of its members from Paris; but notis also the crisis inwhich they have the best chance withstanding this temporary Victory, he is said to of recovering their political rights. have predicted that his successor might not come off It is in vain that the constitution of a despotic from the renewed contest so successfully. government endeavours, in its forms, to guard against Louis XVI., with the plain well-meaning honesty the dangers of such conjunctures, by vesting in the which marked his character, restored the parliasovereign the most complete and unbounded right ments to their constitutional powers immediately on to the property of his subjects. This doctrine, how- his accession to the throne, having the generosity to ever ample is theory, cannot in practice be carried regard their resistance to his grandfather as a merit beyond certain bounds, without producing either rather than an offence. In the meanwhile, the privy conspiracy or open insurrection, being the revenue of the kingdom had fallen into a most disviolent symptoms of the outraged feelings and ex- astrous condition. The continued and renewed hausted patience of the subject, which in absolute expense of unsuccessful wars, the supplying the monarchies supply the want of all regular political demands of a luxurious court, the gratifying hungry checks upon the power of the crown. Whenever courtiers, and enriching needy favourites, had octhe point of human sufferance is exceeded, the des- casioned large deficits upon the public income of pot must propitiate the wrath of an insurgent people each successive year. The ministers, meanwhile, with the head of his minister, or he may tremble for anxious to provide for the passing moment of their his own.* own administration, were satisfied to put off the evil In constitutions of a less determined despotical day by borrowving money at heavy interest, and leascharacter, there almost always arises some power ing out, in security of these loans, the various sources of check or control, however anomalous, which ba- of revenue to the farmers-general. On their part, lances or counteracts the arbitrary exactions of the these financiers used the government as bankrupt sovereign, instead of the actual resistance of the prodigals are treated by usurious money-brokers, subjects, as at Fez or Constantinople. This was who, feeding their extravagance with the one hand, the case in France. with the other wring out of their ruined fortunes the No constitution could have been more absolute most unreasonable recompense for their advances. in theory than that of France, for two hundred years By a long succession of these ruinous loans, and past, in the matter of finance; but yet in practice the various rights granted to guarantee them, the there existed a power of control in the parliaments, whole finances of France appear to have fallen into and particularly in that of Paris. These courts, total confusion, and presented an inextricable chaos though strictly speaking they were constituted only to those who endeavoured to bring them into order. for the administration of justice, had forced them- The farmers-general, therefore, however obnoxious selves, orbeen forced by circumstances, into a cer- to the people, who considered with justice that tain degree of political power, which they exercised their overgrown fortunes were nourished by the lifein control of the crown, in the imposition of new blood of the community, continued to be essentially taxes. It was agreed on all hands, that the royal edicts, necessary to the state, the expenses of which they enforcing such new impositions, must be registered alone could find means of defraying;-thus support.. by the parliaments; but while the ministers held ing the government, although Mirabeau said with the act of registering such edicts to be a deed purely truth, it was only in the sense in which a rope supministerial, and the discharge of a function imposed ports a hanged man. by their official duty, the magistrates insisted, on Louis XVI., frilly sensible of the disastrous state the other hand, that they possessed the power of of the public revenue, did all he could to contrive a deliberating and remonstrating, nay, of refusing to remedy. He limited his personal expenses, and those register the royal edicts, and that, unless so regis- of his household, with a rigour which approached tered, these warrants had no borce or effect. The to parsimony, and dimmed the necessary splendour parliaments exercised this powver of control on va- of the throne. He abolished many pensions, and rions occasions; and as theirinterference was always by doing so not only disobliged those who were deon behalf of the subject, the practice, however ano- prived of the instant enjoyment of those gratuities, malous, was sanctioned by public opinion; and, in but lost the attachment of the much more numerous the absence of all otherrepresentatives of the people, class of expectants, who served the court in the France naturally looked up to the magistrates as the hope of obtaining similar gratifications in their turn.* protectors of her rights, and as the only power which Louis XV. had the arts if not the virtues of f monarch. could offer even the semblance of resistance to the He asked one of his ministers what he supposed might be arbitrary increase of the burthens of the state. These the price of the carriage in which they were sitting. The functionaries cannot be charged with carelessness minister, making a great allowance for the monarch's or cowardice in the discharge of their duty; and as paying en prince, yet guessed within two-thirds less than taxes increased and became at the samle time less the real sum. When the king natned the actual price, the productive, the opposition of the parliaments be- statesman exclaimed, but the monarch cut him short. "Do came more formidable. Louis XV. endeavoured to not attempt," he said, "to reform the expenses of my break their spirit by suppression of their court, and household. There are too many, and too great men, who have their share in that extortion, and to make a reform+ When Bonaparte expressed much regret and anxiety ation would give too much discontent. No minister can on account of the assassination of the Emperor Paul, he attempt it with success or with safety." This is the picture was comforted by Fouche with words to the following effect; of the waste attending a despotic government-the cup -" Que voulez-vots? c'est ttn mode de destituttiont propre c which is filled to the very brim cannot be lifted to the lips,e pays-d!' without wasting the contents. I20 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Lastly, he, dismissed a very large proportion of his might have been refolrmed instead of being dehousehold troops and body-guards, affording another stroyed. subject of discontent to the nobles, out of whose Unhappily, convulsions of-the state became from families these corps were recruited, and destroying day to day more violent. and Louis XVI., who poswith his own hand a force devotedly attached to sessed the benevolence and good intentions of his the royal person, and which, in the hour of popular ancestor, Henry IV., watnted his nilitary talents, fury, would have been a barrier of inappreciable and his political firmness. In consequence of this value. Thus, it was the misfortune of this well- deficiency, the king suffered himself to be distracted mneaning prince, only to weaken his own cause and by a variety of counsels; and vacillating, as all must endanger his safety, by those sacrifices, intended who act more firom a general desire to do that which is to relieve the burthens of the people, and supply the right, than upon any determinedand well-considered wants of the state. systenm, he placed his power and his character at The king adopted a broader and more effectual the mercy of the changeful course of events which eourse of reform, by using the advice of upright and firmness might have at least combated, if it could skilful ministers, to introduce, as far as possible, not control. But it is remarkable, that Louis resome degree of' order into the French finances. sembled Charles I. of England more than any of his Turgot, Malesherbes, and Necker, were persons of own ancestors in a want of self-confidence, which unquestionable skill, of sound views, and undisputed led to fiequent alterations of mind and changes of integrity; and although the last-named minister measures, as well as in a tendency to uxoriousness, finally sunk in public esteem, it was only because which enabled both Henrietta Maria, and Marie circumstances had excited such an extravagant opi- Antoinette, to use a fatal influence upon their counnion of his powers, as could not have been met and sels. Both sovereigns fell under the same suspicion realized by those of the first financier who ever lived. of being deceitful and insincere, when perhaps both, These virtuous and patriotic statesmen did all in but certainly Louis, only changed his course of contheir power tow keep afloat the vessel of the state, duct from a change of his own opinion, or from salfand prevent at least the increase of the deficit, fering himself to be over-persuaded, and deferring to which now arose yearly on the public accounts. the sentiments of others. They, and Necker in particular, introduced economy Few monarchs of' any country, certainly, have and retrenchment into all departments of the reve- changed their niinstry, and fwith their ministry their nue, restored the public credit without increasing councils and meas'res, so often as Lotuis X VI.: the national burthens, and, by obtaining loans on and with this ullhappy consequence, that he neither reasonable terms, were fortunate enough to find funds persevered in a film and sev ere course of' govetlntbr the immediate support of the American war, ex- meat long enough to inspire respect, nor in a concipensive as it was, without pressing on the patience liatory and yielding policy for a sufficient time to of the people by new impositions. Could this state propitiate regard and inspire confidence. It is with of matters have been supported for some years, regret we notice this imperfection in a character opportunities might in that time have occurred for otherwise so excellent; but it was one of the leadadapting the French mode of government to the new ing causes of the Revolution, that a prince, poslights which the age afforded. Public opinion, sessed of power too great to he either kept or iejoined to the beneficence of the sovereign, had al- signed with safety, hesitated between the natu;Tal ready wrought several important and desirable resolution to defend his hereditary prerogative, and changes. Many olbnoxious and oppressive laws had the sense of justice which induced him to restore been expressly abrogated, or tacitly suffered to be- such part of it as had been usurped from the come obsolete, and there never sate a king apon people by his ancestors. By adhering to the one the French or any other throne, more willing than course, he might lhave been the conquer-or of the teLouis XVI. to sacrifice his own personal interest volution; by adopting the other, he had a chance to and prerogative to whatever seemed to be the benefit be its guide and governor; by hesitating between of the state. Even at the very commencement of them, he becamuse its victim. his reign, and when obeying only the dictates of his It was in consequence of this vacillation of )mrown beneficence, he reformed the penal code of pose that Louis, in 1781, sacrificed Turgot il(nd France, which then savoured of the barbarous times Necker to the intrigues of the court. These statesin which it had originated-he abolished the use of men had firmed a plan for new-modeling tile finantorture-he restored to freedom those prisoners of cial part of the French monarchy, which, while state, the mournful inhabitants of the Bastille and it should gratify the people by admitting reptresentother fortresses, who had been the victims of his atives on their part to some influence in thle impograndfather'sjealousy-the compulsory labouri called sition of new taxes, might have released the king the corvye, levied from the peasantry, and one prin- froom the interference of the parliaments (whose ofcipal source of popular discontent, had been abo- fice of remonstrance, although valuable as a shelter iished in some provinces and modified in others- from despotism, was often arbitrarily, and even and while the police was under the regulation of the factiously exercised), and Lave transferred to the sage and virtuous Malesherbes, its arbitrary powers dilect representatives of the people that superinhad been seldom so exercised as to become the sub- tendance, which ought never to have been in other ject of complaint. In short, the monarch partook of hands. the influence ofpublic opinion along with his subjects, For this purpose the ministers proposed to instiand there seemed just reason to hope, that, had tute, in the several provinces of France, convocatimes remained moderate the monarchy of France tions of a representative nature, one half of whom e,_ ___ _.____ __ __,,,...-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 21 wvas to be chosen from the commons, or third estate, mical arrangements, by which lie proposed to proand the other named iby the nobles and clergy in vide for this deficiency, without either incurring equal proportions, and which assemblies, without debt or burthening the subject with additional taxes. l;aving tihe right of rejecting the edicts imposing new But althougll this general exposur1e ofthe expenses taxes, were to apportion them amongst the subjects of the state, this appeal from the government to the ot their several provinces. This system contained people, had the air of a frank and generous proin it much that was excellent, and might have ceeding, and was, in fact, a step to the great conopened the road for further improvements on the stitutional point of establishing in the nation and its constitution; while, at the same time, it would pro- representatives the sole power of granting supplies, bably, so early as 1781, have been received as a there may be d(lobt whether it was not rather too boon, by which the subjects were called to parti- hastily resorted to. Those from whose eyes the cipate in the royal councils, rather than as a conces- cataract has been removed, are for some time desion extracted from the weakness of the sovereign, prived of light, and, in the end, it is supplied to or from his despair of his own resources. It af- them by limited degrees; but that glare which was forded, also, an opportunity peculiarly desirable in at once poured upon the nation of France served to France, of forming the minds of' the people to the dazzle as many as it illuminated. The Comz7pte discharge of public duty. The British nation owe Rendet was the general subject of conversation, not much of the practical benefits of their constitution only in coffee-houses and public promenades, but to the habits with which almost all men are trained in saloons and ladies' boudoirs, and amongst society to exercise some public right in head-courts, yes- better qualified to discuss the merits of the last cotries, and other delilberative bodies, where their medy, or any other frivolity of the day. The very minds are habituated to the course of business, and array of figures had something ominous and terrible accustomed to the manner in which it can be most in it, and the word dcficit was used, like the name regularly dispatched. This advantage would have of Marlborough of old, to firighten children with. been supplied to the French by Necker's scheme. To most it indicated the total bankruptcy of the But with all the advantages which it promise(i, nation, and prepared many to act with the selfish this plan of provincial assemblies miscarried, owing and short-sighted policy of sailors, who plunder the to the emulous opposition of tile Parliament of Paris, cargo of their own vessel in the act of shipwreck. who did not chuse that any other body than their Others saw, in the account of expenses attached own should be considered as the guardians of what to the person and dignity of the prince, a wasteful remained in France of' popular rights. expenditure, which in that hour of avowed necesAnother measure of Necker was of more dubious sity a nation might well dispense with. Men began policy. This was the printing and publishing of his to number the guards and household pomp of the Report to the Sovereign of the state of the revenues sovereign and his court, as the daughters of Lear of France. Tile minister probably thought this dis- did the train of their father. The reduction already play of candour, which, however proper in itself, commenced might he carried, thought these lprowas hitherto unknown in the French administra- vident persons, yet farther:tion, might be useful to tile king, vhom it represented as acquiescing in public opinion, and appearing not only ready, bult solicitous to collect the senti- And no doubt some, even at this early period, arments of his subjects on the business of the state. rived at the ultimate conclusion, Necker might also deem the Conzpte Rezcdte a Wlhat needs ONE? prudent measure on his own account, to secure the popular favour, and maintain himself by the public Besides the domestic and household expenses of esteem against the influence of court intrigue. Or the sovereign, which, so har as personal, were on lastly, both these motives might be mingled with the the most moderate scale, the public mind was mtnuclI natural vanity of showing the world thrat France en- more justly revolted at the large sumo yearly squlaljoyed, in the person of'Necker, a mriniister bold enough dered among needy courtiers and their dependents, to penetrate into the labyrinth of confusion and or even less justifiably lavished upon, those whose obscurity which had been thought inextricable by rank and fortune ought to have placed them ftar all his predecessors, and was at length enabled to above adding to the burthens of the slbjects. The render to the sovereign and people of France a king had endeavoured to abridge this list of gratuitdetailed and balanced account of the state of their ies and pensions, but the systemi of' corruption w\ich finances. had prevailed for two centuries was not to be abolishNeither did the result of' the national balance- ed in an instant; the throne, already totter-ing, corld sheet appear so astounding as to require its being not immediately be deprived of tile band cf' sticoncealed as a state mystery. The deficit, or tile pendiary grandees whom it Ihad so long mllainltained, balance, by which the expenses of government ex- and who afforded it their countenance in retulrn, and ceeded the revenue of tie coun:try, by no means in- it was perhaps impolitic to fix the attention of the dicated a desperate state of finance, or one which public on a disclosure so peculiarly invidious, until rmust either demand imlense sacrifices, or otherwise the opportunity of correcting it should arrive;-it lead to national bankruptcy. It did not greatly was like the disclosure of a wastimg sore, useless exceed the annual defalcation of' two imillions, a and disgusting unless when shown to a surgeon, and sum which, to a colurtry so fertile as France, miglt for the purpose of' cure. Yet, though the account even be termred trifling. At the satire timre, Necker rendered by the mninister of the finances, while it broughlt forward a variety of reductions and econo- passed frorm the hand of one idler to another, and 22' LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. occupied on sofas and toilets the place of the latest ceeded by disappointment, enabled them to manovel, did doubtless engage giddy heads in vain and ture. dangerous speculation, something was to be risked Such a faLtal interval, however, was suffered to in order to pave the way of regaining for the French intervene between the first idea of conmoking the subjects the right most essential to freemen, that of' States-general, and the period wvhen that measure granting or refusing their own supplies. The publi- became inevitable. Without this delay, the king, city of the distressed state of the finances induced a invested with all his royal prerogatives, and at the genelal conviction that the oppressive system of'tax- head of the military force, might have surrendered ationl, and that of approaching bankruptcy, which with a good grace such parts of his power as were was a still greater evil, could only be removed or inconsistent with tile liberal opinions of the time, avoided by resorting to the nation itself; convoked and such surrender must have been received as a in their ancient form of representation, which was grace, since it could not have been exacted as a called the States-general. sacrifice. The conduct of tile government, in the It was true that, through length of time, the na- interim, towards the nation whose representatives it ture and powers of this body were forgotten, if was shortly to meet, resembled that of an insane indeed they had ever been very thoroughly fixed: person, who should by a hundred teasing and vexaand it was also true that the constitution of the tious insults irritate into frenzy the lion, who)se cage States-general of 1614, which was the last date of lie was about to open, and to whose fury lie must their being assembled, was not likely to suit a period necessarily be exposed. when the country was so much changed, both in Necker, whose und:obtf d honesty, as well as character and circumstances. The doubts concern- his republican candour, hard reidered hmll highly ing the composition of the medicine, and its probable popular, had, under the influence of the olMl init.riguer effects, seldoml abate the patient's confidence. All Maurepas, been dismissed fioui his (ffice as Ilirlnister joined in desiring the convocation of this represent- of finance, in 1781.''The witty. versatile, selfish, ative body, and all expected that such an assembly and cunning Maurepas had the art to hi(ld his power would be able to find some satisfactory remedy fobr till the last moment of his lonig life, and died at the the pressing evils of the state. The cry was general, moment when the knell of' death was a s!ilillons to and, as usual in such cases, few who joined in it call him fi-om impending ruin. H[e made, according knew exactly what it Nwas they wanted. to an expressive noitLern proverlb the " day and Looking back on the period of 1780, %with the way alike long;" and died just ali)it the )period advantage of our own experience, it is possible to when the system of evalsion altl palli;,t:on, of Isusee a chance, though perhaps a doubtful one, of rious loans'and lavish l)ounties, coul(l s('arce have avoiding the universal shipwreck which was fated to served lonigel to save ihim fiorm disgraice. Vergeiml es, ensue. If the royal government, determining to who succeeded hiiii, was, like hlimsiself, a courtier gratify the general wish, had taken the iniitiative in rather than a statesman; imore stl!i,:ws to preserve conceding the great national measure as a boon flow- his own power by cot tmlllin tile salne systerlm of ing from the prince's pure good-will and love of his partial expedients and temnporary shifts, lth]i willing subjects, and if measures had been taken rapidly to hazard thle king's fitvour, or the Iollaityv ( f hlis and decisively to secure seats in these bodies, but admiiistration, by atte.niptilng any schicime ift: terXl:iparticularly in the tiers etat, to men knowvn for their neent utility or gen.eral rel;rmnatilml.;llllnne, the moderation and adherence to tile imonarchy, it seemns minister of finance, s ho ihad soct ceerced tot tlat tfti('e probable that the crown might have secredl such ali after the brief adiministatiouns of Fliury a d dl Oiinterest in a body of its own creation, as would have messon, called on by lis duhty tio tlhe imost,l fl-icult silenced the attempts of any heated spirits to hurry ant embarrassing braiucll orf o erlitienlt, \;is posthe kingdom into absolute revolution. Tl'he reverence sessed of a rmore compllllrehllrsi e ei-llsl, al1 tlole paid to tile throne for so many centuries had yet all determiniied coirnage, tilan hils ii,'i ip;l, Vitrg tlllces. the influence of unassailed sanctity; the king vwas So early as thle year 1784, thle dltic;ient,' i;etwixt tie still the master of an army, comnllanlded unlder him1 receipts of the whole i eventles ol tire state, fndl tile by his nobles, and as yet animrated by the splirit of expendi'iire, extenrdeei to six hl red lll cm'ightvloyalty, which is the natural attribute of the military four milliois of livies, in Britishl mnmlev abouit etqual profession; the minds of menl were not wariied at to twenty-eight mllipons four hIuIndred thoulsand once, and wearied, by a fruitless anlel chicauing de- pounds sterling; but thienl a certauin liar e portionl of lay, which only showed the extreme indisposition of this debt consisted in aiiiiumities grantedl by governthe court to grant u hat they had no means of ullti- mlent, whilch were iunlllanlly iin the traill of beingl exmiately refifusing; nor had public opinion Net been ting uished by the death of the hollders; alld there agitated by the bold discussions of a thlousanld las ample room for saving, ill the nlode ofcollectinl pamphleteers, who, under pretence of' enlighlteninii the various taxes. So that, large as the sum of dethe people, lrepossessed thleir minnds with thte olst iicit appeared, it could not hlave been very forllidextreme ideas of the popular character of tile lepre- able, considering the resources of so rich a country; sentation of the tiers 6tat, and its sluperli(rltv over but it was necessary, that the pressure of new bumrevery other power of thIe state. AnIbitious and nl- dens, to be imposed at this exigence, should be equal;.scrupulous men would theni hardly have had the divided amongst the orders of the state. Thle third time or boldness to forlni those audacious pretensions estate, or coliinons, had been exhaisted nniler thle which their ancestors dreamed not of, and wllic, weight of taxes, which fell upon them alone, and the course of six or seven years of protracted ex- Calomlne formled the bold and laudable design of compectation, and successive renewals of hope, stc- pellilng the clergy and nobles, hitherto exempted LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 23 from taxation, to contribute their share to the re- which went to establish taxation upon a just and venues of the state. equal principle, affecting the rich as well as the This, however, was, in the present state of the poor, the proud prelate and wealthy noble, as well public, too bold a scheme to be carried into execu- as the industrious cultivator of the soil. tion without the support of something resembling a Caloune having retired to England from popular popular representation. At this crisis, again might hatred, his perilous office devolved upon the ArchLouis have summoned the States-general, with bishop of Sens, afterwards the Cardinal de Lomidnie, some chance of uniting their suffrages with the who was raised to the painful pre-eminence'Y by wishes of the crown. The king would have found the interest of the unfortunate Marie Antoinette, himself in a natural alliance with the commons, in a whose excellent tqualities were connected with a plan to abridge those immunities, which the clergy spirit of state-intrigue proper to the sex in such and nobles possessed, to the prejudice of the third elevated situations, which but too frequently thwlart. estate. He would thus, in the outset at least, have ed or bore down the more candid intentions of her united the influence and interests of the crown with husband, and tended, though on her part unwittingly, those of the popular party, and established some- to give his public measures, sometimes adopted on thing like a balance in the representative body, in his own principles, and sometimes influenced by her which the throne must have had considerable weight. intrigues and solicitations, an appearance of XvacillaApparently, Calonne and his principal, Vergennes, tion, and even of duplicity, which greatly inillred were afraid to take this manly and direct course, as them both in the public opinion. The new minister indeed the ministers of an arbitrary monarch can finding it as difficult to deal with the assembly of rarely be supposed willing to call in the did of a notables as his predecessor, the king finally dlisbody of popular representatives. The ministers en- solved that body, without having received fi-om tile n deavoured, therefore, to supply the want of a body either the countenance or good counsel wihich had like the States-general, by summoning together an been expected, thus realizing the opinion expressed assembly of what was termned the notables, or prin- by Voltaire concerning such convocations: cipal persons in the kingdom. This was in every sense an unadvised measulre.+ ~Nith something tous ces etsts, beget le plus common sense an unadvised measure. With something r*Est de voir tous nos maux sans en soulager un. resembling the form of a great national council, the notables had no right to represent the nation, After dismissioy of the notables, the minister neither did it come within their province to pass adopted or recommended a line of conduct so flucany resolution whatever. Their post was merely tuating and indecisive, so violent at one time in sullpthat of an extraordinary body of counsellors, who port of the royal prerogative, and so pusillanimous deliberated on any subject *hich the king might when he encountered resistance fiom the newlysubmit to their consideration, and were to express awakened spirit ol liberty, that had he been bribed their opinion in answer to the - sovereign's interro- to render the crown at once odious and contemptible, gatories; but an assembly, which could only start or to engage his master in a line of conduct which opinions and debate upon them, without coming should irritate the courageous, and encourage the to any effective or potential decision was a fatal timid, among his dissatisfied subjects, the Archresource at a crisis when decision was peremptorily bishop of Sens could hardly, after the deepest necessary, and when all vague and irrelevant discus- thought, have adopted measures better adapted fbr sion was, as at a moment of national fermentation, such a purpose. As if determined to bring matters to be cautiously avoided. Above all, there was to an issue betwixt the king and the Parliament of this great error in having, recourse to the assembly Paris, he laid before the latter- two new edicts for of' the notables, that, consisting entirely of the privi- taxes, similar in most respects to those which had leged orders, the council was composed of the indi- been recommended by his predecessor Calonne to viduals most inimical to the equality of taxes, and the notables. The parliament refused to register most tenacious of those very immunities which were these edicts, being the course which the minister struck at by. the scheme of the minister of finance. ought to have expected. He then resolved upon a Calonne tfound himself opposed at every point, and display ofthe royal prerogative in its most arbitrary received fiom the notables remonstrances instead and obnoxious form. A Bed of Justice, as it was of support and countenance. That assembly cen- termed, was held,t where the king, presiding in suring all his plans, and rejecting his proposals, he person over the court of parliament, commanded the was in their presence like. a rash necromancer, who edicts irmposing certain new taxes to be registered has been indeed able to raise a demon, but is un- in his own presence; thus, by an act of authority equal to the task of guiding him when evoked. He emanating directly from the sovereign, beating down was further weakened by the death of Vergennes, the only species of opposition which the subjects, and finally obliged to resign his place and his coun- throu gh any organ whatsoever, could offer to the try, a sacrifice at once to court intrigue and popular increase of taxation. odium. Had this able but rash minister convoked The parliament yielded the semblance of a mothe States-general instead of the notables, he would mentary obedience, but protested solemnly, that the have been at least sure of the support of the third edict, having been registered solely by the royal estate, or commons; and, allied with them, might command, and against their unanimous opinion, have carried through so popular a scheme, as that should not have the folce of a law. They remon* They were summoned on 29th December, 1786, and met * May, 1787. on 22d February of the subsequent year. t 6th August, 1787. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ | 21 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. strateyl also to the throne in terms of great freedom voice, and of ill-timed concession to its demands, and energy, distinctly intinlating, that they could not which implied an understanding impaired by the and would not be the passive instruments, through perils of the conjuncture, and unequal alike to the the medium of whom the public -was to be loaded task of avoiding them by concession, or resisting with new impositions; and they expressed, for the them with courage. first time, in direct terms, the proposition, fraught The king, indeed, recalled the Parliament of with the fate of France, that neither the edicts of Paris from their exile, coming, at the same time, the king, nor the registration of those edicts by the under an express engagement to convoke the Statesparliament, were sufficient to impose permanent general, and leading tile subjects, of course, to supburthens on the people; but that such taxation was pose that the new imposts were to be left to their competent to the States-general only. consideration. But, as if' to irritate men's minds, In punishment of their undaunted defence of the by showing a desire to elude the execution of what popular cause, the parliament was banished to had been promised, the minister ventured, in an Troyes; the government thus increasing tile national evil hour, to hazard another experiment upon tile discontent by the renloval of the principal court firmness of their nerves, and again to commit the of the kingdom, and by all the evils incident to a dignity of the sovereign by bringing him personally delay of public justice. The provincial parliaments to issue a command, which experience had shown supported tile principles adopted by their brethren the parliament were previously resolved to disobey. of' Paris. The Chamber of Accounts, and the Court By this new proceeding, the king was induced to of Aids, the judicial establishments next in rank to hold what was called a Royal Sitting of the Parliathat of the parliament, also remonstrated against meait, which resembled in all its forms a Bed of the taxes, and refused to enforce them. They were Justice, except that it seems as if the commands of not enforced accordingly; and thus; for the first the monarch were esteemed less authoritative when time, drl-ing two centuries at least, the royal au- so issued, than when they were, as on the former tholity of France, being brought into direct collision occasion, deliveredl in this last obnoxious assembly. with public opinion and resistance, was, by the Thus, at less advantage than before, and, at all energy of the subject, compelled to retrograde and events, after the total failulre of a former experiment, yield ground. This was the first dlirect and im- the king, arrayed in all tile forms of his royalty, mediate movement of that mighty Revolution, which once more, and for the last time, convoked his parafterwards -rushed to its crisis like a rock rolling liament in person; and again with his own voice down a mountain. This was the first torch which commanded the court to register a royal edict for a was actually applied to the various combustibles loan of four hundred and twenty rlillions of francs, which lay scattered through France, and which we to be raised in the course of five years.* This dehave endeavoured to analyze. The flame soon mand gave occasion to a debate which lasted nine spread into the provinces. The nobles of Brittany hours, and was only closed by the king risilng up, broke out into a kind of insurrection; the Parlia- and issuing at length his positive and imperative ment of Grenoble impugned by a solemn decree orders that the loan should be registered. To the the legality of lettres de ccachet. Strange and alarm- astonishment of the meetilng, the first prince of the ing fears,-wild and boundless lhopes,-inconsistelit blood, the Duke of Orleans, arose, as if in reply, rurilourls,-a vaglle expectation of impending events, aiid demanded to know if they were assemlrbled in a — all contributed to agitate the public mind. The Bed of Justice or a Royal Sitting; and receiving for quick and mercurial temrnpers wvhich chiefly distin- answer that the latter was tlhe quality of the meetgulish the nation, were half maddened with suspense, ing, he entered a solemn protest against the prowhlile even the dull nature of tile lowest and most ceedings.t Thus was the authority of the king degraded of the community felt the comiing iripulse once more brought in direct opposition to the asserof extraordinary changes, as cattle are observed tors of the rights of the people, as if on purpose to to le disturbed before an apl)roaching thunder-storm. show, inl the i:ace of the whole nation, that its terrors Thlle minister could not sustain his courage in were only tlose of a phantomll, hose shadowy bulk such a menacing conjuncture, yet unhappily at- mighlt overawe the timid, but could offer no real tempted a show of resistance, instead of leaving caulse of fear when courageously opposed. tlIe king to tihe influence of Ihis own sound sense The minister did not, however, give way without and excellent disposition, which also induced llim such an ineffectual struggle, as at once showed the to clIruse the means of conciliation. There wvas in- weakness of the royal authority, and the willingness deed but one choice, and it lay betwixt civil war to wield. it with the despotic s'way of former times. or concession. A despot would have adopted the Two members of the Parliament of Paris, d'Epreformer course, arid, witlhdrawing from Paris, would menil and Gaislard, were imrplrisoned in rerlote forthIa e gathered around him tile arny still his own. resses, and the Duke of Orleans was sent in exile A patriotic monarch (and such was Louis XVI. to his estate. 7 when exercising his own judgmlent) would have A long and animated exchange of remonstrances chosen thie road of concession; yet his steps, even followed betwixt the king and tile parliamient, in in retreating, would have bewn so finr, and his at- which the former acknowledged his weakness, even titude so irlanlyt, that tihe peop~le wvorrlul not hav*e I M. Ch. Lacretelle says four years.-See Histoire de ventured to ascribe to fear what flowed solely fromn France pendant le 1oe siecle, vol. VI, p. 230: vols. 8vo, a spirit of conciliation. But tile conduct of the Paris, 1819.; minister, or of those who directed his motions, was t These memorable events took place on 19th November, an alternation of irritating opposition to the public Im. LIFE OF NA~POLEON BONAPARTE. 25 by entering into the discussion of his prerogative, and left the monarch, while bankruptcy and famine as well as by the concessions he found himself threatened the kingdom, to manage as he might, obliged to tender. Meantime, the Archbishop of amid the storms which the measures of the minister Sens nourished the romantic idea of getting rid of himself had provoked to the uttermost. these refractory courts entirely, and at the same A new premier, and a total alteration of mleatimre to evade the convocation of the States-general, sures, were to be resorted to, while Necker, the substituting in their place the erection qf a Cour popular favourite, called to the helnl of the state, PlInihre, or ancient feudal court, composed of regretted, with bitter anticipation of misfortune, the princes, peers, marshals of France, deputies fron time which had been worse than wasted under the the provinces, and other distinguished persons, who rule of the archbishop, who had employed it in should in future exercise all the higher and nobler augmenting the enemies and diminishing the reduties of the parliaments, thus reduced to their ori- sources of the crown, and forcing the king on such ginal and proper duties as courts of justice. But a measures as caused the royal authority to be genercourt, or council of the ancient feudal times, with ally regarded as the common enemy of all ranks of so slight an infusion of popular representation, could the kingdom. To redeem the royal pledge by conin no shape have accorded with the ideas which voking the States-general, seemed to Necker the now generally prevailed; and so much was this felt most fair as well as most politic proceeding; and into be the case, that many of the peers, and other deed this afforded the only chance of'once more reconpersons nominated members of the Cour Pleniere, ciling the prince with the people, though it was now declined the seats proposed to them, and the whole yielding that to a demand, which two years before plan fell to the ground. would have been received as a boon. Meantime, violence succeeded to violence, and We have already observed that the constitution remonstrance to remonstrance. The Parliament of of this assembly of national representatives was Paris, and all the provincial bodies of the same little understood, though the phrase was in the description, being suspended fiom their functions, mouth of every one. It was to be the panacea to and the course of regular justice interrupted, the the disorders of the nation, yet men knew imperspirit of revolt became general through the realm, fectly the mode of composing this universal mediand broke out in riots and insurrections of a formid- cine, or the manner of its operation. Or rather, the able description; while, at the same time, the in- people of France invoked the assistance of this nahabitants of the capital were observed to become tional council, as they would have done that of a dreadfully agitated. tutelary angel, with frill confidence in his power and There wanted not writers to fan the rising discon- benevolence, though they neither knew the form in tent; and, what seems more singular, they were which lie might appear, nor the nature of the miracles permitted to do so without interruption, notwith- which he was to perform in their behalf. It has standing the deepened jealousy with which firee been strongly objected to Necker, that he neglected, discussion was now regarded in France. Libels on the part of the crown, to take the initiative line and satires of every description were publicly cir- of conduct on this important occasion, and it has culated, without an attempt on the part of the been urged that it was the minister's duty, without government to suppress the publications, or to pu- making any question, or permitting any doubt, to asinish their authors, although the most scandalous same that mode of convening the states, and regnattacks on the royal family, and on the queen in lating them when assembled, which should best particular, were dispersed along with these political tend to secure the tottering influence of his master. etfusions. It seemed as if the arm of' power was But Necker probably thought the time was past in paralyzed, and the bonds of authority which had so which this power might hlave been assumed by the long fettered the French people were falling asunder crown without exciting jealousy or opposition. The of themselves; for the liberty of the press, so long royal authority, he might recollect, had been of late unknown, was now openly assumed and exercised, years repeatedly strained, until it had repeatedly without the government daring to interfere. given way, and the issue, first of' the Bed of Justice, To conclude the picture, as if God and man had and then of the Royal Sitting, was sufficient to show alike determined the fall of this ancient monarchy, that words of authority would be wasted in vain a hurricane of most portentous and unusual character upon disobedient ears, and might only excite a reburst on the kingdom, and laying waste the promised sistance which would prove its own lack of power. harvest far and wide, showed to the terrified inhabit- It was, therefore, advisable not to trust to the unants the prospect at once of poverty and famine, aided exercise of prerogative, but to strengthen inadded to those of national bankruptcy and a dis- stead the regulations which might be adopted for tracted government. the constitution of the States-general, by the approThe latter evils seemed fast advancing; for the bation of some public body independent of the king state of the finances became so utterly desperate, and his ministers. And with this purpose, Necker that Louis was under the necessity of stopping a convened a second meeting of the nrotables,* and large proportion of the treasury payments, and issu- laid before them, for their consideration, his plan for ing bills for the deficiency. At this awful crisis, the constitution of the States-general. fearing for the king, and more for himself, the There were two great points submitted to this Archbishop of Sens retired from administration,* body, concerning the constitution of the States-ge~ 25th August, 1788. The archbishop fled to Italy with neral. 1. In what proportion the deputies of the great expedition, after he had given in his resignation to his unfortunate sovereign. * November. 1788. our,. V[. 4 26 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. three estates should be represented? 2. Whether, worsted by the rising spirit of the country in every when assembled-, the nobles, clergy, and third attempt which it had made to stand through its own estate, or commons, should act separately as distinct unassisted strength; and torn as the bodies of the chambers, or sit and vote as one united body? clergy and nobles were by internal dissensions, and Necker, a minister of an honest and oandid dis. weakened by the degree of popular odium with position, a republican also, and therefore on prin- which they were. loaded, it would have required an ciple a respecter of public opinion, unhappily did artful consolidation of their force, and: an intimate not recollect, that to be well-formed and accurate, union betwixt them and the crown, to maintain a public opinion should be founded on the authority balance against the popular claims of the commons. of men of talents and integrity; -and that the popular likely to be at once so boldly urged by themselves mind must he pre-occupied by arguments of a sound and so fhvourably viewed by the nation. All this and virtuous tendency, else the enemy will sow tares, was, however, left, in a great measure, to accident, and the public will receive it in the absence of more while every chance was against its being arm nged wholesome grain. Perhaps also, this minister found in the way most advantageous to the monarchy. himself less in his element when treating of state The minister ought also in policy to have paved affairs, than while acting in his proper capacity as a the way for securing a party in the third estate financier. However that may be, Necker's conduct itself, which should bear some character of royalism. resembled that of an unresolved general, who directs This might doubtless have been done by the'isual his movements by the report of a council of war. ministerial arts of influiencing elections, or gaining He did not sufficiently perceive the necessity that over to the crown interest souse of the many men of the measures to be taken shonll- driginate with him- talent who, determined to raise themselves in this self rather than arise from the slggestion of others, new world, had not yet settled to which side they and did not, therefore, avail himself of his situation were to give their support. - But Necker, less acand high popularity, to recommend such general quainted with men than with mathematics, imagined preliminary arrangements as might preserve the in- that every member had intelligence enough to see fluence of the crown in the States-general, without the measules best calculated fobr the public good, encroaching on the rights of the subject. The silence and virtue enough to follow them faithfully and of Necker leaving all in doubt, and open to discus- exclusively. It was in vain that the Marquis de sion, those arguments had most weight with the Bouill6 pointed out the dangers arising frolm the public which ascribed most importance to the third constitution assigned to the States-general, and inestate. The talents of the nobles and clergy might sisted that the minister was arming the popular part be considered as having been already in vain ap- of the nation against the two privileged orders, and pealed to in the two sessions of the notables, an as- that the latter would soon experience the effects of sembly composed chiefly out of the privileged their hatred, animated by self-interest and vanity, classes, and whose advice and opinion had been the most active passions of mankind. Necker calmly given without producing any corresponding good replied, that there was a necessary reliance to be effect. The parliament had declared themselves placed on the virtues of the human heart;- the incompetent to the measures necessary for the exi- maxim of a worthy man, but not of an enlightened gencies of the kingdom. The course adopted by statesmnan,* who has but too much reason to know the king indicated doubt and uncertainty, if not in- how often both the virtues and the prudence of hucapacity. The tiers 6tat, therefore, was the body man nature are surmounted by its prejudices and of counsellors to whom the nation looked at this passions. critical conjuncture. It was in this state of doubt and total want of " What is the Tiers Etat?" formed the title of a preparation that the king was to meet the reprepamphlet by the Abb6 Si6yes; and the answer sentatives of the people, whose elections had been returned by the author was such as augmented all trusted entirely to chance, without even an attempt the magnificent ideas already floating in men's minds to influence theim in favour of the most eligible perconcerning the importance of this order. "TThe sons. Yet surely the crown, hitherto almost the tiers 6tat," said he, " comprehends the whole nation sole acknowledged authority in France, should have of France, excepting only the nobles and clergy." been provided with supporters in the new authority This view of the matter was so far successfrul that which was to be assembled. At least, the ministerthe notables recommended that the commons, or might have been prepared with some system or third estate, should have a body of representatives plan of proceeding, upon which this most important equal to those of the nobles and the clergy united, convention was to conduct its deliberations: but and should thlus form, in point of relative numbers, there was not even an attempt to take up the reins the moiety of the whole delegates.~ which were floating on the necks of those who were This, however, would have been comparatively for the first time harnessed to the chariot of the of small importance, had it been determined that state. All was expectation, mere vague and unthe three estates were to sit, deliberate, and vote, authorized hope, that in this multitude of counselnot as a united body, but in three several chambers. lors there would be found safety.t Necker conceded to the tiers dtat the right of " See Anoi res de Boeile. Madame de Statl herself double representation, but seemed prepared to main- admits this deficiency in the character of a father, of whom tain the ancient order of debating and voting by she was justly proud:-" Se fant trop, il faut l'avoler, i separate chambers. The crown had been already l'ermpire de la raison."-Considiration.s sar la R.evolution + See Histoire de France pendant le 18e si&le, par Ch. Francaise, vol. I, p. 171: 3 vols 8vo, Paris, 1818. ]Lacretelle, v-1. VI, p. 280: 6 vols 8vo, Paris, 1819. t A calembourg of the period presaged a different result. LIFE: OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 27 Hitherto we have described the silent and smooth, unhappily it was composed of men of theory rather but swift and powerful, stream of innovation, as it tlian of practice, men more prepared to change than rolled on to the edge of the sheer precipice. We to preserve or repair; and,. above all, of men, who. are now to view the precipitate tumult and terrors generally speaking, were not directly concerned in of the cataract. the preservation of peace and order, by possessing a large property in the country. CHAPTER IV. The due proportion in which talents and property are represented in the British House of Comrumons,.Meeting of the States-general.-Predominant Infllenlce of is perhaps the best assurance for the stability of the the tiers Stat-Properiy not represented sufficiently in constitution. Men of talents, bold, enterprising, that body-General character of the members.-Dispo- eager for distinction, and ambitions of Rower, suffer sition of the estate of the nobles-and of the clergy. — no opportunity to escape of recommending such meaPlan of forming the three estates into two houses-Its sures as may improve the general system, and raise advantages-It fails.-The clergy unite with the tiers to distinction those by whom they are proposed; etat, which assumes the title of the National Assenr- while men ofsubstance desirous of preserving the bty.-They assumnte the task of legislation, and declare, llformer fiscal reglatios illeal-Teyassert their proprty which they possess, are scrupulous int Seteterminatien to continue their sessins.-Royal Sittiig scrutinizing every new measure, and steady in redetermination to continue their sessionls. —Royal Sitting -TIerminates in the triumph of the Assebty.-Partries jecting such as are not accompanied with the most in that body —lMouncaier-Conlstitutionalists —epublicats certain prospect of advantage to the state. Talent, -Jacobins-Dutke of Orleans. eager and active, desires the means of elmployment; Property, cautious, doubtful, jealous of innovation, TIlE Estates-general of France met at Versailles on acts- as a regulator rat'heri than an ilnmpulse on tile the 5th May, 1789, and that was indisputably the machine, by preventing its moving eitherl too r\first day of the Revolution. The Abhe Si6yts, in a pidly, or changing too suddenly. Th'le over'-caution paniphlet which we have mentioned, had already of those by whom property is represented luSay asked, "What was the Third Estate?-It was the sometimes, indeed, delay a projected imiprosellent, wz/ole nation. What had it been hitherto in a po- but much more frequently impedes a trash and halitical light? —Nothing. What was it about to be- zardous experiment. Looking back on the parliacome presently? —Something." Hiad the last answer mentary history of two centuries, it is easy to see beenEverythting, it would have beennearer the truth, how much practical wisdom has been derived frolms for it soon appeared that this third estate, which, the influence exercised by those menlbers called in the year 1614, the nobles had reflused to acknow- country gentlemen, who, unanbitious of disting uisthledge even as a younger brother* of their order, was ing themselves by their eloquence, and undesiroLus now, like the rod of the prophet, to swallow up all of tinigling in the ordinary debates of the bouse, those who affected to share its power. Even amid make their sound and unsophisticated good sense the pageantry with which the ceremonial of the first heard and understood upon every crisis of importsitting abounded, it was clearly visible that the ance, in a manner alike respected by thte ministry and wishes, hopes, and interest of the public, were ex- the opposition of tle dan, —by the professed stateselusively fixed upon the representatives of the cor- men of the hlouse,sN hose dai'ly business is legislation, nmois. The rich garments and floating plumes of and whose thoughts, in solme instances, are devoted the nobility, and the reverend robes of the clergy, to public afihirs, because they have none of their had nothing to fix the public eye; their sounding own much worth looking after. In this great and and emphatic titles had nothing to win the ear; the most important characteristic of representiation, tlhe recollection of the high feats of the one, and long- tiers etat of France was necessarily deficient; in sanctified characters of the other order, had nothing fact, the part of the French constitution, which, to influence the mind of the spectators. All eyes without exactly corresponding to the country genlewvere turned on the members of the third estate, in a men of England; most nearly resembled them, was plebeian and humble costume, corresponding to a proportion of the rural noblesse of France, who their lowly birth and occupation, as the only por- were represented amongst the estate of the nobility. tion of the assembly from whom they looked for the An edict, detaching these rural proprietors, and lilghts and the counsels which the time demanded. perhaps the inferior clergy, from their proper orders, It would be absurd to assert, that thle body which and including their representatives in that of the thus engrossed the national attention was devoid of tiers etat, would have infused into the latter assemtalents to deserve it. On the contrary, the tiers bly a proportional regard for the rights of landhold6tat contained a large proportion of the learning, the ers, whether lay or clerical; and as they must have intelligence, and the eloquence of the kingdom; but had a voice in those anatomical experiments, of which their property was about to become the sub- So nuleros a concourse of state-physicians assembled ject, it may be supposed they would have resisted to consult for the weal of the nation, argued," it was said, the application of the scalpel, excepting when it O1the imminent danger and approaching death of the was unavoidably necessary. Instead of which, both f' The Baron de Senneci, when the Estates of the King- the nobles and clergy came soon to be placed n dom were compared to three brethren, of which the tiers the anatomical table at tile mecy of each stateetat was youngest, declared that the Commons of France quack, who, having no interest in their sufferings, had no title to arrogate such a relationship with the thlought them excellent subjects on which to exemnobles, to whom they were so far inferior in blood and in plify some favourite hypothesis. estimation. While owners of extensive landed property were L ~f~28 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. in a great measure excluded from the representation us remember that these were a part of their inheof the third -estate, its ranks were filled fi'om those ritance, which no man renounces willingly, end no classes which seek novelties in theory, and which man of spirit yields up to threats. If they erred in are in the habit of profiting by them in practice. not adopting from the beginning a spirit of conciliaThere twere professed men of letters called thither, tion and concession, no body of men ever suffered so as they hoped and expected, to realize theories, for cruelly for hesitating to obey a summons, which the greater part inconsistent with the present state called them to acts of such unusual self-denial. f' things, in which, to use one of their own choicest The clergy were no less tenacious of the privileges common-places,-"Alind had not yet acquired its of the church, than the noblesse of their peculiar due rank." There were many of the inferior ranks feudal immunities. It had been already plainly inof the law; for, unhappily, in this profession also timated, that the property of the clerical orders the graver and more enlightened members were ought to be subject, as well as all other species of called by their rank to the estate of the noblesse. property, to the exigencies of the state; and the To these were united churchmen without livings, philosophical opinions which had impugned their and physicians without patients; men, whose edu- principles of faith, and rendered their persons ridication generally makes them important in tile hum- culous instead of reverend, would, it was to be fearble society in which they move, and who are pro- ed, induce those by whom they were entertained, portionally presumptuous and conceited of their to extend their views to a general seizure of the own powers, when advanced into that which is su- whole, instead of a part, of the church's wealth. perior to their usual walk. There were many bankers Both the first and second estates, therefore, kept also, speculators in politics, as in their natural em- aloof, moved by the manner in which the private ployment of stock-jobbing; and there were inter- interests of each stood committed, and both endeamingled with the classes we have noticed some voured to avert the conling storm, by retarding the individual nobles, expelled from their owvn ranks deliberttions of the States-general. T'hey were parfor want of character, who, like the dissolute Mira- ticularly desirous to secure their individual imporbeau, a moral monster for talents and want of prin- tance as distinct orders, and appealed to ancient ciple, menaced, from the station which they had practice and the usage of the year 1614, by which assumed, the rights of the class from which they had the three several estates sat and voted in three sebeen expelled, and, like deserters, of every kind, parate bodies. But the tiers 6tat, who, fiom the were willing to guide the foes, to whom they had beginning, felt their own strength, were determined fled, into the entrenchments of the friends whom to chuse that mode of procedure by which their they had forsaken, or by whom they had been ftrcee'should be augmented and consolidated. The exiled. There were also mixed with these perilous double representation had rendered thesn equal in elements many individuals, not only endowed with numbers to both the other bodies, and as they were talents and integrity, but possessing a lespectable sure of some interest among the inferior noblesse, proportion of sound sense and judgment; but who and a very considerable party amongst the lower unfortunately aided less to counteract the revo- clergy, the assistance of these two minorities, added lutionary tendency, than to justify it by argument, or to their own numbers, must necessarily give them dignify it by example. From the very beginning, the superiority in every vote, providing the three the tiers 6tat evinced a determined purpose to an- chambers could be united into one. nihilate in consequence, if not in rank, the other two On the other hand, the clergy and nobles saw orders of the state, and to engross the whole power that an union of this nature would place all their into their own hands. privileges and property at the mercy of the comIt must be allowed to the commons, that the no- mons, whom the union of the chambers in one asblesse had possessed themselves of a paramount sembly would invest with an overwhelming majority superiority over the middle class, totally inconsistent in that convocation. They had no reason to expect with the just degree of consideration due to their that this power, if once acquired, would be used fellow-subjects, and irreconcilable with the spirit with moderation; for not only had their actually of enlightened times. They enjoyed many privi- obnoxious privileges been assailed by every battery leges which were humiliating to the rest of the nation, of reason and of ridicule, but the records of filrmer and others that were grossly unjust, among which ages had been ransacked for ridiculous absurdities must be reckoned their immunities from taxation. and detestable cruelties of the possessors of feudal Assembled as an Estate of the Kingdom, they felt power, all which were imputed to the present prithe esprit-de-corps, and, attached to the privileges vileged classes, and mingled with many fictions of of their order, showed little readiness to\ make the unutterable horror, devised on purpose to give a yet sacrifices which the times demnlanded, though at darker colonring to the system which it was their the risk of having what they refused to grant for- object to destroy.* Every motive, therefore, of cibly wrested fi-om themn. They were publicly and self-interest and self-preservation, induced the two imprudently tenacious, when, both on principle and first chambers, aware of the possession which the in policy, they should have been compliant and ac- third had obtained over the public mind, to maincommodating-for their own sake, as well as that of the sovereign. Yet let us be just to that gallant It was, for example, gravely stated, that a neigneur of and unfortunate body of men. They possessed the a certain province possessed a feudal right to put two of courage, if not the skill or strength of their ances- his vassals to death upon his return from hunting, and to tors, and while we blame the violence wit-h which rip their bellies open, and plunge his feet into their entrails they clung to useless and antiquated privileges, let to warmn them! LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 29 tain, if possible, the specific individuality of their ed that, if the scourge destined for them were separate classes, and use the right hitherto sup- placed in their own hand, they might use it with the posed to be vested in them, of protecting their own chary moderation of the squire in the romance of interests by their own separate votes, as distinct Cervantes. There would also have been reason to, bodies. doubt that, when the nation was so much divided Others, with a deeper view, and on less selfish by factions, two houses, so different in character reasoning, saw much hasard in amalgamating the and composition, could hardly have been brought to whole force of the state, saving that which remain- act with firmness and liberality towards each other ed in the crown, into one powerful body, subject to -that the one would have been ever scheming for all the hasty impulses to which popular assemblies the recovery of their full privileges, supposing the} lie exposed, as lakes to the wind, and in placing had been obliged to surrender a part of them, while the person and authority of the king in solitary and the other would still look forward to the accomplishdiametrical opposition to what must necessarily, in ment of an entirely democratical revolution. In this moments of enthusiasm, appear to be the will of the way, the checks which ought to have acted merely whole people. Such statesmen would have preferred to restrain the violence of either party, might operate retaining an intermediate check upon the popular as the means of oversetting the constitution which counsels of the tiers ftat by the other two chambers, they were intended to preserve. which might, as in England, have been united into Still, it must be observed, that while the king one, and would have presented an imposing front, retained any portion of atholrity, he might with the both in point of wealth and property, and through countenance of the supposed Upper Chamber, or Sethe respect which, excepting mnder the influence of nate, have balanced the progress of democracy. Difpopular emotion, the people, in spite of themselves, ficult as the task might be, an attempt towards it cannot help entertaining for birth and rank. Such a ought to have been made. But, unhappily, the king's body, providing the stormy temper of the times had ear was successively occupied by two sets of adadmitted of its foundations being laid sufficiently visers, one of whom counselled him to surrender strong, would have served as a break-water betwixt every thing to the humour of the reformers of the the throne and the stream-tide of popular opinion; state, while the other urged him to resist their most and the monarch would have been spared the pain- reasonable wishes; —without considering that he ful and perilous task of opposing himself personally, had to deal with those who had the power to take directly, and without screen or protection of any by force what was refused to petition. Mounier and kind, to the democratical part of the constitution. Malouet advocated the establishment of two chamAbove all, by means of such an Upper House, hbers in the tiers 6tat, and, Necker was certainly fatime would have been obtained for reviewing more vourable to some plan of the kind; but the noblesse coolly those measures, which might have passed thought it called upon them for too great a sacrifice hastily through the assembly of popular representa- of theirprivileges, though it promised to ensure what tives. It is observed in the history of innovation, remained, while the democratical part of the tiers that the indirect and unforeseen consequences of 6tat opposed it obstinately, as tending to arrest the every great change of an existing system, are more march of the revolutionary impulse. numerous and extensive than those which had been Five or six weeks elapsed in useless debates foreseen and calculated upon, whether by those concerning the form in which the estates should who advocated, or those who opposed the altera- vote; during which period tile tiers 6tat showed, by tion. The advantages of' a constitution, in which their boldness and decision, that they knew the adeach measure of legislation must necessarily be vantage which they held, and were sensible that the twice deliberately argued by separate senates, acting other bodies, if they meant to retain the influence under different impressions, and interposing, at the of their situation in any shape, must unite with them, same time, a salutary delay, during which heats may on the principle according to which smaller drops subside, and erroneous views he corrected, requires of water are attracted by the larger. This came to no further illustration. pass accordingly. The tiers 6tat were joined by the It must be owned, nevertheless, that there existed whole body of inferior clergy, and by some of the the greatest difficulty in any attempt which might nobles, and on 17th June, 1789, proceeded to conhave been made, to give weight to the nobles as a stitute themselves a legislative body, exclusively separate chamber. The community at large looked competent in itself to the entire province of legislato reforms deeply affecting the immunities of the tion; and, renouncing the name of the third estate, privileged classes, as the most obvious means for which reminded men they wvere only one out of the regeneration of the kingdom, and must have three bodies, they adopted that of the National Asseen with jealousy an institution like an Upper sembly, and avowed themselves, not merely tilhe House, which placed the parties who were prin- third branch of the representative body, but the cipally to suffer these changes in a condition to sole representatives of the people of France, nay, impede, or altogether prevent them. It was naturally the people themselves, wielding in person the whole to be expected, that the clergy and nobles, united gigantic powers of the realm. They now c aimed in an Upper House, must have become somewhat the character of a constituent body, no longer limitpartial judges in the question of retrenching and ed to the task of merely requiring a redress of grievlimiting their own exclusive privileges; and, besides ances, for which they had been originally appointed, the ill-will which the commons bore them as the but warranted to destroy and rebuild whatever they possessors and assertors of rights infringing on the thought proper in the constitution of the state. It liberties of the people, it might be justly apprehend- is not easy, on any ordinary principle, to see how 30 LIFE O.F NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. -a representation, convoked for a certain purpose, tions were imprudently commenced* before holding and with certain limited powers, should thus es- any communication on the subject with the National |sentially alter their own character, and set them- Assembly; and it was simply notified to their presiselves in such a different relation to the crown and dent Bailly, by the master of the royal ceremonies, nation, from that to which their commissions restrict- that the king had suspended the meeting of the ased them; but the National Assembly were well semubly until the Royal Sitting should have taken aware, that, in extending their powers far beyond place. Bailly, the president, well known afterwards the terms of these commissions, they only fulfilled by his tragical fate, refused to attend to an order so the wishes of their constituents, and that in assum- intimated, and the members of assembly, upon reing to themselves so ample an authority, they would sorting to their ordinary place of' meeting, found it be supported by the whole nation, excepting the full of workmen, and guarded by soldiers. This privileged orders. led to one of the most extraordinary scenes of the The National Assembly proceeded to exercise Revolution. their power with the same audacity which they had The representatives of the nation, thus expelled shown in assuming it. They passed a sweeping by armed guards from their proper place of assemdecree, by which they declared all the existing taxes blage, found refuge in a, common tennis-court, to be illegal impositions, the collection of which while a thunder-storm, emblem of the moral teinpest they sanctioned only for the present, and as an in- which raged on the earth, poured down its terrors terim arrangement, until they should have time to from the heavens. It was thus that, exposed to the establish the financial regulations of the state upon inclemency of the weather, and with the wretched an equal and permanent fboting. accommodations which such a place afforded, the The king, acting under the advice of Necker, members of the assembly took, and attested by their and fulfilling the promise made on his part by the respective signat;res, a solemn oath, to continue Archbishop of Sens, his former minister, had, as their sittings until the constitution of the country we have seen, assembled the States-general; but should be fixed on a solid basis. The scene was of he was not prepared for the change of the third a kind to make the deepest impression both on the estate into the National Assembly, and for the pre- actors and the spectators; although, looking back tensions which it asserted in the latter character. at the distance of so nlany years, we are tempted Terrified, and it was little wonder, at the sudden to ask at what period the National Assembly would rise of this gigantic and all-overshadowing fabric, have been dissolved, had they adhered literally to Louis became inclined to listen to those who coun- their celebrated oath? But the conduct of the goselled him to combat this new and formidable autho- vernment was in every respect worthy of censure. rity, by opposing to it the weight of royal power; The probability of this extraordinary occurrence to be exercised, however, with such attention to the might easily have been foreseen. If' mere want newly-asserted popular opinions, and with such of consideration gave rise to it, the king's ministers ample surrender of the obnoxious part of the royal were most culpably careless; if the closing of the prerogative, as might gratify the rising spirit of hall, and suspending of the sittings of the assembly, freedom. For this purpose a Royal Sitting was ap- was intended by way of experiment upon its temper pointed, at which the king in person was to meet and patience, it was an act of madness, equal to the three estates of his kingdom, and prol;ose a that of irritating an already exasperated lion. Be scheme which, it was hoped, might unite all parties, this, however, as it may, the conduct of the court and tranquillize all minds. The name and form of had the worst possible effect on the public mind, this seance royale was perhaps not well chosen, as and prepared'them to view with dislike and suspicion being too nearly allied to those of a Bed of Justice, all propositions emanating from the throne; while in which the king was accustomed to exercise impe- the magnanimous firmness and unanimity of the asrative authority over the parliament; and the pro- sembly seemed that,ofmen determined to undergo ceeding was calculated to awaken recollection of martyrdom, rather than desert the assertion of their the highly unpopular Royal Sitting of the 19th No- own rights, and those of the people. vetmber, 1787, the displacing of Necker, and the ba- At the Royal Sitting, which took place three days nishment of the Duke of Orleans. after the vow of the tennis-court, a plan was proBut, as if this had not been sufficient, an unhappy posed by the king, offering such security for the liaccident, which almost resembled a fatality, de- berty of the subject, as would a year before have ranged this project, detroyed all the grace which been received with grateful rapture; but it was the might, on the king's part, have attended tile measure, unhappy fate of Louis XVI. neither to recede nor and, in place of it, threw the odium upon the court advance at the fortunate moment. Happy would it of having indirectly attempted the forcible dissolu- have. been for him, for France, and for Europe, if tion of the assembly, while it invested the members the science of astrology, once so much respected, of that body with the popular character of steady had in reality afforded the means of selecting lucky patriots, whose union, courage, and presence of days. Few of his were marked with a white stone. mind, had foiled the stroke of authority which had By the scheme which he proposed, the king rebeen aimed at their existence. nounced the power of taxation, and the right of The Hall of the Commons was fixed upon for the borrowing money, except to a trifling extent, withpurposes of the Royal Sitting, as the largest of the out assent of the States-general; he invited the three which were occupied by the three estates, assembly to form a plan for regulating letres de and workmen were employed in making the necessary arrangements and alterations. These altera- * 20th June, 1789. I~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. E achet, and acknowledged the personal freedom of upon a representative of the people, should be the subject; he provided for the liberty of the press, thereby guilty of the crime of high treason against but not without a recommendation that some check the nation. should be placed upon its license; and he rentitted Their firmness, joined to the iniiolability with to the states, as the properauthority, the abolition which they had invested themselves, and the comof the gabelle, and other unequal or oppressive motions which had broken out at Paris, compelled taxes. the king to give way, and renounce his purpose of But all these boons availed nothing, and seemed dissolving the states, which continued their sittings to the people and their representatives, but a tardy under their new title of the National Assembly; and ungracious mode of resigning rights which the while at different intervals, and by different macrown had long usurped, and only now restored nceuvres, the chambers of the clergy and nobles when they were on the point of being wrested fiom were united with them, or, more properly, were its gripe. Ill addition to this, offence was taken at merged and absorbed in one general body. Had the tone and terms adopted in the royal address. that assembly been universally as pure in its intenThe members of the assembly conceived, that the tions as we verily believe to have been the case expression of the royal will was brought forward in with many or most of its members, the French gotoo imperative a form. They were offended that vernment, now lying dead at their feet, might, like the king should have recommended the exclusion the clay of Prometheus, have received new animaof spectators from the sittings of the assembly; and tion fLom their hand. much displeasure was occasioned by his declaring, But the National Assembly, though almost unathus late, their deliberations and decrees on the nimous in resisting the authority of the crown, and subject of taxes illegal. But the discontent was in opposing the claims of the privileged classes, was summed up and raised to the height by the con- much divided respecting ulterior views, and carried cluding article of the royal address, in which, not- in its bosom the seeds of internal dissension, and the withstanding their late declarations, and oath not jarring elements of at least four parties, which had to break up their sittings until they had completed afterwards their successive entrance and exit on the a constitution for France, the king presumed, by revolutionary stage; or rather one followed the other his own sole authority, to dissolve the estates. To like successive billows, each obliterating and de- } conclude, Necker, upon whom alone among the stroying the marks its predecessor had left on the ministers the popular party reposed confidence,' beach. had absented himself from the Royal Sitting, and The FIRST, and most practical division of these thereby intimated his discontent with the scheme legislators, was the class headed by Mounier (ote (A' proposed. the wisest, as well as one of the best and wolthiest [ This plan of a constitutional reformation was re- mell in France), by Malonet, and others. They;; erie t ceived with great applause by the clergy and the patrons of a scheme at vwhach we have allrealdy nobles, while the third estate listened in sullen si- hinted, and thought France ought to look, fbr some lence. They knew little of the human mind, who of the institutions favourable to freedom, to Englanld,. supposed that the display of prerogative which had whose freedom had flourished so long. To trans.plant been so often successfhlly resisted, could influence the British oak, with all its contorted branches arad such a body, or induce them to descend from the extended roots, would have been a fruitless attempt,. station of power which they had gained, and to ren- but the infant tree of liberty might ham e been tang it der theniselves ridiculous by rescinding the vow to grow after the same fashion. Modern France, which they had so lately taken. like England of old, might have retained such of Ler The king having, by his own proper authority, own ancient laws, forms, or regulations, as still were dissolved the assembly, left the hall, followed by regarded by the nation with any portion of respect, the nobles and part of the clergy; but the remaining intermingling them with such additions and alteramemnbers, who had remained silent and sullen, inr- tions as were required by the liberal spirit of modern mediately resumed their sitting. The king, sup- times, and the whole might have been formed on the posing him resolute to assert the prerogative which principles of Britisil freedom. The nation might his own voice had but just claimed, had no alterna- thus, in building its own bulwarks, have profited by tive but that of expelling them by force, and thus the plan of those which had so long resisted the supporting his order for dissolution of the assembly; tempest. It is true, the French legislature could but, always halting between two opinions, Louis not have promised themselves, by the adoption of employed no rougher means of removing them than this course, to torm at once a perfect and entire a igentle summons to disperse, intimated by the system; but they might have secured the personal royal master of ceremonies. To this officer, not freedom of the subject, the trial by jury, the liberty certainly the most formidable satellite of arbitrary of the press, and the right of granting or withholding power, Mirabeau replied with energetic determina- the supplies necessary for conducting the state,-of tion-" Slave! return to thy master, and tell him, itself the strongest of all guarantees for national that his bayonets alone can drive from their post the freedom, and that of which, when once vested in representatives of the people,"'their own representatives, the people will never The assembly then proceeded to pass a decree, permit them to be deprived. They might have that they adhered to their oath taken in the tennis- adopted also other chiecks, balances, and controls court, while by another they declared that their essential to the permanence of a free country; and own persons were inviolable; and that whosoever having laid so strong a foundation, there would have should attempt to execute any restraint or violence been time to experience their use as well as their 32 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPART'E. stability, and to introduce gradually such fiurther error could only be occasioned by his own faulty improvements, additions, or alterations, as the state and irregpular conformation of figure. Thirdly, a of France should appear to require, after experience legislatur'e which contents itself with such a coustiof those which they had adopted. tution as is adapted to the existing state of things, But besides that the national spirit might be re- may hope to attain their end, and in presenting it to volted (not unnaturally, however unwisely), at the people may be entitled to say, that, although the borrowing the essential peculiarities of their new plan is not perfect, it partakes in that but of the constitution from a country which they were accus- nature of all earthly institutions, while it compretomed to consider as the natural rival of their own, I hends the elements of as much good as the actual there existed among the French a jealousy of' the state of society permits; but from the law-makers, crown, and especially of the privileged classes, with who begin by destroying all existing enactments, and whom they had been so lately engaged in political assume it as their duty entirely to renovate the conhostility, which disinclined the greater part of the stitution of a country, nothing short of absolute assembly to trust the king with much authority, or perfection can be accepted. They can shelter themthe nobles with that influence which any imitation of selves under no respect to ancient prejudices which the English constitution must have assigned to them. they have contradicted, or to circumstances of A fear prevailed, that whatever privileges should society which they have thrown out of consideration. be left to the king or nobles, would be so many They must follow up to the uttermost the principle means of attack furnished to them against the new they have adopted, and their institutions can never system. Joined to this was the ambition of creating be fixed or secure fiom the encroachments of sucat once, and by their own united wisdom, a consti- ceeding innovators, while they retain any taint of tation as perfect as the armed personification of that fallibility to which all human inventions are Wisdom in the heathen mythology. England had necessarily subject. worked her way, from practical reformation of The majority of the French Assembly entertained, abuses, into the adoption of general maxims of nevertheless, the ambitious view of making a congovernment. It was reserved, thought most of the stitution, corresponding in every respect to those National Assembly, for France, to adopt a nobler propositions they had laid down as embracing the and more intellectual course, and, by laying down rights of man, which, if it should not happen to suit abstract doctrines of public right, to deduce from the condition of their country, would nevertheless these their rules of practical legislation;-just as it be such as ought to have suited it, but for the irreis said, that in the French naval yards their vessels gular play of human passions, and the artificial are constructed upon the principles of abstract habits acquired in an artificial state of society. But mathematics, while those in England are, and were, this majority differed among themselves in this chiefly built upon the more technical or mechanical essential particular, that the SECOND division of the rules. But it seens on this and other occasions to legislature, holding that of Mounier for the first, was have escaped these acute reasoners, that beams and disposed to place at the head of their newly-manuplanks are subject to certain unalterable natural factured government the reigning king, Louis XVI. laws, while man is, by the various passions acting in This resolution in his ihavour might be partly out of his nature, in contradiction often to the suggestions regard to the long partiality of' the nation to the of his understanding, as well as by the various mo- house of Bourbon, partly out of' respect for the phildifications of society; liable to a thousand variations, anthropical and accommodating character of Louis. all of which call for limitations and exceptions qua- We may conceive also, that La Fayette, bred a lifying whatever general maxims may be adopted soldier, and Bailly, educated a magistrate, had still, concerning his duties ani his rights. notwithstanding their political creed, a natural, All such considerations were spurned by the nu- though unphilosophical partiality to their wellmerous body of the new French legislature, who meaning and ill tated sovereign, and a conscientious resolved, in imitation of Medea, to fling into their desire to relax, so far as his particular interest was renovating kettle every existing joint and member of concernled, their general rule of reversing all that their old constitution, in order to its perfect and had previously had a political existence in France. entire renovation. This mode of proceeding was A THIRD faction, entertaining the same articles of liable to three great objections. First, that the political creed withLa Fayette, Bailly, and others, practical inferences deduced from the abstract carried them much farther, and set at defiance the principle were always liable to challenge by those, scruples which limited the two first parties in their who, inl logical language, denied the nlinor of the career of reformation. These last agreed with La proposition, or asserted that the conclusion was Fayette on the necessity of reconstructing the whole irregularly deduced from the premises. Secondly, government upon a new basis, without which entire that the legislators, thus grounding the whole basis innovation, they further agreed with him that it of their intended constitution upon speculative poli- must have been perpetually liable to the chance of tical opinions, strongly resembled the tailors of a counter-revolution. But carrying their' arguments Laputa, who, without condescending to take measure farther than the constitutional party, as the followers of their customers, like brethren of the trade else- of LaFayette, these bold.er theorists pleaded the where, took the girth and altitude of the person by inconsistency and danger of placing at the head of mathematical calculation, and if the clothes did not their new system of reformed and regenerated gofit, as was almost always the case, thought it ample vernment, a prince accustomed to consider himself, consolation for the party concerned to be assured, as by inheritance, the legitimate possessor ofalbsolute that, as they worked from infallible rules of art, the power. They urged that, like the snake and pea LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 33 sant in the fable, it was impossible that the monarch termed, in ridicule, Les En7ra.g(s, by the repub.. and his democratical counsellors could forget, the licans, who, seeing in them only mlen of a fiery dispcone the loss of his power, the other tile constant sition, and violence of deportmentand declaimatior temptation which rnust beset the king to attempt its vainly thought they could halloo them on, andcl call recovery. With more consistency, therefore, than them off, at their pleasure. They were yet to learn, the constitoationalists, this third party.of politicians that when force is solemnly appealed to, the strong. became decided republicans, determined upon ohli- est and most ferocious, as they must be forernost terating from the new constitution every naime and Iin the battle, will not lose their share of the spoil, vestige of monarchy. and are more likely to make the lion's partitio1n. The men of letters in the assembly were, many These jacobins affected to carry the ideas of libelity of them, attached to this f:action. They had origi- and equality to the most extravagant lengtlls, and nally been kept in the back-grorrnd by the lawyers were laughed at and ridiculed in the assembly as a and mercantile part of the assembly. Many of sort of fanatics, too absurd to be dreaed. Their them possesse(l great talents, and were by nature character, indeed, was too exaggerated, their hllabits men of honour and of virtue. But in great revolu-, too openly profligate, their manners too habolinlably tions, it is imlpossible to resist the dizzying effect coarse, thleir schemes too extravagantly violernt, of enlhusiastic feeling and excited passion. In the to be produced to open day, while yet tile decent violence of their zeal for the liberty of France, they forrrrs of society were observed. But they were too frequently adopted tlhe rmaximr, thlat so glorious not the less successfirl in gaining the lower classes, an objec;t sanctioned almost any means which could whose cause they pretended peculiarly to espouse, be used to attain it. Under the exaggerated influence whose passions tlrey inflamed by anl eloquence suited of a mrristaken patriotisml, they were too apt to forget to such hearers, and whllose tastes, they flattered by that a crinme remains tile sallre ill character even affectation of brutal manners and vulgar dress. wllen perpetrated in a public cause.' They soon, by these arts, attached to themselves a It was alllong these ardlent men that first arose large body of followers, violently inflamlred with the tile idea of' fboming a clurb, or society, to serve as a prejudices which had been infrsed into their nminds, point of union for those who entertained tile samle and too boldly desperate to hesitate at any rmreasures political serntimenlts. Once united, they rendered which should be recommended by their enaigogres. their sittings piublic, combined them witil affiliated What nmighlt be the ultimate object of these imen societies in all parts of' France, and could thlls, as cannot be known.'Ve can halrdly give acny of thern fiom one comnmon centre, agitate the most remote credit for beirrg mad eaough to have any real patriofic frontiers with the passionate feelings wvhich electri- feeling., however extravagantly distorted. Mlost fled the metropolis. This formidable weaponl was, probably, each hllad f olrmed some vague prospect of in process of tilne, wrested out of tile hands of the terminating the affhair to his own advantlage; but in federalists, as thle original republicans were invi- the meantime, all agreed in the necessity of'sustaindiously called, by the faction who were generally ing the revolutionarly impulse, of deferring tihe retermed jacobins, trionl their influence in that society, turn oflorder andl quiet, anld of resistimn aDnl deleangand whose existence and peculiarities as a party we ing any description of orderly and peaceful governhave now to notice. mert. Th'lley were sensible tlihat the return of law, As yet this FOURTH, and, as it afterwards proved, under any estalblislled and regular fobrn whllatsoever, nmost foibrmidable party, lurked in secret anlong the must render them as contemptible as odious, and republicans of a higher order and plrer sentirments, were determiineed to avail themselves of the disorder as they, onl tiheir part, ihad not yet raised the mask, while it lasted, and to snatch at and enj,y silch poror ventured to declare openly uagainst thie plan tions of the national wreck as tihe tenmpest. immight of a constitutional monarchy. Tile jacobins wvere throw within their individual reach. l'his foul and desperate thction could not, by all s.ng..iar. ~the activity it used, have attained the sway vhmicli it C A s.ngutar instance of this overstrainled and dange rous enithusiasm is given by Madame Roland. It being the purposeltomanse tire fearsdspirtiftre pesui possessing and exercising extensively tile power of pose to rouse the fears and spirit of thle people, and direct tlheir aritmosity against the colnrt iparty, Crangeneuve snsbornilg inferior leaders among the poplulace. It agreed that he himself should ble nrltrltecred. by persons hIas beer gemnerally asserted, that mears for attaining chosen for tlie purpose, in sucll a manner tint the suspicion this important olject were su pplieul by the imof the crimne shoulid attach Piself to the aristccrats. HIe mense wealth of tile nearest prince of the blood went to thie place appointed, but Cliabot,. w-ho was to have royal, thlat Duke of Orleans, whose name is so,unhapshlared his fate, neither appeared hlirmself, nor had made pily mixed with the history of this pleriotl. By his the necessary preiparations for tile assassination of his largesses, according to the general report of histofriend, for which Madlanle Rolanid,,that hligih-spirited repub- rians, a nnabel of tie most violent wlitels of panlican, dilates upon his poltroonery. Yet, what was this, phlets and newspapers were pensioned, who depatriotic devotion, save a plan to support a false accusation luged the public with flse news an nine.aui. nit, by act of d amrd''d luged the public with false nmews and violent abuse. against the inntoc.ent, by an act of Inulder antd suicide, against to muo an d sucide, This prince, it is said, recompensed those popular which, if the schemne succeedled, was to lead to massacre antid proscriptionu? Tile same false, exaggerated, and dis- and ferocious orators, who nightly harangued the torted views of the public good centring, as it sedmed to people in the Palais Roval, and openly stilnPlatedl themn, inl the establishment ofa pure republic, led Barnave them to the most violent aggressions upon t3he perand others to palliate the massacres of September. Most sons and property of obnoxious individuals. From of them migllt ilauve sail of the Liberty which they had wor- thle same unhappy man's coffers were paid nulnbers of shipped,that attheir death they found it an empty name. those who reguflarly attended on the debates of the Vur,. NJ. 5 -7~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 341 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. assemlily, crowded the galleries to the exclusion of open on all sides, and the only persons by whom the public at large, applauded, hissed, exercised an defence could be offered were an unarmed mob; but almost domineering influence in the national councils, this superiority existed only in appearance. The and were sometimes addressed by the representatives French Guards had already united themselves, or, of the people, as if they had thernselves been the as the phrase then went, fraternized with the people, people of whom they were the scuim and the refuse. yielding to the various modes employed to dispose Fouler accusations even than these charges were them to the popular cause; and, little attached to brought forward. Bands of strangers, men of wild, their officers, most of whom only saw their companies haggard, and ferocious appearance, whose persons upon the days of parade or duty, an apparent acci. the still watchful police of Paris were unacquainted dent, which probably had its origin in an experi. with, began to be seen in the metropolis, like those Illent upon the feelings of these regiments, brought obscene and ill-omened birds which are seldom the ma.ter to a crisis. The soldiers had been supvisible except before a storm. All these were plied secretly with means of unusual dissipation, understood to be suborned by the Duke of Orleans and consequently a laxity of discipline was daily gainand his agents, to unite with the ignorant, violent, ing ground among themn. To correct this license, corruptedpopulace of the great metropolis of France, eleven of the guards had been committed to prison for the purpose of urging and guiding theln to actions for military offences; the Parisian mob delivered of terror and cruelty. The ultimate object of these them by violence and took them under the protection malnoeuvres is supposed to have been a change of of the inhabitants, a conduct which made the natudynasty, which should gratify the Duke of Orleans' ral impression on their comurades. Their numbers revenge by the deposition of his cousin, and his were three thousand six hundred of the best solanlbition by enthroning himself in his stead, or at diers in France, accustomed to military discipline, least by nominating him Lieutenant of France, with occupying every strong point in the city, and supall the royal powers. The most daring and unscru- ported by its immense though disorderly populace. pulous amongst the jacobins are said originally to The gaining these regiments gave the revolutiohave belonged to the faction of Orleans; but as he nists the command of Paris, fromn which the army manifested a want of decision, and did not avail assembled under Broglie might have found it hard to himself of opportunities of pushing his fortune, they dislodge them; but these last were more willing to abandoned their leader (whom they continued, how- aid than to quell any insurrection which might take ever, to flatter and deceive), and, at the head of the place. The modes of seduction which had sucpartisans collected for his service, and paid from ceeded with the French Guards were sedulously his finances, they pursued the path of their indivi- addressed to other corps. The regiments which lay dual fortunes. nearest to Paris were not forgotten. They were Besides the various parties which we have detail- plied with those temptations which are most powered, and which gradually developed their discordant ful with soldiers-wine, women, and money, were sentiments as the Revolution proceeded, the assem- supplied in abundance-and it was amidst debauchbly contained the usual proportion of that prudent cry and indiscipline that the French army renounced class of politicians who are guided by events, and their loyalty, which used to be even too much the who, in the days of Cromwell, called themselves god of their idolatry, and which was now destroyed "Waiters upon Providence;"- men who might like the temple of Persepolis, amidst the vapours of boast, with the miller in the tale, that though they wine, and at the instigation of courtezans. There could not direct the course of the wind, they remained the foreign troops, of which there were could adjust their sails so as to profit by it, blow several regiments, but their disposition was doubtfrom what quarter it would. ful; and to use them against the citizens of Paris, All the various parties in the assembly, by whose might have been to confirm the soldiers of thile soil division the king might, by temporizing measures, in their indisposition to the royal cause, supported as have surely profited, were united in a determined it mIust then have been by foreigners exclusively. course of hostility to the crown and its pretensions, Meanwhile, the dark intrigues which had been by the course which Louis XVI. was unfortunately long formed for acconmplishing a general insurrection advised to pursue. It had been resolved to assume a in Paris, were now ready to be brought into action. menacing attitude, and to place the king at tihe head The populace had been encouraged by success in of a strong force. Orders were given accordingly. one or two skirmishes with the gendarmes and Necker, though approving of many parts of the fbreign soldiery. They had stood a skirmish with proposal made to the assembly at the Royal Sitting, a regimrnent of Gelnran horse, and had been successhad strongly dissented from others, and had op- ful. The number of desperate characters who were posed the measure of marching troops towards Ver- to lead the van in these violences, was now greatly sailles and Paris to overawe the capital, -and, if increased. Deep had called to deep, and the revonecessary, the National Assembly. Necker received lutionary clubs of Paris had summoned their conhis dismission, and thus a second time the king and federates from among the most fiery and forward of the people seemed to be prepared for open war. every province. Besides troops of galley-slaves and The force at first glance seemed entirely on the deserters, vagabonds of every order flocked to Paroyal side. Thirty regiments were drawn around ri.s, like ravens to the spoil. To these were joined Paris and Versailles, commanded by Marshal Bro- the lowest inhabitants of a populous city, always glie, an officer of eminence, and believed to be a ready for riot and rapine; and they were led on and zealous anti-revolutionist, and a large camp formed encouraged by men who were in many instances under the walls of the metropolis. The town was sincere enthusiasts inl the cause of liberty, ad thought LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 35 it could only be victorious by the destruction of the pered of nations, the French seemed upon the Re. present government. The republican and jacobin volution to have been animated not merely with the party were open in sentiment and in action, encou- courage, but with the rabid fury of unchained wild raging the insurrection by every means in their power. beasts. Foulon and Berthier, two individuals whom The -constitutionalists, more passive, were still re- they considered as enemies of the people, were put joiced to see the storm arise, conceiving such a to death, with circumnstances of cruelty and insult crisis was necessary to compel the king to place fitting only at the death-stake of a Cherokee enthe helm of the state in their hands. It might have campment; and, in emulation of literal cannibals, been expected, that the assembled force of the there were men, or rather monsters, found, not only crown would be employed to preserve the peace to tear asunder the limbs of their victims, but to eat at least, and prevenlt the general systenm of rob- their hearts, and drink their blood. The intensity bery and plunder which seemed about to ensue. of the new doctrines of freedom, the animosity They appeared not, and the citizens themselves occasioned by civil commotion, cannot account for took armns by thousands, and tens of thousands, these atrocities, even in the lowest and most ignoforming the burgher militia, which was afterwards rant of the populace. Those who led the way in called the National Guard. The royal arsenals such unheard-of enormities, must have been practised were plundered to obtain arms, and La Fayette was murderers and assassins, mixed with the insur enlts, adopted the comrnander-in-chief of this new army, like old hounds in a young pack, to lead them on, a sufficient signi that they were to embrace what flesh them with slaughter, and teach an example of was called the constitutional party. Another large cruelty too easily learned, but hard to be ever forproportion of the population was hastily armed with gotten. The metropolis was entirely in the hands pikes, a weapon which was thence terlmed revolu- | of the insurgents, and civil war or submission was tionary. The Baron de Besenval, at the head of the only resource left to the sovereign. For the the Swiss Guards, two foreign regiments, and eight former course sufficient reasons might be urged. The hundred horse, after an idle demonstration which whole proceedings in the metropolis had been enonly served to encourage the insurgents, retired tirely insurrectionary, without the least pretence of from Paris without firing a shot, having, he says in authority from the National Assembly, which conhis Memoirs, no orders how to act, and being de- tinued sitting at Versailles, discussing the order of sirous to avoid precipitating a civil war. His retreat the day, while the citizens of Paris were storming ]was the signal for a general insurrection, in which castles, and tearing to pieces their prisoners, without the French Guard, the National Guard, and the autho ity from the national representatives, and armed mob of Paris, took the Bastille, and mas- even without the consent of their own civic rulers. sacred a part of the garrison. The provost of the merchants was assassinated at We are not tracing minutely the events of the. re- the commencement of the disturbance, and a terrivolution, but only attempting to describe their spirit fied committee of electors were the only persons and tendency; and we may here notice two changes, who preserved the least semblance of althority, which for the first time were observed to have taken which they were obliged to exercise under the. conplace in the character of the Parisian populace. trol and at the pleasure of the infuriated multitude. The Badauds de Pa2-is, as they were called in A large proportion of the citizens, though assumiing derision, had been hitherto viewed as a light, laugh- arms for the protection of themselves and their faing, thoughtless race, passionately fond of news, nilies, had no desire of employing them against the though not very acutely distinrguishing betwixt royal authority; a much larger only united themtruth and falsehood, quick in adopting impressions, selves with the insurgents, because, in a moment of but incapable of forming firm and concerted resolu- universal agitation, they were the active and predotions, still more incapable of executing them, and so minant party. Of these the former desiired peace -asily overawed by an armed force, that about and protection; the latter, from habit and shalme, twelve hundred police-soldiers had been hitherto must have soon deserted the side which was ostensufficient to keep all Paris in subjection. But, in the sibly conducted by ruffians and common stabbers, attack of the Bastille, they showed themselves and drawn themselves to that which protected peace daring, resolute, and unyielding, as well as prompt and good order. We have too good an opinion of a and headlong. These new qualities were in some people so enlightened as those of France, too good degree owing to the support which they received an opinion of human nature in any country, to believe from the French Guards; but are still more to be that men will persist in evil, if defended in their attributed to the loftier and more decided character honest and legal rights. belonging, to the revolutionary spirit, and the mix- What, in this case, was the duty of Louis XVI.'' tare of the men of better classes, and of the high tone We answer without hesitation,that which George II. which belongs to them, among the mere rabble of of Britain proposed to himself, when, in the name of the city. The garrison of this too famous castle was the protestant religion, a violent and disorderly mob indeed very weak, but its deep moats, and insur- opened prisons, destroyed property, burned houses, mountable bulwarks, presented:the most imposing and committed, though with far fewer symptoms of snow of resistance; and the triumph which the po- atrocity, the same course of disorder which now pular cause obtained in an exploit seemingly so des- laid waste Paris. It is known that when his minisperate, infused a general consternation into the king ters hesitated to give an opinion inpoint of law conand the royalists. cerning the employment of military force, for the The second remarkable particular was that, from protection of life and property against a disorderly being one of the most light-hearted and kind-tem- banditti, the king, as chief magistrate, declared 36 ILIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. his own puropose to march into the blazing city at But, having obtained this victory, in the name of the head of his guards, and with the strong hand the law of the realm, tile king could only be vindiof war to subdue the insurgents, and restore peace to cated in having resorted to arms, by using his conthe affrighted capital.* The same call now sounded quest with such moderation, as to show that he threw loudly in the ear of Louis. lie was still the chief his sword into the one scale, solely in order to magistrate of the people, whose duty it was to pro- balance the clubs and poniards of' pol!ular insiurrectect their lives and property-still commander of tion, with which the other was loaded. lIe must that army levied and paid for protecting the law of then have evinced that he did not Imean to obstluct the country, and the lives and property of the sub- the quiet course of moderation and constitutional rejects. The king ought to have proceeded to the Na- form, in stemming that of headlong and violent innotional Assembly without an instant's delay, cleared vation. Many disputes would have remained to be himself before that body of the suspicions with which settled between him and his sublhects; but tile procalumny had loaded him, and required and corn- cess of improving the constitution, though less rapid, manded the assistance of the representatives of the would have been more safe and certain, and the people, to quell the frightful excesses of murder and kingdom of France might have. attained a degree of rapine which dishonoured the capital. It is almost fieedom equal to that which she now possesses, certain that the whole moderate party, as they were without passing through a brief but dreadfiul anarchy called, would have united with the nobles and the to. long years of military dest.otism, swithout the loss clergy. The throne was not yet empty, nor the of mines of treasure, and without the expenditure of sword unswayed. Louis had surrendered much, and oceans of blood. To those who object the peril of might, in the course of the change impending, have this course, and the risk to the person of the sovebeen obliged to surrender more; but he was still reign from the fury of the insurgents, we can only King of France, still bound by his coronation oath to answer, in the words of the elder Horatius, Quc'il prevent murder and put down insurrection. He could mozurzit. Prince or peasant have alike lived long not be considered as crushing the cause of freedom, enough., when the choice comes to be betwixt loss in answering a call to discharge his kingly duty; for of life and an important duty undischarged. Death, what had the cause of reformation, proceeding as it at the head of his troops, would have saved Louis was by the peaceful discussion of an unarmed con- more cruel humiliation, hiis subjects a deeper crinle. vention, to do with the open war waged by the in- XVe do not affect to deny, that in this course there surgents of Paris upon the king's troops, or with the was considerable risk of another kind, and that it is gratuitous murders and atrocities with which the very possible that the king, susceptible as he was to capital had been polluted? With such members as the influence of those around hir, inight have lain shame and fear might have brought over from the under strong temptation to have resunued the desopposite side, the king, exerting himnself as a prince, potic authority, of whvlich Ire had in a great measure would have formed a majority strong enough to show divested himself, and have thus abused a victory the union which subsisted betwixt tile crown and the gained over insurrection into a weapon of tyranny. assembly, when the protection of the laws was the But the spirit of liberty was so strong in France, the point in question. WVith such a support-or without principles.of leniency and moderation so natural to it-for it is the duty of the prince, in a crisis of such the king, his own late hazards so great, and the emergency, to serve the people, and save the coutr- future, considering the general disposition of his subtry, by the exercise of his royal prerogative, whether jects, so doubtful, that we are inclined to think a with or -without the concurrence of the other branches victory by the sovereign at that moment would have of the legislature,-the king, at the head of his been followed by temperate umeasures. How tile Gacldes du Corps, of the regimelts which might people used theirs is but too well known. At ally have been found faithful, of the nobles and gentry, rate, we have strongly stated our opinion, that Louis whose principles of chivalry devoted them to the would at this crisis have been justtied in ernmploying. service of their sovereign, ought to have marched force to compel order, but that the clrinle wvould have into Paris, and put down the insurrection by the been deep and inexpiable had he abused a victory armed hand of authority, or fallen in the attempt, to restore despotism. like the representative of Henry IV. His duty called It may be said, indeed, that the preceding stateupon him, and the authority with which he was in- ment takes too much for granted, and that the viovested enabled him, to act this part; which, in all lence employed on the 14th July was probably only probability, would have dismayed the factious, en- an anticipation of the forcible measures which might couraged the timid, decided the wavering, and, by have been expected fronom the king against the Asseramobtaining a conquest over lawless and brute vio- bly. The answer to this is, that the successful party lence, would have paved the way for a moderate may always cast on the loser the blame of comand secure reformation in the state. nrencing the brawl, as the wolf punished the lamb for troubling the course of the water, though he In the year 1780, fromn a cause apparently harmless (a drank lowest do un the stream. Blrt when tye find petition to parliament front the protestant association), a riotous mob, composed chiefly of the lowest orders of the one party completely prepared and ready ior action, people, headed by Lord George Gordon, during a week forming plans boldly, and executirg them skilfuily, kept Lordon in the utmost alarm. The prisons of Newgate, and observe the other uncertain and unprovided, the King's Bench, and the Fleet, were burnt, several Ro- betraying all the inlbecility of surlprise and indeciman Catholic chapels, and a great number of private houses sion, we must necessarily believe the attack was belonging to catholics, destroyed, etc. etc. Lord George premeditated on the one side, and unexpected on the Gordon was afterwards tried for this offence. other. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 37 The abandonment of thirty thousand stand of arms upon by Lally Tolendal in the Assembly, he was at tile H6tel des Invalides, which were surrendered heard and answered as if he had made mountains without the slightest resistance, though three Swiss of molehills. Mirabeau said, that "it was a time regiments lay encamped in the Chamnps Elysdes; to think, and not to feel." Barnave asked, with a the totally unprovided state of the Bastille, gar- sneer, "If the blood which had been shed was so risoned by about one hundred Swiss and Invalids, pure?' Robespierre, rising into animation with and without provisions even for that small number; acts of cruelty fitted to call forth the interest of the absolute inaction of the Baron de Besenval, who, such a mind, observed, that " the people, oppressed — without entangling his troops in the narrow streets, for ages, had a right to the revenge of a day." which was pleaded as his excuse, —might, by march- But how long did that day last, or what was the ing along the Boulevards, a passage so well calcu- fate of' those -who justified its enormities? Froln latel for thie mnanoeutvres of regular troops, have that hour the itob of Paris, or rather the suborned relieved the siege of that fobrtress;' and, finally, agitators by whom the actions of that blind multithlat general's bloodless retreat friom Paris,-show tude were dictated, becanme masters of the destiny that the king had, under all these circumstances, of France. An insurrection was organized whennot only adopted no measures of a hostile character, ever there was any purpose to be carried, and the but must, on the contrary, have issued such orders Assembly might be said to work under the impulse as prevented his offiicers from repelling force by of the popular current, as mechanically as the wheel fox ce. of a Mwater engine is driven by a cascade. We are led, therefore, to believe, that the scheme The victory of the Bastille was extended in its of assembling the troops round Paris was one of consequences to the cabinet and to the legislative those half-lmeasures, to which, with great political body. In the former, those ministers who had counweakness, Louis resorted more than once-an at- seled the king to stand on the defensive against the tempt to intimidate by the demonstration of force, Assembly, or rather to assume a threatening attiwhich he was previously resolved not to use. Had tude, suddenly lost courage when they heard the his purposes of aggression been serious, five thou- fate of Foulon and Berthier. The Baron de Bresand troops of loyal principles-and such might teuil, the unpopular successor of Necker, avas desurely have been selected —would, acting suddenly prived of his office, and driven into exile; and, to and energetically, have better assured him of the complete the triumph of the people, Necker himself city of Paris, than six times that numnber brought was recalled by their unanimous voice. to waste themselves in debauch around its walls, The king came, or was conducted to, the H6tel and to be withdrawn without the discharge of a de Ville of Paris, in what, compared to the triumph musket. Indeed, the courage of Louis was of a of the minister, was a sort of ovation, in which he passive, not an active nature, conspicuous in endur- appeared rather as a captive than otherwise. He ing adversity, hut not of that energetic and decisive entered into the edifice under a vault of steel, formed character which turns dubious affairs into prospe- by the crossed sabres and pikes of those who had rity, and achieves by its own exertions the success been lately engaged in combating his soldiers and which Fortune denies. murdering his subjects. He adopted the cockade The insurrection of Paris being acquiesced in by of the insurrection; and, in doing so, ratified and the sovereign, was recognized by the nation as a approved of the acts done expressly against his legitimate conquest, instead of a state crime; and command, acquiesced in the victory obtained over the tameness of the king in enduring its violence, his own authority, and completed that conquest by was assumed as a proof that the citizens had but laying down his arms. anticipated his intended fbrcible measures against The conquest of the Bastille was the first, almost the assembly, and prevented the military occupa- the only, appeal to arms during the earlier part of tion of the city. In the debates of the assembly the Revolution; and the popular success, afterwards itself, the insurrection was vindicated; the fears sanctioned by the monarch, showed that nothing and suspicions alleged as its motives were justified remained save the name of the ancient government. as well-founded; the passions of thle citizens were The king's younger brother, the Count d'Artois, sympathized with, and' their worst excesses pal- now reigning King of France, had been distinguishlimited and excused. Whilen the horrors accompany- ed as the leader and rallying point of the royalists. ing the murder of Berthier and Foulon were dilated He left the kingdom with his children, and took refuge in Turin. Other distinguished princes, and * We have heard from a spectator who could be trusted, many of the inferior nobility, adopted the same that, daring the course of the at ack on the Bastille, a cry course, and their departure seemed to announce to arose anmong the crowd that the regimnent of Royal Allemnand the, public that the royal catuse was indeed desperwere coming upon them. There was at that moment such ate, since it was dese ted by those nost interested a disposition to fly, as plainly showed what woutl have been in its defence. This was the first act of general the etfect had a body of troops appeared in reality. The emigration and Baron de Besenval had commnandedl a body of the guards, althoigh, in the circttrnstances, it,when some weeks previously, they subdued an insurrection may be excrtsed, yet it roust still be termed a great in the Fauboutrg St-Antoitle. On that occasion many of the political error. Fol though, on the one ltand, it is to mob were killed; andl lhe observes in his Memoirs, that, be considered that these princes and their followers -hile the citizens of Paris termned hitn their preserver, he thad been educated in the belief that the government wag very coldly received at court. He might be, therefore, of France rested in the king's person, and was idenunwilling to commit lhimself, by acting decidedly on the tified with him; and that when the king was dis14th July. placed from his permanent situation of power, tile 38 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. whole social system of France was totally ruined, the numerous parties which united in desiring a and nothing remained which could legally govern new constitution, although they differed on the prinor be governed; yet, on the other hand, it must be ciples on which it was to be founded. But all remembered that the instant the emigrants crossed agreed that it was necessary, in the first place, to the frontier, they at once lost all the natural advan- clear away the remains of the ancient state of things. tages of birth and education, and separated them- They resolved upon the abolition cf all feudal rights, selves from the country which it was their duty to and managed the matter with so much address that defend. it was made to appear on the part of' those who held To draw to a head, and raise an insurrection for them a voluntary surrender. The debate in -the the purpose of achieving a counter-revolution, would National Assembly* was turned by the popular have been the ready and natural resource. But tie leaders upon the odious character of the fIudal influence of the privileged classes was so totally rights and privileges, as being the chief cause of destroyed, that the scheme seemed to have been the general depression and discontent in which the considered as hopeless, even if the king's consent kingdom was involved. The nobles understood the could have been obtained. To remain in France, hint which was thus given them, and answered it whether in Paris or the departments, must have with the ready courage and generosity which has exposed them, in their avowed character of aris- been at all times the attribute of their order, though tocrats, to absolute assassination. It has been sometimes these noble qualities have been indis. therefore urged, that emigration was their only re- creetly exercised. "Is it from nus personally that source. the nation expects sacrifices?" said the Marquis de But there remained for these princes, nobles, and Foucault; " be assured that you shall not appeal cavaliers, a more noble task, could they but have in vain to our generosity. We are desirous to united themselves cordially to that portion of the defend to the last the rights of the monarchy, but assembly, originally a strong one, which professed, we can be lavish of our peculiar and personal inwithout destroying the existing state of monarchy in terests." France, to wish to infuse into it the spirit of rational The same general sentiment pervaded at once the liberty, and to place Louis in such a situation as clergy and nobles, who, sufficiently sensible that should have insured him the safe and honourable what they resigned could not operate essentially to station of a limited monarch, tholgh it deprived him the quiet of the state, were yet too proud to have of the powers of a despot. It is in politics, how- even the appearance of placing their own selfish inever, as in religion-the slighter in itself the differ- terests in competition with the public welfare. The ence between two parties, the more tenacious is whole privileged classes seemed at oice seized with each of the propositions in which they disagree.- a spirit of the most lavish generosity, and hastened The pure royalists were so far from being disposed to despoil themselves-of all their peculiar immunities to coalesce with those who blended an attachment and feudal rights. Clergy and laymen vied with to monarchy with a love of liberty, that they scarce each other in the nature and extent of their sacrifices. accounted them fit to share the dangers and dis- Privileges, whether prejudicial or harmless, rational tresses to which all were alike reduced. or ridiculous, were renounced in the mass. A sort This first emigration proceeded not a little per. ofdelirium pervaded the assembly; each member haps on the feeling of self-consequence among those strove to distinguish the sacrifice of his personal by whom it was adopted. The high-born nobles of claims by something more remarkable than had yet which it was chiefly composed had been long the attendetd any of the previous, renunciations. They wORLD, as it is termed, to Paris and to each other, who had no rights of their own to resign, had the and it was a natural conclusion, that their withdraw. easier and more pleasant task of surrendering those ing themselves from the sphere which they adorned of their constituents: the privileges of corporations, must have been felt as an irremediable deprivation. the monopolies of crafts, the rights of cities, were They were not aware how easily, in the hour of heaped on the national altar; and the members of need, perfumed lamps are, to all purposes of utility, the National Assembly seemed to look about in replaced by ordinary candles, and that, carrying ecstasy, to consider of what else they could despoil away with them much of dignity, gallantry, and themselves and others, as if, like the silly old eail grace, they left behind an ample stock of wisdom in the civil dissensions of England, there had been and valour, and all the other essential qualities by an actual pleasure in the act of renouncing.- The which nations are governed and defended. feudal rights were in many instances odious, in The situation and negotiations of tile emigrants in the courts to which they fled, were also prejudi- * 4th August, 1789. cial to their own reputation, and consequently to the t "Is there nothing else we can renounce?" said the old royal cause, to which they had sacrificed their Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, in the time of the country. Reduced " to show their nlisery in foreign Commonwealth, after he had joined in renouncing church lands," they were naturally desirous of obtaining and king, crown and law. "Can no one think of anything foreign aid to return to their own, and laid them- else? I love retoucncing. The lasty renunciations of the selves under the heavy accusation of instigating a French nobles and churchmen were brought about in the lwar while Louis was yet the hey oiestigtned if not manner practised of Sore in convivial parties, Mwhen he who civil ar, while Louis as yet the resigned, if not gave a toast burned his wig, had a loose tooth drawn or the contented, sovereign of the newly-modified em- made some other sacrifice, which, according to the laws of pire. To this subject we must afterwards return. compotation, was an example necessary to be imitated by The conviction that the ancient monarchy of all the rest of the company, with wha:ever prejudice to France had fallen for ever, gave encouragement to their wardrobe or their persons. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 39 others oppressive, and in others ridiculous; but it deserted the revolutionary party, and made an adwas ominous to see the institutions of ages over- mirable speech against this iniquitous measure. thrown at random,' by a set of Inen talking and "You would be friee," he exclaimed, witb veheraving all at once, so as to verify the observation of mence, " and you know not how to be just!" A the Englishman, Williams, one of their own mem- curate in the assembly, recalling to mind the solemn bers, "-The fools! they would be thought to deli- invocation by which the tiers 6tat had called upon berate, when they cannot even lsten." The singular the clergy to unite with them, asked with similar occasion on which enthusiasm, false shame, and energy, "Was it to rob us, that you invited us to mutual emulation, thus induced the nobles and join with you in the name of the God of Peace?" clergy to despoil themselves of all their seigniorial Mirabea;u, on the other hand, forgot the vehemence rights, was called by some the day of the sacrifices, with which he had pleaded the right of property inby others, more truly, the day of the dupes. herent in religious bodies, and lent his sophistry to deDuring the currency of this legislative frenzy, as fend what his own reasoning had proved in a similar it might be termed, the popular party, with counte- case to be indefensible. The complaints of the nancesaffectinghumilityandshamneathavingnothing clergy were listened to in contemptuous silence, themselves to surrender, sat praising each new sa- or replied to with bitter irony, by those who were crifice, as the wily companions of a thoughtless and conscious how little sympathy that body were likely generous young man applaud the lavish expense to meet from the r.ation in general, and who thereby which they themselves profit, while their seem- fore spoke " as having power to do wrong." ing admiration is an incentive to new acts of extra- We must now reveit to the condition of the kingvagance. dom of France at large, while her ancient institutions At length, when the sacrifice seemed complete, were crumbling to pieces of themselves, or were they began to pause and look around them. Some forcibly pulled down by state innovators. That fine one thought of the separate distinctions of' the pro- country was ravaged by a civil war of aggravated vinces of France, as Normandy, Languedoc, and so horrors, waged betwixt the rich and poor, and forth. Most of these provinces possessed rights and marked by every species of brutal violence. The privileges acquired by victory or treaty, which even peasants, their minds filled with a thousand wild Richelieu had not dared to violate. As soon as suppositions, and incensed by the general scarcity mentioned, they were at once thrown into the revo- of provisions, were everywhere in arms, and everylutionary smelting-pot, to be re-mlodeled after the where attacked the chateaux of their seigneurs, universal equality which was the fashion of the day. whom they were incited to look upon as enemies of It was not urged, and would not have been listened the Revolution, and particularly of the commons. to, that these rights had been bought with blood, In most instances they were successfull, and burnt and sanctioned by public faith; that the legislature, the dwellings of the nobility, practising all the cir. though it had a right to extend them to others, could cumstances of rage and cruelty to which the minds not take them from the possessors without compen- of barbarians are influenced. Men were murdered sation; and it escaped the assembly no less, how in presence of' their wives; wives and daughters nmany honest and generous sentiments are connected violated before the' eyes of their husbands and pawith such provincial distinctions, which form, as it rents; some were put to death by lingering tortures; were, a second and inner fence around the love of a others by sudden and general massacre. Against common country; or how much harmless enjoyment some of these unhappy gentlemen, doubtless, the the poor man derives from the consciousness that peasants might have wrongs to remember and to lie shares the privileges of some peculiar district avenge; many of them, however, had borne their Such considerations mnight have induced the legis- faculties so meekly that they did not even suspect lature to pause at least, after they had removed the ill intentions of these peasants, until their castles such marks of distinction as tended to engender and country-seats kindled with tile general conflagrajealousy betwixt inhabitants of the same kingdom. tion, and made part of the devouring element which But the revolutionary level was to be passed over raged through the whole kingdom. all that tended to distinguish one district, or one What were the National Assembly doing at this individual from another. dreadful crisis? They were discussing the abstract There was one order in the kingdom which, doctrines of the rights of man, instead of exacting although it had joined largely and readily in the from the subject the respect due to his social duties. sacrifices of thle day of dupes, was still considered Yet a large party in the convention, and who had as indebted to the state, and was doomed to undergo hitherto led the way in the paths of the Revolution, an act of total spoliation. The clergy had agreed, now conceived that the goal was attained, and that and the assembly had decreed, on 4th August, that it was time to use the curb and forbear the spur. the tithes should be declared redeemable, at a mo- Such was the opinion of La Fayette and his folderate price, by the proprietors subject to pay lowers, who considered the victory over the royalists them. This regulation ratified, at least, the legality as complete, and were desirous to declare the of the clergy's title. Nevertheless, in violation of Revolution ended, and erect a substantial form of the public faith thus pledged, the assembly, three government ou the ruins of monarchy, which lay days afterwards, pretended that the surrender of prostrate at their feet. tithes had been absolute, and that, in lieu of that They had influence enough in the assembly to supposed'revenue, the nation was only bound to-pro- procure a set of resolutions, declaring the monarchy vide decently for the administration of divine wor- hereditary in the person of the king and present fai ship. Even the Abbe Si6yes on this occasion mily, on which basis they proceeded to erect mbshat 4') LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. might be termed a royal democracy, or, in plainer termls, a republic, governed, in truth, by a popular assembly, but encumbered with the expense of a CHAPTER V. king, to whom they desired to leave no real power, n,, Plan of the democrats to bring the king and assembly to or free will to exercise it, although his name was Paris.-Banquet of the Gardes du Corps.-Biot at Paris to remain in the fi-ont of edicts, and- although -A formidable mob of wonien assemble to marchi to Verhe was still to be considered entitled to command sailles —The National Gucard refuse to act against the their armies, as the exeir.utive authority of the insurgents, etnd demtand also to be led to Versaillesstate. The feJale mob arrive-Their behlaviour to the assembly A struggle was made to extend the royal authority -to the kicng —Alarming disorders at nigth't-La Fayette to an absolute negative upon the decrees of the re- arrives with the National Cuarel-MbVforce the palace presentative body; and thoullg it was limited by the -Afurer the BEy Gucrds-T'e quee's say et clanJealoulsy of the plopular party to a slspemnsive veto gered-La Fayette's arrival wvith his Jorce restores orof inflec ws su ed er. —Kilg andl royal family obliged to go to reside at only, yet even this degree or influen ce was supp osed only, yet even this degree Of iffience A s.pposed.. Paris-Description of the processzion-'This step agreetoo dangerous in the hands of a monarch who heag.too dangeos in the hands Of, a nona ich who had able to the views of the constitutionalists, aindt of the but lately been absolute. There is indeed an evi- republicains, anld of the tnarchists.-Dukce of Orleans dent dilemma in the formation of a democracy, with sent to EnZglantd. a king for its ostensible head. Either the monarch will relnain contented with his daily parade and WiE have mentioned tile various restrictions upon daily food, and thus play the part of a nere pageant, the royal authority, which had been successively in which case lie is a burthenlsome expense to the sanctioned by the National Assembly. But the state, which a popular goverlnment, in prudent various factions, all of which tended to democracy, economy, as well as from the severity of principle were determined upon manoeuvrls fobr abating the assumed by republicans, are particularly bound to royal authority, more actively powerfutl than those avoid; or else he will naturally endeavour to improve which the assembly dared yet to venture upon. For the shadow and outward form of power into some- this purpose, all those Nwho desired to carry the thing like sinew and substance, and tile democracy Revolution to extremity, became dlesirous to bring will be unexpectedly assailed with the spear which the sittings of the National Assembly and tIhe rethey desired should be used only as their standard- sidence of' the king within the precincts of Paris, pole. and to place themli under the inlluence of that poTo these reasoninlgs many of the deputies would pular frenzy which they had so many ways of excitperhaps have answered, had they spoken their real ing, and which might exercise the authority of terror sentiments, that it was yet too early to propose to over the body of representatives, fill their galleries the French a pure republic, and that it was necessary with a wild and tunlmltuous band of partisans, strto render the power of the kiing insignificant, before round their gates with an infuriated populace, and abolishiing a tille to which the public ear had been thus dictate the issue of each deliberation. What so long accustomed. In the meantiume they took fate was reserved for the king, after incidents will care to divest the monarch of whatever protection sufficien.tly show. To etfect ain object so implolrtant, he, mighllt have received from an intermediate senate, the republican party strained every effort, and sucor chamber, placed betwixt the, kinlg and the Na- ceeded in raising the popular fernlent to the highest tional Assembly. " One God," exclaimed Rabaud St- pitch. ]Etienne, " one nation, one king, and one chamiber." Their first efforts were unsuccessful. A depultaThis advocate for unity at once and uniformity, tion, formidable firom their numbers and clanmorous would scarce have been listened to ift' he had added, violence, was about to sally from Paris to petition, 1" one nose, one tongue, one arnl, and one eye;" but as they called it, for tile remlov-al of the royal famnily his first concatenation of unities formed a phrase; and National Assembly to Paris, but Awas dispersed and anu imposing phrase, whiclh sounds well, and by the address of La Fayette and Bailly. Neverthecan easily be repeated, has immense force in a re- less it seemed decreed that the republicans should volution. The proposal for a Second or Upper carry their ftvourite measures, less through their Chamber, whether hereditary like that of England, own proper strength, great as that uwas, than by the or conservative like that of America, was rejected advantage ahtbrded by the blunders of thle royalists. as aristocratical. Thus the King of France was An imprudence-it seenis to deserve no harsher placed in respect to the populace, as Canute of old name-which occurred within the precincts of the to the advancing tide-libe was entitled to sit on his royal palace at Versailles, gave tile demmagogues an throne and conimmand the waves to respect him, and opportunity, sooner probably than they expected, of take the chance of their obeying his commands, or carrying their point by a repetition of the violences of being overwhelsed by.tllem. If he was designed which had already occurred. to be ami integral part of the constitution, this should The town of Versailles owed its splendour almd not have been. —if he was considered as sonmethling wealth entirely to its being the royal residence, yet that it was more seemly to aba;mdon to his fate than abonlllded with a population singularly ill-disposed to destroy by violence, the plan was not ill con- towvards thie king and royal famnily.'lThe National certed. Guard of the place, arnourtti)ng to some thousands, wvere amnimated by the same feelings. There w'ere only about four hundred Gardes clu Corps, or Life Guards, aupon wholn reliance could be,laced for the defence of' the. royal family, inl case, of any popular _ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 41 tumult either in Versailles itself, or directed thither must be viewed by posterity. The jacobins were from Paris. These troops consisted of gentlemen the first to sound the alarm through all their clubs of trust and confidence, but their numbers were few and societies, and the hundreds of hundreds of poin proportion to the extent of the palace, and their pular orators whom they had at their command, exvery quality rendered them obnoxious to the people cited the citizens by descriptions of the most dreadas armed aristocrats. ful plots, fraught with massacres and proscriptions. About two-thirds of their number, to avoid suspi- Every effort had already been used to heat the pocion and gain confidence, had been removed to pular mind against the king and queen, whom, in Rambouillet. In these circumstances, the grena- allusion to the obnoxious power granted to them by diers of the French Guards, so lately in arms against the law, they had of late learned to curse and insult, the royal authority, with an inconsistency not unna- under the names of Monsieur and Madame Veto. tural to men of their profession, took it into their The king had recently delayed yielding his sanction heads to become zealous for recovery of the posts to the declarations of the Rights of Man, until the which they had formerly occupied around the king's constitution was complete. This had been severely person, and threatened openly to march to Versailles censured by the Assembly, who spoke of sending a to take possession of the routine of duty at the, pa- deputation to extort his consent to these declaralace, a privilege which they considered as their due, tions, before presenting him with the practical notwithstanding that they had deserted their posts results which they intended to bottom on them. A against the king's command, and were now about to dreadful scarcity, amounting nearly to a famine, resume them contrary to his consent. The regiment rendered the populace even more accessible than of Flanders was brought up to Versailles, to prevent usual to desperate counsels. The feasts, amid which a movement fraught with so much danger to the the aristocrats were represented as devising their royal family. The presence of this corps had been plots, seemed an insult on the public misery. When required by the municipality, and the measure had the minds of the lower orders were thus prejudiced, been acquiesced in by the Assembly. though. not it was no difficult matter to produce an insurwithout some expressive indications of suspicion. rection. The regiment of Flanders arrived accordingly, That of the 5th October, 1789, was of a singular and the aardes dt Corps, according to a custom description, the insurgents being chiefly of the feuniversal in the French garrisons, invited the officers. male sex. The market-women, dames de la halle, to an entertainment, at which the officers of the as they are called, half unsexed by the masculine Swiss Guards, and those of the National Guard of nature of their employments, and entirely so by Versailles, were also guests. This ill-omened feast the ferocity of their manners, had figured early in was given in the Opera Hall of the palace, almost the Revolution.'With these were allied and assowithin hearing of the sovereigns; * the healths of ciated most of the worthless and barbarous of their the royal family were drank with the enthusiasm own sex, such disgraceful specimens of humanity naturally inspired by the situation. The king and as serve but to show in what a degraded state it queen imprudently agreed to visit the scene of fes- may be found to exist. Females of this description tivity, carrying with them the dauphin. Their pre- began to assemble early in the morning, in large sence raised the spirits of the company, already groups, with the cries for " bread," which so easily excited by wine and music to the highest pitch; rouse a starving metropolis. There were observed royalist tunes were played, the white cockade, dis- amongst them many men disguised as women, and tributed by the ladies who attended the queen, was they compelled all the females they met to go along mounted with enthusiasm, and it is said that of the with them. They marched to the H6tel de Ville, nation was trodden under foot. broke boldly through several squadrons of the NaIf we consider the cause of this wild scene, it tional Guard, who were drawn up in front of that seems natural enough that the queen, timid as a wo. building for its defence, and were with difficulty man, anxious as a wife and a mother, might, in order dissuaded from burning the records it contained. to propitiate the favour of men who were summoned They next seized a magazine of arms, with three expressly to be guard of the royal family, incau- or four pieces of cannon, and were joined by a tiously have recourse to imitate, in a slight degree, miscellaneous rabble, armed with pikes, scythes, and towards one regiment, the arts of conciliation, and similar instruments, who called themselves the which in a much grosser shape.had been used by the conquerors of the Bastille. The still increasing popular party to shake the fidelity of the whole multitude re-echoed the cry of "Bread, bread!-to army. But it is impossible to conceive that the king, Versailles! to Versailles!" or ministers, could have hoped, by the transitory and The National Guard were now called out in force, drunken flash of enthusiasm elicited from a few but speedily showed their officers that they too were hundred men during a carousal, to commence the infected with the humour of the times, and as much counter-revolution, which they dared not attempt indisposed to subordination as the mob, to disperse when they had at their command thirty thousand which they were summoned. La Fayette put himtroops, under an experienced general. self at their head, not to give his own, but to reBut as no false step among the royalists remained ceive their orders. They refused to act against unimproved by their adversaries, the military feast women, who, they said, were starving, and in their of Versailles was presented to the people of Paris turn demanded to be led to Versailles, to dethrone, under a light very different from that in which it -such was their language,-" the king, who was a driveler, and place the crown on the head of his + October lef. son." La Fayette hesitated, implored, explained; VOL. vr. 0 42 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. but he had as yet to learn the situation of a revolu- tached a tambour de basque, commenced a harangue tionary general. "Is it not strange,"' said one of in the name of the sovereign people. He announced his soldiers, who seemed quite to. understand the that they wanted bread;, that they were convinced military relation of officer and private on such an the ministers were traitors; that the arm of the occasion, " is it not strange that La Fayette pretends people was uplifted, and about to strike;-with to command the people, when it is his,part to re- much to the same purpose, in the exaggerated eloceive orders from them?" quence of the period. The same sentiments were Soon afterwards an order arrived from the As,- echoed by his followers, mingled with the bitterest sembly of the Commune of Paris, enjoining the threats, against the queen in particular, that fury commandant's march, upon his own report that it could contrive, expressed: in language of the most was impossible to withstand the will of the people. energetic brutality. He marched accordingly in- good order, and at The Amazons then crowded into the assembly, the head of a large force of the National Guard, mixed themselves with the members, occupied the about four or five hours after the departure of the seat of the president, of the! secretaries, produced mob, who, while he waited in a state of indecision, or procured victuals and wine, drank, sung, swore, were already far on their way to Versailles. scold'ed, screamed, —abused somle of the members, It does not appear that the king, or his ministers, and loaded others with their loathsome caresses. had any information of these hostile movements. A deputation of these madwomen was at length Assuredly, there could not have been a royalist in sent to St-Priest, the minister, a determined royalist, Paris willing to hazard a horse or a groom to carry who received them sternly, and replied, to their such intelligence, where the knowledge of it must demand of bread, " When you' had but one king, have been so important. The leading members of you never wanted bread-you have now twelve the assembly, assembled at Versailles, were better hundred -go ask it of them." They were introinformed. "These gentlemen,'" said Barbantanne, duced to the king, however, and were so muchi looking at the part of the hall where the nobles and struck with the kind interest which he took in the clergy usually sat, "wish more light-they shall state of Paris, that their hearts relented in- his fahave lanterns,* they may rely upon it.' Mirabeau vour, and the deputies returned to their constituents, went behind the chair of Mounier, the president. shouting' Vive e roi! " Paris is marching upon us," he said.-" I know not Had the tempest depended on the mere popular what you mean,"' said Mounier. —-"Believe me or breeze, it might now have been lulled to sleep; but not, all Paris is marching upon us —dissolve the there was a secret ground-swell, a heaving upwards sitting."-"I never hurry the deliberations," said of the bottom of the abyss, which could not be conMounier.-" Then feign illness," said Mirabeau,- jured- down by the awakened feelings or convinced " go to the palace, tell them what I say, and give understandings of the deputation. A cry was raised me for authority. But there is not a minute to lose that the deputies had been bribed to represent the -Paris marches upon us." —-" So much the better," king favourably; and, in this liumour of suspicion, answered Mounier; "'we will be a republic the the army of Amazons stripped their garters, for the sooner." t purpose of strangling their own delegates. They Shortly after this singular dialogue, occasioned had by this time ascertained, that neither the Naprobably by a sudden movement, in which Mirabeau tional, Guard of Versailles, nor the regiment of showed the aristocratic feelings from which he never Flanders, whose transitory loyalty had passed away could shake himself free, the female battalion, to- with: the fumes of the wine of the banquet, would gether with their masculine allies, continued their opposethem by' force and that they had only to deal march uninterruptedly, and entered Versailles in with the Gardes du- Corps, who dared not to act the afternoon, singing patriotic airs,, intermingled with vigour, lest they should provoke a general atwith blasphemous obscenities, and the most furious tack on the palace, while the most complete distracthreats against the queen. Their first visit was to tionand indecision reigned within its precincts. Bold the National Assembly, where the beating ofdrums, in consequence, the female mob seized on the exshouts, shrieks, and a hundred confused sounds, terior'avenuesof the'palace, and threatened destrucinterrupted the deliberations. A man called Mail- tion to all within. lard, brandishing a sword in his hand; and supported The attendants of the king saw it necessary to by a woman holding a long pole, to which was at- take measures for the safety of his person, but they were marked by indecision and confusion. A force In the beginning of the Revolution, when the mob exe- was hastily gathered of two or three hundred gentlecuted their pleasure on the individuals against- whom their men, who, it was-proposed, should mount the horses suspicions were directed, the lamp-irons served'for gibbets, of the royal stud, and escort the king to Rambouillet, and the-lines by which the lamps, or-lanterns, were disposed out of this scene of confusion.* The Gardes du across the street, were ready halters; Iencce the. cry of a Les Aristocrates d la naterne.," The answer ofthe Abbe This was proposed by that Marquis de Favras, whose Mauryis well known.' Eh! res amis,, qutadvoeUs'r'stu- death upon the gallows fora royalist plot gave afterwards rez mis a la lanterne, est-ce que eous. verrez plus flair?, such- exquisite delight to! the citizens of Paris. Being the t Mounter must be supposed to- speak ironically, and in first manof quality whom they'had seen hanged (that puallusion, not to his own opinions, but to. Miralbeau'sa revo- nishmnenthaving been hitherto reserved for plebeians), they lutionary tenets. Another account of this singular conlver- encored the performance, and would fain. have hung himr sation states his answer to have been, " All' the better. If up a second time. The same unfortunate gentleman had the mob kill all of us-remark, I say all" ofus, it will be the previously proposed to secure the bridge at Sdvres with a better for the country.n body of cavalry, which would' have prevented the women LIFE. OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 43 Corps, with such assistance, might certainly have into the chamber of the king, while the assassins, forced their way through a mob of the tunlultuary bursting in, stabbed the bed she had just left with description which surrounded them; and the escape pikes and swords.* of the king from Versailles, under circumstances so The Gardes du Corps assembled in what was critical, might have had a great effect in changing called the (Eil de-Bveuf, and endeavoured there to the current of popular feeling. But those opinions defend themselves; but several, unable to gain this prevailed, which recommended'that he should abide place of refuge, were dragged down- into tile courtthe arrival of La Fayette with the civic force of yard, where a wretch, distinguished by a long Paris. beard, a broad bloody axe, and a species of armour It was now night, and the armed rabble of both which he wore on his person, had taken on himself, sexes showed no intention of departing or breaking by taste and choice, the office of executioner. The up. On the contrary, they bivouacked after their own strangeness of the villain's costume, the sanguinary manner upon the parade, where the soldiers usually relish with which he discharged his office, and the mustered. There they kindled large fires, ate, hoarse roar with which from time to time lie dedrank, sang, caroused, and occasionally discharged manded new victims, made him resemble some theirfire-arms. Scuffles arose from time totime, and demon whom hell had vomited forth, to augment one or two of the Gardes da Corps had been killed the wickedness and horror of the scene. t and wounded in the quarrel, which the rioters had Two of the Gardes du Corps were already beendeavoured to fasten on them; besides which, this headed, and the man with the beard was clamorous devoted corps had sustained a volley from their late to do his office upon the others who had been taken, guests, the National Guard of Versailles. The horse when La Fayette, roused from his repose, arrived of a Garde dC Corps, which fell into the hands of at the head of a body of grenadiers of the old French these female demons, was killed, torn in pieces, and Guards, who had been lately incorporated with the eaten half raw and half roasted. Everything seem- civic guard, and were probably the most efficient ed tending to a general engagement, when, late at part of his force. le did not think of avenging the night, the drums announced the approach of La unfortunate} gentlemen who lay murdered before his Fayette at the head of his civic army, which moved eyes for the discharge of their military duty, but he slowly,but in good order. entreated his soldiers to save him the dishonour of The presence of this great force seemed to restore breaking his word, which he had pledged to the a portion of tranquillity, though no one seemed to king, that he would protect the Gardes du Corps. know with certainty how, it was likely to act. La It is probable he attempted no more than was in his Fayette had an audience of the; king, explained the power, and so far acted wisely, if not generously. means he had adopted for the security of the pa To redeem Monsieur de la Fayette's pledge, the lace, recommended to the inhabitants to go to rest, grenadiers did, what they ought to have done in the and unhappily set the example by retiring himself. name of the king, the law, the nation, and insulted Before doing so, however, he also visited thie assem- humanity: they cleared, and with perfect ease, the bly, pledged himself for the safety of the royal fa- court of the palace from these bands of murderous mily and the tranquillity of the night, and, with bacchantes, and their male associates. The instinct some difficulty, prevailed on the President Mounier of ancient feelings was in some degree awakened in to adjourn the sitting, which had been voted per- the grenadiers. They experienced a sudden senmanent. He thus took upon himself the responsibi- sation of compassion and kindness for the Gardes lity for the quiet of the night. We are loth to bring da Corps, whose duty on. the royal person they had into question the worth, honour, and fidelity of La Fayette; and we can therefore only lament, that One of the most accredited calumnies against the unweariness should have so far overcome him at an fortunate Marie Antoinette pretends, that she was on this important crisis, and that he should have trusted to occasion surprised in the arms of a paramour. Bonaparte others the execution ofthose precautions, which were is said tohare mentioned:this as a fact, upon the authority most grossly neglected. of Madame Campan. We have now Madame Camnpan's own A band of the rioters found means to penetrate account, describing the conduct of the queen on this dreadinto the palacnd e abot three in the morning through ful occasion as that of a heroine, and totally excluding the into the palace about three in the morning, through possibility ofthe pretended anecdote. But let it be farther a gate which was left unlocked and unguarded. considered, under what circumstances the queen was placed They rushed to the queen's apartment, and bore -at two in the morning, retired to a privacy liable to be down the few Gardes du Corps who hastened to interrupted (as it was) not only by the irruption of the her defence. The sentinel knocked at the door of furiousbanditti who surrounded the palace, demandingher her bed-chamber, called to her to escape, and then life, but by the entrance of the king, or of others, in whom gallantly exposed himself to the fury of the mur- circumstances might have rendered the intrusion duty; derers. His single opposition was almost instantly and let it then be judged whether the dangers of the moovercome, and he himself left for dead. Over bis ment, and the risk of discovery, would not have prevented bleeding body they forced their way into the queen's Messalina herself from chusing such a time for an assigapartment; but their victim, reserved for farther nation. ~ t The miscreant's real name was Jourdan, afterwards and worse woes, had escapedb a secret passage called Coupe-tite, distinguished in the massacres of Avignon. He gained his bread by sitting as an academy-model from advancing to Versailles. The Queen signed an order to painters, and for that reason cultivated his long beard. for the horses with this remarkable clause,.- To be used if In the depositions before the Chbtelet, he is called l'ommn the king's safety is endangered, but in no danger which af- t la barbe,-an epithet which might distinguish the ogre or bects me only.- goblin of some ancient legend. 44.LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. in former times shared. - There arose a cry among at the head of the column, as the emblems of their them,-" Let us save the Gardes du Corps, who prowess and success.4 The rest of this body, worn saved us at Fontenoy." They took them under down by fatigue, most of them despoiled of their their protection, exchanged their caps with them in arms, and many without hats, anxious for the fate sign of friendship and fiaternity.,-and a tumult, which of the royal family, and harassed with apprehensions had something of the character of joy, succeeded for themselves, were dragged like captives in the to that which had announced nothing but blood and midst of the mob, while the drunken females around death. them bore aloft in triumph their arms, their belts, The outside of the palace was still besieged by and their hats. These wretches, stained with the the infuriated mob, who demanded, with hideous blood in which: they had bathed themselves, were cries, and exclamations the most barbarous and now singing songs, of which the burthen bore,obscene, to see the Austrian, as they called the "We bring you the baker, his wife, and the little queen. The unfortunate princess appeared on the apprentice;" as if the presence of the unhappy royal balcony with one of her children in each hand. A family, with the little power they now possessed, voice from the crowd called out, "No children!" had been in itself a charm against scarcity. Some as if on purpose to deprive the mother of that appeal of these Amazons rode upon the cannon, which to humanity, which might move the hardest heart. made a formidable part of the procession. Many of Marie Antoinette, with a force of mind worthy of them were mounted on the horses of the Gardes du Maria Theresa, her mother, pushed her children Corps, some in masculine fashion, others en croupe. back into the room, and, turning her face to the tur All the muskets and pikes which attended this immultuous multitude, which tossed and roared be.. mense cavalcade were garnished, as if in triumph, neath, brandishing their pikes and guns with the with oak-boughs, and the women carried long popwildest attitudes of rage, the reviled, persecuted, lar-branches in their hands, which gave the column, and denounced queen stood before them, her arms so grotesquely composed in every respect, the apfolded on her bosom, with a noble air of courageous pearance of a moving grove. Scarce a circumstance resignation. The secret reason of this summons- was omitted which could render this entrance into the real canse of repelling the children-could only the capital more insulting to the king's feelingsbe to atford a chance of some desperate hand among more degrading to the royal dignity. the crowd executing the threats which resounded After six hours of dishonour and agony, the unforon all sides. Accordingly, a gun was actually le- tunate Louis was brought to the H6tel deVille, where veled, but one of the bystanders struck it down; Bailly, then mayor, complimented him upon the for the passions of the mob had taken an opposite " beau jour," the " splendid day," which restored turn, and, astonished at Marie Antoinette's noble the monarch of France to his capital; assured him presence, and graceful firmness of demeanour, there that order, peace, and all the gentler virtues, were arose, almost in spite of themselves, a general shout about to revive in the country under his royal eye, of Vive la reine! - and that the king would henceforth become powerful But if the insurgents, or rather those who prompt- through the people, the people happy through the ed them, missed their first point, they did not also king; and, "what was truest of all," that as Henry IV. lose their second. A cry arose, "To Paris!" at had entered Paris by means of reconquering his first uttered by a solitary voice, but gathering people, Louis XVI. had done so, because his people, strength, until the whole multitude shouted, "To had reconquered their king.t flis wounds salved Paris-to Paris!" The cry of these blood-thirsty with this lip-comforit, the unhappy and degraded bacchanals, such as they had that night shown prince was permitted to retire to the palace of the themselves, was, it seems, considered as the voice Tuileries, which, long uninhabited, and almost unof the people, and as such, La Fayette neither re. furnished, yawned upon him like the tomb where monstrated himself, nor permitted the king to inter- alone he at length found repose. pose a moment's delay in yielding obedience to it; The events of the 14th July, 1789, when the Basnor was any measure taken to put some appearance tille was taken, formed the first great stride of the even of decency on the journey, or to disguise its Revolution, actively considered. Those of the 5th real character, of a triumphant procession of the and 6th October, in the same year, which we have sovereign people, after a complete victory over their detailed at length, as peculiarly characteristic of nominal monarch. the features which it assumed, made the second The carriages of the royal family were placed in the - It has been said they were borne immediately before middle of an immeasurable column, consisting partly the royal carriage; but this is an exaggeration where exagof La Fayette's soldiers, partly of the revolutionary geration is unnecessary. These bloody trophies preceded Irabble whose march had preceded his, arnounting the royal family a great way on the march to Paris. to several thousand men and women of the lowest t Minmeires d'un Timoin de lco Revolution, ouvrage and most desperate description, intermingling in posthume de Jean-Sylvaia Bailly (Choix de ses Lettres civic soldiers, whose discipline could not enable them The Mayor of Paris, although such language must have to preserve even a semblance of orrder. Thus they sounded like the most bitter irony, had no choice of words on the 6th October, 1789. But if he seriously termed that a rushed along, howli their songs of trio lmph. The glorious day, how could Bailly complain ofthe studied inharbingers of the march bore the two bloody heads suits and cruelties which he himself sustained, when, in of the murdered Gardes du Corps paraded on pikes, October, 1792, the same banditti of Paris, who forced the _ Mminroires de Weber, concerenant Marie-Antoinette, king from Versailles, dragged himself to death, with every vol. I, p. 451: 2 vols. 8vo, Paris, 1822. circumstance of refined cruelty and protracted insult? LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 45 grand phasis. The first had rendered the inhabi- haps as much with a view to their safety as to lis tants of the metropolis altogether independent of own. their sovereign, and indeed of any government but The constitutional party seemed strong both in that which they chose to submit to; the second de- numbers and reputation. La Fayette was commandprived the king of that' small appearance of freedom ant of the National Guards, and they looked up to which he had hitherto exercised, and fixed his him with that homage and veneration with which dwelling in the midst of his metropolis, independent young troops, and especially of this description, reand self-regulated as we have described it. " It is gard a leader of experience and bravely, who, in wonderful," said Louis, " that with such love of accepting the command, seems to share his laurels liberty on all sides, I am the only person that is with the citizen-soldier, who has won none of his deemed totally unworthy of enjoying it." Indeed, own. Bailly was Mayor of Paris, and, in the height after the march from Versailles, the king could of a popularity not undeserved, was so well estaonly be considered as the signet of royal authority, blished in the minds of the better class of citizens, used for attesting public acts at the pleasure of that, in any other times than those when he lived, he those in whose custody he was detained, but with- might safely have despised the suffi-ages of the out the exercise of any free-will on his own part. rabble, always to be bought, either by largesses or All the various parties found their account, less flattery. The constitutionalists had also a strong or nore, in this state of the royal person, excepting majority in the assembly, where the republicans the pure royalists, whose effective power was little, -dared not yet throw off the mask, and the assembly, and their comparative numbers few. There remlain- following the person of the king, came also to estaed, indeed, attached to the person and cause of blish its sittings in their strong-hold, the metropolis. Louis, a party of those members, who, being friends They seemed, therefore, to assume the ascendancy to freedom, were no less so to regulated monarchy, in the firstinstance, after the 5th and 6th of October, and who desired to fix the throne on a firm and de- and to reap all the first fruits of the victory then termined basis. But their numbers were daily achieved, though by their connivance rather than thinned, and their spirits were broken. The ex- their active co-operation. cellent Mounier, and the eloquent Lally Tolendal, It is wonderful, that, meaning still to assign to the emigrated after the 9th October, unable to endure regal dignity a high constitutional situation, La Fathe repetition of such scenes as were then exhibited. yette should not have exerted himself to preserve The indignant adieus of the latter to the National its dignity undegTaded, and to save the honour, as he Assembly were thus forcibly expressed:- certainly saved the lives, of the royal family. Three " Itis impossible for me, even my physical strength reasons might prevent his doing what, as a gentlealone considered, to discharge my functions amid man and a soldier, he must otherwise at least have the scenes we have witnessed.-Those heads borne attempted. First, although he boasted highly of his in trophy; that queen half assassinated; that king influence with the National Guard of Paris, it may dragged into Paris by troops of robbers and assas- be doubted whether all his popularity would have sins; the' splendid day' of Monsieur Bailly; the borne him through in any endeavour to deprive the jest of Barnave, when blood was floating around good people of that city of such a treat as the Joyous us; Mounier escaping, as if by miracle, from a Entry of the 6th of October, or whether the civic thousand assassins; these are the causes of my oath power would, even for the immediate defence of the never again to enter that den of cannibals. A man king's person, have used actual force against the may endure a single death; he may brave it more band of Amazons who directed that memorable than once, when the loss of life can be usefil-but procession. Secondly, La Fayette might fear the no power under Heaven shall induce me to suffer a revival of the fallen colossus of despotism, more than thousand tortures every passing minute-while I am the rising spirit of anarchy, and thus be induced to witnessing the progress of cruelty-the triumph of suppose that a conquest in the king's cause over a guilt-which I must witness without interrupting it. popular insurrection, might be too active a cordial They may proscribe my person-they may confis- to the drooping spirits of the royalists. And, lastly, cate my fortune-I will labour the earth for. my the revolutionary general, as a politician, might not bread, and I will see them no more." be unwilling that the king and his consort should The other parties into which the state was divided experience, in their own persons, such a specimen of saw the events of the 5th October with other feel- popular power, as might intimidate them from furings, and if they did not forward, at least found their ther opposition to the popular will, and incline Louis account in them. to assume unresistingly his diminished rank in the The constitutional party, or those who desired a new constitution. democratical government with a king at its head, The republican party, with better reason than the had reason to hope that Louis, being in Paris, must constitutionalists, exulted in the king's change of remain at their absolute disposal, separated from residence. It relieved them as well as La Fayette's those who might advise counter-revolutionary steps, party from all apprehensions of Louis raising his and guarded only by national troops, embodied in standard in the provinces, and taking the field on his the name, and through the powers, of the Revolu- own account, like Charles of England in similar cirtion. Every day, indeed, rendered Louis more cumestances. Then they already foresaw, that whendependent on La Fayette and his friends, as the only ever the constitutionalists should identify themselves force which remained to preserve order; for he soon with the crown, whom all parties had hitherto lafound it a necessary though a cruel measure to boured to represent as the common enemy, they disband his faithful Gardes du Corps, and that per- would become proportionally unpopular with the ___ ___ ______ ___ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. people at large, and lose possession of the superior and the-tumult having ended without anything taking power as a necessary consequence. Aristocrats, the place in his favour, the Duke of Orleans was made only class which was sincerely united to the king's a scape-goat, and the only one, to atone:for the person, would, hey might safely predict, dread and whole insurrection. Under the title of an Embassy distrust the constitutionalists, while with the demo- to England, he was honourably exiled from his nacrats, so very much the more numerous party, the tive country. Mirabeau spoke of him in terms of king's name, instead of a tower of strength, as the the utmost contumely, as being base-minded as a poet has termed it, must be a stumbling-block and a lackey, and totally unworthy the trouble which had rock of offence. They foresaw, finally, either that been taken on his account. His other adherents the king must remain the mere pass ve tool of the gradually and successively dropped away, in -proconstitutionalists, acting unresistingly under their portion as the wealth, credit, and character of this order,-in which case the office would be soon re. besotted prince rendered him:incapable of maingarded as an idle and expen ve bauble, without any taining his gratuities; and they sailed hencefiorth force or dignity of free-will, and fit only to be flung under their own -flag, in the storms he had fitted aside as an unnecessary incumbrance In the repub- them to navigate. These were men who -had relican forms,-or, in the event of the king attempting, solved to use the revolutionary axe for cutting out either by force or escape, to throw off the yoke of their own private fortunes, and, little interesting the constitutionalists, he would equally furnish arms themselves about the political principles which dito the pure democrats against his person and office, vided the other parties of the state, they kept firm as the source of danger to the popular cause. Some hold of all the subordinate machinery despised by of the republican chiefs had probably expected a the others in the abstraction of metaphysical specumore sudden termination to the reign of Louis from lation, but which gave them the exclusive command an insurrection so threatening; at least these leaders of the physical force of the mob of Paris —-Paris, the had been the first to hail and to encourage the fe- metropolis of France, and the prison-house of her male insurgents, on their arrival at Versailles.* But monarch. though the issue of that insurrection may have fallen short of their hopes, it could not but be highly ac- CHAPTER VI. ceptable to them so far as it went. The party of Orleans had hitherto wrapt in its La Fayette resolves to enforce order.-A baker is tnurdusky folds many of those names, which were after- dered by the rabble-One of his murderers executed.wards destined to hold dreadful rank in the revolu- Decree imposing martial law in case of iusnrrection.tionary history. The prince whose name they adopted Democrats supported by the audience in the gallery of is supposed to have been animated partly by a strong the assembly.-Introduclion of the doctrines of equality and embittered spirit of personal hatred against the -They are in their exaggerated sense inconsistent with queen, and partly, as we have already said, by an hMaman nature and the progress of society-The assembly ambitious desire to supplant his kinsman. He placed, abolish titles of nobility, armorialbearings, andphrases ofcourtesy.-Reasoning on these innovations.-Disorder according -to general report, his-treasures, and nall f finance.- Necker'becomes'unpopalar..-Seizure of which his credit could add to them, at the disposal -church-lands.-Issue ofassignats.-Necker leaves France of men, abounding in those energetic talents which ins unpopularity.-New religious institutlon.-Oath imcarry their owners forward in times of public con- posed on the clergy-Resisted by the greater part of the fusion, but devoid alike of fortune, character, and order-Bad effects of the innovation.-General view of principle; who undertook to serve their patron by the operations of the Constituent Assemibly.-Enthusiasm enlisting in his cause the obscure and subordinate of the peoplefor theirnewprivileges.-Lntited priuileges agents, by whom mobs were levied, and assassins of the crown. -King is obliged to dissemble-His negotiations witA Mfirabeau —With Bouill.-Attack on thle subsidized. It is said, that the days of the 5th and paace o ithe kiraenre -Wnted by oa F-yette.-Royaists 6th of October were organized by the secret agents palace of the king-Prevented by La Fayette.-Royalists 6th of October were organized by the secret agents expelled from the palace of the Tuileries.-Escape of of Orleans, and for his advantage; that, had the en- Louis. —He is captured at Varennes-Brought back to terprise succeeded, the king would have been de- Paris.-Riot in the Champ de Mars-Put down by miposed, and the Duke of Orleans proclaimed lieute- litaryforce.-Louis accepts the contstitution. nant-general of the kingdom, while his revenge would probably have been satiated with the queen's LA F A-YE'rrE followed up his victory over the assassination. He is stated to have skulked in dis- Duke of Orleans by some bold and successful at. guise about the outskirts of the scene when the tacks upon the revolutionary right of insurrection, tumult was at the highest, but never to have had through which the people of late had taken on them. couragre to present himself boldly to the people, selves the office of judges at once and executioners. either to create a sensation by surprise, or to avail This had hitherto been thought one of the sacred himself of that which his satellites had already ex- privileges of the Revolution; but, determined to:set,cited in his favour.t His resolution having thus bounds to its farther progress, La Fayette resolved failed him at the point where it was most necessary, to restore the dominion of the law over the will of the rabble. Barnave, as well as Mirabeau, the republican as well A large mob, in virtue of the approbation, the as the orleanist, was heard to exclaim,-":Courage, brave indulgence at least, with which similar frolics had Parisians-liberty for ever —fear nothing-Mwe are for you!" been hitherto treated, had seized upon and hanged — Mdmoires dui Marquis de Ferrieres, Livre 4e (vol. I, an unhappy baker, who fell under their resentment p. 307): 3 vols. 8ro, Paris, 1822. as a public enemy, because he sold bread dear when t See the proceedings before the -Chtelet. he could only purchase grain at an enormous price. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE~. 47 They varied the usual detail with some additional commenced. France had obtained liberty, the first, circumstances, causing many of his brethrenin trade and certainly the worthiest, object which a nation to salute the bloody head; which they paraded ac- can desire. Each individual was declared as firee cording to their wont; and finally, by pressing the as it was possible for him to be, retaining the least dead lips to those of the widow, as she lay fainting respect to the social compact. It is true, the before them. This done, and in the full confidence Frencllhman was not practically allowed the benefit of impunity, they approached the hall of the As- of this freedom; for though the rights of man persembly, in order to regale the representatives of mitted the citizen to go where he would, yet, in the people with the same edifying spectacle. practice, he was apt to find his way to the next pri. The baker being neither an aristocrat nor noble- son unless furnished with a municipal passport, or man, the authorities ventured upon punishing the to be murdered by the way, if accused of aristocracy. murder, without fearing the charge of incivism. La Ill like manner, his house was secure as a castle, his Fayette, at the head of a detachment of the Na- property sacred as the ornaments of a temple;-extional Guards, attacked and dispersed the assassins, ceptirng against the Committee of Research, who and the active citizen who carried the head was might, by their arbitrary order, break into the one, tried, condemned, and hanged, just as if there had and dilapidate the other at pleasure. Still, however, been no revolution in the kingdom. Therewas much the general principle of liberty was established in surprise at this, as there had been no such instance the fullest metaphysical extent, and it remained to of severity since the day of the Bastille. This was place on as broad a footing the sister principle of not all. equality. La Fayette, who may now be considered as at To this the attention of the assembly was now the head of affairs, had the influence and address to chiefly directed. In the proper sense, equality of gain from the assembly a decree, empowering the rights:and equality of laws, a constitution which magistracy, in case of any rising, to declare martial extends like protection to the lowest and the highest, law by displaying a red flag; after which signal, are essential to the existence and to the enjoyment those who refused to disperse should be dealt with of freedom. But to erect a leveling system, deas open rebels. This edict, much to the purpose of signed to place -the whole mass of the people on the the British Riot Act, did not pass without -opposi- same footing as to habits, manners, tastes, and sention, as it obviously tended to give the bayonets of timents, is a gross and ridiculous contradiction of the National Guard a decided ascendancy over the the necessary progress of society. It is a fruitless pikes and clubs of the rabble of the suburbs. The attempt to wage war with the laws of Nature. She jacobins, meaning the followers of Marat, Robes- has varied the face of the world with mountain and pierre, and Danton, and even the republicans, or valley, laeke and torrent, forest and champaign, and brissotins, had hitherto considered these occasional she has formed the human body in all the different insurrections and murders like affairs of posts in a shapes and complexions we behold, with all the campaign, in which they themselves had enjoyed various degrees of physical force and weakness. uniformly the advantage; but while La Fayette She has avoided equality in all her productions, as was followed and obeyed by the National Guard, she was formerly said to have abhorred a vacuum; men ofsubstance, and interested in maintaining order, even in those ofher works which present the greatest it was clear that he had both the power and will apparent similarity, exact equality does not exist; to stop in future these revolutionary excesses. no one leaf of a tree is precisely similar to another, This important advantage in some degree balanc- and among the countless host of stars, each differs ed thepower which the republican and revolutionary from the other in glory. But what are these physi. party had acquired. These predominated, as has cal varieties to the endless change exhibited in the been already said, in the Club ofJacobins, in which human character, with all its various passions, they reviewed the debates of the assembly, de- powers, and prejudices, so artfully compounded in nouncing at their pleasure those who opposed them; different proportions, that it is probable there has but they had besides a decided majority among the not existed, since Adam's time to ours, an exact daily attendants in the tribunes, who, regularly resemblance between any two individuals? As if paid, and supplied with food and liquors, filled the this were not enough, there came, to aid the diverassembly with their clamours of applause or disap- sity, the effects of climate, of government, of eduprobation, according to the rules they had previ- cation, and habits of life, all of which lead to endless ously received. It is true, the hired auditors gave modifications of the individual. The inequalities their voices and applause to those who paid them, arising from the natural differences of talent and but nevertheless they had party feelings of their disposition are multiplied beyond calculation, as own, which often dictated unbought suffrages, in society increases in civilization. favour of those who used the most exaggerated tone The savage may, indeed, boast a rude species of of revolutionary fury. They shouted with sincere equality in some patriarchal tribes, but the wiliest and voluntary zeal for such men as Marat, Robes- and strongest, the,best hunter, and the bravest pierre, and Danton, who yelled out for the most warrior, soon lords it over the rest, and becomes a bloody measures of terror and proscription, and pro- kingor chief. One portion of the nation, from happy clairned war against the nobles with the same voice talents, or happy circumstances, rises to the top, with which they flattered the lowest vices of the another sinks, hke dregs, to the bottom; a third multitude. portion occupies a mid-place between them. As By degrees the Revolution appeared to have -as- society advances. the difference of ranks advances sumed a different object from that for which it wast with it, And can it be proposed seriously, that any, 70 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. itself in proposina and adopting revolutionary mea- The citizens of Paris were disposed to consider sures so extravagant, that very shame prevented this concourse of undisciplined troops under the the girondists from becoming parties to them. Such walls of the city as dangerous to its safety, and an was the carrying the atrocious cut-throat Jourdan in insult to the National Guard, hitherto thought adetriumph through the streets of Avignon, where he quate to the defence of the metropolis. They petihad piled eighty carcases into a glaci&re in the tioned the assembly against the measure, and even course of one night. A less atrocious, but not less invoked the king to reject the decree, wilien it should insolent proceeding, was the feast given in honour pass through that body. of the regiment of Chateau Vieux, whose mutiny To this course Louis was himself sufficiently inhad been put down at Nancy by Monsieur de Bouill6, clined, for neither he nor any one doubted that the acting under the express decree of the first National real object of the girondists was to bring together Assembly. such an army as would enable them to declare their In a word, understanding much better than the beloved republic without fear of La Fayette, even brissotins the taste of the vulgar for what was most if he should find limself able to bring the army violent, gross, and exaggerated, the jacobins pur- which he commanded to his own sentiments on the veyed for them accordingly, filled their ears with subject. the most incredible reports, and gulled their eyes by Dumourier warned Louis against following this the most absurd pageants. course of'direct opposition to the assembly. He The girondists, retaining some taste and some allowed that the ultimate purpose of the proposal principle, were left far behind in the race of vulgar was evident to every thinking person, but still its popularity, where he that throws off every mark of ostensible object being the protection of the country decency bids most fair to gain the prize. They beheld and capital, the king, he said, would, in the eyes of with mortification feats which they could not emt- the vulgar, be regarded as a favourer of the foreign late, and felt that their own assertions of their at- invasion, if he objected to a measure represented as tachment to freedom, emphatic as they were, seemed essential to the protection of Paris. He undertook, cold and spiritless compared to the extravagant and as minister of war, that as fast as a few hundreds of flaming declamations of the jacobins. They regard- the departmental forces arrived he would have theln ed with envy the advantages which their rivals ac- regimented and dismissed to the fiontier, where quired by those exaggerated proceedings, and were their assistance was more necessary than at home. startled to find how far they were like to be out- But all his remonstrances on this subject Nwere in stripped by those uncompromising and unhesitating vain. Louis resolved at all risks to place his veto demagogues. The girondists became sensible that on the measure. He probably relied on the feelings a struggle approached, in which, notwithstanding of the National Guard, of which one or two diritheir strength in the assembly, they must be van. sions were much attached to him, while the dispoquished, unless they could raise up some body of sitions of the whole had been certainly ameliorated, forces, entirely dependent on themselves, to be op- from their fear of fresh confilsion by means of these posed in time of need to the jacobin insurgents. new levies. Perhaps also the king could not bring This was indeed essentially necessary to their per- himself at once to trust the versatile disposition of sonal safety, and to the stability of their power. If Dumourier, whose fidelity, however, we see no reathey looked to the National Guard, they found such son for suspecting. of that body as were no longer attached to La Another renewed point of discussion an(d disFayette, wearied of revolutions, unmoved by the agreement betwixt the king and his ministers reprospect of a republic, and only desirous to protect spected the recusant clergy. A decree was passed their shops and property. If they turned their eyes in the assembly, that such priests as might be conto the lower orders, and especially the suburbs, the victed of a refusal to subscribe the oath to the civil myriads of pikemen which they could pour forth constitution should be liable to deportation. IThis were all devoted to the jacobins, from whom their was a point of conscience with Louis, and was proleaders received orders and regular pay. bably brought borward in order to hasten hin into a The scheme of a departmental army was resorted resignation of the crown. He stood firm accorldingly, to by the girondists as the least startling, yet most and determined to oppose his veto to this decree certain mode of bringing together a military force also, in spite at once of all the arguments which the sufficient to support the schemes of the new adminis- worldly prudence of Dumonrier could object, and of tration. Five men were to be furnished by every the urgency of the republican ministers. canton in France, which would produce a body of The firm refusal of the king disconcerted the mea20,000 troops, to be armed and trained under the sures of the girondist counsellors. Madame Roland walls of Paris. This force wvas to serve as a central undertook to make the too scrupulous monarch see army to reinforce the soldiers on the frontier, and the errors of his ways; and composed, in name of maintain order in the capital, as occasion should her husband and two of his colleagues, a long letter, demand. The measure, proposed by the girondists, to which Dumourier and the other two refused to was unexpectedly firthered by the jacobins, who place their names. It was written in what the plainly saw, that through the means of their affiliated citoyenne termed an austere tone of truth-that is societies, which existed in every canton, they would to say, without any of the usual marks of deference be able to dictate the choice of so large a part of and respect, and with a harshness calculated to jar the departmental army, that, when assenmbled, it all the feelings, affectionate or religious, of him should add to the power of their insurrectionary whom they still called king. Alas! the severest and bands at Paris, instead of controling them. most offensive truths, however late in reaching the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 49 proper to the class whose costume they had thus own rights-in vain that they resounded in the hall adopted. Above all, when this sacrifice was made the declaration solemnly adopted, that property was to the very taste and phraseology of that class (the inviolable, save upon full compensation. It was to last points in which one would think them deserv- as little purpose that Mirabeau was reminded of his ing of imitation), it appeared to intimate the pro- language, addressed to the Emperor Joseph upon a gressive strength of the revolutionary tide, which, similar occasion.-" Despise the monks," he had sweeping before it all distinctions, trivial as well as said, " as much as you will, but do not rob them. important, seemed soon destined to overthrow the Robbery is equally a crime, whether perpetrated throne, now isolated and well nigh undefended. on the most profligate atheist, or the most bigoted The next step was necessary to fix the executive capuchin.'' The clergy were told with insulting government in the same body which enjoyed the gravity, that the property belonging to a community powers of legislation,-the surest of all roads to was upon a different footing fi-om that belonging to tyranny. But although the doctrine of equality, individuals, because the state might dissolve the thus understood, is absurd in theory and impossible community or body-corporate, and resume the proin practice, yet it will always find willing listeners perty attached to it; and, under this sophism, they when preached to the lower classes, whose prac- assumed for the benefit of the public the whole tical view of it results into an. agrarian law, or a ge- right of property belonging to the Church of/France. neral division of property. As it was impossible to bring these immense subThere was one order yet remained, however, jects at once to sale, the assembly adopted a system which was to be leveled, —the destruction of the of paper-money called assigsats, which were sechurch was still to be accomplished; and: the re- cured or hypothecated upon the church-lands. The publican party proceeded in the work of demolition fluctuation of this paper, which was adopted against with infinite address, by including the great object Necker's earnest cautions, created a spirit of stockin a plan for restoring finance, and providing for the jobbing and gambling, nearly resembling that which expenses of the state, without imposing further distinguished the famous scheme of the Mississippi. burthens on the people. Spelman would have argued, that the taint of saIt must be remembered that the States-general crilege attached to funds raised upon the spoils of had been summoned to restore the finances of the the church; yet it must be admitted that these country. This was the cause of their convocation. supplies enabled the National Assembly not only to But although they had exercised almost every spe- avoid the gulph of general bankruptcy, but to discies of power-had- thrown down and rebuilt pense with many territorial exactions which pressed every constituted authority in the kingdom, still the hard on the lower orders, and to give relief and finances were as much embarrassed as ever, or breath to that most useful portion of the community. much more so; since most men in France judged These desirable results, however, flowed from the privilege of refusing to pay taxes, the most un- that divine alchemy which calls good out of evil, equivocal, and not the least pleasing part, of their without affording a justification to the perpetrators newly-acquired fireedom. of the latter. Necker, so often received among the populace as Shortly after the adoption of this plan, embraced a saviour of the country, was here totally at a loss. against his opinion and his remonstrances, Necker The whole relative associations which bind men to- saw his services were no longer acceptable to the gether in the social contract, seemed to be rent assembly, and that he could not be useful to the asunder; and where public credit is destroyed, a king. He tendered his resignation, which was refinancier, however able, resembles Prospero, after ceived with cold indifference by the assembly; and his wand is broken, and his book sunk in the deep even his safety was endangered, on his return to his sea. Accordingly, Necker in vain importuned the as- native country, by the very people who had twice sembly, by representing the pressure of the finances. hailed him as their deliverer. This accomplished They became wearied with his remonstrances, and statesman discovered too late, that public opinion received them with manifest symptoms of coldness requires to be guided and directed towards the and disrespect. What service, indeed, could the ends of public good, which it will not reach by its regulated advice, and deep-calculated and combined own unassisted and misdirected efforts; and that his schemes of a financier, have rendered to men, who own popularity had only been the stalking-horse, had already their resources in their eye, and were through means of which, men less honest, and more determined that no idle scruple should prevent their subtle than himself, had taken aim at their own pouncing upon them'? Necker's expostulations, objects. addressed to their ears, were like a lecture upon But the majority of the National Assembly had thrift and industry to Robin Hood and his merry- yet another and even a more violent experiment to men, when they were setting forth to rob the rich in try upon the Gallican Church establishment. It was the name dof the poor. one w.hich touched the conscieDces of the French The assembly had determined, that, all preju- clergy in the same degree as the former affected dices apart, the property of the church should- their fortunes, and was so much the less justifiable, come under confiscation for the benefit of the aa- that it is difficult to suggest any motive except the tion. It was in vain that the clergy exclaimed sweeping desire to introduce novelty in every deagainst,these acts of rapine and extortion-in vain- partment of the state, and to have a constitutional that they stated themeslves as an existing part of the clergy as they had a constitutional king, which should nation, and that as such they had coalesced with have instigated them to such a measure. i the assembly under the implied ratification of their Wher the assembly had decreed the assumption - VOL. VI. 7 50 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. of the church-lands, it remained to be settled on number only three bishops. One had been a person what foundation religion was to be placed within the of note-it was that Archbishop of Sens-that very kingdom. A motion was made for decreeing, that cardinal, whose mal-administration of fifteen months the holy apostolical religion was that of France, had led to this mighty change. Another of the three and that its worship alone should be permitted. A constitutional prelates was destined to be much carthusian monk, named Dom Gerle, made this more remarkable-it was the celebrated Talleyrand, proposal, alarmed too late lest the popular party, to whose talents as a statesman have been so distinwhich he had so long adhered, should now be about guished. to innovate in the matters of the church, as they had The National Assembly failed totally in their atalready in those of the state. The debate was con- tempts to found a national church. The priests who ducted with decency for one day, but on the second took the oaths received neither reverence nor affecthe hall of the assembly was surrounded by a large tion, and were only treated with decency by such as and furious multitude, who insulted, beat, and mal- considered rel;gion in the light of a useful political treated all who were known to favour the measure institution. They were alike despised by the sincere under consideration. It was represented within the catholic, and the declared infidel. All of real relihouse, that the passing the decree proposed would gious feeling or devotion that was left in France be the signal for a religious war; and Dom Gerle turned towards their ancient pastors, and though the withdrew his motion in terror and despair. impulse was not strong enough to counteract the The success of this opposition showed, that almost revolutionary movement, it served on many occasions any experiment on the church might be tried with to retard and embarrass it. The experiment which effect, since the religion which it taught seemed no had thus signally miscarried, was indeed as impolitic longer to interest the national legislators. A scheme as it was unnecessary. It can only be imputed, on was brought forward, in which the public worship the one hand, to the fanaticism of the modern phi(culte public) as it was affectedly termed, without losophers, who expected by this indirect course any addition of reverence (as if to give it the air of to have degraded the christian religion; and, on a mere code of formal enactments), was provided for the other, to the preconcerted determination of the on the narrowest and most economical plan. But this revolutionists, that no consideration should interfere was not all. A civil constitution was by the same with the plan of new-modeling the nation through code framed for the clergy, declaring them totally all its institutions, as well of church as of state. independent of the See of Rome, and vesting the Victorious at once over altar and throne, mitre choice of bishops in the departmental authorities. and coronet, king, nobles, and clergy, the National To this constitution each priest and prelate was re- Assembly seemed in fact to possess, and to exert, quired to adhere by a solemn oath. A subsequent that omnipotence, which has been imputed to the decree of the assembly declared forfeiture of his British Parliament. Never had any legislatuse made benefice against whosoever should hesitate; but the such extensive and sweeping changes, and never clergy of France showed in that trying moment that were such changes so easily accomplished. The they knew how to chuse betwixt sinning against nation was altered in all its relations; its flag and their conscience, and suffering wrong at the hands its emblems were changed-everything of a public of man. Their dependence on the See of Rome character was destroyed and replaced, down to the was a part of their creed, an article of their faith, very title of the sovereign, who, no longer termed which they would not compromise. The noble King of France and Navarre, was now called King attitude of firmness and self-denial adopted by of the French. The names and divisions of the proprela'tes and richly-beneficed clergymen, who had vinces, which had existed for many years were at hitherto been thought more governed by levities of once obliterated, and were supplied by a geograevery kind than by regard to their profession, com- phical partition of the territory into eighty-three manded for a time the respect of the assembly, departments, subdivided into six hundred districts, silenced the blasphemies of the hired assistants in and these again portioned out into forty-eight the tribunes, and gave many to fear that, in depriv- thousand communities or municipalities. By thuns ing the church of its earthly power, the assembly recasting as it were the whole geographical relations might but give them means to extend their spiritual of the separate territories of which France consisted, dominion more widely, and awake an interest in the Abb6 Sisyes designed to obliterate former recoltheir fate which slumbered during their prosperity. lections and distinctions, and to brinig everything "Beware what you do," said Montlosier. "You down to the general level of liberty and equality. may expel the bishop from his episcopal residence, But it had an effect beyond what was proposed. hut it will be only to open to him the cabins of the While the provinces existed they had their separate poor. If you take from his hands the-cross of gold, capitals, their separate privileges; and those cahe will display a cross of wood; and it was by a cross pitals, though in a subordinate rank, being yet the of wood that the world was saved." seats of provincial parliaments, had a separate conSummoned one by one to take the oath, or refuse sequence, inferior to, but yet distinct from, that of it under the consequences menaced, the assembly, Paris. But when France became one single profearful of the effect of their firmness, would scarce vince, the importance of its sole capital, Paris, was hear these sufferers speak a syllable, save yes or increased to a most formidable degree; and during no. Their tumult on the occasion resembled the the whole Revolution, and through all its changes, beating of drums to drown the last words of a whatever party held the metropolis was sure speedily martyr. Few, indeed, were the priests who ac- to acquire the supreme power through the whole cepted the constitutional oath. There were in the departments; and woe to those who made the fruit LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 51 less attempt to set the sense or feelings of the nation adopted in the assembly, were now know n by the in opposition to those of the capital! Republican name of the Mountain, the framers of the constituor royalist was equally sure to perish in the rash at- tion had rendered it democratical in every point, and tempt. abridged the royal authority, till its powers became The Parliaments of France, long the strong-holds so dim and obscure as to merit Burke's happy illusof liberty, now perished unnoticed, as men pull down tration, when he exclaimed, speaking of the newold houses to clear the ground for modern edifices. modeled French government,The sale of offices of justice was formally abolished; - What seee'd its head, the power of nominating the judges was taken from The likehess of a kingly crown had on. the crown; the trial by jury, with inquests of accusation and conviction, corresponding to the grand The crown was deprived of all appointments to and petty juries of England, were sanctioned and civil offices, which were filled up by popular elecestablished. In thus clearing the channels of public tions, the constitutionalists being in this respect justice, dreadfully clogged as they had become during faithful to their own principles, which made the will the decay of the monarchy, the National Assembly of the people the source of all power. Never was rendered the greatest possible services to France, such an immense patronage vested in the body of the good effects of which will long be felt. Other any nation at large, and the arrangement was politic alterations were of a more doubtful character. There in the immediate sense, as well as in conformity might be immediate policy, but there was certainly with the principles of those who adopted it; for it nluch harshness, in wresting from the crown the attached to the new constitution the mass of the power of granting pardons. If this was for fear lest people, who felt themselves elevated from villanage grace should be extended to those condemned for into the exercise of sovereign power. Each member the new crime of lMse-nation, or treason against the of the elective assembly of a municipality, through constitution, the legislators might have remembered whose collective votes bishops, administrators, judghow seldom the king dares to exercise this right of es, and other official persons received their apmercy in favour of an unpopular criminal. It requires pointments, felt for the moment the importance no small courage to come betwixt the dragon and which his privilege bestowed, and recognized in his his wrath, the people and their victim. Charles I. own person, with corresponding self-complacency, dared not save Strafford. a fraction, however small, of the immense commu. The National Assembly also recognized the free- nity, now governed by those whom they themselves dom of the press; and, in doing so, conferred on the elected into office. The charm of power is great at nation a gift fraught with much good and some evil, all times, but exquisite to intoxication to those to capable of stimulating the worst passions, and cir- whom it is a novelty. culating the most atrocious calumnies, and occasion- Called to the execution of these high duties, ing frequently the most enormous deeds of cruelty which hitherto they had never dreamed of, the and injustice; but ever bearing along with it the people at large became enansoured of their own prineans of curing the very evils caused by its abuses, vileges, carried them into every department of soand of transmitting to futurity the sentiments of the ciety, and were legislators and debaters in season good and wise, so invaluable when the passions are and out of season. The exercise even of the extensilenced, and the calm slow voice of reason and re- sive privilege committed to them seemed too limited flection comes to obtain a hearing. The press sti- to these active citizens. The Revolution appeared mulated massacres and proscriptions during the to have turned the heads of the whole lower classes, fi-ightfll period which we are approaching; but the and those who had hitherto thought least of political press has also held up to horror the memory of the rights were now seized with the fury of deliberating, perpetrators, and exposed the artifices by which the debating, and legislating, in all possible times and actors were instigated. It is a rock on which a vessel places. The soldiers on guard debated at the Oranmay be, indeed, and is often wrecked; but that same toire-the journeymen tailors held a popular assemrock affords the foundation of the brightest and bly at the Colonnade-the pertuke-makers met at the. noblest beacon. Champs Elysees. In spite of the opposition of the TWe might add to the weight of benefits which National Guard, three thousand shoemakers delibeFrance unquestionably owes to the Constituent As- rated on the price of shoes, in the Place Louis sembly, thtat they restored liberty of conscience by Quinze; every house of call was converted into the establishing universal toleration. But against this canvassing-hall of a political body; and France for benefit must be set the violent imposition of the a time presented the singular picture of a country, constitutional oath upon the catholic clergy, which where every one was so much involved in public led afterwards to such horrible massacres of innocent business, that he had little leisure to attend to his and reverend victims, murdered in defiance of those own. rules of toleration, which, rather in scorn of religion There was, besides, a general disposition to assume of any kind than regard to men's consciences, the and practise the military profession; for the right of assembly had previo:sly adopted. insurrection having been declared sacred, each Faithful to their plan of forming, not a popular citizen was to be prepared to discharge effectually monarchy, but a species of royal republic, and sti-:so holy a duty. The citizens procured muskets to mulated by the real republicans, whose party was defend their property-the rabble obtained pikes to daily gainisig ground among their ranks, as wvell as invade that of others-the people of every class by the howls and threats of those violent and out- everywhere possessed themselves of arms, and the rageous demagogues, who, from the seats the, had mostpeaceful burgesses were desirous of the honoars 562,LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. of the epaulet. The children, with mimicry proper frowning brows of a large proportion of his subjects, to their age, formed battalions in the streets, and their public exclamations, and the pamphlets cirthe spirit in which they were formed was intimated culated against him, intimated very different docby the heads of cats borne upon piker in front of the trine. He might propose to the assembly the qliestion juvenile revolutionists.* of peace or war, but it remained with them to decide In the departments, the fever of legislation was upon it. Lastly, the king had the much-grudged the same. Each district had its permanent committee, privilege of putting a veto on any decree of the leits committee of police, its military committee, civil gislative body, which was to have the effect of committee, and committee of subsistence. Each suspending the passing of the law until the propocommittee had its president, its vice-president, and sition had been renewed in two successive assemits secretaries. Each district was desirous of exer- blies; after which the royal sanction was held as cising legislative authority; each committee of granted. This mode of arresting the progress of usurping the executive power.+ Amid these subor- any favourite law was likely to be as dangerous to dinate conclaves, every theme of eulogy and enthu- the sovereign, in its exercise, as the attempt to stop siasm referred to the Revolution which had made a carriage by catching hold of the wheel. In fact, way for the power they enjoyed, every subject of whenever the king attempted to use this sole relic epidemic alarm to the most distant return towards of monarchical power, he risked his life, and it was the ancient system which had left the people in in- by doing so that he at length forfeited it. Among significance. Rumour found a ready audience for these mutilated features of sovereignty, it is scarce every one of her thousand tongues; Discord a worth while to mention, that the king's effigy was prompt hand, in which she might place each of her still struck upon the public coin, and his name prethousand snakes. fixed to public edicts. The affiliation, as it was called, or close corres- Small as was the share of public power'which the pondence of the jacobin clubs in all their ramifica- new constitution of France afforded to the crown, tions, tended to influence this political fever, and to Louis, in outward semblance at least, appeared direct its fury against the last remains of royalty. satisfied. He made it a rule to adopt the advice of' Exaggerated and unfounded reports of counter-re- the assembly on all occasions, and to sanction every volutionary plots and aristocratical conspiracies not decree which was presented to him. He accepted a little increased by the rash conversation and impo- even that which totally changed the constitution of tent efforts of the nobility in some districts, were the Gallican Church. He considered himself doubtcirculated with the utmost care; and the falsehood, less as under forcible restraint, ever since he had which had been confuted at Paris, received new been dragged in triumph from Versailles to Paris, currency in the departments, as that which was of and therefore complied with what was proposed to departmental growth was again circulated with him, under the tacit protest that his acquiescence eagerness in the metropolis. Thus, the minds of was dictated by force and fear. His palace was the people were perpetually kept in a state of excit- guarded by eight hundred men, with two pieces -of ation, which is not without its pleasures. They are cannon; and although this display of force was of a nature peculiarly incompatible with soundness in doubtless intended by La Fayette to assure Louis's judgment and moderation in action, but f:avourable personal safety, yet it was no less certain that it in the same degree to audacity of thought, and was designed also to prevent his escape from the determination in execution. metropolis. The king had, therefore, good cause The royal prerogative of the king, so closely to conceive himself possessed of the melancholy watched, was in appearance formidable enough to privilege of a prisoner, who cannot incur any legal be the object of jealousy and suspicion, but in obligation by acts which do not flow ftrom free-will, reality a mere pageant, which possessed no means and therefore finds a resource against op)pression in either of attack or resistance. The king was said the incapacities which attend it. It was, however, to be the organ of the executive power, yet he had carrying this privilege to the verge of dissinulation, named but a small proportion of the officers in the nay, beyond it, when* the king went, apparelntly army and navy, and those who received their ap- freely and voluntarily, down to the National Aspointments from a source so obnoxious possessed sembly, and, in a dignified and touching speech little credit amongst those whom they commanded. (could it have onle been thought a sincere one), Hie was the nominal head of six ministers, who were accepted the constitution, made common cause with perpetually liable to be questioned( by the assembly, the regenerated nation, and declared himself the in which they might be called to defend themselves head of the Revolution. Constrained as he was by as criminals, but had no seat or vote to enable them circumstances, anxious for his own safety and that to mingle in its debates. This was, perhaps, one of of his family, the conduct of Louis must not be too the greatest errors of the constitution; for the rela- severely criticised; but this step wvas unkingly as tion which the ministers bore to the legislative body well as impolitic; and the unfortunate monarch was of such a Iimited'and dependent nature as ex- gained nothing by abasing himself to the deceit cluded all ideas of confidence and cordiality. The which he practised at the urgency of his ministers, king's person was said to be inviolable, but the excepting the degradation attending a deception, by moires dMarqzuis de Fernrires, Livre 3e (vol. I): which none are deceived. No one, when the heat X vols. e'm8vo, rParis, e1822. Fer~rs Iire3 ( of the first enthusiasm was over, gave the king 1 vols. Svo, Paris, 1822. credit for sincerity in his acceptance of the constituhwme de Jean-Sylvain Railly; 16 Aout (vol. III, p. 87): 8 vols. 8vo, Paris, 1804. * 4th February, 1790. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 53 tion; the royalists were revolted, and the revolu- to his debaucheries. His death was greatly lamenttionists could only regard the speech and accession ed, though it is probable that, had the apostle of as the acts of royal hypocrisy. Louis was openly the Revolution lived much longer, he would either spoken of as a prisoner; and the public voice, in a have averted its progress, or his dissevered limbs thousand different forms, announced that his life would have ornamented the pikes of those multiwould be the penalty of any attempt to his deli- tudes, who, as it was, followed him to the grave verance. with weapons trailed, and howling and lamentaMeanwhile, the king endeavoured to work out his tion.I escape from Paris and the Revolution at once, by The king's other confidant was the Marquis de the means of two separate agents in whom alone he Bouille, a person entirely different from Mirabeau. confided. He was a French soldier of the old stamp, a royalist The first was no other than Mirabeau, that very by birth and disposition; had gained considerable Mirabean who had contributed so much to the Re- fame during the American war, and at the time of, volution, but who, an aristocrat at heart, and won the Revolution was governor of Metz and Alsace. over to the royal party by high promises of wealth Bonille was endowed with a rare force of character, and advancement, at length laboured seriously to and proved able, without having recourse to disundo his own work. His plan was, to use the as- guise of any kind, to keep the garrison of Metz in sembly itself, in which his talents, eloquence, and tolerable discipline during the general dissolution audacity, gave him so much influence, as the means of the army. The state of military insubordination of re-establishing the royal authority. He proposed, was so great, that La Fayette, and his party in the as the final measure, that the king should retire assembly, not only hesitated to dismiss a general from Paris to Metz, then under the government of who was feared and obeyed, by the regiments under the Marquis de Bouill6, and he conceived his own his command, but, royalist as he was, they found influence in the assembly.to be such, that he could themselves obliged to employ the Marquis de Bouille have drawn thither,' upon some reasonable terms of and his troops in subduing the formidable revolt accommodation, a great majority of the members. It of three regiments quartered at Nancy, which he is certain he had the highest ascendancy which any accomplished with complete success, and such individual orator exercised over that body, and was slaughter among the insurgents, as was likely to the only one who dared to retort threats and de- recommend subordination in future. The republican fiance to the formidable jacobins. " I have resisted party of course gave this act of authority the name military and ministerial despotism," said he, when of a massacre of the people, and even the assembly opposing a proposed law against the emigrants; at large, though Bouille6 acted in consequence of "can it be supposed I will yield to that of a club?" their authority, saw with anxiety the increased im-" By what right," exclaimed Goupil, " does Mira- portance of an avowed royalist. La Fayette, who beau act as a dictator in the assembly?"~" Gou- was Bouill('s relation, spared no pains to gain him pil," replied Mirabeau, "is as much mistaken wtlen to the constitutional side, while Bouil16 avowed he calls me a dictator, as formerly when he termed publicly that he only retained his command in obeme a Catiline."-The indignant roar of the jacobins dience to the king, and in the hope of serving him. bellowing from their boasted Mountain, in vain en- With this general, who had as yet preserved an deavoured to interrupt him. —" Silence these thirty authority that was possessed by no other royalist voices," said Mirabeau, at the full pitch of his thun- in France, the king entered into a close though sedering voice; and the volcano was silent at his bid- cret correspondence in cypher, which turned chiefly ding. Yet, possessed as he was of this mighty on the best mode of facilitating the escape of the power, Mirabeasu did not, perhaps, reflect how much royal family firom Paris, where late incidents had less it would have availed him on the royal side, rendered his abode doubly odious and doubly danthan when he sailed with all the wind and tide gerous. which the spirit of a great and general revolution La Fayette's strength consisted in his popularity could lend him. He was a man, too, as remarkable with the middle classes of the Parisians, who, in for his profligacy as his wonderful talents, and the the character of National Guards, looked up to him chance which the king must have risked in embark- as their commandant, and in general obeyed his oring with him, was like that of the prince in tile tale, ders in dispersing those tumultuous assemblies of who escaped firom a desert island by embarking on the lower orders, which threatened danger to perboard a skiff drifting among dangerous eddies, and sons and property. But La Fayette, though fixed rowed by a figure halfhumai and halftiger.* The in his principle to preserve monarchy as a part of experiment was prevented by the sudden and vio- the constitution, seems to have been always on cold lent illness and death of Mirabeau, who fell a victim and distrustful ternls with the monarch personally. He was perpetually trying his owvn feelings, and' Mirabeau bore much of his character imprinted on his those whom he influenced, by the thermlnoeter, and person and features. He was short, bull-necked, and very became alarmed if his own.lyalty or theirs arose strongly made. A quantity of thick matted hair hung round above the most tepid de.ree. features of a coarse and exaggerated character, strongly Two marked incidents served to show tat t scarred and seamed. "Figure to your mind," he sai(l, de- Two marked incidents served to show that the scribing his own countenance to a lady who knew him not, Civic guard were even less warm than their cosI" na tiger wsho has had the small- pox." When lhe talked of mandant in zeal f(r the royal person. confronting his opponents in the assembly, his favourite The National Guard, headed by La Fayette, toplhrase was, X I will show them La Ieitre," that is, the boar's head, meaning his own tasked and shaggy countenance. * He died 2d April, 1791. 54 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. gether with the edict respecting martial law, had, degree of liberty he would be permitted to exercise. as we have observed, greatly contributed to the re. The royal carriages were drawn out, and the king storation of order in Paris, by checking, and dis- and queen had already mounted theirs, when the persing, upon various occasions, those disorderly cries of the spectators, echoed by those of the Naassemblies of rioters, whose violence and cruelty tional Guards who were upon duty, declared that had dishonoured the commencement of the Revolu- the king should not be permitted to leave the Tuition. But the spirit which raised these commotions leries. La Fayette arrived-commanded, implored, was unabated, and was carefully nourished by the threatened the refractory guards, but was answered jacobins and all their subordinate agents, whose by their unanimous refusal to obey his orders. After popularity lay among the rabble, as that of the consti- the scene of tumult had lasted more than an hour, tutionalists did with the citizens. Among the cur- and it had been clearly proved that La Fayette's rent falsehoods of the day, arose a report that the authority was unable to accomplish his purpose, the old Castle of Vincennes, situated about three miles royal persons returned to the palace, now their abfiom Paris, was to be used as a state prison in solute and avowed prison. place of the Bastille. A large mob marched from La Fayette was so much moved by this affront, the suburb called St-Antoine, the residence of a great that he laid down his commission as commandant number of labourers of the lowest order, already of the National Guard, and although he resumed distinguished by its zeal for the revolutionary doc- it, upon the general remonstrances and excuses of trines.* They were about to commence the de- the corps, it was not without severely reproaching struction of the ancient castle, when the vigilant them for their want of discipline, and intimating commandant of Paris arrived and dispersed them, justly, that the respect they showed ought to be for not without bloodshed. In the meantime, the few his rank and office, not for his person. royalists whom Paris still contained became alarm- Meantime, the natural inferences from these cruel ed lest this tumult, though beginning in another lessons drove the king and queen nearly desperate. quarter, might be turned against the person of the The events of the 28th of February had shown that king. For his protection about three hundred gen- they were not to be permitted to introduce their tlemen repaired to the Tuileries, armed with sword- friends or defenders within the fatal walls which canes, short swords, pistols, and such other weapons enclosed them; those of the 18th April proved, that as could be best concealed about their persons, as they were not allowed to leave their precincts. To they went through the streets. Their services and fly from Paris, to gather around him such faithful zeal were graciously acknowledged by the unfor- subjects as might remain, seemed, though a destunate Louis, little accustomed of late to such marks perate resource, the only one which remained to the of devotion. But when La Fayette returned to the unhappy monarch, and the preparations were alpalace, at the head of his grenadiers of the Na- ready made for the fatal experiment. tional Guard, he seems not to have been ill pleased The Marquis de Bouill8 had, under various prethat the intrusion of these gentlemen gave him an tences, formed a camp at Montm6dy, and had drlawn opportunity of showing, that if he had dispersed the thither some of the troops he could best depend upon; rev vlutionary. mob of the faubonrgs, it was without but such was the universal indisposition, both of the any undue degree of affection to the royal cause. soldiery and the people of every description, that He felt, or affected, extreme jealousy of the armed the general seems to have entertained almost no aristocrats whom he found in the Tuileries, and hope of any favourable result for the royal cause. The treated them as men who had indecently thrust king's life might have been saved by his escaping themselves into the palace, to usurp the duty of into foreign parts, but there was hardly any prosdefending the king's person, by law consigned to pect of restoring the monarchy. the National Guard. To appease the jealousy of The history of the unhappy journey to Varennes is the civic soldiers, the king issued his commands well known. On the night between the 20th and 21st upon the royalists to lay down their arms. He was of June, Louis and his queen, with their two chilno sooner obeyed by those, to whom alone out of so dren, attended by one lady, and escorted by three many millions he could still issue his commands, gentlemen of the Gardes cre Corps, set out in disthan a most scandalous scene ensued. The soldiers, guise from Paris. The king left behind him a long falling upon the unfortunate gentlemen, expelled manifesto, inculpating the assembly for various them from the palace with blows and insult, ap- political errors, and solemnly protesting against the plying to them the name of Knights of the Poniard, acts of government to which he had been compellafterwards often repeated in revolutionary objurga- ed, as he stated, to give his assent, during what he tion. The vexation and sorrow of the captive prince termed his captivity, which he seemed to have dated had a severe effect on his health, and was followed from his compulsory residence in the Tuileries. by indisposition. The very first person whom the queen encountered The second incident we have alluded to intimat- in the streets was La Fayette himself, as he crossed ed evenmore directly the personal restraintin which the Place du Carrousel. A hundred other dangers he was now held. Early in springy Louis had ex- attended the route of the unmilrtnnate fugitives; and pressed his purpose of going to St-Cloud, under the the hair-breadth escapes by which they profited pretext of seeking a change of air, but in reality, it may seemed to intimate the favour of fortune, while they be supposed, for the purpose of ascertaining what only proved her nmitability. An escort, placed for them at the Pont de Sommneville, had been with" February 28th, 1791. drawn, after their remainimng at tlihat place for a tinme f 18th April, 17 91. had excited popular suspicion. At Sainte Malne LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 55 hould they met a small detachment of dragoons, their constitution required a monarchical head; the stationed there by Bonillb also for their escort. But republicans rejoiced, for it had long been their obwhile they halted to change horses, the king, whose ject to abolish the kingly office. Nor did the features were remarkable, was recognized by anarchists of the Jacobin Club less exult; forthe Drouet, a son of the postmaster. The young man events which had taken place, and their probable was a keen revolutionist, and, resolving to prevent consequences, were such as to animate the revolu. the escape of the sovereign, he mounted a horse, tionary spirit, exasperate the public mind, prevent and pushed forwards to Varennes to prepare the the return of order, and stimulate the evil pasmunicipality for the arrival of the king. sions of lawless ambition, and love of blood and Two remarkable chances seemed to show that the rapine. good angel of Louis still strove in his favour. Drouet But La Fayette was determined not to relinquish was pursued by a resolute royalist, a quarter- the constitution he had formed, and, in spite of' the master of dragoons, who suspected his purpose, and unpopularity of the royal dignity, rendered more so followed him with the design of preventing it at all by this frustrated attempt to escape, he was resolved hazards. But Drouet, better acquainted with the to uphold it; and was joined in this purpose by Barroad, escaped a pursuit which might have been fatal nave and others, who did not always share his sentito him. The other incident was, that Drouet for a ments, but who thought it shame, apparently, to time pursued the road to Verdun, instead of that show to the world, that a constitution, firamed for to Varennes, concluding the king had taken the immortality upon the best political principles of the former direction, and was only undeceived by an most accomplished statesmen in France, was so accident. slightly built, as to part and go asunder at the first I-le reached Varennes, and found a ready dispo- shock. The purpose of the commandant of Paris, sitionl to stop the flight of the unhappy prince. The however, was not to be accomplished without a Vicking was stopped at Varennes and arrested; the tory over the united strength of the republican and National Guards were called out-the dragoons re- jacobinical parties, who on their part might be exfused to fight in the king's defence-an escort of pected to put in motion on the occasion their manyhussars, who might have cut a passage, arrived too handed revolutionary engine, an insurrection of the late, acted with reluctance, and finally deserted people. the town. Still there remained one last throw fobr Such was the state of political opinions, when the their freedom. If the time could have been pro- unfortunate Louis was brought back to Paris. He tracted but for an hour and a half, Bouillt would was, with his wife and children, covered with dust, have been before Varennes at the head of such a dejected with sorrow, and exhausted with fatigue. body of faithful and disciplined troops as might The faithful Gardes du Corps who had accompanied easily have dispersed the national militia. He had their flight, sate bound like felons on the driving-seat even opened a correspondence with ihe royal pri- of the carriage. His progress was at first silent and soners through a faithful emissary who ventured into unhonoured. The guard did not present arms-the Varennes, and obtained speech of the king; but people remained covered, —no man said God bless could obtain no answer more decided than that, him. At another part of the route, a number of the being a prisoner, Louis declined giving any orders. rabble precipitated themselves on the carriage, and Finally, almost all the troops of the Marquis de it was with the utmost difficulty'that the National Bouille declared against the king and in favour of Guards, and some deputies, could assure it a safe the nation, tending to show the little chance which passage. Under such auspices were the royal faexisted of a favourable issue to the king's attempt mily committed once more to their old prison of tlhe to create a royalist force. The marquis himself Tuileries. made his escape with difficulty into the Austrian Meantime the crisis of the king's fate seemed to territories. be approaching. It was not long ere the political The Parisians in general, but especially the Le- parties had an opportunity of trying their respective gislative Assembly, had been at first astounded, as force. A meeting was held upon the motion of the if by an earthquake. The king's escape seemed to republican and jacobinical leaders, in the Champ de menace his instant return at the head of aristocratical levies, supportedbyfreigtoter,-the King of Naples was also no more.' Surely,' said cal levies, supported by'foreign troops. Reflection the worthy Neapolitan,'the sun must vanish from heaven made most men see, as a more probable termination, at such a combination of fatalities.' But they did not that the dynasty of the Bourbons could no longer cease here. The Archbishop of Palermo, he is informed, hold the crown; and that the government, already has also died suddenly. Overcome by this last shock, he so democratical in principle, must become a republic retired to bed, but not to sleep. In the morning he was in all its forms.* The constitutionalists grieved that disturbed in his melancholy reverie by a rumbling noise, which he recognized at once to be the motion of the wooden + The following anecdote will serve to show by what instrument which makes Inacaroni.'Aha!' says the good means this conclusion was insinuated into the public mind. man, starting up,' Can I trust my ears?-The pope is A group in the Palais Royal were discussing in great alarm dead-the King of Naples is dead-the Bishop of Palermuo is the consequences of the king's flight, when a man dressed in dead-yet my neighbour the baker makes macaroni t Comne a thread-bare great-coat leaped upon a chair and addressed The lives of these great folks are not then so indispensable them thus:-" Citizens, listen to a tale, which shall not be to the world after all.'" The man in the great-coat j rnmped along one. A certain well-meaning Neapolitan was once down and disappeared.' I have caught his meaning," said on a ftinle startled in his evening walk, by the astounding a woman amongst the listeners. " He has told us a tale, intelligence that the pope was dead. He had not recovered and it begins like all tales —There was once a king and a his astonishment, when behold he is informed of a new disas- qteen." 55 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, Aiars,' to subscribe a petition for the dethronement like manner be deemed an act of abdication; and an of the king, couched in the boldest and broadest abdicated monarch, it was farther decreed, should terms. There was in this plain a wooden edifice become an ordinary citizen, answerable to the laws laise(d on scaffolding, called the Altar of the Country, for every act he had done before or since the act of which had been erected for the ceremony of the abdication. Federation of 14th July, 1790, when the assembled The constitution, with the royal immunity thus currepresentatives of the various departments of France tailed and maimed, was now again presented to the took their oath to observe the constitution. On this king, who again accepted it purely and simply, in altar the petition was displayed for signature; but terms which, while they excited acclamation from each revolutionary act required a preliminary liba- the assembly, were but feebly echoed from the tion of blood, and the victims on this occasion were gallery.* The legislators were glad to make a two wretched invalids, whom the rabble found at virtue of necessity, and complete their constitutional breakfast under the scaffolding which supported the code, though in a precarious manner; but the hearts revolutionary altar, and accused of a design to blow of the people were now decidedly alienated from the up the patriots. To accuse was to condemn. They king, and, by a strange concurrence of misfortune, were murdered without mercy, and their heads, mixed with some errors, Louis, whose genuine and paraded on pikes, became as usual the standards of disinterested good intentions ought to have made him the insurgent citizens. The municipal officers at- the darling of his subjects, had now become the obtempted to disperse the assemblage, but to no pur- ject of their jealousy and detestation. pose. Bailly, mayor of Paris, together with La Upon reviewing the measures which had been Fayette, resolved to repel force by forceo; martial law. adopted on the king's return to Paris, historians will was proclaimed, and its signal, the red flag, was probably be of opinion, that it was impolitic in the displacled from the H6tel de Ville. La Fayette, assembly to offer the constitutional crown to Louis,, ith a body of grenadiers, arrived in the Champ de and imprudent in that unhappy prince to accept it 3 lalrs. fle was received with abuse, and execrations under the conditions annexed. On the former point of' "Down with La Fayette! Down with martial it must be remembered, that these innovators, who law!" iollowed by a volley of stones. The com- had changed everything else in the state, could, upon madalnt gave orders to fire, and was on this occasion principle, have had no hesitation to alter the person most promptly obeyed; for the grenadiers pouring or the dynasty of their sovereign. According to the their shot directly into the crowd, more than a sentiments which they had avowed, the king, as hundred men lay dead ai the first volley. The well as the nobles and clergy, was in their hands, Champ de Mars was empty in an instant,, and the as clay in that of the potter, to be used or thrown constituted authority, for the first time since the away at pleasure. The present king, in the manifesto Revolution commenced, remained master of a left behind him on his flight, had protested to all contested field. La Fayette ought to have followed Europe against the system of which he was made up this triumph of the legal force, by giving a the head, and it was scarce possible that his sentitriunph to the law itself, in the trial and conviction ments could be altered in its favour, by the circumof some of his prisoners, selecting particularly the stances attending his unwilling return from Varennes. agitators employed bythe Club of Jacobins; but he The assembly, therefore, acting upon their own thoulght he had done enough in frightening these principles, should have at once proceeded on the idea harpies back to their dens. Some of their leaders that his flight was a virtual abdication of the crown sought and found refige among the republicans, -they should have made honourable provision for a which was not in that hour of danger very willingly prince placed in so uncommon a situation, and sufgranted.t Marat and many others, who had been fered him to enjoy in Spain or Italy an honourable hitherto the undaunted and unwearied instigators of independence, so soon as the storm was ended the rabble, were compelled to skulk in obscurity for which threatened them from abroad. In the meansome time after this victory of the Champ de Mars, while, the person of the king would have been a awhich the jacobins felt severely at the time, and pledge in their hands, which might have given them forgot not afterwards to avenge most cruelly. some advantage in treating with the foreign princes This victory led to the triumph of the constitution- of his family, and the potentates of Europe. The alists in the assembly. The united exertions of those general policy of this appears so obvious, that it was who argued against the deposition of Louis, found- probably rather the difficulty of arraniging in what ing their reasoning upon that constitutional law, hands the executive authority should be lodged, than which declares the king inviolable in his person, any preference of Louis XVI., which.induced the overpowered the party who loudly called on the assembly again to deposit it in his hands, shorn in a assembly to proclaim his forfeiture, or appoint his great measure even of the limited consequence and trial.'I'he assembly clogged, however, the future privileges constitutionally annexed to it. La Fayette inviolability of the king with new penalties. If the and his party perhaps reckoned on the king's spirit king, having accepted the constitution, should re- having given way, from observing how unanimously tract, they de&reed he should be considered as the people of France were disposed in favour of the abdicated. If he should order his armny, or any new state of things, and may have trusted to his part of it, to act against the nation, this should in accommodating himself, therefore, without further resistance, to act the part of the unsubstantial pa+ July 17, 1791. geant which the constitution assigned him. t Mlnoir'es de Meadeame Roland-article Robert (val. II, p. 201): 2 vols 8ro, Paris, 1820. * September 14, 1791. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 57 If it was impolitic in the constitutionalists to re- of France, %who must necessarily have viewed with place the crown upon the head of Louis, it was additional jealousy the head of a governlment, who, certainly unworthy of that monarch to accept it, avowedly discontented with the share of' power alunless invested with such a degree of power as lotted to him, had nevertheless accepted it,-like might give him some actual weight and preponder- the impoverished gamester, who will rather play for ance in the system.'111 his flight to Varennes, the small stakes than be cut out of the game. king's dislike to the constitution was a secret in his The work of the constitution being thus accomown bosom, which might indeed be suspected from plished, the National, or, as it is usually called, circumstances, but which could not be proved; and the Constituent Assembly, dissolved itself, agreewhich, placed as he was, the king was entitled to ably to the vow they had pronounced in the tennisconceal, since his real sentiments could not be court at Versailles. The constitution. that structure avowed consistently with his personal safety. But which they raised for immortality, soon afterwards now this veil was torn aside, and he had told all became ruinous; but in few assemblies of statesmen Europe in a public declaration, that he had been have greater and more varied talents been assemacting underconstraint since thetime hewas brought bled. Their debates were often fierce and stormy, in triumlh from Versailles to Paris. It would cer- their mode of arguing wrild and vehement, their tainly have been most dignified in Louis to have resolutions sudden and ill-considered. These were stood or fallen in conformity with this declaration, the faults partly of the French character, which is made on the only occasion which he had enjoyed for peculiarly open to sudden impulses, partly to the such a length of time, of speaking his own free sen- great changes perpetually crowding upon them, and timents. He should not, when brought back to his to the exciting progress of a revolution which hurprison, have resumed the submission of a prisoner, ried all men into extravagance. On the other hand, or affected to accept as a desirable boon, the re- they respected freedom of debate; and the proscripstoration, as it might be called, and that in a muti- tion of members of their body, for maintaining and lated state, of a sovereignty, which he had volun- declaring their sentiments, in opposition to that of the tarily abandoned at such extreme personal risk. His majority, is not to be found in their records, though resolutions were too "flexible, and too much at the so fearfully frequent in those of their successors. mercy of circumstances, to be royal or noble. Their main and master error was th'e attempt to do Charles I., even in the Isle of Wight, treated with too much, and to do it all at once. The parties his subjects, as a prisoner indeed, but still as a king, kept no terms with each other, would wait for no refusing to accede to such articles as in his own mind conviction, and make no concession. It was a war he was determined not to abide by. Louis, we con- for life and death betwixt men, who, had they seen ceive, should have returned the same answer to the more calmly for their country and for themselves, assembly which he did to the royalist officer at would rather have sacrificed some part of the theoVarennes, " that a prisoner could give no orders, retical exactness of principle on which they insisted, and make no concessions." He should not, like a to the opportunity of averting practical evil, or atbird which has escaped and been retaken, forget the taining practical good. The errors of the assembly notes which he uttered when at freedom, and return were accordingly those of extremes. They had to his set and prescribed prison-song the instant that felt the weight of the feudal chains, and they dethe cage again inclosed him. No man, above all stroyed the whole nobility. The monarch had been no king, should place the language of his feelings and too powerfull for the liberties of the subject-they sentiments so much at the disposal of fortune. An now bound him as a slave at the feet of the legisadherence to the sentiments expressed in his volun- lative authority. Their arch of liberty gave way, tary declaration might, it is possible, have afforded because they hesitated to place upon it, in the shape him the means of making some more favourable of an efficient executive government, a weight snfficomposition; whereas the affectation of willing sub- cient to keep it steady. Yet to these men France mission to the same force which Ihis own voice had was indebted for the first principles of civil liberty. so lately proclaimed illegal, could but make the They kindled the flame, though they could not reguunhappy king suspected of attempting a deceit, by late it; and such as now enjoy its temperate warmth which no one could be deceived. But the difficulties should have sympathy for the errors of those to of his situation were great, and Louis might well re- whom they owe a boon so inestinlable; —nor should member the proverb, which places the grave of this sympathy be the less, that so many perished in deposed sovereigns close to their prison-gates. He the conflagration, which, at the commencement, might be persuaded to temporize with the party they had fanned too rashly. They did even more, which still offered to preserve a show of royalty in for they endeavoured to heal the %wounds of' the the constitution, until time or circumstances permit- nation by passing an act of general amnesty, which ted him to enlarge its basis. In the meantime, if we at once placed in security the jacobins of the Champ can believe Bertrand de Moleville, Louis avowed to de Mars, and the unfortunate companions of the him the determination: to act under the constitution king's flight. This was one of their last and wisest with all sincerity and good faith; but it must be decrees, could they have enforced its observance owned, that it would have required the virtues of a by their successors.saint to have enabled him to make good his pledge, The adieus which they took of power were anyhad the success of the Austrians, or any.strong thing but prophetic. They pronounced the Revocourter-revolutionary movement, tempted him to lution ended, and the constitution completed-the renounce it. At all events, the king was placed in a one was but commencing, and the other was basedomubtful and suspicious position towards the people less as a morning dream. NOL. V. 8 o5 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. cond assembly could not be equal to the first in CHAPTER VI1. abundance of talent; but still the Legislative Assembly held in its ranks many men of no ordinary egis~ltite Assely-.-Its cospo0sitioa,-Constitultionalists acquirements, and a few of a corresponding boldness -Girondists or brissotins-Jacobins.- Views and senti- and determination of character. A slight review of ments offoreign/ nations-Engla. d-Vietvs of the tories the parties into which it was divided, will show band whigs-Anacharsis Klootz-Austria-Prussia- how much the influence of the crown was lowered Russia —Sweden l.-3Etigrationl of thle French princes in the scale. and clei gy-Incrcasnlg uspopularity of Louisfront this There was no party remained which could be cause.- Death of the Emperor Leopold, and its effects. termed strictly or properly royalist. Those who — Franm e declares tear.- Views and interests of the dif- were attached to the old monarchy of France were ferent parties in Fr ance at this period.-Decree against now almost all exiles, and there were left but few 2Monsiear.-Loais interposes his vefo.-Decree againsft even of that second class of more moderate and the priests tU/to should refuse the constitutional oath- e and aoais agani iN^tetposes hcis veto —Consequetces of these lore reasonable royalists, who desired to establish refusals.-Fall of De Lessart.-lfinisters snow chosen afree constitution on te basis of an effective mofroms the brissotias.-Allparties favourable to sar. narchy, strong enough to protect the laws against license, but not sutfficiently predominant to alter or THn; First, or Con.stituent Assembly, is destroying overthrow them. Cazals, whose chivalrous defence almost all which existed as law in France, when of the nobility,-Maury, whose elequent pleadings fbr they were summoned together as States general, the church,-had so often nade an honourable bult had preserved, at least in form, the name and power vain struggle against the advances of revolution, of a monarch. The Legislative Assembly, which were now silent and absent, and the few feeb!e succeeded them, seemed preparing to destroy the remnants of their party had ranged themselves with symbol of royalty which their predecessors had left the constitutionalists, who were so far favourers of standing, though surrounded by republican enact- monarchy as it made part of their favourite system ments. -and no farther. La Fayette continued to be the The composition of this second body of represent- organ of that party, and had assembled under his atives was much more unfavourable to the royal banners Duport, Barnave, Lameth, all of whom cause than that of those whom they succeeded. In had striven to keep pace with the headlong spirit of a bad hour for France and themselves, the Consti- the Revolution, but, being outstripped by more tuent Assembly had adopted two regulations, which active and forward champions of the popular cause, had the same disabling effect on their own political now shifted ground, and formed a union with those interest, as the celebrated self-denying ordinance in who were disposed to maintain, that the present the Long Parliament had upon that of the presby- constitution was adapted to all the purposes of free terians. By the first of these decrees, the members and effectual government, and that, by its creation, of the Constituent Assembly were rendered inca- all farther revolutionary measures were virtually pable of being elected to that which should succeed superseded. its dissolution. By the second, they were declared In stern opposition to those admirers of the con- I ineligible to be ministers of the crown, until two stitution, stood two bodies of unequal numbers, years had elapsed after their sitting as legislators. strength, and efficacy; of which the first was deThose individuals who had alleady acquired some termnined that the Revolution should never stop until political knowledge and information wvere thus vir.. the downfall of the monarchy, while the second tually excluded tfrom the counsels of the state, and entertained the equally resolved purpose of urging pronounced inadmissible into the service of the these changes still farther onwards, to the total crown. This exclusion was adopted upon the wild destruction of all civil order, and the establishnment principle of leveling, which was one prime moving of a government in which terror and violence should spring of the Revolution, and which affected to be the ruling principles, to be wielded by the hands destroy even the natural aristocracy of talents. of the demagogues who dared to nourish a scheme "Who are the distinguzished smembers whom the so net:arious. We have indicated the existence of speaker nentions?" said a jacobin orator, in the both these parties in the first, or Constituent Astrite,pil'it of this imaginary equality; — " There are sembly; but in the second, called the Legislative, no members of the assembly more distinguished they assumed a more decided form, and appeared than others by talents or skill, any more than by unIited towards the abolition of royalty as a comlulon birth or rank —ve are all EQUAL." Rare words end, though certain, when it was attained, to disindeed, and flattering, doubtless, to many in the pute withll each other the use which was to be made assemlbly. Utnhtappily, no legislative decree can of the victory. In the words of Shakspeare, they give sense to folly, or experience to ignorance; it were determined could only prevent a certain portion of wisdom and talent from being called into the service of the To laa this Afghers even wih the ground, country. Both king and people were necessarily obliged to put their confidence in men of inexpe- The first of these parties took its most common rience in blsuness, liable to act with all the rashness denomination from the Gironde, a department whlich by which inexperience is generally attended. As sent most of its members to the Convention. Conthe Conlstitulent Assembly contained the first and dVrcet, dear to science, was one of this party, and readiest choice r(ialtio the tmen of ability whom it was often named from Brissot, another of its prisnFrance hald il her lbosoml, it o1llowed that the se- cipal leaders. Its most distinguished champions LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 59 were men bred as lawyers in the south of France, proprietors, who had assumed arms for their own who had, by mutual flattery, and the habit of living protection, and to maintain something like general much together, acquired no small portion of that good order. These composed the steadiest part of self-conceit and overweening opinion of each others' the National Guard, and, generally speaking, were talents, which may be frequently found among small at the devotion of their commandant, though his provincial associations for political or literary pur- authority was resisted by them on some occasions, poses. Many had eloquence, and most of them a and seemed daily to grow more precarious. The high fund of enthusiasm, which a classical education, royalists might perhaps have added some force to and their intimate communication with each other, the constitutional party, but La Fayette did not now where each idea was caught up, lauded, re-echoed, possess such an unsuspected character with the so and enhanced, had exalted into a spirit of republi- called friends of freedom, as could permit him to call zeal. They doubtless had personal ambition, use the obnoxious assistance of those who were but in general it seems not to have been of a low or termed its enemies. His high character as a miliselfish character. Their aims were often honourable tary man still sustained an importance, which, neverthough visionary, and they marched with great con- tileless, was already somewhat on the wane. rage towards their proposed goal, with the vain pur- The party of the Gironde had in their favour the pose of erecting a pure republic, in a state so dis- theoretical amateurs of liberty and equality, young turbed as that of France, and by hands so polluted men, whose heated imaginations saw the Forinm of as those of their jacobin associates. It will be re- ancient Rome in the gardens of the Palais Royal, corded, however, to the disgrace of their pretensions and yielded a ready assent to whatsoever doctline to stern republican virtue, that the girondists were came recommended by a flourishing and eloquent willing to employ, for the accomplishment of their peroration, and was rounded off in a sounding senpurpose, those base and guilty tools which after- tence, or a quaint apophthegm. The partisans of wards effected their own destruction. They were Brissot had some interest in the southern departfor using the revolutionary means of insurrection and ments, who had sent them to the capital, and conviolence, until the republic should be established, ceived that they had a great deal nlore. They and no longer; or, in the words of the satirist, pretended that there existed in those districts a Fr letting rapine lese and murtber, purer flame of fieedom than in the metropolis itself, To rage just so far, bult an further; and held out, that Liberty, if expelled tiomn Paris, And setting all the land on fire would yet find refuge in a new republic, to be To burn to a scantling, but no higher. founded on the other side of the Loire. Stuch daydreams did not escape the jacobins, who carefully The jacobins,-the second of these parties,- treasured them to be the apology of future violence, were allies of the brissotins, with the ulterior pur- and finally twisted them into an accusation which pose of urging the revolutionary force to the utter- bestowed on the brissotins the odious name of fedemost, but using as yet the shelter of their republican ralists, and charged them with an intention to dismantle. Robespierre, who, by an affectation of a member France, by splitting it into a league of'petty frugal and sequestered course of life, prese'ved commonwealths, like those of Holland and Switzeramong the multitude the title of the Incorruptible, land. might be considered as the head of the jacobins, if The brissotins had a point of union in the saloon they had indeed a leader more than wolves have, of Madame Roland, wife to one of' their number. which tune their united voices to the cry of him who The beauty, talents, courage, and accomplishments bays the loudest. Danton, inexorable as Robes- of this remarkable woman, pushed foirward into pierre himself, but less prudent, because he loved public notice a husband of very middling abilities, gold and pleasure as well as blood and power, was and preserved a high influence over the association next in authority. Marat, who loved to talk of of philosophical rhapsodists, who hoped to oppose murder as soldiers do of battles; the wretched pikes with syllogisms, and to govern a powerful Collot d'Herbois, a broken-down play-actor; Chabot, country by the discipline of an academy. an ex-capuchin; with many other men of desperate The substantial and dreadfill support of' the jacharacter, whose moderate talents were eked out by cobins lay in the club so named, with the yet more the most profligate effrontery, formed the advanced violent association of cordeliers, and their original guard of this party, soiled with every species of affiliated societies, which reigned paramount over crime, and accustomed to act their ports in the ma- those of the municipal bodies, which in most departnagement of those dreadful insurrections, which ments were fain to crouch under their stern and had at once promoted and dishonoured the Revo- sanguinary dominion. This club had more than lotion. It is needless to preserve from oblivion once changed masters, for its principal and leading names such as Santerre and Hbert, distinguished feature being the highest point of democratical for cruelty and villany above the other subaltern ardour, it drove from its bosom in succession those villains. Such awas the party who, at the side of the who fell short of the utmost pitch of extravagant brissotins, stood prompt to storm the last bulwarks zeal for liberty and equality, manifested by the most,f the monarchy, reserving to themselves the secret uncompromising violence. The word moderation determination, that the spoil should be all their own. was as odious in this society as could have been The force of these three parties was as variously that of slavery, and he who could affect the most composed as their principles. That of La Fayette, exaggerated and outrageous strain of patriotism, as we have repeatedly observed, lay alongst the was sure to outstrip their former leaders. Thus the better order of shopkeepers and citizens, and other Lanieths took the guidance of the club out of the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. slands of La Fayette; Robespierre and Marat ment, which induces an arbitrary monarch to shut wrenched the management from the Lameths; and, his ears to the voice of justice, is equally powerful considering their pitch of extravagant ferocity, there with senates and popular assemblies; and aggreswas little chance of Mteir losing it, unless an Avatar sions have been as frequently made by republics and,of the Evil Spirit had brought Satan himself to dis- limited monarchs on the independence of their neighpute the point in person. bours, as by those princes who have no bounds to The leaders, who were masters of this club, had their own royal pleasure. The gross and barefaced possession, as we have often remarked, of the master- injustice of' the partition of Poland had gone far to;keys of the passions of the populace, could raise a extinguish any remains of hesitation upon such subolrest of pikes with one word, and unsheathe a jects, and might be said to be a direct recognition of thousand daggers with another. They directly and the right of the strongest. There would not, thereopenly recommended the bloodiest and most ruffian- fore, have wanted pretexts for interference in the like actions, instead of those which, belonging to affairs of France, of the nations around her, had any open and nlanly warfare, present something that is of them been at the time capable of benefiting by generous even in the taidst of violence. " Give me," the supposed opportunity said the atrocious Marat, when instructing Barba- England, the rival of France, might, from the roux in his bloody science,-" Give me two hundred example of that country, have exercised a right of Neapolitans-the knife in their right hand, in their interfering with her domestic concerns, in requital deft a midff, to serve for a target-with these I will of the aid which she afforded to the Americans; hut traverse France, and complete the Revolution." At besides that the publicity of the. parliamentary dethe same lecture he nlade an exact calculation (for bates must compel the most ambitious British mithe monster was possessed of some science), show- nister to maintain at least an appearance of respect ing in vhat manner two hundred and sixty thousand to the rights of other countries, England was herself nien might be put to death in one day. SIch were much divided upon the subject of the French Revothe means, the mien, and the plans of the jacohins, lution. which they were now, in the Legislative Assembly, This was not the case when the eventful scene to oppose to the lukewarm loyalty of' the constitu- first commenced. We believe that the first display tionalists, and, in the hour of need, to the fine-spun of light, reason, and rational liberty in France, was vepublican theories of' the brissotins. But ere we hailed as a day-spring through all Britain, and that proceed in our review of the internal affairs of the there were few, if any, in that country, vwho did not nation, it becomes now necessary to glance at her feel their hearts animated and enlarged by seeing external relations. such a great and noble nation throwing aside the Hitherto France had acted alone in this dreadful fetters, which at once restrained and dishonolured tragedy, while the other nations of Europe looked them, and assuming the attitude, language, and on in amazesment, which now began to give place to spirit of a free people. All men's thoughts and eyes a desire of action. No part of public law is more were bent on struggles, which seemed to promise subtle in argument than that which pretends to de- the regeneration of a mighty country, and the British fine the exact circumstances in which, according to generally felt as if days of old hate and mutlual rithe proper interpretation of the J.ts gentiumn, one valry would thereafter be fobrgotten, and that in nation is at libertyr, or called upon, to interfere in future the similarity of liberal institutions, and the the internal concerns of another. If my next neigh- possession of a just portion of rational liberty on bour's house is on fire, I am not only entitled, but either side, would throw kindness and cordiality obliged, by rules alike of prudence and humanity, into the intercourse between the two countries, since to lend my aid to extinguish it; or if a cry of nmurder France would no longer have ground to contemn arises in his household, the support due to tile law, Enfgland as a country of seditious and sullen clowns, and the protection of the innocent, will excuse my or Britain to despise France as a nation of willing forcible entrance upon his premnises. These are ex- slaves. treme cases, and easily decided; they have their This universal sympathy was not removed by the parallels in the laws of nations, but they are of rare forcible capture of the Bastille, and the violences occurrence. But there lies between them and tile of the people on that occasion. The name of that general maxim, prohibiting the uncalled for inter- fortress was so unpopular, as to palliate and apoloference of one party in what primarily and princi- gize for the excesses which took place on its fall, pally concerns another, a whole terra incognita of and it was not to be expected that a people so long special cases, in which it may be difficult to pro- oppressed, when exerting their power for the first nounce any satisfactory decision. ti-ne, should be limited by the strict bounds of moIn the history of nations, however, little practical deration. But in England there always have been, difficulty has been felt, for wherever the jurisconsults and must exist, two parties of politicians, who will have found a Gordian knot, the sword of the sove- not long continue to regard events of such an interestreign has severed it without ceremony. The doubt ing nature with similar sensations. has usually been decided on the practical questions, The revolutionists of France were naturally deWVhat benefit the neutral power is like to derive sirous to obtain the applause of' the elder-born of from his interference? and, Whether he possesses Freedom, and the societies in Britain, which assumed the power of using it effectually, and to his own tile character of the peculiar admlirers and protectors advantage? In free countries, indeed, the public of liberty, conceived themselves obliged to extend opinion must be listened to; but man is the same in their countelance to the changes ii the neighbourevery situation, and the same desire of aggrandize- ing nation. Hence there arose a great intercourse LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 6G between the clubs and self-constituted bodies in have property to lose, and are afraid of eatamBritain, which assumed the extension of' popular gering it. This body is like the Ban ofthe Germanis freedom as the basis of their association, and the empire, a formidable force, but slow and diffident revolutionists in France, who were realizing the in its operations, and requiring the stimulus of sedsystems of philosophical theorists upon the same den alarm to call it into effective exercise. To ona ground. Warm tributes of applause were transmit- or other of these great national parties, e very Engted from several of these associations; the ambas- lishman, of education enough to f rm an opinior,R sadors sent to convey them were received with great professes to belong; with a perfecf.t ulderstandingon. distinction by the, National Assembly; and the the part of all men of sense and probity, that tile urbane intercourse which took place on these oc- general purpose is to ballast the vessel of the state, casions, led to exaggerated admiration of the French not to overset it, and that it becomes a state-treasoz system on the part of those, who had thus unex- in any one to follow his party when they carry their pectedly become the medium of intercoursebetween doctrines to extremity. a great nation and a few private societies. The From the nature of this grand national division it latter were gradually induced to form unflavourable follows, that the side which is most popular should comparisons betwixt the temple of French freedom, be prompt in adopting theories, and eager in reormbuilt, as it seemed to them, upon the most perfect mending measures of alteration and irmprovement. principles of symmetry and uniformity, and that in It is by such measures that men of talents rise into which the goddess had been long worshiped in importance, and by such that the popular part of the England, and which, on the contrast, appeared to constitution is maintained in its integrity. The other them like an ancient edifice constructed in barbaric party is no less usefiul, by opposing to each succeetimes, and incongruously encumbered with Gothic sive attempt at innovation the delays of form, the ornaments and emblems, which modern political doubts of experience, the prejudices of rank and architects had discarded. But these political sages condition, legal bjections, and the weight of ancient overlooked the important circumstance, that the and established practice. Thus, measures of a buttresses, which seemed in some respects incuml- doubtful tendency are severely scrutinized in parbrances to the English edifice, might, on examin. liament, and if at length adopted, it is only when ation, be found to add to its stability; and that in public opinion has long declared in tlieir fayour, and fact they furnished evidence to show, that the ve- when, men's minds having become habituated to the nerable pile was built with cement fitted to endure. discussion, their introduction into our system cannot the test of ages, while that of France, constructed produce the violent effect of absolute novelty.. If of lath daubed with untempered mortar, like the there were no whigs, our constitution would fall to pageants she exhibited on the revolutionary festivals, pieces for want of repair; if there were no tories, i was only calculated to be the wonder of a day. wolld be broken in the.course ofa succession ofra.sh The earnest admiration of either party of the and venturous experiments. state is sure in England to be balanced by the cen- It followed as a matter of course, that the whigs sure of the other, and leads to an immediate trial of of Britain looked with complacence, the tories with strength betwixt them. The popular side is al- jealousy, upon the progress of the Dnewl principles ways the more loud, the more active, the inore im- in France; but the latter had a powerfil and unexposing of the two contending parties. It is formi- pected auxiliary in the person of Edmund Burke, dable, fiom the body of talents which it exhibits (for whose Reflectionzs on the Frenhe Revolhtion had? those ambitious of' distinction are usually fiiends to -the most striking effect on the 1public mind of any innovation), and from the unanimity and vigour with work in our time. There was sonmetlling exaggerwhich it can wield them. There may be, and indeed ated at all times in the character as well as the always are, great differences in the point to which eloquence of that great man; and upon reading at each leader is desirous to carry reformation; hut this distance of time his celebrated composition, it ~they are unanimous in desiring its conlmmencement. must be confessed that the colours he has used iln Thle opposition, also, as it is usually termed, has painting the extravagances of the Revolution ought always included several of the high aristocracy to have been softened, by considering the peculiar of the country, whose names ennoble their rank, state of a country, which, long labouring lunder des. and whose large tfrtunes are a pledge, that they potism, is suddenly restored to the possessiom of will, for their own sakes, be a check upon eager unembarrassed license. On the other hand, no poand violent experimentalists. The whigs, mo le- litical prophet ever viewed futuity with a surer ken. over, have the means of influencing assemblies of He knew how to detect the secret purpose of the the lower orders, to whom the name of liberty is, various successive tribes of revolutionists, and saw and ought to be dear, since it is the privilege which in the constitution tile future republic; in the rempmblic must console them for narrow circumstances and in- the reign of anarchy; from anarchy he predictu.d miliferiority of condition; and these nmeans the party, tary dospotism, and from military despotism, last to so called, often use successfully, always with in- be fulfilled, and hardest to be believed, he prophesidustry and assiduity. ed tile late but secure resurrection of the legitimtate The counterbalance to this active and powerful monarchy. Above all, when the cupidity of the body is to be found, speaking generally, iu the French rulers aspired no farther than the forcible higher classes at large-the great mass of nobility possession of Avignon and the Venaissin territories, and gentry-the clergy of the Established Church- he foretold their purpose of extending the empire of the superior branches of the law-the wealthier of France by means of her new political theories, and, the commercial classes-and the bulk of those who under pretext of propagating the principles of free. 6O2 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. dom, her project of assailing with-her arms the states, I in an apartment, where the air is polluted, to wish whose subjects had been already seduced by her for the wholesome atmosphere. doctrines. Unhappily, these justifiable desires were connectThe work of Burke raised a thousand enemies to ed with others of a description less harmless and the French Revolution, who had before looked upon beneficial. The French Revolution had proclaimed it with favour, or at least with indifference. A very war on castles, as well as peace to cottages. Its large portion of the talents and aristocracy of the doctrine and practice held out the privileged classes opposition party followed Burke into the ranks of the in every country as the natural tyrants and oppressors ministry, who saw with pleasure a member, noted of the poor, whom it encouraged by the thousand for his zeal in the cause of fhe Americans, beconle tongues of its declaimers to pull down their thrones, an avowed enemy of the French Revolution, and overthrow their altars, renounce the empire of God with equal satisfaction heard him use arguments, above, and of kings below, and arise, like regener which might in their own mouths have assumed an ated France, alike from thraldom and fromr superobnoxious agid suspicious character. stition. And such opinions, calling upon the other But the sweeping terms in which the author re- nations of Europe to follow them in their demoprobated all attempts at state-refobrmation, in which cratic career, were not only trumpeted fobrth in all he had himself been at one time so powerful an affiliated clubs of the jacobins, whose influence in agent, subjected him to the charge of inconsistency the National Assembly was formidable, but were among his late friends, many of whom, and Fox in formally recognizod by that body itself ipon an ocparticular, declared themselves favourable to the casion, which, but for the momentous omen it preprogress of the Revolution in France, though they sented, might have been considered as the most did not pretend to excuse its excesses. Out of ridiculous scene ever gravely acted before the leparliament it nliet more unlimited applause; for gislators of a great nation. England, as well as France, had talent impatient of 1 There was in Paris a native of Prussia, an exile obscurity, ardour which demnanded employment, from his country, whose brain, none of the soundest ambition which sought distinction, and men of head- by nature, seems to have been affected by the prolong passions, who expected in a new order of things gress of the Revolution, as that of ordinary madmen more unlimited means of indulging them. The is said to be influenced by the increase of the moon. middling classes were open in England as elsewhere, This personage, having become disgusted with his though not perhaps so much so, to the tempting offer baptismal name, had adopted that of the Scythian of increased power and importance; and the popu- philosopher, and, uniting it with his own Teutonic lace of Lonrdoin and other large towns loved license family appellation, entitled himself-" Anacharsis as well as the sans-culottes of France. Hence the Klootz, Orator of the Human Race." division of the country into aristocrats and demo- It could hardly be expected, that the assumption crats, the introduction of political hatred into the of such a title should remain undistinguished by bosom of families, and the dissolution of many a some supreme act of folly. Accordingly, tile seliband of friendship which had stood the strain of a dubbed Anacharsis set on foot a procession, which life-time. One part of the kingdoln looked upon the was intended to exhibit the representatives of deother with the stern and relentless glance of keepers legates from all nations upon earth, to assist at the who are restrainirng nadmen, while the others bent Feast of the Federation of the 14th July, 1790, by on them tile furioLs glare of madmen conspiring re- which the French nation proposed to celebrate tihe venge on their keepers. Revolution. In recruiting his troops, the orator From this period the progress of the French easily picked up a few vagabonds of different Revolution seenied in England like a play presented countries in Paris; but as Chaldeans, Illinois, and upon the stage, where two contending factions divide Siberians, are not so conmmon, the delegates of those the audience, and hiss or applaud as much from more distant tribes were chosen among the rabble party spirit as from real critical judgment, while of tile city, and subsidized at the rate of about every instant increases the probability that they will twelve firancs each. We are sorry we cannot tell try the question by actual force. whether tile personage, whose dignity was much Still, though the nation was thus divided on insisted upon as "a Miltonic Englishman," was account of French politics, England and France genuine, or of Parisian manu:acture. If the last, lie observed the usual rules of amity, and it seemed that must have been wvo.rth seeing. the English were more likely to wage hostility with Anacharsis Klootz, having got his ragged reeach other than to declare war against France. giment equipped in costume at the expense of the There was, in other kingdoms and states upon the refuse of some theatrical wardrobe, conducted Continent, the same diversity of feeling, respecting them in solemn procession to the bar of the Nationral the Revolution, which divided England. The favour Assermbly, presented them as the representatives of the lower and unprivileged classes, in Germany of all the nations on earth, awakened to a sense of especially, was the more fixed upon the progress of their debased situation by the choral voices of the French Revolution, because they lingered un- twenty-five millions of freemen, and demanding that der the same incapacities from which the changes the sovereignty of the people should be acknowin France had delivered the commons, or third ledged, and their oppressors destroyed, through all estate, of that country. Thus far their partiality the universe, as well as in France. was not only innocent, but praiseworthy. It is as So far this absurd scene was the extravagance of natural for a man to desire the liberty from which a mere madman, and if the assembly had sent he is unjustly excluded, as it is for those who are Anacharsis to Bedlam, and his train to Bicetre, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. it would have ended as such a farce ought to have subjects, and the governments (f which cllhanged done. But the president, in the natme of the their character from monarchical to popular, like assembly, Monsieur de Menou (tile same, we the Great Nation. believe, who afterwards turned Turk when in The princes at the head of despotic governments Egypt), applauded the zeal of the orator, and re- were, of course, most interested in putting an end, ceived the homage of his grotesque attendants as if if it were possible, to the present Revolution of they had been what they pretended, the deputies France, and extinguishing a flame which appeared of the four quarters of the globe. To raise the jest so threatening to its neighbours. Yet there was a to the highest, Alexander Lameth proposed,-as long hesitation ere anything to this purpose was the feelings of these august pilgrims must neces- attempted. Austria, whom the matter concerned sarily be hurt to see, in the land of freedom, those as so near an ally of France, was slow ere she made kneeling figures representing conquered nations, any decisive step towards hostility. The Emperor which surround the statue of Louis XIV.,-that, Joseph was too much embroiled by the dissensions from respect to this body of charlatans, these figures which he had provoked in the Netherlands to inshould be forthwith demolished. This was done volve himself in war with France. His successor, accordingly, and the destruction of these symbols Leopold, had been always reckoned to belong to was regarded asa testimonyof the assistance which the philosophical party. Ile put down, without France was ready to render such states as should much trouble, the insurrection which had nearly require it, for following in the revolutionary course. cost his brother the dominion of Flanders, and as The scene, laughable in itself, became serious when he used the victory with moderation, it seemed units import was considered, and went far to per- likely that the tranquillity of his government should suade the governments of the neighbouring countries, again he disturbed. Still, it would have been hathat the purpose of France was to revolutionize zardous to expose the allegiance of the subjects, so Europe, and spread the reign of liberty and equa- newly restored to order, to the temptations which lity over all the civilized nations of the globe. must have opened to the Flemings by engaging in Hopes so flattering as these, which should assign to a war with France, and Leopold, far from seeking the commons not merely freedom, from unjust re- for a ground of quarrel with the favourers of the straints and disqualifications (and that granted with Revolution, entered into friendly relations with the reserve, and only in proportion as they became qua- government which they established; and, with lified to use it with advantage), but their hour of anxiety, doubtless, for the safety of his brother-incommand and sovereignty, with the privilege of law, and an earnest desire to see the government of retaliation on those who had so long kept them ill France placed on something like a steady fhoting, bondage, were sure to find a general good reception the emperor continued in amicable terms with the among all to whom they were addressed, in what- existing rulers of that country down till his death. soever country; while, on the contrary, the fears of Francis, his successor, for some time seemed to existing governments for the propagation of doc- adopt the same pacific policy. trines so seductive in themselves, and which France Prussia, justly proud of her noble army, her veseemed apparently prepared to support with armls, teran commanders, and the bequest of military fame were excited in an equal proportion. left her by the Great Frederick, was more eager It is true that the National Assembly had formally than Austria to adopt what began to be called the declared that France renounced the unphilosophical cause of kings and nobles, though the sovereign of practices of extending her limits by conquest, but the latter kingdom was so nearly connected withl although this disavowal spoke to the ear, it was the unfortunate Louis. Frederick WVilliam had contradicted by the annexation of those desirable been taught to despise revolutionary movements by possessions, tile ancient city of Avignon, and the his cheap victory over the Dutch democracy, while district called the Comtat Venaissin, to the kingdom the resistance of the Low Countries had induced the of France; while the principle on which the an- Austrians to dread such explosions. nexation was determined on seemed equally appli- Russia declared herself hostile to the French cable in all similar cases. Revolution, but hazarded no effective step against A dispute had broken out betwixt the aristocrats them. The King of Sweden, animated by the adanrd democrats in the town and province in ques- venturous character which made Gustavus, and tion; blood had flowed; a part of the population after him Charles, sally forth from their friozen realms had demanded to become citizens of regenerated to influence the fates of Europe, showed the strongFrance. Would it be worthy of the protectress of est disposition to play the same part, though the liberty, said the advocates for the annexation, to limited state of his resources rendererd his valour repel fiom her bosom supplicants, who panted to almost nugatory. share the freedom they had achieved? And so Thus, while so many increasing discontents aind Avignon and the Comtat Venaissin were declared suspicions showbed that a decision by arms became lawful prize, and reunited to France (so went the every day more inevitable, Europe seemed still phrase), as Napoleon afterwards reunited the broken reluctant to commence the fatal encounter, as if the fiagments of the empire of Charlemagne. The world had anticipated the long durationof the dreadprescient eye of Burke easily detected, in these ful struggle, and the millions of lives which it must petty and surreptitious acquisitions, the gigantic cost to bring it to a termination. plan by which France afterwards encircled herself There can be no doubt that the emigration of the by dependent states, which, while termed allies French princes, followed by a great part of the nobles and auxiliaries, were in fact her most devoted of France, a step ill-judged in itself, as removing 164 ~LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. beyond the frontiers of the country all those most King of Prussia announced the interest which they devotedly interested in the preservation of the mo- took in the actual condition of the King of France; narchv, had the utmost effect in precipitating the and intimated that, supposing the other nations impending hostilities. The presence of so many appealed to should entertain feelings of the same noble exiles, the respect and sympathy which their kind, they would, conjoined with those other powers, misfortunes excited in those of the same rank, the use the most efficacious mefans to place Louis in a exaggerated accounts which they gave of their own situation to establish in his dominions, on the basis consequence, above all the fear that the revolution- of the most perfect liberty, a monarchical governary spirit should extend beyond the limits of France, mient, suitable to the rights of the sovereign, and the and work the same effects in other nations, produced welfare of the people. through the whole aristocracy of Germany a general This implied threat, which was to be conditionally desire to restore them to their country and to their carried into effect in case other powers not named rights by the iforce of arms, and to extinguish by should entertain the same sentinlents with the two main force a spirit which seemed destined to wage sovereigns by whom it was issued, was well calcuvar against all established governments, and to lated to irritate, but far too vague to intimidate such abolish the privileges which they recognized in their a nation as France. It showed the desire to wound, higher classes. but showed it accompanied by the fear to strike; The state of the expatriated French clergy, driven and, instead of inspiring respect, only awakened from their home, and deprived of their means of indignation mingled with contempt. subsistence, because they refused an oath imposed The emigrants were generally represented among contrary to their ecclesiastical vows, and to their the people of France as men who, to recover their conscience, added religious zeal to the general in- own vain privileges, were willing to lead a host of terest excited by the spectacle, yet new to Europe, foreigners into the bosom of their country; and lest of thousands of nobility and clergy c.mpelled to some sympathy with their situation, as men sufferforsake their country, and take refuge among aliens. ing for the cause to which'they had devoted themSeveral petty princes of the empire made a show selves, and stimulated by anxiety frl the fate of of levying forces, and complained of a breach of their imprisoned king, should have moderated the public faith, from the forfeiture of rights which indi- severity of this judgment, forgery was employed to vidual princes of the Germanic body possessed in render their communication with the foreign moAlsace and Lorraine, and which, though sanctioned narchs still more odious and unpopular. by the treaty of WYestphalia, the National Assembly The secret articles of a pretended treaty were had not deemed worthy of exception from their referred to, by which it was alleged that Monsieur sweeping abolition of feudal tenures. The emi- and the Count d'Artois had agreed to a dismembergrants formed themselves into armed corps at Tryves ment of France; Lorraine and Alsace being to be and elsewhere, in which the noblest youths in restored to Austria, in consequence of her entering France carried arms as privates, and which, if their into the counter-revolutionary league. The date of number and resources had been in any proportion this supposed treaty was first placed at Pavia, and to their zeal and courage, were qualified to bear a afterwards transferred to Pilnitz; but althlough it distinguished part in deciding the destinies of the was at one time assumed as a real document in the nation. Thus united, they gave way but too much British House of Commons, it is now generally to the natural feelings of their rank and country, allowed to have had no existence.* In the meanmenaced the land fiotom which they had emigrated, while, as a calumny well adapted to the prejudices and boasted aloud that it needed but one thrust of the time, the belief in such a secret compact be(botte) of' an Austrian general, to parry and pay came generally current, and excited the utmost inhome all the decrees of the National Assembly. dignation against the selfish invaders, and against This'ill-timed anticipation of success was founded the exiles, who were supposed willing to dismember in a great measure on the disorganization of the their native country, rather than submnit to a change French army, which had been begun by the decay in its constitution adverse to their owvn selfish inof discipline during the progress of the Revolltion, terests. and was supposed to be rendered complete by the A great deal of this new load of unpopularity was emigration of' sutch numbers of officers as had joined transferred to tile account of the umnfortunate Louis, the princes and their standards. It was yet to be who was supposed to instigate and support in prilealrned how soon such situations can be filled up, vate the attempts of his brotherls for engaging foreign from the zeal and talent always found among the courts in his favour, while the queen, firom her relower classes, when critical circumstances offer a lationship to the Emperor of Austria, was univerreward to ambitioll. sally represented as a flury, urging him to revenge Yet, while confident of success, the position of her loss of power on the rebellions people of France. the emigrants wvas far fiorn being flattering0. Not- An Austrian committee was talked of as managing withstanding their most zealous exertions, the princes the correspondence between these royal persons on found their interest with foreign courts unable to the one part, and the foreign courts and emigrant bring either kings or ministers nillingly or hastily princes on the other. This was totally groundless; to tihe point wlich they desired. The nearest ap- but it is probable and natural that some intercourse proach was by the declaration of Pilnitz,? in which, with much diplomnatical caution, the Emperor and * See two-articles on the pretended treaties of Pavia and Pilnitz, in the Anti.jacobin newspaper. They were, we 27th August, 1791. believe, written by the late Mr Pitt. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 65,was maintained between Louis and his brothers, as, and property, but timorous, even from the very conthough their warlike schemes suited the king's sciousness of their wealth, and unwilling, either for temper too little, he might wish to derive advantage the sake of La Fayette, or the constitution which he from the dread which it was vainly supposed their patronized, to expose themselves to be denounced preparations would inspire. The royal pair were by furious demagogues, or pillaged by the hordes of indeed in a situation so disastrous, that they -might robbers and assassins whom they had at their dishave been excused for soliciting rescue by almost posal. This is the natural progress in revolutions. any means. But, in fact, Louis and Leopold seem While order continues, property has always the to have agreed in the same system of temporising superior influence over those who may be desirous politics. Their correspondence, as far as can be of infringing the public peace; but when law and judged from the letters of De Lessart, Louis's trust- order are in a great measure destroyed, the wealthy ed minister for foreign affairs, seems always to point are too much disposed to seek, in submission, or to a middle course; that of suffering the constitu- change of party, the means of securing themselves tion of France to remain such as it had been chosen and their fortunes. The property which, in ordiby the people, and sanctioned by the National As- nary times, renders its owners bold, becomes, in seimbly, while the ministers attempted, by the in- those of imminent danger, the cause of their selfish fluence of fear of dangers from abroad, to prevent cowardice. La Fayette tried, however, one deciany filture assaults upon the power of the crown, sive experiment, to ascertain what share remained and especially against the king's person. On condi- of his once predominant influence over the Parisians. tion that such further aggression should be abstained He stood an election for the mayoralty of Paris from, the emperor seems to have been willing to against Petion, a person attached to the brissotin, or prohibit the mustering of the emigrant forces in his republican faction, and the latter was preferred. doninions. But Leopold demanded that, on their part, Unsuccessful in this attempt, La Fayette became the French nation should release themselves from desirou of foreign war. A soldier, and an approved the clubs ofjacobins and cordeliers (another assem- one, he hoped his fortune would not desert him, and bly of the same nature), which, pretending to be no that at the head of armies which he trusted to render more than private associations, without public cha- victorious over the public enemy, he might have a racter or responsibility, nevertheless dictated to the better chance of being listened to by those factions National Assembly, the king, and all France, in who began to hold in disrespect the red flag, and the virtue of the powver of exciting the insurrectional decaying efforts of the National Guard of Paris; and movements, by which their denunciations and pro- thus gaining the power of once more enforcing subposed revolutions had been as regularly seconded, mission to the constitution, which he had so large a as the flash is followed by the thunderbolt. share in creating. Unquestionably also, La Fayette On the death of Leopold, and the succession of remembered the ardour of the French for national his brother Francis to the imperial throne, the dis- glory, and welcomed the thoughts of shifting the position of Austria became much more turned scene to combat against a public and avowed enetowards war. It became the object of Francis to my, from his obscure and unsatisfactory struggle overcome the revolutionists, and prevent, if possible, with the clubs of Paris. La Fayette, therefore, the impending fate of the royal t:mily. In adopting desired war, and was followed in his opinion by these warlike counsels, the mind of the new em- most of the constitutional party. peror was much influenced by the desire of Prussia The girondists were not less eager for a declarato take the field. Indeed the condition of the royal tion of hostilities. Either the king must, in that family, which became every day more precarious, case, place his veto upon the measure, or he must seemed to both powers to indicate and authorize denounce hostilities against his brother-in-law and hostile measures, and they were at no pains to con- his brothers, subjecting himself to all the suspicions ceal their sentiments. It is not probable that peace of bad faith which such a measure inferred. If the would have remained long unbroken, unless some arms of the nation were victorious, the risk of a rechange of an unexpected and unhoped-for character, volution in favour of royalty by insurrections wMithin, in favour of royalty, had taken place in France; but or invasions from without the kingdonl, was ended after all the menaces which had been made by the at once and for ever. And if the foreigners obtained foreign powers, it was France herself who, to the advantages, it would be easy to turn the unpoptlasurprise of all Europe, first resorted to arms. The rity of the defeat upon the monarch, and upon the ostensible reason was, that, in declaring war, she constitutionalists, who had insisted, and did still inonly anticipated, as became a brave and generous sist, on retaining him as the ostensible head of the.nation, the comnme.ncement of hostilities which Aus- executive government. tria had menaced. But each party in the state had The jacobins, those whose uniform object it was its own private views for concurring in a measure, to keep the impulse of forcible and revolutionary which, at the time, seemed of a very audacious cha- measures in constant action, seemed to be divided racter. among themselves on the great question of war or La Fayette now felt his influence in the National peace. Robespierre himself struggled, in the club, Guard of Paris was greatly on the wane. With against the declaration of hostilities, probably bethe democrats he was regarded as a denounced and cause he wished the brissotins to take all the respondevoted man, for having employed the armed force sibility of that hazardous measure, secure beforeto disperse the people in the Champ de Mars, upon the hand to share the advantage which it might afford 17th of July, 1791. Those who countenanced him those republicans against the king and constituon that occasion were Parisian citizens of substance tionalists. He took care that Louis should profit VOL. F1. 9 L 66 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. nothing by the manner in which he pleaded the which they were in the habit of objecting against cause of justice and humanity. He affected to pro- the catholic church, resolved to render the breach phesy disasters to the ill-provided and ill-disciplined irreparable. armies of France, and cast the blame beforehand They had, they thought, the opportunity of strikon the known treachery of the king and the royalists, ing a death's blow at the religion of the state, and the arbitrary designs of La Fayette and the consti- they remembered that the watchword applied by tutionalists, and the doubtful patriotism of Brissot the encyclopedists to christianity, had been Ecrasez and Condorcet. His arguments retarded, though'infame. The proposed decree bore, that such they could not stop, the declaration of war which priests as refused the constitutional oath should forprobably they were not intended seriously to pre- feit the pension allowed them for subsistence, when vent; and the most violent and sanguinary of men the state seized upon the estates of the clergy; that obtained a temporary character for love of humanity, they should be put into a state of surveillance, in by adding hypocrisy to his other vices. The ja- the several departments where they resided, and cobins in general, notwithstanding Robespierre's banished from France the instant they excited any remonstrances, moved by the same motives which religious dissensions. operated with the brissotins, declared ultimately in A prince, fwith the genuine principles of philosofavour of hostilities. phy, would have rejected this law as unjust and The resolution for war, therefore, predominated intolerant; but Louis had stronger motives to inter. in the assembly, and two preparatory measures pose his constitutional veto, as a catholic christian, served, as it were, to sound the intentions of the whose conscience would not permit him to assent to king on the subject, and to ascertain how far he was the persecution of the faithful servants of his church. disposed to adhere to the constitutional government He refused his assent to this decree also. which he had accepted, against those who, in his In attempting to shelter the emigrants and the name, seemed prepared by force of arms to restore recusant churchmen, the king only rendered himself the old system of monarchy. Two decrees were the more immediate object of the popular resentpassed against the emigrants in the assembly.* The ment. His compassion for the former was probably first was directed against the king's brother, and mingled with a secret wish, that the success of their summoned Xavier Stanislas, Prince of France, to arms might relieve him from his present restraint; at return into France in two months, upon pain of for- any rate, it was a motive easily imputed and difficult feiting his right to the regency. The king consented to be disproved. He was, therefore, represented to to this decree-he could not, indeed, dissent from it his people as in close union with the bands of exiled with consistency, being, as he had consented to be, Frenchmen, who menaced the frontiers of the kingthe holder of the crown under a constitution, against dom, and were about to accompany the foreign armies which his exiled brother had publicly declared war. on their march to the metropolis. The royal rejecThe second decree denounced death agaiist all tion of the decree against the orthodox clergy was emigrants who should be found assembled in arms imputed to Louis's superstition, and his desire of reon the 1st of January next. The right of a nation to building an ancient Gothic hierarchy unworthy of punish with extreme pains those of its native sub- an enlightened age. In short, that was now made jects who bear arms against her has never been manifest, which few wise men had ever doubted, disputed. But although on great changes of the namely, that so soon as the king should avail himstate, the vanquished party, when essaying a second self of his constitutional right, in resistance to the struggle, stand in the relation of rebels against the popular will, lie was sure to incur the risk of losing existing government, yet there is generally wisdom, both his crown and life. as well as humanity, iL delaying to assert this right Meantime this danger was accelerated by the in its rigour, until such a period shall have elapsed, consequences of a dissension in the royal cabinet. as shall at once have established the new govern- It will scarce be believed, that situations in the ment in a confirmed state of possession, and given ministry of France, so precarious in its tenure, so those attached to the old one time to forget their dangerous in its possession, so enfeebled in its habits and predilections in-its favour. authority, should have been even at this time the Under this defence, Louis ventured to use the object of ambition; and that to possess such mosole constitutional weapon with which he was in- mentary and doubtful eminence, men, and wise trusted. He refused his consent to the decree. men too, employed all the usual arts of intriSensible of the unpopularity attending this rejection, gue and circumvention, by which rival statesthe king endeavoured to qualify it, by issuing a men, under settled governments and in peaceful severe proclamation against the emigrants, counter- times, endeavour to undermine and supplant each manding their proceedings;-which was only con- other. We have heard of criminals in the Scottish sidered as an act of dissimulation and hypocrisy. Highlands, who asserted with obstinacy the dignity The decree last proposed jarred necessarily on the of their clans, when the only test of pre-eminence heartand sensibility of Louis-the next affected his was the priority of execution. We have read, too, religious scruples. The National Assembly had of the fatal raft, where shipwrecked men in the produced a schism in the church, by imposing on midst of the Atlantic contended together with mortal the clergy a constitutional oath, inconsistent with strife for equally useless preferences. But neither their religious vows. The philosophers in the pre- case is equal in extravagance to the conduct of those sent Legislative Body, with all the intolerance rivals, who struggled for power in the cabinet of Louis XVI. in 1792, when, take what party they * 9th November, 1791. would, the jealousy of the assembly, and the far LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 67 more fatal proscription of the jacobins, was sure to been early enough sent to Avignon, the dissensions be the reward of their labours. So, however, it would not have taken place; and he charged upon was, and the fact serves to show, that a day of the unhappy De Lessart, that he had not instantly power is more valuable in the eyes of ambition transmitted the official intelligence. Now the than a life-time of ease and safety. decree of reunion was, as the orator knew, delayed De Lessart, the minister of fobleign affairs already on account of the king's scruples to accede to what mnentioned, had wished to avoid war, and had fed seemed an invasion of the territory of the church; Leopold and hiis ministers with hopes, that the king and, at any rate, it could no more have prevented'would be able to establish a constitutional power the massacre of Avignon, which was conducted by superior to that of the dreadful jacobins. The that same Jourdan, called Coupe-t6te, the Bearded Count de Narbonne, on'the other side, being mi- Man of the march to Versailles, than tile subsequent nister of war, was desirous to forward the views massacre of Paris, perpetrated by similar agents. of La Fayette, who, as we have said, longed to be The orator well knew this; yet, with eloquence as at the head of the army. To obtain his rival's dis- false as his logic, he summoned the ghosts of the grace, Narbonne combined with La Fayette and murdered from the glaciere, in which their mangled other generals to make public the opposition which remains had been piled, to bear witness against the De Lessart and a majority of the cabinet ministers minister, to whose culpable neglect they owed their had opposed to the declaration of hostilities. Louis, untimely fate. All the while he was imploring for justly incensed at an appeal to the public from the justice on the head of a man, who was undeniably interior of his own cabinet, displaced Narbonne. ignorant and innocent of the crime, Vergniaud and The legislative body immediately fell on De Les- his friends secretly meditated extending the mantle sart. lie was called to stand on his defence, and of safety over the actual perpetrators of the masimprudently laid before the assembly his correspond- sacre, by a decree of amnesty; so that the whole ence with Kaunitz, the Austrian minister. In their charge against De Lessart can only he termed a communications De Lessart and Kaunitz had spoken mixture of hypocrisy and cruelty. In the course of with respect of the constitution, and with modera- the same discussion, Gonchon, an orator of the tion even of their most obnoxious measures; but suburb of St-Antoine, in which lay the strength they had reprobated the violence of the jacobins of the jacobin interest, had already pronounced senand cordeliers, and stigmatized the usurpations of tence in the cause, at the very bar of the assembly those clubs over the constitutional authorities of the which was engaged in trying it. " Royalty may be state, whom they openly insulted and controled. struck out of the constitution," said the demagogue, These moderate sentiments formed the real source but the unity of the legislative body defies the touch of De Lessart's fall. Ile was attacked on all sides of time. Courtiers, ministers, kings, and their civil -by the' party of Narbonne and his friends from lists, may pass away; but the sovereignty of the rivalry-by Brissot and his followers from policy, people, and the pikes which enforce it, are perand in order to remove a minister too much of a petual." royalist for their purpose-by the jacobins, from This was touching the root of the matter. De hatred and revenge. Yet when Brissot conde- Lessart was a royalist, though a timid and cautious scended upon the following evidence of his guilt, one, and he was to be punished as an example to argument and testimony against him must have such ministers as should dare to attach themselves indeed been scarce. De Lessart, with the view of to their sovereign and his personal interest. A representing the present affairs of France under the decree of accusation was passed against him, and most softened point of view to the emperor, had he was sent to Orleans to be tried before the high assured him that the constitution of 1791 was firmly court there. Other royalists of distinction were adhered to by a majority of the nation. "E Hear committed to the same prison, and, in the fatal the atrocious calumniator I" said the accuser. "The month of September, 1792, were involved in the inference is plain. He dares to insinuate the exist- same dreadful fate. ence of a minority, which is not attached to the P6tion, the Mayor of Paris, appeared next day at constitution."+ Another accusation, which in like the bar, at the head of the municipality, to congramanner was adopted as valid by the acclamation of: tulate the assembly on a great act of.justice, which the assembly, was formed thus. A most horrible he declared resembled one of those thulnder-storms massacre had taken place during the tumults which by which nature purifies the atmosphere from noxious attended the union of Avignon with the kingdom of vapours. The ministry was dissolved by this severe France. Vergniaud, the friend and colleague of blow on one of the wisest, at least one of the most Brissot, alleged, that if the decree of union had moderate, of its members. Narbonne, and the constitutional party who had espoused his cause, * This strange argument reminds us of an essay read were soon made sensible that he or they were to before a literary society in dispraise of the east wind, which their ingain nothing by tie impeachment, to which their intihe author supported by quotations from every poem or trigues led the way. Their claims to share the spoils popular work, in which Eurus is the subject of invective. The learned auditors sustained the first part of this infliction with becoming fortitude, but declined submitting to contempt and the king was compelled, in order to the second, understanding that the accomplished author have the least chance of obtaining a hearing from had there 1rtifled himself by the numerous testimonies of the assembly, to select his ministers from the brisalmost all poets in favour of the west, and which, with sotin, or girondist faction, who, though averse to logic similar to that of Monsieur Brissot in the text, he re- the existence of a monarchy, and desiring a regarded as indirect testimony against the east wind. public instead, had still somewhat more of principle 68 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. and morals than the mere revolutionists and jaco- against the late ministers in the asselmbly-Resigns, and bins, who were altogether destitute of both. departs for thefrontiers-New ministers namedfrom the With the fall of De Lessart, all chance of peace constitutionalists.-Intsurrection of the 20th of June — Armed mob intrude into the assembly — Thence into the vanished- as indeed it had been gradually disappear- Tsuileries —Assembly send a deputation to the palace — ing' before that event. The demands ofthe Austrian court Bwent now, when fully explained, so far back And the mob disperse.-La Fayette repairs to Pariscourt wen now, e'n flly explainedso far back Remonstrates i:,favour of the king —But is compelled to upon the Revolution, that a peace negotiated upon onstrates in favour of the king-But is compelled to upon the Revoltion, that a peace negotiated upon return to the frontiers, and leave him to his fJate.- M.larsuch terms must have laid France and all its various seillais appear in Paris.-Duke of Brunswick's maniparties (with the exception, perhaps, of a few of festo-Jls operation against the kisyg. the first assembly) at the foot of the sovereign, and, what might be more dangerous, at the mercy of the IT is not our purpose here to enter into any detail restored emigrants. The emperor demanded the es- of military events. It is sufficient to say, that the tablishment of monarchy in France, on the basis of first results of the war were more disastrous than the royal declaration of 23d June, 1789, which could have been expected, even from the want of had been generally rejected by the tiers 6tat when discipline and state of mutiny in which this call to offered to them by the king. He farther demanded arms found the troops of France.. If Austria, never the restoration of the effects of the church, and that quick at improving an opportunity, had possessed the German princes having rights in Alsace and more forces on the Flemish frontier, or had even Lorraine should be replaced in those rights, agree- pressed her success with the troops she had, events ably to the treaty of Westphalia. might have occurred to influence, if not to alter, the The Legislative Assembly received these extra- fortunes of France and her king. They were inacvagant terms as an insult on the national dignity; tive, however, and La Fayette, who was at the and the king, whatever might be his sentiments as head of the army, exerted himself, not without an individual, could not, on this occasion, dispense effect, to rally the spirits of the French, and infuse with the duty his office as constitutional monarch discipline and confidence into their ranks. But he imposed on him.-Louis, therefore, had the melan. was able to secure no success of so marked a chacholy task of proposing* to an assembly, filled with racter as to correspond with the reputation he had the enemies of his throne and person, a declaration acquired in America; so that as the Austrians were of war against his brother-in-law the emperor, in few in number, and not very decisive in their his capacity of King' of Hungary and Bohemia, in- movements, the war seemed to languish on both volving, as matter of course, a'civil war with his sides. own two brothers, who had taken the field at the In Paris, the absence of La Fayette had removed head of that part of his subjects from birth and prin- the main stay from the constitutional interest, vi hich ciple the most enthusiastically devoted to their sove- were now nearly reduced to that state of nullity to reign's person, and who, if they had faults towards which they had themselves reduced the party, first France, had committed them in love to hinl. of pure royalists, and then that of the snod6ris, or The proposal was speedily agreed to by the as- friends of limited monarchy, in the first assembly. sembly; for the constitutionalists saw their best re- The wealthier classes, indeed, continued a fruitless maining chance for power was by obtaining victory attachment to the constitutionalists, which gradually on the frontiers,-the girondists had need of war, diminished with their decreased power to protect as what must necessarily lead the way to an altera- their friends. At length this became so contempttion in the constitution, and the laying aside the ible, that their enemies were emboldened to venture regal government,-and the jacobins, whose chief, upon an insult, which showed how little they were Robespierre, had just objected enough to give disposed to keep measures Niith a feeble adversary. him the character and credit of a prophet if any Among other plans, by which they hoped to counreverses were sustained, resisted the war no longer, terpoise the omnipotence of the Jacobin Club, the but remained armed and watchfll, to secure the ad- constitutionalists had established a counter associavantage of events as they might occur. tion, termed, from its place of meeting, Les Feuillans. In this club,-which included about CHAPTER VIII. two hundred members of the Legislative Body, the ephemeral rival of the great jacohinical forge in Defeats of the French on thefrontier.-Decay of the party which the revolutionists had their strength and faof constitiutionalists-They fore, the club of feuillanls, bricated their thunders,-there was more eloquence, and are dispersedby thejacobinsforcebly.-Themninistr.y argument, learning, and wit, than was necessary; — Dumourier- Versatility of his character.-Breach of but the feuillans wanted the terrible power of excitconfidence betwixt the king and his ministers.-Dissolu- ing the popular passions, which the orators of the lion of the king's constitutional guard.-Extravagant Jacobin Club possessed and wielded at pleasure. measures of the jacobins-Alarms of the girondists.- These opposed factions might be compared to two Departmental army proposed-King puts his veto on swords, of which one had a gilded and ornamented the decree, against Dumourier's representations.-Decree against the recusant priests-King refuses it.-Let- hslt, bet a blade formed of glass or other brittle ter of the ministers to the king-He dismisses Roand, substance, while the brazen handle of the other corClavidre, and Servan-Dumourier, Duranton, and La- responded in strength and coarseness to the steel of coste, appointed in their stead.-King ratifies the decree the weapon itself. When two such weapons come and. it w.A so with the opposite clubs. The jaco2Muh April, 17i92. bins, after many preparatory insults, went dowvh LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 69 upon and assailed their adversaries with open force, to make her way to the mimsterial dinners.* His insulting and dispersing them with blows and vio- colleagues were of the same character, and affected lence; while P6tion, the mayor of Paris, who was in their intercourse with the king a stoical contempt present on the occasion, consoled the fugitives, by of the forms of the court, although, in effect, these assuring them that the law indeed protected them, are like other courtesies of society, which it costs but the people having pronounced against them, it little to observe, and is brutal to neglect.t Besides was not for him to enforce the behests of the law in petty insults of this sort, there was a total want of opposition to the will of that people, from whom confidence on both sides, in the intercourse betwixt the law originated. A goodly medicine for their them and the king. If the ministers were desirous aching bones! to penetrate his sentiments on any particular subject, The constitutional party, amidst their general Louis evaded them by turning the discourse on mathumiliation, had lost almost all influence in the mi- ters of vague and general import; and did he, on aistry, and could onily communicate with the king the other hand, press them to adopt any particular underhand, and in a secret manner,-as if they had measure, they were cold and reserved, and excused been in fisct his friends and partisans, not the causes themselves under the shelter of their personal reof', or willing consenters to, his present imprisoned sponsibility. Indeed, how was it possible that confiand disabled condition. Of six ministers, by whom deunce could exist betwixt the king and his republiLDe Lessart and his comrades had been replaced, can ministers, when the principal object of the latter the husband of Madarme Roland, and two others, was to procure the abolition of the regal dignity, Servan and Clavi6re, were zealous republicans; and when the former was completely aware that I)urantou and Lacoste were moderate in their poli- such was their purpose? tics, but timlorous in character; the sixth, Dunmou- The first step adopted by the factions of girondists tier, who held the war department, was the personal and jacobins, who moved towards the same object rival of La Fayette, both in civil and military mat- side by side, though not hand in hand, was to ters, and the enemy, therefore, of the constitutional deprive the king of a guard, assigned him by the party. It is now, for the first time, that we mention constitution, in lieu of his disbanded Gardes die one of those names renowned in military history, Corps. It was, indeed, of doubtful loyalty, being which had the address to attract Victory to the partly levied from soldiers of the line, partly front French banners, to which she long appeared to the citizens, and imbued in many cases with the readhere without shadow of changing. Dumourier volutionary spirit of the day; but they were officered passed early from the scene, but left his name by persons selected for their attachment to the king, strongly written in the annals of France. and even their name of guards expressed and inI)ulnourier was little in person, but full of vivacity spired an esprit de corps, which mlight be formidand talent; a brave soldier, having distinguished him- able. Various causes of suspicion were alleged selfl' in the civil dissensions of Poland; an able and against this guard-that they kept in their barracks skilful intriguer, and well fitted to play a conspi- a white flag (which proved to be the ornament of a cuiouls part in times of public confusion. He has cake presented to them by the dauphin)-that their never been supposed to possess any great firmness sword-hilts were formed into the fashion of a cock, of princille, whether public or private; but a soldi- which announced somne anti-revolutionary enigmael's honour, and a soldier's frankness, together with that attempts were made to alienate them from the the habits of good society, led him to contemn and assembly, and fix their affections on the king. Thbe hate the sordid treachery, cruelty, and cynicism of guard contained several spies, who had taken that the jacobins; while his wit and common sense en- service for the purpose of betraying its secrets to the abled himn to see through and deride the affected jacobins. Three or four of these men, produced at -tld ledantic fanaticism of republican zeal of the the bar, affirmed mnuch that was, and much that was girondlists, who, he plainly saw, were amusing them- not true; and amid the causes they had for distrulsting selvses witll schemes to which the country of France, the king, and their reasons for desiring to weaken the age, and the state of manners, were absolutely him, the assembly decreed the reduction of the conopposed. Thus, he held the situation of minister at stitutional guard. The king was with difficulty war, coquletting with all parties; wearing one even- persuaded not to oppose his veto, and was thus left inlg in the Jacobin Club the red night-cap, which was almost totally undefended to the next blast of the the badge of breechless freedom, and the next, with revolutionary tempest. better sincerity, advising the king how he might Every successive proceeding of the factions tended,avoid the approaching evils; though the by-roads he to show more strongly, that the storm awas speedily poinlted out were often too indirect to be trodden by to arise. The invention of the jacobins exhausted the good and honest prince, to whom Providence hakd, in Dumourier, assigned a counsellor better So says De Ferrihres, and pretends that Madame Rofitted to a less scrupulous sovereign. The king land's pretensions tobe presented at the ministerial parties ne\vertheless reposed considerable confidence in the being rejected, was the first breach to the amicable undergenerlal, which, if not answered with all the devotion standing of the ministers. But nothing of this sort is to be of loyalty, lwas at least never betrayed. found in Madame Roland's Memoirs, and we are confident The..repus mi.n.ist ers were scarce qualifd she would have recorded it, had the fact been accurate. nhe republican ministers were scarce qualified When olnd, whose dress W somewhat like at of by.heir talents, to.ssume the air of areopagites t When Roland, whose dress wa3 somewhat like that of by their talents, to assurre the air of areopagites, a quaker, appeared at court in shoe-strings, the usher apor Roman tribunes. Roland by hinlself, wras biut a proached him with a severe look, and addressed hiln, "fHow, tiresomie pedant, and he could not bring his Kwife to sir, no buckles!"-" Ah,' said Dumourier, who laughed at the cabinet council, although it is said she attempted all and at everything, " all is lost." 70 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. itself in proposing and adopting revolutionary mea- The citizens of Paris were disposed to consider sures so extravagant, that very shame prevented this concourse of undisciplined troops under the the girondists from becoming parties to them. Such walls of the city as dangerous to its safety, and an was the carrying the atrocious cut-throat Jourdan in insult to the National Guard, hitherto thought adetriumph through the streets of Avignon, where he quate to the defence of the metropolis. They petihad piled eighty carcases into a glaciere in the tioned the assembly against the measure, and even course of one night. A less atrocious, but not less invoked the king to reject the decree, vlden it should insolent proceeding, was the feast given in honour pass through that body. of the regiment of Chhateau Vieux, whose mutiny To this course Louis was himself sufficiently inhad been put down at Nancy by Monsieur de Bouill6, lined, for neither he nor any one doubted that the acting under the express decree of the first National real object of the girondists was to bring together Assembly. such an army as would enable them to declare their In a word, understanding much better than the beloved republic without fear of' La Fayette, even brissotins the taste of the vulgar for what was most if he should find himself able to bring the army violent, gross, and exaggerated, the jacobins pur- which he commanded to his own sentinents on the veyed for them accordingly, filled their ears with subject. the most incredible reports, and gulled their eyes by Dumourier warned Louis against following this the most absurd pageants. course of'direct opposition to the assembly. He The girondists, retaining some taste and some allowed that the ultimate purpose of the proposal principle, were left far behind in the race of vulgar was evident to every thinking person, but still its popularity, where he that throws off every mark of ostensible object being the protection of the country decency bids most fair to gain the prize. They beheld and capital, the king, he said, would, in the eyes of with mortification feats which they could not emu- the vulgar, be regarded as a favonrer of the foreign late, and felt that their own assertions of their at- invasion, if he objected to a measure represented as tachment to freedom, emphatic as they were, seemed essential to the protection of Paris. He undertook, cold and spiritless compared to the extravagant and as minister of war, that as fast as a few hundreds of flaming declamations of the jacobins. They regard- the departmental forces arrived he would have them ed with envy the advantages which their rivals ac- regimented and dismissed to the firontier, where quired by those exaggerated proceedings, and were their assistance was more necessary than at home. startled to find how far they were like to be out- Biut all his remonstrances on this subject were in stripped by those uncompromising and unhesitating vain. Louis resolved at all risks to place his veto demagogues. The girondists became sensible that on the measure. He probably relied on the feelings a struggle approached, in which, notwithstanding of the National Guard, of which one or two divitheir strength in the assembly, they must be van- sions were much attached to him, while the (lispoquished, unless they could raise up some body of sitions of the whole had been certainly ameliorated, forces, entirely dependent on themselves, to be op- from their fear of fresh confiusion by means of these posed in time of need to the jacobin insurgents. new levies. Perhaps also the king could not brinSg This was indeed essentially necessary to their per- himself at once to trust the versatile disposition of sonal safety, and to the stability of their power. If Dumourier, whose fidelity, however, we see no reathey looked to the National Guard, they found such son for suspecting. of that body as were no longer attached to La Another renewed point of discussion and di.Fayette, wearied of revolutions, unmoved by the agreement betwixt tile king and his ministers reprospect of a republic, and only desirous to protect spected the recusant clergy. A decree was pas.ed their shops and property. Ifthey turned their eyes in the assembly, that such priests as might be conto the lower orders, and especially the suburbs, the victed of a refusal to subscribe the oath to the civil myriads of pikemen which they could pour forth constitution should be liable to deportation.'IThis were all devoted to the jacobins, from whom their was a point of conscience with Louis, and vwas proleaders received orders and regular pay. bably brought forward in order to hasten him into a The scheme of a departmental army was resorted resignation of the crown. He stood firm accordingly, to by the girondists as the least startling, yet most and determined to oppose his veto to this decree certain mode of bringing together a military force also, in spite at once of all the arguments which the sufficient to support the schemes of the new adminis- worldly prudence of Dumourier could object, and of tration. Five men were to be furnished by every the urgency of the republican ministers. canton in France, which would produce a body of The firm refusal of the king disconcerted the mea20,000 troops, to be armed and trained under the sures of the girondist counsellors. Madame Roland walls of Paris. This force was to serve as a central undertook to make the too scrupulous monarch see army to reinforce the soldiers on the frontier, and the errors of his ways; and composed, in nanme of maintain order in the capital, as occasion should her husband and two of his colleagues, a long letter, demand. The measure, proposed by the girondists, to which Dumourier and the other two refhised to Nwas unexpectedly fulrthered by the jacobins, who place their namnes. It was written in what the plainly sawv, that through the means of their affiliated citoyenne termed an austere tone of truth-that is societies, which existed in every canton, they would to say, withlout any of the usual marks of deference be able to dictate the choice of so large a part of and respect, and with a harshness calculated to jar the departmental army, that, when assenlbled, it all the feelings, affectionate or religious, of him should add to the power of their insurrectionary whom they still called king. Alas! the severest and bands at Paris, instead ofcountroling them. most offensive truths, however late in reaching the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 71 ears of powerful and prosperous monarchs, make signation was again tendered and accepted, not themselves sternly loud to those princes who are- without marks of sensibility on the king's part and captive and unfriended. Louis might have replied his own; and having thus saved a part of his credit to this rude expostulation like the knight who re- with the assembly, who respected his talents, and ceived a blow from an enemy when he was dis- desired to use them against the invaders, he dearmed and a prisoner —" There is little bravery in parted from Paris to the frontiers, to lead the van this now." The king, however, gave way to his among the French victors. resentment as far as he could. He dismissed Roland Louis was now left to the pitiless storm of revoand the other two ministers, and with difficulty pre- lution, without the assistance of any one who cohuld vailed on Dumourier, Duranton, and Lacoste, to in the least assist him in piloting through the temretain their situations, and endeavour to supply the pest. The few courtiers-or, much better namedplace of those whom he had deprived of office; but the few ancient and attached friends, who remained he was obliged to purchase their adherence by rati- around his person, possessed neither talents nor fying the decree concerning the federal or depart- influence to aid him; they could but lament his mismental army of twenty thousand men, on condition fortunes and share his ruin. He himself expressed that they should rendezvous at Soissons, not at Paris. a deep conviction, that his death was near at hand, On the decree against the priests his resolution con- yet the apprehension neither altered his firmness tinued unmoved and immovable. Thus Religion, upon points to which he esteemed his conscience which had for half a century been so slightly re- was party, nor changed the general quiet placidity garded in France, at length interposed her influence of his temper. A negotiation to resign his crown in deciding the fate of the king and the kingdom. was, perhaps, the only mode which remained, affordThe three discarded ministers affected to con- ing even a chance to avert his fate; but the days of gratulate each other on being released from scenes deposed monarchs are seldom long, and no pledge so uncongenial to their republican virtues and senti- could have assured Louis that any terms which the ments, as the ante-chambers of a court, where men girondists might grant, would have been ratified were forced to wear buckles instead of shoe-strings, by their sterner and uncompromising rivals of the or undergo the firowns of ushers and masters of' ce- jacobin party. These men had been long determined remrnonies, and where patriotic tongues were com- to make his body the step to their iniquitous power. pelled to practise court-language, and to address a They affected to feel for the cause of the people, being of the same flesh and blood as their own, with with the zeal' which goes to slaying. They had the titles of sire, and your majesty. The unhappy heaped upon the crown, and its unhappy wearer, pedants were not long in learning that there are all the guilt and all the misfortunes of the revoconstraints worse to undergo than the etiquette of a lution; it was incumbent on them to show that they court, and sterner despots to be found in the ranks were serious in their charge, by rendering Louis a of a republic, than the good-humoured and lenient sin-offering for the nation. On the whole, it was the Louis. As soon as dismissed, they posted to the more kingly part not to degrade himself by his own assembly, to claim the applause due to suffering voluntary act, but to await the period which was to virtue, and exhibit their letter to those for whose close at once his life and his reign. He named his ears it was really written-the sympathising demo- last ministry from the dispirited remnants of the concrats and the tribunes. stitutional party, which still made a feeble and unThey were accordingly, as victims of their demo- supported struggle against the girondists and jacratic zeal, received with acclamation; but the tri- cobins in the assembly. They did not long enjoy utllp of' those who bestowed it was unexpectedly their precarious office. qualified and diminished. Dumourier, who spoke The factions last named were now united in the fluently, and had collected proofs for such a moment, purpose of precipitating the king from his throne by overwhelmed the assembly by a charge of total actual and direct force. The voice of the girondists neglect and incapacity, against Roland and his two Vergniaud had already proclaimed in the assembly. colleagues. He spoke of unrecruited armies, un- "Terror," he said, "must, in the name of' the garrisoned forts, unprovided commissariats, in a tone people, burst its way into yonder palace, whence which compelled the assembly to receive his denun- she has so often sallied forth at the command of ciations against his late associates in the ministry. monarchs." But although his unpleasant and threatening com- Though the insurrection was resolved upon, and munications made a momentary impression on the thus openly announced, each faction was jealous of assembly, almost in spite of themselves, the wily the force which the other was to employ, alnd apand variable orator saw that he could only maintain prehensive of the use which might be made of it his ground as minister, by procuring, if possible, the against themselves, after the conquest was obtained. assent of the king to the decree against the recusant But, however suspicious of each other, they were clergy. He made a final attempt, along with his still more desirous of their common object, the deephemeral colleagues; stated his conviction, that the struction of the throne, and the erection of a rerefusal of the king, if persisted in, would be the public, which the brissotins supposed they could cause of insurrection; and, finally, tendered his re- hold under their rule, and which the jacobins were signation, in case their urgent advic.e should be determined to retain under their misrule. An inneglected. "Thlink not to terrify me by threats," surrection was at length arranged, which had all replied Louis. "My resolution is fixed." Du- the character of that which brought the king a mourier was not a man to perish under the ruins of prisoner from Versailles, the jacobins being the the throne which he could not preserve. His re- prime movers of their desperate followers, and the 172 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. actors on both occasions; while the girondists, on the their foul and frightful visitants, have been aptly 20th June, 1792, hoped, like the constitutionalists compared to a hand of wretched comedians, enon the 6th October, 1789, to gain the advantage of deavotring to mitigate the resentment of a brutal the enterprise which their own force would have and incensed audience.* been unable to accomplish. The community, or From the hall of the assembly, the populace magistracy, of Paris, which was entirely under rushed to'the Tuileries. Preparations had been the dominion of Robespierre, Danton, and the made for defence, and several bodies of troops were jacobins, had been long providing for such an enter- judiciously placed, who, with the advantages affordprise, and under pretext that they were arming the ed by the grates and walls, might have defended lower classes against invasion, had distributed pikes their posts against the armed rabble which apand other weapons to the rabble, who were to be proached. But there was neither union, loyalty, used on this occasion. nor energy, in those to whom the defence was inOn the 20th June, the sans-culottes of the sub- trusted, nor did the king, by placing himself at their urbs of St-Marceau and St-Antoine assembled head, attempt to give animation to their courage. together, armed with pikes, scythes, hay-forks, The National Guards drew off at the command and weapons of every description, whether those of the two municipal officers, decked with their actually forged for the destruction of mankind, or scarfs of office, who charged them not to oppose the those which, invented for peacefiul purposes, are will of the people. The grates were dashed to readily converted by popular fury into offensive pieces with sledge-hammers. The gatesof the paarms. They seemed, notwithstanding their great lace itself were shut, but the rabble, turning a numbers, to act under authority, and amid their cannon upon them, compelled entrance, and those cries, their songs, their dances, and the wild inter- apartments of royal magnificence, so long the pride mixture of grotesque and fearful revel, appeared to of France, were laid open to the multitude, like move by command, and to act with an unanimity those of Troy to her invaders;that gave the effect of order to that which was in itself' confusion. They were divided into bodies, Apparet domusintus, et atria longa patesculit, Apparent Priami et veterum penetlralia regum. t and had their leaders. Standards also were displayed, carefully selected to express the character The august palace of the proud house of Bourbon and purpose of the wretches who were assembled lay thus exposed to the rude gaze, and vulgar tread, under them. One ensign was a pair of tattered of a brutal and ferocious rabble. Who dared have br-eeches, with the motto, " Vivent les sans-cu- prophesied such an event to the royal founders of lottes." Another ensign-bearer, dressed in black, this stately pile, to the chivalrous Henry of' Nacarried on a long pole a hog's haslet, that is, part varre, or the magnificent Louis XIV.!-The door of of the entrails of that animal, still bloody, with the the apartment entering into the vestibule was opened legend, "'La fressure d'un aristocrate." This by the hands of Louis himself, the ill-fated repreformidable assemblage was speedily recruited by sentative of this lofty line. He escaped with diffithe mob of Paris, to an immense multitude, whose culty the thrust of a bayonet, made as the door was language, gestures, and appearance, all combined in the act of expanding. There were around him to announce some violent catastrophe. The terrified citizens, afraid of general pillage, * It may be alleged in excuse, that the assembly had no concentrated themselves,-not to defend the king or resource but submission, Yet, brave ien in similar cirplotect the Legislative Assembly, but for the pre- cumstances have, by a timely exertion of spirit, averted similar insolencies. When the furious anti-catholic mob servation of tile Palais Royal, where the splendourious ati-atolic mob.of the Pas lais Royal r the spldio was in possession of the avenues to, and even the lobbies of the shops was most likely to attract the cupidity of, the Hse of Commons, in 75, Geneal Cosmo Gdn, of, the House of Commons, in 1780, General Cosmo Gordon, the sans-culottes. A strong force of armed citizens a member of the house, went up to the unfortunate nobleguarded all the avenues to this temple of Mammon, man under whose guidance they were supposed to ant, and and, by excluding the insulgents from its precincts, addressed him thus: "' My lord, is it your purpose to bring showed what they could have done for the Hall of your rascally adherents into the House of Commons?-for if the Legislature, or the palace of the monarch, had so, I apprise you, that the instant one of them enters, I tihe cause of either found favour in their eyes. pass my sword, not through his body, but your lordship's.? The insurrection rolled on to tile hall of the The hint was sufficient, and the mob was directed to another assembly, surrounded the alarmed deputies, and quarter. Undoubtedly there were, in the French Legislafilled with armed men every avenue of approach; tive Assembly, men capable of conjuring down the stormn talked of a petition which they meant to present, they had raised, and who might have been moved to do so, talked,of a petition bltoh the. hall to display had any man of courage made them directly and personally and demanded to file through the hall to displayresponsible for the consequenes the force by which it was supported. The terrified responsible for the consequencesi t Dryden has expanded these magnificent lines, without members had nothing better to reply, than by a re- expressing entirely either their literal meaning or their quest that the insurgents should only enter the spirit. But he has added, as usual, beautiful ideas of his assembly by a representative deputation-at least own, equally applicable to the scene described in the text: that, coming in a body, they should leave their arms A mighty breach is made; the rooms conceald behind. The formidable petitioners laughed at both Appear, and all the palace is reveal'd; proposals, and poured through the hall, shaking in The balls of audience, and of public state, triumph their insurrectionary weapons. The as- And where the lovely queen in secret sate; sembly, meanwhile, made rather an ignoble figure; Arm'd soldiers now by trembling maids are seen, and their attempts to preserve an outward appear- With not a door, and scarce a space between. ance of indifference, and even of cordiality towardBs,neid, Book In. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. a handful of courtiers, and a few of the grenadiers tion. The " poor and virtuous people," as Robesof the National Guard, belonging to the section of pierre used to call them, with an affected unction of Filles St-Thomas, which had been always distin- pronunciation, retired for once with their pikes guished for fidelity. They hurried and almost forced unbloodied, not a little marveling why they had the king into the embrasure of a window, erected a been called together for such a harmless purpose. sort of barricade in front with tables, and stood be- That a mine so formidable should have exploded side him as his defenders. The crowd, at their first without effect, gave some momentary advantages to entrance, leveled their pikes at Madame Elisabeth, the party at whose safety it was aimed. Men of whom they mistook for the queen. "Why did worth exclaimed against the infamy of such a grayou undeceive them?" said the heroic princess to tuitous insult to the crown, while it was still called those around her —" It might have saved the life of a constitutional authority. Men of substance dreaded my sister." Even the insurgents were affected by the recurrence of such acts of revolutionary violence, this trait of heroism. They had encountered none and the commencement of riots, which were likely of' those obstacles which chafe such minds, and to end in pillage. Petitions were presented to the make them thirsty of blood, and it would seem that assembly, covered with the names of thousands, their leaders had not received decided orders, or, praying that the leaders of the insurgents should be having received them, did not think the time served brought to punishment; while the king demanded, for their execution. The insurgents defiled through in a tone which seemed to appeal to France and to the apartments, and passed the king, now joined by Europe, some satisfaction for his insulted dignity, the queen with her children. The former, though the violation of his palace, and the danger of his in the utmost personal danger, would not be sepa- person. But La Fayette, at the head of an army rated from her husband, exclaiming, that her post whose affections he was supposed to possess, was was by his side; the latter were weeping with terror the most formidable intercessor. He had two or at a scene so horrible. three days before transmitted to the assembly a The people seemed moved, or rather their pur- letter, or rather a remonstrance, in which, speaking pose was deprived of that energetic unanimity in the name of the army, as well as his own, he which had hitherto carried them so far. Some expressed the highest dissatisfaction with the recent shouted against the veto-some against the uncon- events at Paris, complaining of the various acts of stitutional priests, some more modestly called out violation of the constitution, and the personal disfor lowering the price of bread and butcher-meat. respect offered to the king. This letter of itself had One of them flung a red cap to the king, who quietly been accounted an enormous offence, both by the drew it upon his head; another offered him a bottle, jacobins and the girondists; but the tumult of the and commanded him to drink to the nation. No 20th of June roused the general to bolder acts of glass could be had, and he was obliged to drink out intercession. of the bottle. These incidents are grotesque'and On the 28th of the same month of June, all parties degrading, but they are redeemed by one of much heard with as much interest as anxiety, that General dignity. "Fear nothing, sire," said one of the faith- La Fayette was in Paris. He came, indeed, only ful grenadiers of the National Guard who defended with a part of his staff. Had he brought with him him. The king took his hand, and pressing it to his a moderate body of troops upon whom lie could have heart, replied, "Judge yourself if I fear." absolutely depended, his presence so supported, in Various leaders of the republicans were present addition to his influence in Paris, would have settled at this extraordinary scene, in the apartments, or in the point at issue. But the general might hesitate the garden, and expressed themselves according to to diminish the French army then in front of the their various sentiments. "' What a figure they have enemy, and by doing so to take on himself the remade of hims with the red night-cap and the bottle!" sponsibility of what might happen in his absence; or, said Manuel, the procureur of the commune of as it appeared from subsequent events, he may not Paris.-" What a magnificent spectacle!" said the have dared to repose the necessary confidence in any artist David, looking out upon the tumiultuary sea of corps of his arnly, so completely had they been pikes, agitated by fifty thousand hands, as they rose imbued with the revolutionary spirit. Still his arand sunk, welked and waved;-" Tremble, tremble, rival, thus slightly attended, indicated a confidence tyrants!"-'" They are in a fair train," said the fierce in his own resources, which was calculated to strike Gorsas; "we shall soon see their pikes garnished the opposite party with anxious apprehension. with several heads." The crowds who thrust He appeared at the bar of the assembly, and forward into the palace and the presence were addressed the members in a sti'ain of decision pressed together till the heat increased almost to which had not been lately heard on the part of suffocation, nor did there appear any end to the con- those who pleaded the royal cause in that place. fasion. He denounced the authors of the violence committed Late and slow, the Legislative Assembly did at on the 20th of June, declared that several corps of length send a deputation of twenty five members to his army lad addressed him, and that he came to the palace. Their arrival put an end to the tumult; express their horror as well as his own at the rapid for I'6tion, the AMayor of Paris, and tile other autho- progress of faction; and to demand that such mearities, who had hitherto been well nigh passive, now sores should be taken as to insure the defenders of exerted themselves to clear away the armed po- France, that while they were shedding their blood pulace from the palace and gardens, and were so on the fiontiers, the constitution, for which they readily obeyed, that it was evident that similar combated, should not be destroyed by traitors in efforts would have entirely prevented the insurrec- the interior. This speech, delivered by a man of voL. vT. 10 74 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. great courage and redoubted influence, had coansi- ness may afford to those who use similar means for derable effect. The girondists, indeed, proposed to carrying events to.still farther extremities. The inquire, whether La Fayette had permission from march fiom Versailles, 6th October, 1789, in whick the minister of war to leave the command of his La Fayette to a certain degree co-operated, arid of army; and sneeringly affirmed, that the Austrians which he reaped all the immediate advantage, had must needs have retreated from the frontier, since been the means of placing Louis in that precarious the general of the French army had returned to situation from which he was now so generously Paris: but a considerable majority preferred the anxious to free him. It was no less La Fayette's motion of the constitutionalist Ramond, who, eulo- own act, by means of his personal aide-de-camp, gising La Fayette as the eldest son of Liberty, pro- to bring back the person of the king to Paris firom posed an inquiry into the causes and object of Varennes; whereas he was now recommending, and those factious proceedings of which be had com- offering to further his escape, by precisely such plained measures as his interference had then thwarted. Thus happily commenced La Fayette's daring Notwithstanding the low state of the royal party, enterprise; but those by whom he expected to be one constituted authority, amongst so many, had the supported did not rally around him. To disperse courage to act offensively on the weaker and the inthe Jacobin Club was probably his object, but no jured side. The Directory of the Department (or sufficient force gathered about him to encourage the province) of Paris, declared against the mayor, imattempt. He ordered for the next day a general pated to him the blame of the scandalous excesses review of the National Guards, in hopes, doubtless, of the 20th of June, and suspended him and M'lanuel, that they would have recognized the voice which the procureur of the commlunity of Paris, from their they had obeyed with such unanimity of submission; offices. This judgment was affirmed by the kiun. but this civic force was by no means in the state in But, under the protection of the giroudists and jacowhich- he had left them at his departure. The se- bins, P6tion appealed to the assembly, where the veral corps of grenadiers, which were chiefly drawn demon of discord seemed now let loose, as the adfrom the more opulent classes, had been, under vantage was contended for by at least three parties, pretence of the general principle of equality, melted avowedly distinct from each other, together with down and united with those composed of men of an innumerable subdivisions of opinion. And yet, in inferior description, and who had a more decided the midst of such complicated and divided interests, revolutionary tendency. Many officers, devoted to such various and furious passions, two individuals, La Fayette and the constitution, had been super- a lady and a bishop, undertook to restore general seded; and the service was, by studied contumely concord, and, singular to tell, they had a momentary and ill usage, rendered disgusting to those who success. Olympia de Gouges was an alrdent lover avxowed the same sentiments, or displayed any re- of liberty, but she united with this passion an intense maining attachment to the sovereign. By such feeling of devotion, and a turn like that entertained means 1P6tion, the Mayor of Paris, had now autho- by our friends the quakers, and other sects who afrity enough with the civic army to prevent the fect a transcendental love of the human kind, and review from taking place. A few grenadiers of interpret the doctrines of christian morality in the different sections did indeed muster, but their most strict and literal sense. This person had sent number was so small that they dispersed in haste abroad several publications, recommending to all and alarm. citizens of France, and the deputies especially of The girondists and jacobins, closely united at this the assembly, to throw aside personal views, and crisis, began to take heart, yet dared not on their form a brotherly and general union with heart and part venture to arrest the general. Meantime La hand, in the service of the public. Fayette saw no other means of saving the king than The same healing overture, as it would have been to propose his anew attempting an escape from called in the civil dissensions of England, was Paris, which he offered to further by every means brought before the assembly,* and recommended in his power. The plan was discussed, but dis- by the constitutional Bishop of Lyons, the Abb6 missed in consequence of the queen's prejudices Lamourette. This good-natured orator affected to against La Fayette, whom, not unnaturally (though see, in the divisions which rent the assembly to as far as regarded intention certainly unjustly), she pieces, only the result of an unfortunate error —a regarded as the original author of the king's mis- mutual misunderstanding of each other's meaning. fortunes. After two days' lingering in Paris, La " You," he said to the republican members, "are Fayette found it necessary to retuln to the army afraid of an undue attachment to aristocracy; you which he commanded, and leave the king to his dread the introduction of the English system of two fate. chambers into the constitution. You of the right La Fayette's conduct on this occasion may al- hand, on the contrary, misconstrue your peaceful ways be opposed to any aspersions thrown on his and ill-understood brethren, so far as to suppose character at the commlencement of the Revolution; them capable of renouncing monarchy, as established for, unquestionably, in June, 1792, he exposed his bythe constitution. What then remains to extinown life to tile most imminent danger in order to guish these fatal divisions, but fobr each party to protect that of the king, and the existence of royalty. disown the designs falsely imputed to them, and for Yet he mntust himself have felt a lesson, which his the assembly united to swear anew their devotion fate may teach to others; how perilous, namely, it to the constitution, as it has been bequeathed to us is, to set the example of violent ahd revolutionary by th - Constituent Assembly!" courses, and what dangerous precedents such rash- 91th July. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 75 This speech, wonderfnl as it may seem, had the staunch and exalted revolutionists should be sent effect of magic; the deputies of every faction, royal- on this service. These men, or the greater part of ist, constitutionalist, girondist, jacobin, and orleanist, them, chose to visit Paris, rather than to pass rushed into each other's arms, and mixed tears with straight to their rendezvous at Soissons. As they the solemn oaths by which they renounced the inno- believed themselves the armed representatives of vations supposed to be imputed to them. The king the country, they behaved with all the insolence was sent for to enjoy this spectacle of concord, so which the consciousness of bearing arms gives to strangely and so unexpectedly renewed. But the those who are unaccustomed to discipline. They feeling, though strong,-and it might be with many walked in large bodies in the Garden of the Tuileoverpowering for the moment,-was but like oil spilt ries, and when any persons of the royal family apon the raging sea, or rather like a shot fired across peared, they insulted the ladies with ohscene lanthe waves of a torrent, which, though it counteracts guage and indecent songs, the men with the most them by its momentary impulse, cannot for a second hideous threats. The girondists resolved to fiame alter their course. The factions, like Le Sage's de- a force, which might be called their own, out of mons, detested each other the more for having been such formidable materials. compelled to embrace, and froin the name and Barbaroux, one of the most enthusiastic admirers country of the benevolent bishop, the scene was of the Revolution, a youth like the Seid of Voltaire's loug called, in ridicule, le Baiser dAntourette, and tragedy, filled with the most devoted enthusiasm la Reconciliation Normande. for a cause of which he never suspected the truth, The next public ceremony showed how little party offered to bring up a battalion of federates firom his spirit had been abated by this singular scene. The native city of Marseilles, men, as he describes king's acceptance of the constitution was repeated them, who knew how to die, and who, as it proved, in the Champ de Mars before the federates, or de- understood at least as well how to kill. In raking up puties sent up to represent the various departments the disgusting history of mean and bloody-minded of France; and the figure made by the king during demagogues, it is impossible not to dwell on tile that pageant formed a striking and melancholy pa- contrast afforded by the generous and self-devoted rallel with his actual condition in the state. With character of Barbaroux, who, young, handsome, hair powdered and dressed, with clothes embroid- generous, noble-minded, and disinterested, sacliered in the ancient court-fashion, surrounded and ficed his family-happiness, his fortune, and finally crowded unceremoniously by men of the lowest his life, to an enthusiastic though mistaken zeal for rank, and in the most wretched garbs, he seemed the liberty of his country. He had become finom the something belonging to a former age, but which in commencement of the Revolution one of its greatest the present has lost its fashion and value. He was champions at Marseilles, where it had been forconducted to the Champ de Mars under a strong warded and opposed by all the fervour of faction, guard, and by a circuitous route, to avoid the insults influenced by the southern sun. He had admired of the multitude, who dedicated their applauses to the extravagant writings of Marat and Robesthe girondist Mayor of Paris, exclaiming "' Potion or pierre; but when he camle to know them personally, death!" When he ascended the altar to go through he was disgusted with their low sentiments and sathe ceremonial of the day, all were struck with the vage dispositions, and went to worship Freedom resemblance, to a victim led to sacrifice, and the amongst the girondists, where her shrine was served queen so much so, that she exclaimed and nearly by the fair and accomplished Citoyenne Roland. ftinted. A few children alone called, Vive le roi! Tile Marseillais, besides the advantage of' this This was the last time' Louis was seen in public until enthusiastic leader, marched to the air of the finest he mounted the scaffold. hymn to which liberty or the Revolution had yet given The departure of La Fayette renewed the courage birth. They appeared in Paris, where it had been of the girondists, and they proposed a decree of agreed, between the jacobiis and the girondists, imnpeachment against him in the assembly; but the that the strangers should be welcomed by the fiaspirit which the g'eneral's presence had awakened ternity of the suburbs, and whatever other force the was not yet extinguished, and his fiiends in the factions could command. Thus united, they were assembly undertook his defence with a degree of to march to secure the municipality, occupy the unexpected courage, which alarmed their antago- bridges and principal posts of the city with detached nists. Nor could their fears be termed groundless. parties, while the main body should proceed to fornm'The constitutional general might march his army an encampment in the Garden of the Tuileries, upon Paris, or he might make some accomnmoda- where the conspirators had no doubt they should tion with the foreign invaders, and receive assist- find themselves sufficiently powerful to exact the alnce fromn them to accomplish such a purpose. It king's resignation, or declare his forfeiture. seemed to the girondists, that no time was to be This plan failed through the cowardice ofSanterre, lost. They determined not to trust to the jacobins, the chief leader of the insurgents of the suburbs, t) wlxoe want of resolution they seem to have as- who had engaged to meet the Marseillais with forty cribed the failure of the insurrection on the 20th of thousand men. Very few of the promised auxiliaries Jto.:.. They resolved upon occasion of the next ef- appeared; but the undismayed Marseillais, though fort, to employ some part of that departmental force, only about five hundred in numlber, marched through which was now approaching Paris in straggling the city to the terror of the inhabitants, their keev bodies, under the name of federates. The affiliated black eyes seeming to seek out aristocratic victims. clubs had faithfillly obeyed the mandates of the parent and their songs partaking of the wild Moorish cha. society of the jacobins, by procuring that the most racter that lingers in the south of France, d LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. nouncing vengeance on kings, priests, and nobles. which might overthrow the one country, without In the Tuileries the federates fixed a quarrel on almost a struggle, would scarce prove sufficient to some grenadiers of the National Guard, who were wrest from such a nation as France even the most attached to the constitution, and, giving instant way petty of her frontier fortresses. It cannot be doubted, to their habitual impetuosity, attacked, defeated, that this haughty and insolent language on the part and dispersed them. In the riot, d'Epr6menil, who of the invaders irritated the personal feelings of had headed the opposition to the will of the king in every true Frenchman, and determined them to the parliament, which led the way to the convocation most obstinate resistance against invaders, who of estates, and who had been once the idol of the were confident enough to treat them as a conquered people, but now had become the object of their people, even before a skirmish had been fought. hate, was cut down and about to be massacred. The imprudence of the allied general recoiled on the "'Assist me," he called out to P6tion, who had unfortunate Louis, on whose account he used this corne to the scene of confusion,-" I am d'Epr6menil menacing languages Men began to consider his — once, as you are now, the minion of the people's cause as identified with that of the invaders, of love," P6tion, not unmoved, it is to be supposed, course as standing in diametrical opposition to that at the terms of the appeal, hastened to rescue him. of the country; and these opinions spread generally Not long afterwards both suffered by the guillotine, among the citizens of Paris. To animate the citiwhich was the bloody conclusion of so many po- zens to their defence, the assembly declared that pular favourites. The riot was complained of by the country was in danger; and in order that the the constitutional party, but, as usual, it was explain- annunciation might be more impressive, cannon ed by a declaration on the part of ready witnesses, were hourly discharged from the HoItel des Invalides that the forty civic soldiers had insulted and attack- -bands of' military music traversed the streetsed the five hundred.Marseillais, and therefore brought bodies of men were drawn together hastily, as if the the disaster upon themselves. enemy were at the gates-and all the hurried and Meanwhile, though their hands were strengthened hasty movements of the constituted authorities by this band of unscrupulous and devoted imple- seemed to announce, that the invaders were within ments of their purpose, the girondists failed totally a day's malrch of Paris. in their attempt against La Fayette in the assembly, These distracting and alarming movements, with the decree of accusation against him being rejected the sentiments of fear and anxiety which they were by a victorious majority. They were therefore in- qualified to inspire, aggravated the unpopularity of duced to resort to measures of direct violence, Louis, in whose cause his brothers and his allies which unquestionably they would willingly have were now threatening the metropolis of France. abstained from, since they could not attempt them From these concurring circumstances the public without giving a perilous superiority to the jacobin voice was indeed so strongly against the cause of faction. Tle manifesto of the Duke of Brunswick, monarchy, that the girondists ventured by their and his arrival on the French frontier at the head organ, Vergniaud, to accuse the king, in the assem*of a powerful Prussian army, acted upon the other bly, of holding intelligence with the enemy, or at motives for insurrection, as a high pressure upon a least of omitting sufficient defensive preparations, steam-engine, producing explosion. and proposed in express terms that they should proIt was the misfortune of Louis, as we have often ceed to declare his forfeiture. The orator, however, noticed, to be as frequently injured by the false did not press this motion, willing, doubtless, that measures of his friends as by the machinations of the power of carrying through and enforcing such a his enemies; and this proclamation, issued by a decree should be completely ascertained, which monarch who had taken arms in the king's cause, could only be after a mortal struggle with the last was couched in langagee intolerable to the feelings- defenders of the crown; but when a motion like this even of such Frenchmen as might still retain towards could be made and secon'ded, it showed plainly how their king some sentiments of loyalty. All towns little respect was preserved for the king in the asor villages which should offer the slightest resistance sembly at large. For this struggle all parties were to the allies, were in this ill-timed manifesto menaced arranging their forces, and it became every hour with fire and sword. Paris was declared respon- more evident, that the capital was speedily to be sible for tile safety of Louis, and the most violent the scene of some dreadful event. threats of the total subversion of that great metropolis were denounced as the penalty. The Duke of Brunswick was undoubtedly induced CHAPTER IX. to assumne this tone, by the ease which he had experienced in putting down the revolution in Holland; The day of the IOth of Augurst —Tocsit sounded early in but the cases;vere by no means parallel. Holland the mornil,g.-Svwiss Guardsd, antid relics of the royal was a country much divided in political opinions, party, repair to the Tuileries. —Aandat assassinated.and there was existing among the constituted au- Dejection of Louis, ased energy of the queen.-Kinrg's thorities a strong party in favour of the stadtholder. rs appear at the bar asthe assembly, statPig the France, on tihe contrary, excepting only tile emi- peril of the royal family, and requesting a deputation rancets ho ere in the duke's own army, was might be sent to the palace-Assembly pass to the order of the day —Louis ad his family repair to tMe assembly united, like the Jews of old, against foreign invasion, -Conjict at tie Tuile'ries.-Swiss ordered to repair t thorugh divided into many bitter factions within the king's person —and are many of thenm shot asrd dlisitself. Above all, the comparative strength of persed on their mvay to the assembly —At the close Qf the France and Holland was so different, that a force day almost all of them are massacred.-Royal fatmily LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. - 77 spend the night in the neighbouring Convent of the arming these volunteers, nor any supply of aminunaFeLrielZaLns. tion, save what tile Swiss and national grenadiers had in their pouches. The appearance also of this THE king had, since the insurrection of the 20th little troop tended to inspire di.smay rather than of June, which displayed how much he was at the confidtence. The chivalrous cry of" Entrance for mercy of his enemies, renounced almost all thoughts the noblesse of' France," was tile signal for their of safety or escape. Henry IV. would have called filing into the presence of the royal fatmily. Alas! for his arms-Louis XVI. demanded his confessor. instead of the thousand nobles whose swords used to "I have no longer anything to do with earth," he gleam around their monarch at such a crisis, there said; "I must turn all my thoughts on Heaven." entered but veteran officers of rank, whose strength, Some vain efforts were made to bribe the leaders of though not their spirit, was consumed by years-, the jacobins, who took the money, and pursued, as mixed with boys scarce beyond the age of children, might have been expected, their own course with and with men of civil professions, several of whom, equal rigour. The motion for the declaration of the Lamoignon Malesherbes fobr example, had now for king's forfeiture still lingered in the Convention, its the first time worn a sword. Their arms were as fate depending upon the coning crisis. At length mliscellaneous as their appearance. Rapiers, hangers, the fatal 10th of August approached, being the day and pistols, were the weapons with which they were which, after repeated adjournments, had been fixed to encounter bands well provided with musketry by the girondists and their rivals for the final rising. and artillery. Their courage, however, was unabated. The king was apprised of their intention, and had It was in vain that the queen conjured, almost with hastily recalled from their barracks at Courbevoie tears, men aged fourscore and upwards, to retire about a thousand Swiss Guards, upon whose fidelity from a contest.where their strength could avail so he could depend. The formidable discipline and little. The veterans felt that the fatal hour was steady demeanour of these gallant mountaineers come, and, unable to fight, claimed the privilege of might have recalled the description given by histo- dying in the discharge of their duty. rians, of the entrance of their predecessors into The behaviour of Marie Antoinette was magnaniParis under similar circumstances, the day before mous in the highest degree. "Her majestic air,'" the affair of the Barricades, in the reign of Henry II.* says Peltier, "her Austrian lip, and aquiline nose, But the present moment was too anxious to admit of' gave her an air of dignity, which can only be conreflections upon past history. ceived by those who beheld her in that trying hour." Early on the morning of the 10th of August, the Could she have inspired the king with some portion tocsin rung out its alarm peal over the terrified city of of her active spirit, he mighlt even at that extreme Paris, and announced that the long-menaced insur- hour have wrested the victory fiorn the revolutionists; rection was at length on foot. In many parishes the but the misfortunes which he could endure like a constitutional party resisted those who camne to sound saint, lie could not face and combat like a hero; and this awful signal; but the well-prepared jacobins his scruples about shedding human blood well nigh were found everywhere victorious, and the prolonged unmanned him. mournful sound was soon tolled out from every The distant shouts of the enemy were already steeple in the nmetropolis. heard, while the Gardens of the Tuileries were To this melancholy music the contending parties filled by the successive legions of tilhe National arranged their iorces for attack and defence, upon a Guard, with their cannon. Of this civic force, some, day which was doomed to be decisive. and especially the artillerymen, were as ill-disposed T'he Swiss Guards got under armls, and repaired towards the king as was possible; others were well to their posts in and around the palace. About four inclined to him; and the greater part remnained doubthundred grenadiers of the loyal section of Filles fill. Mandat, their commander, was entirely in the St-Thomas, joined by several fiom that of Les royal interests. He had disposed the force be Petits Peres, in whom all confidence could justly commanded to the best advantage for discourag. be reposed, were posted in the interior of tile ingthe mutinous, alnd giving confidence to the palace, and associated with tile Swiss for its defence. well-disposed, when he received an order to The relics of the royalist party, undismayed at the repair to the nmunicipality for instructionls. fe went events of the 28th of February in the year preced- thither accordingly, expecting the support of such ing,t had repaired to tihe palace on the first signal constitutionalists as remained in that magistracy, but given by tlhe tocsin. Joined to the domestic attend- he found it entirely in possession of' tile jacobin ants of the royal family, they might amlount to about party. MaRldat was arrested, and ordered a prisoner four hundred persons. Nothing can more strongly to the Abbaye, which he never reached, being pismark the unprepared state of the court, than that toled by an assassin at the gate of the Hoftel de there were neither muskets nor bayonets forsuitably Ville. His death wa.s an infinite loss to the king's Thus imitated by the dramatist Lee, firomil the historian par ty. Davila: A signal advantage had at thle same time been Have you not heard-the king, preventing day, suffered to escape. Potion, the brissotin Mayor Received the guards within thie ity gates; of Paris, was now observed among the National The jolly Swisses marching to their pipes, Guards. The royalists possessed thermselves of his The crowd stood gaping heedless and amazed, person, and brought him to the palace, where it was Shrunk to their shops, and left the passage free. proposed to detain this popular magistrate as an t When they were in similar circumstances maltreated hostage. Upon this, his friends in the assembly hv the National Guard. See p. 54. moved that he should be broughtto the bar, to render 78 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. an account of tile state of the capital; a message St-Marcean, was decidedly unfavourable. Some was dispatched accordingly requiring his attendance, cried, Vive la nation! Some, Down with the tyrant! and Louis had the weakness to permit him to depart. The king did nothing to encourage his own adThe motions of the assailants were far from being herents, or to crush his enemlies, but retired to hol so prompt and lively as upon former occasions, counsel in the palace, around which the storm was;t when no great resistance was anticipated. Santerre, fast gathering. an eminent brewer, who, from his great capital, It might have been expected that the assembly, and his affectation of popular zeal, had raised him- in which the constitutionalists possessed so stroi)g a self to the command of the suburb forces, was majority as to throw out the accusation against La equally iilactive in mind and body, and by no means Fayette by a triumphant vote, might now, in the fitted for the desperate part which he was called hour of dread necessity, haze made some eflort to on to play. gWestermann, a zealous republican, save the crown which that constitution recognize], and a soldier of skill and courage, came to press and the innocent life of the prince by whoml it was Santerre's march, informing him that the Marseillais occupied. But fear had laid strong possession uponl and Breton federates were in arms in the Place du these unworthy and ungenerolus representatives. Carrousel, and expected the advance of the pike- The ministers of the king appeared at the bar, and men from the suburbs of St-Antoine and St-Mar- represented the state of the city and of the palace, qeau. On Santerre's hesitating, Westermann placed conjuring the assembly to send a deputation to prehis sword-point at his throat, and the citizen com- vent bloodshed. This was courageous on the part mandant, yielding to the nearer terror, put his bands of those faithfill servants; for to intimate the least at length in motion. Their numbers were immense. interest in the king's fate, was like the bold swimtmer But the real strength of the assault was to lie on who approaches the whirlpool caused by the sinkthe federates of Marseilles al;d Bretagne, and ing of a gallant vessel. The measure they proposed other provinces, whlo had been carefully provided' had been resorted to on the 20th June preceding, with arms and ammunition. They were also secure and was then successful, even though the deputatinll of the gendarmes, or soldiers of police, although consisted of members the most unfriendly to tl-e these were called out and arranged on the king's king. But now, the assembly passed to the order of side. The Marseillais and Bretons were placed at the day, and thereby left the fate of the king aLind the head of the long columns of the suburb pike- capital to chance, or the result of battle. men, as the edge of an axe is armed with steel, In the meantime, the palace was completely while the back is of coarser metal to give weightto invested. The bridge adjacent to the T'ulleies, the blow. The charge of the attack was committed called Pont Royal, was occupied by the insurgelts, to Westeriann. and the quay on the opposite side of the rivelr %as In the meantime, the defenders of the palace mounted with cannon, of which the assailants had, advised Louis to undertake a review of the troops about fifty pieces, served by thie most determinedt assembled for his defence. His appearance and jacobins; tbr the artillerymen had from the begvinning mein were deeply dejected, and he wore, instead embraced the popular cause with unusual ene:gy. of an uniform, a suit of violet, which is the mourn- At this decisive moment Roederer, the procumeulring colour of sovereigns. His words were broken g6n6ral syndic, the depositary and organ of the la;v, and interrupted, like the accents of a man in despair, who had already commanded the Swiss and rnllied and void of the energy suitable to the occasion. royalists not to mnake any offensive movement, but "I know not," he said, " what they would have to defend themselves when attacked, began to fiom nle-I am willing to die with my faithful think, apparently, that his own safety was conpl-oservmants-Yes, gentlemen, we will at length do mised, by this implied grant of permission to useC our best to resist." It was in vain that the queen arms even int defeince of thle king's person. IHe ielabouredl to inspire her husband with a tone more came uirgent with the kinig to retire floimi thie palace, resolved-in vain that she even snatched a pistol and put himself under the protection of the Nafloro the belt of the Count d'Affray, and thrust it tional Assembly. The queen felt at once all t;,e into the king-s hand, saying, " Now is the moment imilbecility and dishonour of throwing thenlselves a.s to show yourself as you are." Indeed, Barbaroux, sitppliants on the protection of a body, whic hi ad'whose testimony can scarce be doubted, declares not shown even at shados of interest in their s:,ete, his firms opinion, that had the king at this tithe surrounded as they knew lhe royal f:aily to be \xitll niounted his horse, and placed limiiself at the head tile imost inveterate enemlies. Ere she conselnted to of the National Glards, they vould lihae fbllowed such infhary, she said, she would willingly be unailed him, and succeeded in putting down the Revolution. to the walls of the palace. But the counsel which History has its strong parallels, amld one would think promised to avert tile iecessity of blotdslhed onil we are writing of Margaret of Anjoil, enldeavouring either pari, suited wvell with the timorous conscience in vain to inspire determination into her virtuous but and irresoluition of Louis. Other mieasulres wvelre feeble-mlinded liusband. hastily proposed by those who had devoted theinWithin the palace, the disposition of the troops selves to secure his safety. There was, however, seemed excellent, and there, as well as in the courts no real alternative but to fight at the head of his of the Tuileries, the king's aAdress was answered guards, or to submit himself to the pleasure of the with shouts of Vive le roi! But when he sallied assembly, and Louis preferred the latter. out into the garden, his reception from the legions His wife, his sister, and his children, accompanied of the National Guard was at least equivocal, and him on this occasion; and the utmost efforts of an that of the artillerymen, and of a battalion from escort of ithree hundred Swiss and national grelna LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, 79 diers were scarce able to protect them, and a small massacred a patrol of royalists who, unable to get retinue, consisting of the ministers and a few men of into the Tuileries, had attempted to assist the derank, the gleanings of the most brilliant court of fence, by interrupting, or at least watching and disChlristenidonm, who accompanied their mnaster in this covering, the measures adopted by the insurgents. last act of hlumiliation, which was, indeed, equal to These men's heads wvere, as usual, borne on pikes a voluntary descent from his throne. They were, at among their ranks. every lmomlent of their progress, interrupted by the They pushed forward, and it is said the Swiss at deadliest threats and imprecations, and the weapons first offliered demonstrations of truce. But the asof imore than one ruffian were leveled against tbem sailants thronged onward, crowded on the barricade, The queen was robbed even of her watch and purse and when the parties came into such close collision -so near might the worst criminals approach the a struggle ensued, and a shot was fired. It is doubtpersons of the royal fiugitives. Louis showed the ful frorrl what side it came, nor is it of much consegreatest comlposure amidst all these imminent dan- quence, for on such an occasion that body must be gers. He was feeble when called upon to kill, but held the aggressors who approach the pickets of the stlorlg in resolution when the question was only to die. other, armed and prepared tbr assault; and although The king's entrance into the assembly was not the first gun be fired by those whose position is enwithout dignity. "My family and I are come among dangered, it is no less defensive than if discharged you," he said, "to prevent the commission of a great in reply to a fire from the other side. cnrize." Vergniauld, who was president at the timle, This unhappy shot seenms to have dispelled solne at4wered wvith pr'opriety, though ambiguously. He small chance of a reconciliation between the parties. atsllred the king that the assenlbly lknew its duties, Hard firing instantly commenced from the federates inld was ready to perish in support of then. A and Marseillais, whilst the palace blazed forth fire mllelmer of the Mountain observed,with bitter irony, from everylwindow, and killed a great mnany of the that it was impossible for the assembly todeliberate assailants. The Swiss, whose numbers were now frIeely in presence of the monarch, and proposed he only about seven hundred men, determined, notwithsholld retreat'into one of the most remote committee- standing, upon a sally, which, in the beginn1ng, was roomls-a pilace where assassination must have been coimpletely successfil. They drove the insurgents coml)lul' tively easy. The assembly rejected this from tile court-yard, killed many of the Marseillais proplosal, alike insulting and insidious, and assigned and Bretons, took some of their guns, and, turning a hox or, smlall apartnlent, called the logographe's, them along the streets, compelled the assailants to tlsed,or the reporters of the debates, for the place actual flight, so that word was carried to the National of retinge of this unhappy family. This arrangement Assembly that the Swiss were victorious. The was scarce made, ere a iheavy discharge of musketry utmost confusion prevailed there; the deputies -utpand (crinon, announced that the 1king's retreat had braided each other with their share in bringing about not privented the bloodshed he so greatly feared. the insurrection; Brissot showed timidity; alnd It mulst be suppos.ed to have been Louis's inten- several of the deputies, thinking the guards were tioni hat his guards land defenders sllould draw off hastening to massacre them, attempted to escape by fi',ol the palace so soon as he himself had abandoned the windows of the hall. it; f;,r to whlat purpose was it now to be defended, If, indeed, the sally of the Swiss had been slpwlen the royal ftimiily were no longer concerned? ported by a sufficient body of faithfil cavalry, tile andi at wlhat risk, swhen the garrison wvas diminished Revolution might have been that day ended. But by three hiuindied of the best of the troops, selected the gendatmes, the only horsemnen in the field, were -as the royal escort? But no such order of retreat, devoted to the popular cause, and the Swiss, too few or of nont-resistance, h;ad, in fact, been issued to the to secure their advantage, were obliged to return to Swviss ('uards, nrid the military discipline of this the palace, where they were of new invested. finve corps presenlted their retiring fiolm an assigned |Westermann posted his ftrces and artillery with ipost without connmmand. Captain D)uler is said to much intelligence, and continued a fire on the Tuihave asked the AIlarslal de M1ailiv for torders, and to leries tiom all points. It was now returned withl less lave received for answer, " Do not strffer your posts vivacity, for the ammunition of the defenders began to bIe f;rced." " "ou may rely on it," replied tlie to fail. At this moment d'Elerl illv arrived iolnm the ilntreplid Swiss. assembly, with the king's comrmands that tihe Swiss Aleantimte, to give no unnecessary provocation, should cease firing, evacuate the palace, and repair as well as on account of their dimninislled numbers, to thlie king's person. The faithful guards obeyed at the court ill front of the palace was abandoned, and once, not iunderstanding that the object was stubmistihe guards were withdrawn into the building itself, sion, but conceiving they were summoirrned elsewhere, their outerImost sentinels beinag Ilaced at tile bottonm to fight rrnder the king's eye. They had no sooner of tile splendid staircase, to (lefeend a sort of har- collected themselves into a body, and attempoted to ric;ade whllich Iad been erected there ever since the cross the Garden of the Tuileries, than, exposed to'20ti June, to prevent such iutrusions as distinglished a destructive fire on all sides, tile remains of thlat thart day. noble regiment, so faithful to the trlust assigned to it,'lThe inlsurgents, with the Marseillais and Breton diminished at every step; until, charged repeatedly federatles at their heads, poured into the court-yard by the treacherous gendarmes, who ought to have withott o)pposition, planted thieir cannon v here some supported them, they were separated into platoons, smarll building gave them advantage, and wdvanced which continued to defend themselves Awith courage, without hesitation to the outposts of the Swiss.- even till the very last of thein was moverpowered,'l'boy had already tasted blood that day having dispersed, anid destroyed by multitardes. A better Sd LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. defence against such fearful odds scarce remains on end awaited them-the greater part were butchered historical record-a more useless one can hardly be by the rabble, so soon as they saw themn without imagined. arms. The mob soughfit for them the whole night, The rabble, with their leaders, the federates, now arid massacred many porters of private families, hurst into the palace, executing the most barbaroius who, at Paris, are generally termned Swiss, though vengeance on the few defenders who had not made often natives of other countries. their escape; and while sonie massacred the liviing, The royal family were at length permitted to spend others, and especially the unsexed women Avho the night, which, it may be presumied, was sleepwere mirngled in their ranks, committed the most less, in the cells of the neighbouring Convent of the shameful butchery on the corpses of the slain. Feuillans. Almost every species of enormity was perpetrated Thus ended, for the period of twenty years and uhpon that occasion excepting pillage, which the po- upwards, the reign of' the Bourbons over their anpulace \would not perminit, even amid every other cient realm of France. atrocity. There exist in the coarsest minds, nay, while such are engaged in most abominable wicked- CHAPTER X. ness, redeeming traits of character, which show that the image of the Deity is seldom totally and entirely La Fayette compelled to escape fraom France-Is made defaced even in the rudest bosoms. An ordinary prisoner by the Prussians, with three compcanions.-Reworkmian of the suburbs, in a dress which implied ftectiotns.-The triuroviirate, Danton, Robespierre, and abject poverty, made his way into the place where Marat.-Revolittionary tribunal appointed.-Stnpor of the royal famnlily were seated, demanding the king by the Legislative Assemr ly.-Logtuy, Stenray, eal. Vertlun, the name of Montsietur Veto. "So gyou are heire," taken by the Prussiants.-M- ob of Paris enraged.-Great bmeaof'Most erVeto."So u are massacre of prisoners in Paris, commenecing on the 2d, hie said, "beast of' a Veto! There is a purse of and endiig 6th September.-Aathy Js the assembly gold I found in your house yonder. If you had during and after these events —eview of its causes. found mine, you would not have been so honest." There were, doubtless, amongst that dreadftil as- TIrE success of the 10th of August had siflficiently seniblage niany thousands, whose natural honesty established the democratic maxim, that the will of would have made them despise pillage, although the the people, expressed by their insurrections, was misrepresentations by which they were influenced to the supreme laws; the orators of the clubs its interfury easily led them to rebellion and murder. preters; and the pikes of the suburbs its executive Band after band of these fierce men, their faces power. The lives of individuals and their fortunes blackened with powder, their hands and weapons were from that time only to be regarded as leases strea-ming with tllood, came to invoke the vengeance at will, subject to be revoked so soon us an artfiul, of the assembly oil the head of the king and royal envious, or grasping demagogue should be able to f:tmily, and expressed, in the very presence of the turn against the lawful owners the readily-excited victims whoim they claimed, their expectations and suspicions of a giddy multitude, whonm habit and commrlands low they should be dealt with. impunity had rendered ferocious. The systeum esVergniaull, who rather than Brissot, ought to have tablished on these principles, and termed liberty, given nnime to tile gilondists, took the lead in grati- was in fact an absolute despotism, falr worse thatn fying the wishes of these dreadful petitioners. He that of Algiers; because the tyrannic (ley oilly moved, 1st, That a National Convention should be executes his oppression and cruelties wvitlhin a cersunilloneed.. 2d, That tile king should be suspended tain sphere, attectingr a limited number, of I:is subfronl his office. 3d, That tile king should reside at jects who approach near to his throne; while, of the Lutxembourg palace under safeguard of the law, the many thousand leaders of thejacohins of' lFrance, -a worcld which they were not ashamed to use. every one had his peculiar circle i swhicll lie claimed These proposals were unanimously assented to. right, as fill as that of Robespierre or Mlarat, to An allost vain attempt was made to save the avenge former slights or injuries, alid to oratif' his lives of that reiraining detachment of Swviss which own individual appetite for plunder leand blood. had foriecld the king's escort to the assenibly, and All the clepartmnents of France, wvithoult excepto whomi several of the scattered royalists had again tion, paid the most uinreservedl sllblnission to tile united themselves. Their oflicers proposed, as a decrees of the assembly. or rathller to those vwhich last etloit of despair, to mlake themselves imasters the Community of Paris, and tile insurgenits, hadl of the assemblly, and declare the deputies hostages dictated to that legislative sody; so tiht tile hour ftr the king's safety. Considering the smallness of seemed arrived whlien the magistrecy of tParis, sliptheir numblliers, such an attempt could only have ported by a democratic torce, sihould, in the llnme produced adlditional bloodshed, which would have and through thle influence of the asseimbly, impose been ascribed doubtless to the king's treachery. its own laws upon France. The king commanded them to resign their arms, La Fayette in vain endeavoured to animlate his being the last order which he issued to any military soldiers against this new species of despotism. The force. I-le was obeyed; rbut, as they were instantly jacobins had their friiends and representatives ifn the attacked by the insurgents, few escaped slaughter, very trustiest of his battalions. He made arn effort, and submission preserved but a handful. About however, and a bold one. He seized on the persons seven hundred and fifty fell in the defence, and of three deputies, sent to himn as comluissioners by after the storm. of the Tuileries. Some few were the assembly, to compel srubmission to their decrees, savefd by the generous exertions of individual de- and proposed to reserve them as hostages for tne puties-others were sent to prison, where a bloody king's safety. Several of his own general officeis, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 81 the intrepid Desaix anmongst others, seemed willing all signs of existence, thleir brawl soonrecommenced, to support him. Dulnourier, however, the personal and the girondists early discovered, that in the enemrry of' La Fayette, and ambitious of being his allies whom they had called on to assist them in thle successor in the supreme command, recognized the subjugation of royalty, they had already to strive decrees of the assen-bly in the separate army which with men, who, thoulgh inferior to theln in speculahe commuanded. His example drew over Luckner, tive'knowledge, and in the eloquence which was to who also commanded an independent corps d'armne, sway the assenibly, possessed in a much hligher and who at first seemed disposed to join with La degree the practical energies by which revolutions Fayette. are accomplished, were in complete possession of T'hat unfortunate general was at length left unsup- the Comnmunity (or magistracy) of Paris, and mainported by any considerable part even of his own tained despotic autllority over all the bands of the al-rmy; so that with three friends, whose names were metropolis. Three men of terror, vhose names will well known in the Revolution, be was fain to at- long remain, we trust, unmatched in history by tempt an escape from France, and, in crossing a those of' any simlilar miscreants, had now the unripart of the enemy's fiontier, they were made pri- valed leading of the jacobins, and were called the soners by a party of Prussians. triumvirate. Fugitives from their own camp for the sake of Danton deserves to be named first, as unrivaled royalty, they might have expected reitge in that of by his colleagues in talent and audacity. He was the allied kings, who were in arms for the same ob- a man of gigantic size, and possessed a voice of ject; but, with a littleness of' spirit wvhich augured thunder. His countenance was that of an ogre on no good for their cause, the allies determlined that the shoulders of a HIercules. He was as fobnd of these unfortunate gentlemen should be colsigned as the pleasures of vice as of the practice of cruelty; state prisoners to different fortresses. This conduct and it was said there were times when he became on the part of the monarchs, however irritated they humanized amidst his debauchery, laughed at the might be by the recollection of some part of La terror which his firious declamations excited, and Fayette's condulct in the outset of the Revolution, might be approached with safety, like the Maelwas neither to be vindicated by morality, the law strom at the ttLrn of tide. His profusion was inof nations, nor the r-les of sound policy. WVe are dulged to an extent hazardous to his popularity, no approvers of the democratic species of monarclhy for the populace are jealous of a lavish expendiwhich La Fayette endeavoured to establish, and tare, as raising their favourites too much above their cannot but be of opinion, thlat if lie had acted upon own degree; and the charge of l)ecmlation finds his victory in the Champ de Mars, he might have always ready credit with them, when brought against,shut up the Jacobin Club, and saved his own power public men. and popularity from being juggled out of his hands Robespierre possessed this advantage over Danbythose sanguinary charlatans. But errors of judg- ton, that he did not seem to seek ibr wealth, either ment must be pardoned to men placed amidst for hoarding or expendirg, but lived in strict and unheard-of difficulties; and La Fayette's conduct economical retirement, to justify the name of thle on his visit to Paris bore testimllony to his real wil- Incorruptible, with wlhich lie was loouolred by his lingness to save the kirg and prleselrve tihe monarcy.. partisans. He appears to have possessed little taBnt even if he Imad beemn amemnable fbr a crilme lent, saving a deep fund of hypocrisy, considerable against his own country, ve know not what right powers of sophistry, and a cold exaggerated strain Austria or Prumssia had to take cognizance of it. of oratory, as foreign to good taste, as the measures To therl he was a nlere prisoner of valr, and no- lie reconlmnended were to ordinary humtanity. It thing farther. Lastly, it is very seldom tiat a petty seemed wonderfiul, that even the seethi-lg and anld vindictive line of' policy can consist withi the boiling of the revolutionary cauldron should have real inmterest, either of great princes or of pivate sent up flom the bottom, alld long smpported on the indidideals. In the present case, the arrest of La surface, a thing so miserably void of claims to public Favette was peculiarly tile contrary. It affirded- a distinction; but Robespierre had to impose on tile plain proof' to Fr'ance and to all Europle, that tile minds of tile vulgar, and he knew how to beguile allied nmonmarchs wvere determ'ined to regard as ene- them, by accommmomdating ihis flattery to their passions mimes all who hiad in any mnanner, or to any extent, amnd scale cf' tnderstanding, and by acts of cunning ftlvooured the Revolution, being indeed the whole and hypocrisy, which weigh imore with the multitude peoplle of France, excepting the emigrants now in tlan tlhe words of eloqulence, or the arguments of armms. Tile effect nmust necessarily have been, to wisdom. The people listened as to their Cicero, comnpel every Frenchman, who was desirous of when he twanged out his apostrophes of Pauvre elmjoving mrmore liberty thlan the amncient despotismn peotple, People v'ertezlfsx! and hastened to execute permlitted, into submhission to tile existing govern- whatever came recommended by such iIonied ment, whlatever it wvas, so long as invading anislies phrases, tholgh devised by the worst of ien for the of foreigners, whose schemles were apparently as worst and most inhuman of purposes. inconsistent with time welfare as wvith the independ- Vanity was Robespierre's ruling passion, and ence of' tie colunltry, were hanlillng on the frontiers thomugh his countenance was the image of his mind, of Frallce. he was vain even of his personal appearance, and For a short space, like hounds over the carcase never adopted the external habits of a.sains-culotte. of tile prey they have jointly run down, the giron- Amongst his fellow jacobins,. he was distinguished dists and jacobins smlspended their dissensions; but by the nicety with which his hair was arranged and when the constitutional party hald ceased to shosw powdered; and the neatness of his dress was careVOUL, V*. 11 82 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. fiully attended to, so as to counterbalance, if possible, adherents exclusively, and which, now in command the vulgarity of his person. His apartments, though of the armed force that had achieved the victory of small, were elegant, and vanity had filled them with the 10th of August, held the assembly as absolutely representations of the occupant. Robespierre's pic- under their control, as the assembly, prior to that ture at length hung in one place, his miniature in period, had held the person of the king. It is true, another, his bust occupied a niche, and on the table Petion was still Mayor of Paris; but, being conwere disposed a few medallions exhibiting his head sidered as a follower of Roland and Brissot, he was in profile. The vanity which all this indicated was regarded by the jacobins as a prisoner, and detained of the coldest and most selfish character, being such in a sort of honourable restraint, baving a body of as considers neglect as insult, and receives homage their most faithful adherents constantly around him, merely as a tribute; so that, while praise is received as a guard which they pretended was assigned for without gratitude, it is withheld at the risk of mortal his defence and protection. The truth is, that P6tion, hate. Self-love of this dangerous character is closely a vain man, and of very moderate talents, had already allied with envy, and Robespierre was one of the lost his consequence. His temporary popularity arose most envious and vindictive men that ever lived. almost solely out of the enmity entertained against fie never was known to pardon any opposition, him by the court, and his havting braved on one or affront, or even rivalry; and to be marked in his two occasions the king's personal displeasure, partablets on such an account was a sure, though per- ticularly on the 20th of June. This merit was now haps not an immediate, sentence of death. Danton forgotten, and Pbtion was fast sinking into his nawas a hero, compared with this cold, calculating, tural nullity. Nothing could be more pitiful than the creeping miscreant; for his passions, though exag- appearance of this magistrate, whose name had been gerated, had at least some touch of humanity, and so lately the themle of every tongue in Paris, when his brutal ferocity was supported by brutal courage. brought to the bar of the assembly, pale, and hesiRobespierre was a coward, who signed death-war- tating to back, by his appearance among his terrible rants with a hand that shook, though his heart was revolutionary associates, petitions for measures, as relentless. He possessed no passions on which to distasteful to himself as to his friends of the Gironde charge his crimes: they were perpetrated in cold party, who had apparently no power to deliver him blood, and upon mature deliberation. from his state of humiliating restraint. Marat, the third of this infernal triumvirate, had The demuands of the Community of Paris, now the attracted the attention of the lower orders, by the Sanhedrim of the jacobins, were of course for blood violence of his sentiments in the journal which he and vengeance, and revolutionary tribunals to make conducted from the commencement of the Revolu- short and slIa-p execution upon constitutionalist and tion, upon such principles that it took the lead in royalist, soldier and priest-upon all who acted on forwarding its successive changes. His political the principle, that the king had some right to defend exhortations began and ended like the howl of a his person and residence against a furious mob, blood-hound for murder; or, if a wolf could have armed with mauskets and cannon-and upon all who written a journal, the gaunt and famished wretch could, by any possible iimplication, be charged with could not have ravened more eagerly for slaughter. having approved such doctrine s as leaned towards It was blood which was Marat's constant demand, monarchy, at at y timne during all the changes of this not in drips fiom the breast of an individual, not in changeful-featuted revolut on. puny streams from tile slaughter of famnilies, but A reVolIttionary tribunal was ap ointed accodblood in tile profusion of an ocean. His usual cal- ingly; but the girordists, to impose somle check on culation of tile heads which lie demanded amounted its neasures, rendered the jtldglment of a jury neto two hundred and sixty thousand; and though he cessary fur condemnation, an incnllbrance which sornetines raised it as high as three hundred thou- seerled to the jacobins a needless and uncivic resand, it Diever fell beneath tile smaller number. It striction of the rights of the people. Robespierre was may be hoped, and, for tile honour of human nature, to have been appointed president of this tribunal, we are inclined to believe, there was a touch of in- but lie declined the otlice on account of his pliilansanity in this unnatural strain of fetocity; and the thropic principles! Meantimne, the sharpness of its wild and squalid features of the wretch appear to proceedings was sufficiently assured by the nomihave intimated a degree of alienation of ninrd. MIarat nation of' Danton to the otlice of minister of justice, was, like Robespierre, a coward. Repeatedly de- which had fallen to his lot as a jacobin, while Ronounced in the assembly, he sktlked instead of land, Servan, and Clavisre, alike fearing and detestdefending himself, and layconcealed in some obscure ing their dreadful colleague, assumed, with Monge garret or cellar among his cut-throats, until a storm and Lebrun, the other oflices, in what was now appeared, when, like a bird of ill omen, his death- called a provisionary executive. These last file screech was again heard. Such was the strange and ninisters were girondists. fatal triumvirate, in which the same degree of can- It was not the serious intention of the assembly to nibal cruelty existed under different aspects. Danton replace Louis in a palace, or to suffer him to retain murdered to glut his rage; Robespierre, to avenge the smallest portion of personal freedom or political his injured vanity, or to remove a rival whom he influence. It had, indeed, been decreed on the envied; Marat, from the same instinctive love of night of the 10th of August, that he should inhabit blood, which induces a wolf to continue his ravage the Luxembourg palace, but, on the 11th, his resiof the flocks long after his hunger is appeased. dence was transferred, with that of the royal family, These three men were in complete possession of to an ancient fortress called the Temple, from the the Community of Paris, which was filled with their Knights Templars, to whom it once belonged. There LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 83 was in front a house, with some more modern soning individuals in great numbers, and at length apartments, but the dwelling of Louis was thie proceeded so far in their violent and arbitrary donjon or ancient keep, itself a huge square tower conduct, as to excite the jealousy of the Legislative of great antiquity, consisting of four stories. Each Body. story contained two or three rooms or closets; but This assembly of national representatives seemthese apartlsents were unfurnished, and offered no ed to have been stunned by the dire events of the convenience for the accommodation of an ordinary 10th of August. Two-thirds of the deputies had a flamily,- mulcf less to prisoners of such distinction. few days before exculpated La Fayette for the zeal Tule royal tfaily were guarded with a strictness, of with which he impeached the unsuccessful attempt which every day increased the rigour. of the 20th June, designed to accomplish the same In the meanwhile, the revolutionary tribunal was purpose which had been effected on this last dread proceeding against the friends and partisans of the epoch of the Revolution. The same number, we must deposed monarch with no lack, one would have suppose, were inimical to the revolution achieved by thoughlt, of zeal or animosity. De la Porte, in- the taking of the Tuileries, and the dethronement of tendant of the king's civil list, d'Angremont, and the monarch, whom it had been La Fayette's object Durosoi, a royalist author, were fwith others con- to protect and defend, in dignity and person. But demnled and executed. But Montmorin, the brother there was no energy left in that portion of the asof the royal minister, was acquitted; and even the sembly, though by far the largest, and the wisest. Count d'Affr'ay, though Colonel of the Swiss Guards, Their benches were left deserted, nor did any voice found grace in the eyes of this tribunal;-so lenient arise, either to sustain their own dignity, or, as a it was in comparison to those which France was last resource, to advise a union with the girondists, afterwards doomed to groan under. Danton, baulk- now the leading force in the representative body, ed of his prey, or but half-supplied with victims, for the purpose of putting a period to the rule of remight be compared to the spectre.huntsman of Boc- volntionary terror over that of civil order. The caccio,- girondists thenmselves proposed no decisive measures, and indeed appear to have been the most Stern look'd the fiend, as frustrate of his will, helpless party (though possessing _n their ranks very Not half sufficed, and greedy yet to kill. considerable talent) that ever attempted to act a great part in the convulsions of a state They seem But he bad already devised within his soul, and to have expected, that, so soon as they had accomagitated amongst his compeers, a scheme of' ven- plished the overthrow of the throne, their own suEeance so dark and dreadful, as never ruffian before premacy should have been established in its room. or since had head to contrive, or nerve to execute. They became, therefore, liable to the disappointment It was a measure of extermination which the jaco- of a child, who, having built his house of boughs bins resolved upon-a measure so sweeping in its after his own fashion, is astonished to find those purpose and extent, that it should at once drown in bigger and stronger than himself throw its materials their own blood every royalist or constitutionalist out of their way, instead of attempting, according to who could raise a finger, or even entertain a thought, his expectations, to creep into it, for the purpose of against them. shelter.'I'Three things were indispensably essential to their Late and timidly, they at length began to reMlonexecrable plan. In the first place, they had to strate against the usurped power of the Community collect and place within reach of their assassins, the of'Paris, who paid them as little regard, as they were numerous victinls whom they sought to overwhelm themselves doing to the constituted authorities of mwith this common destruction. Secondly, it was the executive power. necessary to intimidate the assembly, and the giron- The complaints which were laid before them of ri;st party in particular; sensible that they were the violent encroachments made on the liberty of l iely to interfere, if it was left in their power, to the people at large, the girondists had hitherto prevt elt acts of cruelty incompatible with the prin- answered by timid exhortations to the community to ci, les of most or all of their number. Lastly, the be cautious in their proceedings. But on the 29thI.icobiiu chiefs were aware, that ere they could pre- of August they were startled out of their weak i;lie the public mind to endure the massacres which inaction, by an assumlrption of open force, and open t.ivy meditated, it was necessary they should wait villany, on the part of those formidable rivals, tiunder ot;l one of those critical moments of general alarm, in which it was impossible to remain silent. On the whicl tfear makes the multitude cruel, and when the night previous, the community, proceeding to act agitcations of rage and terror combine to upon their own sole authority, had sent their satelelln's reason, and drown at once their humanity and lites, consisting of the municipal officers who were tieir tunderstanding. exclusively attached to them ( who were selected To collect prisoners in any numbers was an easy fromn the most determined jacobins, and had been!lltter, when the mere naming a man, however in- augmented to an extraordinary number), to seize nticent, as an aristocrat or a suspected person, es- arims of every description, and to arrest suspicious pecially if he happened to have a name indicative persons in every corner of Paris. Hundreds and of gentle blood, and an air of decency in apparel, thousands of individuals had been, under these was sufficient ground for sending him to prison. For usurped powers, committed to the various prisons of the purpose of making such arrests upon suspicion, the city, which were now filled even to choking, the Community of Paris openly took upon them- wmith all persons, of every sex and age, against whom selves the office of granting warrants for impri- political hatred could allege suspicion, or private LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. hatred revive an old quarrel, or love of plunder ed strength, and considerable resistance had been awake athirst for confiscation. expected. The ardent and military spirit of the The deeds of robbery, of license, and of ferocity, French was awakened in the resolute, upon learning committed during these illegal proceedings, as well that their firontier was thus invaded: fear and disas the barefaced contempt which they indicated of comfiture took possession of others, who thouhllt the authority of the assembly, awakened the girondl- they already heard the allied trumpets at tile gates ists, but too late, to some sense of the necessity of of' Paris. Between the eager desire of some to maurclh exertion. They summoned the municipality to their against the army of the invaders, and the terror ald bar. They came, not to deprecate the displeasure dismay of others, there arose a climax of excitationr of the assembly, not to submit themselves to its and alarm, favourable to the execution of every mercy,-they came to triumph; and brought the desperate design; as ruffians ply their trade best, speechless and trembling P.tion in their train, as and with least chance of interruption, ia the midst their captive, rather than their mayor. Tallien ex- of an earthquake or a conflagration. plained the defence of the.community, which On the 2d September, the Comllmunity of Paris amnounted to this:' The plovisional representatives of announced the fall of Longwy, and tile approachtimg' the city of Paris," he said, " had been calumniated; fite of Verdun, and, as if it had been the only conthey appeared to justify what they had done, not as stituted authority in the country, commanded the accused persons, but as triumphing in having most summary measures for the general defence. discharged their duty. "The sovereign people," he All citizens were ordered to keep thenmselves ini said, "had committed to'them full powers, saying, readiness to march on an instant's warning. All Go forth, save the country in our name-whatever arms were to be given up to the commlunnity, save you do wve will ratify." This language was, in effect, those in the hands of active citizens, armed fir the that of defiance, and it was supiorted by the shouts public protection. Suspected personas were to be and howls of assembled multitudes, armed as for disarmed, anid other rmeasures were announced, all the attack on the Tuileries, and their courage, it of which were calculated to call men's attention to may be imagined, not the less, that there were the safety of themselves and their families, and to neither aristocrats nor Swviss Guards between them destroy the interest which at ordinary times the and the Legislative Assembly. Their cries were, public would liave taken in the fate of others. "Long live our community-our excellent commis- The awful voice of Danton astounded the assemsioners-we will defend them or die!" bly with similar information, hardly deigning to ask The satellites of the same party, in the tribunes or their approbation of the measures which the Corngalleries, joined in the cry, with invectives on those munity of Paris had adopted on their own sole anmembers of the assembly who were supposed, thority. "You will presently hear," lie said, "the however republican in principles, to be opposed to alarm-guns-falsely so called-for they are the signal the revolutionary measures of the community. The of a charge. Courage-courage-and olnce again mob without soon forced their way into the hall, - courage, is all that is necessary to conquer ount joined with the mob within, —and left the theoretical enemies." These words, pronouarced with the accent republicans of the assembly the choice of acquies- and attitude of an exterminating spirit, appalled and cence in their dictates, flight, or the liberty of dying stupified the assembly. We find notlhilng that indion their posts like the senators of that Rome which cated in them either interest in the imminent danger thlley admired. None embraced this last alternative. of the public firom without, or in the usurpation They broke up the meeting in conlfusion, anld left fiom within. They appeared paralysed with terror. the jacobins, secure of impunity in whatever they The armed bands of Paris marched in different might next chuse to attempt. quarters, to seize arms and horses, to discover and Thus, Danton and his fell associates achieved the denounce suspected persons; the youth fit for arms second point necessary to the execution of the horrors were everywhere mustered, and amid shouts, rewhich they meditated; the Legislative Assembly monstrances, and debates, the general Attentioun w;ls were completely subdued and intimidated. It re- so engaged, each individual with his own affairs, ill mained to avail themselves of some opportunity his own quarter, that, without interference of any which might excite the people of Paris, in their kind, whether from legal authority, or general syompresemut feverish state, to participate in, or to endure pathy, a universal massacre of the nuirnerous pricrimes, at which in calm moments the rudest would soners was perietrated, Nwith a quietness and deliprobably have shuddered. The state of affairs on beration which has not its parallel in history. T'he the frontier aided them with such an opportunity- reader, who may be still surprised that a transaction aided them, we say, because every step of prepara- so horrid should have passed without opposition ortion beforehanc shows that the horrors acted on the interruption, must be again reminded of the astounlllld3d September were premeditated; nay, the very ing effects of the popular victory of the 10th of Aintrenches destined to inhume hundreds and thou- gust; of the total quiescence of the Legislative sands of prisoners, yet alive, untried anid undoomed, Assembly; of the want of an armed force of auny were already excavated. kind to oppose such outrages; and of the epidemic A tenmporary success of the allied monarchs fell panic which renders multitudes powerless and jiasnupon the unine already prepared, and gave fire to it, sive as infants. Should these causes not appear to as lightning might have fired a powder magazine. him sufficient, he must be contented to wonder at Lonigwy, Stenay, and Verdun, were announced to the facts we ale to relate, as at one of those dreadhave fallen into the hands of the King of Prussia. fill prodigies by which Providence confourtmds our The first and last were barrier fortresses of reput- reason, and shows what human nature can be brought LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 85 to, when the restraints of morality and religion are their cries, and behold their struggles. and learn cast aside. from the horrible scene how they might best meet The number of individuals accumulated in the their own appoachijg fate. They observed, accordvarious prisons of Paris had increased by the arrests ing to Saint M6ard, who, in his well-named Agony and domiciliary visits subsequent to the 10th of Au- -of Thirty-Six Hours, has given the account of this gust to about eight thousand persons. It was the fearfiul scene, that those who intercepted the blows object of this infernal scheme to destroy the greater of the executioners, by holding pp their hands, sufpart of' these under one general system of murder, fered protracted torment, while those who offered not to be executed by the sudden and furious iln- no show of struggle were more easily dispatched; pulse of an armed multitude, but with a certain and they encouraged each other to submit to their degree of cold blood and deliberate investigation. fate in the manner least likely to prolong their sufl A force of' armed banditti, Marseillais partly, and ferings. partly chosen ruffians of the faubourgs, proceeded Many ladies, especially those belonging to the to the several prisons, into which they either florced court, were thus murdered. The Princess de Laintheir passage, or Nwere admitted by the jailers, most balle, whose only crime seems to have been her of whom had been apprised of what was to take friendship for Marie Antoinette, was literally hewn place, though some even of these steeled officials to pieces, and her head, and that of others, paraded exerted themselves to save those under their charge. on pikces through the metropolis. It was carried to -A revolutiornary tribunal was formed fiorn amlong the Temple on that accursed wveapon, the features the armed ruffians tliemselves, who examined the yet beautiful in death, and the long fair curls of the registers of the prison, and snummoned the captives hair floating around the spear. The murderers inindividually to undergo the form of a trial. If the sisted that the king and queen should be compelled to judges-as was almost always the case-declared come to the window to view this dreadful trophy. The for death, their doom, to prevent the efforts of men mniucipal officers who were upon duty over the royal in despair, was expressed in the words-" Give the prisoners had difficulty, not merely in saving them prisoner fieedom." The victim was then thrust out ftiom this horrible inhumanity, but also in prevenlting into the street or yard; he was dispatched by men the prison finom being forced. Three-coloured and vwomen, who, with sleeves tucked tip, arms dlyed ribbons were extended across the street, and this elbow-deep in blood, hands holding axes, pikes, and friail barrier was found sufficient to intimate that sabres, wr e executioners of the sentence; and, by the Temple was under the safeguard of the nation. the mannel in which they did their office on the liv- We do not read that the efficiency of the threeing,;ntd mangled the bodies of the dead, showed coloured ribbons was tried for the protection of any that tley ot cupied their post as much from pleasure of the other prisons. No doubt the executioners as firom lo Ie of hire. They often exchanged places, had their instructions where and when they should the.jud es going out to take the executioners' duty, be respected. the exec.ti ( ners, with their reeking hands, sitting The cler-gy, who had declined the constitutional as ji. l, es in their turn. Maillald, a ruffian alleged oath from pious scruples, were, during the masto ihase distinguished hi;nself at the siege of the sacre, the peculiar objects of insult and cruelty, and Blastille, but better known by his exploits nupon the their conduct was such as corresponded with their marcl ll o Versailles,* presided during these brief religious and conscientious professions. They were and sanguinary iiivestigations. His companions on seen confessing themselves to each other, or retle benlch v-elre persons of the same stamp. Yet ceiving the confessions of their lay companions tiere were occasions when they showed some tran- in misfortune, and encouraging them to undergo sieut gleams of humanity, and it is not unimportant the evil hour, with as much calmness as if' they to remark, that boldness had mlore influence on theml themselves had not been to share its bitterness. thtan any appeal to niercy or compassion. An As protestants, we cannot abstractedly approve as owed rovalist suas occasionally dismissed unin- of the doctrines which render the established clerjurled, wthile the constitutionalists were sure to be gy of one country dependent upon a sovereign massacred. Another trait of a singular nature is, pontiff, the prince of an alien state. But these ttlat two of the ruflians who w'ere appointed to guard priests did not make the laws for which they sufone of these intended victimns horme in safety, as a fered; they only obeyed them; and as men and,un, acquitted, insisted upon seeing his meeting wvithl christians we must regard them as martyrs, wvho I:is tlanly, seemed to share in the transports of the preferred death to what they considered as aposmnonient, and on taking leave shook the hand of their tacy. late prisoner, while their owvn were clotted wvith the In the brief intervals of this dreadful butchery, gore of his fiiends, and had been just raised to shed which lasted for four days, the judges and execuhis oWnn. Few, indeed, and brief were these symp- tioners ate, drank, and slept; and awoke from tomns (4' releniting. In general, the doom of the slumber, or rose finom their meal, with liesh apprisolv~r was death, and that doom wsas instantly petite for imurder. There were places airanged for acco,.! Lshed. the male, and fobr the female murderers, for the In thle meanwhile the captives wvere penned tip in work had been incomplete without the intervention their dungeons like cattle in a shambles, aid, in of the latter. Prison after prison wvas invested, many instances, might, fitom wsindows wvhich looked entered, and, under thle same forni of' proceeding, outsvards, mnark the fate of their conmrades, hear nmade the scene of the sallie inlrhuman butchery. The jacobins had reckoned on nmaking the massacre 4 See p. 42. unix e-sal over France. But tile examllple was not LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. generally followed. It required. as in the case of save the lives of so many Frenchmen, or to put a St Bartholomew, the only massacre which can be stop to a massacre carried on in contempt of all compared to this in atrocity, the excitation of a legal interference, and by no more formidable force large capital, in a violent crisis, to render such than that of two or three hundred atrocious felons, horrors possible. often, indeed, diminished to only fifty or sixty. He'The Community of Paris were not in fault for this. mihltt reasonably expect that the national repreThey did all they could to extend the sphere of sentatives would have thundered forth some of those murder. Their warrant brought from Orleans near decrees which they firmerly directed against the sixty persons, including the Duke de Coss6-Brissac, crown and the noblesse; that they should have De Lessart, the late minister, and other royalists repaired by deputations to the various sections, of distinction, who were to have been tried before called out the National Guards, and appealed to the high court of that department. A band of all, not only that were susceptible of honour or assassins met them, by appointment of the cor- humanity, but to all iho had the breath and being munity, at Versailles, who, uniting with their of man, to support them in interrupting a series of escort, murdered almost the whole of these un- horrors disgraceful to mankind. Such an appeal to happy men. the feelings of their fellow-citizens made them at From the 2d to the 6th of September, these in- last successful in the overthrow of Robespierre. fernal crimes proceeded uninterrupted, protracted But the reign of Terror was now but in its coiriby the actors for the sake of the daily pay of a louis mencement, and men had not yet learned that there to each, openly distributed amongst them, by order lay a refuge in the efforts of Despair. of the commune.? It was either from a desire to Instead of such energy as might have been excontinue as long as possible a labour so well re- pected from the principles of which they boasted, quited, or because these beings had acquired an nothing could be more timid than the conduct insatiable lust of murder, that, when the jails were of the girondists, being the only party in the asemptied of state criminals, the assassins attacked sembly who had the power, and might be supposBicetre, a prison where ordinary delinquents were ed to have the inclination, to control the course of confined. These unhappy wretches offered a de- crime. gree of resistance which cost the assailants more We looked carefully through the Monitew's, dear than any they had experienced from their which contain the official account of the sittings proper victims. They were obliged to fire on them of the assembly on these dreadful days. VWNe find with cannon, and many hundreds of the miserable regular entries of many patriotic gifts, of such imcreatures were in this way exterminated, by portance as the following: —A fusee from an Englishwretches worse than themselves. man —a pair of hackney-coach horses from the No exact account was ever made of the number coachmen-a map of the country around Paris front of persons murdered during this dreadful period; a lady. WXhile engaged in receiving and registering but not above two or three hundred of the prisoners these civic donations, their journal bears few and arrested for state offences were known to escape, doubtful references to the massacres then in proor be discharged, and the most moderate compu- gress. The assembly issued no decree against the tation raises the number of those who fell to two or slaughter-demanded no support from the public three thousand, though some carry it to twice the force, and restricted themselves to sending to the extent. Truchod announced to the Legislative murderers a pitiful deputation of twelve of their Assembly, that four thousand had perished. Some number, whose commission seems to have been exertion was made to save the lives of persons im- limited to petition for the safety of one of their colprisoned for debt, whose numbers, with those of leagues, belonging to the constitutional faction. common felons, may make up the balance betwixt With difficulty they saved him, and the celebrated the number slain, and eight thousand who were Abb6 Sicard, the philanthropic instructor of tlhe prisoners when the massacre began. The bodies deaf and dumb, imprisoned as a nonjrlinug priest, Nvere interred in heaps, in immense trenches, pre- for whom the wails and tears of his hapless pujpils pared beforehand by order of the Community of had procured a reprieve even from the assassins. Paris; but their bones have since been transferred Dussaulx, one of that deputation, distinguished to the subterranean catacombs, which form the ge- himself by the efforts which he used to persuade neral charnel-house of the city. In those nelan- the murderers to desist. " Return to your place," choly regions, while other relics of mortality lie said one of the ruffians, his arms crinisoned with exposed all around, the remains of those who pe- blood. "You have made us lose too much time. rished in the massacres of September are alone Return to your own business, and leave us to secluded fiom the eye. The vault in which they ours." repose is closed with a screen of fieestone, as if Dussanlx went back, to recount to those who relating to crimes unfit to be thought of even in the had sent him what he had witnessed, and how lie proper abode of death, and which France would had been receiuved; and concluded with the exclawillingly hide in oblivion. mnation, "VWoe's mne, that I should have lived to In the meanwhile the reader may be desirous to see such horrors, without the power of stopping know what ellfrts were made by the assembly, to them " rhe assembly heard the detail, and remained timid and silent as betbre. * The books of the Hl6tel de Ville preserve evidence of Where, in that hour, were the ien who formed this fact. Billand Vareiines appeared publicly among the their jidgment upon the models presented by Pluassassins, and distributed the price of blood. tarchi, their feelings on the wild eloquence of Rous LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 87 seau? Where were the girondists, celebrated by cording to the resolutions of the 10th of August, to one of their admirers,* as distinguished by good give place to the National Convention. morals, by severe probity, by a profound respect The Legislative Assembly was, in its composition for the dignity of man, by a deep sense of his rights and its character, of a caste greatly inferior to that and his duties, by a sound, constant, and immutable which it succeeded. The flower of the talents of love of order, of justice, and of liberty? Were the France had naturally centred in the National Aseyes,of such men blind, that they could not see the sembly, and, by an absurd regulation, its members blood which flooded for four days the streets of the were incapacitated fi-om being re-elected; which metropolis? were their ears deadened, that they necessarily occasioned their situation being in many could not hear the shouLts of the murderers, and the instances supplied by persons of inferior attainments. screams of the victims? or were their voices mute, Then the destinies-of the first assembly had been that they called not upon God and man-upon the filfilled in a more lofty manner. They were often very stones of Paris, to assist them in interrupting wrong, often absurd, often arrogant and presumpsuch a crime? Political reasons have, by royalist tuous, but never mean or servile. They respected writers, been supposed to furnish a motive for their the liberty of debate, and even amidst the bitterest acquiescence; for there is, according to civilians, a political discussions, defended the persons of their certain degree of careless or timid inmbecility, which colleagues, however much opposed to them in sencan only be explained as having its origin in fiaud. timent, and maintained their constitutional inviolaThey allege that the girondists saw, rather with bility. They had also the great advantage of being, pleasure than horror, the atrocities which were as it were, free born. They were indeed placedin committed, while their enemies the jacobiens, exter- captivity by their removal to Paris, but their conminating their equally hated enemies the constitl- rage was not abated; nor did they make any contionalists and royalists, took on themselves the whole cessions of a personal kind to the ruffians, by whom odium of a glut of blood, vwhich must soon, they they were at times personally ill-used. might naturally expect, disgust the sense and feelings But the second, or Legislative Assembly, had, of a country so civilized as France. WVe remain, on the contrary, been captive from the monment of nevertheless, convinced, that Vergniaud, Brissot, their first convocation. They had never met but in Roland, and, to a certainty, his high-minded wife, Paris, and wvere inured to the habit of patient subwould have stopped the massacres of Sepitember, mission to the tribunes and the refuse of the city, had their courage and practical skill in public af who repeatedly broke into their hall, and issued fairs borne any proportion to the conceit which led their mandates in the form of petitions. On two mrethem to suppose, that their vocation lay for govern- morable -occasions they showed too distinctly, that ing such a nation as France. considerations of personal safety could overpower But whatever was the motive of their apathy, the their sense of public duta. Two-thirds of' the reLegislative Assembly was nearly silent on the sub- presentatives joined in acquitting La Fayette, and ject of the massacres, not only while they were in declared by doing so that they abhorred the insurprogress, but for several days afterwards. On the rection of the 20th of June; yet, when that of the 16th of September, when news from the army on the 10th of August had completed what wa's before atfrontiers was beginning to announce successes, and tempted in vain upon the occasion preceding, the when the panic of the metropolis began to subside, assembly unanimously voted the deposition of the Vergniaud adroitly charged the jacobins with turn- monarch, and committed him to prison. Secondly, ing on unhappy prisoners of state the popular re- they remained silent and inactive during all the sentmnent, which should have animated them'with horrors of September, and suffered the executive bravery to march out against the common enemly. He power to be wrenched out of their hands by the upbraided also the Community of Paris with the as- Community of Paris, and used before their eyes for sumption of unconstitutional powers, and the inhu- the. destruction of many thousands of Frenchmen man tyranny with which they had abused them; but wl:om they represented. his speech made little impression, so much are deeds It must be, however, remembered, that the Leof cruelty apt to become familiar to men's feelings, gislative Assembly were oppressed by difficulties when of frequent recurrence. When the first ac- and dangers the most dreadful that can threaten a coulnts were read in the Constituent Assembly, of government;-the bloody discord of contending the massacres perpetrated at Avignon, the president factions, the arms of foreigners menacing the fronfainted away, and the whole body mlanifested a tier, and civil war breaking out in the provinces. horror, as well of the senses as of the mind; and In addition to these sources of' peril and dismay, unow, that a far more cruel, more enduring, more there were three divided parties within the assembly extensive train of murders was perpetrated under itself; while a rival power, equally formlidable their own eye, the Legislative Assembly looked on from its audacity and its crimes, had erected itself in apathy.'The utmost which the eloquence of in predominating authority, like that of the Milaires Vergniaud could extract from them was a decree, dir Palais over the feeble monarchs of the Merothat in fiature the comnlanity should be answerable vingian dynasty. with their own lives for the security of the prisoners under their charge. After passing this decree, the CHAP'TER XI. Legislative Assembly, being the second representative body of the French nation, dissolved itself ac- Electionl of representatives for thie National CotrveJtios. -Jacobints are very active.-Right head partry-Left * Buzot. hand side-Netutral members.-The girondists are na tf23 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. possession of the ostensible pouwer-Theti denounce the It was no good omen, that on taking their places jacobin chiefs, but in an irregular andJeeble manner.- in the assembly, these last assumed the right side, Marat, Robespierre, and Dalton, supported by the a position which seemed doomed to defeat, since Commlulnlity andlpopulace of Paris.-Fance declared a it had been successively occupied by the suppressed Republic-Duk.e of Brunswvick's cainpaign-Negleetlts parties of moderate royalists and constitutionalists. the French enigranrts-Is tardy in his operations-Occ- There as defeat in the ery sound of the arti pies the poorest part of Chamipagne —His army becomes dee tas defeat the ery soufd of theparts sickly-Prospects of a battle.-Dumourier's army re- been that of dickly —P~rospects of a battle.-lDteJ7zriEr's arry re- droit, whereas the left hand position had always crucited with Carmagnoles. —The duke resolves to retreat been that of victory. Men's minds are moved by -Thoughts on the consequences of that measure —The small incidents in dubious times. Even this choice retreat disastrous.-The emigrants disbatlded in a great of seats made an impression upon spectators and measure-Reflections ol their fate.'-The Prince of Con- auditors nufavourable to the girondists, as all nade's arny. turally shrink friom a union with had fortune. There was a considerable party of neutral members, who, IT wras of course the object of each party to obtain without joining themselves to the girondists, affected the greatest possible majority in the National Con- to judge impartially betwixt contending parties. vention now to be assembled, for arranging upon They were chiefly men of consciences too timid to l some new footing the government of France, and go all the lengths of the jacobins, but also of too for replacing that constitution to which faith had timid nerves to oppose them openly and boldly. been so repeatedly sworn. These were sure to succumb on all occasions, when The jacobins made the most energetic exertions. the jacobinsjudged it necessary to use their favourite They not only wrote missives through their two argument of popular terror. thousand affiliated societies, but sent three hundred The girondists took posession, however, of all oscommnissaries, or delegates, to superintend the elec- tensible marks of power. Danton was dismissed tions in the different towns and departments; to from his place as minister of justice; and they were, exhort their comrades not only to be firm, but to be as far as mere official name andl title could bestow enterprising; and to seize with strong hand the it on them, in possession of the authority of governante power over the public force, which the mother ment. But the ill-fated regulation which excluded society possessed in Paris. The advice was poured ministers from seats in the assembly, and conseinto willing ears; for it implied the sacred right of quently firom any right save that of defence, proved insurrection, with the concomitant privileges of as fatal to those of the new system, as it had done pillage and slaughter. to the executive government of' Louis. The power of' the jacohins was irresistible in Our remarks upon the policy of the great change Paris, where Robespierre, Dasnton, and Marat, who from monarchy to a republic will be more in place shared the high places in their synagogue, were elsewhere. Indeed, violent as the change sounded elected by an inmmense majority; and of the twenty in words, there was not such an important alteration deputies who represented Paris, there were not in effect as to produce much sensation. The conabove five or six unconnected wvith the mnassacres. stitution of 1791 was a democracy to all intents and Nor were they anywhere unsuccessfutl, where there purposes, leaving little power with tile king, and existed enough of their adherents to overawe by that little subject to be so nlmch cramped and threats, clanmour, and violence, the impartial voice straitened in its operation, that the royal authority of the public. wvas even smaller in practice than it had been liBat in every state there is a great numnber of men mited in theory. When to this is added, that Louis -vwho love order for itself, and for the. protection it was a prisoner amongst his subjects, acting under affords to property. There were also a great many the mnost severe restraint, and endangering his life persons at heart royalists, either pure or consti- every timne he attempted to execute his constitutltional, and all these united in sending to the tional power, lie must long have been held rather an National Convention deputies, who, if no opportunity incumbrance on the motions and councils of the occurred of restoring the monarchy, might at least state, than as one of its efficient constituted authoco-operate with the girondists and more moderate rities. The nmtninal change of the system of governrepublicans in sa5ing the life of' the unfortunate ment scarcely made a greater alteration in the Louis, and in protecting Inen's lives, and property in internal condition.of France, than the change of a general, from the infuriate violence of the jacobins. sign makes upon a house of entertainment, where the These supporters of order-we know no better name business of the tavern is carried on in the usual way, to assign to them —were chiefly representatives although the place is no longer distinguished as the of the departments, where electors had more time King's Head. to disciminate and reflect, than when under the VWhile France was thus alarmed and agitated influence of the revolutionary societies and clubs of within, by change, by crime, by the most bitter the towns. Yet Nantes, Bordeaux, Marseilles, political factions, the dawn of that course of victory Lyons, and other towns, chiefly in the west and had already risen on the frontiers, which in its noonsouth, were disposed to support the girondists, and day splendour, was to blaze fiercely over all Europe. sent deputies:tvourable to their sentiments. Thus It is not our putrpose to detail military events at the conventioi, awhen assembled, still presented the present; we shall have but too many of them to disappearance of two strongparties; and the feebleness cuss hereafter. Wre shall barely state, that the of that which, being moderate in its views, only Duke of Brunswick's canmpaign, considered as resought to act defensively, consisted not in want of lative to his proclamation, forms too good an illustranumbers but in want of energy. tion of the holy text, "Pride goeth before destruc LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 89 tion, and a haughty spirit before a fall." The duke Champagne Pouilleuse, where he found difficutty was at the head of a splendid army, which had to subsist his army. Meantime, if corn and forage been joined by fifteen thousand emigrants in the finest were scarce, grapes and melons were, unfortunately, state of equipment, burning with zeal to rescue the plenty. These last fruits are so proverbially unking, and avenge themselves on'those by whom wholesome, that the magistrates of Liege, and some they had been driven from their country. From other towns, forbid the peasants to bring them to what fatality it is hard to conceive, but the Duke of market under pain of confiscation. It was the first Brunswick seems to have looked with a certain time such delicacies had been presented to the bydegree of coldness and suspicion on those troops, perborean appetites of the Prussians; and they could whose chivalrous valour and high birth called them not resist the temptation, though the same penalty to the van, instead of the rear, in which the gene- was annexed to the banquet, as to that which proralissimo was pleased to detain them. The chance duced the first transgression. They ate and died. of success that might justly have been expected A fatal dysentery broke out in the camp, which from the fiery energy which was the very soul of swept the soldiers away by hundreds in a day, sunk French chivalry, fiom the fear which such an army the spirits of the survivors, and seems to have totally might have inspired, or perhaps from the friends broken the courage of their commander. whom they might have found, was altogether lost. Two courses remained to the embarrassed general. There was something in this extraordinary conduct, One was, to make his way by giving battle to the which almost vindicated the suspicion that Prussia French, by attacking them in the strong tpositioln was warring on her own account, and was not dis- which they had been permitted to occupy, notwithposed to owe too much of the expected success to standing the ease with which they might have been the valour of the emigrants. And it escaped not the anticipated. It is true, Dumourtier had been very remark, both of the emigrants and the French at strongly reinforced. France, from all her' departlarge, that Longwy and Verdun were ostentatiously ments, had readily poured forth many thousands of taken possession of by the allies, not under the name her fiery youth, from city and town, village and of the King of France, or the Count d'Artois, but grange and farm, to protect the frontiers, at once, in that of the emperor; which appeared to give co- from the invasion of foreigners, and the occupation lour to the invidious report, that the allies were to of thousands of vengeful emigrants. They were be indemnified for the cost of their assistance at undisciplined, indeed, but full of zeal and courage, the expense of the French line of frontier towns. heated and excited by the scenes of the Republic, Neither did the duke use his fine army of Prussians, and inflamed by the florid eloquence, the songs, or direct the motions of the Austrians under Clairfayt, dances, and signal-words with which it had been to any greater advantage. He had, indeed, the celebrated. Above all, they were of a country troops of the Great Frederick; but under the com- which, of all others in Europe, has been most famimand of an irresolute and incapable leader, it was liar with war, and the youth of which are most easily the sword of Scanderbeg in the hands of a boy. rendered amenable to military discipline. This tardiness of the Duke of Brunswick's move- But to these new levies the Duke of Brunswick ments intimated a latent doubt of his own capacity might have safely opposed the ardent valour of the to conduct the campaign. The superiority of his emigrants, men descended of families whose deeds veteran and finely-disciplined forces over the disor- of chivalry fill the registers of' Europe; men by ganized army of Dumourier, reinforced as it was by whom the road to Paris was regarded as that which crowds of federates, who were perfect strangers to was to conduct them to victory, to honour, to the reswar, would have been best displayed by bold and cue of their king, to reunion with their families, to rapid movements, evincing at once activity and com- the recovery of their patrimony; men accustomed to bination, and alarming raw troops by a sense of consider disgrace as more dreadful by far than death, danger, not in front alone, but on every point. Each and who claimed, as their birth-right, military reday which these new soldiers spent unfought was nown and the use of arms. In one skirmish, fifteen one step towards military discipline, and, what is hundred of the emigrant cavalry had defeatL d, with more, towards military confidence. The general great slaughter, acolumn of the Carmagnoles, asthe who had threatened so hard seemed to suspend his republican levies were called. They were routed blow in indecision; and he remained trifling on the with great slaughter, and their opponents had the frontiers, "when Frederick, had he been in our pleasure to count among the slain a considerable front," said the French general, "would long since number of the assassins of September. have driven us back upon Chalons." But the French general had more confidence in The result of so many false steps began soon to the Carmagnole levies, fiom which his military genius appear. Brunswick, whose army was deficient in derived a valuable support, than Brunswick thought battering gauns, though entering France on a frontier proper to repose in the chivalrous gallantry of the of fortifications, was arrested by the obstinate de- French noblesse. He could only be brought to fence of Thionville. Having at length decided to engage in one action of artillery, near Valmy, which advance, he spent nine days in marching thirty was attended with.no marked consequence, and leagues, but omitted to possess himself of the defiles then issued his order for a retreat. It was in vain of Argonnes, by which alone the army -of Luckner that the Count d'Artois, with a spirit worthy of the could co-operate with that of Dumourier. The allied line from which he was descended, and the throne general now found himself in the most elevated part to which he has now succeeded, entreated, almost of the province of Champagne, branded for its po- implored a recal of this fatal order; in vain that he verty and sterility with the unseemly name La offered in person to head the emigrant forcos, and to VOL. VI. 12 93;e LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. assume with them the most desperate post in the brought with them such moderate sums of money battle, if the generalissimo would permit it to be, as could be raised in an emergency, which they had fought. But the duke, obstinate in his desponding, fondly conceived would be of very brief duration. in proportion to his former presumption, was not of They had expended most of their funds in providing that high mind which adopts hazardous counsels in themselves with horses, arms, and equipmentsdesperate cases. He saw his army mouldering some part must have been laid out in their necessary away around him, beheld the French forming in his subsistence, for they served chiefly at their own rear, knew that the resources of Prussia were an- expense-and perhaps, as might have been expected equal to a prolonged war, and, after one or two among high-spirited and high-born youths, their slenfeeble attempts to negotiate for the safety of the der funds had not been managed with an economical captive Louis, he was at length contented to accept view of the possibility of the reverses which had an implied permission to retreat without molestation. taken place. In the confusion and disorder of the He raised his camp on the 29th of September, and retreat, their baggage was plundered by their auxileft behind him abundant marks of the dreadful liaries, that is to say, by the disorderly Prussian state to which his army was reduced. soldiers, who had shaken loose all discipline; and When we look back on these events, and are they were in most cases reduced for instant mvinteaware of Dumourier's real opinions, and the inter- nance to sell their horses at such paltry prices as est which he took in the fate of the king, we have they could obtain. To end the history of such of this little reason to doubt, that the Duke of Brunswick devoted army as had been engaged in the Duke of might, by active and prompt exertions, have eluded Brunswick's campaign, they were disbanded at Juthat general's defensive measures; nay, that judi- liers, in November 1792. cious negotiation might have induced himn, on cer- The blindness of the sovereigns, who, still contain points being conceded, to have united a part at tinuing a war on France, suffered such fine troops least of his forces with those of the emigrants in a to be dissolved for want of the means of support, march to Paris, for the king's rescue, and the pu- was inexcusable; their cold and hard-hearted connishment of the jacobins. duct towards a body of gentlemen, who, if politiBut had the restoration of Louis XVI. taken cally wrong, were at least devoted to the cause place by the armed hand of the emigrants and the for which Austria asserted that she continued in allies, the final event of the war must still have arms, was equally unwise and ungenerous. These been distant. Almost the whole body of the king- gallant gentlemen might have upbraided the kings dom was diametrically opposed to the restoration of who had encouraged, and especially the general the absolute monarchy with all its evils; and yet it who led, this ill-fated expedition, in the words of must have been the object of the emigrants, in case Shakspeare, if he had been known to them, — of success, again to establish, not only royalty in Hast thou not spoke like thunder on our side, its utmost prerogative, but all the oppressive pri- Been sworn our soldier-bidding us depend vileges and feudal subjections which the Revolution Upon thy stars, thy fortune, and thy strength? had swept away. Much was to have been dreaded, too, from the avidity of the strangers, whose arms But the reproaches of those who have no remedy but had assisted the imprisoned Louis, and much more the exposition of their wrongs, seldom reach the ears from what has since been aptly termed the reaction, of the powerful by whom these wrongs have been which must have taken place upon a counter-revo- committed. lution. It was greatly to be apprehended, that the It is not difficult to conceive the agony with which emigrants, always deeming too lightly of the ranks these banished gentlemen abandoned all hopes of beneath them, incensed by the murder of their saving the life of their king, and the recovery of their friends, and stung by their own private wrongs rank and fortune. All their proud vaunts of expected and insults, would, if successful, have treated the success were lost, or converted into serpents to Revolution not as an exertion of the public will of sting them. They had no hope before them, and, France to free the country from public grievances, what is worst to men of high spirit, they had fallen but as a Jzacquerie (which in some of its scenes with scarce a blow struck for honour, far less for it too much resembledj, a domestic treason of the victory. They were now doomed, such as could, to vassals against their liege lords. It was the will of exercise for mere subsistence the prosecution of Providence, that the experience of twenty years sciences and arts, which they had cultivated to adorn and upwards should make manifest, that in the prosperity-to wander in foreign lands, and live hour of victory itself concessions to the defeated, upon the precarious charity of foreign powers, emas far as justice demands them, is the only mode of bittered everywhere by the reflections of some, who deriving permanent and secure peace. pitied the folly that could forfeit rank and property The retreat of the Prussians was executed in the for a mere point of honour; and of others, who saw worst possible order, as is usually the case in such in them the enemies of rational liberty, and upbraided a manoeuvre when unprovided for, and executed by them with the charge, that their nmisfortunes were the troops who had been led to expect a very different necessary consequence of their arbitrary principles. movement. But if to them it was a measure of It might have in some degree mitigated their cadisaster and disgrace, it was, to the unfortunate lamity, could some gifted sage have shown them, at emigrants who had joined their standard, the signal such distance as the legislator of Israel beheld the of utter despair and ruin. These corps were com- Promnised Land from mountPisgah, the final restoraposed of gentlemen, who,'called suddenly and un- tion of the royal house, in whose cause they had provided fionl their families and homes, had only suffered shipwreck of their -all. But how many' LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 91 perished in the wilderness of misfortune which in- Montesquiou on the side of Savoy, with Dumourier tervened-how few survived the twenty years' in the Netherlands, knew how to avail themselves wandering which conducted to this promised point! of these reinforcements, which enabled them to asand of those few, who, war-worn and wearied by sume the offensive on all parts of the extensive misfortunes, survived the restoration of royalty, how south-eastern frontier of' France. very few were rewarded by more than the disin- The attack of Savoy, whose sovereign, the King of terested triumph which they felt on that joyful occa- Sardinia, was brother-in-law of the Count d'Artois,'sion! and how many might use the simile of a and had naturally been active in the cause of the royalist of Britain on a similar occasion, —" The Bourbons, was successfully commenced, and carried fleece of Gideon remained dry, while the hoped- on by General Montesquiou already mentioned, a for restoration shed showers of blessings on all French noble, and an aristocrat of course by birth, France beside!" and as it was believed by principle, but to whom, The emigrant regiments, under the command of nevertheless, the want of experienced leaders had the Prince of Cond6, had another and nobler fate. compelled the ruling party at Paris to commit the They retained their arms, and signalized themselves command of an army. He served them well, posby their exertions; were consumed by the sword, sessed himself of Nice and Chambery, and threatand in toils of service, and died at least the death ened even Italy. of soldiers, mourned, and not unrevenged. But On the centre of the same line of frontier, Custine, they were wasting their devoted courage in the ser- an excellent soldier and a fierce republican, took vice of foreigners; and if their gallantry was grati- Spires, Oppenheim, Worms, finally the strong city flied by the defeat of those whom they regarded as of Mentz, and spread dismay through that portion the murderers of their king, and as usurpers of their of the Germanic empire. Adopting the republican rights, they might indeed feel that their revenge language of the day, he thundered forth personal was satiated, but scarce in any sense could they vengeance, denounced in the most broad and inregard their victories as serviceable to the cause to sulting terms, against such princes of the Gertmanic which they had sacrificed their country, their pos- body as had distinguished themselves by zeal against sessions, their hopes, their lives. Their fate, though the Revolution; and, what was equally formidable, on a much more extensive scale, much resembles he preached to their subjects the flattering and that of the officers of the Scottish army in 1690, exciting doctrines of the republicans, and invited who, following the fortunes of James. I. to France, them to join in the sacred league of the oppressed were at length compelled to form themselves into a people against princes and magistrates, who had so battalion of privates, and, after doing many feats of long held over them an usurped power. gallantry in the service of the country where they But the successes of Dumourier were of a more found refuge, at length melted away under the decided and more grateful character to the ruling sword of the enemy, and the privations of military men in the Convention. He had a heavier-task than service. History, while she is called upon to censure either Custine or Montesquiou; but his lively and or commend the actions of mankind according to the fertile imagination had already devised modes of rules of immutable justice, is no less bound to lament conquest with the imperfect means he possessed. the brave and generous, who, preferring the dictates The difference between commanders is the same of honourable feeling to those of prudence, are hur- as between mechanics. A workman of commonried into courses which may be doubtfill in policy, and place talents, however expert custom and habit may perhaps in patriotism, but to which they are urged by have made him in the use of his ordinary tools, is at the disinterested wish of discharging what they ac- a loss when deprived of those which he is accuscount a conscientious duty. The emigrants were tomed to work with. The man of invention and impolitic, perhaps, in leaving France, though that genius finds out resources, and contrives to make conduct had many apologies; and their entrance such implements as the moment supplies answer his into their country in arms to bring back the despotic purpose, as well, and perhaps better, than a regular system, which Louis XVI. and the whole nation, chest of working utensils. The ideas of the ordinary save themselves, had renounced, was an enterprise man are like a deep-rutted road, through which his unwisely and unjustly undertaken. But the cause imagination moves slowly, and without departing they embraced was one dear to all the prejudices of from the track; those of the man of genius are like the rank and sentiments in which they had been an avenue, clear, open, and smooth, on which he brought up; their loyal purpose in its defence is in- may traverse as occasion requires. disputable; and it would be hard to condemn them Dumnourier was a man of genius, resource, and for following one extreme, when the most violent invention; Clairfayt, who was opposed to him, a and tyrannical proceedings were, in the sight of all brave and excellent soldier, but who had no idea of Europe, urging another, so bloody, black, and fatal strategie or tactics, save those current during the as that of the faction which now domineered in Paris, Seven Years' W7ar. The former knew so well how and constrained men, whose prejudices of birth or to employ the fire and eagerness of his Carmaeducation were in favour offreedom, to loathe the gnoles, of whose blood he was by no means very name of France, and of the Revolution. chary, and how to prevent the consequences of The tame and dishonourable retreat of the Duke their want of discipline, by reserves of his most of Brunswick and his Prussians naturally elated the steady and experienced troops, that he gave Claircourage of a proud and martial people. Recruits fayt a signal defeat at Jemappes, on the 6th Noflowed into the republican ranks from every depart- vember, 1792. meut; and the generals, Custine on the Rhine, and It was then that both Austria and Europe had LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. reawn to regret the absurd policy of Joseph IT., death of the unfortunate Louis. They had no reason batth in indisposing the inhabitants towards his go- to doubt that they might excite the populace to desire vernment, and, in the fine provinces of the Austrian and demand that final sacrifice, and to consider the Netherlands, dismantling the iron girdle of fortified moment of its being offered as a time of jubilee. Nor towns, with which the wisdom of Europe had in- were the better classes likely to take a warm or devested that firontier. Clairfayt, who, though defeated, cisive interest in the fate of their unhappy prince, was too good a disciplinarian to be routed, had to solong the object of unpopularity. retreat on a country unfriendly to the Austrians, From the beginning of' the Revolution, down to from recollection of their own recent insurrection, the total overthrow of' the throne, first the power of and divested of all garrison towns; which must have the king, and afterwards his person and the measures been severe checks, particularly at this period, to to which he resorted, were th.e constant subject of tle incursion of a revolutionary army, more fitted to attack by the parties who successively forced themnwin battles by its imnpettosity, than to overcome ob- selves int o his administration. Each faction accusstacles which could only be removed by long and ed the other during the time of their brief sway, of' patient sieges. attempts to extend the power and the privileges of As matters stood, the battle of Jentappes was the crown; which was thus tinder a perpetual siege, won, and the Austrian Netherlands were fully con- though carried on by distinct and opposite factions, quered without fillurther combat by the French one of whom regularly occupied the lines of attack, general. We shall leave him in his triumph, and to dislodge the others, as fast as they obtained sucreturn to the fatal scenes acting in Paris. cessively possession of the ministry. Thus the third estate overcame the two privileged classes, in behalf of the people and against the crown; La Fayette CHAPTER XII. and the constitutionalists triumphed over the mnoderaccoins defersme open the execetioo oef Lorits.-gress Pates, who desired to afford the king the shelter and and reasons of the king's suepopularity.-Girondists bulwark of an intermediate senate; and then, after taken by surprise, by a proposal for the abolition of creating a constitution as democratical as it could royalty made by the jacobins —Proposal carried.- be, leaving a name and semblance of royalty, they Thoughts on the new system of government-Compared sunk under the girondists, who were disposed alwithf that of Rome, Greece, America, and other repub- together to dispense with that symbol. In this way lican states.-Enthusiasm throughout Fransce at the it appeared to the people that the king was their change-Follies it gave birth to-And criffes. —Monu- natural enemy, and that the royal interest was dimsents of art destroyed-Madame Roland interposes rectly opposed to a revolution which had brought to save the life of the king.-Barrire. —Girondists monuc them sundry advantages, besides giving them the for a departmental legion-Carried-Revoked-And girozndisis defeated.-'The authority of the Commue7sity of feelings and consequence of freemen. In this manner, Parisparamount evete over the Convention.-Documents one of the mildest and best-disposed monarchs that of the Irone-Chest.-Parallel betwixt Charles I. and ever swayed a sceptre became exposed to general Louis XVI.-Motion by Petion, that the king should be suspicion and misconstruction in his measures, and tried before the Convention. (as is sure speedily to follow) to personal contempt, and even hatred. Whatever the king did, in comIT is generally to be remarked, that crime, as pliance with the curtrent tide of revolution, was well as religion, has her sacramental associations, accounted as fraudful complaisance, designed to itted for the purposesto which she desires to pledge blind the nation. Whatever opposition he made to lher votaries. When Catiline imposed an oath on that powerful impulse was accounted an act of open his fellow-conspirators, a slave was murdered, and treason against the sovereignty of the people. his blood mingled with the beverage in which they His position, with regard to the invading powers, pledged each other to their treason against the re- was enough of itself' to load him with obloquy and public. The most desperate mutineers and pirates suspicion. It is true, that he was called, and protoo have believed, that by engaging their associates fessed himself, the willing king of a popular, or dein some crime of a deep and atrocious nature, so mocratic monarchy; but in the proclamations of his contrary to the ordinary feelings of humanity as to allies, he was described as a monarch imprisoned, strike with horror all who should hear of it, they degraded, and almost dethroned. To achieve his made their allegiance more completely their own; liberty (as they affirmed), and to re-establish his and, as remorse is useless where retreat is impos- rights, the emperor his brother-in-law, the King of sible, that they thus rendered them in future the Prussia his ally, and above all, his brothers, the desperate and unscrupulous tools, necessary for the Princes of the Blood of France, were in arms, and desperate designs of their leaders. had sent numerous armies to the frontiers. It was In like manner, the jacobins,-who had now scarcely possible, in the utmost extent of candour, full possession of the passions and confidence of the that the French people should give Louis credit for lower orders in France, as well as of all those desiling the success of therevolutionary cause, by spirits anmong the higher classes who, whether de- which not only his power had been circumscribed, sirous of promotion by exertions in the revolutionary but his person had been placed under virtual repath, or' whether enthusiasts whose imagination straint, against forces armed avowedly for his safety had become heated with the extravagant doctrines and liberty, as well as the restoration of his power. that had been current during these feverish times, We can allow as much to the disinterestedness of -the jacobins resolved to engage their adherents, Louis, as to any whose feelings and rights were inrand all whom they influenced, in proceeding to the mediately concerned with the point at issue; and LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. we admit that all concessions which he made to the with all its duties and acts of self-denial, solemnly popular cause, before the National Assembly had accepted. asserted a paramount authority over his, were wil- WVe have before hinted, that the king's assuming lingly and freely granted. But after the march of new the frail and barren sceptfe, proufered to from Versailles, he must have been an enthusiast him under the most humiliating circumstances, was for public liberty of a very uncommon character, if a piece of indifferent policy. Therle occurred almost we could suppose him seriously wishing the defeat no course of conduct by which, subjected as he was of his brothers and allies, and the victory of those to general suspicion, he could show himself once who had deprived him first of authority, and then more to his people in a clear and impartial point of of freedom. view-each of his measures was sure to be the theme A single glance at his situation must have con- of the most malignant commentary. If his conduct vinced the people of France, that Louis could assumed a popular aspect, it was accounted an act scarcely be sincere in desiring the continuance of the of princely hypocrisy; if it was like his opposition system to which he had given his adhesion as sove- to the departmental army, it would have been held reign; and the consciousness that they could not as intended to weaken the defence of the country; expect confidence where they themselves had made if it resembled his rejection of the decrees against ungenerous use of their power, added force to their the emigrants and refiractory priests, then it might be suspicions, and acrimony to the deep resentments ulrged as inferring a direct intention of bringing back which arose out of them. The people had identi- the old despotic system. flied themselves and their dearest interests (right or In short, all confidence was lost between the wrong, it signifies little to the result) with the Re- sovereign and the people, firom a concurrence of unvolution, and with the increasing freedom which it happy circumstances, in which it would certainly bestowed, or rather promised to bestow, in every be unjust to cast the blame exclusively on either succeeding change. The king, who had been the party, since there existed so many grounds for disregular opponent of every one of these innovations, trust and misunderstanding on both sides. The was in consequence regarded as the natural enemy noble and generous confidence which Frenchmen of the country, who, if he continued to remain at had been wont to repose in the personal character the helm of the executive government, did so of their monarch (that confidence, which the probity with the sole view of unning the vessel upon the of no man could deserve more than that of Louis) rocks. was withered, root and branch; or those in whose If there were any men in France generous enough breasts it still flourished were banished men, and to give the king credit for complete good faith with had carried the oriflamme, and the ancient spirit of the constitutionalists, his flight from Paris, and the French chivalry, into a camp not her own. The manifestoes which he left behind him, protesting rest of the nation, a scattered and intimidated rem. against the measures in which he had acquiesced, nant of' royalists excepted, were constitutionalists, as extorted from him by constraint, gave open proof who, friends rather to the crown than to the king as of Louis's real feelings. It is true, the king denied an individual, wished to preserve the form ofgovernany purpose of leaving the kingdom, or throwing mert, but without either zeal or attachment to Louis; himself into the hands of the foreign powers; but it or girondists, who detested his office as republicans; could escape no one, that such a step, however or jacobins, who hated his person. Every one, little it was calculated upon in the commencement therefore, assailed Louis; and it Mwas held enrolling of his flight, might very easily have become inevit- himself amongst aristocrats, the most avowed and able before its completion. It does not appear, hated enemies of the new order of things, if any from the behaviour of the escorts of dragoons and one lifted a voice in his defence, or even apology. hussars, that there was any attachment amongst the To this the influence of the revolutionary clubs, troops to the king's person; and had the mutiny of amounting to so many thousands, and of the daily Bouil16's forces against that general's authority taken press, almost the only kind of literature which France place after the king reached the camp, the only had left, added the fill tribute of calumny and insafety of Louis must hlave been in a retreat into the culpation. The jacobins attacked the person of the Austrian territory. This chance was so evident, king frolm the very commencement of the Revolution; that Bouil16 himself had provided for it, by request- for they desired that Louis should be dethroned, ing that the Austrian forces might be so disposed as even when some amongst thenm were leagued for to afford the king protection, should the emergency placing Orleans in his room. The girolndists, on the occur. Whatever, therefore, might be the king's contrary, would have been well contented to spare first experiment, the point to which he directed his the person of Louis; but they urged argulment after flight bore out those, who supposed and asserted argument in the journal which they directed, against that it must have ultimately terminated in his reunion the royal office. But upon the whole, the king, with his brothers; and that such a conclusion must whether in his royal or personal character, had bees have repeatedly occurrld to the king's thoughts. so long and uniformly calumuiated and mlisinterBut if the king was doubted and suspected before preted, that through most parts of France le was lie gave this decisive proof of his disinclination to the esteemed the enemy whom the people had most to constitution, there had surely happened nothing in dread, and whoml they were nmost interested to get the course of his beilg seized at Varennes, or tile rid of. In evidence of which it nmay be added, that circumstances of his reception- at Paris, tending to during all successive changes of parties, for the next reconcile him to the constitutional crown, which was year or two, the charge of a disposition towards a second time proffered him, and which he again, royalty was always made an aggravation of the ac LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. cusations which the parties brought against each declaration into better form. Ducos exclaimed, that other, and was considered as so necessary an ingre- the crimes of Louis alone formed a sufficient reason dient of the charge, that it was not omitted even for the abolition of monarchy. The motion was rewhen circumstances rendered it impossible. ceived and passed unanimously; and each side of Both parties in the Convention were thus pre- the hall, anxious to manifest their share in this pared to acquire popularity, by gratifying the al- great measure, echoed back to the other the new most universal preaudices against monarchy, and war.cly of Vice la RIpublique! Thus fell, at tre against the king. f'he girondists, constant to the voice of a wretched player and cut-throat, backed republican principles they entertained, had resolved by that of a renegade priest, the most ancient and to abolish the throne; but their audacious rivals most distinguished monarchy of' Europe. A few were prepared to go a step beyond them, by gratify- remarks may be permitted upon the new governing the popular spirit of vengeance which their own ment, the adoption of which had been welcomed calumnies had increased to such a pitch, by taking with so much gratulation. the life of the dethroned monarch. This was the It has been said, that the government which is great national crime which was to serve France for best administered is best. This maxim is true for a republican baptism, and which, once committed, the time, but for the time only; as good administrawas to be regarded as an act of definitive and dead- tion depends often on the life of individuals, or ly adhesion to the cause of the Revolution. But not other circumstances in themselves mutable. One contented with taking measures for the death of the would rather incline to say, that the government is monarch, this desperate but active faction resolved best calculated to produce the happiness of a nation, to anticipate their rivals in the proposal for the which is best adapted to the existing state of the abolition of royalty. country which it governs, and possesses at the, same The girondists, who counted much on the popula- time such internal means of regeneration as may rity which they were to attain by this favourite enable it to keep pace with the changes of circum-measure, were so far from fearing the anticipation of stances, and accommodate itself to the unavoidable the jacobins, that, under the idea of Orleans having alterations which must occur in a progressive state some interest remaining with Danton and others, of society. In this point of view, and even in the they rather expected some opposition on their part. patriarchal circle, the most natural form of governBut what was their surprise and mortification when * ment, in the early periods of' society, is monarchy, Manuel arose, and demanded that the first proposal or a republic. The father is head of his own family, submitted to the Convention should be the abolition the assembled council of the fathers governs the reof royalty! Ere the girondists could recover from public; or the patria potestas of the whole state is their surprise, Collot d'Herbois, a sorry comedian, bestowed upon some successful warrior or eminent who had been hissed from the stage, desired the legislator, who becomes king of' the tribe. But a motion to be instantly put to the vote. The girond- republic, in the literal acceptation, which supposes ists, anticipated in their scheme, had no resource all the individuals subject to its government to be left but to be clamorous in applauding the motion, consulted in council upon all ataitrs of the public, lest their hesitation had brought their republican cannot survive the most early period of existence. zeal into question. Thus all they could do was but It is only to be found around the council-fire of a to save their credit with the popular party, at a North American tribe of Indians; and even there, time when they expected to increase it to such a the old men, forming a sort of senate, have already height. Their antagonists had been so alert as to established a sort of aristocracy. As society adsteal the game out of their hands. vances, and the little state extends itself, ordinary The violence with which the various orators ex- matters of government are confided to delegates, or pressed themselves against monarchy of every com- exclusively grasped by some of the higher orders of plexion, and kings in general, was such as to show, the state. Rome, when she dismissed the Tarquins, either that they were in no state of mind composed the period to which the girondists were fond of asenough to decide on a great national measure, or similating that of the French Revolution, had already that the horrors of the massacres, scarce ten days its privileged body of' patricians, its senate, fiom remote, iampressed on them the danger of being which were exclusively chosen the consuls; until at lukewarm in the cause of the sovereign people, who a later period, and at the expense of many feuds were not only judges without resort, but the prompt with the patricians, the plebeians succeeded in obexecutioners of their own decrees. taining for their order many advantages. But the The Abb6 Gr6goire declared, that the dynasties state of Rome was not more republican, in the proof kiings were a race of devouring animals, who fed per sense, than before these concessions. The coron the blood of the people; and that kings were in porate citizens of Rome were indeed admitted into the moral order of things what monsters are in the some of the privileges of the nobles; but the quantity physical-that courts were the arsenals of crimes, of territory and of population over which these citiand the centre of corruption-and that the history zens extended their dominion was so great, that the of princes was the martyrology of the people. Fi- rural and unrepresented part of the inhabitants quite nally, that all the members of the Convention, being outnumbered that of the citizens who voted in the fully sensible of these self-evident truths, it was Comitia, and constituted the source of authority. needless to delay even for a moment the vote of There was the whole body of slaves, who neither abolition, reserving it to more leisure to put their were nor could be represented, being considered by the law as no farther capable of political or legal' 21st September, 1792. rights, than a herd of so many cattle; and there LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 95 were the numerous and extensive dominions, over same opportunity of forming a judgment; and the which, under the name of auxiliaries, Rome exer- affairs of such a state are too simple, and too little cised a right of absolute sovereignty. In fact, the complicated, to require frequent or prolonged disso called democracy was rather an oligarchy, dis- cussions. The same applies to small states, like persed more widely than usual, and vesting the go- Geneva, and some of the Dutch provinces, where vernment of an immense empire in a certain limited the inequality of wealth, if it exists in some in. number of the inhabitants of Rome called citizens, stances, is qualified by the consideration, that it is hearing a very small proportion in bulk to the gross gained in the same honourable pursuit of mercantile numberofthe inhabitants. These privileged persons traffic, where all fortunes are founded on tile same in some degree lived upon their votes; —the ambi- commercial system, and where the chance that has tious caressed them, fed them, caught their eyes made one man rich yesterday may to-morrow dewith magnificent exhibitions, and their ears with press him and raise another. Under such favourable extravagant eloquence, and by corrupting their prin- circumstances, republics may exist long and happily, ciples, at last united the small class of privileged providing they can prevent luxury from working the citizens themselves, under the very bondage in secret dissolution of their moral principles, or the which they had long kept their extensive empire. exterior force of more powerful neighbours from There is no one period of the Roman republic, in swallowing up their little community in the rage of which it can be said, considering the number of the conquest. persons governed relatively to those who had as ci- America must certainly be accounted a successtizens a share of that government by vote, or capacity ful attempt to establish a republic on a much larger of bearing office, that the people, as a whole, were scale than those we have mentioned. But that great fairly and fully represented. and flourishing empire consists, it must be remnermAll other republics of which we have any distinct bered, of a federative union of many states, which, account, including the celebrated states of Greece, though extensive in territory, are comparatively were of so small a size, that it was by no means thin in occupants. There do not exist in America, difficult to consult the citizens to a considerable in the same degree, those circumstances of a dense extent in the affairs of the state. Still this right of and degraded population, which occasion in the old being consulted was retained among the free citizens nations of Europe such an infinite difference of' knowof Greece. Slaves, who amounted to a very large ledge and ignorance, of wealth the most exuberant, proportion of the inhabitants, were never permitted and indigence the most horrible. No man in Ameany interference there, more than in Rome. Now, rica need be poor, if he has a hatchet and arms to as it was by slaves that the coarser, more debasing, use it. The wilderness is to him the same retreat and more sordid parts of the labour of the comma- which the world afforded to our first parents. His nity were performed, there were thus excluded family, if he has one, is wealth; if he is unincumfrom the privilege of citizens almost all those, who, bered with wife or children, he is the more easily by constant toil, and by the sordid character of provided for. A man who wishes to make a large the employments to which their fate condemned fortune, may be disappointed in America; but he them, might be supposed incapable of exercising who seeks, with a moderate degree of industry, political rights with due feelings of reflection and of only the wants which nature demands, is certain independence. It is not too much to say, in con- to find them. An immense proportion of the populaclIsion, that excepting in the earliest stage of hu- tion of thle United States consists of agriculturists, man society, there never existed a commulnity, in who live upon their own property, which is generally which was to be found that liberty and equality, of moderate extent, and cultivate it by their own which the French claimed for each individual in labour. Such a situation is peculiarly favourable the whole extent of their empire. to republican habits. The man who feels himself Not only the difficulty or impossibility of assigning really independent, - and so must each American to every person in France an equal portion of poli- who can use a spade or an axe, - will please himtical power, was one against which antiquity had self with the mere exertion of his firee-will, and never attempted to strlbggle, but the wealth and form a strong contrast to the hollov;ing, bawling, size of the late French emnpire were circumstances blustering rabble of a city, where a dram of liquor, which experience indutced wise statesmen to con- or the money to buy a meal, is sure to purchase cdude against the favourable issue of the experi- the acclamation of thousands, whose situation in ment. Those memorable republics which Montes- the scale of society is too low to permit their thinkquieu eulogises as being formned upon virtue, as the ing of their political right as a thing more valuable leading principle, inhabited the modest and seques- than to be bartered against the degree of advantage tered habitations where virtue is most often found. they may procure, or of license which they may In mountainous countries like those of the Swiss exercise, by placing it at the disposal of one candi.where the inhabitants are nearly of the same rank, date or another. and not very much disproportioned in substance, Above all, before considering the case of America and where they inhabit a small district or territory, as parallel with that of France, tile statesmen of the a republic seems the most natural form of govern- latter country should have observed one great and meot. Nature has to a certain extent established radical difference. In America, after the great an equality among the fathers of such a society, and change in their system had been effected by shaking there is no reason why policy should supplant it. off the sovereignty of the mother country, the states In their public meetings, they come together upon arranged their new government so as to mnake the the same general footing, and possess nearly the least possible alteration in the habits of thei people. 96 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Theyleft to a future and more convenient opportunity have above stated, France opposed a direct contrast. what farther innovations this great change might ren- Not only was the exorbitant influence of sucha capider necessary, being more desirous to fix the gene ral tal as Paris a bar to the existence of that republican outlines of a firm and orderly government, although virtue which is the essence of a popular form of containing some anomalies, than to cast all existing government, but there was ndthing like fixed or authorities loose, in order that they might produce settled principles in the minds of the people of a constitution more regular in theory, but far less France at large. Everything had, within the last likely to be put into effectual execution than those few years, been studiously and industriously alterold forms under which the people had grown up, ed, from the most solemn rites of the Church of and to which they were accustomed to render regu- Rome, to the most trifling article of' dress; from lar obedience. They abolished no nobility, for they the sacrament of the mass to the fashion of a shoehad none in the colonies to abolish; but in fixing the tie. Religion was entirely out of the question, and basis of their constitution, they balanced the force the very slightest vestiges of an established church and impulse of the representative body of the states were about to be demolished. Republican virtue by a senate, designed to serve the purposes an- (with the exception of that of the soldiers, whose swered by tile House of Lords in the British con- valour did honour to the name) consisted in wearstitution. The governors of the different states also, ing a coarse dress and foul linen, swearing the most in whose power the executive government of each vulgar oaths, obeying without scruple the most v'!was reposed, continued to exercise the same duties lanous mandates of the Jacobin Club, and assuming as before, without much other change than that they the title, manner, and sentiments of'a real sans-culotte. were named by their fellow-citizens, instead of be- The country was besides divided into an infinite ing appointed by the sovereign of the mother coun- variety of factions, and threatened with the plague try. The Congress exercised the rights which suc- of civil war. The streets of the metropolis had been cess had given them over the loyalists with as much lately the scene of a desperate conflict, and yet temperance as could be expected after the rage of more recently of a horrible massacre. On the frona civil war. Above all, the mass of the American tiers, the country was pressed by armies of invadpopulation was in a sound healthy state, and well ers. It was a crisis in which the Romans, with all fitted to bear their share in the exercise of political their love of freedom, would have called in the asrights. They were independent, as we have noticed, sistance of a dictator; yet it was then. when, withand had comparatively few instances amongst them out regarding either the real wants of the country of great wealth, contrasted with the most degrading or the temper of its inhabitants, France was erected indigence. They were deeply imbued with a sense into a Republic, a species of government the most of religion, and the morality which is its fruit. They inconsistent with energetic, secret, and successful had been brought up under a friee government, and councils. in the exercise of the rights of freemen; and their These considerations could not have escaped the fancies were not liable to be excited, or their under- girondists. Neither could they be blind to the fact, standings made giddy, with a sudden elevation to that each republic, whatever its pretensions to freeprivileges, the nature of which was unknown, to dom, has committed to some high officer of the state, them. The republic of America, moreover, did not under the name of doge, stadtholder, president, or consist of one huge and populous country, with an other title, the custody of the executive power; overgrown capital, where. the legislative body, from the obvious and undeniable principle, that, cooped up in its precincts like prisoners, were liable with safety to fieedom, it cannot be lodged in the to be acted upor by the applauses or threats of a hands of the legislative body. But kiowing this desperate rabble Each state of America carries on to be the case, they dared not even hint that such a its own immediate government, and enjoys unmo- separation of powers was indispensable, awvare that lested the privilege of adopting such plans as are their fierce enemies, the jacobins,. while they would best suited to their own peculiar situation, without lhave seized on the office withoult scrul —le, would, embarrassing themselves with that ideal uniformity, with the other hand, sign an accusation of MIse-nrathat universal equality of rights, which it was the lion against them for proposing it. Thus crude, vain object of the French Constituent Assembly to raw, and ill-considered, did one of the most imlporestablish. The Americans know that the advantage tant changes that could be wrought upon a country of a constitution, like that of a garment, consists pass as hastily through this legislative body as the neither in the peculiarity of the fashion nor in the change of a decoration in the theatre. fineness of the textur e, but in its being well adapted The alteration was, notwithstanding, hailed by the to the person Nwho receives protection fiom it. In community at large, as the consummnation of the short, the sagacity of Washington was not more ap- high fortunes to which France was called. True, parent in his military exploits than in the manly and half Europe was in arlms at her gates-but the nawise pautse which he made in the march of re voln- tion who opposed their swords to them were become tion, so soon as peace gave an opportunity to inter- republicans. True, the most fiightftl disorder had rupt its impulse. To replace law and social order stalked abroad, in the shape of armed slaughter-it upon an established basis was as much the object was but the effervescence and delirium of a repubof this great general as it seems to have been that lican consciousness of freedlom. Peculation hadl of the statesmen of Paris, civilians as they were, to crept into the finance, and theft had fingered the protract a period of insurrection, murder, and revo. diamonds of the state-but the name of a republic lutionary tyranny. was of itself sufficient to restore to the blackest To such peculiarities- and advantages: as those- we jacobin of the gang, the moral virtues of a Cincinna LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 97 tus. The mere word Republic was now the univer- mit, so the republicans of France, we mean the sal medicine for all evils which France could corn- desperate and outrageous bigots of the Revolution, plain of, and its regenerating operations were looked read history, to justify, by classical instances, their for with as much faith and confidence, as if the salu- public and private crimes. Informers, those scourges tary effects of the convocation of the Estates of the of a state, were encouraged to a degree scarce Kingdom, once worshiped as a panacea with simi- known in ancient Rome in the time of the emnperors lar expectations, had not deceived the hopes of the though Tacitus has hurled his thunders against country. them, as the poison and pest of his time. The duty Meantime, the actors in the new drama began to of lodging such informations was unblushingly urged play the part of Romans with the most ludicrous so- as indispensable. The safety of the Republic being lemnity. The name of citizen was now the universal the supreme charge of every citizen, he was on no salutation to all classes; even when a deputy spoke account to hesitate in denozmncing, as it was termed, to a slhoe-black, that fond symbol of equality was any one whomsoever, or howsoever connected with regularly exchanged betwixt them; and, in the or- him,-the friend of his counsels, or the wife of his dinary intercourse of society, there was the most bosomn,-providing lie had reason to suspect the deludicrous affectation of republican brevity and sim- voted individual of the crime of incivisi, —a crime plicity. "When you conquer Brussels," said Collot the more mysteriously dreadful, that no one knew d'Herbois, the actor, to Gene-al Dunmourier, "my exactly its nature. wife, who is in that city, has my permnission to re- The virtue, even of comparatively good men, gave ward you with a kiss." The general was ungallant way under the temptations held out by these fearful enough not to profit by this tlattering permission. innovations on the state of morals. The gilonldists His quick wit caught the ridicule of stuch an ejacu- themselves did not scruple to avail themselves of the lation as that which Camus addressed to him: "Ci- villany of others, when what they called the cause tizen general," said the deputy, " thou dost meditate of the country, in reality that of their own faction, the part of Cesar; but remember I will be Brutus, could be essentially served by it; but it was reserved and plunge a poniard in your bosom."-" My dear for-the jacobins to carry to the most hideous extreCamnus," said the lively soldier, who had been in mity the principle. which made an exclusive idol of worse dangers than were involved in this classical patriotism, and demanded that every other virtue, as threat, "I am no more like Caesar than you are like well as the most tender and honourable dictates of Brutus; and an assurance that I should live till you feeling and conscience, should be offered up at the kill me, would be equal to a brevet of inmmortality." shrine of the Republic, as children were of old made With a similar assumption of republican dignity, to pass through the fire to Moloch. men graced their children, baptized or unbaptized, Another eruption of republican zeal was directed withi the formidable names of Roman heroes, and the against the antiquities and fine arts of France. The folly of Anacharsis Klootz seenied to become general name of king being pronounced detestable, all the througholt the nation. remembrances of royalty were to be destroyed. Republican virtues were of course adopted or This task was committed to the rabble; and although affected. The duty of mothers nursing their own a work dishonourable to their employers, and highly children, so eloquently insisted on by Rousseau, and detrimental both to history and the fine arts, it was nevertheless so difficult to practise under the forms nevertheless infinitely more harmless than those in of modern life, was generally adopted in Paris; and which the same agents had been lately employed. as the ladies had no idea that this process of parental The royal sepulchres at St-Denis, near Paris, attention was to interfere with the usual round of the ancient cemetery of the Bourbons, the Valois, entertainment, mothers, with their infants dressed and all the long line of French monarchs, wvere not in the most approved Roman costune, wvere to be only defaced on the outside, but utterly broken seen at the theatre, with the little disastrous victinms down, the bodies exposed, the bones dispersed, and of republican alfectation, whose wailings, as well the poor remains, even of Henry IV. of Navarre, so as other embarrassments occasioned by their pre- long the idol of the French nation, exposed to the sence, fbrmed sometimes disagreeable interruptions rude gaze, and irreverent grasp, of the banditti who to the amusements of the evening, and placed the committed the sacrilege. inexperienced matrons in an awlkward situation. Le Noir, an artist, had tIhe courage to interpose These were follies to be laughed at. Btot when for preventing the total dispersion of the materials of men read Livy, for the sake of discovering what de- those monuments, so valuable to history and to litegree of private crime might be committed under the rature. He procured, with difficulty, permission to mask of' public virtue, the affair became more se- preserve and collect them in a house and garden in rious. The deed ol' the younger Brutus served any the Rue des Petits Aunlstins, whlere their tmutiman as an apology to betray to ruin and to death a lated remains continued in safety till after the refriend, or a patron, whose patriotism mnight not be storation of the Bourbons. The enterprise was acof the pitch which suited the time. Under the complished at much personal risk; for if the people example of the elder Brutus, tile nearest ties of he had to deal with had suspected that the zeal blood were repeatedly made to give way before the which he testified bfor the preservation of the monuferocity of party zeal-a zeal too often assumed for mnents, was rather that of a royalist than of an antithme most infamous and selfish purposes. As some quary, his idolatry would have been. punished by fanatics of yore studied the Old Testament for tlhe instant death. purpose of finding examples of bad actions to vindi- But the demolition of those ancientand sacred mos cate those which themselves were tempted to com- numents was comparatively a trivialmodie of showing VOL. VI. 13 98 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. hatred to royalty. The vengeance of tihe republi- and justice should resume their usual channels cans was directed against the emigrants, who, armed through France, yielding to the people protection or unarmed, or from whatever cause they were ab- for life, personal liberty, and private property, and sent from France, were now to be at once confound- affording themselves, who held the reins of governed in a general set of decrees. 1. All emigrants ment, the means of guiding them honourably, safely, taken in arms were to suffer death within twenty- and with advantage to the conlmnunity. four hours. 2. Foreigners who had quitted the The philosophical statesmen, upon whom these service of France since the 14th July, 1789, were, considerations were not lost, felt nevertheless great contrary to the law of nations, subjected to the same embarrassment in the mode of interposing their propenalty. 3. All emigrants who had sought refuge in tection in the king's favour. Their republicanism was foreign parts, were banished for ever from their the feature on which they most prided themselves. native country, without any distinction, or in- They delighted'to claim the share in the downfall of quiry into the cause of their absence. Tile effects of Louis, which was due to their colleague Barbaroux, these unfortunate exiles were already under seques- and the federates of Marseilles and Brest. It was upon tration, and by the assignats which were issued on their accession to this deed that the girondists rested the strength of this spoliation, Cambon, who managed their claims to popularity; and with what front could the finances, carried on the war, and supplied the they now step forward the defenders, at least the expenses of government. apologists, of the king whomn they had aided to deThe emigrants who had fled abroad were not throne; or what advantage would not the jacobins more severely treated than those supposed to share obtain over them, when they represented them to their sentiments who had remained at home. Per- the people as lukewarm in their zeal, and as falling sons suspected, from whatever cause, or denounced. off from the popular cause, in order to preserve the by private malice as disinclined to the new system, life of the dethroned tyrant? The girondist ministers were piled anew into the prisons, which had been felt these embarrassments, and suffered themselves emptied on the 2d and 3d of September, and where to be intimidated by them from making any open, the blood of their predecessors in misfortune was yet manly, and direct interference in the king's cause. visible on the walls. The refractory priests were A woman, and, although a woman, not the least particularly the objects of this species of oppression, distinguished among the girondist party, had the couand at length a summary decree was made for trans- rage to urge a decisive and vigorous defence of the porting them in the mass from the land of France to unhappy prince, without having recourse to the veil the unhealthy colony of Guiana, in South Anierica. of a selfish and insidious policy. This was the wife Many of these unfortunate men came to a more of Roland, one of the most remarkable women of speedy fate. her time. A worthless, at least a careless father, But the most august victims destined to be sacri- and the doating folly of her mother, had left her ficed at the altar of republican virtue were the when young to pick out such an education as she royal family in the Temple, whose continuing in could, among the indecencies and impieties of existence seemed, doubtless, to the leaders, a daily French philosophy. Yet, though her Memoirs afford reproach to their procrastination, and an object to revolting specimens of indelicacy, and exaggerated wvhich, when the present spirit should abate, the af- sentiments in politics, it cannot be denied that the fections of the bewildered people might return with tenor of her life was innocent and virtuous in practice, a sort of reaction. The jacobins resolved that Louis and her sentiments unperverted, when left to their should die, were it only that the world might see natural course. She saw tile great question in its they were not ashamed to attest, with a bloody seal, true and real position; she saw, that it was only by the truth of the accusations they had brought interposing themselves betwixt the legislative body against him. of France and the commission of a great crime, that On the other hand, there was every reason to the girondists could either remain finn in the governhope that the girondists would exert, in protection ment, attract the confidence of honest men of any of the unhappy prince, whatever vigour they de- description, or have the least chance of putting a rived from their predominating influence in the Con- period to the anarchy which was devouring their vention. They were, most of them, men whose country. "Save the life of Louis," she said; "save philosophy, though it had driven them on wild poli. him by an open and avowed defence. It is the only tical speculations, had not destroyed the sense of measure that can assure your safety-the only moral right and wrong, especially now that the course which can fix the stamp of public virtue on struggle was ended betwixt monarchy and demo- your government." Those whom she addressed liscracy, and the only question remaining concerned tened with admiration; but, like one who has rashly the use to be made of their victory. Although they climbed to a height where his brain grows giddy, had aided the attack on the Tuileries, on the 10th of they felt their own situation too tottering to permit August, which they considered as a combat, their their reaching a willing hand to support another, hands were unstained with the massacres of Sep- who was in still more imminent peril. tember, which as we shall presently see, they urged Their condition was indeed precarious. A large as an atrocious crime against their rivals, the ja- party in the Convention avowedly supported them; cobins. Besides, they had gained the prize, and and in the Plain, as it was called, a position held were in possession of the government; and, like the by deputies affecting independence, both of the constitutionalists before them, the girondists now girondists and the jacobins, and therefore occupying desired that here, at length, the revolutionary career the neutral ground betwixt them, sate a large numns - should terminate., and that the ordinary forms of law ber who, from the timidity of temper which makes LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.. 99 sheep and other weak animals Lerd together in ties, led each by one of the triumvirs whom we numbers, had formed themselves into a faction, have already described, and acting in concert, for which could at any time cast decision into either the common purpose of propelling the Revolution scale which they d!avollred. But they exercised this by the same violent rmeans which had begun it-of power of inclining the balance, less with a view to unsheathing the sword of terror, and making it pass carrying any political point, than with that. of secur. for that of justice-and, in the name of liberty, of Ing their own safety. In ordinary debates, they letting murder and spoil, under the protection of usually gave their votes to the ministers, both be- armed ruffians of the basest condition, continue cause they were ministers, and also because the to waste and ravage the departments of France. But miilder sentimteats of the girondists were more con- although agreed in this main object, the triumvirs genial to the feelings of men, who would gladly were extremely suspicious of each other, and jealous have seen peace and order restored. But then these of the rights each might claim in the spoil which timlid m:relab rs of the Plain also assiduously courted they contemplated. Danton despised Robespierre the jacobins, avoided joining in any measure which for his cowardice, Robespierre feared the ferocious should give them mortal offence, and purchased a audacity of Danton; and with him to fear was to sort of iilmmunity fiom their revenge, by showving hate-and to hate was-when the hour arrived-to plainly that they deserved only contempt. In this destroy. They differed in their ideas also of the mode neutral party tile gleanings of the defeated factions of exercising their terrible system of government. of nmoderates and of constitutionalists were chiefly Danton had often in his mouth the sentence of Mato be found; resigning themselves to the circum- chiavel, that when it becomes necessary to shed stances of the moment, consulting their own safety blood, a single great massacre has a more dreadful as they gave their votes, and waiting, perhaps, till effect than a series of successive executions. Roless disorderly days might restore to them the pri- bespierre, on the contrary, preferred the latter provilege of expressing their actual sentiments. The cess as the best way of sustaining the reign of terror. chief of these trucklers to fortune was Barrere, a The appetite of Marat could not be satiated but by man of wit and eloquence, prompt invention, supple combining both modes of murder. Both Danton opinions, and convenient conscience. His terror of and Robespierre kept aloof from the sanguinary the jacobins was great, and his mode of disarming Marat. This position of the chiefs of the jaccbins their resentment, so far as he and the neutral party towards each other seemed to indicate, that one of were concerned, was often very ingenious. When the three at least might be detached fiom the rest, by argument or by eloquence the girondists had ob- and might bring his ruffians in opposition to those of tained some triumph in the assembly, which seemed his late comrades, in case of any attempt onil the asto reduce their adversaries to despair, it was then semrnbly, and policy recommended Danton, not Barrere, and the members of the Plain, threw them- averse, it is said, to the alliance, as the most useful selves between the victors and vanquished, and, by auxiliary. some proposal of an insidious and neutralizing na- Among the three monsters mentioned, Danton tare, prevented the completion of the conquest, and had that energy which the girondists wanted, and afforded a safe retreat to the defeated. was well acquainted with the secret movements of The majorities, therefore, which the girondists those insurrections to which they possessed no key. obtained in the assembly, being partly eked out by His vices of wrath, luxury, love of spoil, dreadful this heartless and fluctuating band of auxiliaries, as they were, are attributes of nmortal men; —the could never be supposed to arm them with solid or envy of Robespierre, and the instinctive blood-thirseffective authority. It was absolutely necessary tiness of Marat were the properties of fiends. that they should exhibit such a power of protecting Danton, like the huge serpent called the Boa, might themnselves and those who should join them, as be approached with a degree ofsafety. when gorged might plainly show that the force was on their side. with prey-but the appetite of Marat for blood was This point once established, they might reckon like the horse-leech, which says, Not enough-and Barrlre and his party as faithful adherents. But the slaughterous envy of Robespierre was like the while the jacobins retained the power of surrounding gnawing worm that dieth not, and yields no interval the Convention attheir pleasure with an insurrection of repose. In glutting Danton with spoil, and furof the suburbs, without the deputies possessing nishing the means of indulging his luxury, the giother means of defence than arose out of their in- rondists might have purchased his support; but violability, the adherence of those whose chief object nothing under the supreme rule in France would in voting was to secure their personal safety, was have gratified Robespierre; and an unlimited torneither to be hoped nor expected. The girondists, rent of the blood of that unhappy country could therefore, looked anxiously round, to secure, if' it alone have satiated Marat. If a colleague was to were possible, the possession of such a force, to be chosen out of that detestable triumvirate, unquesprotect themselves and their timorous allies. tionably Danton was to be considered as the most It has been thought, that a more active, more eligible. artful body of ministers, and who were better ac- On the other hand, men like Brissot, Vergniaud, quainted with the mode of carrying on revolutionary and others, whose attachment to republicanism was movements, might at this period have secured an mixed with a spirit of virtue and honour, might be important auxiliary, by detaching the formidable well adverse to the idea ofcontaminating their party Danton fi-om the ranks of the enemy, and receiving with such an auxiliary, intensely stained as Danton him into their own. It must be observed, that the was by his share in the massacres of September camp of the jacobins contained three separate par- They might well doubt, whether any physical force 100 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. which his revolutionary skill, and the artns it could departmental guard, and resign themselves to the put in motion, might bring to their standard, would guardianship of the faithful citizens of Paris. compensate for the moral horror with which the This city of Paris was at the time under the power presence of such a grisly proselyte must strike all of the intrusive Community (or Common Council), who had any sense of honour or justice. They, many of whom had forced themselves into office therefore, discouraged tile advances of Danton, and on the 10th of August. It was the first act of their resolved to comprise him with.Marat and Robes- administration to procure the assassination of Manpierre in the impeachment against the 3acobin chiefs, dat, the commandant of the National Guard; and which they designed to bring forward in the assembly. their accompts, still extant, bear testimony that it The most obvious means by which the girondists was by their instrumentality that the murderers of could ascertain their safety, and the freedom of September were levied and paid. Trained jacobins debate, was by levying a force from the several and pitiless ruffians themselves, this civic,: body departments, each contributing its quota, to be called had raised to be their agents and assistants an a Departmental Legion, which was to be armed and unusual number of minicipal officers, who were at paid to act as a guard upon the National Convention. once their guards, their informers, their spies, The subject was introduced by Roland in a report* their jailers, and their executioners. They had, to the assembly, and renewed on the next day by besides, obtained a majority of the inhabitants in Kersaint, a spirited girondist, who candidly declared most of the sections, whose votes placed them and the purpose of his motion: "It was time," he said, their agents in command of the National Guard; "that assassins and their prompters should see that and the pikemen of the suburbs were always ready the law had scaffolds." to second their excellent community, even against The girondists obtained, that a committee of six the Convention itself, which, in point of freedom members should be named, to report on the state of of action, or effective power, made a figure scarthe capital, on the encouragement afforded to mas- cely more respectable than that of' the king after sacre, and on the mode of forming a departmental his return from Varennes. force for the defence of the metropolis. The decree Roland almost every day carried to the Convenwas carried for a moment, but on the next day the tion his vain complaints, that the course of the law, jacobins demanded that it should be revoked,- deny- for which he was responsible, was daily crossed, ing that there was any occasion for such a defence thwarted, and impeded, by the proceedings of this to the Convention, and accusing the ministers of an usurping body. The considerable funds of the city intention to surround themselves with a force of itself, with those of its hospitals and other public armed satellites, in order to overawe the good city establishments of every kind, were dilapidated by of Paris, and carry into effect their sacrilegious plan these revolutionary intruders, and applied to their of dismembering France. Rebecqui andBarbaroux own purposes. The minister at length, in a fobmal replied to this charge by impeaching Robespierre, report to the Convention, inculpated the commnon their own testimony, of aspiring to the post of nity in these and such like offences. In another dictator. The debate became more tempestuous part of the report, he intimated a plot of the jacothe more that the tribunes or galleries of the hall bins to assassinate the girondists, possess themselves were filled with the violent followers of the jacobin of the government by arms, and chuse Robespierre party, who shouted, cursed, and yelled, to back the dictator. Louvet denounced Robespierre as a traiexclamations and threats of their leaders in the tor, and Barbaroux proposed a series of decrees. assembly. While the girondists were exhausting The first, declaring the Convention fiee to leave themselves to find out terms of reproach for Marat, any city where they should be exposed to constraint that prodigy stepped forth, and raised the disorder and violence. The second, resolving to form a to the highest, by avowing himself the author and conventional guard. The third, declaring that the advocate for a dictatorship. The anger of the Con- Convention should form itself into a court of justice, vention seemed thoroughly awakened, and Verg- for trial of state crimes. The fourth arnnouncing, niaud read to the deputies an extract from Marat's that in respect the sections of Patris had declared journal, in which, after demanding two hundred and their sittings permanent, that resolution should be sixty thousand heads, which was his usual stint, he abrogated. abused the Convention in the grossest terms, and Instead of adopting the energetic measures proexhorted the people TO ACT-words of which the posed by Barbaroux, the Convention allowed Roimport was by this time perfectly understood. bespierre several days for his defence against This passage excited general horror, and the vic- Louvet's accusation, and ordered to the bar ten tory for a moment seemed in the hands of the girond- members of the community, from whom they were ists; but they did not pursue it with sufficient contented to accept such slight apologies and evavigour. The meeting passed to the order of the day; sive excuses, for their unauthorized interference and Marat, in ostentatious triumph, produced a with the power of the Convention, as these insopistol, with which he said he would have blown out lent demagogues condescended to offer. his brains, had a decree of accusation been passed The accusation of Robespierre, though boldly against him. The girondists not only lost the advan- urged by Louvet and Barbaroux, was also eluded, tage of discomfiting their enemies by the prosecution by passing to the order of the day; and thus the Conof one of their most noted leaders, but were cornm- vention showed plainly, that however courageous pelled for the present to abandon their plan of a they had been against their monarch, they dared not + 24th September. * 5th November. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 101 protect the liberty which thev boasted of, against Perhaps the girondists entertained the fear, first, the encroachmaents of fiercer demagogues than them- that Dumourier's influence with his troops might selves. prove as inefficient as that of La Fayette, and leave Barbaroux endeavoured to enmbolden the as- them to atone with their heads for such a measure sembly, by blringing once more from his native city attempted and unexecuted. Of, secondly, that if a body of those fiery Marseillais, who had formed the manoeuvre proved successful, they would be the van-guard of the mob on the 10th of August. He fireed fronm fear of the jacobins, only to be placed succeeded so far in his scheme that a few scores of under the restraint of a military chief, whose mind these federates again appeared in Paris, where their was well understood to be in favour of monarchy altered demeanour excited surprise. Their songs of one kind or other. So that, conceiving they saw were again chaunted, their wild Moresco dances and equal risk in the alternative, they preferred the hagestures again surprised the Parisians; and the more, zard of seeing their fair and favourite vision of a as in their choruses they imprecated vengeance on republic overthrown by the pikes of the jacobins, the jacobins, called out for mercy to the " poor rather than by the bayonets of Dumourier's army. tyrant," so they termed the king, and shouted in the- They turned, therefore, a cold ear to the proposal, cause of peace, order, and the Convention. which afterwards they would gladly have accepted, The citizens of Paris, who could not reconcile the when the general had no longer the power to,carry songs and exclamations of the Marseillais with their it into execution. appearance and character, concluded that a snare Thus the factions, so intimately united for the was laid for them, and abstained from uniting them- destruction of royalty, could not, when that step selves with nmen whose sincerity was so suspicious. was gained, combine for any other purpose save the The Marseillais themselves, discouraged with their great crime of murdering their deposed sovereign. cold reception, or not liking their new trade of Nay, while the jacobins and girondists seemed maintaining order so well as their old one of over- moving hand in hand to the ultimate completion setting it, melted away by degrees, and were soon of that joint undertaking, the union was only in outno more seen or heard of: Some of the Breton fe- ward appearance; for the girondists, though apderates, kept in the interest of the girondists, by parently acting in concert with their stern rivals, their countrymen the deputies Kersaint and Kerve- were in fact dragged after them by comnpulsion, legan, remained still attached to the Convention, and played the part less of actors than subdued though their numbers were too few to afford them captives in this final triumph of democracy. They protection in any general danger. were filly persuaded of the king's innocence as a If the Memoirs of Duinourier are to be relied on, man, of his inviolability and exemption from crithat active and intriguing general presented to the minal process as a constitutional authority. They girondists another resource, not free certainly from were aware that the deed mreditated would render hazardl or difficulty to the republican government, France odious to all the other nations of Europe; which was the idol of these theoretical statesmen, and that the jacobins, to whom war and confusion but affording, ift' his means had proved adequate to were natural elements, were desirous for that very the execution of his plans, a certain bulwark against reason to bring Louis to the scaffold. All this the encroachments of the hideous anarchy threatened was plain to them, and yet their pride as philosoby the jacohin ascendancy. phers made themr ashamed to be thought capable General Dunlourier was sufficiently hated by the (.f interesting themselves in the fate of a tyrant; jacobins, notwvithstanding the successes which he and their desire of getting the French nation unhad gained on the part of' France over foreign ene- der their own exclusive government, induced theum mies, to induce him to feel the utmost desire of to consent to anything rather than protect the obputting down their usurped powner; but he was under noxious though innocent sovereign, at the hazard of the necessity of acting with great caution. The bad losing their popularity, and forfeiting their dearlysuccess of' La Fayette, deserted by his army as soon won character of being true republicans. as he attempted to lead them against Paris, was in A committee of twenty-four persons had been apitself discouraging; but Dlumourier was besides con- pointed early in the session of the Convention, to scions that the jacobin clubs, together with the com- inquire into, and report upon, the grounds for accusmnissioners of the Convention with Danton at their ing Louis. Their report was brought up on the head, had been actively engaged in disorganizing his 1st of November, 1792, and a more loathsome tissue army, and diminishing his influence over them. Thus of confusion and falsehood never was laid upon the circumstanced, lie naturally resolved to avoid hazard- table of such an assembly. All acts that had been done ing any violent measure without the support of the by the ministers in every department, which could be Convention, in case of being deserted by his army. twisted into such a shape as the times called criBut lie affirms that he repeatedly infobrmed the gi- minal, were charged as deeds, fobr which the soverondists, then predominant in the assembly, that if reign was himself responsible; and the burthen of they could obtain a decree, but of four lines, an- the whole was to accuse the king, when le had thorizing stuch a measure, lie was ready to march to scarcely a single regiment of guards even at his noParis at the head of a chosen body of troops, who minal disposal, of nourishing the intention of maswvould have been willing to obey such a summons; sacring the Convention, defended by thirty thousand and that lie would by this means have placed the National Guards, besides the federates a:.d tLe Convention in a situation, when they might have set militia of the suburbs. the jacobins and their insurrectionary forces at ab- The Convention were rather ashamed ~ of this solute defiance. report, and would scarce permit it to be printed. " ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ _ _ 102 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. So soon as it appeared, two or three persons, who of projects for the king's service, on which be cerwere therein mentioned as accomplices of particular tainly never acted, probably never approved of; and acts charged against the king, contradicted tile re- perhaps never saw. The utmost to which lie could port upon their oath.' An additional charge was be liable, was such penalty as may be due to one brought under the following mysterious circunl- who retains possession of plans submitted to his constances:-Gamin, a locksmith of Versailles, com- sideration, but which have in no shape obtained his inunicated to Roland about the latter end of De- assent. It was sufficiently hard to account Louis cember, that in the beginning of May, 1792, he had responsible fobr such advice of' his ministers as lie been employed by the king to secrete an iron chest, really adopted; but it was a dreadfiul extension of or cabinet, in the wall of a certain apartment in the his responsibility to make him answerable for such Tuileries, which he disclosed to the ministers of as he had virtually rejected. Besides which, the justice. IIe added a circumstance which throws story of Gamin was so self contradictory in one cirdiscredit on his whole story, namely, that the king cumstance, and so doubtful in others, as to carry gave him with his own hand a glass of wvine, after no available proof that the papers had been in the taking which he was seized with a cholic, followed king's possession; so that this new charge was as by a kind of paralysis, which deprived him for groundless as those brought lp by the first committee, fourteen months of the use of his limbs, and the and, arguing upon the known law of any civilized power of working for his, bread. The inference of country, the accusations against him ought to have the wretch was, that the king had attempted to been dismissed, as founded on the most nlotol-ious ipoison him; which those may believe who can nlum- injustice. ber fourteen months betwixt the beginning of May There was one circumstance which probably and the end of December in the same year. This urged those into whose hands Louis had fallen, to gross falsehood utterly destroys Gamin's evidence; proceed against his person to the uttermost. They and as the king always denied his knowledge of the knew that, in English history, a king had been conexistence of such a chest with such papers, we are dem-ned to death by his subjects, and were resolved reduced to suppose, either that Gamin had been that France should not remain behind England in employed by one of the royal ministers, and had the exhibition of a spectacle so interesting and edibrought the king personally into the tale for the fyinug to a people newly regenerated. This parallel greater grace of his story, or that the papers found case would not perhaps have been thought a worthy in some other place of safety had been selected, precedent in other counrtries; but in France there is and put into the chest by the jacobin commissioners, a spirit of wild enthusiasm, a desire of following out then employed in surveying and searching the pa- an example even to the most exaggerated point, and lace, with the purpose of trumping up evidence of outdoing, if possible, what other nations have against the king. done before them. This had doubtless its influence Roland acted very imprudently in examining the in causing Louis to be brought to the bar in 1792, contents of the chest alone and without witness, like Charles of England in 1648. instead of calling in the commissioners aforesaid, The French statesmen did not pause to reflect, who were in the palace at the time. This was per- that the violent death of Charles only paved tlhe haps done with the object of putting aside such pa- way for a series of years spent in servitude under pers as might, in that hour of fear and uncertainty, military despotism, and then to restoration of the have brought into danger some of his own party or legitimate sovereign. Had they regarded the preceffiends. One of importance, however, was found, dent on this side, they would have obtained a glimpse which the jacobins turned into an implement against into futurity, and might have presaged whatl; ere the girondists. It was an overture from that party to be the consequences of the death of Louis. Neiaddressed to the king, shortly before the 10th of ther did the French consider, that by a great part August, engaging to oppose the motion for the for- of the English nation the execution of Charles Stuart feiture of the king, providing Louis would recal to is regarded as a national crime, and the anniversar- y his councils the three discarded ministers of their still observed as a day of fasting and penitence; that faction. others who condemn the king's conduct in and preThe contents of the chest were of a very miscella- ceding the Civil War, do, like the whig Churchill, neous nature. The documents consisted of letters, still consider his death as an 1nconstitutional acmemorials, and plans, from different persons, and tion;~ that the number is small indeed who think it at different dates, offering advice, or tendering sup- * Unhappy Stuart! harshly thcugh that name port to the king, and proposing plans for the frieedom Grates on my ear, I should have died with shame, of his person. The royalist project of Mirabeai, To see my king before his slbjects sand, in his latter days, was found amongst the rest; in And at their bar hold up his royal hand; consequence of which his body was dragged out of At their command to hear the monarch plead, the Pantbhon, formerly the Church of Ste-Genevieve, By their decrees lo see that monarch bleed. now destined to receive the bodies of the great mIen What though thy faults were many, and'were greatWhat though they shook the fabric of the state? ofthe Re vol ution, but whose lodgings shifted as often as if they had been taken by the month. royalty secure thy person stood, The documents, as we have said, consisted chiefly And sacrediniters, wthe foutai obuse their trust, Vile ministers, who dared abuse their trust, M* i. de Septeuil, in particular, quoted as being the agent Who dared seduce a king to be unjtust, I y whom Louis XVI. -was said to have transmitted money Vengeance, witlhjustice leagued, with power made st rong, to his brothers when in exile, positively denied the charge, Had nobly crush'd-The king can do no wrong. sad made aflidavit accordilngly. CHIJRCHILL'S Cotham. CHURCHILL'S Gotlam.4 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 103 justifiable even on the precarious grounds of state t which, far from defending his person, then in the necessity; and that it is barely possible a small por- custody of the assembly, was likely to place it in tion of enthusiasts may still exist, who glory in the the most imminent danger. And in the very last deed as an act of popular vengeance. stave, when he received private notice that there But even among this last description of persons, were individuals determined to save his life at peril the French regicides would find themselves entirely of their own, he forkade the enterprise. "Let not a at a loss to vindicate the execution of Louis by the drop of blood be shed on my account," le said;" I similar fate of Charles; and it would he by cour- would not consent to it for the safety of my crown. tesy only, if at all, that they could be admitted to I never will purchase mere life at such a rate." the honours of the sitting at a calves-head clbh. These were sentiments perhaps fitter fr tile pious The comparison between these unhappy monarchs sectaries of the community of Friends, than for the fails in almost every point, excepting in the closing king of a great nation; but, such as they were, Louis scene; and no parallel can, with justice to either, felt and conscientiously acted on them. And yet be dravwn betwixt them. The most zealous cavalier his subjects could compare his character, and his wvill, in these enlightened days, admit, that the pretended guilt, with the bold and haughty Stuart, early government of Charles was marked by many who, in the course of the Civil ~War, bore arms in efforts to extend the prerogative beyond its legal person, and charged at the head of his own regibounds; that there were instances of oppressive ment of Guards! fines, cruel punishments by mutilation, long and Viewed in iis kingly duty, the conduct of Louis severe imprisonment in distant forts and castles; is equally void of blame; unless it be that blame exertions of authority which no one seeks to justify, which attaches to a prince, too yielding and mild to and which those who are the king's apologists can defend the just rights of his crown. He yielded, only endeavour to mitigate, by alleging the prece- with ieeble strugglingD, to evely demand in succesdents of arbitrary times, or the interpretation of the sion which was milade upon him, and gave fway to laws by courtly ministers, and time-serving lawyers. every inroad on the existing state of France. InThe conduct of Louis XVI., fiom the hour he as- stead of placing himself as a barrier between his sumed the throne, was, on the contrary, an example people and his nobility, and bringing both to some of virtue and moderation. Instead of levying ship- fair termis of composition, lie suffered the latter to be money and benevolences, Louis lightened the feudal driven fromi his side, and by the ravaging their esservices of the vassals, and the corv'e among the tates, and the burning of their houses, to be hurried peasantry. Where Charles endeavoured to enforce into enmigration. He adopted one popular improveconformity to the Church of England by pillory and ment after another, each innovating on the royal ear-slitting, Louis allowed the protestants the free authority, or derogatory to the royal dignity. Far use of their religion, and discharged the use of tor- friom having deserved the charge of opposing the ture in all cases whatever. Where Charles visited nation's claim of fireedom, it would have been well his parliament to violate their freedom by arresting for themselves anid him, had hle known how to limit five of their members, Louis may be said to have his grant tothat quantityof frteedom which they were surrendered himself an unresisting prisoner to the re- qualified to make a legitimate use of; leaving it bfor presentatives of the people, whom he had voluntarily fuiture princes to slacken the reins of governmeint, summoned around him. But above all, Charles, in in proportion as the public mind in France should person, or by his generals, waged a long and bloody become formed to the habitual exercise of political war with his subjects, fought battles in every rights. county of England, and was only overcome and The king's perfect innocence was therefore notomade prisoner, after a lengthened and deadly coins- rious to the whole world, but especially to those test, in which many thousands fell on both sides. who now usurped the title of arraigning hin; and The conduct of Louis was in every respect different. men could hardly l)ersuade thenmselves that his He never offered one blow in actual resistance, life was seriously in danger. An ingenious contriveven when lie had the means in his power. He or- ance of the jacobins seemns to have been intended 104 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. the life of Louis which Brutus possessed over that fore the Convention-Opening speec[h of Desize-King of Casar. Others cried out, that the very fact of remanded to the Temple.-Stormy debate in the Convexhaving reigned, was in itself a crime notorious tion-Eloquent attack of Vergniand on the jacobins.enough to dispense with further investiuation, and Sentence of death pronounced against te kinlg-General authorize instant punishment. sympathy for his fate.-Dumoucrier arrives in ParisStunned by these clanmors, the girondiVts and V'aibnly tries to avert the king's fate.-Louis XVI. befeeble -ythese m inded, m.enchase and.headed on 21st January, 1793-Marie Antoinette on the 1ith neutral party, like all'eeble-minded men, chose a October thereafter-The Princess Elisabeth in May, 1794 middle course, and, instead of maintaining the — The dauphin perishes, by cruelty, June 8th, 17953. —Th king's innocence, adopted measures, calculated to princess royal exchanged for Beurnonville and others, save him indeed from immediate slaughter, but 19th December, 1795. which ended by consigning him to a tribunal too timid to hear his cause justly. They resolved to WE have already said, that the vigorous and masurge the right of the National Convention to judge culine, as well as virtuous exhortations of Madame in thle case of Louis. Roland, were thrown away upon her colleagues, There were none in the Convention that dared to whose fears were more than female, Tile girondists avow facts to which their conscience bore witness, could not be made to perceive, that, though their but the consequences of admittilg which were inge- ferocious adversaries were feared through France, niously urged by the sophist Robespierre, as a con- yet they were also hated. The moral feeling of all demnation of their own conduct. " One party," Frenchmen who had any left, detested the authors said the v wily logician, " must be clearly guilty; either of a long train of the most cold-blooded murders; the king, or the Convention, who have ratified the the suspicions of all men of property were attached actions of the insurgent people. If you have de- to the conduct of a party, whose leaders rose from throned an innocent and legal rnonarch, what are indigence to affilence by fines, confiscations, sequesyou but traitors? and why sit you here-why not trations, besides every other kind of plunder, direct hasten to the Temple, set Louis at liberty, instal and indirect. If the majority of the Convention had him again in the Tuileries, aild beg on your knees adopted the determination of boldly resisting their for a pardon you have not merited? But if you unprincipled tyrants, and preventing, at whatever have, in the great popular act which you have rati- hazard, the murder of the king, the strength of the fled, only approved of the deposition of a tyrant, country would probably have supported a constituted summon him to the bar, and demand a reckoning authority against the usurpations of the Community for his crinies." This dilemma pressed on the mind of Paris, which had no better title to tyrannize over of rmany members, who could not but see their the Convention, and by so doing to govern France own condemnnation the necessary consequence of at pleasure, than had the council of the meanest town the king's acquittal. And while some felt the force in the kingdom. of this argument, all were aware of the obvious The girondists ought to have been sensible, that, danger to be encountered from the wrath of the even by thwarting this favourite measure, they could jacobins and their satellites, should they dare to not increase the hatred which the jacobins already dissent from the vote which these demagogues de- entertained against them, and should have known manded from the assembly. that further delay to give open battle would not be When Robespierre had ended, Petion arose and received as an overture of friendship, but be removed, that the king should be tried before the garded as a timid indecision, which lmst have Convetltion. It is said, the May-or of Paris took the heated their enemies, in proportion as it cooled their lead in thi;s cruel persecution, because Louis had friends. The truckling, time-serving policy which spoken to him sharply about the tumultuary inroad they observed on this occasion, deprived the gironof the jacobin rabble into the Tuileries on the 20th dists of almost all chance of forming a solid and of June; and when Pution attempted to reply, had substantial interest in the country. By a bold, open, pointed to the broken grating through which the andmanly defence of the king, theyvolcl havedone entrance hail been forced, and sternly coiniianded honour to themselves as public men, willing to dishim to be sient. If this vas true, it was a bitter charge their duty at the risk of their lives. They revenge for so slight an oaience, and the subsequent would have been sure of whatever number could be fate of YPtion is the less deserving of pity. gathered, either of royalists, who were beginning The nrotion was carried without opposition, and to raise a head in Bretagne and La Vendee, or of the next chapter affords us the melancholy results. constitutiolalists, who feared the persecution of the jacobins. The materials were already kindled for CHAPTER XIII. those insurrections, which afterwards broke out at Lyons, Marseilles, Toulon, and generally through lndzrectsiel o f the girol-ists antd its eagncts.o-The roy the south and west of France. They might have fantly i ftle T'enple-Insulted by the ageiito of the coin- b brought up five or six thousand federates fiom the munity, both tith/in anid without the prison-Theirexen- departments, and the force would then have beeplary palience-The king deprived of his sol2's society. in their own hands. They ight, by showing a bol — Buzot's adnission of the general dislike of France to in their own hands. They might, by showing a boll a reapublicanlJorms of governmensst. —he kinyg broitght to and animated friont, have regained possession of the trial before the Conves tion —His first examrination- National Guard, which was only prevented by a Carried back to prison zmiEds t itsut and abuse. —T- jacobin commander and his staffiofficers, as well as malt in the assemnbly.-Tie king deprived of intercoo6rse by their timidity, from throWning off a yoke so bloody with his family.-MAfalesherbes appointed as counsel to and odious as that which they were gri-aning under. defend the kintg-and Deslze.-Louis again brought be- But to dare this, it was necessary that they should LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 105 have the encouragement of the Convention; and that approaching death of Monsieur and Madame Veto, body, managed as it was by the girondists, showed were sung below their windows, and the most a timorous unwillingness to support the measures of frightful cries for their blood disturbed such rest as the jacobins, which implied their dislike indeed, but prisoners can obtain. The head of the Princess of also evinced their fear. Lamballe was brought under their wi;ndow on the Meantime the king, with the queen, his sister, and 3d September, and one of the municipal officers their children, the dauphin and the princess royal, would have enticed the royal family to the window remained in the tower of the Temple, more uncomr- that they might see this ghastly spectacle, had not fortably lodged, and much more harshly treated, the other, " of milder mood," prevented them from than state prisoners before the Revolution had been complying. When questioned concerning the names in the execrable Bastille.* The royal prisoners of these two functionaries by some less savage perwere under the especial charge of the Community sons, who wished to punish the offending ruffian, of Paris, who, partly from their gross ignorance, Louis would only mention that of the more humane partly from their desire to display their furious of the two; so little was this unhappy prince adjacobinical zeal, did all in their power to embitter dicted to seek revenge, even for the most studied their captivity. cruelties practised against him. Pdtion, whose presence brought with it so many The conduct of the Community increased in ricruel recollections, studiously insulted him by his gout, as the process against Louis seemed to draw visits to the prison. The municipal officers, sent nearer. The most ordinary points of personal acthither to insure the custody of the king's person, commodation were made subjects of debate ere they and to be spies upon his private conversation, were could be granted, and that upon the king's being selected among the worst and most malignant ja- permitted to shave himself, lasted a long while. cobins. His efforts at equanimity, and even civility, Every article was taken from him, even to his towards these brutal jailers, were answered with the tooth-pick and pen-knife, and the queen and prinmost gross insolence. One of them, a mason, in his cesses were deprived of their scissors and houseworking dress, had thrown himself into an arm-chair, wives. This led to a touching remark of Louis. where, decorated with his municipal scarf, he re- He saw his sister, while at work, obliged to bite posed at his ease. The king condescended to ask asunder a thread which she had no means of cutting, him, by way of conversation, where he wrought. and the words escaped him, "Ah! you wanted noHe answered gruffly, " at the Church of Ste-Gene- thing in your pretty house at Montreuil."-" Dearest vieve."-" I remember," said the king, " I laid the brother," answered the princess, whose character foundation stone-a fine edifice; but I have heard was that of sanctity, purity of thought, and benevothe foundation is insecure."-" It is more sure," an- lence, " can I complain of anything, since Heaven swered the fellow, " than the thrones of tyrants." has preserved me to share and to comfort, in some The king smiled, and was silent. He endured with degree, your hours of captivity?" It was, indeed, the same patience the insolent answer of another of in the society of his family that the character of these officials. The man not having been relieved at Louis shone to the greatest advantage; and if, when the usual and regular hour, the king civilly expressed on the throne, he did not always possess the energies his hopes that he would find no inconvenience from demanded of his high situation, in the dungeon of the the delay. " I am come here," answered the ruffian, Temple misfortune threw around him the glories of "to watch your conduct, not for you to trouble your- a martyr. His morning hours were spent in instructself with mine. No one," he added, fixing his hat ing or amusing the young dauphin, a task for which firm on his brow, " least of all you, have any busi- the king's extensive information well qualified him. ness to concern themselves with it." We have seen The captives enjoyed, as they best might, a short prisons, and are sure that even the steeled jailer, interval, when they were permitted to walk in the accustomed as he is to scenes of distress, is not in gardens of the Temple, sure to be insulted (like the habit, unprovoked and wantonly, of answering Charles I. in the same situation) by the sentinels, with reproach and insult such ordinary expressions who puffed volumes of tobacco-smoke in their faces of civility, when offered by the worst criminals. as they passed them, while others annoyed the ears The hearts of these men, who, by chance as it were, of the ladies with licentious songs, or the most cruel became dungeon-keepers, and whose first captive denunciations. had been many years their king, must have been as All this Louis and his family endured with such hard as the nether millstone. sainted patience, that several who obtained access While such scenes occurred within the prison, to his person were moved by the spectacle of royalty those who kept watch without, either as sentinels or reduced to a situation so melancholy, yet sustained as patroles of the jacobins (who maintained stern with such gentleness and fortitude. Some of the vigilance in the environs of the prison), were equally municipal officers themselves became nielted, and ready to colitribute their share of vexation and in- changed their ideas of the king, when they beheld salt. Pictures and placards, representing the royal him in so new and singular a light. fiamily under the hands of the executioner, were Stories of the insults which he daily received, and pasted up where the king and queen might s e them. of the meekness with which he sustained them, beThe most violent patriotic songs, turning upon the gan to circulate among the citizens of the higher classes; and, joined to their fear of falling comThe reader may compare the account which Marmontel pletely under the authority of the sans-culottes, led gives of his residence in the Bastille, with the faithful C16- many of the republicans to cast back their thoughts ry's narrative of Louis's captivity in the Temple. to the constitution of 1791, with all its faults, VOL. Vi. 14 106 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. and with its monarchical executive government. lowed to enjoy the society of his son, though his inThe more wise and sensible of the girondists began tercourse with the other members of the family had to suspect that they had been too hasty in erecting been much abridged. He was passionately attached their favourite republic, on growud incapable of to this unhappy son, who answered his affection, affording a sound and secure foundation for such and showed early token of talents which were an edifice. Buzot gives testimony to this, dated doomed never to blossom. It was the cruel resolulater, no doubt, than the period we are treating of; tion of his jailers to take the boy from Ihis father on but the grounds 5f the reasoning existed as much at the very morning 4 when Louis was to undergo an the king's trial as after the expulsion of the giron- interrogatory before the Convention. In other words, dists. The passage is remarkable. " My friends," to give the deepest blow to his feelings, at the very says this distinguished gironloist, " preserved a long moment when it was necessary he should combine time the hopes of establishing a republic in France, his whole mental powers for defending his life against even when all seemed to demonstrate that the en- his subtle and powelrful enemies. lightened classes, whether from prejudice or from This cruel measure produced in some respect the just reasoning, felt indisposed to that form of govern- effect desired. The king testified more deep afflicmnent. That hope did not forsake my fiiends when tion than he had yet manifested. The child was the most wicked and vilest of men obtained posses- playing at the game called Siam with his father, and sion of the minds of the inferior classes, and corrupted by no effort couid the dauphin get beyond the numthem by the opportunities they offered of license her sixteen. "That is a very unlucky number;" and pillage. My fiiends reckoned on the lightness said the child. " True, indeed, my child. I have and aptitude to change proper to the French cha- long had reason to think so, my son," answered the racter, and which they considered to be peculiarly king. This petty omen seenled soon accomplished suitable to a republican nation. I have always con- by the conmissioners of the assPmbly, who, without sidered that conclusion as entirely false, and have deigning further explanation than that Louis must repeatedly in my heart despaired of my darling wish prepare to receive the Mayor of Paris, tore the child to establish a republic in my country." In another from his father, and left him to his sorrow. In place he says, " It must not be dissembled that the about two hours, during which the trampling of majority of Frenchmen earnestly desired royalty, many horses was heard, and a formidable body of and the constitution of 1791. In Paris, the wish troops with artillery were drawn up around the was general, and was expressed most freely, though poison, the mayor appeared, a man called Chambon, only in confidential society, and among private weak and illiterate, the willing tool of the ferocious friends. There were only a few noble and elevated community in which he presided. He read to the ninds who felt themselves worthy to be republicans, king the decree of the Convention, that Louis Capet and whom the example of the Americans had en- should be brought to their bar. " Capet," answered couraged to essay the project of a similar govern- Louis, "is not my name-it was that of one of my ment in France, the country of frivolity and muta- ancestors. I could have wished that I had not been bility. The rest of the nation, with the exception of deprived of the society of my son during the two the ignorant wretches, without either sense or sub- hours I have expected you-but it is only of a piece stance, who vomited abuse against royalty, as at an- with the usage I have experienced for four months. other time they would have done against a common- I will attend you to the Convention, not as acknowwealth, and all without knowing why-the rest of the ledging their right to summon me, but because I nation were all attached to the constitution of 1791, yield to the superior power of my enemies." and looked on the pure republicans as a very well- The crowd pressed much on the king during the meaning kind of madamen." Ipassage from the Temple to the Tuileries, where In these lines, written by one of the most sincere the Convention had now established their sittings, of their number, we read the condemnation of the as men who had slain and taken possession. Loud girondists, who, to adventure the precarious experi- cries were heard, demanding the life of the tyrant; ment of a republic, in which they themselves saw yet Louis preserved the most perfect composure, so many difficulties, were contented to lend their even when he found himself standing as a criminal arms and countenance to the destruction of that very before an assembly of his native subjects, born most government, which they knew to be desired by all of them in a rank which excluded them from judicial the enlightened classes of France except themselves, offices, till he himself had granted the privilege. and which demolition only made room for the dread- "Louis," said the president (the versatile, tiful triurnvirate,-Danton, Rohespierre, and Marat. morons, but subtle Barrere), " you may be seated." But we also see, from this and other passages, The king sat down accordingly, and listened without that there existed feelings, both in Paris and in the apparent emotion to a long act of accusation, in departments, which, if the convention had made a which every accident that had arisen out of the Remanly appeal to them, might have saved the king's volution was gravely charged as a point of indictlife, and prevented the reign of terror. There began ment against the king. He replied by short laconic to arise more obvious signs of disaffection to the answers, which evinced great presence of mind rulers, and of interest in the king's fate. These and composure, and alleged the decrees of the Nawere increased when lie was brought before the tional Assembly as authority for the affair of Nancy, convention for examination, an occasion upon which and the firing on the people in the Chnmp de Mars, Louis was treated with the same mrarked appearance both of which were urged against him as aggressions of premeditated insult, which had been offered to him when ini his dlungeon. He had as yet been al- 11th December. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 107 on the people. One or-two replies we cannot omit Louis chose for his counsel two lawyers of celeinserting. brity, carefully selecting such as he thought wotld "You are accused,"'said the president, "of having incur least risk of danger by the task imposed. authorized money to be distributed to poor un- One of these, Tronchet, was too sensible to the knowns in the suburb of St-Antoine. What have honour of his profession to hesitate a moment in you to reply?"-" That I know no greater pleasure," accepting the perilous office; but the other, Target, answered Louis, "than in giving assistance to the refilsed to undertake it. The phrase used by this needy."-" You held a review of the Swiss at five unworthy jurisconsult seemed to involve the king's o'clock in the morning of the 10th of August."-" 1 condemnation. "A free republican," he said, did," replied the king, " review the troops that were "ought not to undertake functions of which he feels about my person. It was in presence of the con- himself incapable." Timid as the Convention was, stituted authorities, the department, and the Mayor this excuse was heard with disapprobation. It was of Paris-I had sent in vain to request from the Con- declaring that the defence of the king was untenable vention a deputation of its members, and I came with by any friend of the present system. my family to place myself in their hands."-" Why Several persons offered their services with volundid you double the strength of the Swiss Guards at tary devotion, but the preference was claimed by that time?" detnanded the president. —" It was done Larloignon Malesherbes, who, twice called by Louis with the knowledge of all the constituted authori- to be a member of his council, when the office was ties," said the king, in a tone of perfect composure; the object of general ambition, alleged his right to "I was myself a constituted authority, I have a a similar function, when others might reckon it danright to defend my office."-" You have caused," gerous. This burst of honourable self-devotion said the president, " the blood of Frenchmen to be awakened a sentiment of honour in the Convention, shed. What have you to reply?"-" It was not I which, could it have lasted, might have even yet who caused it," answered Louis, speaking with prevented a great national crime. more emphasis than he had before used. Paris began to show symptoms of returning inteThe king was carried back to his prison, amid rest in the person of Louis. The oft-repeated cathreats and abuse from the same banditti whose lumnies against him seemed to lose their influence ranks he had before traversed. on all but the ignorant multitude, and hired bandits. In replying to the articles alleged against him, The honest devotion of Malesherbes, whose chaLouis had followed a different course from Charles, racter was known through the nation as a man of who refused to plead before the tribunal at which talent, honour, and probity, reflected a forcible he was arraigned. The latter acted with the high light on that of his royal client, who had, in the hour spirit of a prince, unwilling to derogate from the ho- of need, found such a defender. Deseze, an exnour of the crown he had worn; the former, as a man cellent lawyer, was afterwards added to the king's of honour and probity, was desirous of defending band of counsel; but the king gained little more by his character wherever it should be attacked, with- this indulgence, excepting the consolation of comout stopping to question the authority of the court municatin, with such men as Malesherbes and his which was met to try him. two associates, at a time when no other friend was A great tumult fbllowed in the assembly the mo- suffered to approach him excepting the faithful ment when the king had withdrawn front the hall. Clery, his valet-de-chambre.* The jacobins becanrw sensible that the scene which The lawyers entertained some hopes, and, in had just passed had deeply affected many of the the spirit of their profession, exulted when they saw neutral party, and was not unlikely to influence their how facts contradicted the charges of the prosecufinal votes. They demanded an instant decree of tors. "Moderate your satisfaction, my friends," condemnation, and that in the name of the oppressed said Louis; " all these favourable circumstances people. "You who have heard the tyrant," said are well known to the gentlemen of the Convention, Billaud Varennes, "ought in justice to hear the and if they considered them as entitled to weight people whomin he has oppressed." The Convention in my f:avour, I should not be in tis difficulty. You knew well what was meant by the appearance of take, I ftar, a fruitless task in hand, but let us perthe people at the bar, and while they trembled at this form it as a last duty." When the term of his sethreat, Dubhem made a motion that the king should cond appearance at the Convention arrived, he exbe executed that very night. The majority, how- pressed anxiety at the thoughts of appearing before ever, retained too much sense of shame to permit them with his beard and hair overgrown, owing to themselves to be hurried farther that evening. They his being deprived of razors and scissors. "Were indulged the king with the selection of counsel to it not better your majesty went as you are at predefend him. sent," said the faithful Clery, " that all men may see The monarch, on returning to his prison, had the usage you have received?"-" It does riot befound he was doomed to solitary confinement. All in- come me," answered the king, "' to seek to obtain tercourse with his fanimily was denied him. He wept, pity." With the same spirit, he commanded his but neither wife, sister, nor child, was permitted to advocates to avoid all appeals to the passions or the share his tears. It was for the fate of his son that he showed'the deepest interest. Yet, anxious as * Clery we have seen and known, and the form and mantiers of that model of pristine faith and loyalty can never be his apprehensions were, they could not reach the.his apprehensions were, they coud not reach the forgotten. Gentlemanlike and cotmplaisant in his manners, extremities to which the child was reduced. The his deep gravity and melancholy features announced, that heart of man could not have imagined the cruelty of the sad scenes in which he had acted a part so honourable, his lot. were never for a monmenlt out of his memory. O8 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. feelings of the judges and audience, and to rest his world, to sorrow for the fate of their own? Robesdefence exclusively upon logical deductions from the pierre openly disowned the application of legal evidence produced. forms, and written rubrics of law, to such a case as When summoned to the Convention, Louis was was before the Convention. The people who had compelled to wait for a time in the outer hall, where asserted their own right in wresting the sceptre from lhe walked about conversing with his counsel. A the hands of Louis, had a right to punish him for deputy who passed heard Malesherbes during this having swayed it. He talked of the case being alintercourse use to his royal client the courtesies of ready decided by the unanimous voice and act of Sire- Your Majesty. "What renders you so hold," the people, from whom all legal authority emanated, he said, "that you tutter these prohibited expres- and whose authority was paramount to that of the sions?"-" Contempt of life," answered thegenerous Convention, which were only their representatives. Malesherhes. Vergniand, the most eloquent of the girondists, Deseze opened his case with great ability. He found nothing better to propose, than that the case pleaded with animation the right which the king had of Louis should be decided by an appeal to the nato the characterof invidlability, a right confirmed to tion. He alleged that the people, who, in solemn hinm by the Legislative Assembly after the flight to federation had sworn, in the Champde Mars, to reVarennes, and which implied a complete indemnity cognize the constitution, had thereby sworn the infor that crime, even supposing a journey from his violability of the king. This was truly said; but, capital in a post carriage, with a few attendants, such being the case, what right had the Convention could he deemed criminal. But he urged that, if to protract the king's trial by sending the case from the Convention, did not respect his inviolability- before themselves to the people? If his inviolability it; in a word, they did not consider him as a king, had been formally admitted and sworn to by the nahe was then entitled to the formal securities provided tion, what had the Convention more to do than reforevery citizen by the laws. He ridiculed the idea cognize the inviolability with wvhichl the nation had that, with a trifling force of Swiss, Louis could me- invested the monarch, and dismiss him from the bar ditate any serious injury against the Convention. accordingly'? " He prepared," said Deseze, "for his defence, as The explanation lay here;-that the eloquent you citizens would doubtless do, when you heard orator was hampered and constrained in his reasonthat an armed multitude were on their way to sur- ing, by the difficulty of reconciling his own conduct, prise you in your sanctuary." He closed an excel- and that of his associates, to the principles which lent pleading with an enumeration of the -benefits he was now willing to adopt as those that were just which Louis had conferred on the French nation, and legal. If the person of the king was indeed and reminded them that their king had given them inviolable, what was to be thought of their consistliberty so soon as they desired to be free. Louis ency, who, by the means of their daring and devoted himself said a few words with much firmness. He associates, Barbaroux and Rebecqui, had actually was remanded to the Temple, and a stormy debate brought up the force of Marseillais, who led the van, commenced. and were, in fact, the efficient and almost the only At first, the jacobins attempted to carry all by a means by which the palace of that inviolable soveclamorous demand of the vote. Lanjuinais replied reign was stormed, his guards slaughtered, his perto them with unexpected spirit, charged them with son committed to prison, and, finally, his life brought planning and instigating the assault on the 10th of in danger? It was the obvious and personal answer August, and then with turning on the king the arising out of their own previous manoeuvres, the blame which justly lay with themselves alone. argtmenturn ad homnizessn, as it is called by logiDreadful outcries followed this true and intrepid cians, which hung a padlock on the lips of the elospeech. "Let the friends of the, despot die with quent Vergniaud, while using the argument which, him!" lwas the general exclamation of the jacobins; in itself nost just and true, was irreconcilable with " to the Abbaye-to the scaffold with the perjured the revolutionary measures to which he had been an deputy, who slanders the glorious 10th of August!" express party. "Do not evil, that good may come -" Be it so," answeled Lanjuinais. "Better death, of it," is a lesson which may be learned, not indeed than the crime of pronouncing an unjust sentence." in the transcendental philosophy which authorizes The girondists were too much themselves acces- the acting of instant and admitted wrong, with the sory to the attack on the Tuileries to follew this bold view of obtaining some distant, hypothetical, and and manly line of defence, and Lanjuinais stood un- contingent good; hut in the rules of christian faith supported in his opinion. and true philosophy, which commands that each St-Just andl Robespierre eagerly called for a case be weighed on its own circumstances, and dedoom of death. The former accused the king of a cided upon the immutable rules of right or wrong, design to cheat the people out of their liberties by a without admitting any subterfuge founded on the pretended show of submission to their will. and an Iope of remote contingencies and future conseaffected moderation in exercising his authority. On quences. the 10th of August (he had the effrontery to state But Velrgniad's oratory was freed firom these this), the king, entering the hall of the Convention unhappy trammels, when, with the fervour of a poet, with armed followers (the stmall escort who had d f- and the inspiration of a prophet, he declaimed ficulty in protecting hinm tllhongh the armned crowd), against the faction of jacobins, and announced the had violated the asylunm of the laws. Besides, as consequlences of that sanguinary body's ascending he triunmphantly concluded, was it hfier a peoplle hlio to slupreme powver, by placing their first step on the had declared war against all the tyranlts in tile 1:),dy of Louis. The picture which he drew of the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. i09 coming evil seemed too horrible for reality; and yet will answer,' Hence! dispute with hungry hounmli the scenes which followed even more than realized for the carcases of those we have last murdered-. the predictions of the baffled republican, who saw or, if you would drink, here is the blood we have too late and too clearly the tragic conclusion of the lately shed-other nourishment we have none to scenes, in which he had borne so active a part. afford you.'" The appeal to the people, or to the nation, had The eloquence of Ver'gniaud, and the exertions of been argued against by the jacobin speakers, as his associates, were in vain. Barrere, the auxiliary opening the nearest road to civil war. Indeed it of the jacobins, though scarcely the partaker of was one of the many objections to this intermediate their confidence, drew off as usual many of the and evasive plan, that the people of France, con- timid host of neutrals, by alleging specious reasons, vened in their different bodies, were likely to come of which the convincing power lay in this, that they to very different conclusions on the king's impeach- must consult their own safety rather than the cause ment. Where the jacobin clubs were strong and of justice. The appeal to the people, on which the numerous, they would have been sure, according girondists relied as the means of reprieving rather to the maxim of their union, to use the compulsory than saving the king —of gi v ing their consciences the but ready means of open violence, to disturb the quieting opiate, that he died not by tlieir direct freedom of voting on this important question, and agency-was rejected by four hundred and twenty would thus have carried by forcible measures the voices against two hundred and eighty-one. A devote of death. In departments in which the consti- cisive appeal was made to the Convention on the tutionalists and royalists had strong interest, it was question, to what punishment the de-throned monarch probable that force would have been repelled by should be subjected. force; and upon the whole, in France, where the The bravos of the jacobins surrounded the place law had been long a dead letter, the arbitrement of of meeting on every point of access while this final the nation on the king's fate must and would have vote was called, and, to men already affrighted proved a bloody one, with their situation, add'ed every motive of terror But from that picture which must have followed that words, and sometimes acts of violence, could the success of his party on this memorable occasion, convey. "'Think not,'" they said, " to rob the people Vergniaud endeavoured to avert the thoughts of his of their prey. If you acquit Louis, we go instantly hearers, while he strove to fix them on the crimes to the Temple to destroy him with his whole family, and criminal ambition of the jacobins. and we add to his massacre that of all who be"It is they who wish civil war," he exclaimed, friended him." Undoubtedly, among the terrified' "who threaten with daggers the National Conven- deputies, there were some moved by thee horrible tion of France-they who preach in the tribune, and arguments, who conceived that, in giving a vote for in the market-place, doctrines subversive of all so- Louis's life, they wouald endanger their own, without cial order. They are the men whodesire civil war, saving him. Still, however; among this overawed who accuse justice of pusillanimity, because she' and trembling band ofjudges, there were many will not strike before conviction-who call common whose hearts failed them as they reflected on the humanity a proof of conspiracy, and accuse all those crime they were about to commit, and who enas traitors to their country who will not join in acts deavoured to find some evasion stopping short of reof robbery and assassination-those, in fine, who gicide. Captivity till the peace, was in general propervert every sentiment and principle of morality, posed as a composition. The philosophic humanity and by the grossest flatteries endeavour to gain the of Condorcet threw in fetters, to make the condition popular assent and countenance to the most detest- more acceptable to the jacobins. Others voted for able crimes." He dissected the arts of the dema- death conditionally. The most intense anxiety pregogues in terms equally just and severe. They had vailed during the vote; and even the banditti in been artfully referred to the Temple as the cause the tribunes suspended their usual howls, and only of every distress under which the populace labour- murmured death to the voter, when the opinion ed; after the death of Louis, which they so eagerly given was for the more lenient punishment. When, pursued, they would have the same reasons and the the Duke of Orleans, who had returned fiom Engsame power for directing the odium of every dis- land on the fall of La Fayette, and sat as a member tress or mnisfortune against the Convention, and of the Convention, under the absurd name of Citizen making the representatives of France equally ob- Egalit —whlen this base prince was asked his vote, noxious to the people, as they had now rendered the there was a deep pause; and when the answer dethroned king. He concluded with a horrible pjc- proved death, a momentary horror electrified the ture of Paris under the domination of jacobinism, auditors.* When the voices were numbered, the which was, however, exceeded by the facts that direct doom was carried by a majority of fifty-three, ensued. "To what horrors," he said, "will not being the difference between three hundred and Paris be delivered, when she becomes the prey of eighty-seven and three hundred and thirty-four. a horde of desperate assassins! Who will inhabit The president announced that the doom of DEATH a city, where Death and Desolation will then fix was pronounced against Louis Capet. their court?' Who will console the ruined citizen, Let none, we repeat, dishonour the parallel passtripped of the wealth he has honourably acquired, sage in England's history, by comparing it with this or relieve the wants of his family, which his exer- disgraceful act of murder, committed by a few in tions can no longer supply? Go in that hour of need," * His own death, by the guillotine, in 1793, was hardly he continued, "and ask bread of those who have sufficient retribution for his fiendlike conduct on this afllictprecipitated you from competence into ruin, and they ing occasion. LIFE OF NIAPOLEON BONAPARTE. rabid fury of gain, by the greater part in mere panic should lie supplied. Dumourier, according to his and cowardice. That deed, which Algernon Sidney own account, both from the want of equipments of pronounced the bravest and justest ever done in every kind, and from the manner in which the ja. Elngland,-that facitsua tram illutstre of Milton,- cobin commissioners had enfeebled the. discipline was acted by men, from whose principles and feel- of his troops, could not have moved towards Paris ings we differ entirely, but not more than the ambi- without losing the command of the army, and his tion of Cromwell differed from that of the blood- head to boot, before he had got beyond the frontiers thirsty and envious Robespierre, or the political of Belgium. views of Hutchinson and his associates, who acted Dumourier had detached, however, according to all in honour, from those of the timid and pedantic his own statement, a considerable number of officers girondists. and confidential persons, to second any enterprise In Parlis there was a general feeling for the king's which he might.find himself capable of undertaking condition, and a wish that he might be saved, but in the king's behalf. While at Paris, he states that never strong enough to arise into the resolution to he treated with every faction in turn, attempting effect his safety. Dumourier himsell' came to Paris even to move Robespierre; and through means of with all the splendour of a conqueror, whose victory his own intimate friend Gensonn6, he renewed his uatJemappes had added Belgium, as Flanders began more natural connexions with the girdndists. But to be called, to the French nation; and there can the one party were too determined on their bloody be no doubt, that whatever might be his ulterior object to be diverted from it; the other, discondesign, which his situation and character render certed in viewing the result of their timid and amsomewhat doubtful, his purpose was, in the first biguous attempt to carry through an appeal to the place, to secure the person of Louis from farther people, saw no further chance of saving the king's danger or insult. But, conqueror as he was, Du- life otherwise than by the risk of their own, and mourier, though more favourably placed than La chose rather to be executioners than victims. Fayette had been upon a similar attempt, wa's far Among the citizens of Paris, many of whom Dufrom being, with respect to Paris, in the same inde- mourier states himself to have urged with the argupendent situation in which Cromwell had been to ment, that the Convention, in assuming the power London, or Caesar to Rome. of judging the king, had exceeded the powers grantThe army with which he had accomplished his ed to them by the nation,- he found hearers, not victories was yet but half his'own. Six com- indeed uninterested or unmoved, but too lukewarm missioners from the Convention, Danton himself to promise efficient assistance. The citizens were being the principal, had carefully remained at his in that state, in which an English poet has said of head-quarters, watching his motions, controling his them,power, encouraging the private soldiers of each repwer, en couraging the private soldiers of teach,- Cold burghers must be struck, and struck like flints, giment to hold jacobin clubs exclusive of the autho- Ere their hid fire will sparkle. rity of the general, studiously placing in their recollection at every instant, that the doctrines of liberty With the natural sense ofright and justice, they perand equality rendered the soldier to a certain point ceived what was expected of them; but felt not the independent of his commander; and reminding them less the tralnmels of their situation, and hesitated to that they conquered by the command of Dunourier, incur the fury of a popular insurrection, which pas iudeed, but under the auspices of the Republic, to siveness on their own part might postpone or avert. whom the general, as they themselves, was but a They listened to the general with interest, but withservant and factor. Thei more absolute the rule of out enthusiasm; implored him to chuse a less dana community, the more do its members enjoy any gerous subject of conversation; and spoke of the relaxation of such severe bonds; so that he who power of the jacobins, as of the influence of a can with safety preach a decay of discipline to an tempest, which mortal efforts could not withstand. army, of which discipline is the very essence, is With one man of worth and confidence, Dumourier sure to find willing listeners. A great part of Du- pressed the conversation on the meanness of suffering inourier's army was unsettled in their minds by the city to be governed by two or three thousand doctrines, which taught an independence of official banditti, till the citizen looked on the ground and authority inconsistent with their situation as soldiers, blushed, as he made the degrading confession, —" I but proper, they were assured, to their quality of see, citizen general, to what conclusion your argucitizens. lment tends; but we are cowards, and the king MUST The manner in which Pache, the minister of war,' perish. What exertion of spirit can you expect who, brought into office by Roland, deserted his frolm a city, which, having under arms eighty thou. benefactor to join the jacobin faction, had conducted sand well-trained militia, suffered themselves, nothis branch of the administration, was so negligent, withstanding, to be domineered over and disarmed that it had given ground for serious belief that it by a comparative handful of rascally federates from was his intention to cripple the resources of the Brest and Marseilles? The hint was sufficient. armed force (at whatever risk of national defeat), Dumourier, who was involved in much personal in such a manner, that if in their disorganized state danger, desisted from efforts, in which he could only Dumourier had attempted to move them towards compromise his own safety without insuring that of Paris for insuring the safety of Louis, he should the king. He affirms, that during twenty days' fnd them unfit for such a march. The army had no residence near Paris, he witnessed no effort, either longer draught-horses for the artillery, and was in public or private, to avert the king's fate; and that want of all with which a regular body of forces the only feelings which prevailed among the higher LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 1i classes, were those of consternation and apathy. of his grandfather. It is possible, for the critical It was then especially to be regretted, that an eye of' the historian, to discover much weakness in emigration, certainly premature, had drained the the conduct of this unhappy monarch; for he had country of those fiery and gallant nobles, whose neither the determination necessary to fight for his blood would have been so readily ventured in de- rights, nor the power of submitting with apparent fence of the king. Five hundred men of high cha- indifference to circumstances, where resistance inracter and determined bravery would probably have ferred danger. He submitted, indeed, but with so been seconded by the whole burgher-force of Paris, bad a grace, that he only made himself suspected of and might have bid open defiance to the federates, cowardice, without getting credit bfor voluntary conor, by some sudden and bold attempt, snatched cession. But yet his behaviour on many trying ocfrom their hands their intended victim. Five hun- casions effectually vindicated him from the charge dred-but five hundred-of those who were winning of timidity, and showed that the unwillingness to barren laurels under Cond6, or, yet more unhappily, shed blood, by which he was peculiarly distinguishwere subsisting on the charity of foreign nations, ed, arose from benevolence, not from pusillanimity. might at this moment, could they have been collected Upon the scaffold, he behaved with the firmness in Paris, have accomplished the purpose for which which became a noble spirit, and the patience they themselves most desired to live, by saving the beseeming one who was reconciled to Heaven. As life of their unhappy sovereign. But although one of the few marks of sympathy with which his powerful reasons, and yet more aggrieved feelings, sufferings were softened, the attendance of a conhad recommended the emigration from that country, fessor, who had not taken the constitutional oath, it operated like the common experiment of the Ley- was permitted to the dethroned monarch. He who den vial, one side of which being charged with an undertook the honourable but dangerous office, was uncommon quantity of the electrical fluid, has the a gentleman of the gifted family of Edgeworth of effect of creating a deficiency of the same essence Edgeworthstown; and the devoted zeal with which upon the other. In the interior of France, the spirit he rendered the last duties to Louis, had like in the of loyalty was at the lowest ebb; because those upon issue to have proved fatal to himself. As the inwhom it especially acted as a principle, were divid- strument of death descended, the confessor proed from the rest of the nation, to whom they would nounced the impressive words,-" Son of Saint otherwise have afforded both encouragement and Louis, ascend to Heaven!" example. There was a last will of Louis XVI. circulated The sacrifice, therefore, was to be made —made upon good authority, bearing this remarkable pasin spite of those who certainly composed the sage:-" I recommend to my son, should he have great majority of Paris, at least of such as were the misfortune to become king, to recollect that his capable of reflection,-in spite of the commander of whole faculties are due to the service of the public; the army, Dumourier,-in spite of the consciences that he ought to consult the. happiness of his people, of the girondists, who, while they affected an air of by governing according to the laws, forgetting all republican stoicism, saw plainly, and were fully injuries and misfortunes, and in particular those sensible of the great political error, tile great moral which I may have sustained. But while I exhort sin, they were about to commit. him to govern under the authority of the laws, I Undoubtedly they expected, that byjoining in, or cannot but add, that this will be only in his power, acquiescing in at least, if not authorizing, this in so far as he shall be endowed with authority to unnecessary and wanton cruelty, they should esta- cause right to be respected, and wrong punished;. blish their character with the populace as firm and and that without such authority, his situation in the unshaken republicans, who had not hesitated to government must be more hurtful than advantageous sacrifice the king, since his life was demanded at to the state."'the shrine of freedom. Tlhey were not long of Not to mingle the fate of the illustrious victims of lea rning, that they gained nothing by their mean. the royal family with the general tale of the sufferers spirited acquiescence in a crime which their souls under the Reign of Terror, we must here mention mnast have abhorred. All were sensible that the the deaths of the rest of that illustrious house, which girondists had been all along, notwithstanding their closed for a time a monarchy, that, existing through theoret;eal pretensions in favour of a popular govern- three dynasties, had given sixty-six kings to France. ment, lingering and looking back with some favour It was not to be supposed, that the queen was to to the dethroned prince, to whose death they only be long permitted to survive her husband. She had consented in sheer coldness and cowardice of heart, been even more than he the object of revolutionary blecause it required to be defended at some hazard detestatior; nat, many were disposed to throw on to their own safety. The faults at once of duplicity Marie Antoinette, almost exclusively, the blame of and cowardice were thus fixed on this party; who, those measures which they considered as counterdetested by the royalists, and by all who in any revolutionary. She came to France a gay, young, degree harboured opinions favourable to monarchy, and beautiful princess-slhe found in her husband a had their lives and offices sought after by the whole faithful, affectionate, almost an uxorious husband. host of jacobiss in full cry, and that on account of In the early years of her reign she was guilty of two faint-spirited wishes, which they had scarcely dared faults. even to attempt to render efficient. In the first place, she dispensed too much with On the 21st of January, 1793, Louis XVI. was court-etiquette, and wished too often to enjoy a republicly beheaded in the midst of his own metropolis, tirement and freedom, inconsistent with her high in the Place Louis Quinze, erected to the memory rank and the customs of the court. This was a great aIm ~2LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. though nalural mistake. The etiquette of a court We are weary of recounting these atrocities, as places round the great personages whom it regards, others must be of reading them. Yet it is not usea close and troublesome watch, but that very guard less that men should see how far human nature can acts as a barrier against calumny; and when these be carried, in contradiction to every feeling the fobrmal witnesses are withdrawn, evil tongues are most sacred, to every pleading whether of justice never wanting to supply with infamous reports a or of humanity. The dauphin we have already deblank, which no testimony can be brought to fill up scribed as a promising child of seven years old, an with the truth. No individual suiffered more than age at which no offence could have been given, and Marie Antoinette from this species of slander, which from which no danger could have been apprehended. imputed the most scandalous occupations to hours Nevertheless, it was resolved to destroy the innothat were only meant to be stolen from form and cent child, and.by means to which ordinary murfrom state, and devoted to the ease which crowned ders seem deeds of mercy. heads ought never to dream of enjoying. The unhappy boy was put in charge of the most Another natural, yet equally false step, was her hard-hearted villain whonm the Community of Paris, interfering molre frequently with politics than became well acquainted where such agents were to be found, her sex; exhibiting thus her power over the king, were able to select from their band of jacobins. and at the samle tinme lowering hiln in the eyes of his This wretch, a shoemaker called Simon, asked hbis subjects, who, whatever be the auspices tnder employers, "what was to be done with the the young which their own domrestic affairs are conducted, wolf-whelp; Was he to be slain'?"-" No."-" Poiare always scandalised if they see, or think they see, soned?" —" No."-" Starved to death?"-" No."anything like fernale influence directing the councils " What then?"-""He was to be got rid of." Acof their sovereigns. We are uncertain what degree cordingly, by a continuance of the rmost severe treatof credit is to be given to the Memoirs of Besenval, ment-by beating, cold, vigils, fasts, and ill usage of but we believe they approach near the truth in re- every kind, so frail a blossom was soon blighted. presenting the queen as desirous of having a party He died on the 8th June, 1795. of her own, and carrying points in opposition to the After this last horrible crime, there was a relaxaministers; and we know that a general belief of this tion in favour of the daughter, and now the sole sort was the first foundation of the fatal report, that child, of this unhappy house. The princess royal, an Austrian cabal existed in the Court of France, whose qualities have since honoured even her birth under the direction of the queen, which was sup- and blood, experienced from this period a mitigated posed to sacrifice the interests of France to favour captivity. Finally, on the 19th Decemnber, 1795, those of the Empe:ror of Germuany. this last remaining relic of the famnily of Louis was The terms of her accusation were too basely de- permitted to leave her prison and her country, in praved to be even hinted at here. She scorned to exchange for Beurnonville and others, whom, on reply to it, but appealed to all who had been that condition, Austria delivered fiomcaptivity. She mothers, against the very possibility of the horrors became afterwards the wife of her cousin the Duke which were stated against her. The widow of a d'Angouldme, eldest son of the reigning monarch of king, the sister of an emperor, was condemned to France, and obtained, by the manner in which she death, dragged in an open tumbril to the place of conducted herself at Bordeaux in 1815, the highest execution, and beheaded on the 16th October 1793. praise for gallantry and spirit. She suffered death in her 39th year. The Princess Elisabeth, sister of Louis, of whom it might be said, in the words of Lord Clarendon, CHAPTER XIV. that she resembled a chapel in a king's palace, into which nothing but piety and morality enter, while Dtumolmrier-His displeasure at tie trealemmt of tie Flemish provinces by the Convention —His projects in conall around is filled with sin, idleness, and folly, did mis/ provins by te Convetiom-His projects im consequence —Gains the ill-wtill of his arsey —anCd is forced not, by thme most harmless demeanour and imoflensive riot, by tie most hamless demeanour and inoffensive. toafy to the Austrian camp-Lives man y years in retreat, character, escape the miserable fate in which the anldfinally dies in Englamnd.-Strtggles betwsixt the gijacobins had determnined to involve the whole fanmily rondists and jacobiLns in the Conve)ttion.-Robespierre of Louis XI[. Part of the accusation redounded impeaches the leaders of the girondists-and is denouncto the honour elf her character. She was accused of ed by them.-Decree of accucsatioin passed against Marat, having adtlmitted to the apa rtments of the Tuileries who conceals himself.-Commissiona of Tivelve appointed. some of the National Guards, of the section of Filles -M1arat acquitted, amed seat beck to t/e Conuentionl with St-Thomas, and caumsinlg the wounds to be looked civic crownn-Terror at immecisism of tAe giroolists. to w~licll they had received in a slirmish with the -Jacobins prepare to attack the Palais Royal, but are repulsed —Repair to the Convention. who recal the ~om. Marseillais, immediately before the 10th of August. repulsed-Repair to the Coavemtion, vo renvl the Coi-.mission of Twelve. —Louovet and other gir ond'ist leaders The princess admitted her having done so, and it fly from Paris.-Convention go forth in procession to was exactly in consistedce with hier whole conduct. expostulate with the people-Forced back to their hatl, Another chmarge stated tIhe ridiculous accusation, and compelled to decree the accusation of thirty of their that she had distributed bullets chewed by herself body.-Girondists imnally Xrzined-and their principal and her attendants, to render them more fatal, to leaders perish in prison, by the guillotiine, and by fathe defenders of the Castle of the Tuileries; a ridi- mine-Close of their history. culouts fable, of which there was no proof whatever.,She was beheaded in May, 1794, and met her death WI-mLE the Republic was thus indulging the fuill as became the maunnler in which her life had been tyrannyofirresistible success over the remains of the spent. royal family, it seemed about to sustain a severe LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 113 shock from one of its own children, who had arisen to 1 and blockaded Bergen-op-Zoom, he was repulsed emninence by its paths. This was Dunlourier, whom fiom Williamstadt; and atthe same tirne he received we left victor at Jemnappes, and conqueror, in con- information that an army of Austrians, under the sequence, of the Flemish provinces. These fair Prince of' Saxe-Coburg, a general of eminence, possessions, the Convention, without a moment's though belonging to the old military school of Gerhesitation, annexed to the dominions of France, and many, was advancing into Flanders. Dinuourier proceeded to pour down upon them their tax-ga- retreated from Holland to make a stand against therers,comnmissaries, and every other denomination these new enemies, and was again unfortunate. The of spoilers, who not only robbed without cerenmpny French were defeated at Aix-la-Chapelle, and their the unfortunate inhabitants, but insulted their re- new levies almost entirely dispersed. Chaglrinled ligion by pillaging and defacing their churches, set with this disaster, Dumourier gave an imprudent their laws and privileges at contempt, and tyran- loose to the warnith of his temper. Following the nized over them in the very manner, which had so false step of La Fayette, in menacing before he was recently induced the Flemings to offer resistance prepared to strike, lie wrote a letter to the Conto their own hereditary princes of the house of vention, threatening the jacobin party w:th the inA ustria. dignation of his army.'This was on the 12th March, Dumouirier, naturally protud of his conquest, felt 1793, and six days afterwards he was again defeated for those who lhad surrendered to his arms upon in the battle of Neerwindrn. assurance of being well treated, and was sensible It mast have been extremely doubtfiil, whether, that his own honour and influence were aimed at; in the very pitch of victory, Dumourier possessed and that it was the object of the Convention to enough of individual influence over his army, to mnake use of his abilities only as their implements, have inclined them to declare against the National and to keep his army in a state of complete de- Convention. The forces which lie commnanded penldence upon themaselves. were not to be regarded in the light of a regular The general, on the contrary, had the ambition as army, long embodied, and engaged perhaps for years Xwell as the talents of a conqueror; he considered in difficult enterprises, and in foreign countries, his army as the means of attaining the victories, where such a force exists as a comimunity only by vwhich, without him, they could not have achieved, their military relations to each other; where the and he desired to retain it under his own immediate conunon soldiers know no other home than their command, as a combatant wishes to keep hold of tents, and no other direction than the voice of their the sword which lie has wielded with success. He officers; and the officers no other laws than the accounted himself strongly possessed of the hearts pleasure of the general. Such armies, ho!ding themof his soldiers, and therefore thought himself quali- selves independent of the civil authorities of their flied to play the part of mlilitary, umpire in the divi- country, came at length, through the habit of long sions of the state, which La Fayette had attempted wars and, distant conquests, to exist in the Frenchl in vain; and it was with this view, doubtless, empire, and upon such rested the foundation stone that he undertoek that expedition to Paris, in which of the imperial throne; but as yet, the troops of the he vainly attempted a mediation in behalf of the Republic consisted either of the regiments revoluking. tionized, when the great change haci offered comAfter leaving Paris, Dumonrier seems to have missions to privates, and batons to subalterns, or of abandoned Louis personally to his fate, yet still new levies, who had their very existence through retaining hopes to curb the headlong colurse of the the Revolution, and whose common nickname of Ptevolution. Carmagnoles, expressed their republican origin and Two plans presented themselves to his fertile in- opinions. Such troops might obey the voice of the vention, nor can it be known with certainty to which general on the actual field of battle, but were not the mostinclined. lie may have entertained theidea very amienable even to the ordinary course of disof prevailing upon the army to decide for the youth- cil~line elsewhere, and were not likely to exclhange fill dauphin to be their constitutional king; or, as their rooted political principles, vith all the ideas of mnany have thought, it nmay better have suited his license connected with thenm, at Dumourier's word personal views to have recommended to the throne of command, as they would have changed theirfront, a gallant young prince of the blood, who had distin- or have adopted any routine of military movement. guished himself in his army, the eldest son of the Still less were they likely implicitly to obey this miserable Duke of Orlmeans. Such a change of commander, when theprestige olhis fortune seemed dynasty might be supposed to limit the wishes of the in the act of abandoning him, and least of all, when proposed sovereign to tlhat share of' power intrusted they found him disposed to make a compromise with to inim by the Revolution, since he would have had the very foe who had defeated him, and perceived no title to tile crown save what arose from the con- that he negotiated, by abandoning his conquests to stitution. But, to qualify himself in.either case to the Austrians, to purchase the opportunity or peract as the supreme head of the aramy, independent mission of executing the counter-revolution which of the National Convention, it was necessary that he proposed. Dumourier should pursue his conquests, act poen the Nevertheless, Dumourier, either pushed on by an plan laid down by the ministers at Paris, and, in active and sanguine temper, or being too far adaddition to his title of victor in Belgium, add that of vanced to retreat, endeavoured, by intrigues in his conqueror of Holland. He conmrenced, accordingly, own army, and an understanding with the Prince of an invasion of the latter country, with some prospect Saxe-Cobusg, to render himself strong enough to of success. But though he took Gertruydenberg, overset the reigning party in the ConveDtion, and VOL. 15. L~~~~~ 114 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. restore, with some modifications, the constitution distinction by the actual strokes of the axe, or, failof 1791. He expressed this purpose with imprudent ing that, of the dagger. openness. Several generals of division declared When the news of Dumourier's defection arrived, against his scheme. He failed in obtaining posses- the jacobins, always alert in prepossessing the public sion of the fortresses of Lille, Valenciennes, and mind, held out the girondists as the associates of the Condlt. Another act of imprudence aggravated the revolted general. It was on them whom they directuntpopularity into which he began to fall with his ed the public animosity, great and furious in pi o army. Four commissioners of the Convention re- portion to the nature of the crisis. That majority of monstrated publicly on the course he was pursuing. the Convention, whom the traitor Dumourier affirmed Dumourier, not contented with arresting them, had was sound, and with which he acted in concert, inthe imprudence to send them to the camp of the timated, according to the jacobins, the girondists the Austrians, prisoners, thus delivering up to the public allies of hi.s treasons. They called out in the Conenemy the representatives of the government under vention on the 8th of Malrch, for a tribunal of juigwhich he was appointed, and lor which he had ment fit to decide on such crimes, withloutthe delays hitherto acted, and proclaiming his alliance with arising from ordinary forms of pleading and evithe invaders whom he was commissioned to oppose. denuce, and without even the intervention of a jury. All this rash conduct disunited the tie between The girondists opposed this measure, and the debate Dam(ourier and his army. The resistance to his was violent. In the course of the subsequent days, authority became general, and finally, it was with an insurrection of the people was prepared by the great.difficulty and danger that he made his escape jacobins, as upon the 20th June and 10th of August. to the Austrian camp, with his young friend the It ought to have broken out upon tile 10th of March, Duke de Chartres. which was the day destined to put an end to the All that this able and ambitious man saved in his ministerial party by a general massacre. But the retreat was merely his life, of which he spent some girondists received early intelligence of what was years afterwards in Germany, concluding it in Eng- intended, and absented themselves from the Convenland about 1822, without again making any figure tion on the day of peril. A body of federates fiom in the political horizon.* Thus, the attempt of Du- Brest, about 400 stlong, were also detached in their niourier, to use military force to stem the progress favour by Kervelegan, one of the deputies from the of the Revolution, failed, like that of La Fayette ancient province of Bretagne, and who was a zealous some months before. To use a medical simile, the girondist. The precaution, however slight, was suffiimnposthunie was not yet far enough advanced, and cient for the time. The men who were prepared to sufficiently come to a head, to be benefited by the murder wvere unwilling to fight, however strong the use of the lancet. odds on their side; and the mustering of the jacobin:Meanwhile, the Convention, though triumphant bravos proved, on this occasion, an empty menace. -over the schemes of the revolted general, was divid- Duly improved, a discovered conspiracy is geneed by the two parties to whom its walls served for rally of advantage to the party against which it was an arena, in which to aim against each other the framed. But Vergniaud, when, in,a subsequent sitmost deadly blows. It was now manifest that the ting, he denounced to the Convention the existence strife must end tragically for one of the parties, and of a conspirlacy to put to death a number of the all circurmstances pointed out the girondists as the deputies, was contented to impute it to the influence victinls. They had indeed still the command of mna- of the aristocracy, of the nobles, the priests, and the jorities in the Convention, especially when the votes emissaries of Pitt and Coburg; thus suffering the were taken by scrutiny or ballot; on which occasions jacobins to escape every imputation of that blame, the feebler deputies of the Plain could give their which all the world knew attached to them, and to voice according to their consciences, without its them only. He was loudly applauded. Marat, who being klnown that they had done so. But in open rose after him, was applauded as loudly, and the debate, and when tile members voted viuva voce, revolutionary tribunal was established. amongst the intimidating cries and threats of tribunes Louvet, wvho exclaims against Vergniaud for Ihis filled by an infuriated audience, the spirit of truth pusillanimiity, says, that the orator alleged in his and justice seemed too nearly allied to that of mar- excuse, "'the danger of incensing violent men, altyrdonm, to be prevalent generally amongst men who ready capable of all excesses." They had come made their own safety the rule of their political to the boar-chase, they had roused him and provokconduct. The party, however, continued for several ed his anger, and now they-felt, too late, that they months to exercise the duties of administration, and lacked weapons with whiich to attack the irritated to makle such a struggle in the Convention as could monster. The plot of the 10th March had been be achieved by oratory and reasoning, against un- compared to that of the catholics on the 5th Noderhand intrigue, supported by violent declamation, vember, in England. It had been described in the and which was, upon the least signal, sure of the aid.Moniteizr as a horrible conspiracy, by which a of actual brutal violence. company of ruffians, assuming the title of de la GlaThe girondists, we have seen, had aimed decrees ciare, in remembrance of the massacre of Avignon, of the assembly at tlhe triumvirate, and a plot was surrounded the hall for two days, with the purpose now laid among the jacobins, to repay that intended ofdissolving the National Convention by force, and putting to death a great prlopotion of the deputies. * Dumourier was a man of pleasing manners and lively Yet the Convention passed over, without effective conversation. He lived in retirement, near Ealing, in prosecution of any kinl, a crime of so enormous a M tiddlesex. die; and in doing so, showed themselves more afraid LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 115 of immediate personal consequences, than desirous business too well to convict any one, much less of seizing an opportunity to rid France of the hor- such a distinguished patriot, who was only accused rible faction by whom they were scourged and of stimrrnlating the people to exercise the sacred menaced. right of insurrection. He was honourably acquitted, In the midst of next month the jacobins became after scarcely the semblance of a trial, and brought the assailants, proud, it nmay be supposed, of the back to his place in the Convention, crowned with i.punity under which they had been sheltered. a civic coronet, and accomipanied by a band of such Robespierre impeached by name the leaders of the determined ruffians as were worthy to forru his girondists, as accomplicesof Drmnourier. But it was body-guard. They insisted on filing throrgh the not in the Convention iwhere Robespierre's force hall, while a huge pioneer, their spokesman, assured lay. Guadet, with great eloquence, repelled the the Convention that the people loved Marat, and chlarge, arnd in his tulrn denounced Robespierre and that the cause of Marat and the people would althe jacobins. Hie proclaimed to tile Convention that ways be the samne. they sat and debated under raised sabres and po- Meanwhile, the Comnmittee of Twelve proceeded niards, which a nuornenit's signal could let loose on against the terrorists with somie vigour. One of the them; and lie read from the jorrlnal conducted by most furious provokers of insurrection and murder Marat, an appeal, calling on tile people to rise in was HWbert, a devoted jacobin, substitute of tihe insurrection. Fear and shame gave the Convention procureuir syndic of the community. Speaking to momentary courage. They passed a decree of ac- this body, who now exercised thee whole powers of crsation against Marat, who was obliged to conceal magistracy in Paris, this man had not blushed to himself for a few days. demand the heads of three hundred deputies. He Buzot, it may be remarked, censures this decree was arrested and committed to prison. against Marat as impolitic, seeing it Awas the first This decisive action ought in policy to have been innovation affecting the inviolability of the persons followed by other steps equally firm. The girondof the deputies. In point of principle he is certainly ists, by displaying confidence, mnight surely have right; but as to any practical efftets resulting from united to themselves a large nllumber of tile neutlal this breach of privilege, by reprisals on the other party, and might have established ane interest in the side, we are quite sceptical. Whatever violence sections of Paris, consisting of men who, though was done to the girondists, at the end of the conflict, timid without leaders, held in deep horror the revowas sure to have befallen them, whether Marat had lutionary faction, and trenmbled for their families been arrested or not. Precedents were as useless and their property, if' put under the guardianship, to such men, as a vizard to one of their ruffians. as it had been delicately expressed, of the rabble Both could do their business barefaced. of the faubourgs. The very show of four hundred The Convention went farther than the decree of Bretons had disconcerted the whole conspiracy of accusation against Marat; and for the first time the 10th of March; and therefore, with a moderate showed their intention to make a stand against the support of determined lien, statesmen of a more jacobins. They nominated a commission of twelve resolute and practised character than these theomembers, some girondists, some neutrals, to watch retical philosophers might have bid defiance to the over and repress the movements of such citizens as mere mob of Paris, aided by a few hu'ndreds of should seem disposed to favour anarchy. hired ruffians. At the worst, they would have peThe Convention were not long of learning the rished in attempting to save their corlltly froil the character of the opposition which they had now most vile and horrible tyranny. defied. Pache, Mayor of Paris, and one of the worst The girondists, however, sat in tile Convention, men of the Revolution, appeared at tIhe bar of the like wild-fowl when the hawk is abroad, afraid Convention with two thousand petitioners, as they either to remain where they were or to attempt a were called. They demanded, in the name of the flight. Yet, as they could make no armed interest sections, the arrest of twenty-two of the most distin- in Paris, there was much to induce them to quit the guished of the girondist leaders. T'rie Convention metropolis and seek a place of friee deliberation got rid of the petition by passing to the order of the elsewvhere. France, indeed, was in such a state, day. But the courage of the anarchists was greatly that had these lunfortunate experimentalists possessincreased; and they saw that they had only to bear ed a iy influence in almost any departmient, they down with repeated attacks an enemy who had no could hardly have failed to bring fiiends around fortification save the fi-ail defences of the law, which theni if they had effected a retreat to it. Versailles it was the pride of the jacobins to surmount and to seenls to have been thought of as the scene of their defy. Their demand of proscription against these adjotlrrnment by those who nourlished such an idea; unfortunate deputies was a measure from which and it was believed that the inhabitants of that town, they never departed; and their audacity in urgingrit repentant of the part they had played in driving placed that party en the defensive, who ought, in all from them tile royal fanmily and the legislative body, reason, to have been active in the attack. would have stood in their defence. Burt neither The girondclts, however, felt the extremity to from the public journals and histories of the time, which they were reduced, and sensible of the great nor from the private memoirs of Buzot, Barbaroux, advantage to be attained by being the assailants in or Louvet, does it appear that these infatuated phisuch a struggle, they endcavoured to regain the losophers thotught either of flight or defence. They offensive. appear to have resembled the ewretched animal lThe Revolutionary Tribunal to which Marat had whose chance of escape from its enemies rests only been sent by the decree of accusation, knew their in the pitiful cries which it utters when seized. 116 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Their whole system was a castle in the air, and counters and tills. Five sections were under arms when it vanished they could only sit down and la- and ready to act. Not one of the girondist party ment over it. On the other hand, it must be allowed seems to have even attempted to point out to them, to the girondists, that the inefficiency and imbecility that by an exertion to preserve the independence of of their conduct was not to be attributed to personal the Convention, they might rid themselves for ever cowardice. Enthusiasts in their political opinions, of the domination, under which all who had prothey saw their ruin approaching, waited for it, and perty, feeling, or education, were rendered slaves dared it; but, like that of the monarch they had by these recurring insurrections. This is the more been so eager to dethrone, and by dethroning whom extraordinary, as RaGti, the commandant of tile they had made way for their own ruin, their resola- section of La Butte-des-Moulins, had actually tion was of a passive, not an active, character- marched to tile assistance of the Convention on the patient and steady to endure wrong, but inefficient 10th of MIarch, then, as now, besieged by an armed where the object was to do right towards themselves force. and France. Left to themselves, the sections who were in For many nights these unhappy and devoted arms to protect order thought it enough to provide deputies, still possessed of the ministerial power, against the main danger of the moment. The sight were so far from being able to insure their own of their array, and of their determined appearance, safety, or that of the country under their nominal far more than their three-coloured cockades, and government, that they had shifted about from one cries of Vive la Re6subliqste, were sufficient to place of rendezvous to another, not daring to occupy make the insurgents recognize those as good citizens, their own lodgings, and usually remaining, three or who could not be convicted of incivism without a ibur together, armed fobr defence of their lives, in bloody combat. such places of secrecy and safety as they could They were, however, at length made to compredevise, hend by their leaders, that the business to be done It was on the night preceding the 30th of May, lay in the Hall of the Convention, and that the that Louvet, with five of the most distinguished of exertions of each active citizen were to entitle him the girondist party, had absconded into such a re- to forty sous for the day's work. In the whole affair treat, more like robbers afraid of the police than there was so much of cold trick, and so little popular legislators, when the tocsin was rung at dead of enthusiasm, that it is difficult to believe that the night. Rabaud de St-Etienne, a protestant clergy- plotters might not have been countermined and man, and one of the most distinguished of the blown to the moon with their own petard, had there party for humanity and resolution, received it as a been active spirit or practical courage on the side death-knell, and continued to repeat, Illa suprenma of those who were the assailed party. But wve see dies. no symptoms of either. Thl-le Convention were surThe alarm was designed to raise the suburbs; but rounded by the rabble, and menaced in the grossest in this task the jacobins do not seem to have had terms. Under the general terror inspired by their the usual facilities-at least they began by putting situation, they finally recalled the Commission of their blood-hounds on a scent, upon which they Twelve, and set H[bert at liberty;-concessions thought them likely to run more readily than the which, though short of those which the jacobins had mere murder or arrest of twenty or thirty deputies determined to insist upon, were such as showed of the Convention. They devised one which suited that the power of the girondists was entirely deadmirably, both to alarm the wealthier citizens, and stroyed, and that the Convention itself rlig-ht be teach them to be contented with looking to their own overawed at the pleasure of whosoever should conIsafety, and to animate the rabble with the hope of mand the mob of Paris. plunder. The rumnour was spread, that the section The jacobins were now determined to follow up ot La Butte-des-Moulins, comprehending the Palais their blow, by destroying the enemy whom they Royal, and the most wealthy shops in Paris, had had disarmed. Trhe 2d of June was fixed for this become counter-revolutionary-had displayed the purpose. Louvet, and some others of the girondist white cockade, and were declaring for the Bour- party, did not chase to await the issue, but fled bols. from Paris. To secule the rest of the devoted Of this not a word was true. The citizens of the party, the barriers of the city were shut. Palais Royal were disposed perhaps to royalty- On this decisive occasion the jacobins had not certainly for a quiet and established government- trusted entirely to the efficiency of' their suburb but loved their own shops much better than the forces. They had also under their orders about two house of Bourbon, and had no intention of placing thousand federates, who were encamped in the themn in jeopardy either for king or kaisar. They Champs Elysees, and had been long tutored in the heard with alarm the accusation against them, mnus- part they had to act. They harnessed guns and tered in defence of their property, shut the gates of howitzers, prepared grape-shot and shells, and acthe Palais Royal, which admits of being strongly de- tually heated shot red-hpt, as if their purpose had fended, turned cannon with lighted matches upon been to attack some strong fortress, instead of a the mob as they approached their precincts, and hall filled with the unarmed representatives of the showed, in a way sufficient to intimidate the rabble people. Henriot, commander-general of the armed of St-Antoine, that though the wealthy burgesses force of Paris, a fierce,'ignorant man, entirely deof Paris might abandon to the mob the care of killing voted to the jacobin interest, took care, in posting kings and ~hanging ministries, they had no intention the armed force which arrived from all hands around whatsoever to yield up to them the charge of their the Convention, to station those nearest to the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 117 legislative body, whose dispositions with regard Shame procured him a moment's hearing, during to tthemn were most notoriously violent. They were which he harangued tile assembly with much effect thus entirely surrounded as if in a net, and the ja- on the baseness, treachery, cruelty, and irmpolicy, cobins had little more to do than to select their of thus surrendering their brethren to the call of a victims. blood-thirsty multitude from without, stimulated by The universal cry of the armed men who sur- a vengeful minority of their own members. T'ele roinided the Convention was for a decree of death Convention made an effort to free themnselves from or outlawry against twenty-two members of the the toils in which they were entangled. They re. girondist party, who had been pointed out, by the solved to go out in a body, and ascertain what repetition of Pache, and by subsequent petitions of' spect would be paid to their persons by the arlmled the roost iliflamrllatory nature, as accomplices of force assembled around them. Duumourier, enemies of' the good city of Paris, and They sallied forth accordingly, in procession, into traitors, wsho meditated a federative instead of' an the Gardens of the Tuileries, the jacobins alcue rcindivisible reputblic. This list of proscription includ- maining in the hall; but their progress was preed the ministers. sently arrested by Henriot, at the head of a strong The Convention were in a dreadful situation; it military staff, and a large body of troops. Eves V was maniest that the arn of strong force was upon passage leading from the gardens was secured by them. Those who were supposed to belong to the soldier-s. The president read the decree of the as. girondist party were struck and abused as they sembly, and commanded Henriot's obedience. The entered the hall, hooted and threatened as they commandant of Paris only replied by reining back arose to deliver their opinion. The members were his horse, and commanding the troops to stand to no longer tfee to speak or iote. There could be no their arms. "Return to your posts," he said to the deliberation within the assembly, while such a terrified legislators; "the people demand the traiscene of tumult and tfury continued and increased tors who are in the bosom of your assembly, and withtout. will not depart till their will is accomplished." Barrere, leader, as we have said, of the Plain, Marat came up presently afterwards at the head of or neutral party,wlwho thought with the girondists in a select band of a hundred ruffians. He called on conscience, and acted with the jacobins in fear, the multitude to stand firm to their purpose, and proposed one of those seemingly moderate measures, commanded the Convention, in the name of the which involve as sure destruction to those who people, to return to their place of meeting, to deliadopt them, as if their character were more deci- berate, and, above all, to obey. sively hostile. With compliments to their good The Convention re-entered their hall in the last intentions, with lamentations for the emergency, degree of consternation, prepared to submit to the he entreated the proscribed girondists to sacrifice infanmy which now seemed inevitable, yet loathing theliselves, as the unhappy subjects of disunion in themselves for their cowardice, even while obeying the Republic. and to resign their character of depu- the dictates of self-preservation. The jacobins ties. The Convention, he said, would then declare meanwhile enhanced their demand, like her who them under the protection of the law,-as, if they sold the books of the Sibyls. Instead of twentywere not invested with that protection while they two deputies, the accusation of thirty was now dewere convicted of no crime, and clothed at the same manded. Amid terror mingled with acclamations, timhe with the inviolability, of which he advised the decree was declared to be carried. This doom them to divest themselves. It was as if a man were of proscription passed on the motion of Conthon, a requested to lay aside his armour, on the promise decrepit being, whose lower extremities were pathat the ordinary garments which he wore under it ralysed, —whose benevolence of feeling seenled to should be rendered impenetrable. pour itself out in the most gentle expressions, utterBut a Frenchnman is easily induced to do that ed in the most nmelodious tones,-whose sensibility to which he is provoked, as involving a point of led him constantly to foster a favourite spaniel in honour. his bosom, that he might have something on which This treacherous advice was adopted by Isnard, to bestow kindness and caresses,-but who was at Dussaulx, and otherls of the proscribed deputies, heart as fierce as Danton, and as pitiless as Robeswho were thuins persuaded to abandon what defences pierre. remained to theim, in hopes to soften the ferocity of Great part of the Convention did not join in this an enemy, too inveterate to entertain feelings of ge- vote, protesting loudly against tile force imposed on nerosity. them. Several of the proscribed deputies were arLainjuinais maintained a more honourable struggle. rested, others escaped from the hall by tile conniv"Expect not fr'om ine," lie said to the Convention, ance of their brethren, and of the official persons "to hear either of' submission, or resignation of my attached to the Convention; some, foreseeing their official character. AMl I flee to ofler such a resig- fate, had absented themselves from the mIeeting, nation, or are you free to receive it?" As he anld were already fled from Paris. would have tlurned his eloqulence against Robes. Thus fell, without a blow struck, or sword drawn pierre and the jacobins. an attempt was made by in their defence, the party in the Convention which Legendre and Cilabot to dlag him from the tribune. claimed the praise of acting upon pure repblican \Vhlile lie resisted iie received several blows. principles, who had overthrown the throne, ald led " Clruel ien!" hle exclhilmed-"'I'Te Heathens adorn- the way to anarchy, merely to perfect ain ideal ed and caressed the \ictimls whlori they led to the theory. They fell, as the wisest of them admitted, ulaughter-you load them witll blows and insult." dupes to their own system, and to the vain and ima 118 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. practicable idea of ruling a large and corrupt em- banal, the people seem to have shown more interest pire, by the motives which may sway a small and in men, whose distinguished talents had so often virtuous community. They might, as they too late swayed the Legislative Body, than was altogether discovered, have as well attempted to found the acceptable to the jacobins, who were induced to fear Capitol on a bottomless and quaking marsh, as some difficulty in carrying through their conviction. their pretended Republic in a country like France. They obtained a decree from the Convention, deThe violent revolutionary expedients, the means claring that the President of the Revolutionary Triby which they acted, were turned against them bunal should be at liberty to close the procedure so by men, whose ends were worse than their own. soon as the jury should have made up their minds, The girondists had glor:ed in their share of the and without hearing the accused in their defence. triumphs of the 10th of August; yet what was that This fiightful expedient of cutting short the debate celebrated day, save an i.nsurrection of the populace (cooper la parole was the phrase) was often reagainst the constituted authority of the time, as those sorted to on those revolutionary trials. Unquestionof the 31st of May and 2d of June, 1793, under ably, they dreaded the reasoning of Brissot, and the which the girondists succumbed, were directed eloquence of Vergniand, of which they had so long against them as successors in the government? In and so often experienced the thunders. One crime, the one case, a king was dethroned; in the other, a -and it was a fattal offence, considering betibre what government or band of ministers dismissed. And judicature they stood,-seems to have been made if the people had a right, as the g;rondists claimed in out by Brissot's own letters. It was that by which their behalf, to act as the executioners of their own the late members attempted to effect a combination vill in the one instance, it is difficult to see upon among the departments, for the purpose of counterwhat principle their power should be trammeled in poising, if possible, the tremendous influence which the other. the capital and the revolutionary part of its magisIn the important process against the king, the tracy exercised over the Convention, whom Paris girondists had shown themselves pusillanimous;- detained prisoners within her walls. This delindesirlos to save the life of a guiltless man, they quency alone was wvell calculated to remove all dared not boldly vouch his innocence, but sheltered scruples from the minds of a jury, selected from that themselves under evasions which sacrificed his cha- very class of Parisians whose dreadful importance racter, while they could not protect his life. After would have been altogether annihilated by the succommitting this great error, they lost every chance of cess of such a scheme. The accused were found allying with efficacy under their standard what might guilty as conspirators against the unity and indivisiremain of well-intentioned individuals in Paris and bility of the Republic, and the liberty and safety of in France, who, if they had seen the girondists, when the French people. in power, conduct themselves with firmness, would When the sentence of death was p:ronounced, one probably rather have ranked themselves in the train of their number, Valaz6, plunged a dagger in his of mnen who were fiiends to social order, however bosom. The rest suffered in terms of the sentence, republican their tenets, than have given way to the and were conveyed to the place of execution in tile anarchy which was doomed to ensue. same tumnbril with the bloody corpse of their suiUpon all their own faults, whether of act or of cide colleague. Brissot seemed downcast and ullomission, the unfortunate girondists had now ample happy. Fanchet, a renegade priest, showed signs of time to meditate. - Twenty-two of their leading remorse. The rest affected a Roman resolution, and members, atrrested on the fatal 2d of June, already went to execution singing a parody on the Hymln of waited their doom in prison, while the others wan- the Marseillais, in which that famous composition dered on, in distress and misery, through the dif- was turned against the jacobins. They had long ferent departments of France. rejected the aids of religion, which, early received The fate of those who were prisoners was not and cherished, would have guided their steps in very long suspended. In about three months they prosperity, and sustained them in adversity. Their were brought to tlial, and convicted-of royalism! remaining stay was only that of the same vain and Such was the temper of France at the time, and so speculative philosophy, which had so deplo-rably gross the impositions which might be put upon the influenced their political conduct. people, that the men in the empire, who, upon ab- Those members of the girondist party who, es stract principle, were most averse to monarchy, and caping tirom Paris to the departments, avoided their who had sacrificed even their consciences to join fate son:ewhat longer, saw little reason to pride with the jacobins in pulling down the throne, were themselves on the political part they had chosen to now accused and convicted of being royalists, and act. They found the eastern and southern departthat at a time when what remained of the royal fa- ments in a ferment against Paris and the jacobins, mily was at so low an ebb, that the imprisoned and ready to rise in arms; but they became aware, queen could not obtain the most ordinary book for at the same time, that no one was thinking, of or rethe use of her son, without a direct and formal ap- gretting their system of a pure republic, thie mrotives plication to the Community of Paris.* i by which the salcontents were agitated being of a When the girondists were brought before the tri- very different, and far nmore practical character. - Great part of tile nation, all at least of' better feel+ Witness the following entry in the minutes of the Com- iugs, had been deeply affected by tihe undeserved maune, on a day, be it remarked, betwixt the 29th May and fate of the king, and the cruelty Xwith which his the 2d June: " Antoinette fail demrnsder power sun fils le fanmily had been, and were still treated. The rich raew de Gciil-Blas ude Swalutillanle-nccorde.t tfeared to be pillaged and murdered by the jacobins; LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 119 the poor suffered no less under scarcity of grain, protection. But Bordeaux was by this time no more under the depreciation of assignats, and a compul- than a wealthy trading town, where the rich, tremsory levy of no less than three hundred thousand bling before the poor, were not willing to increase men over France, to supply the enqrmous losses of their own imminent danger, by intermeddling with the French army. But everywhere the insurrection the misfortunes of others. All doors, or nearly so, took a royalist, and not a republican character; and of La Gironde itself, were shut against the gironalthough the girondists were received at Caen and dists, and they wandered outcasts, in the country, elsewhere with compassion and respect, the votes suffering every extremity of toil and hunger, and they had given in tile king's trial, and their fianatic bringingng, in some cases, death upon the friends who zeal for a kind of government fob which France wvas entured to afford them refilge. totally unfitted, and which those fiom whom. they Louvet alone escaped, of the six girondists wlho obtained refuge were far from desiring, prevented took refilge in their own peculiar proillnce. Guadet, their playing any distinguished part in the disturbed Salles, and the enthusiastic Barbaroux, were seized districts of the west. and executed at Bordeaux, but not till the last had Buzot seenmsto see thisin the trluesense. " It is twice attempted suicide with his pistols. IBuzot certain," lie says, " that if we could have rested our and Petion killed themselves in extremity, and were pretensions upon having wished to establish in found dead in a field of corn. This was the same France a moderate government of that character, Pdtion who had been so longr the idol of the Pari. which, according to many well-instructed persons, sians, and who, when the forfeiture of the king best suited thle people of France" (indicating a was resolved on, had been heard to say with simple limited monarchy), "we might have entertained vanity, " If they should force 2me to become regent hopes of forming a formidable coalition in the de- now, I cannot see any means by which I can avoid paltlnent of Calvados, and rallying around us all it.".Others of this unhappy party shared the same whom ancient prejudices attached to royalty." As melancholy fate. Condorcet, who had pronounced it was, they were only regarded as a fewv enthlu- his vote fobr the king's life, but in perpetual fetters, siasts, whom thle example of America had induced was arrested, and poisoned himself: Rabaud de to attempt the establishment of a republic, in a St-Etienne was betrayed by a fiiend in whoml he country where'all hopes and wishes, save those of trusted, and was executed. Roland was found the jacobins, and the vile rabble whom they courted dead in the high-road, accomplishing a prophecy of and governed, were turned towards a mloderate mo- his wife, whom the jacobins had condemned to narchy. Buzot also observed, that the many violences death, and who had declared her conviction that mid atrocities, forced levies, and other acts of op- her husband would not long survive her. That repression practised in the name of the republic, had markable woman, happy if her high talents had, in disgusted men with a form of government, where youth, fallen under the direction of those who could cruelty seemed to rule over misery by the sole aid better have cultivated them, made before the Revoof terror. With more candour than some of his lutionary Tribunal a defence more umanly than the companions, he avows his error, and admits that lie most eloquent of the girondins. The bystanders, would, at this closing scene, have willingly united who had become amateurs in cruelty, were as much Nwith the moderate monarchists, to establish royalty delighted with her deportlnent, as the hunter with under the safeguard of constitutional restraints. the pulling down a noble stag. " Whlat sense," Several of the deputies, Louvet, Riouffe, Bar- they said; " what wit, what courage! What a baroux, Petion, and others, united themselves with magnificent spectacle it will be to behold such a a body of royalists of Bretagne, to whom General'woman upon the scaffold!" She nlet her death Wimpfen had given something of the name of an with great firmness, and, as she passed the statue armny, buat which never attained the solidity of one. of Liberty, on her road to execution, she exclaimed, It was defeated at Vernon, and never afterwards " Ah, Liberty! what crimes are commlnitted in thy could be again assembled. name!" The proscribed deputies, at first with a few armed About forty-two of the girondist deputies perished associates, afterwards entirely deserted, wandered by the guillotine, by suicide, or by the flatigue of through the country, incurring some romantic ad- their wanderings. About twenty-four escaped these ventures, which have been recorded by the pen perils, and were, after many and various slfierings, of their historian, Louvet. At length, six of the recalled to the Convention, when tle jacobin inparty succeeded in obtaining the means of trans- fluence was destroyed. They owed their fall to portation to Bordeaux, the capital of' the Gilronde the fantastic philosophy and visionary theories which from wiich their party derived its name, and which they had adopted, not less than to their presumptuolus those who were natives of it, remembering only the confidence, that popular assemblies, w;:hen actuated limited society in which they had first acquired by the miost violent personal feelings, must yieldl to their fame, had described as possessing and cherish- the weight of argumrent, as inanimate bodies obey ing the purest principles of philosophical freedom. the impulse of external force; and that they who Guadet had protested to his coumpanions in misfor- possess thle highest powers of oratory, caln, by mere tune a thousand tinmes, that if liberal, honourable, elocution, take tile weight fiom clubs, the edge and generous sentiments were chased from every fromn sabres, and the angry and brutal passions from other corner of France, they were nevertheless those who wield them. They made no further sure to find refuige itl La Gironde. The proscribed figure as a party in any of the state changes in wanderers had well nigh kissed the land of refuige, France; and, in relation to their experimental rewhen they disemnbarked, as in a country of assured public, nmiay remind the reader of the presumptuou, 1120 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. champion of antiquity, who was caught in the cleft were turned to the improvement of the internal oak, which he in vain attempted to rend asunder. regulations and finances of the country, he hesitated History has no more to say on the subject of La for some time to adopt a hostile course, though apGironde, considered as a party name. proved by the sovereign, and demanded by a large proportion of his subjects. But new circumstances arose every day to compel a decision on this importCHAPTER XV. ant point. The French, whether in their individual or col. Views of parties in Britain relative to the Revolution- The French, whether in their individual or col. Affiliated Societies-Counterpoised by Aristocratic Asso- lective capacities, have been always desirous to take ciations-Aristocratic party eager for war with France. lead among European nations, and to be con-The French proclaim the navigation of the Scheldt.- sidered as the foremost member of the civilized British ambassador recalled from Paris, and French republic. In almost all her vicissitudes, France has envoy no longer accredited in London.-France de- addressed herself as much to the citizens of other clares war against Englald.-British army sent to countries as to those of her own; and it was thus, Holland, uender the Duke of k-e of York-Stae f the army.- that in the speeches of her statesmen, invitations View of tIe military positions of France-in Flanders- were thrown out to the subjects of other states, to on the Rhine —in Piedmont-Savoy-ono the Pyrenees.-imitate the exanple of the Republic, cast away the Stae of te tscar in La Veondloe-Descriptinonb of the on- rubbish of their old institutions, dethrone their kings, tbrly-Le Bocage-ayLe Lo trongx-lClose oaion betyi a-t the demolish their nobility, divide the lands of the church nobles and peasantry-B th stronigly attached to royal- and the aristocracy among the lower classes, and ty, and abhorrent of the Revolttion. —The priests.-The a religion of the Vendeans outraged by the Convention.- arise a free and regenerated people. In Britain, as -A general insurrection takes places in 17'3.-Military elsewhere, these doctrines carried a fascinating organization and habits of the Vendteans.-Division in sound; for Britain, as well as France, had men of the British Cabinet on the mode of conducting the war- parts who thought themselves neglected,-men of Pitt- Windham-Reasoning upon the subject-Capitu- merit, who conceived themnselves oppressed,-exlation of Mentz enables 15,000 veterans to act in La Ven- perimentalists, who would willingly put the laws in dee-Vendeans defeated, andpass the Loire-They de- their revolutionary crucible,-and men desirous of feat, in their tourn, the French troops atLaval-Btt are novelties in the church and in the state, either from ultimately destroyed and dispersed.- Unfortunate expe- the eagerness of restless curiosity, or the hopes of dition to Quiberon.-Charette defeated and executed, and Above all, Britain had a the war of La Vendie finally terminated.-Return to the change. Above all state of France in spring 1793. —Unsuccessful resistance far too ample mass of poverty and ignolance, subject of Bordeaux, h~arseilles, andLyons, to the Convention. always to be acted upon by the hope of license. -Siege of Lyons-Its saurrender and dreadjitl punish- Affiliated societies were formed in almost all the ment.-Siege of Toulon. towns of Great Britain. They corresponded with each other, held very high and intimidating language, TIE jacobins, by their successive victories on the and seemed to frame themselves on the French 31st May and 2d June, 1793, had vanquished and model. They addressed the National Convention driven from the field their adversaries; and we have of France directly in the name of their own bodies, already seen with what fury they had pursued their and of societies united for the same purpose; and scattered enemies, and dealt amiong them vengeance congratulated them on their freedom, and on the and death. But the situation of the country, both in manner in which they had gained it, with many a regard to external and internal relations, was so pre- broad hint that their example would not be lost on carions, that it required the exertion of men as bold Britain. The persons who composed these societies and unhesitating as now assumed the guidance of had, generally speaking, little pretension to rank or the power of France, to exert the energies necessary influence; and though they contained some men of to repel foreign force, and at the same time to subdue considelable parts, there was a deficiency of anytliig internal dissension. like weight or respectability in their meetings. WVe have seen that England had become in a great Their consequence lay chiefly in the numbers who measure divided into two large parties, one of which were likely to be influenced by their arguments; continued to applaud the French Revolution, al- and these were extraordinarily great, especially in though the wise and good among them reprobated large towns. and in the manufacturing districts. its excesses; while the other, with eyes fixed in That state of things began to take place in Britain, detestation upon the cruelties, confiscations, and which had preceded the French Revolution; but the horrors of every description which it had given rise British aristocracy, well cemented together, and to, looked on the very name, of this great change,- possessing great weight in the state, took the alarm though no doubt comprehending much good as well sooner, and adopted precautions more effectual, than as evil, —with the unmixed feelings of men contem- had been thought of in France. They associated plating a spectacle equally dreadful and disgusting. together in political unions on their side, and, by the The affair of the 10th of August, and the ap- weight of influence, character, and fortune, soon proaching fate of the king, excited general interest obtained a superiority which made it dangerous, or in Britain; and a strong inclination became visible at least inconvenient, to many whose situations in aIlong the higher and middling classes, that the na- society rendered them in some degree dependent tion should take iup arms, and interfere in the fate of upon the favour of the aristocracy, to dissent viothe unhappy Louis. lently from their opinions. The political Shibbo. Mr Pitt had bee nl aking up his mind to tIhe sausd leth, used by these associations, was a renunciation point; but feeling how rlucL his own high talents of the doctrines of the French Revolution; and they LIIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 121 have been reproached that this abhorrence was ex- credited person. Yet, through Maret,* a suhborpressed by some of them in terms so strong, as if dinate agent, Pitt continued to keep up some designed to withhold the subscribers from attempting correspondence with the French government, in any reformation in their own government, even by a lingering desire to preserve peace, if posthe most constitutional means. In short, while the de- sible. - What the British minister chiefly wished mocratical party made in their clubs the most violent was, to have satisfactory assurances that the strong and furious speeches against the aristocrats, the expressions of a decree, which the French Convenothers became doubly prejudiced against reform of tion had passed on the 19th November, were not to every description, and all who attempted to assert its be considered as applicable to England. The decree propriety. After all, had this political fermentbroke was in these words: "The National Convention out in Britain at any other period, or on any other declares, in the name of the French nation, that it occasion, it would have probably passed away like will grant fraternity and assistance to all people other heartburnings of the same description, which who wish to recover their liberty; and it charges interest for a time, but weary out the public atten- the executive power to send the necessary orders tion, and are laid aside and forgotten. But the to the generals, to give succours to such people, French Revolution blazed in the neighbourhood and to defend those citizens who have suffered, or like a beacon of hope to the one party, of fear may suffer, in the cause of liberty."-" That this and caution to the other. The shouts of the de- decree might not remain a secret to those for whose mocratic triumphs-the foul means by which their benefit it was intended, a translation of it, in every successes were obtained, and the cruel use which foreign language, was ordered to be printed."twas made of them, increased the animosity of both The Convention. as well as the ministers of France, parties in England. In the fury of party zeal, the de- refilsed every disavowal of the decree as applimocrats excused many of the excesses of the French cable to Great Britain; were equally reluctant to Revolution, in respect of its tendency; while the grant explanation of any kind on the opening of other party, in condemning the whole Revolution, the Scheldt; and finally, without one dissentient both root and branch, forgot that, after all, the voice, the whole Convention, in a full meeting, destruggle of the French nation to recover their li- clared war upon England;-which last nation is, berty, was; in its comulencement, notonlyjustifiable, nevertheless, sometimes represented, even at this but laudable. day, as having declared war upon France. The wild and inflated language addressed by the In fact, Mr Pitt came unwillingly into the war. French statesmen to mankind in general, and the With even more than his great father's ministerial spirit of conquest which the nation had lately talents, he did not habitually nourish the schemes of evinced, mixed with their marked desire to extend military triumph which were familiar to the genius their political principles, and with the odium which of Chatham, and was naturally unwilling, by engagthey had heaped upon themselves by the king's ing in an expensive war, to derange those plans of death, made the whole aristocratic party, command- finance by which he had retrieved the revenues of ing a very large majority in both Houses of Parlia- Great Britain from a very low condition. It is said ment, become urgent that war should be declared of Chatham, that he considered it as the best ecoagainst France; a holy war, it said, against trea- nomy, to make every military expedition which he son, blasphemy, and murder, and a necessary war, fitted out of such a power and strength as to overin order to break off all connexion betwixt the bear, as far as possible, all chance of opposition. French government and the discontented part of A general officer, who was to be employed in such our own subjects, who could not otherwise be pre. a piece of service, having demanded a certain body vented friomn the most close, constant, and dangerous of troops as sufficient to effect his purpose, " Take intercourse with them. double the number,"'; said Lord Chatham, "and Another reason for hostilities, more in parallel answver with your head for your success." His son with similar cases in history, occurred, from the had not the same mode of computation, and would French having, by a formal decree, proclaimed the perhaps have been more willing to have reduced the Scheldt navigable. In so doing, a point had been officer's terms, chaffered with him for the lowest assumed as granted, upon the denial of which the number, and finally dispatched him at the head of States of Holland had always rested as the very as small a body as the general could have been prebasis of their national prosperity. It is probable vailed on to consider as affording any prospect of that this might, in other circumstances, have been success. This untimely economy of resources arose made the subject of negotiation. But the difference from the expense attending the British army. They of opinion on the general politics of the Revolution, are certainly one of the bravest, best appointed, and and the mode in which it had been carried on, set most liberally paid in Europe; but in forming dethe governments of France and England in such mands on their valour, and expectations from their direct and mortal opposition to each other, that exertions, their fellow-subjects are apt to indulge war became inevitable. extravagant computations, from not being in the Lord Gower, the British ambassador, was re- habit of considering military calculations, or being called from Paris, immediately on the king's exectl- altogether aware of the numerical superiority postion. The prince to whom he was sent was no sessed by other countries. That one Englishman more; and, on the same ground, the French envoy will fight two Frenchmen is certain; but that he at the Court of St James's, though not dismissed by his majesty's government, was made acquainted that * Since Duke of Bassano. the ministers no longer considered him as an ac t Annual Registerfor 1793, p. 153. V OL. \v. 16 122 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. will beat them, though a good article of the popular have named eradicated from the British army, by creed, must fe allowed to be more dubious; and it regulations for which his country can never be suffiis not wise to wage war on such odds, or to sup- ciently grateful, and without which they could pose that, because our soldiers are infinitely va- never have performed the distinguished part finally Ia-able to us, and a little expensive besides, it is destined to them in the terrible drama, which was therefore judicious to send them in small numbers about to open under less successful auspices. against desperate odds. T'here hung also, like a cloud, upon the military Another point, -well touched by Sheridan, on the fame of England, the anfortunate issue of the Amedebate on the question of peace or war, was not suf- rican struggle, in which the advantages obtained by ficiently attended to by the British administration. regulars, against less disciplined forces, had been That statesman, whose perception of the right and trifled with in the comnlencement, until the genius wrong of any great constitutional question was as of Washington, and the increasing spirit and numacute as that of any whomsoever of his great poli- bers of the continental arllies, completely overtical contemporaries, said, ";' He wished every pos- balanced, and almnost annihilated, that original presible exertion to be made for the preservation of ponderance. peace. If, however, that were impracticable, in Yet the British soldiery did not disgrace their such case, but in such case only, he proposed. to high national character, nor show themselves unvote for a vigorous war. Not a war of shifts and worthy of fighting under the eve of the son of their scraps, of timid operation, or protracted effort; but monarch; and when they joined the Austrian army, a war conducted with such energy as might con- under the Prince of Saxe-Coburg. gave many devince the world that we were contending fobr our monstrations both of valour and discipline. rIhe dearest and most valuable privileges."+ storming of the fortified camp of the French at Of this high-spirited and most just principle, the Famars-the battle of Lincelles-the pa- t they bore policy of Britain unfortunately lost sight during the in the sieges of Valenciennes and Cond6, both of first years of the war, when there occurred more which surrendered successively to the allied forces, than one opportunity in which a home and prostrat- upheld the reputation of their country, and amounting blow might have been aimed at her gigantic ad- ed, indeed, to what in former wars nould have versary. been the fruits of a very successful campaign. But A gallant auxiliary army was, however, imme- Europe was now arrived at a tilme when war was diately fitted out, and embarked for Holland, with no longer to be carried on according to the old.his Royal Highness the Duke of York at their head, usage, by the agency of standing armies of moderate as if the king had meant to give to his -allies the numbers; when a battle lost and won, or a siege dearest pledge in his power, how serious was the raised-or successful, was thought sufficient for the interest which he took in their defence. active exertions of the year, and the troops on either But though well equipped, and commanded, under side were drawn off into winter quarters, Awhile the young prince, by Abercrombie, Dundas, Sir diplomacy took up the contest which tactics had WVilliam Erskine, and many other officers of gal- suspended. All this was to be laid aside; and inlatlry and experience, it must be owned that the stead of this drowsy state of hostility, nations were British arnmy had not then recovered the depressing to contend with each other like individuals in mortal and disor,ganizing effects of the American war. The conflict, bringing not merely the hands, but every soldiers were, indeed, fine nmen on the parade; but limb of the body, into violent and frllious struggle. their external appearance was acquired by dint of a The situation of France, both in internal and exthousand minute and vexatious attentions, exacted ternal relations, required the most dreadful efforts from them at the expense of private comfort, and which had been ever made by any country; and the which, after all, only gave them the exterior ap- exertions which she demanded were either willingly pearance of' high drilling, in exchange for ease of made by the enthusiasm of the inhabitants, or exmotion and simplicity of dress. No general system torted by the energy and severity of the revolutionof manoeavres, we believe, had been adopted for the ary government. We must bestow a single glance use of the forces; each commanding-officer managed on the state of the country, ere we proceed to notice his regiment according to his own pleasure. In a the measures adopted for its defence. field-day, two or three battalions could not act in On the north-eastern frontier of France, consiconcert, without much previous consultation; in derable advances had been made by the English action, they got on as chance directed. The officers, and Hanoverian army, in communication and contoo, were acquainted both with their soldiers and junction with the Austrian force under the Prince wvith their duty, in a degree far inferior to what is of Saxe-Coburg, an excellent officer, but who, benow exacted from them. Our system of purchasing longing to the old school of formal and prolonged commissions, which is necessary to connect the war, never sufficiently considered that a new dearmy with the country, and the property of the scription of enemies were opposed to him, who country, was at that time so muich abused, that a were necessarily to be combated in a different mere beardless boy might be forced at once through manner firom those whom his youth had encountered, the subordinate and subaltern steps into a company and who, unenterprising himself, does not appear or a majority, without having been a month in the either to have calculated upon, or prepared to counaimy. In short, all those gigantic abuses were still teract, strokes of audacity and activity on the part subsisting, which the illumstrious prince whom we of the enemy. The war on the Rhine was filriously maintained Annaual Registerfor 1793, p. 250. by Prussians and Austrians united. The French LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 123 lost the important town of Mentz, were driven out der it inaccessible to strangers, and not easily traof other places, and experienced many reverses, veled through by the natives themselves. There although Custine, Moreau, Houchard, Beauharnais, were almost no roads practicable for ordinary carand other general officers of high merit, had already riages during the rainy season; and the rainy season given lustre to the arms of the Republic. The loss in La Vendee is a long one. The ladies of rank, of the strong lines -of Weissenburg, which were when they visited, went in carriages drawn by bulcarried by General Wurmser, a distinguished Aun- locks; the gentlemen, as well as fhe peasants, tratrian officer, completed the shade of disadvantage veled chiefly on foot, and by assistance of the long which here hung on the republican banners. leaping-poles which they carried for that purpose, In Piedmont the French were also unsuccessful, surmounted the ditches and other obstacles which though the scale was less grand and imposing. The other travelers found impassable. republican general, Brunet, was unfortunate, and he The whole tract of country is about one hundred was forced from his camp at Belvidere; while, on and fifty miles square, and lies at the mouth and on the side of Savoy, the King of Sardinia also obtained the southern bank of the Loire. The internal part several temporary advantages. is called Le Bocage (the Thicket), because partakOn the Pyrenees the republican armies had been ing in a peculiar degree of the wooded and intricate equally unsuccessful. A Spanish army, conducted character which belongs to the whole country. That with more spirit than had been lately the case with portion of La Vend6e which lies close to the Loire, the troops of that once proud monarchy, had defeat- and nearer its mouth, is called Le Louroux. The ed the republican General Servan, and crossed the neighbouring districts partook in the insurrection, Bidassoa. On the eastern extremity of these cele- but the strength and character which it assumed were brated mountains, the Spaniards had taken the derived chiefly from La Vend6e. towns of Port Vendre and Collioure. The union betwixt the noblesse of La Vendie Assailed on so many sides, and by so many ene- and their peasants was of the most intimate chamies, all of whom, excepting the Sardinians, had racter. Their chief exportations from the district more or less made impression upon the frontiers of consisted in the immense herds of cattle which they the Republic, it might seem that the only salvation reared in their fertile meadows, and which supplied which remained for France must have been sought the consumption of the metropolis. These herds, for in the unanimity of her inhabitants. But so far as well as the land on which they were raised, was the nation from possessing this first of requisites were in general the property of the seigneurl; but for a successful opposition to the overpowering co- the farmer possessed a joint interest in the latter. alition which assailed her, that a dreadful civil war He managed the stock and disposed of it at market, was already waged in the western provinces of and there was an equitable adjustment of their inFrance, which threatened, from its importance and terest in disposing ofthe produce. the success of the insurgents, to undo, in a great Their amusements were also in common. The measure, the work of the Revolution; while similar chase of wolves, not only for the sake of sport, but discords, breaking out on different points in the to clear the woods of those ravenous animals, was south, menaced conclusions no less formidable. pursued as of yore by the seigneur at the head of It does not belong to us to trace the interesting his followers and vassals. Upon the evenings of features of the war in La Vend6e with a minute Sundays and holidays, the young people of each pencil, but they mingle too much with the history of village and metairie repaired to the court-yard of the period to be altogether omitted. the chateau, as the natural and proper scene for We have elsewhere' said that, speaking of La their evening amusement, and the family of the Vend6e as a district, it was there alone, through baron often took part in the pastime. the whole kingdom of France, that the peasants In a word, the two divisions of society depended and the nobles-in other words, the proprietors and mutually on each other, and were strongly knit cultivators of the soil-remained on terms of close together by ties, which, in other districts of France, and intimate connexion and friendship, which made existed only in particular instances. The Vendean them feel the same undivided interest in the great peasant was the faithful and attached, though huinmchanges created by the Revolution. The situation ble friend of his lord; he was his partner in bad and of La Vend6e, its soil and character, as well as the good fortune; submitted to his decision the disputes manners of the people, had contributed to an ar- which might occur betwixt him and his neighbours; rangement of interests and habits of thinking which and had recourse to his protection, if' he sustained rendered the union betwixt these two classes indis- wrong, or was threatened with injustice from any soluble. one. La Vendee is a wooded and pastoral country, not This system of simple and patriarchal manners indeed mountainous, but abounding in inequalities could not have long subsisted under any great inof ground, crossed by brooks, and intersected by a equality of fortune. Accordingly, we find that the variety of canals and ditches, made for drainage, wealthiest of the Vendean nobility did not hold esbut which become, with the numerous and intricate tates worth more than twelve or fifteen hundred athickets, posts of great strength in the time of war. year, while the lowest might be three or fbur hundred.'The inclosures seemed to be won, as it were, out of They were not accordingly much tempted by exuthe woodland; and the paths which traversed the berance of wealth to seek to display magnificence; country were so intricate and perplexed as to ren- and suchas went to court, and conformed to the fashions of the capital, were accustomed to lay them * See p. 8. aside in all haste when they returned to the 3ocage, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. and to reassumethe simple manners of their ancestors, resisted this unjust and impolitic injunction of the leAll the incentives to discord which abounded gislature, persecution followed on the part of the elsewhere through France, were wanting in this wild government, and was met in its turn by violence on and wooded region, where the peasant was the no- that of the people. ble's affectionate partner and f~iend, the noble the na- The peasants maintained in secret their ancient tural judge and protector of the peasant. The people pastors, and attended their ministry in woods and had retained the feelings of the ancient French in deserts; while the intruders, who were settled in fiavour of royalty; they listened with dissatisfaction the livings of tile recusalts, dared hardly appear in and disgust to the accounts of the Revolution as it the churches without the protection of the National proceeded; and feeling themselves none of the evils Guards. in which it originated, its whole tendency became So early as 1791, when Dumourier commanded the object of their alarm and saspicion. The neigh- the forces at Nantes, and. the districts adjacent, the'bouritng districts, and Bretagne in particular, were flamne ofdissension had begun to kindle. Thatgene-:agitated'by similar commotions; for although the ral's sagacity induced him to do his best to appease revolutionary principles predominated in the towns the quarrel by moderating betwixt the parties. His of the west, they were not relished by the country military eye detected in the inhabitants and their people any more than by the nobles. Great agita- country an alarming scente for civil war. He received tion had for some time taken place through the pro- the slightest concessions on the part of the parish vinces of Bretagne, Anjou, Maine, and Poitou, to priests as satisfactory, and appears to have quieted which'the strength of the insurrection in La Vendde the disturbances of the country, at least for a time. gave impulse. It was not, however, a political But in 1793, the same causes of discontent, added impulse which induced the Vendeans to take the to others, hurried the inhabitants of La Venade into field. Thie influence of religion, seconded by that a general insurrection of the most formidable dedf natural affection, was the immediate stimulating scription. The events of the 10th of August, 1792,.motive. had driven from Paris a great proportion of the In a country so simple and virtuous in its manners royalist nobility, who had many of them carried as-we have described La Vendee, religious devo- their discontents and their counter-revolutionary tion must necessarily be a general attribute of the projects into a country prepared to receive and adopt inhabitants, who, conscious of loving their neighbours them. as themselves, are equally desirous, to the extent Then followed the conventional decree, which of their strength and capacity, to love and honour supported their declaration of war by a compulsory the Great Being who created all. The Vendeans levy of three hundred thousand men tlsroughout were therefore very regular in the performance of France. This measure was felt as severe by even their prescribed religious duties; and their parish those departments in.which the revolutionary plinpriest, or clurd, held an honoured and influential ciples were most predominant, but was regarded as rank in their little society, was the attendant of the altogether intolerable by the Vendeans, averse alike sick-bed of the peasant, as well for rendering me- to the republican cause and principles. They redical as religious aid; his counsellor in his family sisted its exaction by main force, delivered the affairs, and often the arbiter of disputes not of suf- conscripts in many instances, defeated the National ficient importance to be carried before the seigneur. Guards in others, and finding that they had incurred The priests were themselves generally natives of the the vengeance of a sanguinary government, resol ved country, nlore distinguished for the primitive duty by foirce to maintain the resistance which in force with which they discharged their office, than for had begun. Thus originated that celebrated war, talents and learning. The cure took frequent share which raged so long in the very bosom of France, in the large hunting parties which he announced and threatened the stability of her government, fromn the pulpit, and, after having said mass, attend- even while the Republic was achieving the most ed in person with the fowling-piece on his shoulder. brilliant victories over her foreign enemies. This active and simple manner of life rendered the It is remote from our purpose to trace the histor-y priests predisposed to encounter the fatigues of war. of these hostilities; but a sketch of their natu re and They accompanied the bands of Vendeans with the character is essential to a general view of the Recrucifix displayed, and promised, in the name of the volution, and the events connected with it. Deity, victory to the survivors, and honour to those The insurgents, thtough engaged in the samne who fell in the patriotic combat. But Madame la cause, and frequently co-operating, were divided Roche-Jacquelin repels, as a calumny, their bearing into differenlt bodies, under leaders independent of arms, except for the purpose of self-defence. each other. Those of the right bank of the Loire Almost all these parish priests were driven from were chiefly under the orders of the celebl ated their cures by the absurd and persecuting fanaticism Charette, who, descended from a family distinof that decree of the assembly,* which, while its pro- guished as commanders of privateers, and himself a moters railed against illiberality and intolerance, naval officer, had taken on him this dangerous corndeprived of their office and of their livelihood, soon mand. An early wandering disposition, not unusual after of liberty and life, those churchmen who would animog youth of eager and ambitious character, had not renounce the doctrines in which they had been made him acquainted with the inmost recesses of educated, and which they had sworn to maintain. the woods, and his native genius had induced him to [n La Vendde, as elsewhere, where the curates anticipate the military advantages which they aft: forded. In his case, as in many others, either the See p. 50. sagacity of these uninstructed peasants led them to LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. chuse for command men whose talents best fitted was not divided into companies, or regiments, btt them to enjoy it; or perhaps the perils which envi- followed in bands, and at their pleasure, the chief; roned such authority prevented its being aspired to, to whom they were most attached. Instead of drums save by those whom a mixture of resolution and or military music, they used, like the ancient Swiss prudence led to feel themselves capable of maintain- and Scottish soldiers, the horns of cattle far giving ing their character when invested with it. It was signals to their troops. Their offiecrs wore, for die. remarkable also, that, in chusing their leaders, the tinction, a sort of chequered red hanilkerchief knotinsurgents made -no distinction between the noblesse ted round their head, with others of the same coand the inferior ranks. Names renowned in ancient l]ur tied round their waist, by way of sash, in which history-Talmont, d'Autichamp, Lescure, and La they stuck their pistols.* Roche-Jacquelin, were joined in equal command The attack ot' the Vendeans was that oi sIarpwith the gamekeeper Stofflet; Cathelineau, an iti- shooters. They dispersed themlselves so as to surnerant wool-merchant; Charette, a roturier of slight round their adversaries with a semi-circular fire, pretensions; and others of the lowest order, whom maintained by a body of formidable nm karksmen, acthe time and the public voice called into command, castomed to take aim with fatal precision, and whose b;ut who, nevertheless, do not seem, in general, to skill was the mSore dreadful, because, being hAbihave considered their official command as altering toasted to take advantage of every tree, bush, or the natural distinction of their rank in society. In point of shelter, those who were dealing destruction their success, they formed a general council of offi- amongst others were themselves comparatively friee cers, priests, and others, who held their meetings at from risk. This manoeuvre was termed s'kgailler; ChAtillon, and directed the military movements of and the execution of it, resembling the Indian bushthe different bodies; assembled them at pleasure on fighting, was, like the attack of the Red Warriors, particular points, and for particular objects of ser- accompanied by whoops and shouts, which seemed, vice; and dispersed them to their homes when these from the extended space through which they rewere accomplished. sounded, to multiply the number of the assailants& With an organization so simple, the Vendean in- When the republicans, galled in this mannelri surgents, in abont two months, possessed themselves pressed forward to a close attack, they found no, of several towns and an extensive tract of' country; enemy on which to wreak their vengeance; for the and though repeatedly attacked by regular forces, loose array of the Vendeans gave immediate passage commanded by experienced generals, they were far to the head of the charging column, while its flanks, more fiequently victors than vanrquished, and in- as it advanced, were still more exposed than before flicted more loss on the republicans by gaining a to the murderous fire of their invisible enemies. In single battle, than they themselves sustained in this manner they were sometimes led on from point repeated defeats. to point, until the regulars meeting with a barricade, Yet at first their arms were of the most simple or an abatis, or a strong position in front, or beand imperfect kind. Fowling-pieces, and fusees of coming perhaps involved in a defile, the Vendeans every calibre, they possessed from their habits as exchanged their fatal musketry for a close and huntsmen and fowlers; for close encounter they furious onset, throwing themselves with the most had only scythes, axes, clubs, and such weapons as devoted courage among the enemy's ranks, and anger places most readily in the hands of the peasant. slaughtering them in great numbers. If, on the Their victories, latterly, supplied them with arms in other hand, the insurgents were compelled to give abundance, and they manufactured gunpowder for way, a pursuit was almost as dangerous to the re.. their own use in great quantity. publicans as an engagement. The Vendean, whels Their tactics were peculiar to themselves, but of hard-pressed, threw away his clogs, or woodena kind so well suited to their country and their ha- shoes, of which he could make himself a new pair bits, that it seems impossible to devise a better and at the next resting-place, sprang over a fence or nmore formidable system. The Vendean took the canal, loaded his fusee as he ran, and discharged it field with the greatest simplicity of military equip- at the pursuer with a fatal aim, whenever he found ment. His scrip served as a cartridge-box, his uni- opportunity of pausing for that purpose. form was the country short jacket and pantaloons, This species of combat, which the grotmdi renwhich he wore at his ordinary labour; a cloth knap- dered so advantageous to the Vendeans, was equally sack contained bread and some necessaries, and so in case of victory or defeat. If the republicans thus he was ready for service. They were accus- were vanquished, their army was nearly destroyed; tomed to move with great secrecy and silence among for the preservation of order became impossible, the thickets and inclosures by which their country and without order their extermination was inevitis intersected, and were thus enabled to chause at able, while baggage, ammunition, carriages, guns, pleasure the most favourable points of attack or de- and all the material part, as it is called, of' the defence. Their army, unlike any other:in the world, * The adoption of this wild costume, which procured them the name of Brigands, from its fantastic singularity, I Madame la Roche-Jacquelin mentions an interesting originated in the whim of Henri la RocheJacquelin, who anecdote of a young plebeian, a distinguished officer, whose first used the ttilre. But as this peculiarity, joined to the habits of respect would scarce permit him to sit down in venturous exposure of his person, occasioned a general cry her presence. This cannot be termed servility. It is the among the republicans, of "Ain at the red handkerchief," noble pride of a generous mind, faithful to its original inu- other officers assumed the fashion to dimniish the danler of pressions, and disclaiming the merits which others are the chief wholn theyv vsaled so highly, until at length it beready to heap on it. came a kinle of' ulil,'lam. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, Seated army, fell into possession of the conquerors. with other names distinguished* in the roll of fame, On the other hand, if the Vendeans sustained a loss, and not the less so that they have been recorded by the victors found nothing on the field but the bodies the pen of affection. of the slain, and the sabots, or wooden-shoes, of The object of the insurrection was announced in the fulgitives. The few prisoners whom they made the title of The Royal and Catholic Army assumed had generally thrown away or concealed their arms, by the Vendeans. In their moments of highest and their army having no baggage or carriages of any hope their wishes were singularly modest. Had kind, could of course lose none. Pursuit was very they gained Paris, and replaced the royal authority apt to convert an advantage into a defeat; for the in France, they meditated the bollowing simple cavalry could not act, and the infantry, dispersed in hoons:-1. They had resolved to petition, that the the chase, became frequent victims to those whom name of La Vendde be given to the Bocage and its they pursued. dependencies, which should be united under a seIn the field, the Vendeans were courageous to parate administration, instead of forming, as at prerashness. They hesitated not to attack and carry sent a part of three distinct provinces.-2. That the artillerv with no other weapons than their staves; restored monarch would honour the Bocage with a and most of their worst losses proceeded from their visit.-3. That in rememnbrance of the loyal services attacking fortified towns and positions with the pur- of the country, a white flag should be displayedl pose of carrying them by main force. After con- from each steeple, and the king should add a cohort quest they were in general humane and merciful. of Vendeans to his body-guard.-4. That former But this depended on the character of their chiefs. useful projects of improving the navigation of the At Machecoul, the insurgents conducted themselves Loire and its canals, should be perfected by the with great ferocity in the very beginning of the civil governmnent. So little of selfish hope or ambition war; and towards the end of it, mutual and re- was connected with the public spirit of these patriciprocal injuries had so exasperated the parties archal warriors. against each other, that quarter was neither given The war of La Vend~e was waged with various nor taken on either side. Yet until provoked by the fate for nearly two years, during which the insulrextreme cruelties of the revolutionary party, and un- gents, or brigands as they were termed, gained by less when conducted by some peculiarly ferocious fhr the greater number of advantages, though with chief, the character of the Vendeans united cle- means infinitely inferior to those of the government, menecy with courage. They gave quarter readily to which detached against them one general after anthe vanquished, but having no means of retaining other, at the head of numerous armies, with equally prisoners, they usually shaved their heads before indifferent success. Most of the republicans inthey set them at liberty, that they might be distin- trusted with this fatal command suffered by the guished, if found again in arms, contrary to their guillotine, for not having done that which circumparole. A no less striking feature was tbe severity stances rendered impossible. of a discipline respecting property, which was taught Upwards of two hundred battles and skirmishes them only by their moral sense. No temptation were fought in this devoted country. The revolutioncould excite them to pillage; and Madame la Roche- ary fever was in its access; the shedding of blood( Jacquelin has preserved the following singular in- seemed to have become positive pleasure to the stance of their simple honesty:-After the peasants perpetrators of slaughter, and was varied by each had taken the town of Bressuire by storm, she over- invention which cruelty could invent to give it new heard two or three of them complain of the want of zest. The habitations of the Vendeans were detobacco, to the use of which they were addicted, stroyed, their famlrilies subjected to violation and like the natives of moist countries in general. rlassacre, their cattle houghed and slaughtered, and " What," said the lady, " is there no tobacco in the their crops burnlt and wasted. One republican coshops? " —" Tobacco enough," answered the simple- lumn assumrned and merited the name of the Infernal, hearted and honest peasants, who had not learned by the horrid atrocities which they committed. At to make steel supply the want- of gold,-" tobacco Pillau, they roasted the women and children in a enough: but we have no money to pay for it." J heated oven. Many simnilar horrors could be added, Amidst these primitive warriors wvere mingled did not the heart and hand recoil firom the task. many gentlemrne- of the, first I:nilies in France, vwho, I Without quotilng any more special instances of horroyalists ftoin principle, had fled to La Vendde ror, we use the words of' a republican eye-witness, rather than submit to the dominion of the Corventior, to express the general spectacle presented by the or the Convention's yet more cruel mnasters. There tiheatre of civil conflict. were found many men, the anecdotes told of whom | "I did not see a single male being at the towns of remind us contirnually of the age of Henri Qulatre, St-Amnand, Chanltonnay, or Les Herbiers. A few and the heroes of chivalry. In these ranks, and almost on a level with the valiant peasants of which o The Memoils of Madatne Bonchamp, and still more they were composed, fou ght the calm, sea, a ld thoseofLa Rocle-Jacqelin, arerenarkadleforthevirtueas magn;animnous Leslre, —d'Elb~e, a. manin of the most of the heart, as well as the talents, which are displayed by their authors. Without affectation, without vanity, withdistinglished military reputation,-Bonchamp, the 1istingished military reptatiomr,-Bonchamp, the out violence or impotent repining, these ladies have degallant and the able officer, who, like the Constable scrihet the sanguiaryandirregularwarfarein fichthey Montmorency, with all his talent, was persecuted by and those who were dearest to them were engaged for so fortune,-the chivalrouls Henri la Roche-Jacquelin, long and stormy a period; and we arise from the perusal whose call upon his soldiers was-"If I fly, slay sarder and wiser, by having learned what the brave c. me-if I advance, follow me-if I fall, avenge me;" dare, and what the gentle can endure with patience. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 1 27 women alone had escaped the sword. Country- a word, an army which, under circumstances of seats, cottages, habitations of whichever kind, were hope and excitation, might one day amount to thirty burnt. The herds and flocks were wandering in or forty thousand, and on the next be diminished to terror around their usual places of shelter, now the tenth part of the number,r might be excellent for smoking in ruins. I was surprised by night, but the fighting battles, but could not be relied on for making wavering and dismRl'blaze of conflagration afforded conquests, or securing the advantages of victory. light over the..,eountry. To the bleating of the dis- It is not but that a man of d'Elbde's knowledge turbed flocks, and bellowing of the terrified cattle, in the art of war, who acted as one of their prinwas joined the deep hoarse notes of carrion crows, cipal leaders, meditated higher objects for the Venand the yells of wild aninials coming from the re- deans than merely the defence of their own processes of the woods to prey on the carcasses of the since. slain. At lengthsa distant column of fire, widening A superb prospect offered itself to them. by a meand increasing: as -I approached, served me as a ditated attack on the town of Nantes. Upon the beacon. It was the town of Mortagne in flames. success of this attempt turned perhaps the fate When I arrived-there, no living creatures were to of the Revolution. This beautiful and important be seen, save a few Wretched women, who were commercial city is situated on the right bank of the striving to sa.e.-soe,.remnants of their property Loire, which is there a fine navigable river, about from the general cdiniflag-tion." f twenty-seven miles from its junction with the sea. Such is civil war; and to this pass had its extre- It is without fortifications of any regular description,. mities reduced — the smiling, peaceful, and virtuous but had a garrison of perhaps ten thousand men, and country, which we have described a few pages was covered by such hasty works of defence as before. -.-'' time had permitted them to erect. The force of the It is no wondtr,-after such events, that the hearts Vendeans by which it was attacked has been estiof the peasants- became hardened in turn, and that emated so high as thirty or forty thousand men under they executed fearful vengeance on those who could d'Elb6e, while the place was blockaded on the left not have the face to expect mercy. We read, there- bank by Charette, and an army of royalists equal in fore, without surprise, that the republican general number to the actual assailants. Had this important Haxo, a nan of great military talent, and who had place been gained, it would probably have changed distinguished himself in the Vendean war, shot him- the face of the war. One or more of the French self through the head when he saw his army defeated' princes might have resorted there with such adheby the insurgents,- rather than encounter their yen- rents as they had then in arms. The Loire was geance..: -- ~ -- - - - - - - - - open to succours from England, the indecision of During the superiority of the Vendeans, it may be whose cabinet might have been determined by a asked why their efforts, so gigantic in themselves, success so important. Bretagne and Normandy, alnever extended beyond the frontier of their own ready strongly disposed to the royal cause, would country; aniid why an' insurrection, so considerable have, upon such encouragement, risen in mass upon and so suistained,neither made any great impression the republicans; and as Poitou and Ainjou were on the French Convention, where they were spoken alreadyin possession of the royal and catholic army, of only js a:handful of brigands, nor on foreign they might probably have opened a march upon nations, by, whom their existence, far less their sac- Paris, distracted as the capital then was by civil cess, seems hardly to have been known? On the and foreign war. former subject; it is peirhaps sufficient to observe, Accordingly,* the rockets which were thrown up, that the war of the Vendeans, and their nmode of and the sound of innumerable bugle-horns, intimated conducting it, so formidable in their own country, to General Canclaux, who commanded the town, became almost nugatory when extended into dis- that he was to repel a general attack of the Ventricts of an open character, and affording high-roads deans. Fortunately for the infant Republic, lie was and plains, by whiEh cavalry and artillery could act a man of military skill and hsigh courage, and by his against peasanits, who -formed no close ranks, and dexterous use of' such means of defence as the place carried no'bayonets. Besides, the Vendeans re- afforded, and particularly by a great superiority of mained bouind- to their ordinary occupation-they artillery, he was enabled to baffle the attacks df the were necessaiil children of the soil —and their Vendeans, although they penetrated, with the utarmy usually dispersed after the battle was over, to most courage, into the suburbs, and engaged at look after their cattle, cultivate their plot of arable close quarters the republicnan troops. They were land,'and attendlto th-eir families. The discipline of compelled to retreat after a fierce combat, which their array, in w iiclih-ere good-will supplied the lasted from three in the nlornilg till four in the afterplace of the usual distinctions of rank, would not noon.it have been siificieit to keep them united in long and 18th June, 1793. distant marches, and they must have found the disant hof acS.iind ta theyr ain of baggage founield- t A picture by Vernet, representing the attack on want of nalcmii -s-taf,an'a train ohf bagage, fieln - Nantes, estimable as a work of art, but extremely curious pieces, a general staff, and all the other accompan-in a historical point of view, used to be in the Luxembourg ments oi' a regila ar ari.y, which in the difficult country Palace, and is probably now removed to the Louvre. The of La Veund6e,:faifiiiar to -the natives, and unknown Vendeans are presented there in all their simplicity of at. to strangers, could be so easily dispensed with. In tire, and devoted valour; the priests llho attended theem,f,:oires. d.n moaciemo Ad'~f S d Al displaying their crosses, and encouraging i he assault, whihe i Mlmoires d'fin ancclen ldministrateur des ArmiLes r- is, on the other hand, repelled by the regular steadiness of publicsniaes. the republican forces. 1128 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. At different times after the failure of this bold and ed they should be well known to those neighbours well-imagitled attempt, opportunities occurred dur- of France who were at war with her present going which the allies, and the English government in vernment. Assistance was promised, but in a geparticular, might have thrown important succours neral and indecisive way; nor did the testimony of into La Vend6e. The island of Noirmoutier was Monsieur de TintDniac give his friends much assurfor some time in possession of the royalists, when ance that it was seriously proposed. In fact, no arms and money might have been supplied to them support ever arrived until after the first pacification to any amount. Auxiliary forces would probably of La Vend6e. The ill-fated expedition to Quiibehave been of little service, considering in what sort ron, delayed until the cause of royalty was nigh of country they were to be engaged, and with what hopeless, was at length undertaken, when its only species of troops they were to act. At least it consa/qsence was that of involving in absolute dewould have required the talents of a Peterborough structi — 1 a multitude of brave and high-spirited men. or a Montrose, ia a foreign commander, to have But on looking back on a game so doubtful, it is freed himself sufficiently fi-om the trammels of mili- easy to criticise the conduct of the players; and tary pedantry, and availed himself of the peculiar perhaps no blunder in war or politics is so comnqualities of such troops as the Vendeans, irresistible mon, as that which arises from missing the proper after their ownl fashion, but of a character the most moment of exertion. opposite possible to the ideas of excellence enter- The French, although more able to seize the adtained by a mere martinet. vantageous opportunity than we (for their governBut it is now well known, there was a division in ment being always in practice something despotic, the British cabinet concerning the mode of carrying is at liberty to act more boldly, secretly, and decion the war. Pitt was extremely unwilling to inter- sively, than that of England), are nevertheless charfere with the internal government of France. He geable with similar errors. If the English cabinet desired to see the Barrier of Flanders (so foolishly missed the opportunities given by the insurrection thrown open by the Emperor Joseph) again re-esta- of La Vendee, the French did not more actively imblished, and he hoped, from the success of the allied prove those afforded by the Irish rebellion; and if arms, that this might be attained,-that the French we had to regret the too tardy and unhappy expelust for attacking their neighbours might be ended dition to Quiberon, they in their turn might repent -their wildness for crusading in the cause of inno- having thrown away the troops whom they landed vation checked, and some political advances to a at Castlehaven, after the pacification of Ireland, for regular government effected. On the other hand, the sole purpose, it would seem, of surrendering at the enthusiastic, ingenious, but somewhat extrava- Ballinamuck. gant opinions of Windham, led him to espouse those It is yet more wonderfll, that a country whose of Burke in their utmost extent; and he recom- dispositions were so loyal, and its local advantages mended to England, as to Europe, the replacing the so strong, should not have been made by the loyalists Bourbons, with the ancient royal government and in general the centre of those counter-revolutbonary constitution, as the fundamental principle on which exertions which were vainly expended on the iron the war should be waged. This variance of opinion eastern frontier, where the fine army of Cond6 wastso far divided the British counsels, that, as it proved, ed their blood about paltry frontier redoubts and no sufficient efforts were made, either on the one fortresses. The nobles and gentlemen of France, line of conduct or the other. fighting abreast with the gallant peasants of La YenIndeed, Madame la Roch- Jacquelin (who, how- d6e, inspired with the same sentiments of loyalty ever, we are apt to think, has been in some degree with themselves, would have been more suitably misled in her account of that matter) says, the placed than in the mercenary ranks of foreign naonly dispatches received by the Vendeans f;om the tions. It is certain that the late king, Louis XVII., British cabinet, indicated a singular ignorance of and also his present majesty, were desirous to have the state of La Vend6e, which was certainly exposed their persons in the war of La Vend6e. near enough to Jersey and Guernsey, to have at:- The former wrote to the Duke d'tfarcourt-" What forded the means of obtaining accurateinformation course remains for me but La Vendde?-Who can upon the nature and principles of the Vendean in- place me thelre?-England —Insist upon that point: sarrection. and tell the English ministers in my name, that I The leaders of the royal and catholic army re- demand from them a crown or a tomb." If there ceived their firstcommunlication from Britain through -were a serious intention of supporting these unfora royalist emissary, the Chevalier de Tint6niac, who tunate princes, the means of this experiment ought carried them concealed in the waddingofthis pistols, to have been afforded them, and that upon no stintaddressed to a supposed chief named Gaston, whose ed scale. The error of England, through all the name had scarce been known among them. In this early part of the war, was an unwillingness to prodocument they were required tosay for what pur- portion her efforts to the importance of the ends she pose they were in arms, whether in behalf of the had in view. old government, or of the constitution of 1791, or the Looking upon the various chances which might principles of the girondists? These were strange have befriended the unparalleled exertions of the questions to be asked of men who had been in the Vendeans, considering the generous, virtuous, and field as pure royalists for more than five months, who disinterested character of those plimitive soldiers, might have reasonably hoped that the news of their it is with sincere sorrow that we proceed to trace numerous and important victories had resounded their extermination by the blood-thirsty ruffians of through all Europe, but must at least have expect- the reign of terror. Yet the course of Providence, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 129 after the lapse of time, is justified even in our weak descent of the English, or by a general insurrecticn and uudiscerning eyes. WVe should indeed have of the inhabitants. read with hearts throbbing with the just feelings of In this military emigration the royalists were acgratified vengeance, that Charette or La Roche- comlpanied by their aged people, their wives, and Jacquelin had successfully achieved, at the head of their children; so that their melancholy march retheir gallant adherents, the road to Paris-had hroke sembled that of the Cimbrians or Helvetians of old, in upon Committees of Public Safety and Public wvhen, abandoning their ancient dwellings, they wauSecurity, like Thalaba the Destroyer into the Dom- dered forth to find new settlements in a more fertile Daniel; and with the samle dreadful result to the land. They crossed the river near St-Florent, and agents of the horrors with which these revolutionary the banks were blackened with nearly a hundred bodies had deluged France. But such a reaction, thousand pilgrims of both sexes, and of every age. accomplished solely for the purpose of restoring the The broad river was before them, and behind them old despotic rionarchy, could not haxe brought peace their bulning cottages and the exterminating sword to France or to Europe-nay, could only lhave laid of the republicans. The means of embarkation were a foundation for falthler and more lasting quarrels. few and precarious; the affright of the females alThe flame of liberty had been too widely spread in most ungovernable; and such lwas the tiumult and France to be quenched even by such a triumph of terror of the scene, that, in the wrords of Madarne la royalty as we have supposed, however pure the Roche-Jacquelin, the awe-struck spectators could principles and high the spirit of the Vendeans. It only compare it to the day of judgment. WVithout was necessary that the nation should experience food, directions, or organization of any kind-withboth the extremes of fulrious license and of stern out the show of an armly, saving in the firont and despotism, to fix the hopes of the various contending rear of the column, the centre consisting of their parties upon a form of government in which a limited defenceless families marching together in a masspower in the monarch should be united to the enjoy- these indomitable peasants deleated a republican ment of all rational freedom in the subject. WVe army under the walls of Laval. return to our sad task. Tihe garrison of Mentz, wl-lose arrival in La Vendee Notwithstanding the desolatilng mode in which had been so fatal to the insurgents, and who had the republicans conducted the war, withl the avowed pursued them in a state of rout, as they thought, out purpose of rendering La Vend6e uninhabitable, the of their own country, across the Loire, were almost population seemed to increase in courage, and even exterminated in this most unexpected defeat. An in numbers, as their situation became more despe- unsuccessful attack upon Granville nmore than counrate. Renewed armies were sent into the devoted terbalanced this advantage, and although the Vendistrict, and successively destroyed in assaults, deans afterwards obtained a brilliant victory at Dol, skirmishes, and arnbuscades, where they were not it was the last scccess of what was termled the Great slaughtered in general actions. More than a hnun- Army of La Vend6e, and which well deserved that dred thousand men were employed at one time in title, on more accounts than in its mnore ordinary their efforts to subjugate this devoted province.- sense. They had now lost, by tile chances of war, But this could not last for ever; and a chance of most of their best chiefs; and misfortunes, and the war upon the frontiers, which threatened reverses exasperating feelings attending them, hiad introduced to the Convention, compensated them by furnishing, disunion, which had been so long a stranger to their new forces, and of a higher description in point of singular association. Charette was reflected upon character and discipline, ior the subjection of La as being little willing to aid La Roche-Jacquelin; $Vend6e. and Stofflet seems to have set tip an indeplendent This was the surrender of the town of Mentz to standard. The insurgents were defeated at Mons, the Prussians. By the capitulation, a garrison of where of three republican generals of name, WVesnear fifteen thousand experienced soldiers, and some terllann, Marceau, and K16ber, the first disgraced officers of considerable name, were debarred fiom hirmself by savage cruelty, and the other two gained again bearing arms against the allies. These troops honour by their clemency. Fifteen thousand mnale were enmployed in La Vend6e, where the scale had and fenmale natives of La Vendde perished in the already begun to preponderate against the dauntless battle and the imassacre which ensued. and persevering insurgents. At the first encounters But though La Vendle, after this decisive loss, the soldiers of' Mentz, unacqlainted with the Ven- which incltded some of her best troops and bravest dean mode of fighting, sustained loss, and were generals, could hardly be said to exist, Charette thought lightly of by the royalists.* This opinion continued, vith indefhtigable diligence, and onof their new adversaries wvas changed in conse- daunted courage, to sustain the insurrection of Lower quence of a defeat near Chollet, more dreadful in Poitou and Bretagne. He was followed by a divi. its consequences than any which the Vendeans had sion of peasants from tile Maralis, whose activity ir, yet received, and which determined their generals marshy grounds gave them similar advantages to to pass the Loire with their whole collected force, those possessed by the Vendeans in their woodlands. leave their beloved Bocage to the axes and brands He was followed also by the inhabitants of Molbiof the victors, and carry the wvar into Bretagne, han, called, from their adherence to royalism, the where they expected eithler to be supported by a Little Vendee. He was theleader, besides, of many of the bands called Chouans, a name of doubtful, They punned on thenword Aayence (Mentz), and said, origin given to the insurgents of Bretagne, but the newly arrived republicans were soldiers of fayence which their courage has rendered celebrated. * (potter's ware), which could not endure the fire. * Some derived it from Chat-haunt, as if the insurgents, VoL. vI. 17 130 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Charette himself, who, with these and other forces, quantity had been landed, fell into the hands of the continued to sustain the standard of royalty in Bre- enemy; and, what wvas worse, England did not, tagne and Poitou, was one of those extraordinary among other lighter losses, entirely save her honour. characters, made to shine amidst difficulties and She was severely censured as giving up her allies dangers. As prudent and cautious as he aas con- to destruction, because she had yielded to the rageous and adventurous, he was at the same time wvishes which enthusiastic and courageous men had so alert and expeditious in his nations, that he elevated into hope. usually appeared at the time and place where his Nothing, indeed, can be more difficult, than to presence was least expected and most formidable. state the jist extent of support wthich can prudently A epubilcan officer, who had just taken possession be extended by one nation to a civil faction in the of a village, and was speaking of the royalist leader bosom of another. Indeed, nothing short of successas of a person at twenty leagues' distance, said pub- absolute success-will prove the justification of such licly,-" I should like to see this famous Charette." enterprises in the eyes of some, who will allege, in - Tlhere he is," said a woman, pointing with her the event of failure, that men have been enticed into finger. In hact, he was at that moment in the act of perils, in which they have not been adequately cilarging the republican troops, who were all either supported; or of others, who will condemn such slain or made prisoners. measures as squandering the public resources, in After the fall of Robespierre, the Convention enterprises which ought not to have been encouraged made offers of pacification to Charette, which were at all. But in fair judgment, the expedition of adjusted betwi.xt the Vendean chief and General Quiberon ought not to be summarily condemlned. Canclaux, the heroic defender of Nantes. The ar- It was neither inadequate, nor, exceplting as to the ticles of treaty were subscribed in that place, which description of some of the forces employed, ill calClharette entered at the head of his military culated for the service proposed. Had such reinstaff, with his long white plume streaming in the forcements and supplies arrived rwhile the royalists wind. Ile heard with coldness shouts of welcome were attacking Nantes or Grenoble, or while they from a city, to which his name had been long a ter- yet held the island of Noirmontier, the good conror; and there was a gloom on his brow as he sequences to the royal cause might have been insigned his name to the articles agreed upon. He ( alculable. But the expedition was ill-timed, and certainly suspected the faith of those with whom he that was in a great measure owing to those unfortransacted, and they did not by any means confide tunate gentlemen engaged, who, impatient of iinactiin his. An armistice was agreed on until the Con- vity, and sanguine by character, urged the British vention should ratify the pacification. But this ministry, or rather Mr Windham, to authorize the never took place. Mutual complaints and recrimi- experiment, without filly considering more than nations followed, and the soldiers of Charette and their own zeal and courage. We cannot, however, of the Republic began once more to make a petty go so far as to say, that their impatience relieved war on each other. ministers from the responsibility attached to the inMeantime, that party in the British cabinet which different intelligence on which they acted. There declared for a descent on France, in name and on could be no difficulty in getting ftill information on behalf of the successor to the crown, had obtained the state of Bretagne by way of Jersey; and they the acquiescence of their colleagues in an experi- ought to have known that there was a strong French nent of this nature; but unhappily it had been force collected from various garrisons, for the purpostponed until its success had become impossible. pose of guarding against a descent at Quiberon.*'The force, too, which composed this experimental After this unfortunate affair, and some subsequent operation, was injudiciously selected. A certain vain attempts to throw in supplies on the part of the proportion consisted of emigrants, in whom the English, Charette still continued in open war. But highLiest confidence might be with justice reposed; Hoche, an officer of high reputation, was now sent but about two battalions of this invading expedition into the disturbed districts, with a larger army than tNere vagrant foreigners of various descriptions, had yet been employed against them. He was thus many or most of them enlisted from among the pri- enabled to for'm moveable columns, which acted in soners of war, who readily took any engagement to concert, supporting each other when unsuccessful, get out of captivity, with the mental resolution of or completing each other's victory when such was breaking it the first opportunity. Besides these obtained. Charette, after his band was almost enimprudences, the purpose and time of executing a tirely destroyed, was himself made prisoner. Being project, which, to be successful, should have been secret and sudden, were generally known in France * We can and ought to make great allowances for naand England before the expedition weighed anchor. tional feeling; yet it is a little hard to find a well-informed The event, as is universally known, was most historian, like Monsieur Lacretelle, gravely insinuate that disastrous: The mercenaries deserted to the repub- England threw the unfortunate royalists ons the coast of licans as soon as they got ashore; and the unfor- Quiberon to escape the future hurthen of maintaining them. tunate emigrants, who became prisoners in great Her liberality towards the emigrants, honourahble and menum bers, were condemned und executed without ritorions to the country, was entirely gratuitous. She might umbers, were coldemned and executed withol*t shave withdrawan when she pleased a bounty conferred by nercy. The ammunition and mmmskets, of which a her benevolence; and it is rather too hard to be supposed capable of meditating their murder, merely to save the exlike owls, appeared chiefly at night-others traced it to pense of supporting them. The expedition was a blunder,, CA houi, the name of two brothers, said to have been the but one in which the unfortunate sufferers contributed to earliest leaders of the Breton insurgents. mislead the British government. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 131 condenned to be shot, he refulsed to have his eyes single 6gaillement of the Vendean sharp-shooters. covered, and died as courageously as he had lived. Marseilles received the victors, and bowved her head WVit him and Stofflet, who suffered a similar fate, to the subsequent horrors which it pleased Cartaux, the war of La Vendde terminated. with two fQrmidable jacobins, Barras and Frlron, To trace this remarkable civil'war, even so slight- to inflict on that flourishing city. The place underly as we ha.e attempted the task, has carried us went the usual terrors of jacobin purification, and beyond the course of our narrative. It broke out in was for a time affectedly called "the nameless the beginning of March, 1793, and Charette's execu- commune." tion, by which it was closed, took place at Nantes, Lyons made a more honourable stand. That 29th March, 1796. The astonishing part of the noble city had been subjected for some time to the matter is, that so great a conflagration should not domination of Chtllier, one of the most ferocious, have extended itself beyond a certain limited dis- and at the same time one of the most extravagantly tlict, while within that region it raged with such absurd, of the jacobins. He was at the head of a fiury, that for a length of time no means of extinguish-'formidable club, which was xworthy of being affiliated ing it could be discovered. with the mother society, and ambitious of treading in its footsteps; and he was supported by a garrison We now return to the state of France in spring, of two revolutionary regiments, besides a numerous 1793, when the jacobins, who had possessed them- artillery, and a large addition of volunteers, amountselves of the suprenme power of the Republic, found ing in all to about ten thousand men, forming what thwat they had to contend, not only with the allied was called a revolutionary army. This C.halier was forces on two frontiers of France, and with the an apostate priest, an atheist, and a thorough-paced royalists in the west, but also with more than one of pupil in the school of terror. He had been created the great commercial towns, which, with less incli- Procureur of the Community, and had imposed on nation to the monarchical cause, than a general the wealthy citizens a tax, which was raised fiom terror of' revolutionary measures, prepared for resist- six to thirty millions of livres. But blood as well as ante after the proscription of the girondists upon gold was his object. The massacre of a few priests tle 31st of May. and aristocrats confined in the fortress of PierreBordeaux, Marseilles, Toulon, and Lyons, had Ancise, was a pitiful sacrifice; and Chalier, ambideclared themselves against the jacobin supremacy. tious of deeds more decisive, caused a general arrest Rich fi-om commerce and their maritime situation, of a hundred principal citizens, whom he destined and, in the case of Lyons, from their command of as a hecatomb more wvorthy of the demon whom he internal navigation, the wealthy merchants and served. manufacturers of those cities foresaw the total in- This sacrifice was prevented by the courage of security of property, and in consequence their own the Lyonnais; a courage which, if assumed by the rain, in tile system of arbitrary spoliation and murder Parisians, might have prevented most of the horrors upon which the government of the jacobins was which disgraced the Revolution. The meditated founded. But property, for which they were soli- slaughter was already announced by Chalier to the citous, though, if its naturalforce is used in time, the Jacobin Club. "Three hundred heads," he said, most powerfil barrier to withstand revolution, be- " are marked for slaughter. Let us lose no time in conies, after a certain period of delay, its most help- seizing the persons of the departmental officeless victim. If the rich are in due season liberal of bearers, the presidents and secretaries of the sectheir neans, they have the power of enlisting in tions, all the local authorities who obstruct our their cause, and as adherents, those among the lower revolutionary measures. Let us make one fagot of orders, who, i' they see their superiors dejected and the whole, and deliver them at once to the guilde spairing, will be tempted to consider them as lotine." objects of plunder. But this must be done early, or But ere he could execute his threat, terror was those who might be made the most active defenders awakened into the courage of despair. The citizens of' property will join with such as are prepared to rose in arms and besieged the Hotel de Ville, in ln;lake a prey of it. which Chalier, with his revolutionary troops, made WVe have already seen that Bordeaux, in which a desperate, and for some time a successful, yet ultit!le brissotins or girondists had ventured to hope-for nkately a vain defence.* But the Lyonnais unhapa zeal purely r~epublican, at once adverse to royalty pily knew not how to avail themselves of' their atd to jacobin domination, had effectually disap- triumph. They were not sufficiently aware of the |pointed their expectations, and succumbed with little nature of the vengeance which they had provoked, stu ggle under the ferocious victors. or of the necessity of supporting the bold step which Marseilles showed at once her good-will and her they had taken, by measures which precluded a impotenlcy of mleans. The utmost exertions of that compromise. Their resistance to the violence and wealthy city, whose revolutionary band had contri- atrocity of the jacobins had no political character, buted so much to the downfal of the monarchy in any more than that offered by the traveler against the attack on the Tuileries, were able to equip only robbers who threaten him with plunder and murder. a small and doubtful army of about 3,000 men, who They were not sufficiently aware, that, having done were dispatched to the relief of Lyons. Thisincon- so much, they must necessarily do more. They siderable army threw themselves into Avignon, and ought, by declaring themselves royalists, to have were defeated with the utmost ease, by the repub- endeavoure to prevail on the troops of Savoy, if not lican general Cartaux, despicable as a military officer, and whose forces would not have stood a v29th May, 1793. 132 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. on the Swiss (who had embraced a species of neu- isolated and unsupported, and left to oppose her trality, which, after the 10th of August, was disho- own proper forces and means of defence, to an army nourable to their ancient reputation), to send in all of sixty thousand men, and to the numerous jacobins haste soldiery to the assistance of a city which had contained within her own walls. About the end of no fortifications or regular troops to defend it; but July, after a lapse of an interval of two months, a which possessed, nevertheless, treasures to pay their regular blockade was formed around the city, and auxiliaries, and strong hands and able oftlicers to in the first week of August hostilities took place. avail themselves of the localities of their situation, The besieging army was directed in its imilitary which, when well defended, are sometimes as for- character by General Kellermann, who, with other midable as the regular protection erected by scien- distinguished soldiers, had now begun to hold an tific engineers. eminent rank in the republican armies. But for the The people of Lycns vainly endeavoured to esta- purpose of executing the vengeance for which they blish a revolutionary character for themselves, upon thirsted, the jacobins relied chiefly on the exertions the system of the Gironde, two of whose proscribed of the deputies they had sent along with the conldeputies tried to draw them over to their unpopular nander, and especially of the representative Dubois and hopeless cause; and they inconsistently sought Cranc, a man whose sole merit appears to have protection by affecting a republican zeal, even while been his frantic jacobinism. General Pr6cy, furresisting the decrees, and defeating the troops, of nmerly an officer in the royal service, undertook the the jacobins. There were undoubtedly many of almost hopeless task of defence, and, by forming royalist principles among the insurgents, and some redoubts on tile most commanding situations around of their leaders were decidedly.;uch; but these the town, commenced a resistance against the imwere not numerous or influential enough to establish mensely superior force of the besiegers, which the true principle of open resistance, anld the ulti- was honourable if it could have been useful. The mate chance of rescue, by a bold proclamation of Lyonnais, at the same time, still endeavoured to the king's interest. They still appealed to the make fair weather with the besieging army, by reConVention as their legitimate sovereign, in whose presenting themselves as firm republicans. They eyes they endeavoured to vindicate themselves, and celebrlated as a public festival the anniversary of the at the same time tried to secure the interest of'two 10th of August, while Duhois Cranc6, to show the jacobin deputies, who had countenanced every vio- credil he gave them for their republican zeal, fixed lence attempted by ChMlier, that they might prevail the same day for commencing his fire on the place, upon them to represent their conduct favourably. and caused the first gun to be discharged by his Of course they had enough of promises to this ef. own concubine, a female born in Lyons. Bombs fect, while Messrs Gautier and Nioche, the depu- and red hot bullets were next resorted to, against ties in question, remained in their power; promises, the second city of the French empire, while the doubtless, the more readily giver, that the Lyon- besieged sustained the attack with a constancy, nais, though desirous to conciliate the favour of the and on many parts repelled it with a courage, highly Convention, did not hesitate in proceeding to the honourable to their character. punishment of the jacobin Chalier. He was con- But their fate was determined. The deputies andemned and executed, along with one of his princi- nounced to the Convention their purpose of pouring pal associates, termed narrd. their instruments of havoc on every quarter of the To defend these vigourous proceedings, tile un- town at once, and when it was on fire in several happy insurgents placed themselves under the in- places to attempt a general storm. "'The city," terim government of a council, who, still desirous they said, "must surrender, or there shall not reto temporize and maintain the revolutionary cha- main one stone upon another, and this we hope to racter, termed themselves " The Popular and Re- accomplish in spite of the sluggestions of false coInpublican Commission of Public Safety of the De- passion. Do, not then be surl:rised when you shall partment of the Rhone and Loire;" a title which, hear that Lyons exists no longer." The fury of the while it excited no popular enthusiasm, and attract- attack threatened to make good these promises. ed no foreign aid, no ways soothed, but rather exas- In the meantime the Piedmontese troops made a perated, the resentment of the Convention, now show of descending fiom their mountains to the sucunder the absolute domination of the jacobins, by coer of the city, and it is probable their interwhom everything short of complete fraternization ference would have given a character of royalism was accounted presumptuous defiance. Those who to the insurrection. But the incursion of the Piedwere not with them, it was their policy to hold as montese and Sardinians was speedily repelled by their most decided enemies. the skill of Kellermann, and produced ino effect in The Lyonuais had indeed letters of encourage- favour of the city of Lyons, except that of supportment, and promised concurrence, from several inlg for a time the courage of its defenders. departments; but no effectual support was ever The sufferings of the citizens became intolerable. directed towards their city, excepting the petty re- Several quarters of the city were on fire at the same inforcement from Marseilles, which we have seen time, immense magazines were burnt to the ground, was intercepted and dispersed with little trouble by and a loss incurred, during two nights' bombardthe jacobin general Cartaux. ment, which was calculated at two hundred millions Lyons had expected to become the patroness and of livres. A black flag was hoisted by the besieged focus of an anti-jacobin league, formed by the great on the Great Hospital, as a sign that the fire of the commnercial towns, against Paris and the predomi- assailants should not be directed on that asylum of nant part of the Convention. She found herself hopeless misery. The signal seemed only to draw LIFE OF NAPOLEON B1ONAPARTE. 133 the republican bombs to the spot where they could rebel, I condemn thee in the name of the law." create the most frightfuil distress, and outrage in the Workmen followed in great multitudes, who exectthighest degree the feelings of humanity. The de- ed the sentence by pulling the house down to the vastations of thruine were soon added to those of foundations. This wanton demolition continued for slaughter; arnd after two months of such horrors six months, and is said to have been carried on at had been sustained, it became obvious that farther an expense eqilal to that which the suDerb military resistance was impossible. hospital, the 1Ibtel des Invalides, cost its founder, Th'lle mlilitaly commlandant,0of Lyons, Pricy, re- Louis XIV. But republican vengeance did not solved upon a sally, at the head of the active part waste itself exclusively upon senseless linme and of the garrison, hoping that, by cutting his way stone-it sought out sentient victims. through the besiegers, he might save the lives of The deserved death of Chalier had been atoned many of those who followed him in the desperate by an apotheosis, executed after Lyons had suratteulpt, and gain the neutral territory of Switzer- rendered; but Collot d'Herbcis declared that every landi, awhile the absence of those who had been ac- drop of that patriotic blood fell as if scalding his tual comnoaants doring the siege, might, in some own heart, and that the murder demanded atonedegree, inclitne the Convention to lenient measures ment. All ordinary process, and every usual mode towards the more helpless part of the inhabitants. of execution, was thought too tardy to avenge the A columin of about two thousand men made this death of' a jacobin proconsul. The judges of the desperate attempt. But pursued by the republicans, revolutionary connmmission were worn out with fatigue and attacked on every side by the peasants, to whom — the arm of the executioner was weary-the very they had been represented in the most odious co- steel of the guillotine- was blunted. Collot d'Herlolrs by the jacobin deputies, and who were stimu- bois devised a more summary mnode of slaughter. lated besides by the hope of plunder, scarcely fifty A number of firom two to three hundred victims at of the devoted body reached, with their leader, the once were dragged from prison to the Place des protecting soil of Switzerland. Lyons reluctantly Brotteaux, one of the largest squares in Lyons, and opened her gates after the departure of her best there subjected to a fire of' grape-shot. Efficacious and bravest. The rest may be described in the as this mode of execution may seem, it was heither wvords of Horace,- speedy nor merciful. The sufferers fell to the ground like singed flies, mutilated but not slain, itarbarus hen citteres statet vtctr, e urbein, and imploring their executioners to dispatch them dissipabit tsetens. speedily. This was done with sabres andt bayonets, The paralytic Couthon, with Collot d'Herbois, and with such haste and zeal, that some of the and other deputies, were sent to Lyons by the Cotn- jailers and assistants were slain along with those mlittee of Public Safety, to execute the vengeance whom they had assisted in dragging to death; and the which the jacobins demanded; while Dubois mistake was not discerned, until, upon counting Cranc6 wvas recalled, for having put, it was thought, the dead bodies, the military murderers found less energy in his proceedings than the prosecution them amount to more than the destined tale. The of the siege required. Collot d'Herbois had a per- bodies of the dead were thrown into the Rhone, to sontl itmotive of a singular nature for delighting in carry news of the republican vengeance, as Collot the task intrusted to him and his colleagues. In his d'Herbois expressed himself; to Toulon, then also capacity of a play-actor, he had been hissed firom in a state of revolt. I3ut the sullen strearn rejected the stage at Lyons, and the door to revenge was the office imposed on it, and heaved back the dead noew open. The instructions of this committee en- in heaps upon the banks; and the Committee of Rejoiiied them to take the most satisfactory revenge presentatives was compelled at length to allow the for the death of Chalier, and the insurrection of relics of their cruelty to be interred, to prevent the Lyons, not merely on the citizens, but on the town risk of contagion. itself: The principal streets and buildings were to The people of the south of France have always be leveled with the ground, and a monument, erect- been distinguished by the vivacity of their temperaed w\\here they stood, was to record the cause; — mnent. As cruelties beget retaliation, it may be as " Lyons rebelled ayainst t]he Repiublic-Lyons is well here mentioned, that upon the fall of the jacono?more." Such fiagments of the town as might be bins, the people of Lyons torgot not what indeed perinitted to remain, were to bear the name of Ville was calculated for eternal remembrance, and took Aff -anchie. It will scarce be believed, that a doom by violence a severe and sanguinary vengeance on like that which muight have passed the lips of some those who had been accessary to the atrocities of Eastern despot, in all the frantic madness of arbi- Couthon and Collot d'Herbois. They rose oil the trary power and titter ignorance, could have been jacobins after the fall of Robespierre, and put to seriously pronounced, and as seriously enforced, in death several of thenm. onie of the most civilized nations in Europe; and Toulon important by its otrt, its arsenals, and thlat in the present enlightened age, men who pre- naval-yard, as well as by its fortificatiouns both otn tended to wisdom and philosophy, should have con- the sea and land side, lhad plartaken deeply in the sidered the labours of the architect as a proper feelings which pervaded iMarseilles, 1Bordeaux, arnd sutibject of lpuntishment. So it was, however; and l.yons. But the insrgenits of'l'olon were deterto give tthe demollition more effect, the impotent miledly royalist. Thle hplace had been for sonle time Coithlon was carried from house to house, devoting subjected to the admninistration of a Jacobin Club, each to rain, by striking the door with a silver han- and had seen the usual quantity ofi murders and mler, and pronouncing these words —" 1House of a excesses with the greater pain, that the town con J.34 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. tained many naval officers and others who had count that this great English statesman declined served under the king, and retained their affection assisting, in plain and open terms, the royal cause, for the royal cause. Their dissatisfaction did not and desired to keep England free from any pledge escape the notice of men, to whom every sullen concerning the future state of government in France, look was cause of suspicion, and tile slightest cause awalre of the danger of involving her in any declared of suspicion a ground of death. The town being and avowed interference Nwith the right of a people threatened with a complete purification after the to chuse their own system. However anxious to jacobin fashion, the inhabitants resolved to anticipate prevent the revolutionary opinions, as wvell as anms, the blow. firom extending beyond their own frontier, it was At the dead of night the tocsin was sounded thought in the British cabinet, by one large party, by the citizens, who dispersed the Jacobin Club, that the present fiantic excess of republican prinseized on the two representatives who had governed ciples must, of itself, produce a reaction in tiavour of its proceedings, arrested seven or eight jacobins, more moderate sentiments. Some steady system who had been most active in tihe previous assassi- for the protection of life and property was, it was nations, and, ill spite of some opposition, actually said, essential to the very existence of society. Tl'he executed them. With more decision than the in- French nation must assume such, and renounce the habitants of Lyons, they proceeded to proclaim prosecution of those revollltionary doctrines, for the Louis XVII. nnder the constitution of 1791. Car- sake of their own as well as of other countries. The taux presently marched upon the insurgent city, arrangement must, it was thought, take place, friom driving before him the Marseillais, whom, as before- the inevitabie course of human aftairs, which, howmentioned, he had defeated upon their march to- ever they may fluctuate, are uniformly determined wards Lyons. Alarmed at this movement, and at length by the interest of the parties concerned. destitute of a garrison which they could trust, the Such was the principle assumed by nany great Toulonnais implored the assistance of the English statesmen, whose sagacity was unhappily baffled by and Spanish admirals, Lord Hood and Gravina, the event. In fhct, it was calculating upon the acwho were cruizing off their port. It was instantly tions and personal exertions of a raving madman, -,s granted, and marines were sent on shore for their if he had been under the regulation of his senses, immediate protection, while efforts were made to and acting upon principles of self-regard and selfcollect from the different allied powers such a sup- preservation. France continued not only to subsist, ply of troops, as could be immediately thrown into but to be victorious, without a government, unless the place. But the event of the siege of Toulon tihe revolutionary comlmittees and jacobin cllubs brings our general historical sketch into connexion could be accounted such-for the Conventioln was with the life of that wonderful person, whose actions sunk into a mere engine of that party, and sanctionwe have undertaken to record. It was during this ed whatever they proposed; without religion, whllich, siege' that the light was first distinguished, which, as we shall see, they formally abolished; without broadening more and more, and blazing brighter and municipal laws or rights, except that any one of brighter, wa sat length to fill with its lustre the whole the ruling party might do what miscllief he wolld, hemisphere of Europe, and was then to set with a while citizens, less distinguished for patriotism, rapidity equal to that with which it had arisen. were subljected, for any cause, or no cause, to loss Ere, however, we produce this first-rate actor of liberty, property, and life itself; without military upon the stage, we must make the reader still more discipline, for officers might be dragged from their particularly acquainted with the spirit of the scene. regiments, and generals firom their armies, on the information of their own soldiers; without revenues of CHAPTER XVI. state, for the depression of the assignats was extreme; without laws, for there were no ordinary Viewas of the British cabinet regardisg the French Revoluc- tribunals left to appeal to; without colonies, ships, tion.-Extraordinary situation of Franlce.-Explana- manuifactories, or commerce; without fine arts, auny tion of the anomaly which it exhibited.-System ofterror. more than those which were usefuli:-in sort, -Committee of Plulic Safety-Of Public Secmri/y.-Da- France continued to subsist, and to achieve vicvid the painter.-Law against s2uspectedpersoals.-Revs- tories, although apparently fosaken of' God, and Intionary Tribunal-Effei of the emigration of the deprived of all the ordinary resourlces of hGuman princes anrd nobles. —Causes of the passiveness of the deprved of all te o y resouces of n French people under the tyrannly of the jacobins.-Sin- wisdom. grclar address of the Colmmittee of Public S5'fety.-Gene- The whole system of society, indeed, appeared ral reflections. only to retain some appearance s of' cohesion from mere habit, the same which makes trained horses IT has been a maxim with great statesmnen, thait draw up in something like order, even without their evil governments must end by becoming their own riders, if the trumpet is sounded. And yet in foreign destruction, according to the maxim, Res nolunt wars, notwithstanding the deplorable stalte of the dirz male acliusisistrarLi. Pitt himself was of opi- interior, the Ro public was not only occasionally, but nion, that the ftiry of the French Revolution wouldl permanently and triumphantly victorious. She was wear itself out; and that it already presented so like the champion in Berni's romance, who was so few of the advantages and privileges of social com- delicately sliced asunder by one of the. Paladins, pact, that it seemed as if its politicalhelemlents must that he went on fighlting, and slew other warriors, either altogether dissolve, or assurme a new form without dliscovering for a length of timre that he was more similar to that on which all other states anid himself killed. governments rest their stability. It was on this ac- All this extraordinary energy was, in one word, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 135 the effect of TERROR. Death-a grave-are sounds we have seen, finally destroyed, leaving a name which awaken the strongest efforts in those whom which will live for ages. The commercial towns, they menace. There was never anywhere, save in which, upon a scale more modified, also tried their France during this melancholy period, so awful a strength with the revolutionary torrent, were succomment on the expression of Scripture, "All that a cessively overpowered. One can, therefore, be no man hath he will give for his life." Force, imme- more surprised that the rest of the nation gave way diate and irresistible force, was the only logic used to predominant force, than we are daily at seeing by the government-Death was the only appeal a herd of strong and able-bodied cattle driven from their authority-the guillotine the all-sufficing to the shamnbles before one or two butchers, and as argument, which settled each debate betwixt them many bull-dogs. As the victims approach the and the governed. slaulghter-house, and smell the blood of those which -Was the exchequer low, the guillotine filled it have suffered the fate to which they are destined, with the effects of the wealthy, who were judged they may be often observed to hesitate, start, roar, aristocratical in exact proportion to the extent of and bellow, and intimate their dread of the fatal their property. Were these supplies insufficient, spot, and instinctive desire to escape from it; but diminished as they were by peculation ere they the cudgels of their drivers, and the fangs of the reached the public coffers, the assignats remained, mlastili:s, seldom fail to compel them forward, slawhich might be multiplied to any quantity. Did vering, and snorting, and trembling, to the destiny the paper,nediuto of circulation fall in the market to which awaits them. fifty under the hundred, the guillotine was ready to The power of' exercising this tremendous authority punish those who refused to exchange it at par. A over a terrified nation was vested in few hands, and tew examples of such jobbers in the public finds rested on a very simple basis. made men glad to give one hundred francs for state The Convention had, after the fall of the girondmoney, which they knew to be worth no more than ists, remained an empty show of what it had once fifty. VWas bread awanting, corn was to be found some title tocall itself,-the Representative Body of by the sanle comlpendious means, and distributed the French Nation. The members belonging to the among the Parisians, as amlong the ancient citizens Plain, who had observed a timid neutrality betwixt of Rome, at a regulated price. The guillotine was the Mountain and the girondists, if not without talent, a key to storehouses, barns, and granaries. were without courage to make any opposition to the Did the army want recruits, the guillotine was former when triumphant.'Thley crouched to their ready to exterminate all conscripts who should hesi- fate, were glad to escape in silence, and to yield tate to march. On the generals of the republican flll passage to the revolutionary torrent. They army, this decisive argument, vwhich, a priori, consoled themselves with the usual apology of weak might have been deemed less applicable, ill all its minds-that they submitted to what they could not rigour, to them than to others, was possessed oftlle prevent; and their adversaries, while despising most exclusive authority. They were beheaded for them, were yet tolerant of their presence, and somewant of success, which may seem less different what indulgent to their scruples, because, while from the common course of afftirs; * but they were these timid neutrals remained in their ranks, they also guillotined when their successes were not im- furnished to the eye at least the appearance of a full proved to the fill expectations of their masters.t senlate, filled the ranks of the representative body, Nay, they were guillotined, when, being too suc- as a garment is stuffed out to the required size by cessful, they were suspected of having acquired buckramn, and countenanced by their passive acover the soldiers who had conquered under them, qu scence the measures which they most detested an interest dangerous to those who had the command in their hearts. It was worth the while of' the Moun. of this all-sufficing reason of state.+* Even mere tain to endure the imbecility of such associates, and mediocrity, and a limited but regular discharge of even to permit occasionally some diffident opposition duty, neither so brilliant as to incur jealousy, nor so on their part, had it only been to preserve appearimportant as to draw down censure, was no protec- ances, and afford a show of a free assembly debating tion.t- There alas no rallying point against this on the affairs of the nation. Thus, altlolgh the universal, and very simple system-of main force. name of the National Convention was generally used, The Vendeans, who tried the open and manly its deputies, carefully selected from the jacobin or mode of generous and direct resistance, were, as ruling party, were everywhere acting in their name, * The fate of Custine illustrates this,-a general who had with all the authority of Roman proconsuls; while done much for the Republic, and who, whenhis fortune be- two-thirds of the body sate with submitted necks gan to fail him, excused himself by saying, Fortune was a and padlocked lips, unresisting slaves to the Ininor woman, and his hairs were growing grey. proportion, which again, under its various fierce t Witness Houchard, who performed the distinguished leaders, was beginning to wage a civil war within service of raising the siege of Dunkirk, and who, during his its own limited circle. trial, could be hardly made to understand that he was to But the young reader, to whom this eventful suffer for not carrying his victory still farther. history is a novelty, may ask in what hands was the ~* Several generals of reputation sustained capital pu- real power ofthe governnment lodged, of' hich the nishment from no other reason than the jealousy of the Convention, considered as a body, was thus effeccommittees of their influence with the army. t Luckner, an old Germnan thick-headed soldier, who tually deprived, though permitted to retain, like was of no party, and scrupulously obeyed the command of the apparition in Macbeth,whichever was uppermost at Paris, had iio better fate than -- upon its baby brow the round others. And type of sovereignty. 136 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. France had, indeed, in 1792, accepted, with the! misguided and doubtful moment, held opinions short usual solemniti s, a new constitution, which was of the most extravagant jacobinism. This crime of stated to rest on the right republican basis, and was, suspicion was of the nature of the carneleon; it ef course, alleged to afford the most perfect and derived its peculiar shade or colour firom the person absolute security for liberty and equality, that the to whom it attached for the moment. To have been nation could desire. But this constitution was en- a priest, or even an assertor of the rights and doctirely superseded in practice by the more compen- trines of christianity, was fiatal; but in some indious mode of governing by means of a junto, se- stances, an overflow of atheistical blasphemy was lected out of the Convention itself, without observing equally so. To be silent on public affairs, betrayed any farther ceremony. In fact, two small commit- a culpable indifference; but it incurred darker sustees, vested with the full authority of the state, p picion to speak of' them otherwise than in the most exercised the powers of a dictatorship, while the violent tone of the ruling party. By a supplementary representatives of the people, like the senate under law, this spider's web was so widely extended, that the Romlan empire, retained the form and semblance it appeared no fly could be found insignificant of supreme sway, might keep their curule chairs, enough to escape its meshes. Its general propoand enjoy the dignity of fasces and lictors, but had sitions were of a nature so vague, that it was imin their possession and exercise scarcely the inde- possible they could ever be made subjects of evipendent powers of an Falglish vestry, or quarter- dence. Therefore they were assumed without proof; sessions. and at length, definition of the characteristics of The Committee of Public Safety dictated every stuspicion seems to have been altogether dispensed measure of the Convention, or more frequently acted with, and all those were suspected persons whom without deigning to consult the legislative body at the revolutionary committees and their assistants all. Tile number of members who exercised this chose to hold as such. executive government fluctuated betwixt ten and The operation of this la4w was terrible. A snstwelve; and, as they were all chosen jacobins, and pected person, besides being thrown into prison, was selected as men capable of going all the lengths of deprived of all his rights, his effects sealed up, his their party, care was taken, by re-elections from property placed under care of the state, and he himtime to time, to render the situation permanent. selfconsidered as civilly dead. If the unfortunate This body deliberated in secret, and had the despotic object of suspicion had the good fortune to be set right of interfering with and controling every other at liberty, it was no security whatever against his authority in the state; and before its absolute powers, being again arrested on the day following. There and the uses which were made of them, the Council was, indeed, no end to the various shades of soof Ten of' the Venetian government sunk into a phistry which brought almost every kind of person -harmless and liberal institution. Another com- under this oppresbive law, so ample was its scope, mittee, with powers of the same revolutionary nature, and undefined its objects. and in which the members were also renewed f-rn That the administrators of this law of suspicion tinre to timne, was that of Public Security. It was in- might not have too much trouble in seeking for vicferior in inlt.ortance to that of Public Satfety, but was tims, all householders were obliged to publish on nevertheless as active within its sphere. WVe regret to the outside of their doors a list of the names and record of'a man of genius, that David, the celebrated description of their inmates. Domestic security, painter,* held a seat in the Committee of Public the ntst precious of all rights to a people who Security. The fine arts, which he studied, had not know what freedom really is, was violated on every produced on his mind the softening and humanising occasion, even the slightest, by domiciliary visits. effect ascribed to them. Frightfilly ugly in Iris ex- Tile ilumber of arrests which took place through terior, his nlind seemed to correspond with the Franme choked the prisons anew, which had been harshness of his looks. " Let us grind enough of so fearfully emptied on the 2d and 3d of September, the Red!" t was the professional phrase of which and is said to have been only moderately cormputed lie mlade use, when sitting down to tihe bloody work at three hundred thousand souls, one-third of whom o X tile dIay. were women. Tile jacobins, however, found a mode That these revolutionary committees might have of jail-delivery less summary than by direct masin their hands a power subject to no legal deftlice sacre; although differing so little from it in every or evasion on the part of the accused, Merlin of other respect, that a victim mright have had pretty Douay, a lawyer, it is said, of eminence, framed nearly tile same chance of a fair trial before Mailwhat was termed the law against suspected persons, lard and his men of September, as firca the Revoltuwhich was worded with so much ingenuity, that not tiolrary Tribunal. It requires an effort even to write only it enveloped every one who, by birth, friend- that word, fromn the extremities of guilt and horror ship, habits of life, dependencies, or other ties, was which it recals. But it is the lot of humanity to linked, however distantly, with aristocracy, whether record its own greatest disgraces; and it is a wholeof birth or property, buit also all who had, in the some and humbling lesson to exhibit a just picture various changes and phases of the Revolution, of those excesses, of which, in its unassisted movetaken one step too few in the career of the most vio- ments, and when agitated by evil and tnisguiding lent patriotism, or had, though it were but for one passions, human nature can be rendered capable. David is generally allowed to have possessed great me- The extraordinary cririnal court, better known rit as a draughtsman. Foreigners do not admire his complo- by the name of the Revolutionary Tribunal, was first sition and colouring so much as his count ryvnen. instituted upon the motion of Danton. Its object t Broyons dil rouge. was to judge of state crinmes, plots, and attempts I LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 137 against liberty, or in favour of royalty, or affecting personal strength, beauty, or stature. Divide the the rights and liberty of man, or in any way, more whole property of a country equally among its inorless, tending to counteract the progress of the habitants, and a week will bring back the inequaRevolution. In short, it was the business of this lity which you have endeavoured to remove; nay, court to execute the laws, or inflict the sentence a much shorter space will find the industrious and rather, upon such as had been arrested as suspected saving richer than the idle and prodigal. But in persons; and they generally saw room to punish in France, at the period under discussion, this equamost of the instances where the arresting function- lity, in itself so unattainable, had completely superaries had seen ground for imprisonment. seded even the principle of liberty, as a watchword This frightful court consisted of six judges, a for exciting the people. It was to sin against this public accuser, and two assistants. There were leading principle to be possessed of, and more estwelve jurymen; but the appointment of these was pecially to enjoy ostentatiously, anything which was a mere mockery. They were official persons, who awanting to your neighbour. To be richer, more held permanent appointments; had a salary from the accomplished, better bred, or better taught, subjectstate; and were in no manner liable to the choice or ed you to the law of suspicion, and you were conchallenge of the party tried. It may be sure the ducted instantly before a revolutionary committee, jurors and judges were selected for their republican where you were probably convicted of incivisin; not zeal and steady qualities, and were capable of forinterfering with the liberty and property of others, seeing no obstacle either of law or humanity in the but for making what use you pleased of your path of their duty. This tribunal had the pow.er own. of deciding without proof,-or cutting short evi- The whole of the terrible mystery is included in dence when in the progress of being adduced,-or two regulations, communicated by the Jacobin Club stopping the defence of the prisoners at pleasure; of Paris to the Committee of Public Safety. —. That privileges which tended greatly to shorten the when, by the machinations of opulent persons, seforms of court, and aid the dispatch of business. ditions should arise in any district, it should be deThe Revolutionary Tribunal was in a short time clared in a state of rebellion.-2. That the Convenso overwhelmed with work, that it became necessary tion shall avail themselves of such opportunity to to divide it into four sections, all armed with similar excite the poor to make war on the rich, and to powers. The quantity of blood which it caused to restore order at any price whatsoever.-This was so be shed was something unheard of even during the much understood, that one of the persons tried by proscriptions of the Roman empire; and there were the Revolutionary Tribunal, when asked what he involved in its sentences crimes the. most different, had to say in his defence, answered,-" I am wealthy personages the most opposed, and opinions the most -what avails it to me to offer any exculpation when dissimilar. When Henry VIII. roused the fires of such is my offence?" Smithfield both against protestant and papist, burn- The Committees of Government distributed large ing at the same stake one wretch for denying the sums of money to the Jacobin Club and its affiliated king's supremacy, and another for disbelieving the societies, as being necessary to the propagation of divine presence in the Eucharist, the association sound political principles. The clubs themselves was consistency itself compared to the scenes pre- took upon them in every village the exercise of the sented at the Revolutionary Tribunal, in which powers of government; and while they sat swearing, royalist, constitutionalist, girondist, churchman, drinking, and smoking, examined passports, impritheophilanthropist, noble and roturier, prince and soned citizens, and enforced to their full extent the peasant, both sexes and all ages, were involved in benefits of liberty and equality. "Death or Fraterone general massacre, and sent to execution by scores nity" was usually inscribed over their place of as$ogether, and on the same sledge. sembly, which some one translated,-" Become my Supporting by their numerous associations the brother, or I will kill thee." government as exercised by the revolutionary com- These clubs were composed of members drawn mittees, came the mass of jacobins, who, divided from the lees of the people, that they might not, in into a thousand clubs, emanating from that which their own persons, give an example contradicting had its meetings at Paris, formed the strength of the equality which it was their business to enforce. the party to which they gave the name. They were filled with men without resources or The sole principle of the jacobinical institutions talents, but towards whom the confidence of the was to excite against all persons who had anything deceived people was directed, from the conviction to lose, the passions of those who possessed no pro- that, because taken from among themselves, they perty, and were, by l;irth and circumstances, bru- would have the interest of the lower orders contally ignorant, and envious of the advantages en- stantly in view. Their secretaries, however, were joyed by the higher classes. All other governments generally selected with some attention to alertness have made individual property the object of coun- of capacity; fobr on them depended the terrible comtenance and protection; but in this strangely-invert- bination which extended from the mother society of ed state of things, it seemed the object of constant jacobins in Paris, down into the most remote villages suspicion and persecution, and exposed the owner of the most distant provinces, in which the same tyto perpetual danger. We have elsewhere said that ranny was maintained by the influence of similar equality (unless in the no less intelligible than sacred means. Thus rumours could be either circulated or sense of equal submission to the law) is a mere collected with a speed and uniformity, which enchimera, which can no more exist with respect to abled a whisper from Robespierre to regulate the property, than in regard to mental qualifications, or sentiments of the jacobins at the most distant part VOL. vI.' I --- -- - - - - - — ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1338 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. of his empire; for his it unquestionably was, for the their power would have been in fact to fall inevitably space of two dreadfull years. and fatally under their tyranny. If the bold conspi. France had been subjected to many evils ere cir- rator against this most infernal authority did not cumstances had for a time reduced her to this state bestow his confidence on a false friend or a concealed of passive obedience to a yoke, which, after all, emissary of the jacobin party, he was scarce the when its strength was fairly tried, proved as brittle safer on that account; for if he breathed forth in the as it was intolerable. Those who witnessed the most friendly ear anything tending to reflect on the tragedies which then occurred look back upon that free, happy, and humane government under which period as the delirium of a national fever, filled with he had the happiness to live, his hearer was bound, visions too horrible and painfll for recollection, and equally as a hired spy, to carry the purport of the which, being once wiped from the mind, we recal conversation to the constituted authorities-that is, with difficulty and reluctance, and dwell upon with to the revolutionary committees or republican comdisgutst. A long course of events, tending each suc- missioners; and, above all, to the Committee of cessively to disorganize society more and more, had Public Safety. Silence on public affairs, and acunhappily prevented a brave, generous, and accom- quiescence in democratic tyranny, became, thereplished people from combining together in mutual fore, matter of little wonder; for men will be long defence. The emigration and forfeiture of the nobles mute, when to indulge the tongue may endanger the and clergy had deprived the country at once of' head. And thus, in the kingdom which boasts herthose higher classes, that right-hand file, who are self most civilized in Europe, and with all that bred up to hold their lives light if called on to lay ardour for liberty which seemed but of late to anithem down for religion, or in defence of the rights of mate every bosom, the general apathy of terror and their country, or the principles of' their own honour astonishment, joined to a want of all power of comor conscience.'Whatever may be thought of the hination, palsied every effort at resistance. They wisdom or necessity of emigration, its evils were the who make national reflections on the French for same. A high-spirited and generous race of gentry, remaining passive under circumstances so hopeless, accustomed to consider themselves as peculiar de- should first reflect, that our disposition to prevent positaries of the national honour-a learned and or punish crime, and our supposed readiness to numerous priesthood, the guardians of religious opi- resist oppression, have their foundation in a strong nion-had been removed from their place, and so- confidence in the laws, and in the immediate support ciety was so much the more weak and more ignorant which they are sure to receive from the numerous for the want of them. Whether voluntarily aban- classes who have been trained tip to respect them, doning or forcibly driven from the country, the ex- as protectors of the rich equally and of the poor. pulsion of so large a mass, belonging entirely to the But in France the whole system of the administration higher orders, tended instantly to destroy the balance of justice was in the hands of brutal force; and it is of society, and to throw all power into the hands of one thing to join in the hue and cry against a murthe lower class, who, deceived by bad and artful men, derer, seconded by the willing assistance of a whole abused it to the friightful excess we have desclribed. population-another to ventulre upon withstanding.We do not mean to say that the emigrants had him in his den, he at the head of his banditti, the carried with them beyond the frontiers all the worth assailant defenceless, excepting in the justice of his and courage of the better classes in France, or that cause. there were not, among men attached to the cause of It has further been a natural subject of wonder, liberty, many who would have shed their blood to not only that the richer and better classes; the have prevented its abuse. But these had been un- avowed objects of jacobin persecution, were so pashappily, during the progress of the Revolution, sively resigned to this frightful tyranny, but also divided and subdivided among themselves, were why the French populace, whose general manners split tp into a variety of broken and demolished are so civilized and so kindly, that they are, on orparties, which had repeatedly suffered proscription; dinary occasions, the gayest and best-humoured and, what was worse, sustained it from the hand of people in Europe, should have so far changed their each other. The constitutionalist could not safely character as to delight in cruelty, or at least to look join in league with the royalist, or either with the on, without expressing disgust, at cruelties perpegirondist; and tits there existed no confidence on hated in their name. which a union could be effected, among materials Buit the state of a people, in ordinary times and repulsive of' each other. There extended besides peaceful occupations, is in every country totally through FIance, far and near, that sorrow and sink- different from the character which they manifest ing of the heart, which prevails amid great national under strong circumstances of excitation. Rousseau calamities, where there is little hope. The state of says, that no one who sees the ordinary greyhound, oppression was so universal, that no one strove to the most sportive, gentle, and timid perhaps of the remedy its evils more than they would have strutggled canine race, can form an idea of the same animal to remedy the malaria of an infected cou,~try. purstling and strangling its screaming and helpless Those who escaped the disorder contented them- victim. Something of this sort must plead the aposelves with their individual safety, without thinking logy of the French people in the early excesses of of the general evil as one which human art could the Revolution; and we must remember, that men emedy, or human courage resist. collected in crowds, and influenced with a sense of Moreover, the jacobinical rulers had surrounded wrongs, whether real or imaginary, are acted upon themselves with such a system of espionage and de- by the enthusiasm of the moment; and are besides lation, that the attempt to organize any resistance to in a state of such general and undistiiguishimtg fury, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 139 that they adopt, by joining in the clamours and ge- the end of the next month. simple measure may neral shouts, deeds of which they hardly witness effect the desired purification. Convoke thepeople the import, and which perhaps not one of the as- in.tAe popular societies —Let the public fmwsenmbled multitude out of a thousand would counte- tionaries appear before them —Interrogate the nance, were that import distinctly felt and known, people on the subject of their conduct, and let In the revolutionary massacres and cruelties, there their judgment dictate yours." * Thus the wildwas always an executive power, consisting of a few est prejudices arising in the Jacobin Club, consisint well-breathed and thorough-paced ruffians, whose of the lowest, most ignorant, most prejudiced, and 1 hands perpetrated the actions to which the ignorant often most malicious members in society, were revulgar only lent their acclamations. ceived as evidence, and the populace declared This species of assentation became less wonderful masters, at their own pleasure, of the property, when instant slaughter, without even the ceremony honour, and life, of those who had held any brief of inquiry, had been exchanged for some forms, authority over them. however flimsy and unsubstantial, of regular trial, Where there had occulred any positive rising condemnation, and execution. These served for a or resistance, the duty of the commissioners was time to satisfy the public mind. The populace saw extended by all the powers that martial law, in men dragged to the guillotine, convicted of criminal other words the rule of superior force, could confer. attempts, as they were informed, against the liberty -We have mentioned the murders committed at of the people; and they shouted as at the punish- Lyons; but even these, though hundreds were swept ment of theirown immediate enemies. away by volleys of musket-shot, fell short of the But as the work of death proceeded daily, the horrors perpetrated by Carrier at Nantes, who, in people became softened as their passions abated; avenging the Republic on the obstinate resistance of and the frequency of such sacrifices having removed La Vendee, might have summoned hell to match his the odious interest which for a while attended them, cruelty, without a demon venturing to answer his the lower classes, whomn Robespierre desired most challenge. Hundreds-men, women, and children to conciliate, looked on, first with indifference, but — were forced on board of vessels, which Nwere afterwards with shame and disgust, and at last with scuttled and sunk in the Loire, and this was called the wish to put an end to cruelties, which even the republican baptism. Men and women were stripmost ignorant and prejudiced began to regard in ped, bound together, and thus thrown into the river, their own true undisguised light. and this was called republican marriage. But we Yet the operation of these universal feelings was have said enough to show that men's blood seems long delayed. To support the reign of Terror, the to have been converted into poison, and their hearts Revolutionary Committees had their own guards into stone, by the practices in which they were daily and executioners, without whom they could not engaged. Many affected even a lust of cruelty, and have long withstood the general abhorrence of man- the instrument of punishment was talked of with the kind. All official situations were scrupulously and fondness and gaiety with which we speak of a bereligiously filled up by individuals chosen from the loved and fondled object. It had its pet name of sans-culottes, who had rendered themselves, by the Little National Window, and others equally their zeal, worthy of that honourable appellation. expressive; and although saints were not mulch in Were they of little note, they were employed in the fashion, was, in some degree, canonised by the name various capacities of guards, officers, and jailers, of the Holy Mother Guillotine. That active citizen, for which the times created an unwearied demand. the executioner, had also his honours, as well as the Did they hold places in the Convention, they were'senseless machine which he directed. This official frequently dispatched upon comnmissions to different was admitted to the society of some of the nmore parts of France, to give new edge to the guillotine, emphatic patriots, and, as we shall afterwards see, and superintend in person the punishment of con- shared in their civic festivities. It may be quesspiracy or rebellion, real or supposed. Such com- tioned, whether even his company was not too good missioners, or proconsuls as they were frequently for the patrons who thus regaled him. termed, being vested with unlimited power, and There was also an armed force raised among tile fresh in its exercise, signalized themselves by their most thorough-paced and hardened satellites of the cruelty, even more than the tyrants whose will they lower order, termed by pre-eminence the Revoludischarged. tionary Army. They were under the command of We may quote, in illustration, a remarkable pas- Ronsin, a general every way worthy of such solsage in an address by the Commissioners of Public diers. These troops were produced on all occasions, Safety, to the representatives absent upon commis- when it was necessary to intimidate the metropolis siotis, in which there occur some gentle remarks on and tihe National Guiard. They were at the more their having extended capital punishment to cases immediate disposal of the Commune of Paris, and where it was not provided by law, although the were a ready, thoughl not a great, force, which lustre of their services to the Republic far outshone always could be produced at a monent's notice, the shade of such occasional peccadilloes. For and were generally joined by the more active demo. their fututre direction, they are thus exhorted. " Let crats, in tihe capacity of a jacobin militia. In their your energy awaken anew as the term of your labour own ranks they mustered six thousand men. approaches. The Convention charges you to com- It is worthy of remark, that some of the persons plete the purification and reorganization'of the con- whose agency was distinguished during this disstituted authorities with the least possible delay, and to report the conclusion of these two operations before Mfoniteur, No 995; Nivose, an II. 25th December, 1179 1a4 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPAURTE. graceful period, and whose hands were deeply dyed more kindliness than attends the samre relation in an the blood so unrelentingly shed, under whatever other colntries, and especially in Britain. Even in frenzy of brain, or state of a generally maddening the most trying situations, there were not many inimpulse, they may have acted, nevertheless made stances of domestic treason, and many a master owed amends in their after conduct for their enormities his life to the attachment and fidelity of a mlenial. then committed. This was the case with Tallien, The feelings of religion sheltered others. The recuwith Barras, with Fouchd, Legendre, and others, sant and exiled priests often found among their who, neither good nor scrupulous men, were yet, former flock the means of concealment and existupon many subsequent occasions, much more hu- ence, when it was death to administer them. Often, mane and moderate than could have been expected this must have flowed fiom grateful recollection of from their early acquaintance with revolutionary their former religious services-sometimes from unhorrors. They resembled disbanded soldiers, who, mingled veneration for the being whose ministers returned to their native homes, often resume so en- they professed themselves:; Nothing short of such tirely the habits of earlier life, that they seem to heroic exertions, which were numerous (and espehave forgotten the wild, and perhaps sanguinary, chla- cially in the class where individuals, hard pressed racter of their military career. We cannot, indeed, on account of their own wants, are often rendered pay any of these reformed jacobins the compliment callous to the distress of others), could have preascribed to Octavius by the Romans, who found a vented France, during this horrible period, from blessing in the emperor's benevolent government becoming an universal charnel-house, and her history which compensated the injuries inflicted by the an unvaried calendar of murder. triumnvir. But it is certain that had it not been for the courage of Tallien and Barras in particular, it CHAPTER XVI. might have been much longer ere the French had been able to rid themselves of Robespierre, and that l11arat, Dcantoe, Robespierre. —Marat powiarded —Danton the revolalution of 9th Thermidor, as they called the and Robespierre become rivals.-Commurne of Parismemorable day of his fall, was, in a great measure, Their gross irreligion.-Gobet. —Goddess of Reason.brought about by the remorse or jealousy of the Marriage reduced to a civil contract.- Views of Danton dictator's old comrades. But ere we arrive at that -and of Robespierre.-Principal leaders of the corn. more auspiciolus point of our story, we have to con- mane arrested-and nineteen of themn executed.-Danton sider the train of causes which led to the downfall arrested by the itfluence of Robespierre-' and, along with of jacobinism. Camille Desrmoulins, Westermann., and Lacroix, taken Periods which display great national failings or before the Revolutionry Trcnal, condenced, and vices are those also which bring to light distinguish- executed.-Decree issue, on the motioz of Robespierre, acknouwledging a Supreme Being. —CCcile Regnaetd.ed and redeeming virtues. France unfortunately, acradual change i trehe public iled.-Robesperre bedduring the years 1793 and 1794, exhibited instances comes lunpopular-Makes every effort to retrieve his of extreme cruelty, in principle and practice, which power-Stormy debate in the Coneention-Collot d'Her make. the human blood curdle. She may also be bois, Tallien, etc., expelledfroim the Jacobin Club at the censured for a certain abasement of spirit, for sink- instigation of Robespierre.-Robespierre denounced in ing so long unresistingly under a yoke so unnaturally the Convention on the thtt Thermidor (27th July), acnd horrible. But she has to boast that, during this afterfurious struggles, arrested, along swith his brother, fearful period, she can produce as many instances Couthon, and St-Just.-Henriot, Conmmandant of' the of the most high and honourable fidelity, of the most National Gueard, arrested.-Terrorists take rdeige in courageous and devoted humanity, as honour the the Hdtelde Ville-Atenmt teirown lives-Robespierre annals of ally country whatever. ozunds himself-but lives, along with most of the others, sThe cruelty cof the laws denouner ced the highest long enough to be carried to the guillotine, and execleted. Tile cruelty of the laws denounced the highest lowed his fate.-Fi-.aint whorelieedproscid - His character-Struggles that followed his fate. — penalties against those who relieved proscribed figi-,al destruction of the jacobinical system —and return of tives. These were executed with the most merciless tranquillity -Singular colour givecn to society ince Paris. rigour. Madame Boucquey and her husband were -Ball of the Vict2ms. put to death at Bordeaux for affording shelter to the members of the Gironde faction; and the interdic- Tm reader need not be reminded, that the three tion of fire and water to outlawed persons, of what- distinguished champions who assumed the front in ever description, was eriforced with the heaviest penalty. Yet, not only among the better classes, * Strangers are forcibly affected by the trifling incidents butt among the poorest of the poor, were there men which sometimes recal the memory of those fearful times. of noble minds found, who, having but half a morsel A venerable French ecclesiastic being on a visit at a gento support their own family, divided it willingly with tleman's house in North Britaii, it was remarked bIy the some wretched fugitive, though death stood ready to family, that a favourite cat, rather wild and capricious ill reward their charity. his habits, paid particular attention to their guest. It was Int some cases, fidelity and devotion aided the explained, by the priest giving an account of his lulring in the waste garret, or lumber-room, of an artisan's house, suggestions of htmanity. Among domestic servants, for several weeks. In this condition he had no better am usea race whose virtues should be the more esteemed, ment than to study the manners and habits of the cats that they are practised sometimes in defiance of which frequented his place of retreat, and acquire the mode strong temptation, were found many distinguished of conciliating their favour. The difficulty of supplying instances of unshaken fidelity. Indeed, it must be him with food, withihut attracting suspicion, was extreme, said, to the honour of the French manners, that the and it could only he placed near his place of concealment umaster and lhis servant lisve om a footing of mtich |in small quantities, and at uncertain times. Men, women, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 14] the jacobin ranks, were Marat, Danton, and Robes- of quarrel between the Commsle of Paris and thle pierre. The first was poniarded by Charlotte jacobin leader. But thereisa fanaticism of atheisnm, Corday, an enthusiastic young person, who had as well as of superstitious belief; and a philosopher nourished, in a feeling betwixt lunacy and heroism, can harbour and express as much malice against the ambition of ridding the world of a tyrant. Danton those who persevere in believing wLvat lie is pleased and Robespierre, reduced to a duumvirate, might to denounce as unworthy of credence, as an ignohave divided the power betwixt them. But Danton, rant and bigoted priest can bear against a man who far the more able and powerfil-minded man, could cannot yield faith to dogmata which lie thinks innot resist temptations to plunder and to revel; and sufficiently proved. Accordingly, the throne being Robespierre, who took care to preserve proof of his totally annihilated, it appeared to the philosophers rival's peculations, a crime of a peculiarly unpopular of the school of Hebert (who was author of the most character, and from which he seemed to keep Ihis gross and beastly periodical paper of the time, callown hands pure, possessed thereby the power of ed the Pare Duchesne), that in totally destroying ruining him whenever he should find it convenient. such vestiges of religion and public worship as were Danton married a beautiful woman, became a can- still retained by the people of France, there was didate for domestic happiness, withdrew himself for room for a splendid triumph of liberal opinions. It sonime time from state afthils, and quitted the stern was not enough, they said, for a regenerate nation and menacing attitude which he had p1resented to to have dethroned earthly kings, unless she stretchthe public during the earlier stages of the Revolu- ed out the arm of defiance towards those powers tion. Still his ascendancy, especially in the Club w*hich superstition had represented as reigning over of Cordeliers, was formidable enough to command boundless space. Robespierre's constant attention, and keep awake An unhappy man, named Gobet, Constitutional his envy, which was like the worm that dieth not, Bishop of Paris, was brought forward to play the though it did not draw down any indication of his principal part in the most impudent and scandalous immediate and active vengeance. A power, kindred farce ever acted in the face of a national represent.also in crime, but more within his reach for the ation. moment, was first to be demolished, ere Robespierre It is said that the leaders of the scene had some was to omeasure strength with his great rival. difficulty in inducing the bishop to comply with the This third party consisted of those who had pos- task assigned hins, which, after all, he executed, sessed themselves of official situations in the Com- not without present tears and subsequent remorse, mune of Paris, whose civic authority, and the im- But he did play the part prescribed. He was brought plement wvhich they comnmanded in the revolutionary forward in full procession, to declare to the Con venarmy, commanded by Ronsin, gave thenm the power tion, that the religion which he had taught so many of nmarching, at a moment's warning, upon the Con- years, was, in every resl)ect, a piece of priestcraft, vention, or even against the Jacobin Club. It is which had no foundation either in history or sacred true, these men, of whom H6bert, Chaumette, and truth. He disowned, in solemn and explicit terms, others, were leaders, had never shown the least the existence of the Deity to whose worship he had diffidence of Robespierre, but, on the contrary, had been consecrated, and devoted hinlself in future used all means to propitiate his favour. But the to the homage ofLiberty, Equality, Virtue, and Monman whom a tyrant fears becomes, with little rality. He then laid on the table his episcopal defarther provocation, the object of his mortal enmity. corations, and received a fraternal embrlace froin Robespierre watched, therefore, with vigilance, the President of the Conventionl. Several apostate. the occasion of overreaching and destroying this priests followed the example of this prelate. party, whose power he dreaded; and, singular to The gold and silver plate of the churches was tell, he sought the means of accomplishing their seized upon and desecrated; processions entered rllin in the very extravagance of their revolutionary the Conventions, travestied in l:riestly garments, zeal, which shortly before he might have envied, as and singing the most profane hymris; while many of pushed farther than his own. But Robespierre did the chalices and sacred vessels were applied by not want sense; and lie saw with pleasure Il6bert, Chaumette and H6bert to the celebration of their' Chaumette, and their followers, run into such inor- own impious orgies. The world, for the first time,. dimate extravagancies, as he thought might render heard an assembly of men, born and educated in his own interference desirable, even to those who civilization, and assumning the right to govern one most disliked his principles, most abhorred the paths of the finest of the European nations, uplift their by which le had climbed to power, and most fear- united voice to deny the most solemn truth which ed the use which lie made of it. man's soul receives, and renounce unanimously the It was through the subject of religion that this belief and worship of a Deity. For a short time means of ruining his opponents, as he hoped, arose. the same mad profanity continued to be acted mnpon. A subject, which one would have thought so indif- One of tile ceremonies of thks insane time stands ferent to either, came to be on both sides the occasion unrivaled for absurdity, combined with impiety. and children, knew of his being in that place; there were The doors of the Convention were thrown open to a rewards to be gained by discovery, life to be lost by perse- band of musicians; preceded by whoom, the members vering in concealing him; yet he was faithfully preserved, of the Municipal Body entered in solemn procession, to try upon a Scottish cat, after the restoration of the mo- singing a hymn in praise of liberty, and escorting, as narchy, the arts which he bad learned in his miserable the object of their future worship, a veiled female, place of shelter during the reign of Terror., The history of whom they termed the Goddess of Reason. Being 0Te time abounds with similar instances. brought within the bar, she was unveiled with great 142 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. form, and placed on the right hand of the president, der his lee. His purpose may be never to run for when she was generally recognized as a dancing- the haven, or he may judge there is great improbs- I girl of the Opera, with whose charms most of the bility that by doing so he should reach it in safety; persons present vere acquainted from her appear- yet still, such being the case, he would esteem himance on the stage, while the experience of indivi- self but little indebted to any one % ho should blot duals was farther extended. To this person, as the the harbonr of refuge out of the chart. To all those, fittest representative of that Reason whom they who, in various degrees, received and believed the worshiped, the National Convention of France ren- great truths of religiou, on which those of morality dered public homage. are dependent, the professors of those wild absurThis impious and ridiculous mummery had a dities became objects of contempt, dislike, hatred, certain fashion; and the installation of the Goddess and punishment. of Reason was renewed and imitated throughout the Danton regarded the proceedings of Jkbert and nation, in such l)laces where the inhabitants desired his philosophers of the commune with scorn and to show themselves equal to all the heights of the disgust. However wicked he had shown hiisl If, Revolution. The churches were, in most districts lie was too wise and too proud to approve of sluch of France, closed against priests and worshipers- impolitic and senseless folly. Besides, this perlpetual the bells were broken and cast into cannon-the undermining whatever remained of social institalwhole ecclesiastical establishment destroyed-and tions, prevented any stop being put to the resoluthe republican inscription over the cemeteries, de- tionary movements, wlhich Danton, having placed daring death to be perpetual sleep, announced to his party at the head of afftilrs, and himself nealrly those who lived under that dominion, that they were as high as he could promise to climl.b, was now to hope no redress even in the next world. desirous should be done. Intimately connected vith these laws affecting Robespierre looked on these extravagant proreligion, was that wvhich reduced the union of mar- ceedings with a different and more watchlful eye. riage, the m1ost sacred engagement which human He saw what HWbert and his associates had lost iln beings call forlm, and the permanence of which leads popularity, by affecting the doctrines of atheism and most stlrongly to the consolidation of society, to the litter profaneness; and he imagined a plan, first for state of a mere civil contract of a transitory charac- destroying these blasphemers, by the general conter, which any two persons mightengage in, and cast sent of the nation, as noxious aninials, and then of loose at pleasure, when their taste was changed, enlarging, and, as it were, sanctifying his own or their appetite gratified. If fiends had set them- power, by once nmore connecting a spirit of devotion selves to work to discover a mode of most effectually of some modified kind or other with the revolutiondestroying whllatever is venerable, graceful, or per- ary form of government, of which he desired to conmanent in domestic life, and of obtaining at the same tinie the head. timne an assurance that the mischief which it was It has even been supposed, that Robespierre's their object to create should be perpetuated fronm extravagamt success in rising so much above all one generation to another, they could not have in- human expectation, had induced him to entertain vented a molre effectual plan than the degradation some thoughts of acting the part of a new Mahonlet, of marriage into a state of mere occasional cohabita- in bringing back religious opinion into France, uinder tion, or licensed concubinage. Sophie Arnoult, an his own direct auspices. He is said to have cotnactress famous for the witty things she said, de- tenanced ii secret the extravagancies of a felnale scribed the republican marriage as the sacrament of called Catherine Theot, or Thdos, an enthusiastic adultery. devotee, whose doctrines leaned to Quietislm. She These anti-religious and anti-social regulations was a kind of Joanna Southcote, and the Aauron of did not answer the purpose of the frantic and inconsi- her sect was Domt Gerle, formerly a calrttlusian derate zealots by whom they had been urged for- uonk, and renlarkable for the motion he made ii,vard. iebelrt and Chaunliette had olutrlun the spirit the first Natiomal Assemlbly, that the catholic reofthe tiue, evil as that was, anrd had contrived to ligion should be recognized as that of France.* get beyond the sympathy even of those, Nvho, at Since that tine he had beconme entilrely -deranyged. heart as vicious and criminal as they, had still the A few visionaries of both sexes attended secret alld sagacity to fear, or the taste to be disgusted with, nightly meetings, in which Th&ot and Dola Gemrle this overstrained tone of outrageous impiety. Per- ipresided. Robespierre was recognized by them as haps they uight have other motives for condemning one of the elect, and is said to have favoured tlleirl so gross a display of irreligion. The most guilty of superstitious doctrines. But whether the dictator nien are not desirous, generally speaking, totally to saw ii them anything more than tools, which disbelieve and abandon all doctrines of religious mighlt be applied to his own purpose, there seems faith. They cannot, if they would, prevent theuri- no positive authority to decide. At any rate, whatselves from apprehending a future state of retribu- ever religious opinions he might have imbibed bimtion; and little effect as such feeble glimmering of self, or have become desirous of infusing into the belief may have on their lives, they will not in ge. state, they vere not such as were qualified to ieral willingly throw away the slight chance, that it modify either his ambition, his jealousy, or his love may be possible on some occasion to reconcile them- of blood. selves to the chutrch or to the Deity. This hope, The power of HAbert, Chaumette, and of the even to those on whom it has no salutary influence, Ccgmmunity of Paris, was now ripe for destruction resembles thle confidence given to sailor during a gale of wind, by Ihis knowing that there is a port un- oee p. 50. V_ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.. Ronsin, with the other armed satellites of the re- gistracy was much broken by the reduction of the volutionary army, bullied indeed, and spoke about revolutionary army, which the Convention distaking the part of the magistracy of Paris against solved, as levied upon false principles, and as being the Convention; but though they had the master rather a metropolitan than a national force, and one and active ruffians still at their service, they could which was easily applied to serve the purposes of R no longer command the long sabyt columns of party. pikes, which used to follow and back them, and The Hebertists being removed, Robespierre had without whose aid they.feared they might not be..yet to combat and defeat a imore formidable adfound equal in number to face the National Guard. versary. The late conspirators had held associaSo early as 27th December, 1793, we find Chau- tions with the Club of Cordeliers, with which Danton mette expressing himself to the commune as one was supposed to have particular relations, but they who had fallen on evil times and evil days. He had not experienced his support, which in policy he brought forward evidence to show, that it was not ought to have extended to them. lie had begun to he who had conducted the installation of the God- separate his party and his views too distinctly from dess of Reason in his native city of Nevers; and his old friends and old proceedings. He imagined, he complains heavily of his lot, that the halls were falsely as it proved, that his balk could sail as crowded with women demanding the liberty of their triumphantly upon waves composed only of water, husbands, and complaining of the conduct of the re- as on those of blood. He and others seem to have volutionary societies. It was plain that a change been seized with a loathing against these continued was taking place in the political atmosphere, when acts of cruelty, as if they lad been gorged and Chaulmette was obliged to vindicate himself from nauseated by the constant repetition. Danton spoke the impiety which used to be his boast, and was of mercy and pardon; and his partisan, Camille subjected besides to female reproach for his re- Desmoulins, in a very ingenious parody upon Tapublican zeal, in imprisoning and destroying a few citus, drew a comparison between the tyrants and thousand suspected persons. informers of the French jacobin government, and The spirit of reaction increased, and was strength- those of the Roman imperial court. The parallels ened by Robespierre's influence, now thrown into were most ably drawn, and Robespierre and his the scale against the commune. The principal agents might read their own characters in those of leaders in the commune, many of whom seem to the most odious wretches of that odious time. From have been foreigners, and among the rest the cele- these aggressions Danton seemed to meditate the brated Anacharsis Kloofz,.were arrested.* part which Tallien afterwards adopted, of destroying The case of these:menwas singular, and would Robespierre and his power, and substituting a mode have been worthy of pity, had it applied to any but of government which should show some regard at such worthless wretches. They were accused of least to life and to property. But he was too late almost every species of crime, which seemed such in making his movement; Robespierre was beforein the eyes of a sans-culotte. Much there was hand with him; and, on the morning of the 31st of which could be only understood metaphysically, March, the Parisians and the members of the Conmuch there was of literal falsehood, but little or vention hardly dared whisper to each other, that nothing like a distinct-or well-grounded accusation Danton, whose name had been as formidable as the of a specific criminal fact. The charge bore, that sound of the tocsin, had been arrested like any poor they were associates_of Pitt and Coburg, and had ex-noble, and was in the hands of the fatal lictors. combined against thle-l sovereignty of the people- There was no end of exclamation and wonder; for loaded them with the intention of starving thereby Danton was the great apostle, the very Mahomet of Paris —with that of' ridiculing the Convention, by a jacobinism. His gigantic stature, his huge and feroset of puppets dresse- up to imitate that scarce less cious physiognomy, his voice which struck terror passive assembly-and-much more to the same pur- in its notes of distant thunder, and the energies of pose, consisting of allegations that were totally an- talent and vehemence mingled, which supplied that important, or totally unproved. But nothing was voice with language worthy of its deep tones, were said of their rivalry to Robespierre, which was the such as became the prophet of that horrible and true cause of their trial, and as littJe of their revo- fearful sect. Marat was a madmlan, raised into lutionary murders:hbeing the ground on which they consequence only by circumstances,-Robespierre really deserved their, fate. Something was talked a cold, creeping, calculating hypocrite, whose maligof pillage, at which-Ronsin, the commandant of the nity resembled that of a paltry and second-rate revolutionary army, lost all patience. "Do they fiend,-but Danton was a character for Shakspeare talk to me of pilfering?'0 he says. —" Dare they ac- or Schiller to have drawn in all its broad lights and cuse such a man:as I amn of a theft of bed and body shades; or Bruce could have sketched from him a linen? Do they bring: against me a charge of petty yet grander Ras Michael than he of Tigre. Hi;s larceny-against me,.;who have had all their throats passions were a hurricane, which, furious, regardat my disposal?". less, and desolating in its course, had yet its interThe accused persons-were convicted and execut- vals of sunshine and repose. Neither good by nature, ed, to the. numb'.r i:f.,nineteen. From that time nor just by principle or political calculation, men the city of Paris lost.thli means of being so pre- were often surprised at finding he still possessed eminent in the affairs of France, as her commune some feelings of generosity, and some tendency even had formerly rendered her. The power of the ma- towards magnanimity. Early habits of profligate in7. dulgence, the most complete stifler of humnan virtue,' 22d March, 1794. and his implication at the beginning of his career 144 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. with the wretched faction of Orleans, made him, if had made the gruel thick and slab. ftad Danton not a worse, certainly a meaner villain than nature been condeuned for his real crimes, thile dooma had designed him; for his pride must have savedl ought, in justice, to have involved judges, jurors, him from much, which he yielded to firom the tempt- witnesses, and most of the spectators in the court. ations of gross indulgence, and firom the sense of Robespierre became much alarmed for the issue narrow ci:'cumstances. Still, when Danton fell muder of the trial.'The Convention showed reviving signs Rohbespierre, it seenmed as if' tle mousing-owl had of spirit; and wlhen a revolutionary deputation delmawked at and struck an eagle, or at least a high- nianded, at the bar," that death should be the order soaring vulture. His avowed associates lamented of thie day," and reminded them, that, " had they hini of coarse niay, Legendre and others, by under- granted the moderate demand of three hundred taking his defence in the Convention, and arrogating thousand heads, when requested by thile philanthro. fior hits: the inerit of' those %iolent measures whlich pie, and now canonisecd Marat, they would have hadi paved the way to the triumph of jacobinism, saved the Republic the wars of La Vendde," they showsed more consistency in their friendslhip than were received with discouraging murnmurs. Tallien, these fiurocious deniagogues nmanifelted on any other tile president, iniormed them, "thtat nrot death, hbut occasion. justice, was the order of the day;'" and the petiDanton, before his fall, seemed to have lost nmuch tioners, notitistaunding thfile patriotic turn of their of his sagacity as well as energy. I-e had full modest request, were driven ironm the bar with exwarning of his dlanger from Lacroix, Westermann, ecrations. and others, yet took no steps either for escape or This looked ill; but the power of Ilobespierre defence, though either seemed in his power. Still was still predominant with the Revolutionary'l'rihis courag e wias ill no degree abated, or his haughty bunal, and after a gallant, and unusually long defence spirit tamned; although he seemed to submit passive- (of which no notice was permitted to appear in the ly to his fate, with the disheartening conviction, 1Monitear), Danton and his associates were conwhich often unumans great criminals, that his hour demned, and carried to instant execution. They was comie. nmaintained their firmness, or rather hardenediess Danton's process was, of course, a short one. He of chiaracter, to the last; and wvhen Danton olsand his comrades, Canmille Desinoulins, Wester- served Fabre d'glantine beginning to look gloomy, mann, and Lacroix, were dragged before the Re- he cheered him with a play on \Nords: " Courage, volutionary'Tribunal, a singular accomplishment of my friend," he said, in his deep, sullen tone of the prophecy of thle girondist, Boyer Fonfrde. voice, "we are all about to take mup your tradeThis man had exclaimed to Dantoi, under whose Nozs allons faire des vers."'Tle suti1eres onil this auspices that engine of arbitcary power was establish- occasion were men whose accomplisilments antd ed, " You insist, then, upon erecting this arbitrary talents attracted a higher degree of sympathy, tlhan j;mdgment-seat? Be it so; and, like the tormenting that which had been given to the equally eloqueiit engine devised by Plialaris, may it not fail to con- but less successful girondists. Even honuest mien sulme its inventors?" As judges, witnesses, acci- looked on the fate of' Danton with some regret, as sers, and guards, I)anton was now surrounded by when a furious bull is slain with a slight blow by a those who had been too humble to aspire to be crafty tauridor; and many men of good feeliilgs had companions of his atiocities, and held themselves hoped, that tlie cause of order and security miiight sufficiently honoured in becoming his agents. They at least have been benefited irs some legree, hby his looked on his unstooping pride and unshaken cou- obtaining tile victory iii a struggle with ltobespierre. rage, as tinid spectators upon a lion in a cage, Those, on the other haiid, who followedl tIle Iortunes while-khey still doubt the security of the bars, and of the latter, conceived his power had iieen r uendered have little confidence in their own personal safety. permanent, by the overthrow of Ils list and miost -le answered, to the formal interrogatories concern- fbrmidable rival, and exulted i priopoirtion. 13oth ing his namne and dwelliing, " My dweliing will be were deceived in their c alculatiolns. The pridorlsoon wvith annihilation-iiy naimie newill live in the nance of such a man as I)aniitoii ilnet lOS.sibly hauie Pantheon of History." Camille Desmoulins, Hiranlt protracted the reign of jt cobillisl, euveii fuy rnitlerde Sgchelles, Fabre d'Eglantine, men of conisider- ing it somnewlat more enduraule; but tIme ipermanemnt, able literary talent, and amongst the few jacobins at least tile ultiniiate, success of' 11(,ibes.piurre, was who had rny real pretension to such accomplish- beconming more imulossihle, fhim ftle repearted tlecinients, shared his fate. WVestermann was also mations to which his jealousy subjectid hiis party. numbered with them, the same officer who directed He was like the swild chiief, Lolpe d'hAruirre, whose the attack on the palace of the Tuileries on 10th story is so well tocd by Yomthey, o, desenurimnIg tilhe August, and who afterwards was distingmished by great river Oreliana with a party of huccarneers, cut so many victories and defeats in La Veudde, that off one part of his fbll,wers after aniother, in dimuht lie was called, from his activity, the scourge of that of their fidelity, until tile remainder saw no chance district. of escaping a similar fate, unless my beimg beforeTheir accusation was, as in all such cases at the hand with their leader in umurder. period, an olIn podrida, if we can be allowed the Alluding to Robespierre's hax ing been tIe instunexpression, in which every criminal ingredient was ment of liis destruction, Danton haid himself exmixed up; but so incoherently mingled and as- claimed, "'The cowardly poltroon I aim the only semmbled together, so inconsistent with each other, person who could have commanded inrlumnce enough and so obscurely detailed in the charge and in the to save hiun." And the event showed that he spoke proof; that it was plain that raalignant falsehood with the spirit of prophecy which the approach LIFE, OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 145 of fate has been sometimes thought to confer. gogue held to the sublime people whose lives lihe In fact, Robespierre was much isolated by the disposed of at the rate of fifty per day, regular taskdestruction of the party of Hibert, and still more work; and who were so well protected in person by that of Danton and his followers. He had, so to and property, that no man dared call his hat his speak, scraped away the ground which he occupied, own, or answer for ten minutes' space for the sec.uuntil he had scarce left himself standing-room; and, rity of the head that wore it. Much there was, detested by honest men, he had alienated, by his also, about the rashness of the worshipers of successive cruelties, even the knaves who would Reason, whose steps he accuses of being too preotherwise have adhered to him for their own safety. mature in her cause-muclh about England and Mr All now looked on hiln with fear, and none dared Pitt, who, he says, fasted on account of the dehope at the hands of the dictator a better boon than struction of the catholic religion in France, as they that vwhich is promised to OcTIS, that he should be wore mourning for Capet and his wife. Bat tilhe the last devoured. summary of this extraordinary oration was a string It was at this period that Robespierre conceived of decrees, commencing with a declaration that the the idea of reversing the plofanities of Chaumette, Republic of France acknowledged tile existence of H.ibert, and the atheists, by professing a public be- a Supreme Being, in the precise folrm ill which the lief in tthe existence of a Deity. This, he conceived, grand nation night have recognized the government would at once be a sacrifice to public opinion, and, of a co-ordinate state. The other decrees establishas he hoped to manage it, a new and potent spring, ed the nature of the worship to be rendered to the to be moved by his own finger. In a word, he seems Great Being whom these frail atoms had restored to have designed to unite, with his power in the to his place in their thoughts; and this was to be state, the character of high pontiff of the new faith. expressed by dedicating a day in each decade to As the organ of the Commnittee of Public Safety, some peculiar and established Virtue, iwith hymns Robespierre, by a speech of great length, and ex- and processions in due honour of it, approaching as trenlely dull, undertook the conversion of the French near to paganism as could well be accomplished. nation from infidelity. Upon all such occasions he The last decree appointed a fi.te to be given in hohad recourse to that glross flattery, which was his nour of the Supreme Being himself; as the nation great, rarely-failing, and almost sole receipt for po- might have celebrated by public rejoicings a pacifipularity. Hie began by assuring them, that, in her cation with some neighbouring power. lights, and the pl-ogress of' her improvement, France The speech was received withl servile applause had preceded the rest of Europe by a mark of at by the Convention. Couthon, with affected enthuleast two thousand years; and that, existing among siasm, demanded that not only the speech should the ordinary nations of the world, she appeared to be published in the usual form, by supplying each belong to another race of beings. Still he thought member with six copies, but that the plan should some belief in a Deity would do her no harm. Then be translated into all languages, and dispersed lie was again hurried away by his eloquence, of through the universe. which we cannot help giving a literal specimen, to Thie conducting of this heathen mummery, which show at how little expense of sense, taste, or talent, was substitued for every external sign of rationtal a lman may be held an excellent orator, and be- devotion, was intrusted to the genius of the painter, come dictator of a breat nation:- David; and had it not been that the daring bias"Yes, the delicious land which we inhabit, and phemy of the purpose threw a chill upon the sense which Nature caresses with so munch predilection, of ridicule, it was scarcely matched as a masqueis mnade to be the domain of liberty and of happiness; rade even by the memorable procession conducted and that people, at once so open to feeling and to i by the notorious Orator of the Human Race.+ generous pride, are born for glory and for virtue. There was a general inuster of all Paris, divided O my native country! if fortune had caused my into bands of young women and matrons, and old birth in sonme region remote from thy shores, I would men and youths, with oaken boughs and drawn not tile less have addressed constant players to swords, and all other emblems appertaining to their heaven in thy behalf, and would have wept over different ages. They were preceded by the reprethe recital of thy combats and thy virtues. My soul sentatives of the people, having their hands fill of -wiould have ftllowed with restless ardour every i ears of corn, and spices, and fruits; while Robeschange in this eventtfl revolutioan-I would have i pierre, their president, clad in a sort of purple garenvied the lot of thy natives-of thy representatives. ment, moved apart and alone, and played the part But I am mlyself a native of Fr'ance-I am myself a of sovereign pontiff; representative. Intoxicating rapture!-O sublime } After marching up and down through the streets, people, receive the sacrifice of my entire being! to the sound of doggrel hymns, the procession drew Happy is lie who is born in the midst of thee! up in the G6ardens ofthe Tuileries, before sonle fireMore happy lie who can lay down his life for thy works which had been prepared, and Robespierre welfare!"' Sulch was the language whiclh this g~reat dema- * Poor AnacharsisKlootz. He had been expelled from the Jacobin Club as a Prussian, an ex-noble, and, what' When we read such mnlserable stuff, and consider the perhaps was not previously suspected, a person of fortune crimes which such oratory occasioned, it reminds as of thle enough to be judged an aristocrat. His real offence was opinrion of a Mahomedlan doctor, who assured Bruce that | being a Hebertist, and he suffered accordingly with tlhe the Degial, or Antic.rist, was to appear in the form of an leaders of that party.-This note was rather unnecessary; ass, and that multi: udes were to follow himn to hell, attract- but Anacharsis Klootz w'as, in point of absurdity, one of edl by the music of his braying. the most inimitable personages in the Revolution. vu L. V. 19 146 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. made a speech, entirely addressed to the bystanders, imaginary, and only invented by Robespierre, to without a Aword either of prayer or invocation. His represent his person as endangered by the plots of acknowledgment of a divinity was, it seems, limited the aristocracy, and attach to himsdlf a part at least to a mere admission in pointof fact, and involved no of the consequence, which Marat had acquired by worship of the great Being, whose existence he at the act of Charlotte Corday. length condescended to own. He had no sooner A few weeks brought on a sterner encounter than made his offering, than fire was set to some figures that of the supposed female assassin. The terrordressed up to resemble atheism, ambition, egotism, ists were divided among themselves. The chosen and other evil principles. The young men then and ancient bands ofthe 10th August, 2d Septenlber, brandished their weapons, the old patted them on 31st May, and other remarkable periods of' the Rethe head, the girls flung aboult their flowers, and the volution, continued attached to the jacohins, and matrons flourished aloft their children, all as it had the majority of the Jacobin Club adhered to Robeen set down in David's programme. And this bespierre; it was there his strength consisted. On scene of masking was to pass for the repentance of a the other hand, Tallien, Barras, Legendre, Fouch6, great people turning themselves again to the Deity, and other of the Mountain party, remellbered Danwhose worship they had forsaken, and whose being ton, and feared for a similar fate.'i'he Con\ention they had denied! at large were sure to enmbrace any course which I will appeal-not to a sincere christian-but to promised to free them from their pl)est nt thraldotil. any philosopher formning such idea of the nature of The people themselves were begi,)ning to be less the Deity; as even mere unassisted reason can attain passive. They no longer saw the train of' victims to, whether there does not appear more impiety in pass daily to the guillotine, in the Place de la WRvoRobespierre's mode of acknowledging the divinity, lution, with stupid wonder, or overwhelliniug fear, than iln H-Ibert's horrible avowal of direct atheism? but, on the contrary, with the sullenness of manifest The procession did not, in common phrase, take resentment, that waited but an opportunity to with the people; it produced no striking effect- display itself. The citizens in the Rtue St-tlonore awakened no deep feeling. By catholics it was re- shut up their shops at the hours when the fhtal garded with horror; by wise men of every or no prin- tumbrils passed to the scene of death, and that ciple as ridiculous; and there were politicians, who, whole quarter of the city was covered with gloomi. tnder the disguise of this religious ceremony, pre- These ominous feelings were observed, and the tended to detect further and deeper schemes of the fatal engine was removed to a more obscure situation dictator Robespierre. Even in the course of the at the Barriere du Trone, near the Faubourg Stprocessionl, threats and murmurs had reached his Antoine, to the inhabitants of which it was thought a ears, wlhich the impatient resentment of the friends daily spectacle of this nature must be an interesting of Danton vwas unable to suppress; and he saw relieffromlabour. But even the people ol'f that turpl:inly that lie must again betake himself to the task bulent suburb had lost some of their republican zeal of murder, and dispose ofTallien, Collotd'Herbois, -the men's feelings were altered. They saw, inand others, as he had done successively of HWbert deed, blood stream in such quantities, that it was and D)anton himself, or else his former victories necessary to make an artificial conduit to carry it would hbet lead to his final ruin. off; but they did not feel that they, or those belongMeanwhile the despot, whose looks made even ing to them, received any advantages firom the the democrats of the Mountain tremble, when direct. number of victims, daily immolated, as they were ed upon them, shrunk himself before the apprehend- assured, in their behalf. The constant effusion of ed presence of a young female. CUcile Regnaud, blood, without plunder or license to give it zest, a girl, and, as it would seeni, unarmed, came to his disgusted them, as it would have disgusted all but house and demanded to see Robespierre. Herman- literal cannibals, to whose sustenance, indeed, the ner exciting some suspicion, she was seized upon by Revolutionary Tribunal would have contributed the body-guard of jacobins, who day and night plentifully. watched the den of the tyrant, amidst riot and Robespierre saw all this increasing unpopul!arity blasphlemy, while lie endeavoured to sleep under with much anxiety. He plainly perceived that, the security of their neighbourhood. When the strong as its impulse was, the stimulus of terror young woman was brought before the Revolutionary began to lose its effect on the popular mnind; and he Tribunal, she would return no answer to the question resolved to give it novelty, not by changing the respecting her purpose, excepting that she wished character of his system, but by varying the mode to see "whllat a tyrant was like." She was con- of its application. Hitherto, men had only been demned to the guillotine of coturse; and about sixty executed for political crimes, although the circle had persons were executed as associates of a conspiracy, been so vaguely drawn, and capable of such extenwhich was never proved, by deed or word, to have sion when desired, that the law regarding suspected existed at all. The victims were drawn at hazard persons was alone capable of desolating a whole out of the prisons, where most of them had been country. But if the penalty of death were to be confined for months previous to the arrest of Cecile inflicted for religious and moral delinquencies, as Regnaud, on whose account they were represented well as for crimes directed against the state, it would as suffering. * Many have thought the crime entirely at once throw the lives of thousands at his disposal, * This unheard-of iniquity is stated in the report of the venture, there appeared, at a masked ball at London, a committee appointed to examine Robespierre's papers, of character dressed like the spectre of Charlotte Corday, which Courtois was the reporter. It is rat-her a curious come, as she said, to seek Robespierre, and inflict on him circumstance that, about the time of C&eile Regnaud's ad- the doom of Marat. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 147 upon whom tie could have no ready hold on political Tribunal, and the penalty of death, not only to all motives,- and might support, at the same time, his sorts of persons who should in any manner of way newly-asstmed character as a reformer of manners. neglect their duty to the Republic, or assist her He would also thus escape the disagreeable and enemies, but to the following additional classes:embarrassing necessity, of drawing lines of distinc- All who should have deceived the people or their tion betwixt his own conduct and that of the old representatives; all who should have sought to infriends whoni he found it convenient to sacrifice. spire discouragement into good citizens, or to favour He could not say lie was less a murderer than the the undertakings of tyrants; all who should spread rest of his associates, but he might safely plead false news; all who should seek to lead astray the more external decency of morals. His own man- public opinion, and to prevent the instruction of the ners had always been reserved and austere; and people, or to debauch manners, and corrupt the pubwhat a trimplllpl would it have been, had the laws Iic conscience; or who should diminish the purity permitted him the benefit of slaying Danton, not of revolutionary principles by counter-revolutionary under that political character which could hardly works, etc., etc., etc. be distinguished from his own, but on account of It is evident that, compared with a law couched the gross peculation and debauchery, which none in terms so vague and general, so obscure and incoultd impute to the austere and incorruptible Robes- definite, the description of crimes concerning sus)ierre. pected persons was broad sunshine; that there was His subordinate agents began already to point to no Frenchman living who might not be brought a reformation of rtlanners. Payan, who succeeded within the danger of the decree, under one or other Hberlt in the important station of Procureur to the of those sweeping clauses-that a loose or careless Corntmne of the metropolis, had already'adopted a expression, or the repetition of an inaccurate article very different line from his predecessor, whose style of news, might be founded on as corrupting the pub. derived energy by printing at full length the foulest lic conscience, or misleading the public opinion; in oaths, and most beastly expressions, used by the short, that the slightest indulgence in the most ordirefuise of the people. Payan, on the contrary, in nary functions of speech might be brought under d irect opposition to Pere Duchesne, is found gravely this comprehensive edict, and so cost the speaker adsising with the Commune of Paris, on a plan his life. of preventing the exposing licentious prints and The decree sounded like a death-knell in the ears works to sale, to the evident danger of corrupting of the Convention. All were made sensible that the rising generation. another decimation of the legislative body approachThere exists also a curious address from the Con- ed, and beheld with terror that no provision was vention, which tends to evince a similar'purpose made in the proposed law for respecting the perin the framer, Robespierre. The guilt of profane sonal inviolability of the deputies, but that the obswearing, and of introducing the sacred name into noxious members of the Convention, without costing ordinary speech, as an unmeaning and blasphemous Robespierre even the formality of asking a decree expletive, is severely censured. The using indecent from their complaisant brethren, might be trlansferand vicious expressions in common discourse is also red, like any ordinary individuals, to the butchery touched upon; but as this unbounded energy of of the Revolutionary Tribunal, not only by the mespeech had been so very lately one of the-most ac- dium of either of the committees, but at the instance. credited marks of a true sans-culotte, the legislators of the public prosecutor, or even of any of' their were compelled to qualify their censure by admit- own bretilen of the representative body, who were ting that, at the commencement of the Revolution, acting under a commission. Ruamps, one of thie dethe vulgar mode of speaking had been generally puties, exclaimed in accents of despair, that if this adopted by patriots, in order to destroy the jargon decree were resolved upon, the fiiends of' liberty employed by the privileged classes, and to popular- had no other course left than to blow their own ire, as it wvas expressed, the general language of brains out. society. But these ends being effected, the speech The law passed for the night, in spite of all opof republicans ought, it is said, to be simple, manly, position; but the terrified deputies returned to the and concise, but at the same time firee from coarse- attack next day. The measure was again brought nc-ss and violence. into debate, and the question of privileges was evaFrotm these indications, and the tenor of a decree sively provided for. At a third sitting the theme to be hereafter quoted, it seems plain that Robes- was renewed; and, after much violence, the fatal i.ierre was about to affect a new character, not, decree was carried, without any of the clogs which perhaps, without the hope of finding a puritanic had offended Robespierre, and le attained possesparty in France as tiavourable to his ambitious views sion of the fatal weapon, such as he had originally as that of the independents was to Cromwell. He forged it. might then have added the word virtue to liberty From this moment there was mortal though secret and equality, which formed the national programme, war betwixt Robespierre and the most distinguished and, doubtless, would have made it the pretext of members of the assembly, particularly those who committing additional crimes. The decree which had sate with him on the celebrated Mountain, and we allude to was brought forward by the philan- shared all the atrocities of jacobinism. Collot 1hropic Couthon, who, with his kindness of manner, d'Herbois, the demolisher of Lyons, and regenerarendered more impressive by a silver-toned voice, tor of Ville Affranchie, threw his weight into the and an affectation of extreme gentleness, tendered scale against his master; and several other mema law, extending the powers of the Revolutionary bers of both committees, which were Robespierre's 148 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. own organs, began secretly to think on means of ridicule, the history of the mystical meetings and screening themselves from a power, which, like the formation of a religious sect under Catherine Theot, huge Anaconda, enveloped in its coils, and then whose pretensions have been already hinted at. No crushed and swallowed, whatever came in contact mention was indeed made of Robespierre, or of the with it.'T'he private progress of the schism cannot countenance he was supposed to have given to these be traced; but it is said that the dictator found fanatical intriguers. But the fact of his having done himself in a minority in the Committee of Public so was well known; alid the shafts of Vadier were Safety, when he demanded the head of Fouch6, aimed with such malignant dexterity, that, while whom he had accused as a Dantonist in the Con- they seemned only directed against the mystics of vention and the Jacobin Club. It is certain he had whom he spoke, they galled to the quick the high not attended the meeting of the committee for two pontiff, who had so lately conducted the new and or three weeks before his fall, leaving his interest singular system of worship which his influence had there to be managed by Couthon and St-Jnst. been employed to ingraft upon the genuine atheisml Feeling himself' thus placed in the lists against natural to jacobinism. his ancient friends the terrorists, the astutious Robespierre felt he could not remain long in this tyrant endeavoured to acquire allies among the re- situation-that there were no means of securing himmains of the girondists, who had been spared in self where he stood-that he must climb higher, or contempt more than clemency, and permitted to hide fall-and that every moment in which he supported themselves among the neutral party who occupied insults and endured menaces, without making his the Plain, and who gave generally their votes on the vengeance felt, brought with it a diminution of his prudential system of adhering to the stronger side. power. He seems to have hesitated between combat Finding little countenance fiom this timid and and flight. Among his papers, according to the relong-neglected part of the Legislative Body, Ro- port of Courtois who examined them, was found an bespierre returned to his more steady supporters in obscure intimation, that he had acquired a competent the Jacobin Club. Here he retained his supre- property, and entertained thoughts of retiling at the mlacy, and was heard with enthusiastic applause; close of his horrible career, after the example of the while he intimated to them the defection of certain celebrated Sylla. It was a letter from some ulnknlown members of the legislature from the true revolu- confidant, unsigned and undated, containing the fidtionary course; complained of the inactivity and lowing singular passage: IYou nmlst employ all your lukewarmness of the Committees of Public Safety dexterity to escape from the scene on which you are and Public Security, and described himself as a now once more to appear, in order to leave it for persecuted patriot, almost the solitary supporter of ever. Your having attained the president's chair the cause of his country, and exposed for that rea- will be but one step to the guillotine, through a rabble son to the blows of a thousand assassins. who will spit upon you as you pass, as they did upon "All patriots," exclaimed Couthou, "are brothers ZPgalit6. Since you have collected a treasure suffi. and fiiends! For my part, I invoke on myself the cient to maintain you for a long time, as well as those poniards destined against Robespierre." for whom you have made provision, I will expect "So do we all!" exclaimed the meeting, unani- you with anxiety, that we may enjoy a hearty laugh mously. together at the expense of a nation as credulous as it Thus encouraged, Robespierre urged a purifica- is greedy of novelty. " If, however, he had really tion of the society, directing his accusations against formed such a plan, which would not have been inFouchb and other members of the Mountain; and consistent with his base spirit, the means of accormhe received the encouragement he desired.' plishing it were probably never perfected. He next ascertained his strength arongg the judges At length his fate urged him on to the encounter. of the Revolutionary Tribunal, and his willing agents Robespierre descended to the Convention, where among the reformed Commune of Paris, which, after he had of late but rarely appeared, like the far nobler the fall of H6bert and Chaumette, he had taken dictator of Rome; and in his case also, a band of' care to occupy with his most devoted friends. But senators was ready to poniard the tyrant on the spot, still lie knew that, in the storm which was about to had they not been afraid of tile popularity he was arise, these out-of-door demagogues were but a sort supposed to enjoy, and which they feiared migiht of tritons of the minnows, compared 9o Tallien, render them instant victims to the revenge of thejaFouch6, Barras, Collot d'Herbois, Billaud Va- cobins. The speech which Robespierre addressed rennes, and other deputies of distinguished powers, to the Convention was as menacing as the first distant accustomed to make their voices heard and obeyed rustle of the hurricane, and dark and lurid as the amid all the roar of revolutionary tempest. He eclipse which announces its approach. Anxious measured and remeasured his force with theirs; murmurs had been heard amsong the populace who and for more than six weeks avoided the combat, filled the tribunes, or crowded the entrances of the yet without making any overtures for reconcilia- hall of the Convention, indicating that a second 31st tion, in whllich, indeed, neither party would probably of rlay (being the day on which the jacobins prohave trusted the other. scribed the girondists) was about to witness a simiMeantime the dictator's enemies had also their lar operation. own ground on which they could engage advan.. The first theme of tilse gloomy orator was the distageously in these skirmishses, which were to serve play of his own virtues and his services as a patriot, as preludes to the main and fatal conflict. Vadier, distinguishing as enemies to their country all whose on the part of the Committee of Public Safety, laid opinions were contrary to his own. He then reviewed before the Convention, in a tone of bitter satirical successively the various departments of the govern LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 149 ment, and loaded them in turn with censure and Payan, the successor of Hbert, actually proposed contempt. lie declaimed against the supineness of the that the jacobins should instantly march against the Committees of Public Safety and Public Security, two committees, which Robespierre charged with as if the guillotine had never been in exercise; and being the focus of the anti-revolutionary machinahe accused the Committee of Finance of having coon- tions, surprise their handful of guards, and stifle ter-revolzctionized the revenues of the Republic. the evil with which the state was menaced, even in He enlarged with no less bitterness on withdrawing the very cradle. This plan was deemed too hazardthe artillerynmen (always violent jacobins) from ous to be adopted, although it was one of those Paris, and on the mode of management adopted in sudden and master-strokes of policy which Mathe conquered countries of Belgium. It seemed as chiavel would have recommended. The fire of the if he wished to collect within the same lists all the jacobins spent itself in tumult and threatening, and functionaries of the state, and in the same breath to in expelling froom the bosom of their society Collot utter defiance to them all. d'Herbois, Tallien, and about thirty other deputies The usual honorary motion was made to print the of the Mountain party, whom they considered as discourse; bat then the storm of opposition broke specially leagued to effect the dowifal of Robesforth, and many speakers vociferously demanded, pierre, and whom they drove from their society that before so far adopting the grave inculpations with execrations and even blows. which it contained, the discourse should be referred Collot d'Herbois, thus outraged, went straight to the two Committees. Robespierre, in his turn, from the meeting of the jacobins to the place where exclaimed, that this was subjecting his speech to the Committee of Public Safety was still sitting, in the partial criticism and revision of tile very parties consultation on the report which they had to make whom he had accused. Exculpations and defences to the Convention the next day upon the speech of were heard on all sides against the charges which Robespierre. St-Just, one of their number, though had been thus sweepingly brought forward; and warmly attached to the dictator, had been intrusted there were many deputies who complained in no by the Committee with the delicate task of drawing obscure terms of individual tyranny, and of a con- up that report. It was a step towards reconciliation; spiracy on foot to outlaw and murder such part of the but the entrance of Collot d'Herbois, ftantic with Convention as might be disposed to offer resistance. the insults he had received, broke off all hope of PRobespierre was but feebly supported, save by accommodation betwixt the friends of Danton and St-Just, Couthon, and by his own brother. After those of Robespierre. Collot d'Herbois exhausted a stormy debate, in which the Convention were himself in threats against St-Just, Couthon, and alternately swayed by their fear and their hatred of their master, Robespierre, and they parted on terms Robespierre, the discourse was finally referred to of mortal and avowed enmity. Every exertion now the Committees, instead of being printed; and the was used by the associated conspirators against the haughty and sullen dictator saw, in the open slight power of Robespierre, to collect and combine against thus put on his measures and opinions, the sure him the whole forces of the Convention, to alarm mark of his approaching fall. the deputies of the Plain with fears for themselves, He carried his complaints to the Jacobin Club, to and to awaken the rage of the Mountaineers, against repose, as he expressed it, his patriotic sorrows in whose throat the dictator now waved the sword, their virtuous bosoms, where alone he hoped to find which their short-sighted policy had placed in his succour and sympathy. To this partial audience he hands. Lists of proscribed deputies we-re handed renewed, in a tone of yet greater audacity, the com- around, said to have been copied from the tablets of plaints with which he had loaded every branch of the dictator; genuine or false, they obtained unithe goverlnment, and the representative body itself. versal credit and currency; and those whose names He reminded those around him of various heroic stood on the fatal scrolls engaged themselves for eras, when their presence and their pikes had de- protection in the league against their enemy. The cided the votes of the trembling deputies. He opinion that his fall could not be delayed now bereminded them of their pristine actions of revolu- came general. tionary vigour - asked them if' they had forgot the This sentiment was so commonly entertained in road to the Convention, and concluded by patheti- Paris on the 9th Thermidor, or 27th July, that a cally assuring them, that if they forsook him, "he herd of about eighty victims, who were in the act stood resigned to his fate; and they should behold of beinig dragged to the guillotine, were nearly saved with what courage he would drink the fatal hem- by means of it. The people, in a generous burst lock." The artist, David, caught him by the hand of compassion, began to gather in crowds, and inas he closed, exclaiming, in rapture at his elocution, terrupted the melancholy procession, as if the power "I will drink it with thee." which presided over these hideous exhibitions had The distieguished painter has been reproached, already been deprived of energy. But the hour as lhaving, on the subsequent day, declined the was not come. The vile Henriot, commandant of pledge vhick he seemed so eagerly to embrace. But the National Guards,came up with fresh forces, and, there were many of his original opinion, at the time on the day destined to be the last of his own life, he expressed it so boldly; and had Robespierre proved the means of carrying to execution this crowd possessed either mnilitary talents, or even decided of unhappy and doubtless innocent persons. courage, there was nothing to have prevented him On this eventful day, Robespierre arrived in the from placing himself that very night at the head of Convention, and beheld the Mountain in close array a desperate insurrection of the jacobins and their and completely manned, while, as in the case of followers. Catiline, the bench on which he lirnmself was accus 150 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. tomed to sit seemed purposely deserted. St-Just, absolute sign that his overthrow was irrecoveralule. Couthon, Lebas (his brother-in-law), and the Torrents of invective were now uttered liom every younge'r Robespierre, were the only deputies of quarter of the hall, aga;.nst hin whose single word name who stood prepared to sulport him. But could was wont to hush it il)to silence. lie make an eflifectal struggle, he might depend The scene was dreadfull; yet not without its use upon the aid of' the servile Barrere, a sort of Belial to those who may be disposed to look at it as an exin the Convention, the meanest, yetnot the least able, traordinary crisis, in which hulman passions were anmougst those fhllen spirits, who with great adroit- brought so singularly into collision. N While tile satuts ness and ingenuity, as well as wit and eloquence, of the hall echoed with exclanmations fromi those wlho caught opportunities as they arose, and was eminent- had hitherto been the acco11mplices, tle flatterers, ly dexterous in being always strong upon the strong- the followers, at least the timild and overaw.ed asest, and safe upon the safest side. There was a sentators to the dethroned demlagogue —le iilirself', tolerably numerous party ready, in times so danger- breathless, foaming, exhausted, like the hunter of' ous, to attach themselves to Barrere, as a leader classical antiquity when on the point of' being overwho professed to guide them to safety, if not to powered and torn to pieces by his own lollunds, tried honour; and it was the existence of this vacillating in vain to raise those screech-o%%l notes by whitch and uncertain body, whose ultimate motions could be the Convention had formerly been terrified and liit never calculated upon, which rendered it impossible to silence. He appealed Ibr a hearing friii the llreto presage with assurance the event of any debate sident of the assembly to the \vaiotns parties of in the Convention during this dangerous period. which it was composed. Rejectedl by the Aloiiii8t-Just arose, in the name of the Committee of taineers, his former associates, who nosV headed the Public Safety, to make, after his own manner, not clamour against him, he applied k) the girondists, theirs, a report on thle discourse of Robespierre on few and feeble as they were, and to the mliore nlthe previous evening. He had begun a harangue merous but equally helpless depliiti-s of the ll'iil, in the tone of his patron, declaring that, were the with whom they sheltered. Thle olllrme slhout hiim tribune which lie occupied the Tarpeian rock itself, from them with disgust, the last wsitll lolror. It;as lie would not the less, placed as lie stood there, dis- in vain he reminded individuials tihat lie h;ld slaiir(l charge the duties ofa patriot.-" 1 am about," he their lives, while at his inercy. Tlhis.iglit lai. said, " to lift the veil."-" I tear it asunder," said been applied to every miemiler in thie Iiou.c;i to Tallien, interrupting him. "The public interest is every man in France; fotr hlio wvais it dlllill two sacrificed by individuals, who come hither to speak years that had lived on othier terllls th;, tullldr RIoexclusively in their own name, and conduct them- bespierre'sperniission? and deeply mluist lie illternallly selves as superior to the whole Convention." He have regretted the clemency, as lie iliighit termll it, forced St-Julst from the tribule, and a violent debate which had left so many wvith lltlglsheil thlroats to enstued. bay at him. But his agitated and relpeated appeals Billaud Varennes called the attention of the as- were repulsed by some with indignation, bsy others semlbly to thle sitting of the Jacobin Club on the with sullen, or embarrassed niid timid sileince. preceding evening. He declared the military force A British historian nllist say, that \ven Robesof Paris was placed under the command of Henriot, pierre ought to hase been heard in his idetllc e; aind a traitor and a parricide, who was ready to march that such calmness woluld have donse honourl to thle the soldiers whlonm he commanded, against the Conl- Convention, and digiiified tlheir fiMal si-litence of vention. He denounced Robespierre himself as a condemnation. As it wvas, tley Dmo douiiit treated seconld Catilite, artfuI as well as ambitious, whose the guilty individual according- to his Itserts; but system it had been to nurse jealousies and inflame they fell short of that regulllarity and llllllly staidniess dissensions in the Convention, so as to disunite par- of conduct which was idue to themusel els andl to the ties, ald evemn individulls, from each other, attack law, and vwhich would haulle given to the hllillisimllient them in detail, and thins destroy those antagonists of the demuagoguue tlle ellect anld %-ei-iht ofl; soleinn separately, uponi whose combined and united strength and deliberate senitence, ii l)llace of its setm-.ming the lie dared not have looked. restlt of tile hasty tiand precipituate seizure ol a te nL-'he Conventionl echoed vith applause every porary advantlfage. violent expression of the orator, and when Robes- Haste was, however, necessary, anld mnnlut lhave pierre sprung to the tribune, his voice was drowned appeared Inore so at stich a crisis thlan lerhliapls it by a genelral shout of "Down with the tyrant!" really was. Mucil mulst be.pardoned to, tIe terrors Talliel nmoved the denunciation of Robespierre, of tile moment, thle horridl chlarracter of tht- culprit, with tile arrest of HIe)riot, his staff-officers, and of and tile necessity of lhurrying to u nlecisive conclulothers connected with the meditated violence on sion. We lha-e lbeen tol(l thuiut his last audibhiu. worts, the Convention. lie had nndertakeni to lead the contendling against tile exclalmationsls ofhulldreds,:n(l attack upon tile tyrant, he said, and to poniard him thle bell si hichi the presidenit svas ringini- ince.ssaltly, in the Convention itself, if tile members did not and uttered in the highest tones hicli dht;urishow courage enough to enforce tile law against could give to a voice natui;ally shrill,id(l u!iscordalit. him. XVith these words lie brandished an nnsheathed dwelt long on the Ilmemory, lnl(l hiamitedl thie Ireamlis. poniiard, as if about to make his purpose good. Ro- of many ho li heard humim:-" President ol'f assassins," bespierre still struggled hard to obtain audience, he screamed,' fbr the last tim:.e I deamminid prihiiege but the tribune was ad judged to Barrere; and the of speech!"-After this exertion his breathl becaillme part taken against the fallen dictator by that ver- short anid failt; and while lie still tutteredl broken watile and sell:interested statesmran, was the moat murmuirs and hoarse ejaculations, the sniemnbers of LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 151 the Mountain called out., that the blood of Danton who had aided him in supplying their dark habitschoked his voice. tions with such a tide of successive inhabitants. At The tumult was closed by a decree of arrest length the prisoners were secured in the office of against Robespierre, his brother, Coathon, and St- the Committee of Public Safety. But by this time Just; Lebas was included on his own motion, and all was in alarm amongst the Commune of Paris, indeed could scarce have escaped the fate of his -where Fleuriot, the mayor, and Payan, the succesbrother-in-law, though his conduct then, and sub- sor of H6bert, convoked the civic body, dispatched sequently, showed more energy than that of the municipal officers to raise the city and the faubonrgs others. Couthon, hugging in his bosom the spaniel in their name, and caused the tocsin to be rung. upon which he was wont to exhaust the overflow- Payan speedily assembled a force sufficient to liing-of his affected sensibility, appealed to his de- berate Henriot, Robespierre, and the other arrested crepitude, and asked whether, maimed of proportion deputies, and to carry them to the Hotel de Ville, and activity as he was, he could be suspected of where about two thousand men were congregated, nourishing plans of violence or ambition.-"Wretch," consisting chiefly of artillerymen, and of insulrents said Legendre, " thou hast the strength of Hercules from the suburb of St-Antoine, who already exfor the perpetration of crime." Dumnas, president pressed their resolution of marching against the Conof the Revolutionary Tribunal, with Henriot, Geom- vention. But the selfish and cowardly character of mandant ofthe National Guards, and other satellites Robespierre was unfit for such a crisis. Ile apof Robespierre, were included in the doom of arrest. peared altogether confounded and overn helmed The officers of the legislative body were ordered with what had passed and was passing around him; to lay hands on Robespierre; but such was the, and not one of all the victims of the reign of Terror terror of his name, that they hesitated for some timn fielt its disabling influence so completely as lie, the to obey; and the reluctance of their own inlmediate despot who had so long directed its sway. HI-e had satellites afforded the Convention an indifferent not, even though the means must have been in his omen of the respect which was likely to be paid power, the presence of mind to disperse money in without doors to their decree against this powerthl considerable sumins, which of itself would not have demagogue. Subsequent events seemed for a while failed to insure the support of the revolutionary to confirm the apprehensions thus excited. rabble. The Convention had declared their sitting per- Meantime the Convention continued to maintain mauent, and had taken all precautions for appealing the bold and commanding front which they had so for protection to the large mass of citizens, who, suddenly and critically assumed. Upon learning wearied out by the reign of Terror, were desirous to the escape of the arrested deputies, and healing of close it at all hazards. They quickly had deputa- the insurrection at the Hotel de Ville, they instantly tions fiom several of the neighbouring sections, de- passed a decree outlawing Robespierre and his asclaring their adherence to the national representa- sociates, inflicting a similar doom upon the Mayor tives, in whose defence they were arming, and of Paris, the procureur, and other members of the (many undoubtedly prepared beforehand) were commune, and charging twelve of their members, marching in all haste to the protection of the Con- the boldest who could be selected, to proceed with vention. But they heard also the less pleasing tidings, the armed force to the execution of the sentence.'that Henriot, having effected the dispersion of those The drums of the National Guards now beat to arms citizens who had obstructed, as elsewhere men- in all the sections under authority of the Convention, tioned, the execution of the eighty condemned while the tocsin continued to summon assistance persons, and consummated that final act of murder, with its iron voice to Robespierre and the civic was approaching'the Tuileries, where they had held magistrates. Everything appeared to threaten a their sitting, with a numerous staff, and such of the violent catastrophe, until it was seen clearly that the jacobinical forces as could hastily be collected. public voice, and especially amongst the National Happily for the Convention, this commandant of Guards, was declaring itself generally against the the National Guards, on. whose presence of mind and terrorists. courage the fate of France perhaps for the moment The Hotel de Ville was surrounded by about fifdepended, was as stupid and cowardly as hle was teen hundred men, and cannon turned upon the brutally ferocious. He suffered himself, -without doors. The force of the assailants was weakest in resistance, to be arrested by a few gendarmes, the point of number, but their leaders were men of immediate guards of the Convention, headed by two spirit, and night concealed their inferiority of of its memlbers, who behaved in the emergency with force. equal prudence and spirit. The deputies commissioned for the purpose read But f*mrtune, or thle demon whom he had served, the decree of the assembly to those whom they afforded Robespierre another chance for safety, per- found assembled in front of the city-hall, and they haps even for empire; for moments which a man of shrunk from the attempt of defending it, some joinself-possession might have employed for escape, one ing the assailants, others laying down their arms of desperate courage might have used for victory, and dispersing. Meantime the deserted group of which, considering the divided and extremely an- terrorists within conducted themselves like scorsettled state of the capital, was likely to be gained pions, which, when surrounded by a circle of fire, by the boldest competitor. are said to turn their stings on each other, and on The arrested deputies had been carried from one thenmselves. Mutual and ferocious upbraiding took prison to another, all the jailers refusing to receive place among these miserable men. " Wretch, were under their official charge Rohespierre, and those these the means you promised to furnishll'" said 1592 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Payan to Henriot, whom he found intoxicated and a pistol, that the greatest generals in France began incapable, of resolution or exertion; and, seizing on their careers of conquest. lHe had neither eloquence him as lie spoke, he precipitated the revolutionary nor imagination; but substituted in their stead a migeneral firom a iwindow. Henriot survived the fall serable, affected, bombastic style, which, until other only to drag himself into a drain, in which he was circumstances gave him consequence, drew on him afterwards discovered and bronght out to execution. general ridicule. Yet, against so poor an orator, The younger Robespierre threw himself from the all the eloquence of the philosophical girondists, all window, but had not the good fortune to perish on the terrible powers of his associate Danton, emthe spot. It seemed as if even the melancholy fate ployed in a popular assembly, could not enable them of suicide, the last reftige of guilt and despair, was to make an effectual resistance. It may seem trifling denied to men who had so long refused every species to mention, that in a nation where a good deal of of mercy to theirfellow-creatures. Lebas alone had prepossession is excited by amiable manners and calmness enough to dispatch himself with a pistol- beauty of external appearance, the person who asshot. St-Just, after imploring his comrades to kill cended to the highest power was not only ill-lookhim, attempted his own life with an irresolute hand, ing, but singularly mean in person, awkward and and failed. CoUthon lay beneath the table, bran- constrained in his address, ignorant how to set about dishing a knife, with which he repeatedly avounded pleasing, even when he most desired to give pleahis bosom, without daring to add force enough to sure, and as tiresome nearly as lie was odious and reach his heart. Their chief, Robespierre, in an heartless. unsuccessful attempt to shoot himself; had only in- To compensate all these deficiencies, Robespierre flicted a hol-rible fracture on his under-jaw. had but an insatiable ambition, founded on a vanity In this situation they were found like wolves in which made him think himself capable of filling the their lair,'foul with blood, mutilated, despairing, highest situation; and therefore gave him daring, and yet not able to die. Robespierre lay on a table when to dare is frequently to achieve. He mixed a in an ante-room, his head supported by a deal-box, false and overstrained, but rather fluent species of and his hideous countenance half-hidden by a bloody bombastic composition, with the grossest flattery to and dirty cloth bound round the shattered chin.* the lowest classes of the people; in consideration of The captives were carried in triumph to the Con- which, they could not but receive as genuine the vention, who, without admitting them to the bar, praises which he always bestowed on himself. His ordered thetm, as outlaws, for instant execution. prudent resolution to be satisfied with possessing the As the fatal cars passed to the gusillotine, those who essence of power, without seeming to desise its filled them, but especially Robespierre, were over- rank and trappings, formed another art of cajoling lwhelmled with execrations fionm the fiiends and re- the multitude. His watchful envy, his long-prolatives of victims whom he had sent on the same tracted but sure revenge, his craft, which'to vulgar melancholy road. The nature of his previous wound, minds supplies the place of wisdom, were his only fionl which the cloth had never been removed till means of' competing' with his distinguished autathe executioner tore it off, added to the torture of gosists. And it seems to have been a merited psthe suffelrer TIle, shattered jaw dropped, aid the nislmnent of the extravagances and abuses of the wretch yelled aloud, to the horror of the specta- French Revolution, that it engaged the country in a tors.t A masque taken from that dreadful head state of anarchy which peritted a wretch, sueh as was long e-hibited in ditffelent nations of Eulrope, wve have described, to be fiol a long period master and appalled the spectator by its ugliness, and the of her destiny. Blood was his element, like that of miixture of fiendish expression with that of bodily the other terrorists, and he never fastened with so agonly. mich pleasure on a new victirn, as when he was at Tltus fell Maxinilian Rlobespierre, after havisig the saume time an ancient associate. In an epitaph, been the firstt petlson it the Ftleltch Reopublic for of which the following couplet mlay serve as a transnearlly towo years, dtlrinDg which timle he governed it lation, his life was l;epresented as incompatible with upon the principles of Nero or Caligutla. His ele- the existence of the human racev atiost to the sittiation sswhich he held involsed mtore Hiere lies Robespierre-let no tear be shed: constradictions than perhaps attach to any sin-ilar Reader, if lie had lived, thou hadst been dead.* event in history. A lowhborn and low-minded tyrant Was permtitted to rule with the td of the most Vlsen tle report of Robespierre's crimes wras fiighstful despotisn l a people, whose axitet, for li- brought to the Convention, in which lie is most betty liad shlortly befole renlereed thesli unable to justly charged with the intention of possessing himendure the rule of a hunmane and lawfsul sovereign. self of the government, the inconsistent accusation A dastardly coward arose to the coinlnand of one is added, that he plotted to restore the Bburbons; of the bravest nations in the world; and it was in support of which it is alleged that a seal, bearing ~under the auspices of a man who dared scarce fire a fleur-de-lis, was found at the Hotel de Ville. Not even the crimes of Robeslpierre were thought sufli* It did not escape the minute observers of this scene, ciently atrocious, without their being igled with that he still held in his hand the bag which had contained the fatal pistol, anl which was inscribed with the words a tendency to royalism IAt graisd tmonarque, alluding to the sign, doubhtless, of With this celebrated demagogue the reign f WiTerror may be said to have terminated, althou o the gulsmith who sold tile weapon, but singularly appli- Terror may be cable to the high pretensions of the purchaser. t The fate of no tyrant in story witas so hideous at the Passant, ne pleure point son sort, conclusion, excepting perhaps that of Jugurtha. Car, s'il vivait, tu serais mort. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 153 those by whose agency the tyrant fell were as much and other agents of terror more immediately conterrorists as himself; being, indeed, the principal nected with Robespierre, were ordered for arrest, members of the very Committees of Public Safety and shortly after for execution. Tallien and Barras and Public Security, who had been his colleagues would have here paused in the retrospect; but in all the excesses of his revolutionary authority. similar accusations now began to pour in fiom every Among the thermidoriens, as the actors in Robes- quarter, and, when once stated, were such as compierre's downfal termed themselves, there were manded public attention in the most forcible names allnost as dreadful as that of the dictator, manner. Those who invoked vengeance backed for whom the ninth Thermidor proved the Ides of the solicitations of each other-the general voice of March. What could be hoped for from Collot mankind was with them; and leaders who had d'Herbois, the butcher of the Lyonnais-what from shared the excesses of the reign of Terror, therBillaud Varennes-what from Barras, who had midoriens as they were, began to see some danger directed the executions at Marseilles after its ephe- of being themselves buried in the ruins of the power meral revolt —what from Tallien, whose arnis were which they had overthrown. afterwards dyed double red, from finger-nails to Tallien, who is supposed to have taken the lead elbow, in the blood of the unfortunate emigrant in the extremely difficult navigation which lay begentlemen who were made prisoners at Quiberon? fore the Vressel of the state, seems to have exIt seemed that only a new set of septembrisers perienced a change in his own sentiments, at least had succeeded, and that the same horrible prin- his.principles of action, inclining him to the cause ciple would continue to be the moving spring of of humanity. He was also, it is said, urged to so the government, under the direction of other chiefs favourable a modification of feelings by his newlyindeed, but men who were scarce less fatiliar with married wife, formerly Madame Fontenai, who, its horrors than was the departed tyrant. bred a royalist, had herself' been a victim to the Men looked hopelessly towards the Convention, law of suspicion, and was released from a prison to long rather like the corpse of a legislative assembly, receive the hand, and influence the activity, of the ac.tuated, during its apparent activity, like the sup- republican statesman. Barras, who, as commandposed Vampire, by an infernal spirit not its own, ing the armed force, might be termed the hero of hllich urged it to go forth and drink blood, but the 9th Therrmidor, was supposed to be also inclined which, deserted by the animating demon, must, it towards humanity and moderation. was to be expected, sink to the ground in help- Thus disposed to destroy the monstrous system less inclapacity. What could be expected from which had taken rootin France, and which, indeed, Barrere, the ready panegyrist of Robespierre, the in the increasing impatience of the country, they tool who was ever ready to show to the weak and would have found it impossible to maintain, Tallien the timid the exact point where their safety recomi- anld Baras had to struggle, at the same time, to mended to them to join the ranks of the wicked diminish and restrict the general demand for reand the strong? BEt in spite of these discouraging venge, at a time When, if past tyranny was to be circumstances, the feelings of humanity, and a strictly inquired into and punished, the doom, as spirit of self-protection, dictating a determined re- Carrier himself told them, would have involved sistance to the renovation of the horrid systeim everything in the Convention, excepting perhaps under which the country had so long suffered, the president's bell and his arm-chair. So powerbegan to show itself both in the Convention and fulwverie these feelings of resisting a retrospect, that witholut doors. Encouraged by the fall of Robes- the thermidoriens declined to support Le Cointre pierre, complaints poured in against his agents on in bringing forward a general charge of inculpaall sides. Lebon was accused before the Conven- tion against the two Conlmittees of Public Safety tion by a deputation from Cambrai; and as he and Public Security, in which accusation, notwithascended the tribune to put himself on his defence, standing their ultimate quarrel with Robespierre, he he was generally hailed as the hangman of Robes- showed their intimate connexion with him, and their pierre. The monster's impudence supported him joint agency in all which had been imputed to him in a sort of defence; and when it was objected to as guilt. But the tinie was not mnature for hazardhim that he had had the common executioner to ing such a general accusation, and it was rejected dine in company with him, he answered, "LThat by the Convention with marks of extreme disdelicate peop)le might think that wrong; but Le-. pleasure. quinio (another jacobin proconsul of horrible cele- Still, however, the general voice of humanity debrity) had imade the same useful citizen the corn- manded some faither atonement for twvo years of panion of his leisure and hours of relaxation." He outrage, and, to satisfy this demand, the thermidoacknowledged, with the same equanimity, that an riens set themselves to seek victims connected more aristocrat being condemned to the guillotine, he kept immediately with Robespierre; while they endeahim lying in the usual posture upon his back, with voured gradually to form a party, which, setting out his eyes turned up to the axe, which was suspended upon a principle of amnesty, and oblivion of the above his throat,-in short, in all the agonies which past, should in future pay some regard to that precan agitate the human mind, when within a hair's- servation of the lives and property of the governed, breadth of the distance of the great separation be- which, in every other system saving that which had tween Time and Eternity,-until he had read to been just overthrown in France, is regarded as the him, at length, the Gazette which had just arrived, principal end of civil government. With a view to giving an account of a victory gained by the repub- the consolidation of such a party, the restrictions lican armies. This monster, with H6ron, Rossignol, of the press were removed, and men of talent and VOL. VI. 2 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. literature, silenced during the reign of Robespierre, ment, far less changing its character. These veteran were once more admitted to exercise their natural revolutionists must be considered as separate from influence in favour of civil order and religion. Mar- those who called themselves thermidoriens, though montel, La Harpe, and others, who in their youth they lent their assistance to the revolution on tl:e had been enrolled in the list of Voltaire's disciples, 9th Thermidor. They viewed as deserters and and amongst the infidels of the Encyclop&die, now apostates Legendre, Le Cointre, and others, above made amends for their youthful errors, by exerting all Tallien and Barras, who, in the fill height of their themselves in the cause of good morals, and of a career, had paused to take breath, and were now regulated government. endeavouring to shape a course so different from that At length followed that general and long-desired which they had hitherto pursued. measure, which gave liberty to so many thousands, These genuine sans-culottes endeavoured to rest by suspending'the law denouncing suspected per- their own power and popularity upon the same basis sons, and emptying at once of' their inhabitants the as formerly. They re-opened the sittings of' the Japrisons which had hitherto only transmitted them to cobin Club, shut up on the 9tll Thermllidor. This the guillotine. The tales which these victims of ancient revolutionary cavern again heard its roof jacobinism had to repeat, when revealing the secrets resound with denunciations, by which Vadier, Bilof their prison-house, together with the moral in- laud Varennes, and others, devoted to the infernal flence produced by such a universal gaol-delivery, deities Le Cointre, and those who, they complained, and tlie reunion which it effected amongst fiiends wished to involve all honest republicans in the and relations that had been so long separated, tended charges brought against Robespierre and his friends. greatly to strengthen the hands of the thermidoriens, Those threats, however, were no longer rapidly folwho still boasted of that name, and to consolidate a lowed by the thunderbolts which used to attend such rational and moderate party, both in the capital and flashes of jacobin eloquence. Men's homes were provinces. It is, however, by no means to be won- now in comparison safe. A man mlig-ht be nanled in dered at, that the liberated sufferers showed a dis- a jacobin club as an aristocrat, or a moderate, and position to exercise retribution in a degree which yet live. In fact, the demagogues svere more anxious their liberators trembled to indulge, lest it might have to secure immunity for their past crimes, than at recoiled upon themselves. Still both parties united present to incur new censure. The tide of general against the remains of the jacobins. opinion was flowving strongly against them, and a A singular and melancholy species of force sup- singularincident increased its power, and rendered ported these movements towards civilization and it irresistible. order. It was levied among the orphans and youthful The Parisians had naturally enough imlagined, friends of those. who had fallen under the fatal guil- that the provinces could have no instances of'jacolotine, and amounted in number to two or three binical cruelty and misrule to describe, more tragic thousand young men, who acted in concert, were and appalling than the numerous executions which distinguished by black collars, and by their hair the capital had exhibited every day. But the arrival being plaited and turned up a la victime, as pre- of eighty prisoners, citizens of Nantes, charged with pared for the guillotine. This costume was adopted the usual imputations cast upon suspected persons, in memory of the principle of mourning on which undeceived them. These captives lhad been sent, they were associated. These volunteers were not for the purpose of being tried at Paris before the regularly armed or disciplined, but formed a sort of Revolutionary Tribunal. Fortunately, they (did not free corps, who opposed themselves readily and arrive till after Robespierre's fall, and cons(eqIlently effectually to the jacobins, when they attempted when they were looked upon rather as oppressed their ordinary revolutionary tactics of exciting partial persons than as criminals, ande( were listened to more insulrections, and intimidating the orderly citizens as accusers of those by whonl they were iperst-tcuLted, by sholts and violence. Many scuffles took place than as culprits on their defence. betwixt the parties, with various success; but ulti- It was then that the metropolis first heard of Inately the spirit and courage of the young avengers horrors which we have formerly barely hinted at. steemed to give them daily a more decided snpe- It was then they were told of cl'owds of citiz-nls, riotity. The jacobins dared not show themselves, mostof whom had been favourable to the republican thl:t is, to avouch their principles, either at the places order of things, and had borne arms against the of public anmuserment, or in the Palais Royal, or the Vendeans in their attack upon Nantes; miten accused Tllilel:ies, all of' which had formerly witnessed their upon grounds equally slight, and incapable of proof; victories. Their assemblies now took place under having been piled together in dungeons, where the some appearance of secrecy, and were held in re- air was pestilential front ordrle, fiom tile carcasses nlote streets, and with such marks of diminished of the dead, and the infectious diseases of tile dying, audacity as augured that the spirit of the party was It was then they heard of repulllican baptisln, atl crestfallen. republican marriages-of men, women, and children Still, however, the jacobin party possessed dread- sprawling together, like toads and frogs in the season fil leaders in Billand Varennes and Collot d'Her- of spring, in the waters of the Loire, too shallow to bois, who repeatedly attempted to awaken its ter- afford them instant death. It was then they heard rific energy. These demagogues had joined, indeed, of a hundred other abominations-how those upin the struggle against Robespierre, but it was with permost upon the expitinitg minass p-rayed to be thrust the expectation that an Amurath was to succeed an into the deeper water, that they Inight have the Amurath-a jacobin a jacobin-not for the purpose means of death-and of much more that hutmanity of relaxing the reins of the revolutionary govern- forbears to detail; but in regard to which, the sharp, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 155 sudden, and sure blow of the Parisian guillotine was Nevertheless, those members of the revolutionary clemency. committees, who had so lately lent their aid to deThis tale of horrors could not be endured; and throne'Robespierre, the last idol of the society, the point of immediate collision between the ther- ventured to invoke them in their own defence, and midoriens, compelled and driven onward by the that of their late agents. Billaud Varennes, adpublic voice and feeling, and the remnant of the old dressing the jacobins, spoke of the Convention as jacobin faction, became the accusation of Carrier, men spared by their clemency during the reign of the commissioned deputy under whom these un- Robespierre, who now rewarded the Mountain deheard-of horrors had been perpetrated. Vengeance puties by termnling them men of blood, and by seeking on the head of this wretch was so loudly demanded, the death of those worthy patriots, Joseph Lebon that it could not be denied even by those influential and Carrier, who were about to tall under their persons, who, themselves deeply interested in pre- counter-revolutionary violence. These excellent venting recrimination, would willingly have drawn citizens, he said, were persecuted, merely because a veil over the past. Through the whole impeach- their zeal for the Republic had been somewhat ment and defence, the thermidoriens stood on the ardent-their forms of proceeding a little rash and most delicate and embarrassing ground; for horrid severe. He invoked the awaking of the lion-a new as his actions were, he had in general their own revolutionary rising of the people, to tear the limbs authority to plead for them. For example, a letter and drink the blood-(these were the very words) was produced with these directions to General -of those who had dared to beard them. The Haxo —"It is my plan to carry off from that ac- meeting dispersed with shouts, and vows to answer cursed country all manner of subsistence or provi- to the halloo of their leaders. sions for man or beast, all forage-in a word, every- But the opposite party had learned that such mething-give all the buildings to the flames, and ex- naces were to be met otherwise than by merely terminate tle whole inhabitants. Oppose their being awaiting the issue, and then trying the force of rerelieved by a single grain of corn folr their subsis- monstrances, or the protection of the law, with those tence. I give thee the most positive, most imperious to whom the stronger force is the only satisfying order. Thou art answerable for the execution from reason. this moment. In a word, leave nothing in that W~ell organized, and directed by military officers proscribed country-let the means of subsistence, il many instances, large bands of anti-jacobins, as provisions, forage, everything - absolutely every- we may venture to call the volunteer force already thing, be removed to Nantes." The representatives mentioned, appeared in the neighbourhood of the of the French nation heard with horror such a fiend- suburbs, and kept in check those from whom tile ish commission; but with what sense of shame and mother club expected its strongest aid; while the abasement must they have listened to Carrier's de- main body of the young avengers marched down fence, in which he proved he was only literally upon the citadel of the enemy, and invested the Jaexecuting the decrees of the very Convention which cobin Club itself in the midst of its sitting. These was now inquiring into his conduct! A lunatic who, demagogues made but a wretched defence when in a lucid moment, hears some one recount the attacked by that species of popular violence, which crimes and cruelties he committed in his frenzy, they had always considered as their own especial might perhaps enter into their feelings. They were weapon; and the facility with which they were disnot the less obliged to continue the inquiry, firaught persed amid ridicule and ignominy, served to show as it was with circumstances so disgracefill to them- how easily, oin former occasions, the mutual Iulderselves; and Carrier's impeachment and conviction standing and spirited exertion of well-disposed men proved the point on which the thermidoriens, and could have at any time prevented criminal violence those who continued to entertain the violent popular from obtaining the mastery. Had La Fayette opinions, were now at issue. marched against and shut iup the Jacobin Club, the The atrocious Carlier was taken under the avowed world would have been spared many horrors, and protection of the Jacobin Club, before which au- in all probability lie would have found the task as dience he made out a case which was heard -with easy as it proved to those bands of incensed young applause. He acknowledged his enormities, and men.-It must be mentioned, though the recital is pleaded his patriotic zeal; ridiculed the delicacy of almost unworthy of history, that the female jathose who cared whether an aristocrat died by a cobins came to rally and assist their male associates, simlgle blow, or a protracted death; was encouraged and that several of themn swere seized upon and puthroughout by acclamnations, and received assu- lishled in a manner, which might excellently suit rances of protection fi-omn the reninant of that once their merits, but which shows that the young assoformidable association. But their magic influence ciates for maintaining order were not sufficiently fwas dissolhed-their best orators had fallen succes- aristocratic to be under the absolute restraints irnsively by each other's impeaclllnefit-and of their posed by tile rules of chivalry. It is imlipossible, 1most active ruffians, some had been killed or exe- however, to grudge the flagellation administered cuted, sonle had fled, or lay concealed, many were upon this memorable occasion. in custody, and the rest had become intimidated. When the jacohins had thus fallen in the popular Scarce a man who had sigrnalised himself in the contest, they could expect little success in the ConFrench Revolution, but had enjoyed the applause vention; and the less, that the impulse of general of these demagogues, as versatile in personal attach- feeling seemed about to recal into that assembly, by ments, as steady in their execrable principles-scarce the reversal of their outlawry, the remnant of the one whom they had not been active in sacrificing. unhappy girondists, and other members, who had 156 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. been arbitrarily proscribed on the 31st of May. The who, looking tp towards heaven, loudly and literally measure was delayed for some time, as tending to defied the Deity to make his existence known by effect a change in the composition of the House, launching his thunderbolts. Miracles are not which the ruling party might find inconvenient. At wrought on the challenge of a blasphemer more length upwards of sixty deputies were first declared than on the demand of a sceptic; but both these free of the outlawry, and finally readmitted into the unhappy men had probably before their death reason bosom of the Convention, with heads which had to confess, that in abandoning the wicked to their been so long worn in insecurity, that it had greatly own free will; a greater penalty results even in this cooled their love of political theory. life, than if Providence had been pleased to inflict In the meantime the government, through means the immediate doom which they had impiously deof a revolutlonary tribunal, acting however with fled. mnch more of legal formality and caution than that The notice of one more desperate attempt at poof Robespierre, made a sacrifice to the public desire pular insurrection finishes, in a great measure, the of vengeance. Lebon, Carrier, already mentioned, history of jacobinism and of the Mountain; of those, Fouquier, the public accuser under Robespierre, and in short, who professed the most outrageous popular one or two others of the same class, selected on ac- doctrines, considered as a political body. They count of the peculiar infamy and cruelty of their continued to receive great facilities from the inconduct, were condemned and executed as an atone- creasing dearth, and to find ready opportunities of ment for injured humanity. agitating the discontented part of a population, disHere probably the thermidoriens would have gusted by the diminution not only of comforts, but wished the reaction to stop; but this was impossible. of the very means of subsistence. The jacobins, Barras and Tallien perceived plainly, that with therefore, were easily able to excite an insurrection whatever caution and clemency they imight proceed of the same description as those which had repeatedtowards their old allies of the Mountain, there was ly influenced the fate of the Revolution, and which, still no hope of anything like reconciliation; and in fact, proceeded to greater extremities than any that their best policy was to get rid of them as which had preceded it in the same desperate gnme. speedily and as quietly as they could. The Moun- The rallying word of the rabble was "Bread, and tain, like a hydra whose heads bourgeoned, accord- the democratic constitution of 1793;" a constitution ing to the poetic expression, as fast as they were which the jacobins had projected, but never atcut off, continued to hiss at and menace the govern- tempted seriously to put into force. No insurrection ment with unwearied malignity, and to agitate the had yet appeared more formidable in numbers, or metropolis by their intrigues, which were the more better provided in pikes, muskets, and cannon. They easily conducted that the winter.was severe, bread invested the Convention,* without experiencing any had become scarce and high-priced, and the corm- effectual oppositionf; burst into the hall, assassinated mon people of course angry and discontented. one deputy, Ferratd, by a pistol-shot, and paraded Scarcity is always the grievance of which the lower his head amongst his trembling brethren, and through classes must be most sensible and when it is re- the neighbouring streets and environs on a pike. membered that Robespierre, though at the expense They presented Boissy d'Anglas, the president, with of the grossest injustice to the rest of the kingdom, tie motions which they demanded should be passed; always kept bread beneath a certain maximum or but were defeated by the firmness with which he fixed price in the -metropolis, it will not be wondered preferred his duty to his life. at that the population of Paris should be willing to The steadiness of the Convention gave at length favour those who followed his maxims. The im- confidence to the friends of good order without. pulse of these. feelings, joined to the machinations of The National Guards began to muster strong, and the jacobins, showed itself in many disorders. the insurgents to lose spirits. They were at length, At length the Convention, pressed by shame on notwithstanding their formidable appearance, disthe one: side and fear on the other, saw the necessity persed with very little effort. The tumult, howof some active measure, and appointed a commission ever, was renewed on the two following days; to consider and report upon the conduct of the four until at length the necessity of taking sufficient most obnoxious jacobin chiefs, Collot d'Herbois, measures to end it at once and for ever, became Billaud Varennes, Vadier, and Barrere. The report evident to all. was of course unfavourable; yet upon the case being Pichegru, the conqueror of Holland, who chancconsidered, the Convention were satisfied to con- ed to be in Paris at the time, was placed at the demn them to transportation to Cayenne. Some head of the National Guards and the volunteers, resistance was offered to this sentence, so mild in whose character we have noticed elsewhere. At proportion to what those who underwent it had been the head of this force, he marched in military order in the habit of inflicting; but it was borne down, towards the Faubourg St-Antoine, which had pour. and the sentence was carried into execution. Collot ed forth repeatedly the bands of armed insurgents d'Herbois, the demolisher and depopulator of Lyons,'that were the principal force of the jacobins. is said to have died in thecoommon hospital, in con- After a show of detendi)ng themselves, the inhasequence of drinking off at once a whole bottle of!bitants of this disorderly suburb were at length ardent spirits. Billaud Varennes spent his time in obliged to surrender up their arms of every kind. teaching the innocent parrots of Guiana the frightful l'hose pikes, which had so often decided the desjargon of the Revolutionary Committee; and finally tinies of France, were now delivered up by cartperished in misery. loads; and the holy right of insurrection was renderThese men both belonged to that class of atheists, 20th May, 1796. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 157 ed in future a more dangerous and difficult task. But it is time to turn fiom the consideration of the Encouraged by the success of this decisive mea- internal government of France, to its external relasure, the government proceeded against some of the tions; in regard to which the destinies of the country terrorists whom they had hitherto spared, but whose rose to such a distinguished height, that it is hardly fate was now determined, in order to stlike dismay possible to reconcile the two pictures of a nation, into their party. Six jacobins, accounted among the triumphant at every point against all Europe coanmost ferocious of the class, were arrested as encou- lesced against her, making efforts and obtaining vicragers of the late insurrection, and delivered up to tories, to which history had been yet a stranger be tried by a military commission. They were all while at the same time her affairs at houme were dideputies of the Mountain gang. Certain of their rected by ferocious blood-thirsty savages, such as doom, they adopted a desperate resolution. Among Robespierre. The Republic, regarded in her foreign the whole party, they possessed but one knife, but and domestic relations, might be fancifully compared they resolved it should serve them all for the pur- to the tomb erected over some hero, presenting, pose of suicide. The instant their sentence was without, trophies of arms and the emublemn s of vicpronounced, one stabbed himself with this weapon; tory, while, within, there lies only a mangled and another snatched the knife from his companion's corrupted corpse. dying hand, plunged it in his own bosom, and handed it to the third, who imitated the dreadfiul exam- CHAPTER XVIII. pie. Such was the consternation of the attendants, pe. Such was the conrstedrnfation of the attendants Retrospective view of the external relations of France.that no one arrested the fatal progress of the wea- e great milir ccesses- ece hey arose.pon-all fell either dead or desperately wounded-. Her great military successes —Whence they arose.n-all fell either dead or esperately wounded- Efect of the compulsory levies. —MIilitary genins anrd tile last were dispatched by the guillotine. character of the French generals.-New mode of training After this decisive victory, and last dreadful ca- the troops.-Light troops.-SNccessive attacks inl colhm:t. tastrophe, jacobinism, considered as a pure and un- -Attachment of the soldiers to the Revolutionl.-Also of mixed party, can scarce be said to have again raised the generals.-Carnot.-Effect of the Frenkch principles its head in France, although its - leaven has gone to preached to the countries invaded by their arms. —Close qualify and characterize, in some degree, more of the Revolution with the fall of Robespierre.-RefJecthan one of the different parties which have stuc- tions apon what as to svcceed. ceeded them. As a political sect, the jacobins can IT may be said of victory, as the English satirist be compared to none that ever existed, for none has said of wealth, that it cannot be of mumch irmbut themselves ever thought of an organized, re- portance in the eye of Heaven, consideling in what gular, and continued system of murdering and plun- unworthy association it is sometimes found. AWhile derirg th;e rich, that they might debauch the poor the rulers of France were disowning the very existby the distribution of their spoils. They bear, how- ence of a Deity, her armies appeared to move almost ever, some resemblance to the frantic followers of as if protected by the especial f:avour of Providence. John of Leyden and Knipperdoling, who occupied Our former recapitulation presented a slight sketch Munster in the seventeenth century, and committed, of the perilous state of France in 1793, surrounded in the name of religion, the same frantic horrors by foes on almost every frontier, and with difficulty which the French jacobins did in that of freedom. maintaining her ground on any point; yet the lapse In both cases, the courses adopted by these parties of two years found her victorious, nay, triumphantly were most foreign to, and inconsistent with, the victorious on all. alleged motives of their conduct. The anabaptists On the north-eastern frontier, the English, after practised every species of vice and cruelty, by the a series of hard fighting, had lost not only Flanders, dictates, they said, of inspiration-the jacobins im- on which we left them advancing, but Holland itself, prisoned three hundred thousand of their country- and had been finally driven with great loss to abanmen in name of liberty, and put to death more than don the Continent. The King of Prussia had set out half the number, under the sanction of fraternity. on his first campaign as the chief hero of the coaliNow at length, however, society began to resume tion, and had undertaken that the Dulke of Brunsits ordinary course, and the business and pleasures wick, his general, should put down the Revolution of life, succeeded each other as usual. But even in France as easily as he had done that of Hol'and. social pleasures brought with them strange and But finding the enterprise which he had undertaken gloomy associations of that Valley of the Shadow was above his strength; that his accumulated treaof Death, through which the late pilgrimage of sures were exhausted in an unsuccessful war; and France appeared to have lain. An assembly for that Austria, not Prussia, was regarded as the head dancing, very much frequented by the young of both of the coalition, he drew off his forces, after they sexes, and highly fashionable, was called the "Ball had been weakened by more than one defeat, and of the Victims." The qualification for attendance made a separate peace with France, in which he rewas the having lost some near and valued relation nounced to the new Republic the sovereignty of all or friend in the late reign of Terror. The hair and those portions of the Prussian territorywhich lay on head-dress were so arranged as to resemble the the east side of the Rhine. The king, to mlake iup preparations made for the guillotine, and the motto for these losses, sought a more profitable, though adopted was, "We dance amidst tombs." In no less honourable field of warfare, and concurred with country but France could the incidents have taken Russia and Austria in effecting by conquest a final place which gave rise to this association; and cer- partition and appropriation oLPoland, on the same tainly in no country but France would they have unprincipled plan on which the first had been conbeen used for such a purpose. ducted. I~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~glL~~laa-~-~~~ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, Spain, victorious at the beginning of the contest, cuse was sustained for want of personal compliance hlad been of late so unsuccessful in opposing the with the requisition for personal service-no delay French armies, that it was the opinion of many that permitted-no substitution allowed-actual and liher character for valour and patriotism was lost for teral compliance was demanded fromn every one, ever. Catalonia was overrun by the republicans, and of what rank soever. Conscripts who failed Rosas taken, and no army intervening betwixt the to appear, resisted, or fled, were subjected to the victors Xnd Madrid, the King of Spain was obliged penalties which attached to emigration. to clasp hands with the murderers of his kinsman, By successive decrees of this peremptory nature, Louis XVI., acknowledge the French Republic, and enforced with the full energy of revolutionary viowithdraw from the coalition. lence, the government succeeded in brilging into Austria had well sustained her ancient renown, the field, and maintaining, forces to an amount more both by the valour of her troops, the resolution of than double those of their powerful enemies; and her cabinet, and the talents of one or two of her ge- the same means of supply-arbitrary requisition, nerals,-ithe Archduke Charles in particular, and the namely-which brought them out, supported and veteran WVurmser. Yet she too had succumbed maintained them during the campaign; so that, under the republican superiority. Belgium, as the while there remained food and clothing of any kind French called Flanders, was, as already stated, to- in the country, the soldier was sure to be fed, paid, tally lost; and war along the Rhine was continued and equipped. by Austria, more for defence than with a hope of There are countries, however, in which the great conquest. numerical superiority thus attained is of little conSo much and so generally had the fortune of war sequence, when a confused levy en msse of raw, declared in fayvour of France upon all points, even inexperienced, and disorderly boys, are opposed while she was herself sustaining the worst of evils against the ranks of a much smaller, but a regular from the worst of tyrannies. There must have been and well-disciplined army, such as in every respect unquestionably several reasons for such success as is that of Austria. On such occasions the taunting seemed to attend universally on the arms of the Re- speech of Alaric recurs to recollection,-" The public, instead of being limited to one peculiarly ef- thicker the hay the more easily it is mowed." But ficient army, or to one distinguished general. this was not found to be the case with the youth of The first and most powerful cause must be Icoked France, who adopted the habits most necessary for'for in the extraordinary energy of the republican go- a soldier with singular facility and readiness. Mivernment, which, from its very commencement, litary service has been popular amongst them in all threw all suibordinate considerations aside, and de- ages; and the stories of the grandsire in a French voted the whole resources of the country to its mili- cottage have always tended to excite in his detary defence. It was then that France filly learned scendants ideas familiar with a military condition. the import of the word "Requisition," as meaning They do not come to it as a violent change of life, that which government needs, and which must at all which they had never previously contemplated, and hazards be supplied. Compulsory levies were uni- where all is new and terrible; but as to a duty versally resorted to; and the undoubted right which which every Frenchman is liable to discharge, and -a state has to call upon each of its subjects to arise which is as natural to him as to his father or grandin defence of thle community, was extended into the father before him. power of sending them upon expeditions of foreign Besides this propensity, and undoubtedly conconquest. nected with it, a young Frenchman is possessed of In the month of March, 1793, a levy of two the natural character nmost desirable in the soldier. hundred thousand men was appointed, and took He is accustomed to fare hard, to take much exerplace; but by a subsequent decree of the 21st Au- cise, to make many shifts, and to support with pagust in the same year, a more gigantic mode of re- tience occasional deprivations. His happy gaiety crulitingo was resorted to. renders him indifferent to danger, his good humour no fault with a slighter penalty than death. No ex- numbers and circumstances. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. i$9 The spirits of the Frenchman, such as we have Imanded, were disciplined in a manner suitable t, described, did not suffer much from the violent the materials of which they were composed. There summons which tore him from his home.'We have, was neither leisure nor opportunity to subject the' unhappily, in our own navy, an example, how little new levies to all that minjuteness of training whichb men's courage is broken by their being forced into was required by the somewhat pedantic formality a dangerous service. But, comfortless as the state. of the old school of war. Dunmourier, setting the of France then was, and painful as the sights must example, began to show that the principle of revohave been by which the eyes were daily oppressed lution might be introduced with advantage into the -closed up too as were the avenues to every civil art of war itself; and that the difference betwixt wvalk of life, and cheap as they were held in a these new conscripts and the veteran troops to nation which had become all one vast camp, a youth whom they were opposed, might be much diminished of spirit was glad to escape from witnessing the de- by resorting to the original and more simple rules of solation at home, and to take with gaiety the chance strategie, and neglecting many formalities which of death or promotion, in the only line which might had been once considered as essential to playing now be accounted comparatively safe, and indubi- the great game of war with success. It is the contably honourable. The armies with whom these stant error of ordinary minds to consider matters of new levies were incorporated were by degrees ad- mere routine as equally important with those which mirably supplied with officers. The breaking down are essential, and to entertain as lmuchhorror at a the old distinctions of ranks had opened a free disordered uniform as at a confused manceuvre. It career to those desirous of promotion; and in times was to the honour of the French generals, as men of hard fighting, men of merit are distinguished and of genius, that in the hour of danger they were able get preferinent. The voice of the soldier had often to surmount all the prejudices of a profession which its influence upon the officer's preferment; and that has its pedantry as well as others, and to suit the is a vote seldom bestowed, but from ocular proof discipline which they retained to the character of that it is deserved. The revolutionary rulers, though their recruits and the urgency of the time. bloody in their resentment, were liberal, almost ex- The foppery of the manual exercise was laid aside, travagant, in their rewards, and spared neither gold and it was restricted to the few motions necessary nor steel, honoura nor denunciations, to incite their for effectual use of the musket and bayonet. Easier generals to victory, or warn themn against the con- and more simple manoetvres were substituted for sequences of defeat such as were involved and difficult to execute; and Under that stern rule which knew no excuse for providing the line or column could be formed with ill success, and stimulated by opportunities which activity, and that order was preserved on the march, seemed to offer every prize to honourable ambition, the mere etiquette of military movements was much arose a race of generals whom the world scarce ever relaxed. The quantity of light troops was increased saw equaled, and of whom there certainly never at greatly beyond the number which had of late been any other period flourished so many, in the same used by European nations. The Austrians, who service. Siuch was Bonaparte himself-such were used to draw from the Tyrol, and from their wild Pichegru and Moreau, doomled to suffer a gloomy Croatian frontier, the best light troops in the world, fate under his ascendancy. Such were those mar- had at this time formed many of them into regiments shals and generals who were to share his better. of the line, and thus limited and diminished their foritunes, and cluster around his future throne as the own superiority in a species of force which was bepaladins around that of'Charlemagne, or as the Bri- coming of greater importance daily. The French, tish.and Armorican clrampions begirt the Round on the contrary, disciplined immense bodies of their Table of Uther's fable-d son. In those early iwars, conscripts as irregulars and sharp-shooters. Their and summoned out bytl:e stei'n conscription, were numbers and galling fire frequently prevented their trained Murat, whose e'ininence and fall seemed a more systematic and formal adversaries firom being corollary to that of his brother-in-law —Ney, the able to push forward reconnoitring parties, by bravest of the brave-the calm, sagacious Mac- which to obtain any exact information as to the donald-Joubert, who liad almost anticipated the numbers and disposition of the French; while the part reserved for Bonaparte —Massena, the spoiled republican troops of the line, protected by this Child of Fortune-Auger:eau, Berthlier, Lannes, and swarm of wasps, chose their time, place, and manmany others, whose ijimnaes began already to stir the ner, of advancing to the attack or retreating, as the French soldier as with the sound of a trumpet, case demanded. It is true that this service cost an These adventurers in the race of fame belonged immense number of lives; but the French generals some of them, as i'lacdonald, to the old military were sensible that human life was the commodity school; some, like Moreau, came from the civil class which the Republic set the least value upon; and of society; many arosde-from origins that were posi- that when Death was served with so wide a feast tively mean, and iweJretherefore still more decidedly from one end of France to the other, he was not to children of the Reivolution. But that great earth- be stinted in his own proper banqueting-hall, the quake, by throwvjiiigdloWn distinctions of birth and field of battle. rank, had remo'ede bstacles which would otherwise The same circumstances dictated another val!dty have impeded the; progress of almost all these dis- or innovation in French tactics, which greatly intinguished men; and -they were therefore, for the creased the extent of slaughter. The armies with greater part,attached to that new order of affairs whom they engaged, disconcerted by the great suwhich afforded full scope to their talents. periority of numbers which were opposed to them, The French armies, thus recruited and thus com- and baffled in obtailning intelligence by tile teasing 160 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. activity of the French light troops, most frequently indeed;* but a military man, like a monk, leaves assumed the defensive, and taking a strong position, the concerns of the civil world behind him, and improved perhaps by field-works, waited until the while he plays the bloody game for his own life or fiery youth of France should come to throw them- death with the enemy who faces him, has little time selves by thousands upon their batteries. It was to think of what is happening in the native country then that the French generals began first to employ which he has abandoned. For any other acquaintthose successive attacks in column, in which one ance with the politics of the Republic, they were brigade of troops is brought up after another, with- indebted to flowery speeches in the Convention, reout interruption, and without regard to the loss of sounding with the praises of the troops, and to lives, until the arms of the defenders are weary with harangues of' the representatives accompanying the slaying, and their line being in some point or other armies, who never failed by flattery and largesses carried, through the impossibility of' everywhere to retain possession of the affection of' the soldiers, resisting an assault so continued and desperate, the whose attachment was so essential to their safety. battle is lost, and the army is compelled to give So well did they accomplish this, that while the way; while the conquerors can, by the multitudes Republic flourished, the armies were so much atthey have brought into action, afford to pay the tached to that order of things, as to desert sluccesdreadful price which they have given for the victory.'sively some of their most favourite leaders,,when In this manner the French generals employed they became objects of suspicion to tihe fierce dewhole colunmns of the young conscripts, termed, mocracy. from that circumstance, "food for the cannon" The generals, indeed, had frequent and practi(al (chair ti canon), before disease had deprived them experience, that the Republic could be as severe of bodily activity, or experience had taugrllt them with her r.ilitary as with her civil subjects, alrd the dangers of the profession on which they entered even more so, jiudging by the ruthlessness with with the thoughtless vivacity of schoolboys. It also'which they were arrested and executed, with scarce e fiequently happened, even when the French pos- the shadow of a pretext. Yet this did not diminilsh sessed no numerical superiority upon the whole, the zeal of the survivors. If the revolutionary go- I that by the celerity of their movements, and the vernmrent beheaded, they also paid, promised, and skill with which they at once combined and exe- promoted; and amid the various itsks oi a soldier's cuted them, they were able suddenly to concentrate life, the hazard of the guillotine was oduly a slight such a superiority upon the point which they meant addition to those of the sword kand the musket,-! to attack, as insured them the same advantage. which, in the sanguine eye of courage and ambition, In enurnerating the causes of the general success joined to each individual's confidence in his owvn of the republican arms, we must not forget the good luck, did not seem to render his chance much moral motive-the interest which the troops took in worse. When such punishment arrived, the generals the cause, of the war. The army, in fact, derived submitted to it as one of the casualties of war; nor an instant and most flattering advantage from the was the Republic worse or more reluctantly served Revolution, which could scarce be said of any other by those who were left. class of men in France, excepting the peasant. Such being the admirable quality and talents, the Their pay was improved, their importance increased. mode of thinking and acting, which the republican, There was not a private soldier against whom the or rather revolutionary, armies possessed, it required highest ranks of the profession were shut, and many only the ruling genius of the celebrated Carnot, who, attained to them. Mass6na was originally a drum- bred in the department of engineers, was probably mer, Ney a common hussar, and there were many one of the very best tacticians in the world, to others who arose to the command of armies from bring them into effectual use. He was a member the lowest condition. Now this was a government of the frightful Committee of Public Safety; but it for a soldier to live and flourish under, and seemed has been said in his defence, that he did not meddle still more advantageous when contrasted with the with its atrocities; limiting himself entirely to the old monarchical system, in which the prejudices of war department, for which he showed so much birth interfered at every turn with the pretensions talent, that his colleagues left it to his exclusive of merit, where a roturier could not rise above a management. In his own individual person he consubaltern rank, and where all offices of distinction were, as matters of inheritance, reserved for the ~ Such was the fate of Moreau, who, on the eve of one grande noblesse alone. of his most distinguished victories, had to receive the news But besides the rewards which it held out to its that his father had been beheaded. soldiers, the service of the Republic had this irre- t The risk was considered as a matter of course. Masistible charm for the soldiery-it was victorious. damne la Roche-Jacquelin informs us that GeneralQudtiThe conquests which they obtained, and the plunder leau, a republican officer who had behaved with great which attended those conquests, attached the victors humanity in La Vendee, having fallen into the hands of to their stanldards, and drew around -them fresh the insurgents, was pressed by Lescure, who commanded hosts of their countrymen. Vive i RMpu6liq2e! them, not to return to Paris. "I know the difference of ear to their army as in former our political opinions," said the royalist; " but why should.became a w~ar-cry, as (liear to their army as in former you deliver up -your life to those menl with whom want of timses thme shout of' Montijoie St-Denis, and the tri success will be a sufficient reason for abridging it?" —" You coloured flag supplied the place of the orillamme. say truly," replied Quetineau; but as a man of honour, By the confusion, the oppression, the bloodshed of I must present myself in defence of my conduct wherever the Revolultion, the soldiers were but little affected. it may be impeached." lie went, and perished by the They hseard of friends inmprisoned or guillotined, guillotie accordiugly. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 161 stituted the whole bureau izilitaire, or war-office, sense of internal discontent and discord. The of the Committee of Public Safety, corresponded French were often received at once as conquerors with and directed the movements of tile armies, as and deliverers by tile countries they invaded; and if inspired by the Goddess of Victory herself. He in almost all cases, the governments on which they first daringly clailed for France her natural bound- made Nwar were obliged to trust exclusively to such aries (that is, the botndaries most convenient for regular forces as they could bring ilnto the field, her). The Rhine, the Alps, and the Pyrenees, he being deprived of the inappreciable advantage of assigned as the limits of her dominions; and as- general zeal among their subtjects in their behalf. It serted that all within these, belonging to other was not long ere the inhabitants of those deceived powers, must hase been usurpations on France, and countries found that the fiu-its of the misnanied tree were unhesitatingly to be resumaed as such. And of' liberty resembled those said to grow by tlhe he conquered by his genius the countries which his Dead Sea-fair and goodly to the eye, but to the ambition claimed. Belgium became an integral taste all filth and bitterness. part of the French Reptublic —Holland vas erected We are now to close our review of the French into a little depeuldent democracy, as an outwork Revolution, the fall of Robespierre being the era at for defending tile great nation-the Austrians were wliich its terrors began to ebb and recede, nor did foiled on the Rhine-tlle King of Sardinia driven they ever again arise to the same height. If we look froln Savoy-and schemies realized which Louis back at the whole progress of the change, fiom the XIV. never dared to dream of. In return for the convocation of tle States-general to the 9th Thercomplaisance exhibited by the committee towards midor, as the era oftthat man's overthrow was called, himself, he did not express any scruples, if he en- the eve in vain seeks for any point at which even a1 tertained such, concerning the mode in which they probability existed of establishing a solid or perrnagoverned the interior of their unhappy country. nent' government. The three successive constituYet, notwitlhstanding his skill and his caution, the tions of 1791, 1792, and 1795, the successive work blighting eye of Robespierre was fixed on him, as of constitutionalists, girondists, and jacobins, posthat of the snake whlich -watches its victims. He sessed no more power to limit or arrest the force of could not dispense withl the talents of Carnot in the the revolutionary impulse, than a bramble or briar career of ictory; blt it is well known, that if his to stop the progress of a rock rushing down fi-om a plans on any occasion had mliscarried, the security of precipice. Thongh ratified and sworn to, with every his head Nwouldl lave becomte very precarious. circumstance which could add solemnity to the obliIt riuist also he allowed, that although the French gation, each remained, in succession, a dead letter. armies were attaclhed to the Republic, and moved France, in 1795 and 1796, was therefore anation withusually under direction of' a tmeber of tile Comirmit- out either a reogular constitution or a regular adrninistee of Public Secuirity, they did not adopt, in tlheir tration; governed by the remnant of an assembly calbrutal extent, the orders for exterminnating warfare led a Convention, who continued sitting, imerely bewhich were transmitted to them by their masters. At cause the crisis found themn in possession of their one timle a decree was passed, retising quarter to seats, aiid who administered the government through such of' the allied troolps as Ilight be made pri- the meditum of provisional committees, with Iwhose soners; but tile French soldiers could not be pre- dictates they complied inmplicitly, and who really vailed on to take a step nwhici must have aggravated directed all things, though in the Convention's name. so dreadfhlly the necessary horrors of' war. Whlen In the meantime, and since those strange scenes we consider how the ciSil governmenlt of France had commenced, France had lost her king and were employed, when thle soldiers refilsed their nobles, her chuirch and clergy, her judges, courts, sanction to this decree, it seenis as if I-Irnanity had and nagistrates, her colonies and commnerce. The fled from cities and tIle peacefiul dtwellings of titen, greater part of her statesmen and men of note had to seek a homle in camps and corntbats. perished by proscription, anid her orators' eloquence One irml)ortant part of the sihbject can be here had been cut short by the guillotine. She had no treated butt slightly. We allude to the Oreat ad van- finances-the bonds of civil society seem to htve tages derived by tile French arnis fiom the recep- retained theirinfluence from habit only. The nation tion of their political doctrines at this period among possessed only one powerfiul engine, which France the people whoin they invaded. They proclaimed called her owvn, and one impulsive power to guide aloud that they nmadtle war on castles and palaces, it-these were her army and her ambition. She but were at peace wilh cottages;;nid as on some resembled a person in the deliriium of a fever, vwho occasions besieging' geierals are said to have bribed has stripped l hinself in his frenzy of' all decent and thIe governor of a place to surrender it, by prontis- necessary clothing, and retains in his hand only a ing they wonld leave in his unchallenged possession bloody sword; while those who have endeavoured the mnilitary chest of tle garrison, so the Frenlch in to check his triy, lie subdued around him. Never all cases held otit to the populace the plunder of their had so niany great events successively taken place own nobles, as an indulcenent for them to favour, at in a nation, without affording something like a fixed least not to oppose, the invasion of their country. or determined result, either already attainled, or Thus their arislies were always hpreceded by their soon to be expected. principles. A party favourable to France, and his- Again and again did reflecting men say to each teilng with deliglit to the doctrines of liberty and other,-This unheard-of state of thingsg; in which all equality, was formled in the bosom of each neigh- seems to be temporary and revolutionary, will not, bouring state, so that the poser of the invaded na- cannot last;-aand especially after the fall of Robs stion was crushed, amid its spirit qalenchled, under a pierre, it seemed that some change was approach%OL. *'1. 21 [62 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. ilig. Those who had achieved that work did not NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE, or BoNAPARTE,* had his hold on any terms of security the temporary power origin. His family was noble, though not of much which it had procured them. They rather retained distinction, and rather reduced in fortune. Flattery their influence by means of the jealousy of two ex- afterwards endeavoured to trace the name, which treme parties, than from any confidence reposed in he had made fatmous, into remote ages, and tethemselves. Those who had suffered so deeply tin- searches were made through ancient records, to der the rule of the revolutionary government must discover that there was one Bonaparte who had have looked with suspicion on the thermidoriens, written a book, another who had signed a treaty-a as regular jacobins, who had shared all the excesses female of the name who had given birth to a pope, of the period of Terror, and now employed their with other minute claims of distinction, which Napower in protecting the perpetrators. On the other poleon justly considered as trivial, and unworthy of hand, those of the revolutionists who yet continued notice. le answered the Emperor of Austria, who in the bond of jacobin fraternity, could not forgive had a fancy of tracing his son-in-law's descent from Tallien and Barras the silencing the jacobin clubs, one of the petty sovereigns of' Treviso, that he was the exiling Collot d'Herbois and Billaud Varennes, the Rodolph of Hapsburg of his fhmily; and to a geputting to death many other patriots, and totally nealogist, who made a merit of deducing his descent crushing the system of revolutionary government. from some ancient line of' Gothic princes, he caused In fact, if the thoroughbred revolutionists still en- reply to be made, that he dated his patent of nobility dured the domination of Tallien and Barras, it was fiom the battle of Monte Notte, that is, froln his first only because it shielded thenm from the reaction, or victory. retributive measures threatened by the moderate All that is known with certainty of Napoleon's party. Matters, it was thought, could not remain family may be told in a few words. The Bona. in this uncertain state, nor was the present teln- partes were a family of some distinction in lithe porary pageant of government likely to linger long middle ages; their names are inscribed in the Golden on the scene. But by whom was that scene next to Book at Treviso, and their armorial bearings are to be opened? Would a late returning to ancient opi- be seen on several houses in Florence. Buit attachnions induce a people, who had suffered so much ed, during the civil war, to the party of the Ghibelthrough innovation, to recal, either absolutely or lines,they of course were persecuted by the Guelphs; upon conditions, the banished race of her ancient and being exiled from Tuscany, one of the tmlnily princes? Or would a new band of revolutionists be took refilge in Corsica, and there established hirlpermitted by Heaven, in its continued vengeance, to self and his successors, who wvere regularly enrolled rush upon the stage? Would the supreme power among the noble natives of the island, and enjoyed become the prize of some soldier as daring as Caesar, all the privileges of gentle blood. or somne intriguing statesman as artful as Octavius? The father of'Napoleon, Charles Bonaparte, was W~ould France succumb beneath a Cromwell or a the principal descendant of this exiled f:mily. He Moak, or again be ruled by a cabal of hackneyed was regularly educated at Pisa, to the study of the st atesmen, or an Institute of Theoretical Philosophy, law, and is stated to hlave possessed a very handor an anarchical Club of Jacobins? These were. some person, a talent fobr eloquence, and a vivacity reflections which occupied almost all bosoms. But of intellect, which Ihe transmitted to his son. He the hand of Fate was on tlhe curtain, and about to was a patriot also, and a soldier, and assisted at the bring the scene to light. gallant stand made by Paoli against tile French It is said lie would have emigrated along with Paoli, CHAPTER XIX. rwh6 was his ifiend, andt, it is believed, his kinsman, but was withheld by the intfluence of his father's Corsica.-Fancily of Bonaparte.-Napoleon borat 15th brother, Lucien Bor;naparte, who was Archdeacon Aira!cst, 17G9-His early habits-Sent to the Royal Aili- of the Cathedral of Ajaccio, and the wealthiest pertary school at Briettne-His greatprogress in nathe- son of the family. atical sciencee-Deficiercy in classical literature-A urec- It was in the middle of civil discord, fights, and dotes of him swhile at school-Removed to the general skiurislles trat Charles Bonaparte married Letitia school of Paris- When seventeen years old, appoiartd Raurolini, one of tie most beautiful young tomen 2d lieutenarclt of artillery-His early politics-Promoted to a captaincy.-Pascal Paoli.-Napoleon sides with thle French govertnmenrt against Paoli-Alontg witih his There was an absurd debate about the spelling of the brother Lucienr, he is banrished from Corsica-Never name, which became, as trifles often do, a sort of party revisits it —Alivays unpopular there. question. Bonaparte had distused the superfluous u, which his father retained in the namle, and adopted a more moTHsE Island of Corsica was, in ancient times, re- dern spelling. This was representedl on one side as an atmarkable as the scene of Seneca's exile, and in the tempt to bring his name more nearly to the French idiom; last century was distinguished by the memorable arnd, as if it had been a matter of the last moment, tihe stand which the natives'made in defence of their vowel was obstinately replaced in the name, by a class oi liberties against the Genoese and French, during a writers who deemed it politic not to permit the successfuil general to relinquish the slightest mark of his Italian exspiwarito the islanders united as it is with the fioie traction, which was in every respect impossible for hinm spirit of the islanders, united as. it is with the fiery either to conceal or to deny, even if he had nourished such and vindictive feelings proper to their country and an idea. In his baptismal register, his name is spelled climate. Napoleone Bonaparte, though the father subscribes, Carlo In this island, which was destined to derive its Buonaparte. The spelling seems to have been quite ia. future importance chiefly from the. circumstance, different. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 163 of the island, and possessed of a great deal of firm- saint, who had dropped to leeward, and fallen altoness of character. She partook the dangers of her gether out of the calendar, so that his namesake husband during the years of civil war, and is said never knew which day he was to celebrate as tile to have accompanied him on horseback in some mili- festival of his patron. When questioned on this tary expeditions, or perhaps hasty flights, shortly subject by the bishop who confirmed him, he anbefore her being delivered of the future emperor. swered smartly, that there were a great many saints, Though left a widow in the prime of life, she had and only three hundred and sixty five days to divide already borne her husband thirteen children, of amongst them. The politeness of the pope prowhom five sons and three daughters survived hint. moted the patron in order to compliment the god1. Joseph, the eldest, who, though placed by his child, and Saint Napoleon des Ursins was accombrother in an obnoxious situation, as intrusive King niodated with a festival. To render this compliment, of Spain, held the reputation of a good and moderate which no one but a pope could have paid, still more man. 2. Napoleon hilnself: 3. Lucien, scarce in- flattering, the feast of Saint Napoleon was fixed for ferior to his brother in ambition and talent. 4. Louis, the fifteenth August, the birth-day of the emperor, the merit of whose character consists in its unpre- and the day on which he signed the Concordat. So tending worth, and who renounced a crown rather that Napoleon had the rare honour of promoting his thian consent to the oppression of his subjects. patron saint. 5..Jer6rne, whose disposition is said to have been The young Napoleon had, of course, the simple chtiefly malked by a tendency to dissipation. The and hardy education proper to the natives of the feniales were, 1. Maria Anne, afterwards Grand mountainous island of his birth, and in his infancy Ducthess of Tuscany, by the name of Elisa. 2. Ma- was not remarkable for more than that animation of lia Annonciada, who became Maria Pauline, Prin- temper, and wilfulness and impatience of inactivity, cess of Borghese. 3. Carlotta, or Caroline, wife of by which children of quick parts and lively sen iMurat, and Queen of Naples. bility are usually distinguished. The winter of the The family of Bonaparte being reconciled to the year was generally passed by the family of his father French government after the emigration of Paoli, at Ajaccio, where they still preserve and exhibit, enjoyed thle protection of the Count de Marhboeuf, as the ominous plaything of Napoleon's boyhood, thle French Governor of Corsica, by whose interest the model of a brass cannon, weighing about thirty Charles was included in a deputation of the nobles pounds.*'We leave it to philosophers to inquire, of the island, sent to Louis XVI. in 1776. As a whether the future love of war was suggested by the consequence of this mission, he was appointed to a accidental possession of such a toy; or whether the judicial situation, that of assessor of the tribunal of tendency of the mind dictated the selection of it; or, Ajaccio, the income of which aided him to maintain lastly, whether the nature of the pastinle, correspondhis increasing family, which the smallness of his ing with the taste which chose it, may not have had patrimony, and. some habits of expense, would each their action and reaction, and contributed beotherwise have rendered difficult. Charles Bona- tween them to the formation of a character so warparte, the father of Napoleon, died at the age of like. about forty years, of an ulcer in the stomach, on The same traveler, who furnishes the above the 24th February, 1785. His celebrated son fell a anecdote, gives an interesting account of the counvictim to the same disease. During Napoleon's try retreat of the family of Bonaparte, during the grandeur, the coutmmunity of'Montpellier expressed summer. a desire to erect a monument to the memory of Going along the sea-shore from Ajaccio towards Charles Bonaparte. His answer was both sensible the Isle Sanguiniere, about a mile firom the town, and in good taste. "Had I lost imy father yester- occur two stone pillars, the remains of a door-way, day," lhe said, " it would be natural to pay his me- leading up to a dilapidated villa, once the residence mory somse mark of respect consistent with my of Madame Bonaparte's half brother on the mother's present situation. But it is twenty years since the side, whom Napoleon created Caldinal Fesch.t The event, and it is one in which the public can take no house is approached by an avenue,. surrounded and concern. Let us leave the dead in peace." overhung by the cactus and other shrubs, which The subject of our narrative was born, according luxuriate in awarm climate. It has a garden and a to the best accounts, and his own belief, upon lawn, showing amidst neglect vestiges of their the 15th day of August, 1769, at his father's house former beauty, and the house is surrounded by: in Ajaccio, forming one side of a court which leads shrubberies, permitted to run to wilderness. This out of the Itue Charles.* We read with interest, was the summer residence of Madame Bonaparte that his mother's good constitution, and bold cha- and her family. Almost enclosed by the wild olive, racter of mind, having induced her to attend mass the cactus, tie clematis, and the almond-tree, is a upon the day of his birth (being the festival of the very singular and isolated granite rock, called NaAssunlption), she was obliged to return home itrme- poleon's Grotto, which seems to have resisted the diately, and, as there was no time to prepare a bed decomposition which has taken place around. The or bed-room, she was delivered of the future victor remains of a small summer-house are visible beneath upon a temporary couch prepared for her accomnmo- the rock, the entrance to which is nearly cloned by dation, and covered with an ancient piece of tapestry, representing the heroes of the Iliad. The infant was. Sketches of Corsica, p. 4. christened by the name of Napoleon, an obscure t The mother ofLetitia Ramolini, wife of Carlo Bonaparte, married a Swiss officer in the French service named' Benion's Sketches of Corsica, p. 4. Fesch, after the death of Letitia's father. 164 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. a luxuriant fig-tree. This was Bonaparte's fie- There was a fair held annuallyin tbeneighbourhood quent retreat, when the vacations of the school at of Brienne, where the pupils of the Military School which he studied permitted him to visit home.- used to find a day's amusement; but on account of How the imagination labours to form an idea of the a quarrel betwixt them and the country people visions which, in this sequestered and romantic upon a former occasion, or for some such cause, tilhe spot, must have arisen before the eyes of the future masters of the institution had directed that the stuhero of a hundred battles! dents should not on the fair-day be permitted to go The Count de Marboeuf, already mentioned as beyond their own precincts, whlich were surrounded Governor of Corsica, interested himself in the young with a wall. Under the direction of the young CorNapoleon, so much as to obtain him an appointment sican, however, the scholars had already laid a to the Royal Military School at Brienne, which was plot for securing their usual day's div ersion. They maintained at the royal expense, in order to bring had undermined the wvall which encompassed utp youths for the engineer and artillery service. their exercising ground, with so muchl skill and The malignity of contemporary historians has as- secrecy, that their operations remained entirely uncribed a motive of gallantry towards Madame Bo- known till the morning of the fait, when. a part of the naparte as the fobundation of this kindness; but the boundary unexpectedly fell, and gave a free passage Count de Marbceulf had arrived at a period of life to the imprisoned students, of which they inomewhen such connexions are not to be presumed, nor diately took the advantage, by hurrying to the did the scandal receive any currency from the na- prohibited scene of arnusellent. tives of Ajaccio. But although on these, and perhaps other occaNothing could be more suitable to the nature of sions, Bonaparte displayed some of'the fiolic temper young Bonaparte's genius, than the line of study of youth, mixed with the inventive genius and the which thus fortunately was opened before him. His talent for commanding others by which he was disardour for the abstract sciences amounted to a pas- tinguished in after time, his life at school was in sion, and was combined with a singular aptitude general that of a recluse and severe student, acfor applying them to the purposes of war, while his quiring by his judgment, atid treasuring in his meattention to pursuits so interesting and exhaustless mory, that wonderful process of almost unlimited in themselves, was stimulated by his natural ambi- combination, by means of which lie was afterwards tion and desire of distinction. Almost all the scien- able to simplify the most difficult and complicated tific teachers at Brienne, being accustomed to study undertakings. His mathematical teacher was proud the character of their pipils, and obliged by their of the young islander, as the boast of his school, duty to make memoranda and occasional reports on and his other scientific instructors had the same the subject, spoke of the talents of Bonaparte, and reason to be satisfied. the progress of his studies, with admliration. Cir- In languages Bonaparte was less a proficient, and cumstances of various kinds, exaggerated or invent- never acquired the art of writing or spelling French, ed, have been circulated concerning the youth of a far less foreign languages, with accuracy or correctperson so remarkable. The following are given ness; nor had the monks of' Brienne any reason to -upon good authority.2 pride themselves on the classical proficiency of their The conduct of Napoleon among his companions scholar. The full energies of his mind being dewas that of a studious and reserved youth, addicting voted to the scientific pursliits of his prof'ession, himself deeply-to the means of improvement, and left little time or incunation for other studies. rather avoiding than seeking the usual temptations Though of Italian origins, Bonaparte had not a to dissipation of time. tHe had few friends, and no decided taste for the fine arts, and his taste in comintimates; yet at different times, when he chose to position seems to have leaned towards the grotesque exert it, he exhibited considerable influence over his and the bombastic. He used always the mlost fellow-students, and when there was any joint plan exaggerated phrases; and it is seldom, if ever, that to be carried into effect, he was frequently chosen his bulletins present those touches of sublimity dictator of the little republic, which are founded on dignity and simplicity of exIn the time of winter, Bonaparte upon one occa- pression. sion engaged his companions in constructing a Notwithstanding the external calmness and refortress out of the snow, regularly defended by serve of his depoltment, he who was destined for ditches and bastions, according to the rules of forti- such great things had, while yet a student at Brienne, fication. It was considered as displaying the great a full share of that ambition for distinction and powers of the juvenile engineer in the way of his dread of disgrace, that restless and irritating love phrofession, and was attacked and defended by the of fame, Iwhich is the spur to extraordinary attempts. students, who divided into parties for the purpose, Sparkles of this keen temper sometimes showed until the battle became so keen that their superiors themselves. On one occasion, a harsh superinthought it proper to proclaim a truce. tendant imposed on the future emperor, fobr some The young Bonaparte gave another instance of trifling fault, the disgrace of wearing a penitential address and enterprise upon the following occasion. dress, and being excluded firom the table of the * They were many years since communicated to the au- students, and obliged to eat his meal apart. His thor by Messrs Joseph and Louis Law, brothers of General pride felt the indignity so severely, that it brought Baron Laursiton, Bonaparte's favourite aide-de-camp. on a severe nervous attack; to which, though otherThese gentlemen, or at least Joseph, were educated at wise of good constitution, he was subject upon oc| Brienne, but at a later period than Napoleon. Their dis- casions of extraordinary irritation. Father Petrault, tinguished brother was his contemporary. the professor of mathematics, hastened to deliver LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 165 his fiavourite pupil from tile panishment by which diately afterwards promoted to the rank of first he was so muclh affected. lieutenant in the corps quarteredl at Valence. Ile It is also said that anll early disposition to the nmingled witil society when lie joined his regiment, pIOp'lar side distinguiishied Bonap-irte even vlwhen at more than he had hither to been accustomed to (o; Brienne. Pichegru, afterwards so celebrated, who mixed in pnblic amusements, and exhibited the acted as his monitor in the Military School (a sin- powers of' pleasing, which lie possessed in an nunglar circnimstance), bore witness to his early prin- common degree, when lie chose to exert them. His ciples, and to the peculiar energy and tenacity of handsome and intelligent features, with his active his tenper. lie was long afterwards consulted and neat, though slight figure, gave him additional whether means might not be found to engage the advantages. His manners could scarcely be called comimander of the Italian armies in the royal inter- elegant, but made tip in vivacity and variety of exs-st. " It will be bat lost timie to attempt it," siid pression, and often in great spirit and energy, for Pichegru. " I knew him in his youth-his character what they wanted in grace and polish. is inflexible-he has taken his side, and hlie wvill not He became an adventllrer for the hlonours of litechange it." rature also, aiind was anonymously a cornipetitor for In 1783, Napoleon Bonaparte, then only fourteen the lprize offered by thile acadermy of Lyons on Rayyears old, was, tliocgh under the usual age, selected nal's question, " What are tile principles and instiby Monsieur de Kd:alio, thile inspector of the twelve tations, by application of which mnankind can be military schools, to be sent to have his education raised to the highest pitch ofhappiness?"' Thile prize completed in the general school of Paris. It was a was adjudged to the young soldier. It is impossible compliiment paid to the precocity of' Iiis extraordi- to avoid feeling curiosity to kniiow the character of nary mtathemaitical talent, and tile steadiness of his the juvenile theories respecting government, advoappllication. Wliiile at Paris le attracted the same cated by one wvho at length attained thile power of notice as at Brienne' and aontilg other society, fie- practically making what experiments lie pleased. quented thiat of tihe celebrated Ahbd Raynal, and i Probably his early ideas did not exactly coincide was admitted to his literary parties. His taste did with his more mature practice totr when Talleynot beciome correct, bit his appetite fbr study in rand, maniy years afterwards, got the essay out of all departnments vas greatly enlarged; and notwith- the records of the academy, anid returned it to the standing the qitantity which he daily readi, his tie- author, Bonaparte destroyed it after lie ihad read mory was strong enough to retain, and his judgment a few pages. He also laboured under the temptation sufficiently ripe to arrange cand digest, the kinow- of writing a journey to Mount Cents, after tihe manledge whiich lie then acquired; so that lie had it at nec of' Sterne, which lie was fortunate enoig-h ftiially his commtand dttrinig all thile rest of' his busy life. to resist.''The affectation which pervades Sterne's Phlitarch was his fhvonrite author; upon the study Ipeculiar style of comniposition was not likely to be of whomn lie lhad so modeled his opiiiions and habits simplified uinder tile piten of Bonaparte. of thoilght, tihat Paoli afterwards pronounced hinm Sterner titnes were fast aplproaching, and the a younr titan of ian antique caste, and resembing nation was now fully divided by those tactions apie of the classical heroes. which produced the Revolution. The officers of Sitime of hiiis bitgraphers have about this tinme Bonaparte's regiment were also divided into royalists ascriiecd to hit the anecdote of a certain yoaulihfl and patriots; and it is easily to be imagined, tihat the pupil of the.Military School, who desired to ascendf young ani friiendless stranuger and advetturer should iin thile car ofa balloon with thile aeronaut Blanchliard, adopt that side to viwhich lie had already shiown and was so lmortified at being reftsed, that hlie miade some inclination, tand which 1promised to open the an attempilt to cut the balloon witih his sword. The miiost free career to those who had only their mierit story Iias butt a flitisy support, andt indeed does not to rely upon. "Were I a general officetr,.;" lie is accord well withI tfe character of the ihero, wvhiclh alleged to hiave said, "I would have adhered to the was deep antd reflective, as wvell as bold and de- kiig"; beitng a subaltern, 1 join the patriots." terainred, and not likely to sulffer its eneirgies to T'liere was a story current, that in a debate with escape in idle iand useless adventure. some brother officers on the politics of the time, A better a,uthenticated apecdote states, that at Bonaparte expressed hlimiselfso outrageously, that this time lie expressed himtself disrespectfully to- they wvere provoked to throw him into the Rhone, wvards the kint in one of his letters to his faminily. wchere hlie had nearly perished. But this is an inAccording to tile practice of' tile school, lie was accurate accoutt of the accident which actually obliged to sibnitt the letter to the centsorship of befel hiim.'lie wais seized with the cramp swhen Monsieur Dotmairon, the professor of' belles lettres, bathing in the river. His comrades saved himn who, takin' notice of tihe otftisive p.assage, insisted wvith difficulty, but his danger was mnatter of pure upon the letter being burnit, andt added a severe re- chance. buke. Long aflterwards, it) 1802, MDonsieur Domairon Napoleon lihas himiself recorded that lie was a w\as cotmmanded to attend Napoleon's levee, ill warm ipatriot duiriug the whole sitting ofthe National order that hlie miight receive a ptplil in the pertson of Assembly; bit tliit on thie sapptointmenttt cf tfe LeJsru3nime Bonapaurte; wlhien thie fitst consul remninded gislative Assembly, he became shaken in his opihis old ttotr good-lituilouredly, that limes ihad nionis. It'so, Iis original senitimients regained force, chaiged contsiderably since the btrning: of the letter. for we shtctlly afterwards find Ihimiin eitertaintig such Naptle(m Bomiiaparte, in his seventeentll year, as went to the extremme heights of thie lievotiltiou. receivetd lis first cominnissi on as second I:eutetnant Early in tile yv:ar 1792, B mapatlte becanmiie a capii a regiutient of' artillery, and was almost inr:ie- taiti in tihe artillery by seniority; and in the saute 1 166 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. year, being at Paris, he witnessed the two insur- called the Torre di Capitello, on the opposite side rections ofthe 20th June and 10th August. He was of' the gulf, and almost facing the city. lie s:l.accustomed to speak of the insurgents as the most ceeded in taking the place; but as there arose a despicable banditti, and to express with what ease gale of wind which prevented his communicating a determined officer could have checked these with the frigate which had pilt him ashore, he was apparently formidable, but dastardly and unwieldy besieged in his new conqulest by the opposite facmasses. But with what a different feeling of interest tion, and reduced to such distress, that he and his would Napoleon have looked on that infuriated little garrison were obliged to feed on horse-flesh. populace, those still resisting though overpowered After five days lie was relieved by the frigate, and Swiss, and that burning palace, had any seer wvhis- evacuated the tower, having first in vain attempted pered to him, "Emperor that shall be, all this blood to blow it up. The Torre di Capitello still shows and massacre is but to prepare your future empire!" mareks of the damage it then sustained, and its reLittle anticipating the potent effect which the mains may be looked on as a curiosity, as the first passing events were to bear on his own fobrtune, scene of his combats, before whom Bonaparte, anxious for the safety of his mother and -— Temple and twer ----— Temple and tow~er family, was now desirous to exchange France for Weat to the ground —Corsica, where the same things were acting on a less distinguished stage. A relation of Napoleon, Masserio by name, effec It was a singular feature in the French Revoln- tually defended Ajaccio against the force employed tion, that it brought out from his retirement the in the expedition. celebrated Pascal Paoli, who, long banished from The strength of Paoli increasing, and the English Corsica, the freedom and independence of which he preparing to assist him, Corsica became no longer had so valiantly defended, returned from exile with a safe or convenient residence for the Bonaparte the flattering hope of still witnessing the progress of family. Indeed, both Napoleon and his brother liberty in his native land. On visiting Paris, he Lucien, who had distinguished themselves as partiwas received there with enthusiastic veneration, sans of the French, were subjected to a decree of and the National Assembly and royal family con- banishlment fiom their native island; and Madame tended which should show hint most distinction. He Bonapalte, with her three daughters,;nA Jlrorne, was created President of the Department, and Com- *who was as yet but a child, set sail under their promander of the National Guard of his native island, tection, and settled for a time, first at Nice, and and used the powers intrusted to him withl great afterwards at Marseilles, where the family is supwisd(m and patriotism. Butwisdom and patri ot ism, ty were different from posed to have undergone considerable distress, unBut PAoli's views of liberty xwelre different from til the dawning prospects of Napoleon afforded him those which unhappily began to be popular in the means of assisting them. France. He was desirous of establishing that free- Napoleon never again revisited Corsica, nor does dom, which is the protector, not the destroyer. of he appear to have regarded it with any feelings of property, and which confers practical happiness, affection. One small fountain at Ajaccio is pointed instead of aiming at theoretical perfection. In a out as the only ornament which his bounty bestowed word, he endeavoured to keep Corsica free from the on his birth-llace. He might perhaps think it illprevailing infection of jacobinism; and in reward, politic to do anything which might remind tle he was denounced in the assembly. Paooi, sunm- Country he ruled that he was not a child of her soil, moned to attend for the purpose of standing on his nay, was in fact very near having been born an defence, declined the journey on account of his age, alien, fol Corsica was not united to, or made an but~off'ered to withdraw from the island, integral part of France, until Jane, 1769, a few A large proportion of the inhabitants took part weels only before Napoleon's bilth. This stigmall' with the aged champion of their freedom, while the was repeatedly cast upon him by Isis opponniits, Convention sent an expedition, at t.he head of which some of whlom reproached the French with havin g were La Combe St-Michel, and Salicetti, one of the adopted a master, from a country fiom vlich the Corsican deputies to the Convention, with the usual ancient Rnmans woere unwilling even to clWhuse a instructions for bloodshed and pillage issued to their slave; and Napoleon may Iave been so far sensible commissaries, to it, as to avoid showing any predilection to the Bonaparte was in Corsica, upon leave of absence from his regiment, when these events were taking r Such is the report of the Corsicans, concerning the place; and although he himself and Paoli had alleged first exploit of their celebrated countryman. See hitherto been on friendly terms, and some family Benson's Sketches, p. 4. But there is room to believe lhat relations existed between them, the young artillery Bonaparte had been in action so early as February, 1793. officer did not hesitate which side to chuse. Ile Adunirable Truguet, with a strong fleet, and having oil embraced that of the Convention with heart and board a large hody of troops, had been at anclhor tbr several hand; and his first military exploit was in the civil weeks il the Corsicas barbours, anunllcing a descelnt war of his native island. In the year 1793; he was upon Sardinia. Atlengtl, having received ol heard an additional numlber of fthrees, he set sail on ltis exp~.tdltini.i dispatched from Bastia, in possession of the French Bonaparte is suppose to iare acoinpallied ile aillnital party, to surprise his native town Ajac.cio, then oc- Bonapartseis supposed to have accompanied t e aiSt Hieia cpl)ied by Paoli or his adherents. Bonaparte was MSS. to speak with great contempt. Bonatparle strcacting provisionally, as commanding a battalion of ceeded in taking soine batteries in the straits of Saint lEoiiNational GCuards. Hle landed in the Gulf of Ajaccio facio; but the expedition proving unsuccessful, tloey Y oiee with about fifty men, to take possession of a tower speedily abandoned. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 167 place of his birth, which might bring the circum- We have already mentioned that a general diffistance strongly under observation of the great nation, dence, and dread of the proceedings of the jacobins) with which he and his family seemed to be indissolu. joined to the intrigues of the girondists, had, after bly united. But, as a traveler already quoted, and the fall of the latter party, induced several of the who had the best opportunities to become acquainted principal towns in France to take arms against the with the feelings of the proud islanders, has ex- Convention, or rather against the jacobin party, who pressed it,-"The Corsicans are still highly patrio- had attained the complete mastery in that body. tic, and possess strong local attachment-in their We have also said that Toulon, taking a more deopinion, contempt for the country of one's birth is cided step than either Marseilles or Lyons, had nei er to be redeemed by any other qualities. Na- declared for the king and the constitution'of 1791, roleon, therefore, certainly was not popular in and invited the support of the English and Spanish Corsica, nor is his memory cherished there." * squadrons, who were cruizing upon the coast. A disThe feelings of the parties were not unnatural on embarkation was made, and a miscellaneous tbrce, either side. Napoleon, little interested in the land hastily collected, of Spaniards, Sardinians, Neapoof his birth, and having such an immense stake in litans, and English, was thrown into the place. that of his adoption, in which lie had everything to This was one of the critical periods when vigorkeep and Iose,t observed a policy towards Corsica ous measures, on the part of the allies, might have which his position rendered advisable; and who can produced marked effects on the result of the war. blame the high-spirited islanders, who seeing one of'l'oulon is the arsenal of France, and contained at their countrymen raised to such exalted eminence, that time immense naval stores, besides a fleet of' and disposed to forget his connexion with them, re- seventeen sail of tile line ready for sea, and thirteen turned with slight and indifference the disregard or fourteen more, which stood in need of refitting. with which he treated them 7+4 The possession of it was of the last importance, and with a sufficiently large garrison, or rather an army strong enough to cover the more exposed points CHAPTER XX. without the town, the English might have maintained Siege of ToGlot. -Recnapitlation. —Boulcparte ~app~oint- their footing at T'oulon, as they did at a later period ed brigadier-general of artillery, tcith the command of both at Lisbon and Cadiz. The sea would, by mainthe artillery at Toiulon-Fintds everything in disorder- - taining the defensive lines necessary to protect the His plain for obtaisitg the surrenoter of the place- roadstead, have been entirely at the command of Adopted.-Anecdotes during the siege.-Allied Troops the besieged; and they could have been supplied resolve to evacuate Toulon-Dreadful particulars of with provisions in any quantity from Sicily, or the the evacuation —EEgland censured on this occasion. — Barbary states, while the besiegers would have exLord Lynedoch. —Fane of Bonaparte increases, and'heis perieneed great difficulty, such was the dearth in appointed Chief of Battalion in the Army of Italy-Joills Provence at the time, in supporting their own army. headquarters at Nice.-On the fall of Robespierre, Bo- ut to have played this bold game, the presence of siaparte superseded in comsand-Arrives in Paris is an army, instead of a few battalions, would have May, 1795, to solicit employment-He is unisuccessful.- Tamoe-Bet respect of the Proceedings of the National. been requisite; and a general of consummate abillty Talma. —Retrospect of the Proceedielgs of the Nationtal must have held the chief comniand. This was the Assenibly.-Difficunties informing a niew Constitutionm.- Appointmrenlt of' the Directory-of the Two Councils of more especially necessaly, as Toh lon, fion the naElders and of Five Iuncdlred.-Nation at large, and ture of the place, must have been defended by a Paris in particiular, elisgusted cith their pretensions.- war of posts, requiring peculiar alertness, sagacity, Paris asseitblesisssectiolns.-GenleralDa(Iican appoint- and vigilance. On the other hand, there were cired their Cotmstma)ldler-in-c]hief. —Meioie appointed by the cumstances very falvourable for the defence, had it Directory to disarm the Nationia'l Guards —but suspend- been conducted with talent and vigour. In order ed for incapacity-Bonaparle (appointede in his room. to invest Toulon on the right and left side at once, -The Day of the Sections.-Conflict betiwixt the Troop:s it was necessary there should be two distinct blockof tAe Convention izrder Bonaparte, arod t/,ose of' the ading alrmlies; and these could scarce comreuniSections of Paris undrer Darican. —The latter d:featfd I.Sectiots of Paris sider Danican-The latter dfeatd cate with each other, as a steep ridge of mountains, wi;th mtuh slaughter.-Bonaparte appointed sellAo in with snih lighlr-Bonaate appoitedsee c called Pharon, must interpose betwixt them. Tbhis co07mmoand of the Arimy of' the In terior-then General-in.e be clhi(f-Marries Madame Beauharrais-Her chaacter. gave opportnity to the besieged to combine tleir -Bolenaparte immediately afterwcards joins the Army iorce, and chase the object of attack when they salof Italy. lied; while, on the other hand, the two bodies of' besiegers could not easily connect their operations, TIHE siege of Toulon was the tirst incident of ima- I either for attack or defence. portance, which enabled Bonaparte to distinguish Lord Mlulgrave, who commanded personally in himself in the eyes of tile French government, and the place, notwithstanding the motley character of of the world at large. the garrison, and other discouraging circumstances, I * Benson's Sketches qf Cor'sica, b. 121. began the defence with spirit. Sir George Keith t Not literatly. however; for it is wvorI mentioniigt il]at Elphiinstone also defeated the republicans at the when lie was in full-bloown possession of his pmower, al in- mo(tintain-pass, called Olioules. rhe English for heritance fell to the family situated near Ajaccio, and as some time retained possession of this importanll divided amongst them. Thle jirst consul, or emperor, re- gorge, but were finally driven out fromm it. Cartaux, ceived an olive garden as ihis slhare. —Sketches of Corsica. a republican general whom we have alleady men- -'- See Appendix, No. 1-lAdditio al aotices oii Napo- tiolleJ. now advanced on the west of Toulon, at the slevo' early careei'.} heal om a very considerable army, while General 168 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Lapoype blockaded the city on the east with a part to these he owed his promotion to the rank of a briof the arlmy of Italy. It was the object of the French gadier-general of artillery, with the command of thle to approach Toullon on both sides of the mountainous artillery during the siege of Toulon. ridge called Pharon. But on the east the town was When he had arrived at the scene of action, and covered by the strong and regular ftrt of La Malgue, had visited the posts of the besieging army, he fbund and on thle west side of the road by a less formidable so many marks of incapacity, that lie could not conwork, called Malbosquet. To support Malbosquet, ceal his astonishment. Batteries had been erected and to protect tile entrance to the roadstead and tile for destroying the English shipping,, but they were harbour, the English engineers fortified with great three grun-slhots' distance from the point which they skill an eminence called fIauteur de Grasse. The were designed to corn mand; red-hot halls were preheight bent into a sort of bay, the two prornottories paring, but they were not heated in furnaces beside of which were secured by redoubts, named lEguil- the guns, but in the country-houses in the neighlette and Balaguier, which communicated with and bourhood, at the most ridiculous distance, as if they supplorted the new fortihcation, which the English had been articles of easy and ordinary transportahad termed Fort Mulgrave. tion. Bonaparte with difficulty obtained General Several sallies and skirmishes ttook place, in most Cartaux's permission to make a shot or two by way of which the republicans were worsted. Lieutenant- of experiment; andwhen they fell more than halfgeneral O'Hara arrived from Gibraltar with re- way short of the mark, the general had no excuse inforcements, and assumed the chief command. but to rail against the aristocrats, who had, he said, LittIe (could be said for the union of the corn- spoiled the quality of the powder with which he oianders within Tonulon; yet their enterprises were was supplied. so far successful that the French began to be alarmed The young officer of artillery, with prudence, and at the slow progress of the siege. The dearth of at the same time with spirit, made his remonstrances provisions was daily increasing; the discontent of to the member of Convention, Gasparin, who wittthe people of Provence was augmented; the catho- nessed the experiment, and explained the necessity lies were numerous in the neighbouring districts of of proceeding more systematically, if any sucessful Vivarais and Lower Langunedoc; and Barras and result was expected. Frgron wrote from Marseilles to the Convention, At a council of war, wilere Gasparin presided, suggesting that the siege of Toulon should be the instructions of the Committee of Public Safety raised,* and the besieging army withdrawn beyond - were read, directing that the siege of Toulon should the Durance. But while weaker iminds were de-: be commenced according to the usual forms, by inspairing, talents of the first order were preparing- vesting the body of the place, in other words, the to achieve the conquest of Toulon.. city itself. The orders of the Committee of Public Bonaparte, since his return from Corsica, seens Safety were no safe subject of discussion or criticism to have enjoyed some protection from his country- for those who were to act under them; yet Bonaman Salicetti, the only one of the Corsican deputies. parte ventured to recommend their being departed vho voted for the king's death, and a person- to from on this important occasion. His comprehensive vhom tile young artillery officer had been known genius had at once discovered a less direct, yet during the civil war of his native island. Napoleon more certain manner, of obtaining the surrender of had shown that his own opinions were formed on the place. He advised, that, neglecting tilhe body the model of the times, by a small jacobin publica- of the town, the attention of the besiegers should be tion, called Le Souper de Beaucaia-e, a political turned to attain possession of the promontory called dialogue between Marat and a federalist, in which Hauteur de Grasse, by driving tile besieged from tile latter is overwhelmed and silenced by the argu- the strong work of Fort Mulgrave, and the two rements and eloquence of the Friend of the People. doubts of l'lEgnillette: and Balaguier, by means of Of' this juvenile produiction Bonaparte was after- which the English had established the line of dewards so much ashamed, that he caused the copies fence necessary to protect the fleet and harbour. to be collected and destroyed with the utmost The fortress of Malbosquet, on the same point, he rigour, so that it is now almost imprlssible to mneet also recommended as a principal object of attack. wilh, one. It is whimsical to observe that in the He argured, that if the besiegers succeeded in posmanuscripts of St Helena lie mentions this publica- sessing themselves of these fortifications, they must tion as one in wlich he assumed tile mriask of jacobin obtain a complete command of tile roads where the principles, merely to convince the girondists and English fleet lay, and oblige them to put to sea. royalists that they were chusing an unfit time for They would, in the same manner, effectually cominsurrection, and attempting it in a hopeless man- mard the entrance of the bay, and prevent supplies ner. He adds that it made many converts. or provisions from being thrown into the city. If Bonaparte's professional qaliftications wvere still the garrison were thus in danger oft' being totally cut better vouched thlan tile soulndness of his political off froum supplies, by their vessels being driven from principles., though these were sufficiently decided. their anchorage, it was natural to suppose that the The notes which the inslpectors of the Military English troops would rather evacuate Toulon, than School always preserve concerning their scholars, remain within the place, blockaded on -all sides, described his geniuts as being of tfie first order; and until they might be compelled to slurrender by fanline. This letter appeared in the.Moniteur, 10th December, The plan was adopted by the council of war after l:3. But as tile town of Toulon was taken a few days af- much hesitation, and the young officer by whom it terwards, the Convention voted the letter a fabricatioa. was projected received lull powers to carry it in. i. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 169 He rallied round him a number of excellent artillery knowledge of mankind, by the deep sagacity which officers and soldiers; assembled against Toulon enabled him to discover and attach to him those more than two hundred pieces of cannon, well serv- whose talents were most distinguished, and most ed; and stationed them so advantageously, that he capable of rendering him service. annoyed considerably the English vessels in the Notwithstanding the influence which the comnroads, even before lie had constructed those bat- mandant of artillery had acquired, he found himself teries on which he depended for reducing Fort Mul- occasionally thwarted by the members of the Congrave and Malbosquet, by which they were in a vention upon mission to the siege of Toulon, who great measure protected. latterly were Frtron, Ricord, Salicetti, and the In the meanwhile, General Doppet, formerly a younger Robespierre. These representatives of the physician, had superseded Cartaux, whose incapa- people, knowing that their commission gave them city could no longer be concealed by his rhodo- supreme power over generals and armies, never montading language; and, wonderful to tell, it had seem to have paused to consider whether nature or nearly been the fate of the ex-doctor to take Toulon, education had qualified them to exercise it, with at a time when such an event seemed least within advantage to the public and credit to themselves. his calculation. A tumultuary attack of some of They criticised Bonaparte's plan of attack, findinlg the young French carmagnoles on a body of Spanish it impossible to conceive how his operations, being troops which garrisoned Fort Mulgrave, had very directed against detached fortifications at a disnearly been successful. Bonaparte galloped to the tance from Toulon, could be eventually the means spot, hurrying his reluctant commander along with of placing the town itself with facility in their hands. him, and succours were ordered to advance to sup- But Napoleon was patient and temporising; and port the attack, when an aide-de-camp was shot by having the good opinion of Salicetti, and some intiDoppet's side; on which the medical general, con- macy with young Robespierre, he contrived to have sidering this as a bad symptom, pronounced the the works conducted according to his own plan. case desperate, and, to Bonaparte's great indigna- The presumption of these dignitaries became the tion, ordered a retreat to be commenced. Doppet means of precipitating his operations. It was his being found as incapable as Cartaux, was in his turn intention to complete his proposed works against superseded by Dugommier, a veteran who had serv- Fort Mulgrave before opening a large and powerfil ed for fifty years, was covered with scars, and as battery, which he had constructed with great silence fearless as the weapon he wore. and secrecy against Malbosquet, so that the whole From this tihee the commandant of artillery, hav- of his meditated assault might confound the enemy ing the complete concurrence of his general, had no by commencing at the same time. The operations, doubt of success. To insure it,/however, he used being shrouded by an olive plantation, had been the utmost vigilance and exertion, and exposed his completed without being observed by the English, person to every risk. whom Bonaparte proposed to attack on the whole One of the dangers which he incurred was of a line of,defence simultaneously. Messrs Frtron singular character. An artilleryman being shot at and Robespierre, however, in visitilng the military the gun which he was serving, while Napoleon was posts, stumbled upon this masked battery; and, visiting a battery, he took up the dead man's ram- having no notion why four mortars and eight twentymer, and, to give encouragement to the soldiers, four pounders should remain inactive, they corncharged the gun repeatedly with his own hands. manded the fire to be opened on Malbosquet withIn consequence of using this implement, he caught out any farther delay. an infectious cutaneous complaint, which, being in- General O'Hara, confounded at finding this imjudiciously treated and thrown inward, was of great portant post exposed to a fire so formidable and prejudice to his health, until after his Italian cam- unexpected, determined by a strong effort to carry paigns, when he was completely cured by Dr Cor- the French battery at once. Three thousand men visart; after which, for the first time, lie showed were employed in this sally; and the general himthat tendency to embonpoint, which marked the self, rather contrary to what is considered the duty latter part of his life. of the governor of a place of importance, resolved Upon another occasion, while Napoleon was over- to put himself at their head. The sally was at first looking the construction of a battery, which the enemy completely successful; but while the English purendeavoulred to interrupt by their fire, he called sued the enemy too far, in all the confidence of for some person who could write, that he might what they considered as assured victory, Bonaparte dictate an order. A young soldier stepped out of availed himself of some broken ground and a the ranks, and, resting the paper on the breast- covered way, to rally a strong body of' troops, bring work, began to write accordingly. A shot from the up reserves, and attack the scattered English both enemy's battery covered the letter with earth the in flank and rear. There was a warm skirmish, in instant it was finished. "Thank you- we shall which Napoleon himself received a bayonet wolund have no occasion for sand this bout," said the mili- in the thigh, by which, though a serious injury, he tary secretary. The gaiety and courage of the re- was not, however, disabled. The English were mark drew Bonaparte's attention on the young man, thrown into irretrievable confusion, and retrleated, who was the celebrated General Junot, afterwards leaving their general wounded, and a prisoner in created Duke d'Abrantes. During this siege, also, the hands of the enemy. It is singular, that during he discovered the talents of Duroc, afterwards one his long warfare, Bonaparte was never personally of his most faithful adherents. In these and many engaged with the British, except in his first, and at other instances, Bonaparte showed his extensive WVaterloo, his last and fatal battle. The attack VOL. VI. 3~ 170 LIFE OF- NAPOLEON BONA-PARTE. ulpon Acre can scarce be termed an exceptidn, as ready for sea, should be destroyed; and they were far as his own person was concerned. set on fire accordingly. This task was in a great The loss of their commandant, added to the dis. measure intrusted to the dauntless intrepidity of Sir couragement which began to prevail among the Sydney Smith, who carried it through with a degree defenders of Toulon, together with the vivacity of of order, which, everything considered, was almost the attack which ensued, seem finally to have dis- marvellous. The assistance of the Spaniards was heartened the garrison. Five batteries were opened offered and accepted; and they undertook the duty on Fort Mulgrave, the possession of which Bona- of scuttling and sinking two vessels used as powder parte considered as insuring success. After a fire magazines, and destroying some part of the disabled of twenty-four hours, Dugommier and Napoleon re- shipping. The rising conflagration, growing redder solved to try the fate of a general attack, for which the and redder, seemed at length a great volcano, amid representatives of thy people showed no particular which were long distinctly seen the masts and zeal. The attacking columns advanced before day, yards of the burning vessels, and which rendered obduring a heavy shower of rain. They were at. first scurely visible the advancing bodies of republican driven back on every point by the most determined troops, who attempted on different points to push opposition; and Dugommier, as he saw the troops their way into the place. The jacobins began to fly in confusion, exclaimed, well knowing the con- rise in the town upon the flying royalists;-horrid sequences of bad success to a general of the Re- screams and yells of vengeance, and revolutionary public, "I am a lost man!" Renewed efftrts, how- choruses, were heard to mingle with the cries and ever, at last prevailed; the Spanish artillerymen plaintive entreaties of the remaining fugitives, who giving way on one point, the fort fell into the pos- had not yet found means of embarkation. The guns session of the French, who showed no mercy to its from Malbosquet, now possessed by the French, defenders. and turned on the bulwarks of the town, increased Three hours, according to Bonaparte, after the the uproar. At once a shock, like that of an earthfort was taken, the representatives of the people. ap- quake, occasioned by the explosion of many hundred peared in the trenches, with drawn swords, to con- barrels of gunpowder, silenced all noise save its gratulate the soldiers on their successful valour, own, and threw high into the midnight heaven a and hear, from their commandant of artillery, the thousand blazing fragments, which descended, reiterated assurance, that, this distant fort being threatening ruin wherever they fell. A second exgained, Toulon was now their own. In their letter plosion took place, as the other magazine blew up, to the Convention, the deputies gave a more favour- with the same dreadful effects. able account of their own exploits, and failed not This tremendous addition to the terrors of the to represent Ricord, Salicetti, and young Robes- scene, so dreadful in itself, was owing to the Spapierre, as leading the attack with sabre in hand, niards setting fire to those vessels used as magaand, to use their own phrase, showing the troops zines, instead of sinking them, according to the the road to victory. On the other hand, they un- plan which had been agreed upon. Either from illgraciously forgot, intheir dispatches, to mention so will, carelessness, or timidity, they were equally much as the name of Bonaparte, to whom the vic- awkward in their attempts to destroy the dismantled tory was entirely to be ascribed. ships intrusted to their charge, which fell into the In the meantime, Napoleon's sagacity was not hands of the French but little damaged. The deceived in the event. The officers of the allied British fleet, with the flotilla crowded with fugitroops, after a hurried council of war, resolved to tives which it escorted, left Toulon without loss, evacuate Toulon, since the posts gained by the notwithstanding an ill-directed fire maintained on French must drive the English ships from their an- them from the batteries which the French had, chorage, and deprive them of a future opportunity taken. of retreating, if they neglected the passing moment. It was upon this night of terror, conflagration, Lord Hood alone urged a bolder resolution, and tears, and blood, that the star of Napoleon first recommended the making a desperate effort to ascended the horizon; and though it gleamed over regain Fort Mulgrave, and the heights which it many a scene of horror ere it set, it may be doubtful commanded. But his spirited counsel was rejected, whether its light was ever blended with those of one and the evacuation resolved on; which the panic of more dreadful. the foreign troops, especially the Neapolitans, would The capture of Toulon crushed all the hopes of have rendered still more horrible than it proved, resistance to the jacobins, which had-been cherishbut for the steadiness of the British seamen. ed in the south of France. There was a strong The safety of the unfortunate citizens, who had distrust excited against England, who was judged invoked their protection, was not neglected, even only desirous to avail herself of the insurrection of amid the confusion of the retreat. The numerous these unhappy citizens to cripple and destroy the merchant vessels, and other craft, offered means of naval power of France, without the wish of effectransportation to all, who, having to fear the re- tually assisting the royalists. This was an unjust sentment of the republicans, might be desirous of belief, but it cannot be denied that there were spequitting Toulon. Such was the dread of the victor's cious grounds for the accusation. The undertaking cruelty, that upwards of fourteen thousand persons the protection of a city in such a situation as that of accepted this melancholy refuge. Meantime there Tloulon, if the measure was embraced at all, should was other work to do. have been supported by efforts worthy of the country It had been resolved, that the arsenal and naval whose assistance was implored and granted. Such stores, with such of the French ships as were not efforts were not made, and the assistance actually LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 171 afforded was not directed by talent, and was squan- batteries erected for their own special protection, dered by disunion. The troops showed gallantry; without regard to the general safety. It involved but the leaders, excepting the naval officers, evinced him, moreover, as we shall presently see, in some little military skill, or united purpose of defence. risk with the Convention at home. One gentleman, then in private life, chancing to be The chief of battalion discharged his task scientiin Toulon at the time, distinguished himself as a fically. He divided the necessary fortifications into volunteer,+ and has since achieved a proud career three classes, distinguishing those designed to proin the British army. Had he, or such as he, been at tect harbours and roadsteads, from such as were the head of the garrison, the walls of Toulon might intended to defend anchorages of less consequence, have seen a battle like that of Barossa, and a very and both from the third class, which were to be different result of the siege might probably have placed on proper situations, to prevent, insults and ensued. partial descents on the coasts by an enemy superior So many of the citizens of Toulon concerned in at sea. Napoleon dictated to General Gourgaud the late resistance had escaped, by the means pro- hints on this subject, which must be of consequence vided by the English, that republican vengeance to the sea-coasts which need such military defences.* could not collect its victims in the usual numbers. Having made his report to the Convention, BonaMany were shot, however, and it has been said that parte proceeded to join the head-quarters of the Bonaparte commanded the artillery, by which, as at French army, then lying at Nice, straitened conLyons, they were exterminated; and also, that he siderably and hemmed in by the Sardinians and wrote a letter to Fr6ron and the younger Robes- Austrians, who, after some vain attempts of General pierre, congratulating them and himself on the exe- Brunet to dislodge them, had remained masters of cution of these aristocrats, and signed Brutus Bona- the Col di Tende, and lower passes of the Alps, parte, sans-culotte. If he actually commanded at together with the road leading from Turin to Nice, this execution, he had the poor apology, that he by Saorgio. must do so or himself perish; but, had the fact and Bonaparte had influence enough to recommend the letter been genuine, there has been enough of with success to the general, Dumerbion, and the time since his downfal to prove the truth of the representatives of the people, Ricord and Robesaccusation, and certainly enough of writers disposed pierre, a plan for driving the enemy out of this posito give these proofs publicity. He himself positively tion, forcing them to retreat beyond the higher Alps, denied the charge; and alleged that the victims and taking Saorgio; all which measures succeeded were shot by a detachment of what was called the as he had predicted. Saorgio surrendered, with revolutionary army, and not by troops of the line. much stores and baggage, and the French army This we think highly probable. Bonaparte lias obtained possession of the chain of the higher Alps,t besides affirmed, that, far from desiring to sharpen which, being tenable by defending few and difficult the vengeance of the jacobins, or act as their agent, passes, placed a great part of the Army of Italy he hazarded the displeasure of those whose frown (as it was already termed, though only upon the was death, by interposing his protection to save the frontier), at disposal for actual service. While unfortunate family of Chabrillant, emigrants and directing the means of attaining these successes, aristocrats, who, being thrown by a storm on the Bonaparte, at the same time, acquired a complete coast of France, shortly after the siege of Toulon, acquaintance with that Alpine country, in which he became liable to punishment by the guillotine, but was shortly to obtain victories in his own name, not whom he saved by procuring them the means of in that of others, who obtained reputation by acting escape by sea. on his suggestions. But while he was thus emIn the meanwhile the young general of artillery ployed, he was involved in an accusation before the was rapidly rising in reputation. The praiseaswhich Convention, which, had his reputation been less for were suppressed by the representatives of the approved patriotism, might have cost him dear. people, were willingly conferred and promulgated In his plans for the defence of the Mediterranean, by the frank old veteran, Dogommier. Bonaparte's Napoleon had proposed repairing an old state prison name was placed on the list of those whom he re- at Marseilles, called the fort of Saint Nicholas, that commended for promotion, with the pointed ad- it might serve as a powder magazine. This plan his dition, that, if neglected, he would be sure to force successor on the station proceeded to execute, and, his own way. He was accordingly confirmed in his by doing so, gave umbrage to the patriots, who provisional situation of chief of battalion, and ap- charged the commandant of artillery then at Marpointed to hold that rank in the Army of Italy. Be- seilles, and superintending the work, with an intenfore joining that army, the genius of Napoleon was tion to rebuild this fort, to serve as a Bastille for employed by the Convention in surveying and forti- controling the good citizens. The officer, being fying the sea-coast of the Mediterranean; a very summoned to the bar of the Convention, proved that troublesome task, as it involved many disputes with the local authorities of small towns and villages,' An Englishman will probably remember the sublime and even hamlets, all of whom wished to have passage in " The Mariners of England; - Britannia needs no bulwark, * Mr Graham of Balgxowan, now Lord Lynedoch. He No towers along the steep; marched out on one of the sorties, and when the affair be- Her march is o'er the mountain-wave, came hot, seized the musket and cartouch-box of a fallen home is on the deep. I soldier, and afforded such an example to the troops, as con- t The Sardinians were dislodged from the Col di Tends, tributed greatly to their gaining the object desired. 7th of May, 1M94, 172 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. the plan was not his own, but drawn out by Bona- period to be the ruler. Some individuals, however, parte. The representatives of the army in Italy, assisted him, and among others the celebrated perhowever, not being able to dispense with his ser- former Talma, who had known him while at the Mivices, wrote to the Convention in his behalf, and litary School, and even then entertained high exgave such an account of the origin and purpose of, pectations of the part in life which was to be played the undertaking, as divested it of all shade of sus- by "le petit Bonajparte." Y picion, even in the suspicions eye of the Committee On the other hand, as a favourer of the jacobins, of Public Safety. his solicitations for employment were resolutely opIn the remainder of the year 1794, there was posed byaperson of considerable influence. Aubry, little service of consequence in the Army of Italy, an old officer of artillery, president of the military and the 9th and 10th Thermidor (27th and 28th committee, placed himself in strong opposition to July) of that year, brought the downfal of Robes- his pretensions. He had been nominated as removed pierre, and threatened unfavourable consequences from the artillery service to be placed in that of the to Bonaparte, who had been the friend of the tyrant's infantry. He remonstrated with great spirit against brother, and was understood to have participated in this proposed change; and when, in the heat of disthe tone of' exaggerated patriotism affected by his cussion, Aubry objected his youth, Bonaparte reparty. He endeavoured to shelter himself under plied, that presence in the field of battle ought to his ignorance of the real tendency of the proceedings anticipate the claim of years. The president, who of those who had fallen; an apology which resolves had not been much in action, considered his reply itself into the ordinary excuse, that he found his as a personal insult; and Napoleon, disdaining farlate fiiends had not been the persons he took them ther answer, tendered his resignation. It was not,.for. According to this line of defence, he made however, accepted; and he still remained in the all haste to disclaim accession to the political rank of expectants, but among those whose hopes schemes of which they were accused. " I am some- were entirely dependent upon their merits. what affected," he wrote to a correspondent, " at Bonaparte had something of his native country in the fate of the younger Robespierre; but, had he his disposition-he forgot neither benefits nor injubeen my brother, I would have poniarded him with ries. Hie was always, during the height of his granmy own hand, had I been aware that he was form- detr, particularly kind to Talma, and honoured him ing schemes of tyranny." even with a degree of intimacy. As for Aubry, Bonaparte's disclamations do not seem at first to being amongst those belonging to Pichegru's party have been favourably received. Ilis situation was who were banished to Cayenne, he caused him to be now precarious, and when those members were re- excepted from the decree which permitted the return stored to the Convention, who had been expelled of those unfortunate exiles, and Aubry died at Deand proscribed by the jacobins, it became still more marara. so. The reaction of the moderate party, accom- Meantime, his situation becoming daily more nnpanied by horrible recollections of the past, and fears pleasant, Bonaparte solicited Barras and Fr6ron, for the future, began now to be more strongly felt, who, as thermidoriens, had preserved their credit, for as their numbers in the Convention acquired strength. occupation in almost any line of his profession, and Those officers who had attached themselves to the even negotiated for permission to go into the Turkish jacobin party were the objects of their animosity; service, to train the Mussulmans to the use of arand besides, they were desirous to purify the armies tillery. A fanciful imagination may pursue him to as far as possible of those whom they considered as the rank of pacha, or higher; for, go where he their own enemies, and those of good order; the world, he could not have remained in mediocrity. His rather, that the jacobinical principles still continued own ideas had a similar tendency. "How strange," to be more favoured in the armies than in the inte- he said, "it would be, if a little Corsican officer of rior. artillery were to become King of Jerusalem!" He To the causes of this we have before alluded; but was offered a command in La Vendde, which he it may not be unnecessary to repeat, that the soldiers declined to accept, and was finally named to cornhad experienced all the advantages of the fierce mand a brigade of artillery in Holland. But it was energies of a government which sent them out to in a land where there still existed so many separate conquest, and offered them the means of achieving and conflicting factions as in France, that he was it; and they had not been witnesses to the atrocities doomed to be raised, amid the struggles of his conof their tyranny in the interior. It was highly desir- tending countrymen, and upon their shoulders, and able to the moderate party to diminish the influence over their heads, to the very highest eminence to of the jacobins with the army, by dismissing the of- which Fortune can exalt an individual. The times ficers supposed most friendly to such principles. required such talents as his, and the opportunity Bonaparte, among others, was superseded in his for exercising them soon arose. command, and for a time detained under arrest. The French nation were in general tired of the This was removed by means of the influence which National Convention, which successive proscriphis countryman Salicetti still retained among the tions had drained of all the talent; eloquence, and thermidoriens, and Bonaparte appears to have vi- energy, it had once possessed; and that assembly sited Marseilles, though in a condition to give or re- had become hateful and contemptible to all men, by ceivu little consolation from his family. suffering itself to be the passive tool of the terrorIn May 1795, he came to Paris to solicit employ- ists for two years, when, if they had shown proper ment in his profession. He found himselfunfriended and indigent in the city of which he was at no distant ~ On the authority of the late John Philip Kemble. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 17o firmness, the revolution of the 9th Thermidor might. two assemblies, one of which might form a check oIs as well have been achieved at the beginning of that the other, tending, by some exercise of an interfrightful anarchy, as after that long period of nn- mediate authority, to qualify the rash rapidity of a heard-of suffering. The Convention was not greatly single chamber, and obstruct the progress of any improved in point of talent, even by the return of individual, who might, like Robespierre, obtain a their banished brethren; and, in a word, they had dictatorship in such a body, and become, in doing lost the confidence of the public entirely. They so, an arbitrary tyrant over the whole authorities of therefore prepared to gratify the general wish by the state. Thus, loath and late, the French began dissolving themselves. to cast an eye on the British constitution, and the But before they resigned their ostensible autho- system of checks and balances upon which it is rity, it was necessary to prepare some mode of car- founded, as the best means of uniting the protection rying on the government in future. of liberty with the preservation of order. Thinking The jacobin constitution of 1793 still existed on men had come gradually to be aware, that in hopes paper; but although there was an unrepealed law, of getting something better than a system which menacing with death any one who should propose had been sanctioned by the experience of ages, to alter that form of government, no one appeared they had only produced a set of models, which were disposed to consider it as actually in exercise; and successively wondered at, applauded, neglected, notwithstanding the solemnity with which it had and broken to pieces, instead of a simple machine, been received and ratified by the sanction of the capable, in mechanical phrase, of working well. national voice, it was actually passed over and abro- Had such a feeling prevailed during tlhe comngated as a matter of course, by a tacit but unani- niencement of the Revolution, as was advocated by mous consent. Neither was there any disposition Mounier, and others, France and Europe might to adopt the girondist constitution of 1791, or to have been spared the bloodshed and distress which revert to the democratic monarchy of 1792, the only afflicted them during a period of more than twenty one of these models which could be said to have years of war, with all the various evils which had even the dubious endurance of a few months. accompanied that great convulsion. France had As at the general change of the world, all former then a king; nobles, out of whom a senate might things were to be done away-all was to be made have been selected; and abundance of able men to anew. have formed a Lower House, or House of ComEach of these forms of government had been so- mons. But the golden opportunity was passed lemnised by the national oaths and processions cus- over; and when the architects might, perhaps, have tomary on such occasions; but the opinion was now been disposed to execute the new fabric which universally entertained, that not one of them was they meditated, on the plan of a limited monarchy, founded on just principles, or contained the power the materials for the structure were no longer to be of defending itself against aggression, and protect- found. ing the lives and rights of the subject. On the other The legitimate king of France no doubt existed, hand, every one not deeply interested in the late but lie was an exile in a foreign country; and the anarchy, and implicated in the horrid course of race of gentry, fi-om whom a House of Peers, or bloodshed and tyranny which was its very essence, hereditary senate, might have been chiefly selected, was frightened at the idea of revivinga government, were to be found only in foreign service, too much which was a professed continuation of the des- exasperated by their sufferings to admit a rational potism ever attendant upon a revolution, and which, hope that they would ever make any compromise in all civilized countries, ought to terminate with with those who had forced them fiom their native the extraordinary circumstances by which revolu- land, and confiscated their family property. Saving tion has been rendered necessary. To have conti- for these circumstances, and the combinations which nued the revolutionary government, indeed, longer arose out of them, it seems very likely, that at the than this, would have been to have imitated the con- period at which we have novw arrived, the tide, duct of an ignorant empiric, who should persist in which began to set strongly against the jacobins, subjecting a convalescent patienttothe same course might have been adroitly turned in favour of the of exhausting and dangerous mnedicines, which a Bourbons. But though there was a general feeling regular physician would discontinue as soon as the of melancholy regret, which naturally arose fromn disease had been brought to a favourable crisis. comparing the peaceful days of the monarchy with It seems to have been in general felt and admit- those of the reign of Terror,-the rule of Louis ted, that the blending ofthe executive and legislative the XVI. with that of Robespierre,-the memnory of power together, as both had been exercised by the former quiet and, security with the more recent existing- Convention, opened the road to the most recollections of blood and plunder,-still it seems to afflicting tyranny; and that to constitute a stable have existed rather in the state of a predispogovernment, the power of executing the laws, and sition to form a royal party, than as the principle of administering the ministerial functions, must be one already existing. Fuel was lying ready to vested in some separate individuals, or number of catch the flame of loyalty, but the match had not individuals, who should, indeed, be responsible to yet been applied; and to counteract this general the national legislature for the exercise of this tendency, there existed the most formidable obpower, but neither subject to their direct control, stackes. nor enjoying it as emanating immediately from their In the first place, we have shown already the body. With these reflections arose others, on the circumstances by which the French armies were utility of dividing the legislative body itself into strongly attached to the name of the Republic, in | 74 TLIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. whose cause all their wars had been waged, and all ther on the throne? They had formally, and in fni'i their glory won; by whose expeditions and energetic conclave, renounced belief in the existence of a administration the military profession was benefited, Deity-with what consistence could they be acceswhile they neither saw nor felt the misery entailed sory to restore a national church? Some remained on the nation at large. But the French soldier had republicans from their heart and upon conviction; not only fought in favour of democracy, but actively and a great many more of' the deputies could not and directly against royalty. As Vive la Ripublique abjure democracy, without confessing, at the same was his war-cry, he was in La Vendee, on the time, that all the violent measures which they had Rhine, and elsewhere, met, encountered, and some- carried through for the support of that system were times defeated and driven back, by those who used so many great and treasonable crimes. the opposite signal-word, Vive le roi. The royalists These fears of a retributive reaction were very were, indeed, the most formidable opponents of the generally fit in the Convention. The thermidoenilitary part of the French nation; and such was riens, in particular, who had killed Robespierre, and the animosity of the latter at this period to the idea now reigned in his stead, had more substantial *of returning to the ancient system, that if a general grounds of apprehension from any counter-revolncould have been found capable of playing the part tionary movement, than even the body of the repreof Monk, he would probably have experienced the sentatives at large, many of whom had been merely fate of La Fayette and Dumourier. passive in scenes where Barras and Tallien had A second and almost insuperable objection to the been active agents. The timid party of the Plain restoration of the Bourbons occurred in the exten- might be overawed by the returning prince; and sive change of property that had taken place.'If the members of the girondists, who could indeed the exiled family had been recalled, they could not, scarce be said to exist as a party, might be safely at this very recent period, but have made stipula- despised. But the thermidoriens themselves stood tions for their devoted followvers, and insisted that in a different predicament. They were of importthe estates forfeited in their cause should have been ance enough to attract both detestation and jealousy; compensated or restored; and such a resumption they held power, which must be an object of distrust would have inferred ruin to all the purchasers of to the restored monarch; and they stood on precanational demesnes, and, in consequence, a general rious ground, betwixt the hatred of the moderate shock to the security of property through the king- party, who remembered them as colleagues of Rodom. bespierre and Danton, and that of the jacobins, who The same argument applied to the church lands. saw in Tallien and Barras deserters of that party, The Most Christian King could not resume his and the destroyers of the power of the sans-culottes. throne, without restoring the ecclesiastical establish- They had, therefore, just reason to fear, that, stripment in part, if not in whole. It was impossible to ped of the power which they at present possessed, calculate the mass of persons of property and wealth, they might become the unpitied and unaided scapewith their various connexions, who, as possessors of goats, to expiate all the offences of the Revolution. national demesnes, that is, of the property of the Thus each favourable sentiment towards the cause church, or of the emigrants, were bound by their of the Bourbons was opposed, 1. By their unpopulaown interest to oppose the restoration of the Bour- rity with the armies; 2. By the apprehensions of bon family. The revolutionary government had fol- the confusion and distress which must arise from a lowed the coarse, but striking and deeply politic, general change of property; and, 3. By the conscious admonition of the Scottish Reformer-" Pull down fears of those influential persons, who conceived the nests," said Knox, when he urged the multitude their own safety concerned in sustaining the repubto destroy churches and abbeys, "and the rooks lican model. will fly off." The French government, by dilapi- Still the idea of monarchy was so generally redating and disposing of the property of the emigrants ceived as the simplest and best mode of once more and clergy, had established an almost insurmount- re-establishing good order and a fixed government, able barrier against the return of the original owners. that some statesmen proposed to resume the form, The cavaliers in the great Civil War of England but change the dynasty. With this view, divers had been indeed fined, sequestrated, impoverished; persons were suggested by those, who supposed that but their estates were still, generally speaking, in by passing over the legitimate heir to the crown, the their possession; and they retained, though under dangers annexed to his rights and claims might be oppression and poverty, the influence of a national avoided, and the. apprehended measures of resumparistocracy, diminished, but not annihilated. In tion and reaction might be. guarded against. The France, that influence of resident proprietors had son of the Duke of Orleans was named, but the inall been transferred to other:hands, tenacious in famy of his father clung to him. In another wild holding what property they had acquired, and de- hypothesis, the Duke of York, or the Duke of termined to make good the defence of it against Brunswick, were suggested as fit to be named conthose who claimed a prior right. stitutional kings of France. The Abbd Sidyes himLastly, the fears and conscious recollections of self is said to have expressed himself in favour of those who held the chief power in France for the the prince last named.* time, induced them to view their own safety as *The Memoirs published under the name or Fouchb deeply compromised by any proposition of restoring make this assertion (See irnoires de Fouche, duc dfOi.he exiled royal family. This present sitting and trante, vol. I, p. 71: 8vo, Paris, 1824). But although that ruling Convention had put to death Louis XVI.,- work sbhows great intimacy with the secret -history of the with what hope of safety could they instal his bro- times, it is not to he implicitly relied upon.,, ~~~ ~ ~~~~ ~ ~~.,..... I LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 17.5 ]But without regarding the wishes or opinions of seventh year of the Republic, M as to rise to thirty the people without doors, the Convention resolved years complete. In this assembly laws were to be to establish such a model of government as should be first proposed, and, having received its approbation, most likely to infuse into a republic something of the they were to be referred to the Council of Ancients stability of a monarchial establishment; and thus at The requisites to sit in the latter senlate, were the once repair former errors, and preserve an appear- age of forty years comnplete, and the being a married ance of consistency in the eyes of Europe. man or a widower. Bachelors, though above that For this purpose eleven commissioners, chiefly age, were deemed unfit for legislation, perhaps selected amongst the former girondists, were ap- from want of domestic experience. pointed to draw up a new constitution upon a new The Council of Ancients had the power of rejectprinciple, which was to receive a-new the universal ing the propositions laid before them by the Council adhesion of the French by acclamation and oath, of Five Hundred, or, by adopting and approving and to fall, in a short time, under the same neglect them, that of passing them into laws. These reguwhich had attended every preceding model. This, lations certainly gained one great point, in submitit was understood, was to be so constructed, as to ting each proposed legislative enactment to two unite the consistency of a monarchial government separate bodies, and, of course, to mature and dewith the name and forms of a demlocracy. liberate consideration. It is true, that neither of That the system now adopted by the French com- the councils had any especial character, or sepa. missioners might bear a form corresponding to the rate interest, which could enable or induce the destinies of the nation, and flattering to its vanity, Ancients, as a body, to suggest to the Five Hundred it was borrowed from that of the Roman republic, a -different principle of considering any proposed an attempt to imitate which had already introduced measure, from that which was likely to occur to many of the blunders and many of tile crimes of tile them in their own previous deliberation. No such Revolution. The executive power was lodged in a varied views, therefore, were to be expected, as council of five persons, termed Directors, to whom must arise between assemblies composed of persons were to be consigned the conduct of peace and war, who differ in rank or fortune, and consequently the execution of the laws, and the general adhnilis- view the same question in various and opposite tration of the government. They were permitted no lights. Still, delay and reconsideration were atshare of the legislative authority. tained, before the irrevocable fiat, was imposed This arrangement was adopted to comply with upon any measure of eonsequenceA Land so far much the jealousy of those, who, in the individual person was gained. An orator was supposed to answer of a single Director, holding a situation similar to all objections to the system of the two councils that of the Stadtholder in Hulland, or the President thus constituted, when he described that of the of the United States, saw something too closely ap- Juniors as being the imagination, that of the Anproaching to a monarchial government. Indeed, it cients as being the judgmenit 6f'tIle nation; the is said, Louvet warned thenm against establishing one designed to invent and suggest national measuch an office, by assuring them, that when they sure, the other to deliberate and decide upon referred the choice of theindividual who was to hold them. This was, though liable to many objections, it, to the nation at large, they would see the Bourbon an ingenious illustration indeed, but an illustration heir elected. But the inconvenience of this pen- is not an argument, though often passing current as tarchy could not be disguisedl; and it seemed to such. follow as a necessary consequence of such a name. On the whole, the form of the constitution of the rous executive council, either that there would be a year 3, i. e. 1795, showed a greater degree of pracschism, and a minority and majority established in tical efficacy, sense, and consistency, than any of that pre-eminent body of the state, where unity and those previously suggested; and in the introduction, vigour were chiefly requisite, or else that some one though there was the usull -proclamation of the or two of the ablest and most crafty among the Rights of Man, his duties to the laws and to the. Directors would establish a supremacy over the social system were for the first time enumerated in others, and use them less as their -colleagues than manly and forcible language, intimating the desire their dependents. The-legislators, however, though of the framers of these institutions to put a stop they knew that the whole Roman empire was found to the continuation of revolutionary violence in ful insufficient to satiate.the ambition of three men, yet tare. appeared to hope that the concord and unanimity of But the constitution, now promulgated, had a their five Directors miglt continue unbroken, though blemish common to all its predecessors;-it wvas they had but one nation.to govern; and-they decided totally new, and unsanctioned by the experience accordingly. either of Fiance or any other country; a mere exThe executive-,power being thus provided for, periment in politics, the result of which could not the legislative body- was to consist of two coulncils; be known until it had been put in exercise, and one of Eldlers, as it was called, serving as a House which, for many years at least, must be necessarily of Lords; another o~.Youngers, which they termed, less the object of respect than of criticism. Wise from its number,`tie Council of Five Hundred. legislators, even when lapse of time, alteration of Both were elective, and the difference of age was manners, or increased liberality of sentiment, rethe only circumstasce which placed a distinction quire corresponding alterations in the institutions of betwixt the two bodies. The members of the their fathers, are careful, as far as possible, to preCouncil of Five Hundred were to be at least twenty- serve the ancient form and character of those laws, five years old, a qualification which, after the into which they are endeavouring to infiuse prin 176 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. ciples and a spirit accommodated to the altered founded their title to a privilege so unjust and anw exigencies and temper of the age. There is an malous. Among the more active part of them, to enthusiasm in patriotism as well as in religion. whom the measure was chiefly to be ascribed, they We value institutions, not only because they are saw but a few reformed terrorists, who wished to ours, but because they have been those of our fathers; retain the power of tyranny, though disposed to exand if a newr constitution were to be presented to us, ercise it with some degree of moderation, and the although perhaps theoretically showing more sym- loss of whose places might be possibly followed by metry than that by which the nation had been long that of their heads; in the others, they only beheld governed, it would be as difficult to transfer to it the a flock of timid and discountenanced helots, willing allegiance of the people, as it would be to substitute to purchase personal security at the sacrifice of the worship of a Madonna, the work of modern art, personal honour and duty to tile public; while in for the devotion paid by the natives of Zaragossa to the Convention as a body, who pronounced so large their ancient Palladium, Our Lady of the Pillar. a proportion of their number as indispensable to the But the constitution of' the year 3, with all its service of the state, judging from their conduct hidefects, would have been willingly received by the therto, they could but discover an image composed nation in general, as affording some security from partly of iron, partly of clay, deluged with the blood the revolutionary storm, had it not been for a selfish of many thousand victims-a pageant without a will and usurping device of the thermidoriens to muti- of its own, and which had been capable of giving its late and render it nugatory at the very outset, by countenance to the worst of actions, at the instiengrafting upon it the means of continuing the exer- gation of the worst of men-a sort of Moloch, whose cise of their.own arbitrary authority. It must never name had been used by its priests to compel the be forgotten, that these conquerors of Robespierre most barbarous sacrifices. To sum up the whole, had shared all the excesses of his party before they these experienced men of public business, without became his personal enemies; and that when de- whose intermediation it was pretended the national prived of their official situations and influence, which affairs could not be carried ca, could only shelter they were likely to be by a representative body themselves from the charge ef unbounded wickedfreely and fairly elected, they were certain to be ness, by pleading their unlimited cowardice, and by exposed to great individual danger. poorly alleging that for two years they had sat, Determined, therefore, to retain the power in their voted, and deliberated, under a system of compulsion own hands, the thermidoriens suffered with an in- and terror. So much meanness rendered those who difference amounting almost to contempt, the con- were degraded by it unfit, not merely to rule, but to stitution to pass through, and be approved of by, live; and yet two-thirds of their number ware, acthe Convention. But, under pretence that it would cording to their own decrees, to be intruded on be highly impolitic to deprive the nation of the ser- the nation as an indispensable portion of its reprevices of men accustomed to public business, they sentatives. procured two decrees to be passed; the first or- Such was the language held in the assemblies of daining the electoral bodies of France to chuse, as the sections of Paris, who were the more irritated representatives to the two councils under the new against the domineering and engrossing spirit exhiconstitution, at least two-thirds of the members bited in these usurping enactments, because it was presently sitting in convention; and the second impossible to forget that it was their interference, declaring, that in default of a return of two-thirds of and the protection afforded by the National Guard, the present deputies, as prescribed, the Convention which had saved the Convention from massacre on themselves should fill up the vacancies out of their more occasions than one. own body; in other words, should name a large In the meanwhile, reports continued to be made proportion of themselves their own successors in from the Primary Assemblies, of their adhesion to. legislative power. the constitution, in which they were almost unaThese decrees were sent down to the Primary As- nimous, and of their sentiments concerning the two seroblies of the people, and every art was used to decrees, anthorising and commanding the re-election render them acceptable. of two-thirds of the Convention, on which there But the nation, and particularly the city of Paris, existed a strong difference of opinion. The Congenerally revolted at this stretch of arbitrary au- vention, determined, at all rates, to carry through thority. They recollected, that all the members who with a high hand the iniquitous and arbitrary meahad sat in the first National Assembly, so remark- sure whvlich they proposed, failed not to make these reable for talent, had,been declared ineligible, on that ports such as they desired them to be, and announced single account, for the second legislative body; that the two decrees had been accepted by a majoand now, men so infinitely the inferiors of those who rity of the Primary Assemblies. The citizens of were the colleagues of Mirabeau, Alounier, and other Paris challenged the accuracy of the returns-alleged great names, presumed not only to declare them- that the reports were falsified-demanded a scruselves eligible by re-election, but dared to establish tiny, and openly bid defiance to the Convention. two-thirds of their number as indispensable ingre- Their power of meeting together in their sections, dients of the legislative assemblies, which, accord- on account of the appeal to the people, gave them ing to the words alike and spirit of the constitution, an opportunity of feeling their own strength, and ought to be chosen by the free voice of the people. encouraging each other by speeches and applaxaes. The electors, and particularly those of the sections They were farther emboldened and animated by of Paris, angrily demanded to know, upon what men of literary talent, whose power was restored public serlvices the deputies of the Convention with the liberty of the press. Finally, they declared FLIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPAR TE. 177 their sittings permanent, and that they had the right National Guards des Filles St-Thomas, the only one to protect the liberties of France. The greater part which, taking part in the defence of the Tuileries, of the National Guards were united on this occasion shared the fate of the Swiss Guards upon the meagainst the existing government; and nothing less morable 10th of' Angust. The section continued to was talked of, than that they should avail themselves entertain sentiments of the same character; and of their arms and numbers, march down to the Tui- when Menou appeared at the head of his forces, leries, and dictate law to the Convention with their accompanied by La Porte, a member of the Convenmuskets, as the revolutionary mob of the suburbs tion, he found the citizens tinder arms, and exhibitused to do with their pikes. ing such a show of resistance as induced him, after The Convention, unpopular themselves, and em- a parley, to retreat, without venturing an attack barked in an unpopular cause, began to look anxi- upon them. ously around for assistance. They chiefly relied Menou's indecision showed that he was not a on the aid of about five thousand regular troops, man suited to the times, and he was suspended from who were assembled in and around Paris. These his command by the Convention, and placed under declared for government with the greater readiness, arrest. The general management of affairs, and the that the insurrection was of a character decidedly direction of the conventional forces, was then comaristocratical, and that the French armies, as al- mitted to Barras; but the utmost anxiety prevailed ready repeatedly noticed, were attached to the Re- among the members of the committees by whom public. But besides, these professional troops en- government was administered, to find a general of tertained the usual degree of contempt for the Na- nerve and decision enough to act under Barras in tional Guards, and on this account alone were quite the actual command of the military force, in a serready to correct the insolence of the pekins,5 or vice so delicate and times so menacing. It was nmuscadins,t who usurped the dress and character then that a few words from Barras, addressed to of soldiers. The Convention had also the assistance his colleagues, Carnot and Tallien, decided the fate of several hundred artillerymen, who, since the of-Europe for well nigh twenty years. " I have the taking of the Bastille, had been always zealous de- man," he said, " whom you want-a little Corsican mocrats. Still, apprehensive of the result, they officer, who will not stand upon ceremony." added to this force another of a more ominous de- The acquaintance of Barras and Bonaparte had scription. It was a body of volunteers, consisting been, as we have already said, formed at the siege of about fifteen hundred men, whom they chose to of Toulon, and the former had not forgotten the indenominate the Sacred Band, or the Patriots of 1780. ventive and decisive genius of the young officer to They were gleaned out of the suburbs, and from whom the conquest of that city was to be ascribed. the jails, the remnants of the insurrectional battalions On the recommendation of Barras, Bonaparte was which had formed the body-guard of HWbert and sent for. He had witnessed the retreat of' Men6u, Robespierre, and had been the instruments by which and explained, with much simplicity, the causes of they executed their atrocities. The Convention that check, and the modes of resistance which ought proclaimed them men of the 10th of Angust-un- to be adopted in case of the apprehended attack. doubtedly they were also men of the massacres of His explanations gave satisfaction. Bonaparte was September. It was conceived that the beholdingssuch placed at the head of the conventional forces, and a pack of blood-hounds ready to be let loose might took all the necessary precautions to defend the inspire horror into tile citizens of Paris, to whom same palace which he had seen attacked and cartheir veTy aspect brought so many fearful recollec- ried by a body of insurgents on the 10th of August. tions. It did so, but it also inspired hatred; and the But he possessed far more formidable means of number and zeal of the citizens, compensating for defence than were in the power of the unfortunate the fury of the terrorists, and for the superior disci- Louis. He had two hundred pieces of cannon, pline of the regular troops to be employed against which his high military skill enabled him to distrithem, promised an arduous and doubtful conflict. bute to the utmost advantage. He had more than Much, it was obvious, must depend upon the cou- five thousand regular forces, and about fifteen hunrage and conduct of the leaders. dred volunteers. He was thus enabled to defend The sections employed, as their commander-in- the whole circuit of the'uileries-to establish posts chief, General Danican, an old officer of no high in all the avenues by which it could be approached reputation for military skill, but otherwise a worthy -to possess himself of the bridges, so as to prevent and sincere man. The Convention at first made co-operation between the sections which lay on the choice of Menon, and directed him, supported by a opposite banks of the river-and finally, to establish strong military force, to march into the section Le- a strong reserve in the Place Louis Quinze, or, as pelletier, and disarm the National Guards of that it was then called, Place de la R6volution. Bonadistrict. This section is one of the most wealthy, parte had only a few hours to make all these arand, of course, most aristocratic in Paris, being in- rangemnents, ftr he was: namedl in place of Menou habited by bankers, merchants, the wealthiest class late on the night before the nonflict. of tradesmen, and the better orders in general. Its A merely civic army,. having no cannon (for the inhabitants had formerly composed the battalion of field-pieces, of which eaoh, section possessed two, had been almost all given up to the Convention after r Pekins, a word of contempt, by which the soldiers dis- the disarming the suburb of St-Antoine), ought to tinguished those who did not belong to their profession. have respected so strong a position as the Tuileries t Muscadints, fops-a phrase applied to the better class when so formidably defended. Their policy should by sans-culottes. have been, as in the days of Henry Ill., to have VCL. VI- 23 178 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. barricaded the streets at every point and cooped been a Garde da Corps, was distinguished for his up the conventional troops within tie defensive intrepidity, and repeatedly rallied the National position they had assumed, till want if provisions Guard tnder the stormofgrape-shot. Several other obliged them to sally at disadvaritage or to surren- persons having fled, were in their absence capitally der. But a popular force is generall impatient of condemned, but were not strictly looked after; and dlelay. The retreat of Menou had giv, n them spirit, deportation was the punishment inflicted upon others. and they apprehended, with some sl ow of reason, The accused were indebted for this clenlency chiefly that the sections, if they did not uni.e their forces, to the interference of those members of Convention, might be attacked and disarmed se[ Arately. They who, themselves exiled on the 31st May, had suftherefore resolved to invest the ( onvention in a fered persecution, and learned mercy. hostile manner, require of the mem',ers to recal the The Convention showed themselves at the same obnoxious decrees, and allow the iation to make a time liberal to their protectors. General Berruyer, free and undictated election of its epresentatives. who commanded the volunteers of 1789, and other On the 13th Venddmiaire, co),esponding to the general officers employed on the Day of the Sections, 4th October, the civil affray, cr,nmonly called the were loaded with praises and preferment. But a Day of the Sections, took pl,.ce. The National separate triumph was destined to Bonaparte, as the Guards assembled, to the nuae ier of thirty thousand hero of the day. Five days after the battle, Barras men and upwards, but haviv no artillery. They solicited the attention of the Convention to the young advanced by different avenr es, in close columns, officer, by whose prompt and skilfuil dispositions tile but everywhere fbaund the,iost formidable resist- Tuileries had been protected on the 13th Vend&ance. One large force oc.dpied the quays on the nmiaire, and proposed that they should approve of left bank of the Seine, thl,atening the palace from General Bonaparte's appointmlent as second in conlthat side of -the river.,4other strong division ad- mand of the Army of the Interior, Barras himself' vanced on the Tuileries, through the street of St- still renmaining coilmander-in-chief. T'lle proposal Honol-e, designingto de} ouche on the palace, where was adopted by acclamation. The Convention rethe Convention was sitt ng, by the Rue de l'Echelle. tained their resentment against Menon, whom they They did so, without ouly reflecting that they were suspected of treachery; but Bonapa.rte inter'fering flanked on most points by strong posts in the lanes as a mediator, they were content to look over iis and crossings, defended by artillery. offence. The contest began in the Rue St.Honore. Bona- After this decided triumph over their opponents, parte had established a strong post with two guns at the Convention ostensibly laid down their authority, the Cul-de-Sac Dauphin, opposite to the Church of and retiring from the scene in their present characSt-Roch. He permitted the imprudent Parisians to ter, appeared upon it a-new in that of a Priml-y involve their long and dense columns in the narrow Assembly, in order to make choice of stch of their street without interruption, until they established a members as, by virtue of the decrees of two-thirds, body of grenadiers in the front of the church, as they were called, wereto remain on the stage, as and opposite to the position at the Cul-de Sac. members of the Legislative Councils of Elders and Each party, as usual, throws on the other the blame Five Hundred. of commencing the civil contest for which both were After this change of names and dresses, reprepared. But all agree the firing commenced with sembling the shifts of a strolling company of players, musketry. It was instantly followed by discharges the two-thirds of the old Convention, with one-third of grape —shot and cannister, which, pointed as the of members newly elected, took upon them the guns were, upon thick columns of the National administration of the new constitution. The two reGuards, arranged on the quays and in the narrow elected thirds formed a large proportion of' the streets, made an astounding carnage. The National councils, and were, in some respects, much like Guards offered a brave resistance, and even at- those unfortunate wonlen, who, gathered from jails tempted to rush on the artillery, and carry the guns and from the streets of the metropolis, have been by main force. But a measure which is desperate sometimes sent out to foreign settlements; and, enough in the open field, becomes impossible when however profligate their former lives may have the road to assault lies through narrow streets, which been, often regain character, and become tolerable are swept by the cannon at every discharge. The memrnbers cfsociety, in a change of scene and situation. citizens were compelled to give way. By a more The Directory consisted of Barras, Si6yes, Rewjudicious arrangement of their respective forces dif- bel, Letourneur de la Manche, and REveilldre ferent results might have been hoped; but how could LUpeaux, to the exclusion of Tallien, who was Danican in any circumstances have competed with deeply offended. Four of' these Directors were Bonaparte? The affair, in which several hundred refbrmed jacobins, or thermidoriens; tihe fifth, men were killed and wounded, was terminated as a Rdveilldre Lepeaux, was esteemed a girondist. general action in about an hour; and the victorious Sityes, whose taste was rather for speculating in troops of the Convention, marching into the different politics than acting in them, declined what he consections, completed the dispersion and disarmingof sidered a hazardous office, and was replaced by their opponents, an operation which lasted till late Carlnot. at night. The nature of the insurrection of the sections was The Convention used this victory with the mode- not ostensibly royalist, but several of its leaders ration which recollection of the reign of Terror had were of that party in secret, and, if successful, it inspired. Only two persons suffered death for the would most certainly have assumed that complexion,Day of the Sections. One of them, Lafond, had Thus, the first step of Napoleon's rise commenced LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 179 by the destruction of the hopes of the house of Botr- fered her share of revolutionary miseries. After her heon under the reviving influence of wlich, twenty husband, General Beauharnais, had been deprived years afterwards, he himself was obliged to succumb. of his command, she was arrested as a suspected Butthe long path which closed so darkly was now person, and detained in prison till the general liberaopening upon him in light and joy. Bonaparte's high tion, which succeeded the revolution of 9th Therservices, and the rank which he had obtained, midor. While in confinement, Madame Beauharnais rendered him now a young man of the first hope and had formed an intimacy'with a companion in disexpectation, mingling on terms of consideration tress, Madame Fontenai, now Madame Tallien, from ) among the rulers of the state, instead of being re- which she derived great advantages after her ti-iend's garded as a neglected stranger, supporting himself marriage. With a remarkably graceful person, with difficulty, and haunting public offices and bu- amiable manners, and an inexhaustible fund of goodreaux in vain, to obtain some chance of preferment, humour, Madame Beauharnais was formed to be an or even emp!oyment. ornament to society. Barras, the thermidorien hero, From second in command, the new general soon himself an ex-noble, was fond of society, desirous of' became General-in-chief of the Army of the Interior, enjoying it on an agreeable scale, and of washing Barras having found his duties as a Director were away the dregs which jacobinism had mingled with incompatible with those of military command. He all the dearest interests of life. He loved show, too, employed his genius, equally prompt and profound, and pleasure, and might now indulge both without in improving the state of the military forces; and, in the risk of falling under the suspicion of incivism, order to prevent the recurrence of such insurrections which, in the reign of Terror, would have been inas that of the 13th Venddmiaire; or Day of the Sec- curred by any attempt to intermingle elegance with tions, and as the many others by which it was the enjoyments of social intercourse. At the apartpreceded, he appointed and organized a guard for ments which he occupied, as one of the Directory, the protection of the representative body. in the Luxembourg Palace, he gave its free course As the dearth of bread, and other causes of to his natural taste, and assembled an agreeable I disaffection, continued to produce commotions in society of both sexes. Madame Tallien and her Paris, the General of the Interior was sometimes friend formed the soul of these assemblies, and it obliged to oppose them with the military force. On was supposed that Barras was not insensible to the one occasion, it is said, that when Bonaparte was charms of Madame Beauharnais,-a rumour which anxiously admonishing the multitude to disperse, a was likely to arise, whether with or without foundavery bulky woman exhorted them to keep their tion. ground. " Never mind these coxcombs with the When Madame Beauharnais and General Bonaepaulets," she said; " they do not care if we are parte became intimate, the latter assures us, and all starved, so they themselves feed and get fat." we see no reason to doubt him, that although the, -" Look at me, good woman," said Bonaparte, lady was two or three years older than himself,* yet who was then as thin as a shadow," and tell me being still in the full bloom of beauty, and extremely which is the fatter of us two." This turned the agreeable in her manners, he was induced, solely laugh against the Amazon, and the rabble dispersed by her personal charms, to make her an offer of his in good humour. If not among the most distinguish- hand, heart, and fortunes,-little supposing, of ed of Napoleon's victories, this is certainly worthy course, to what a pitch the latter were to arise. of record, as achieved at the least cost. Although he himself is said to have been a faMeantime circumstances, which we will relate talist, believing in destiny and in the influence of his according to his own statement, introduced Bona- star, he knew nothing, probably, of the prediction parte to an acquaintance, which was destined to of a negro sorceress, who, while Marie Jos6phine Ihave much influence on his future fate. A fine boy, was but a child, prophesied she should rise to a of ten or twelve years old, presented himself at the dignity greater than that of a queen, yet fall from it levee of the General of the Interior, with a request before her death.t This was one of those vague of a nature unusually interesting. He stated his auguries, delivered at random by fools or impostors, name to be Eugene Beauharnais, son of the ci- which the caprice of fortune sometimes matches devant Count de Beauharnais, who, adhering to the with a corresponding and conforming event. But revolutionary party, had been a general in the repub- without trusting to the Afirican sibyl's prediction, lican service upon the Rhine, and falling under the Bonaparte may have formed his match under the ca.seless suspicion of the Committee of Public * Bonaparte was then in his twenty-sixth year. Juos6Safety, was delivered to the Revolutionary T'ribunal, phine gave herself in the marriage contract for twentyand ftll by its sentence just four days before the eight. overthrow of Robespierre. Eugene was come to t A lady of high rank, who happened to live for some time request of Bonaparte, as General of the Interior, in the same convent at Paris, where Jos6phine was also a that his father's sword might be restored to him. pensioner or boarder, heard her mention the prophecy, The prayer of the young supplicant was as interest- and told it herself to the author, just about the time of the ing as his manners were engaging, and Napoleon Italian expedition, when Bonaparte was beginning to felt so much interest in him, that he was induced to attract notice. Another clause is usually added to the cultivate the acquaintance of Eugene's mother, prediction-that the party whom it concerned should die in cultivate the acquaintance of E ugne' s mother, an hospital, which was afterwards explained as referring afterwards the Emnpress Josephine. to Malmaison. This the author did not hear from the same This lady was a creolian, the daughter of a planter authority. The lady mentioned used to speak in the highest in Martinique. Her name at full length was Marie terms of the simple manners and great kindness of Madame [oseph Rose Tascher de la Pagerie. She had suf- Beauharnais. 180 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. auspices of ambition as well as love. The marrying which lay on the western side of these mountains, Madame Beauharnais was a mean of uniting his as naturally pertaining to their dominions; but they fortune with those of Barras and Tallien, the first of never deigned to respect themn as such, when the whom governed France as one of the Directors; and question respected their invading on their own part the last, from talents and political connexions, had the territories of other states, which lay on or beyond scarcely inferior influence. He had already deserved the formidable frontier. They assumed the law of well of them for his conduct on the Day of the Sec- natural limits as an unchallengeable rule when it tions, but he required their countenance to rise still made in favour of France, but never allowed it to higher; and without derogating from the bride's be quoted against her interest. merits, we may suppose her influence in their so- During the Revolutionary War, the general forciety corresponded with the views of her lover. It tune of battle had varied from time to time in the is, however, certain, that he always regarded her neighbourhood of these mighty boundaries. The with peculiar affection; that he relied on her fate, King of Sardinia possessed almost all the fortresses which he considered as linked with and strengthen- which command the passes on these mountains, ing his owvn; and reposed, besides, considerable and had therefore been said to wear the keys of confidence in Jos6phine's tact and address in poli- the Alps at his girdle. He had indeed lost his tical business. She had at all times the art of mi- Dukedom of Savoy, and the County of Nice, in the tigating his temper, and turning aside the hasty last campaign; but he still maintained in opposition determinations of his angry moments, not by directly to the French a very considerable army, and was opposing, but by gradually parrying and disarming supported by his powerful ally the Emperor of Austhem. It must be added to her great praise, that tria, always vigilant regarding that rich and beautishe was always a willing, and often a successfill ad- ful portion of his dominions which lies in the north vocate, in the cause of humanity. of Italy. The frontiers of Piedmont were therefore They were married 9th March, 1796; and the covered by a strong Austro-Sardinian army, opdowry of the bride was the chief command of the posed to the French armies to which Napoleon had Italian armies, a scene which opened a full career been just named commander-in-chief: A strong to the ambition of the youthful general. Bonaparte Neapolitan force was also to be added, so that in remained with his wife only three days after his general numbers their opponents were much supemarriage, hastened to see his family, who were still ior to the French; but a great part of this force at Marseilles, and, having enjoyed the pleasure ofex- was cooped up in garrisons which could not be hibiting himself as a favourite of Fortune in the city abandoned. which he had lately left in the capacity of an in- It may be imagined with what delight the general, digent adventurer, proceeded rapidly to commence scarce aged twenty-six, advanced to an independent the career to which Fate called him, by placing field of glory and conquest, confident in his own himself at the head of the Italian army. powers, and in the perfect knowledge of the country which he had acquired, when, by his scientific plans of the campaign, he had enabled General Dumerbion CHAPTER XXI. to drive the Austrians back, and obtain possession of the Col di Tende, Saorgio, and the gorges of The Alps.-Feelings and views of Bonaparte on being the hiher Alp Bonaparte's achievements had appointed to the command of the Army of Italy-General hher account of his neC. principles of warfare -Mountainous hitherto been under the auspices of others. He countries peculiarly favourable to them -Retrospect of made the dispositions before Toulon, but it was military proceedings since October, 1795.-Hostility of Dugommior who had the credit of taking the place. the French government to the pope.-Massacre of the Dumerbion, as we have just said, obtained the merit French envoy Basseville, at Rome.-Austrian army un- of the advantages in Piedmont. Even in the civil der Beauliet.-Napoleon's plan for entering Italy- turmoil of 13th Vendl niaire, his actual services had attle of Montte Notte, and Bonaparte's first victory- been overshaded by the official dignity of Barras, as Again defeats the Austrians at Millesimo-and again under Coli-Takes possession of Cherascommander-in-chief. But if he reaped honour in itnder Colli —Takes possession of Cherasco. —King of Sardinia requests an armistice, which leads to a peace, Ttaly, the success would be exclusively his own; concluded on very severe terms.-Close of the Pied- and that proud heart must have throbbed to meet montese campaign.-Napoleon's character at this pe- danger upon such terms, that keen spirit have toiled riod. to discover the means of success. For victory, he relied chiefly upon a system of NAPOLEON has himself observed, that no country tactics hitherto unpractised in war, or at least upon in the world is more distinctly marked out by its any considerable or uniform scale. It may not be natural boundaries than Italy. The Alps seem a unnecessary to pause, to take a general view of the barrier erected by Nature herself, on which she has principles which he now called into action. inscribed, in gigantic characters, "Here let Ambi- Nations in the savage state, being constantly ention be staid." Yet this tremendous circumvallation gaged in war, always form for themselves some peof mountains, as it could not prevent the ancient culiar mode of fighting, suited to the country they Romans from breaking out to desolate the world, so inhabit, and to the mode in which they are armed. it has been in like manner found, ever since the days The North-American Indian becomes formidable of Hannibal, unequal to protect Italy herself from as a rifleman or sharp-shooter, lays ambuscades in invasion. The French nation, in the times of which his pathless forests, and practises all the arts of we treat, spoke indeed of the Alps as a natural irregular war. The Arab, or Scythian, manceuvres boundary, so far as to authorise them to claim all his clouds of cavalry, so as to envelope and de LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 181 stroy his enemy in his deserts by sudden onsets, ra- thought it more prudent to frustrate and to antipid retreats, and unexpected rallies; desolating the cipate. country around, cutting off his antagonist's supplies, Great sacrifices were necessary to enable the and practising, in short, the species of war proper to French troops to move with that degree of celerity a people superior in light cavalry. which Bonaparte's combinations required. He made The first stage of civilization is less favourable to no allowance for impediments or unexpected obsuccess in war. As a nation advances in the peace- stacles; the time which he had calculated for exefill arts, and the character of the soldier begins to cution of manoeuvres prescribed, was on no account be less familiarly united with that of the citizen, to be exceeded-every sacrifice was to be made of' this system of natural tactics falls out of practice; baggage, stragglers, even artillery, rather than the and when foreign invasion, or civil broils, call the column should arrive too late at the p)irt of its inhabitants to arms, they have no idea save that of destination. Hence, all that had hitherto been confinding out the enemy, rushing upon him, and corn- sidered as essential not only to the health, but to the mitting the event to superior strength, bravery, or very existence of an army, was in a great measure numbers. An example may be seen in the great dispensed with in the French service; and, for the Civil War of England, where men fought on both first time, troops were seen to take the field without sides, in almost every county of the kingdom, with- tents, without camp-equipage, without magazines of out any combination, or exact idea of uniting in mu- provisions, without military hospitals;-the soldiers tual support, or nanocuvring so as to form their in- eating as they could, sleeping where they could, sulated bands into an anmy of preponderating force. dying where they could; but still advancing, still At least, what was atte.npjted f;r that purpose must combating, and still victorious. have been on the rudest plan possible, where, even It is true, that the abandonment of every object, in actual fight, that leant of an army which obtained save success in the field, augmented frightfully all any advantage pursued it as far as they could, in- the usual horrors of war. The soldier with arms in stead of using their success for the support of their his hands, and wanting bread, became a marauder comnpanions; so that the main body was often de- in self-defence; and in supplying his wants by feated, when a victorious wing was in pursuit of rapine, did mischief to the inhabitants in a degree those whom their first onset had broken. infinitely beyond the benefit he himself' received; But as war becomes a profession, and a subject for it may be said of military requisition, as truly as of deep study, it is gradually discovered, that the of despotism, that it resembles the proceedings of a principles of tactics depend upon mathematical and savage, who cuts down a tree to come at the fruit. arithmetical science; and that the commander will Still, though purchased at a high rate, that advantage be victorious who can assemble the greatest number was gained by this rapid system of tactics, which in of forces upon the same point at the same moment, a slower progress, during which the soldier was notwithstanding an inferiority of numbers to the regularly maintained, and kept under the restraint enemy when the general force is computed on both of discipline, might have been rendered doubtfidl. sides. No man ever possessed in a greater degree It wasted the army through disease, fatigue, and all than Bonaparte, the power of calculation and corn- the consequences of want and toil; but still the vicbination necessary for directing such decisive ma- tory was attained, and that was enough to make the nceuvlres. It constituted indeed his secret-as it survivors fobrget their hardships, and to draw forth was for some time called-and that secret consisted new'recruits to replace the fallen. Patient of lain an imagination fertile in expedients which would bours, light of heart and temper, and elated by never have occurred to others; clearness and pre- success beyond all painfil recollections, the French cision in forming his plans; a mode of directing soldiers were the very men calculated to execute with certainty the separate moving columns which this desperate species of service under a chief;, were to execute them, by arranging so that each who, their sagacity soon discovered, was stlle to lead division should arrive on the destined position at to victory all those who could sustain the hardships the exact time when their service was necessary; by which it was to be won. and, above all, in the knowledge which enabled The character of the mountainous countries, such a master-spirit to chuse the most fitting sub- among which he was for the first time to exercise ordinate implements, to attach them to his person, his system, was highly favourable to Bonaparte's and, by explaining to theni so much of his plan as it views. Presenting many lines and defensible posiwas necessary each should execute, to secure the tions, it induced the Austrian generals to become exertion of their utmost ability in carrying it into stationary, and occupy a considerable extent of effect. ground, according to their old system of tactics. But.Thus, not only were his manoeuvres, however though abounding in such positions as might at first daring, executed with a precision which warlike sight seem absolutely impregnable, and were too operations had not attained before his time; but often trusted to as such, the mountains also exhibitthey were also performed with a celerity which gave ed to the sagacious eye of a great captain, gorges, them almost always the effect of surprise. Napoleon defiles, and difficult and unsuspected points of acwas like lightning in the eyes of his enemies; and cess, by which he could turn the positions that apwhen repeated experience had taught them to expect peared in firont so formidable; and, by threatening this portentous rapidity of movement, it somnetimes them on the flank and on the rear, compel the enemy induced his opponents to wait, in a dubious and to a battle at disadvantage, or to a retreat with hesitating posture, for attacks, which, with less loss. apprehllension of their antagonist, they would have The forces which Bonaparte had under his com 182 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. mand, were between fifty and sixty thousand good he was not the person to whom the Directory detroops, having, many of them, been brought fronm the sired to intrust the daring plan of assuming the Spanish campaign, in consequence of the peace with offensive on a grand scale upon the Alpine frontier, that country; but very indifferently provided with and, by carrying their arms into Italy, compelling clothing, and suffering from the hardships they had the Austrians to defend themselves in that quarter, endured in those mountainous, barren, and cold and to diminish the gigantic efforts which that regions. The cavalry, in particular, were in very power had hitherto continued with varied success, poor order; but the nature of their new field of but unabated vigour, upon the Rhine. The rulers of action not admitting of their being much employed, France had a farther object in this bold scheme. rendered this of less consequence. 1The misery of They desired to intimidate, or annihilate and dethe French army, until these Alpine campaigns were throne the pope. He was odious to them as head of victoriously closed by the armistice of Cherasco, the church, because the attachment of tile French could, according to Bonaparte's authority,* scarce clergy to the Roman See, and the points of conbear description. The fficers for several years had science which rested upon that dependence, had received no more than eight livres a month (twenty- occasioned the recusancy of the priests, especially pence sterling a-week) in name of pay, and staff- of those who were most esteemed by the people, to officers had not amongst them a single horse. Ber- take the constitutional oath. To the pope, and his thier preserved, as a curiosity, an order, dated on claims of supremacy, were therefore laid tile charge the day of the victory of Albenga, which munificent- of the great civil war il La Vendde, and the gely conferred a gratuity of three louis-d'or upon neral disaffection of the catholics in the south of every general of division.t Among the generals to France. whom this donation was rendered acceptable by But this was not the only cause of the animosity their wants, were, or might have been, many whose entertained by the Directory against the head of the names became afterwards the praise and dread of catholic church. They had three years before suswar. Augereau, Massdna, Serrurier, Joubert, Lannes, tained an actual injury from the see of Rome, and Murat, all generals of the first consideration, which was yet unavenged. The people of Rome served under Bonaparte in the Italian campaign. were extremely provoked that the French residing The position of the French army had repeatedly there, and particularly the young artists, had disvaried since October, 1795, after the skirmish at played the three-coloured cockade, and were proCairo. At that time the extreme left of the line, posing to exhibit the scutcheon containing the which extended from south to north, rested upon the emblems of the Republic over the door of the French Col d'Argentine, and communicated with the higher consul. The pope, through his minister, had inAlps-the centre was on the Col di Tende and timated his desire that this should not be attempted, Mont Bertrand-the left occupied the heights of as he had not acknowledged the Republic as a legiSaint Bertrand, Saint Jacques, and other ridges run- timate government. The French, however, pursued ning in the sanme direction, which terminated on the their purpose; and the consequence was, that a Mediterranean shore, near Finale. popular commotion arose, which the papal troops did The Austrians, strongly reinforced, attacked this not greatly exert themselves to suppress. The line; and carried the heights of Mont Saint Jacques: carriage of the French envoy, or charg6-d'afthires, and Kellermann, after a vain attempt to regain that named Basseville, was attacked in the streets, and point of his position, retreated to the line of defence chased home; his house was broken into by the mob, more westward, which rests on Borghetto. Keller- and he himself, unarmed and unresisting, was cruelly mann, an active and good brigade officer, but with- assassinated. The French government considered out sufficient talent to act as commander-in-chief, this very naturally as a gross insult, and were the was superseded, and Sch6rer was placed in corn- more desirous of avenging it, that by doing so they mand of the Army of Italy. He risked a battle with would approach nearer to the dignified conduct of the Austrians near Loano, in which the talents of the Roman republic, wrhich, in good or evil, seems Mass6na and Angereau were conspicuous; and by always to have been their model. The affair hapthe victory which ensued, the French regained the pened in 1793, but was not forgotten in 1796. line of Saint Jacques and Finale, which Kellermann The original idea entertained by the French gohad been forced to abandon; so that, in a general vernment for prosecuting their resentment, had been point of view, the relative position of the two op- by a proposed landing at Civita Vecchia with an posed armies was not very different from that in army of ten thousand men, marching to 12ome, and which they had been left by Bonaparte. exacting from the pontiff complete atonement for But though Schdrer had been thus far victorious, the murder of Basseville. But as the English fleet rode unopposed in the Mediterranean, it became a * MeJnoires Icrits ai Ste-Mbtllne, soets la dicte de IlEm- matter of very doubtfil success to transport such a pereu~r, par le General ComtC de Montholon, vol. I, body of troops to Civita Vecchia by sea, not to p. 192; 5 vols 8vo, Paris, 1S23. mention the chance that, even if safely landtd, they t This piece of generosity reminds us of the liberality of would have found tlemselves in the centre ofItaly, the Kings of Brentford to their Knightsbridge forces- from supplies and cours, assaulted n all First King. Here, take five guineas to these warlike t offom supplies and st c ours, assaltel ob all nlen. hands, and most probably blockaded by the British Second King. And here, five more, which makes the fleet. Bonaparte, who;was consulted, recommendsum just ten. ed that the north of Italy should be first conquered, Herald. We have not seen so much the Lord knows in order that Romne might be with safety approached wbhen! and chastised; and this scheme, though in appear LIFt OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 183 ance scarce a less bold measure, was a much safer ning to the south-east, gradually elevate themselves one than the Directory had at first inclined to, since to Monte Velino, the tallest mountain of the range. Bonaparte would only approach Rome in the event To attain his object of turning the Alps in the of his being able to preserve his communications manner proposed, it was necessary that Bonaparte with Lombardy and Tuscany, which he must con- should totally change the situation of his army; quer in the first place. those occupying a defensive line, running north and The plan of crossing the Alps and marching into south, being to assume an offensive position, exItaly, suited in every respect the ambitious and self- tending east and west. Speaking of an army as f confident character of the general to whom it was a battalion, he was to form into column upon tl4 now intrusted. It gave him a separate and inde- right of the line which he had hitherto occupied. pendent authority, and the power of acting on his This was an extremely delicate operation, to be own judgment and responsibility; for his country- undertaken in presence of an active enemy, his suman Salicetti, the deputy who accompanied him as perior in numbers; nor was he permitted to execute commissioner of the government, was not probably it uninterrupted. much disposed to intrude his opinions. He had No sooner did Beaulieu learn that the French been Bonaparte's patron, and was still his friend. general was concentrating his forces, and about to The young general's mind was made up to the alter- change his position, than he hastened to preserve native of conquest or ruin, as may be judged from Genoa, without possession of which, or at least of his words to a friend at taking leave of him. " In the adjacent territory, Bonaparte's scheme of adthree months," he said, " I will be either at Milan vance could scarce have been accomplished. The or at'Paris," intimating at once his desperate reso- Austrian divided his army into three bodies. Colli, lution to succeed, and his sense that the disappoint- at the head of a Sardinian division, he stationed on ment of all his prospects must be the consequence the extreme right at Ceva; his centre division, of a failure. under d'Argenteau, having its head at Sasiello, had WVith the same view of animating his followers to directions to march on a mountain called Monte ambitious "hopes, he addressed the.Arnmy of Italy to Notte, with two villages of the same name, near the following purpose: —" Soldiers, you are hungry to which was a strong position at a place called and naked-The Republic owes you much, but she Montelegino, which the French had occupied in has not the means to acquit herself of her debts. order to cover their flank during their march toThe patience with which you support your hard- wards the east. At the head of his left wing, ships among these barren rocks is admirable, but it Beaulieu himself moved from Novi upon Voltri, a cannot procure you glory. I am come to lead you into small town within ten miles of Genoa, for the prothe most fertile plains that tLe sun beholds-Rich tection of that ancient city, whose independence and provinces, opulent towns, honour, glory, wealth, all neutrality were like to be held in little reverence. shall be at your disposal-Soldiers, with such a Thus it appears, that while the French were en-> prospect before you, can you fail in courage and deavouring to penetrate into Italy by an advance constancy?" This was showing the deer to the from Sardinia by the way of Genoa, their line of hound when the leash is about to be slipped. march was threatened by three armies of AustroThle Austro-Sardinian army, to which Bonaparte Sardinians, descending from the skirts of the Alps, was opposed, was commanded by Beaulieu, an Aus- and menacing to attack their flank. But, though a trian general of great experience and some talent, skilful disposition, Beaulieu's had, from the very but no less than seventy-five years old; accustomed mountainous character of the country, the great disall his life to the ancient rules of tactics, and un- advantage of wanting connexion between the three likely to suspect. anticipate, or fiustrate, those separate divisions; neither, if needful, could they plans, formed by a genius so fertile as that of be easily united on any point desired, while the Napoleon. lower line, on which the French moved, permitted Bonaparte's plan for entering Italy differed from constant communication and co-operation. that of former conquerors and invaders, who had On the 10th of April, 1796, d'Argenteau, with the approached that fine country by penetrating or sur- central division of the Austro-Sardinian army, demounting at some point or other her Alpine barriers. scended upon Monte Notte, while Beaulieu on the This inventive warrior resolved to attain the same left attacked the van of the French army, which object, by turning round the southern extremity of' lad come as far as Voltri. General Cervoni, comthe Alpine range, keeping as close as possible to the manding the French division which sustained the shores of the Mediterranean, and passing tVhrough attack of Beaulieu, was compelled to fall back on the Genoese territory by the narrow pass called the the mnain body of Ihis countrymen; and had the Bocchetta, leading around the extremity of the assault of d'Argenteau been equally animated, or mountains, and betwixt these and the sea. Thus equally successful, the fame of Bonaparte might he proposed to penetrate into Italy by the lowest have been stifled in the birth. But Colonel Ramlevel which the surface of the country presented, pon, a French officer, who commanded the redoubts which must be of course where the range of the near Montelegino, stopped the progress of d'ArAlps unites with that of the Appenines. The genteau by the most determined resistance. At the point of junction where these two immense ranges head of not more than fifteen hundred men, whom of mountains touch upon each other is at the heights he inspired with his own courage, and caused to of Mont Saint Jacques, above Genoa, where the swear either to maintain their post or die there, he Alps, running north-westward, ascend to Mont continued to defend the redoubts, during the whole Blanc, their highest peak, and the Appenines, run- of the 11th, until d'Argenteau, whose conduct was 184 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. afterwards greatly blamed for not making more turning Beaulieu's left flank. Augereau was the first determined efforts to carry them, drew off his forces who came in contact with the enemy. He attacked for the evening, intending to renew the attack next General Colli on the 13th April. His troops, enilmorning. lous of the honolr acquired by their companions, But on the morning of the 12th, the Austrian behaved with great bravery, rushed upon the outgeneral found himself surrounded with enemies. posts of the Sardinian army at Millesimo, forced, Cervoni, who retreated befobre Beaulieu, had united and retained possession of the gorge by which it was himself with Laharpe, and both advancing north- defended, and thus separated from the Sardinian ward during the night of the 11th, established them- army a body of about two thousand men, under the selves in the rear of the redoubts of Montelegino, Austrian General Provera, who occupied a detachwhich Rampon had so gallantly defended. This ed eminence called Cossaria, which covered the was not all. The divisions of Augereau and Mas- extreme left of General Colli's position. But the sena had marched by different routes, on the flank Austrian showed the nlost obstinate courage. Aland on the rear of d'Argenteau's column; so that though surrounded by the enemy, lie threw himself next morning, instead of renewing his attack on the into the ruinous castle of Cossaria, which crowned redoubts, the Austrian general was obliged to ex- the eminence, and showed a disposition to maintain tricate himself by a disastrous retreat, leaving be- the place to the last; the rather that, as he could see hind him colours and qannon, a thousand slain, and from the turrets of his strong-hold the Sardinian two thousand prisoners. troops, from whom he had been separated, preparSuch was the battle of Monte Notte, the first of ing to fight on the ensuing day, he might reasonably Bonaparte's victories; eminently displaying that hope to be disengaged. truth and mathematical certainty of combination, Bonaparte in person came up; and seeing the newhich enabled him on many more memorable occa- cessity of dislodging the enemy from this strong post, sions, even when his forces were inferior in numbers, ordered three successive attacks to be made on the and apparently disunited in position, suddenly to con- castle. Joubert, at the head of one of the attacking centlate them and defeat his enemy, by overpower- columns, had actually, with six or seven others, ing him on the very point where he thought himself made his way into the outworks, when he was struck strongest. He had accumulated a superior force on down by a wound in the blead. General Banal and the Austrian centre, and destroyed it, while Colli, Adjutant-general Quenin fell, each at the head of the on the right, and Beaulieu himself, on the left, each column which he commanded; and Bonaparte was at the head of numerous forces, did not even hear of compelled to leave the obstinate Provera in possesthe action till it was fought and won. sion of the castle for the night. The morning of the In consequence of the success at Monte Notte, 14th brought a different scene. Contenting himself and the close pursuit of the defeated Austrians, the with blockading the castle of Cossaria, Bonaparte French obtained possession of Cairo, which placed now gave battle to General Colli, who made every them on that side of the Alps which slopes towards effort to relieve it. These attempts were all in vain. Lormbardy, and where the streams fiomn these He was defeated and cut off from Beaulieu; he renountains run to join the Po. tired as well as lie could upon Ceva, leaving to his Beaulieu had advanced to Voltri, while the French fate the brave General Provera, who was compelled withdrew to unite themselves in the attack upon to surrender at discretion. d'Argentean. He had now to retreat northward On the same day, Massena, withthe centre, attack\with all haste to Dego, in the valley of the river ed the heights of Biastro, being tile point of comnmuniBormida, in order to resume conlilunication with cation betwixt Beaulieu and Colli, while Laharpe, the right wing of his army, consisting chiefly of having crossed the Bormida, where the stream came Sardinians, from which he was now nearly separated lp to the soldiers' middle, attacked in front and in by the defeat of the centre. General Colli, by a flank the village of Lego, where the Austrian coincorresponding miovement on the right, occupied Mil- mander-it-chief was stationed. The first attack was lesirno, a small town about nine miles from Dego, completely successfuhl,-the heights of Biastro were with which he resumed and maintained colnmunica- carried, and the Piedmontese routed. The assault of tiou by a brigade stationed on the heights of Biastro. Dego was not less so, although after a harder struggle. From the strength of this position, though his forces Beaulieu was compelled to retreat, and was entirely wvere scarce sufficiently concentrated, Beaulieu hop- separated from the Sardinians, who had hitherto acted ed to maintain his ground till he should receive sup- in conlbination with him. The defenders of Italy plies front Lombardy, and recover the consequences now retreated in different directions, Colli moving of the defeat at Monte Notte. But the antagonist westward towards Ceva, while Beaulliemu, closely whom he had in front had no purpose of permitting pursued through a difficult country, retired upon himn such respite. Acqui. Determined upon a general attack on all points of Even the morning after the victory, it was nearly the Austrian position, the French army advanced wrested out of the hands of the conquerors. A fiesh in three bodies upon a space of four leagues in ex- division ofAtustrians, who had evacuated Voltri later tent. Augerean, at the head of the division which than the others, and were approaching to forni a had not fought at Monte Notte, advanlced on the left junction with their general, found the enemy in posagainst Millesimo; the centre, under Massena, di- session ofBeaulieu'sposition. They arrived atDego rected themselves upon Dego, by the vale of the like men who had been led astray, and were no doubt Bormida; the right wing, commanided by Laharpe, surprised at finding it in the hands of the French. manowtavred on the right of all, for the purpose of Yet they did not hesitate to assume the offensive, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 185 and by a brisk attack drove out the enemy, and re- to get them into order. But the desperate valour of placed the Austrian eagles in the village. Great Murat, unrivaled perhaps in the heady charge of alarm was occasioned by this sudden apparition; for cavalry combat, renewed the fortune of the field; no one among the French could conceive the mean- and the horse, as well as the infantry of Colli's army, ing of an alarm beginning on the opposite quarter were compelled to a disastrous retreat. The defeat to that on which the enemy had retreated, and was decisive; and the Sardinians, after the loss of without its being announced from the outposts the best of theirtroops, their cannon, baggage, and towards Acqui. appointments, and being now totally divided from Bonaparte hastily marched on the village. The their Austrian allies, and liable to be overpowered Austrians repelled two attacks; at the third, Ge- by the united forces of the French army, had no neral Lanusse, afterwards killed in Egypt, put his longer hopes of effectually covering Turin. Bonahat upon the point of his sword, and, advancing to parte, pursuing his victory, took possession of the charge, penetrated into the place. LannPs also, Cherasco, within ten leagues of' the Piedmontese afterwards Duke of Montebello, distinguished him- capital. self on the same occasion by courage and military Thus fortune, in the course of a campaign of skill, and was recommended by Bonaparte to the scarce a month, placed her favourite in full possesDirectory for promotion. In this battle of Dego, sion of the desired road to Italy, by command of the more commonly called of Millesimo, the Austro- mountain-passes, which had leeu invaded and conSardinian army lost five or six thousand men, thirty quered with so much military skill. He had gained pieces of cannon, with a great quantity of baggage. three battles over forces far superior to his own; Besides, the Austrians were divided from the Sar- inflicted on the enemy a loss of twenty-five thousand dinians; and the two generals began to show, not men in killed, wounded, and prisoners; taken eighty only that their forces were disunited, but that they pieces of cannon, and twenty-one stand of colours; themselves were acting upon separate motives; the reduced to inaction the Austrian army; almost anniSardinians desiring to protect Turin, whereas the hilated that of Sardinia; and stood in full communimovements of Beaulieu seenled still directed to pre- cation with France upon the eastern side of the vent the French fi-om entering the Milanese terri- Alps, with Italy lying open before him, as if to tory. invite his invasion. But it was not even with such Leaving a sufficient force on the Bormida to keep laurels, and with facilities which now presented in check Beaulieu, Bonaparte now turned his strength themselves for the accomplishment of new and more against Colli, who, overpowered, and without hopes important victories upon a larger scale, and with of succour, abandoned his line of defence near Ceva, more magnificent results, that the career of Bonaand retreated to the line of the Tanaro. parte's earliest campaign was to be closed. The Napoleon in the meantime fixed his head-quarters head of the royal house of Savoy, if not one of the at Ceva, and enjoyed from the heights of Monteze- most powerful, still one of the most distinguished moto, the splendid view of the fertile fields of Pied- in Europe, was to have the melancholy experience, mont stretching in boundless perspective beneath his that he had encountered with the Man of Destiny, feet, watered by the Po, the Tanaro, and a thousand as he was afterwards proudly called, who for a time other streams which descend from the Alps. BtFbre had power, in the emphatic phrase of Scripture, " to the eyes of the delighted army of victors lay this bind kings with chains, and nobles with fetters of rich expanse like a promised land; behind them iron." was the wilderness they had passed;-not in leed a The shattered relics of the Saldinian army had desert of barren sand, similar to that in which the fallen back, or rather fled, to within two leagues Israelites wandered, but a huge tract of rocks and of Turin, without hope of being again able to make inaccessible mountains, crested with ice and snow, an effectual stand. The Sovereign of Sardinia, seeming by nature designed as the barrier and ram- Savoy, and Piedmont, had no means of preserving part of the blessed regions, which stretched east- his capital, nay, his existence on the continent, exward beneath them. We can sympathize with the cepting by an almost total submission to the will of self-congratulation of the general who had sur- the victor. Let it be remembered, that Victor mounted such tremendous obstacles in a way so Amadeus the Third was the descendant of a race unusual. He said to the officers around him, as of heroes, who, from the peculiar situation of their they gazed upon this magnificent scene, " Hannibal territories, as constituting a neutral ground of great took the Alps by storm. We have succeeded as strength betwixt France and the Italian posseswell by turning their flank." sions of Austria, had often been called on to play The dispirited army of Colli was attacked at a part in the general affairs of Europe, of imMondovi during his retreat, by two corps of Bona- portance far superior to that which their condition parte's army, from two different points, commanded as a second-rate power could otherivise have deby Massena and Serrurier. The last general, the manded. In general, they had compensated their Sardinian repulsed with loss; but when he found inferiority of force by an ability and gallantry which Massena, in the meantime, was turning the left of did them the highest credit, both as generals and as his line, and that he was thus pressed on both flanks, politicians; and now Piedmont was at the feet, in his situation became almost desperate. Thecavalry her turn, of an enemy weaker in numnbers than her of the Piedmontese made an effort to renew the own. Besides the reflections on the past fame of combat. For a time they overpowered and drove his country, the present humiliating situation of the back those of the French; and General Stengel, king was rendered more mortifying by the state of who commanded the latter, was slain in attempting his family connexions. Victor Amadeus was the VOL. v. 24 186 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BON BONAPARTE. father in-law of Mo isieur (by right Louis XVIII.), more impressive, than the figurative and bombastic and of the Count d'Artois (the reigning king of style which he afterwards used in his bulletins. France). He had received his sons-in-law at his His self-opinion, perhlaps, was not risen so high as i court at Turin, had afforded them an opportunity of to permit him to use the sesquipedalian words and assembling around them their forces, consisting of violent metaphors, to which he afterwards seems to the emigrant noblesse, and had strained all the hlave given a preference. We may remark also, power he possessed, and in many instances success- that the young victor was honourably anxious to fully, to withstand both the artifices and the arms secure for such officers as distinguished themselves, of the French republicans. And now, so born, so the preferment which their services entitled them connected, and with such principles, he was con.- to. He urges the promotion of his brethren in arms demned to sue for peace on any terms which might in almost every one of his dispatches,-a conduct be dictated, from a general of France aged twenty- not only just and generous, but also highly politic. six years, who, a few months before, was desirous -Were his recommendations successful, their geof an appointment in the artillery service of the neral had the gratitude due for the benefit; were Grand Seignor! they overlooked, thanks equally belonged to him An armistice was requested by the King of Sar- for his good wishes, and the resentment for the dinia under these afflicting circumstances, but could slight attached itself' to the government, who did only be purchased by placing two of his strongest not give effect to them. fortresses,-those keys of the Alps, of which his If'Bonaparte spoke simply and modestly on his ancestors had long been the keepers,-Coni and own achievements, the bombast which he spared Tortona, in the hands of the French, and thus ac- was liberally dealt out to the council by an orator knowledging that he surrendered at discretion. naned Daubermesnil, who invokes all bards, fi'om The armistice was agreed on at Cherasco, but com- Tyrtaeus and Ossian down to the author of the Marmissioners were sent by the king to Paris, to ar-:.eillais hymn-all painters, from Apelles to David range with the Directory the final terms of peace. -all musicians, from Orpheus to the author of the These were such as victors give to the vanquished. Chant du cdpart, to) sing, paint, and compose Besides the fortresses already surrendered, the music, upon the achievements of the general and King of Sardinia was to place in the hands of the army of Italy. French five others of the first importance. The With better taste, a medal of Bonaparte was road from France to Italy was to be at all times struck in the character of the Conqueror of the open to the French armies; and indeed the king, battle of Monte Notte. The face is extremely by surrender of the places mentioned, had lost the thin, with lank hair, a striking contrast to the fleshy power of interrupting their progress. He was to square countenance exhibited on his later coins. break off every species of alliance and connexion On the reverse, Victory, bearing a palm-branch, a -with the combined powers at war with France, and wreath of laurel, and a naked sword, is seen flying become bound not to entertain at his court, or in over the Alps. This medal we notice as the first his service, any French emigrants whatsoever, or of the splendid series which records the victories any of their connexions; nor was an exception even and honours of Napoleon, and which was designed made in favour of his own two daughters. In short, by Denon as a tribute to the genius of his patron. the surrender was absolute. Victor Amadeus exhibited the utmost reluctance to subscribe this CHAPTER XXII. treaty, and did not long survive it. His son succeeded in name to the kingdom of Piedmont; but Fertherprogress of the French army tnder Bonapartethe fortresses and passes, which had rendered him He crosses the Po, at Placenza, on 7th Many.-Battle of a prince of some importance, were, excepting Turin, Lodi takes place on the 10th, in which the French are and one or two of minor consequence, all surren- victorions.-Ren ark, on Napoleon's tactics in this celederled into the hands of the French. brated action.-French take possessionr of Cremona and Viewing this treaty with Sardinia as the close of Pizzightittone.-A-ilan deserted by the Archduke Ferdiand and his duchess.-Bonaparte enters Milan on the tIme,iedmontese campaign we pause to consider 14th M31ay.-Geleral situation of the Italian States at the character which Bonaparte displayed at that this period.-Napoleon inflicts./tes upon the leztraland period. Th.e talents as a general which lhe had unoffending States of Parna and Modeena, and extorts exhibited were of the very first order. There was the surrender of some of theirfinest pictures.-Remnarks no disconnexion in his objects, they were all attain- upeon this novel procedure. ed by the very means he proposed, and the success was improved to the utmost. A different conduct THE ardent disposition of Bonaparte did not long iusually characterizes those who stumble unexpect- permit him to rest after the advantages which he edly on victory, either by good fortune or by tile had secured. He had gazed on Italy with an valour of their troops. When the favourable op- eagle's eye; but it was ouly for a moment, ere stoopportunity occurs to such leaders, they are nearly ing on her with the wing, and pouncing on her with as much embarrassed by it as by a defeat. But the talons, of the king,of birds. Bonaparte, who had foreseen the result of each A general with less extraordinary talent would operation by his sagacity, stood also prepared to perhlaps have thought it sufficient to have obtained mnake the most of the advantages which might be possession of Piedmont, revolutionizing its governderived firom it. nment as the French had done that of Holland, and IHis style in addressing the Directory was, at this would lhave awaited fresh supplies and reinforceperiod, more modest and simple, and therefore nients from France before advancing to farther and LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 18 7 more distant conquests, and leaving the Alps under To encourage this ardour, Bonaparte circulated the dominion of a hostile, though for the present a an address, in which, complimenting the army on subdued and disarmed monarchy. But Bonaparte the victories they had gained, he desired them at had studied the campaign of Villars in these regions, the same time to consider nothing as won so long as and was of opinion that it was by that general's tilhe Austrians held Milan, and while the ashes of hesitation to advance boldly into Italy, after the those who had conquered the Tarquins were soiled victories which the Marshal de Coigny had obtained by the presence of the assassins of Basseville. It at Parma and Guastalla, that the enemy had been would appear that classical allusions are either enabled to assemble an accumulating force, before familiar to the French soldiers, or that, without which the French were compelled to retreat. He being more learned than others of their rank, they determined, therefore, to give the Republic of are pleased with being supposed to understand Venice, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and other them. They probably considered the oratory of States in Italy, no time to muster forces, and take a their great leader as soldier-like words, and words decided part, as they were likely to do, to oppose a of exceeding good command. The English soldier, French invasion. Their terror and surprise could addressed in such flights of eloquence, would either not fail to be increased by a sudden irruption; have laughed at them, or supposed that he had got while months, weeks, even days of consideration a crazed play-actor put over him, instead of a genenight afford those States, attached as the rulers ral. But there is this peculiar trait in the French must be to their ancient oligarchical forms of govern- character, that they are willing to take everything ment, timle and composure to assume arms to main- of a complimentary kind in the manner in which it tain them. A speedy resolution was the moreneces- seems to be meant. They appear to have made sary, as Austria, alarmed for her Italian possessions, that bargain with themselves on many points, which was about to make every effort for their defence. the audience usually do in a theatre, to accept of Orders had already been sent by the Aulic Council the appearance of thins for the reality. They never of War to detach an army of thirty thousand men, inquire whether a triumphal arch is of stone or of under Wurmser, from the Army of the Rhine to the wood; whether a scutcheon is of solid Inetal, or frontiers of Italy. These were to be strengthened only gilt; or whether a speech, of which the tenby other reinforcements from the interior, and by dency is flattering to their national vanity, contains such forces as could be raised in the mountainous genuine eloquence, or only tumid extravagance. district of the Tyrol, which furnishes perhaps the All tholights were therefore turned to Italy. The mnost experienced and most formidable sharp-shoot- fortress of Tortona was surrendered to the French ers in the world. The whole was to be united to by the King of Sardinia; Bonaparte's head-quarters the fragments of Beaulieu's defeated troops. If were fixed there. Mass6na concentrated another suffered to form a junction, and arrange their plans part of the army at Alexandria, menacing Milan, for attack or defence, an armry, of force so superior and threatening, by the passage of the Po, to invade to the French in numbers, veterans in discipline, the territories belonging to Austria on the northern anrid commanded by a general like Wurmser, was bank of that river. As Bonaparte himself observed, likely to prevent all the advantages which the tile passage of a great river is one of the most critiFrench might gain by a sudden irruption, ere an cal operations in modern war; and Beaulieu had opposition so formnidable was collected and orga- collected his forces to cover Milan, and prevent the nized. But the daring scheme which Napoleon French, if possible, from crossing the Po. But in contemplated, corresponding to the genius of him order to avert the dangerous consequences ofattemptwho had formed it, required to be executed with ing to force his passage on the river, defended by a caution, united with secrecy and celerity. These formidable enemy in front, Bonaparte's subtle gewere the more necessary, as, although the thanks nius had already prepared the means for deceiving of tire French governlment had been Noted to the the old Austrian respecting his intended operations. Army of Italy five times in the course of a month, Valenza appeared to be tile point of passage proyet the Directory, alarmed at the more doubtfhl posed by the French; it is one of those fortresses state of hostilities upon the Rhine, had turned their which cover the eastern frontier of Piedmont, and exertions chiefly in that direction; and, trusting to is situated upon the river Po. During the confertihe skill of their general, and the courage of his ences previous to the armistice of Cherasco, Botroops, had not transmitted recruits and supplies naparte had thrown out hints as if he were particnupon the scale necessary for tile great undertakings larly desirous to be possessed of this place, and it which hie meditated. But Italiam-rIaliam! * - was actually stipulated in the terms of the treaty tile idea of penetrating into a country so guarded that the French should occupy it for the purpose of and defended by nature, as well as by nmilitary effecting their passage over the river. Beaulieu did skill, the consciousness of having surmounted ob- not fail to learn what had passed, which coinciding stacles of a nature so extraordinary, and thle hope with his own ideas of the route by which Bonaparte that they were approaching the reward of so many meant to advance upon Milan, he hastened to conlabours-above all, their frill confidence in a leader, centrate his army on the opposite bank, at a place who seerred to have bound Victory to his standard called Valleggio, about eighteen miles from Valenza, -made the soldiers follow their general, without the point near which he expected the attempt to be counting their own deficiencies, or the enemy's made, and from which he could move easily in any numbers. direction towards the river, before the French could * Italia, Italia primus conclamat Achates; send over any considerable force. Massena also Italiam sorii, nlagno clarnore., sairtant. countenanced this report, and riveted the attention 1S8 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTER of the Austrians on Valenza, by pushing strong re- Casal, on the 8th of May. The Austrians threw connoitfing parties from Alexandria in the direc- themselves into the place, fortified and manned the tion of that fortress. Besides, Beaulieu had himself steeples, and whatever posts else could be made crossed the Po at this place, and like all men of effectual for defence, and reckoned upon defending routine (for such he was, though a brave and ap- themselves there until the mai.n body of Beaulieu's proved soldier), he was always apt to suppose that army should come up to support them. But they the same reasons which directed himself must needs were unable to sustain the vivacity of the French seem equally convincing to others. In almost all onset, to which so many successive victories had delicate affairs, persons of ordinary talents are now given a double impulse. The village was misled by their incapacity to comprehend, that men carried at the bayonet's point; the Austrians lost of another.disposition will be likely to view circam- their cannon, and left behind one-third of their stances, and act upon principles, with an eye and men, in slain, wounded, and prisoners. The wreck opinion very different from their own. of Liptay's division saved themselves by crlossing But the reports which induced the Austrian ge- the Adda at Pizzighittone, while they protected neral to take the position at Valleggio arose. out of a their retreat by a hasty defence of that tbortress. stratagem of wvar. It was never Bonaparte's intention Another body of Austrians having advanced firom to cross the Po at Valenza. The proposal was a feint Casal, to support, it may be supposed, the division to draw Beaulieu's attention to that point, while thle of Liptay, occasioned a great loss to the French French accomplished the desired passage at Pla- army in tle person of a very promising officer. lThis cenza, nearly fifty miles lower down the river than was General Laharpe, highly respected and trusted Valleggio, where their subtle general had induced by Bonaparte, and repeatedly mentioned in the the Austrians to take up their line of defence. campaigns of Piedmont. Htearing the alarm given by Marching for this purpose with incredible celerity, the outposts, when the Austrian patroles came in Bonaparte, on the 7th of May, assembled his forces contact with them, Laharpe rode out to satisfy at Placenza, when their presence was least ex- himself concerning the nature and strength of the pected, and where there were none to defend the attacking party. On his return to his own troops,'opposite bank, except two or three squadrons of they mistook him and his attendants for the enemy, Austrians, stationed there merely fobr the purpose of fired upon, and killed him. He was a Swiss by reconnoitring. General Andrlossi (for names dis- birth, and had been compelled to leave his country tinguished during these dreadful wars begin to rise on account of his democratical opinions; a grenadier, on the narrative, as the stars glimmer out on the says Bonaparte, in stature and in courage, but of a horizon) commanded an advanced guard of five restless disposition. The soldiers, with the superhundred men. They had to pass in the common stition belonging to their profession, remarked, that ferry-boats, and the crossing required nearly half an during the battle of Fombio, on the day before, he hour; so that the difficulty, or rather impossibility, was less animated than usual, as if an obscure sense of achieving the operation, had they been seriously of his approaching fate already overwhelmed hilm. opposed, appears to demonstration. Colonel Lannes The Austrian regiment of cavalry which occasionthrew himself ashore first with a body of grenadiers, ed this loss, after some skirmishing, was content to and speedily dispersed the Austrian hussars, who escape to Lodi, a point upon which Beaulieu was attempted to resist their landing. The van-guard again collecting his scattered forces, for the purpose having thus opened the passage, the other divisions ofcoverin,g Milan, by protecting the line of the Adda. of the army were enabled to cross in succession, "The passage of the Po," said Bonaparte, in and in the course of.two days the whole were in the his report to the Directory, " had been expected to Milanese territory, and on the left bank of the Po. prove the most bold and difficult manoeuvre of the The military manceuvres, by means of which Bona- campaign, nor did we expect to have an action of parte achieved, without the loss of a man, an opera- more vivacity than that of Dego. But we have now tion of so much consequence, and which, without to recount the battle of Lodi." As the conqueror such address as he displayed, must have been at- deservedly congratulated himself on this hard-won tended with great loss, and risk of failure, have victory, and as it has become in a manner especially often been considered as among his most masterly connected with his name and military character, movements. we must, according to our plan, be somewhat miBeaulieu, informed too late of the real plans of nute in our details respecting it. the French general, moved his advanced guard, The Adda, a large and deep river, though fordable composed of the division of General Liptay, foro at some places and in some seasons, crosses the Valleggio towards toe Po, in the direction of Pla- valley of the Milanese, rising and joining the Po at cenza. But here also the alert general of the French Pizzighlittone; so that, if tile few places at which it had been too rapid in his movements for the aged can be crossed are fortitied or defended, it forms a German. Bonaparte had no intention to wait an line covering all the Milamnese territory to the eastattack from the enemy, with such a river as the Po in ward, friom any force approaching front the direchis rear, which he had no means of re-crossing if tion of Piedmont. This line Beaulieu proposed to the day should go against him; so that a defeat, or make gooOd agaitnst the victor before whom he had even a material check, would have endangered the so often retreated, and he conjectured (on this octotal loss of his army. He was, therefore, push- casion rightly) that, to prosecute his victory by ing forward in order to gain ground on which to marchinig upoli Alilan, Bonaparte vwould first desire mnanoeuvre, and the advanced divisions of the two to dislodge the covering army from tile line of the armies met at a village called Fombio, not far from Adda, as he could not safely advance to the capital LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 189 of Lombardy, leaving the enemy in possession of ing the bridge; and then calmly proceeded to make such a defensive line upon their flank. He also con- arrangements for a desperate attempt. jectured that this attempt would he made at Ledi. His cavalry was directed to cross, if possible, at This is a large town, containing twelve thousand a pllace where the Adda was said to be ibrdable,inhabitants. It has old Gothic walls, bet its chief a task which they accomplished with difficuity. defence consists in the river Adda, which flows Meantime Napoleon observed that the Austrian line through it, and is crossed by a wooden bridge about of infantry was thrown cuwsiderably behind the batfive hundred feet in length. When Beaulieu, after teries of artillery which they supported, in order the afftir of' Fombio, evacuated Casal, he retreated that they might have the adivantage of' a bending to this place with about ten thousand men. The slope of ground, which afforded them shelter firom rest of his army was directed upon Milan and the French fire. He, therefore, drew up a close Cassano, a town situated, like LZodi, upon the column of three thousand grenadiers, protected Adda. from the artillery of the Austrians by the walls and Bonaparte calculated that, if he could accomplish houses of the town, and yet considerably nearer to the passage of the Adda at Lodi, he might overtake the enemy's line of guns on the opposite side of the and disperse the remainder of' Beaulieu's army, Adda than were their own infantry, which ought to without allowing the veteran time to concentrate have protected them. The, column of grenadiers, them for farther resistance in Milan, or even for thus secured, waited in comparative safety, until rallying under the walls of the strong fortress of the appearance of the French cavalry, who had Mantua. The judgment of the French general was crossed the ford, began to disquiet the flank of' the in war not more remarkable for seizing the most Austrians. This was the critical moment which advantageous moment of attack, than for availing Bonaparte expected. A single word of command himself to the very uttermost of victory when ob- wheeled the head of the column of grenadiers to the tained. The quick-sighted faculty and power of left, and placed it on the perilous bridge. The word instant decision with which natuire had endowed was given to advance, and they rushed on with loud him, had, it may be supposed, provided beforehand shouts of Vive la Rtpublique! But their appearfor the consequences of the victory ere it was yet ance upon the bridge was the signal for a redoubled won, and left no room for doubt or hesitation when shower of grape-shot, while, from the windows of his hopes had become certainties. We have already the houses on the left side of the river, the soldiers remarked, that there have been many commanders, who occupied them poured volley after volley of who, after an accidental victory, are so much at a musketry on the thick column, as it endeavoured to loss what is next to be done, that while they are force its way over the long bridge. At one timne the hesitating, the golden moments pass away unim- French grenadiers, unable to sustain this dreadful proved; but Bonaparte knew as well lhow to use, storm, appeared for an instant to hesitate. But as how to obtain advantages. Berthier, the chief of Bonaparte's staff, with MasUpon the 10th day of May, attended by his best s6na, Dallemagne, and Corvin, hurried to the head generals, and heading the choicest of his troops, of the column, and by their presence and gallantry Napoleon pressed forward towards Lodi. About a renewed the resolution of the soldiers, who now league from Casal, he encountered the Austrian poured across the bridge. The Austrians had but rear-guard, who had been left, it would appear, at one resource left; to rush on the French with the too great a distance from their main body. The bayonet, and kill, or drive back into the Adda, those French had no difficulty in driving these troops be- who had forced their passage, before they could defore them into the town of Lodi, which was but ploy into line, or receive support fiom their comslightly defended by the few soldiers whom Beau- rades, who were still filing along the bridge. But lieu had left on the western or right side of the the opportunity was neglected, either because the Adda. He had also neglected to destroy the bridge, troops, who should have executed the manceuvle, although he ought rather to have supported a de- had been, as we have already noticed, withdrawn fence on the right bank of the river (for which the too far from the river; or because the soldiery, as town afforded many facilities), till the purpose of happens when they repose too much confideuce in a destruction was completed, than have allowed it to strong position, became panic-struck when they saw exist. If his rear-guard had been actually station- it unexpectedly carried. Or it may be, that General ed in'Lodi, instead of being so far in the rear of the Beaulieu, so old and so unfortunate, had somewhat main body, they might, by a protracted resistance lost that energy an(l presence of nlind which the from the old walls and houses, have given time for critical moment demanded. Whatever was the this necessary act of demolition. cause, the French rushed on the artillerymen, from But though the bridge was left standing, it was whose fire they had lately suffered so tremendously, swept by twenty or thirty Austrian pieces of artil- and, unsupported as they were, had little difficulty lery, whose thunders menaced death to any one who in bayoneting them. should attempt that pass of peril. The French, with The Austrian army now completely gave way, great alertness, got as many guns in position on the and lost in their retreat, annoyed as it was by the left bank, and answered this tremendous fire with French cavalry, upwards of twenty guns, a thousand equal spirit. During this cannonade, Bonaparte prisoners, and perhaps two thousand more wounded threw himself personally amongst the fire, in order and slain. to station two guns loaded with grape-shot in such Such was the famous passage of the Bridge of a position, as rendered it impossible for any one to Lodi; achieved with such skill and gallantry, as gave approach for the purpose of undermining or destroy- the victor the same character for fearless intrepidity, 190 L IFE OF NAPOLEON BON APART. and practical talent in actual battle, which tile former same time of sheltering under it the remains of his part of the campaign had gained him as a most army, until he could form a junction writh the forces able tactician. which Wuirmser was bringing to his assistance fL on Yet this action, though successful, has been se- the Rhine. verely criticised by those who desire to derogate Bonaparte himnself has pointed out a second obfrom Bonaparte's military talents. It has been said, ject, in which lie was less successful. He had hoped that he might have passed over a body of infantry the rapid surprise of tire bridge of' lodi might at the same ford where the cavalry had crossed; enable him to overtake or intercept the rest of Beanand that thus, by mlanoeuvring on both sides of the lien's army, which, as we have said, had retreated river, he might have compelled the Austrians to by Cassano. He failed, indeed, in this object; for evacuate their position on the left batik of the Adda, these forces also made their way into the Mantuan without hazarding an attack upon their front, which territory, arid joined Beaulieu, who, by crossing the:ould not but cost the assailants very dearly. classical Mincio, placed another strong line of' miBonaparte had perhaps this objection in his re- litary defence betwixt hint and his victor. But the collection when he states, that the column of gre- prosp)ect of intercepting and destroying so large a nadiers were so judiciously sheltered fitom thie fire force was worth the risk he encountered at Lodi, until the moment when their wheel to the left brought especially taking into view the spirit which his army them on the bridge, that they only lest two hun- had acquired from a long train of victory, together dred men during the storm of the passage. We can- with tIhe discouragement which had crept into the not but suppose, that this is a very mitigated account Austrian ranks from a uniform series of defeats. of the actual loss of the French army. So slight a It should also be remembered, in considering the loss is not to be easily reconciled with the horrors necessity of forcing tihe bridge of' Lodi, that the ford o-f the battle, as lie himself detailed them in his over the Adda was crossed with difficulty even by dispatches; nor with the conclusion, in which he the cavalry, and that when once separated by the mentions, that of the sharp contests which the Army river, the communication between the main atmy of Italy had to sustain during the campaign, none and the detachment of infantry (which his censors was to be compared with that "terrible passage of say Napoleon should have sent across in the same the Bridge of Lodi." manner), being in a great degree interrupted, the In fact, as we may take occasion to prove here- latter umight have been exposed to losses, froro which after, the memoranda of the great general, dictated Bonaparte, situated as he was on the right bank, to Ihis officers at St Helena, have a little too much could have had no means of protecting them. the character of his original bulletins; and while Leaving the discussion of what might have been) they show a considerable disposition to exaggerate to trace that which actually took place, the French the difficulties to be overcome, the fury of the con- cavalry pursued the retreating Austrians as far as flict, and the exertions of courage by which the vic- Cremona, of which they took possession. Pizzighittory was attained, show a natural inconsistency, tone was obliged to capitulate, the garrison being from the obvious wish to diminish the loss which cut off fiom all possibility of succour. About fivee was its unavoidable price. hundred prisoners surrendered in that fortress; the But admnitting that the loss of the French had been rest of Liptay's division, and other A ustrian corps, greater on this occasion than their general cared to coulld no otherwise escape, than by tlhrowing therlrecollect or acknowledge, his military conduct seems selves into the Venetian territory. not the less justifiable. It was at this titne that Bonaparte had some conBonaparte appears to have had two objects in versation with'an old Hungarian officer, made priview in this daring exploit. The first was, to irn- soner in one of the actions, whom he met with at a prove and increase the terror into which his previous bivouac by chance, and who did not know him. The successes had thrown the Austrians, and to irn- veteran's lanlguage was a curious commentary on press on them the conviction, that no position, how- the whole carnpaigtn; nay, upon Bonaparte's general ever strong, was able to protect them against the system of warfare, wllich appeared so extraordinary audacity and talent of the French. This discourag- t, those who had long practised the art on more ing feeling, exemplified by so many defeats, and formal principles. "Thlinlgs are going on as ill and now by one in circumstances where the Austrians as irregularly as possible," said the old martinet appeared to have every advantage, it was natural "Tlhe French have got a young general, who knows to suppose, would hurry Beaulieu's retreat, induce nothing of the regular rules of war; he is sometimes him to renounce all subsequent attempts to cover on our front, sotnetirnes on the flank, sometimes on Milan, and rather to reunite the fragments of his the rear. There is nro supporting such a gross viola. almny, particularly that part of Liptay's divisions, tion of rnles." This somewhat resembles the charge which, after being defeated at Fombio, had thrown which foreign tacticians have brought against, the themselves into Pizzighittonle. To have manoeuvred English, that they gained victories by continuing, slowly and cautiously, would not have struck that with their insular ignorance and obstinacy, to fight terror and confusion which was inspired by the on, long after the period when, if they had known desperate attack on the position at Lodi. In this the rules of war, they ought to have considered point tile victor perfectly succeeded; for Beaulieu, themselves as completely defeated. after his misadventure, drew offi without any far- A peculiar circumstance is worth mentioning. ther attempt to protect the ancient calpital of Lom- The French soldiers had a mode at that time of bardy, and threw himself upon Marntua, with the amnusing themselves, by conferring an imaginary intention of covering that strong fortress, and at the rank upon their generals, when they had done some LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. iA' remarkable exploit. They showed their sense of hisguards, and took iup his residence in the archthe bravery displayed by Bonaparte at the battle of episcopal palace. The same evening a splendid Lodi, by creating him a corporal; and by this entertainment was given, and the Tree of Liberty phrase, of the Little Corporal, he was distinguished (of which the aristocrats observed, that it was a in the intrigues formed against him, as well as those bare pole without either leaves or fruit, roots or which were carried on in his favour; in the language branches) was erected with great form in the prinof Georges Cadoudal, who laid a scheme fobr assas- cipal square. All this affectation of popular joy did sinating him, and in the secret consultation of the not disarm the purpose of the French general, to old soldiers and others, who arranged his return make Milan contribute to the relief of his army. I-He from Elba. imposed upon the place a requisition of twenty milWe are now to turn for a time firom war to its lions of livres, but offered to accept of goods of any consequences, which possess an interest of a nature sort in kind, and at a rateable valuation; for it may different from the military events we have been de- be easily supposed that specie, the representative of tailing. The movements which had taken place since value, must be scarce in a city circumstanced as Mithe King of Sardinia's defeat, had struck terror into lan was. The public funds of every description, the gov ernment of Milan, and the Archduke Fer- even those dedicated to the sppport of hospitals, dinand, by whom Austrian Lombardy was governed. went into the French military chest; the churchBut while Beaulieu did his best to cover the capital plate was seized as part of the requisition; and, by force of arms, the measures resorted to. by the when all this was done, the citizens were burthened government were rather of a devotional than war- with the charge of finding rations for fifteen thousand like character. Processions were made, relics ex- imen daily, by which force the citadel, with its Aus. posed, and rites resorted to, which the catholic trian garrison, was instantly to be blockaded. religion prescribes as an appeal to Heaven in great While Lombardy suffered much, the neighbournational calamities. But the saints they invoked ing countries were not spared. The reader must be were deaf or impotent; for the passage of the bridge aware, that for more than a century Italy had been of Lodi, and Beaulieu's subsequent retreat to Man- silently declining into that state of inactivity which tua, left no possibility of deftending Milan. The succeeds great exertion, as a rapid and furious blaze archduke and his duchess immediately left Milan, sinks down into exhaustion and ashes. The keen followed by a small retinue, and leaving only a judgment of Napoleon had seen, that the geographimroderate force in the citadel, which was not in a cal shape of Italy, though'presenting in many respects very defensible condition. Their carriages passed advantages for a great and commercial nation, ofthrough a large crowd which filled the streets. As fered this main impediment to its separate existence they moved slowly along, the royal pair were ob- as one independent state, that its length being too served to shed natural tears, at leaving the capital great in proportion to its breadth, there was no point of these princely possessions of their house. The sufficiently central to preserve the due influence of a people observed a profound silence, only broken by metropolis in relation to its extreme northern and low whispers. They showed neither joy nor sorrow southern provinces; and that the inhabitants of Naat the event which was passing-all thoughts were ples and Lombardy being locally so far divided, and bent in anxious anticipation upon what was to hap- differing in climate, habits, and the varietyof temper pen next. which climate and habits produce, could hardly be VVhen the archduke had departed, the restraint united under the same government. From these which his presence had imposed from habit and causes Italy was, after the demolition of the great sentiment, as much as from fear of' his authority, Roman empire, early broken up into different subwas of' course removed, and many of the Mi anese divisions, which, more civilized than the rest of citizens began, with real or affected zeal for repub- Europe at the time, attracted in various decrees the licanism, to, prepare themselves for tile reception attention of mankind; and at length, from the sacer. of the French. The three-coloured cockade was at dotal power of Rome, the wealth and extensise first timnidly assumed; but the example being shown, commerce of Venice and Genoa, the taste and it seemed as if these emblems had fallen like snow splendour of Florence, and the ancient fame of the into the caps and hats of the multitude. The impe- metropolis of the world, became of importance much rial arms were removed from tie public buildings, over-proportioned to their actual extent of terlitory. and a placard was put on the palace of the govern- But this time had passed away, and the Italian ment with an inscription-" This house is to be let- States, rich in remembrances, were now comparaapply for the keys to the French Commissioner Sa- tively poor in point of immediate consequence in the licetti."' The nobles hastened to lay aside their ar- scale of nations. They retained their oligarchical or morial bearings, their servants' liveries, and other monarchical forms and constitutions, as in the more badges of aristocracy. Meantime the magistrates vigorous state of their existence, but appeared to caused order to be maintained in the town, by re- have lost their energies both for good and evil. The gfilar patroles of the burgher guard. A deputation proud and jealous love which each Italian used ao of the principal inhabitants of Milan was sent to the bear towards his own province was much abated; victormot.s general with offers of full submission, -the jealousy of the factions which divided most of since there was no longer room for resistance, or for their states, and induced the citizens to hazard their standing upon terms. own death or exile in the most trifling party quarrel, On the 14th of May, Bonaparte made his public had subsided into th tt calm, selfish indifference, entry into Milan, under a triumphal arch prepared which disregards public interests of all kinds. They for the occasion, which he traversed, surrounded by were ill governed, in so far as their rulers neglected 192 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. all means of benefiting the subjects or improving the brother, the Chevalier d'Este, to capitulate with country; and they were thus far well governed, Napoleon. that, softened by the civilization of the times and It might have been urged in his favour, that he perhaps by a tacit sense of their own weak ess, was no avowed partner of t'he coalition; but Bonatheir riulers had ceased, in a great measur., to parte took for granted his good will towards his exercise with severity the despotic powers with brother-in-law the Emperor of Austria, and esteemed which they were in many cases invested, though it a crime deserving atonement. Indeed it was one they continued to be the cause of petty vexations, to which had not been proved by any open action, but which the natives had become callous. The Vatican neither could it admit of being disproved. The slept like a volcano, which had exhausted its thumn- I duke was the]refore obliged to purchase the privilege ders; and Venice, the most jealous and cruel of oli- of neutrality, and to expiate his supposed good ingarchies, was now shutting her wearied eyes, and clination for the house of Austria. Five millions and closing her ears, against informers and spies of state. a half of French livres, with large contributions in The Italian States stood, therefore, like a brother- plovisions and accoutrements, pernaps cost the Dukle hood of old trees, decayed at heart and root, but of Modena more anxious thoughts than he had still making some show of branches and leaves, bestowed on the misfortunes of his imperial relauntil the French invasion rushed down, like the tives. whirlwind which lays them prostrate. To levy on obnoxious states or princes the means In the relations between France and Italy, it must of paying or accommodating troops, would have been be observed that two of the most considerable of only what has been practised by victors in all ages. these states, lTuscany and Venice, were actually in But an exaction of a new kind was now for the first league with the former country, having acknow- time imposed on these Italian princes. The Duke ledged the Republic, and done nothing to deserve of Modena, like the Duke of Parma, was compelled tile chastisement of her armies. Others might be to surrender twenty of his choicest pictures, to be termed neutral, not having perhaps deemed them- selected at the choice of the French general, and the selves of consequence sufficient to take part in the persons of taste with whom he might advise. This quarrel of the coalesced powers against France. was the first time that a demand of this nature had Tilhe pope had given offence by the affair of Basse- been made in modern times in a public and avowed ville, and the encouragement which his countenance manner, and we must pause to consider the motives afforded to the non-conforming clergy of France. and justice of such a requisition. Bat, excepting Naples and Austian Lombardy, no Hitherto, works of art had been considered as state in Italy could he exactly said to be at open sacred, even during the utmost extremities of war. war with the new Republic. Bonaparte was deter- They were judged to be the property, not so Imuch mined, however, that this should make nlo difference of the nation or individuals who happened to possess in his mode of treating them. them, as of the civilized world in general, who were The first ofthei;e slumbering potentates with whom supposed to have a common interest in these prohe came in contact, was the )Duke of Parma. This dluctions, which, if exposed to become the ordinary petty sovereign, even'before Bonaparte entered spoils of war, could hardly escape damage or deMilan, had deprecated the victor's wrath; and al- strcitioti. To take a strong example of forbearance, though neither an adherent of the coalition, nor at Frederick of Prussia was a passionate admirer of war with France, he found himself obliged to pur- the fine arts, and no scrupulous investigator of the chase an armistice by heavy sacrifices. He paid a rights conferred by conquest, but rather disposed to tribute of two millions of livres, besides firnishing stretch them to the uttermost. Yet when he obtained horses and provisions to a large amnount, and agreeing possession of Dresden under circunlstances of' high to deliver up twenty of the finest paintings in his irritation, Frederick respected the valuable gallery,:abinet, to be chosen by the French general. cabinets, and museums of the capital of Saxony, and lThe next of these sufferers was the Duke of Mo- preserved their contents inviolate, as a species of lena. This prince was a man of moderate abilities; property which could not, and ought not, to fall his business was hoarding money, and his pleasure within the rights of a conqueror.; He considered the consisted in nailing up, with his own princely hands, elector as only the keeper of the gallery; and rethe tapestry wviichl ornamented churches on days of garded the articles which it contained as belonging high holi lay; fromn which he acquired the nick-name to the civilized world at large. of the r,,yal upholsterer. But his birth was illus- There are persons who denland the cause of this trious as the descendant of that celebrated hero of distinction, and require to know why works of art, Este, the patron of Tasso and of Arioso; and his the value of which is created solely by the opinion alliance was no less splendid, having married the of those who pretend to understand them, and is sister of the unfortunate Marie Antoinette, and of therefore to be regarded as merely imaginary, or, Joseph the Second; then his daughter was married as it is called by lawyers, a mere pretizrnm sffectioto the Archduke Ferdinaind, the GovernorofMilan. nis, should be exempted fiom that martittl law Notwithstanding his double connexion with the which disposes at pleasure of the real property of impeleial family, the principality of Modena was so the vanquished. smnall that he might have been passed over as scarce It might easily be shown in reply, that the respect Nwortlhy of notice, but for the temptation of his trea- due to genius of the highest order attaches with a sulles, in the works of art, as well as in specie. On sort of religions zeal to the objects of our admiration thIe alpproach of a column of the French army to in the fine arts, and renders it a species of sacrilege Alodenla, the duke fled from his capital, but sent his to subject them to the chances of war. It has to_0 ette t h hne o a.I a LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 193 besides already been hinted, that these chefs- partly from taste, partly from national vanity, to d'ceuvre being readily liable to damage, scarcely attach consequence to the fine arts and their pro. admitting of being repaired, and absolutely iucap- ductions. able of being replaced, their existence is hazarded Unfortunately there were no ordinary measures by rendering them the objects of reinoval, according by which the French, as purchasers, could greatly to the fluctuation of victory. augment the contents of their Museum; and -more But it is surely sufficient to say, that wherever unfortunately for other nations, and ultimately for the progress of civilization has introdnced rules to themselves, they had the power and the will to inqualifv and soften the extremiities of war, these crease their possessions of this kind, without research should be strictly adhered to. In the rudest ages or expense, by means of the irresistible progress of of society, man avails himself of the right of the their arms. We have no right to say that this pestrongest in the fullest extent. The victor of the culiar species of spoliation originated with BonaSandwich Islands devours his;enemy-the North- parte personally. He probably obeyed the orders American Indian tortures him to death —almost all of the Directory; and, besides, instances might no savage tribes render their prisoners slaves, and sell doubt be found in the history of all nations, of inthem as such. As society advances, these inhuma- teresting articles of this nature having been transnities fall out of practice; and it is unnecessary to ferred by the chance of war from one country to add, that, as the victorious general deserves honour- another, as in cases of plunder of an ordinary deable mention in history, who, by his clemency, relaxes scription, which, though seldom avowed or defended, in any respect the rigorous laws of conquest, so he are not the less occasionally practised. But Napomust be censured in proportion, whose conduct tends leon was unquestionably the first and most active to retrograde towards the brutal violence of primitive agent, who made such exactions a matter of course, hostility. and enforced them upon principle; and that he was Bonaparte cannot be exempted from this censure. heartily engaged in this scheme of general plunder, He, as the willing agent of the Directory under is sufficiently proved from his expressions to the whose commands he acted, had resolved to dis- Directory, upon transmitting those paintings which regard the neutrality which had hitherto been con- the Duke of Modena, the filrst sufferer on this syssidered as attaching to the productions of the fine tem, was compelled to surrender, and which were arts, and, for the first time, had determined to view transferred to Paris as the legitimate spoils of war. them as the spoils of conquest. The motive is more But before copying the terms in which Napoleon easily discovered than justified. announces the transmission of master-pieces of art to In the reign of Terror and Equality, the fine arts, the National Museum, it ought to be remarked, with everything connected with cultivated feelings, that the celebrated Saint Jerome, by Correggio, had been regarded as inconsistent with the simpli- which he mentions with a sort of insulting triumnph, city of the republican character; and, like the suc- was accounted so valuable, that the Duke of Mocessful fanatics of' England, and the first enthusiastic dena offered two millions of livres as the ransom of votaries of the Koran, the true sans-culottes were that picture alone. This large sum the French disposed to esteem a taste which could not generally general, acting on the principle which many in his exist without a previous superior education, as some- situation were tempted to recognise; might have thing aristocratic, and alien from the imaginary safely converted to his own use, under the certainty standard of equality, to which it was their purpose that the appropriation, indispensable as his services to lower all the exertions of intellect, as well as were to the government, would neither have been the possession of property. Palaces were therefore inquired into nor censured. But avarice cannot be destroyed, and mnonuments broken to pieces. the companion, far less the controler of ambition. But this bruStal prejudice, with the other attempts The feelings of the young victor were of a character of these frantic democrats to bring back the world to too elevated to stoop to the acquisition of wealth; a state of barbarism, equally in moral and in gene.al nor was his career, at that or any other period. feeling, was discarded at the fall of the jacobin sullied by this particular and most degrading species authority.'lThlose who succeeded to the government of selfishness. When his officers would have per. exered themrnselves laudably in endeavouring rather suaded him to accept the money, as more useful for to excite men's minds to a love of those studies the army, he replied, that the two millions of francs and tastes, which are ever found to humanize and would soon be spent, but the Correggio would resoften the general tone of society, and which teach main an ornament of the city of Parlis for ages, and lhostile nations that they have points of friendly inspire the production of future master-pieces. uinion, even because they unite in admiring the In his dispatch to the Directory, of 17th Floreal same master-pieces of art. A Museum was formed (8th of May), Napoleon desires to have some artists at Paris, for the purpose of collecting and exhibit- sent to him, who miglht collect the monuments of ing to public admiration paintings and statues, and art; which shows that the purpose of seizing upon whatever was excellent in art, for the amusement them had been already formed. In the letter which of the citizens, whose chief scene of pleasure accompanies the transmission of the pictures, he hias hitherto had been a wild and ill-regulated civic these remarkable expressions:-" You will. receive festival, to vary the usual exhibition of the proces- the articles of the suspension of arms which I have sion of a train of victims moving toward the guillo- granted to the Duke of Parma. I will send you as tine. The substitution of such a better object of soon as possible the finest pictures of Correggio, poIpular attention was hlonourable, virtuous, and amongst others a Saint Jerome, which is said to be politic in itself, and speedily led the French people, his master-piece. I must own that the saint takes vor,. V. 25 | 194 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPART-E. an unlucky time to visit Paris, but I hope you will I example of a species of rapine, which, depriving grant him the honours of the Museum." those objects of admiration of the protection with The same system was followed at Milan, where which the general sentiment of civilized nations had several of the most valuable articles were taken hitherto invested them, must hold them up, like other from the Ambrosian collection. The articles were ordinary property, as a prey to the strongest soldier. received in the spirit with which they were trans- Again, we cannlot but be of opinion, that a genuine mitted. The most able critics were dispatched to lover of the arts would have hesitated to tear those assist the general in the selection of the monuments paintings from the churches or palaces, for the of the fine arts to be transferred to Paris, and the decoration of which they had been expressly painted, Secretary-general of the Lyceum, confounding the and where they must always have been seen to the possession of the productions of genius with the best effect, whether from the physical advantages of genius itself which created them, congratulated his the light, size of apartment, and other suitable locacountrymen on the noble dispositions which the vic- lities connected with their original situation, or from tors had evinced. " It is no longer blood," said the moral feelings which connect the works themthe orator, " which the French soldier thirsts for. He selves with the place for which they were primarily desires to lead no slaves in triumph behind his designed, and which they had occupied for ages. chariot — it is the glorious spoils of the arts and of The destruction of these mental connexions, which industry with which he longs to decorate his vic- give so much additional effect to painting and statories-he cherishes that devouring passion of great tuary, merely to gratify the selfish love of approsouls, the love of glory, and the enthusiasm for high priation, is like taking a gem out of the setting talents, to which the Greeks owed their astonishing which in many cases may considerably diminish its successes. It was the defence of their temples, value. their monuments, their statues, their great artists, We cannot therefore believe that this system of that stimulated their valour. It was from such mo- spoliation was dictated by any sincere and manly tives they conquered at Salamis and at Marathon. love of the arts, though this was so much talked of It is thus that our armies advance, escorted by the in France at the time. It must, on the contrary, be love of arts, and followed by sweet peace, from ascribed to the art and ambition of the Directory Coni to Milan, and soon to proceed from thence to who ordered, and the general who obeyed; both of the proud basilic of St Peter's." The reasoning of whom, being sensible that the national vanity would the Secretary of the Lyceum is lost amidst his elo- be flattered by this species of tribute, hastened to* quence; but the speech, if it means anything, sig- secure it an ample gratification. Bonaparte, in nifies that the seizing on those admired productions particular, was at least sufficiently aware, that, placed the nation which acquired the forcible pos- with however little purity of taste the Parisians session of them, in the same condition as if she had might look upon these exquisite productions, they produced the great men by whom they were achiev- would be sufficiently alive to the recollection, that, ed;-just as the ancient Scythians believed they being deemed by all civilized people the most became inspired with the talents and virtues of admirable specimens in the world, the valour of the those whom they murdered. Or, according to an- French armies, and the skill of their unrivaled other interpretation, it may mean that the French, general, had sent theln to adorn the metropolis of who fought to deprive other nations of their pro- France; and might hope, that, once brought to the perty, had as praiseworthy motives of action as the prime city of the Great Nation, such chefs-d'ceuvre Greeks who made war in defence of that which was could not again be subject to danger by transportatheir own. But, however their conduct might be tion, but nmust remain there, fixed as household regarded by themselves, it is very certain that they gods, for the admiration of posterity. So hoped, as did by no means resemble those whose genius set we have seen, the victor himself; and doubtless with the example of such splendid success in the fine the proud anticipation, that in future ages the recolarts. On the contrary, the classical prototype of lection of himself, and of his deeds, must be inseBonaparte in this transaction, was the Roman Con- parably connected with the admiration which the sul Mummius, who violently plundered Greece of Museum, ordained and enriched by him, was calthose treasures of art, of which he himself and his culated to produce. countrymen were insensible to the real and proper But art and ambition are apt to estimate the value. advantages of a favourite measure somewhat too It is indeed little to the purpose, in a moral point hastily. By this breach of the law of nations, as of view, whether the motives for this species of hitherto acknowledged and acted upon, the French rapine were or were not genuine love of the art. degraded their own character, and excited the The fingering connoisseur who secretes a gem strongest prejudice against their rapacity among the cannot plead in mitigation. that he stole it, not on Italians, whose sense of injury was in proportion to account of the value of the stone, but for the the value which they set upon those splendid works, excellence of the engraving; any more than the and to the dishonour which they felt at being fordevotee who stole a bible could shelter herself cibly deprived of them. Their lamentations were under a religious mnotive. But, in truth, we do not almost like those of Micah, the Ephraimite, when believe that the French or their general were ac- robbed of " the graven image, and the teraphim, and tuated on this occasion by the genuine love of art. the ephod, and the molten image," by the armed and This taste leads men to entertain respect for the overbearing Danites-" Ye have taken away my objects which it admires; and, feeling its genuine gods that I have made, and what have I more?" influence, a conqueror would decline to give an Again, by this unjust proceeding, Bonaparte pre LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 195 pared for France and her capital the severe moral The Directory themselves had begun to suspect lesson inflicted upon her by the allies in 1815. Vic- the prudence of suffering the whole harvest of saictory tlas wings as well as Riches; and the abuse of cess which Italy afforded to be reaped by the adconquest, as of wealth, becomes frequently the source venturous and haughty character who had first thrlust of bitter retribution. Had the paintings of Correg- in the-sickle. They perhaps felt already an instincgio and other great masters been left undisturbed tive distrust of the waxing influence which was desin the custody of their true owners, there could not tined one day to overpower their own. Under some have been room; at an after period, when looking such impression, they resolved to divide the Army of 1around the Louvre, for the reflection, " Here once Italy betwixt Bonaparte and Kellermann, directing were disposed the treasures of art, which, won by the former general to pass the Po, and advance violence, were lost by defeat.' southward on Rome and Naples with twenty thousand men; while Kellermann, with the other moiety of the Italian army, should press the siege of MianCHAPTER XXIII. ta, and make head against the Austrians. Directory propose to divide the Army of Italy betwixt This was taking Bonaparte's victory out of his Bolaparte andKellernmann-Booaparte resigns, amd the grasp, and he resented the proposal accordingly, by Directory give up Ite point.-Insurrection against the transmitting his resignation, and declining to have French at Pavia-crushed —and the leaders shot-Aiso any concern in the loss of his army, and the fruits at the bnperial Fiefs and Ltgo, quelled and punished of his conquests. IHe affirmed that Kellermann, in the samie way.-Reffections.-Austrians defeated at with an army reduced Lo twenty thousand men, Borghetto, and retreat behind the Adtige.-Bonaparte could not face Beaulieu, but would be speedily drinarrouwly escapes beilng macteprisoner at Valleggio.- ven out of Lombardy; and that, in consequence, the Mantua blockaded —Verona occupied by the French. — o -era occieby te French.- army which advanced southward would be overKing of Naples secedes front Austria.-Armistice pur. cased by te pope.-cees frone Austriaty of -Armistice pvz- whelmed and destroyed. One bad general, he said, chased by the pope. —The neutrality of Tuscaeny violated, anld Leghorn occupied by the French troops.- was betterthan two good ones. The Directory must Views of Bonaparte respecting the revolutionizingy of perceived from such a reply the firm and inItaly-bHe temlporises.-Conduct of the Austrianyovern- flexible nature of the man they had made the leader ntent at this crisis.-Beaulieue displaced, and succeeded of their armies, but they dared not, such was his by Wurmser.-Bonaparte sits down before Miantua. reputation, proceed in the plan they had formed for the diminution of his power; and perhaps, for the OCCUPYING Milan, and conqueror in so many first time since the Revolution, the executive governbattles, Bonaparte might be justly considered as in ment of France was compelled to give way to a absolute possession of Lombardy, while thle broken successful general, and adopt his views instead of forces of Beaulieu had been compelled to retreat their own. The campaign was left to his sole matlnder that sole remaining bulwark of the Austrian nagement; he obtained an ascendancy which he jpower, the strong fortress of Mantua, wher'e they took admirable care not to relinquish, and it became might await such support as should be detached to the only task of the Directory, so far as Italy IVas them through the Tyl'rol, but could undertake no concerned, to study phrases for intimating their apoffensive operations. To secure his position, the probation of the young general's measures. Austrian general had occupied the line formed by Whatever were the ultimate designs of Bonaparte the Mincio, his left flank resting upon Mantua, his against Rome, he thought it prudent to suspend right upon Peschiera, a Venetian city and fortress, them until he should be free from all danger of the but of which he had taken possession, against the Austrians, by the final defeat of Beaulieu. For this reclamation of the Venetian government, who were object, he directed the divisions of his army towards desirous of observiing a neutrality between such the right bank of the Mincio, with a view of once powerful belligerents, not perhaps altogether aware more forcing Beaulieu's position, aftel having taken how far the victor, in so dreadful a strife, might be precautions for blockading the citadel of Milan, disposed to neglect the general law of nations. The where the Austrians still held out, and for guarding Austrian defence on the right was prolonged by the Pavia and other points, which appeared necessary I:ago di Guarda, a large lake out of which the Min- to secure his conquests. cio flows, and which, running thirty-five miles north- Napoleon himself fixed his head-quarters at Lodi, ward into the mountains of the Tyrol, maintained upon the 24th of May. But he was scarcely arrived uninterrupted Beaulieu's communication with Ger- there, when he received the alarming intelligence, mnany. that the city of Pavia, with all the surrounding disBonaparte, in the meantime, permitted his forces tricts, were in arms in his rear; that the tocsin was only the repose of four or five days ere he again ringing in every village, and that news were circusummoned them to active exertion. Hle called on lated that the Prince of Cond6's army, united w!ith theml to visit the Capitol, there to re-establish (he a strong Austrian force, had descended from the ought to have said, to carry azoay) the statues of Tyrol into Italy. Some commotions had shown themthe great men of antiquity, and to change, or rather selves in Milan, and the Austrian garrison there renovate, the destinies of the finest district of' Eu- made demonstrations towards favouring the insurrope. But while thus engaged, he received orders rection in Pavia, where the insurgents were comfrom Paris respecting his farther proceedings, which pletely successful, and had made prisoners a French omust have served to convince him that all his per- corps of three hundred men. soual enemies, all who doubted and feared hin, welre Bonaparte represents these disturbances as efnot to be found in the Austrian ranks. fected by Austrian agents; but he had formerly as 196 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. sured us, that the Italians took little interest in the lican and imperial governments of France. The fate of their German masters. The truth is, that first of these exclaimed as at an unheard-of cruelty, having entered Italy with the most flattering assu- when the Duke of Brunswick, in his celebrated rances of observing respect fibr public and private proclamation, threatened to treat as a brigand property, the French had disgusted the inhabitants, every Frenchman, not being a soldier, whom he by exacting the contributions which they had im- should find under arms, and to destroy such vilposed on the country with great severity. As catho- lages as should offer resistance to the invading lics, the Italians were also disgusted with the open army. The French at that time considered with indignities thrown on the places and objects of justice, that if there is one duty more holy than public worship, as wvell as on the persons and cha- another, it is that which calls on men to defend racter of their priests.* their native country against invasion. Napoleon, The nobles and the clergy naturally saw their being emperor, was of' the same opinion in the ruin in the success of the French; and the lower years 1813 and 1814, when the allies entered the classes joined them for the time, from dislike to French territories, and when, in various proclamaforeigners, love of national independence, resent. tions, he called on the inhabitants to rise against ment of the exactions made, and the acts of sacrilege the invaders with the implements of their ordinary committed by the ultramontane invaders. About labour when they had no better arms, and "to shoot thirty thousand insurgents were in arms; but having a foreigner as they would a wolf." It would be no regular forces on which to rest as a rallying difficult to reconcile these invitations with the cruel point, they were ill calculated to endure the rapid vengeance taken on the town of Lugo, for observing assault of the disciplined French. a line of conduct which, in similar circumstances, Bonaparte, anxious to extinguish a flame so for- Bonaparte so keenly and earnestly recommended midable, instantly returned from Lodi to Milan, at to those whom fortune had made his own subjects. the head of a strong division, took order for the The brief insurrection of Pavia suppressed by safety of the capital of Lonmbardy, and moved next these severities, Bonaparte once more turned his morning towards Pavia, the centre of the insurrec- thoughts to the strong position of the Austrians, tion. The village of'Benasco, which was defended with the purpose of reducing Beaulieu to a more against Lannes, was taken by storm, the inhabitants decided state of disability, before he executed the put to the sword, and the place plundered and threatened vengeance of the Republic on the soburnt. Napoleon himself arrived before Pavia, vereign pontiff. For this purpose lie advanced to blew the gates open with his cannon, dispersed with Brescia, and manoeuvred in such a manner as inease the half-armed insurgents, and caused thle duced Beaulieu, whom repeated surprises of the leaders of the insurrection to be put to death, for same kind had not put upon his guard, to believe, having attempted to defend the independence of that either the French general intended to attempt their country. He then seized on the persons of the passage of the Mincio at the small but strong many inhabitants, and sent them to Paris as hostages town of Peschiera, where that river issues from the for the subjection of their fellow-citizens. Lago di Guarda, or else that, marching northward The French general published a proclamation in along the eastern bank, he designed to come round the republican style, in which he reproaches tile the head of the lake, and thus turn the right of the insurgents for presuming to use arms in defence of Austrian position. While Beaulieu disposed his their country, and menaces with fire and sword forces as expecting an attack on the right of his whatever individuals should in future prosecute the line, Bonaparte, with his usual celerity, proposed same daring course. He nlade his threat good to attack him on the centre, at Boraghetto, a town some weeks afterwards, when a similar insurrection situated on the Mincio, and commanding a bridge took place in those districts called the Imperial over it, about ten miles lower than Peschiera. fiefs, and still later, when an effort at resistance On the 30th May, the French general attacked, was attempted in the town of Lugo. On both oc- with superior force, and repulsed across the Mincasions, the leaders of the armed inhabitants were cio, an Austrian corps who endeavoured to cover tried by a military commission, condemned, and the town. The fugitives endeavoured to demolish shot. On the last, indeed, to revenge the defeat the bridge, and did break down one of its arches. sustained by a squadron of French dragoons, Lugo But the French, rushing forward with impetuosity, was taken by storm, pillaged, burnt, and the men under cover of a heavy fire upon the retreating put to the sword; while some credit seems to be Austrians, repaired the broken arch so as to effect a taken by Bonaparte in his dispatches, for the cle- passage, and the Mincio, passed as the Po and the mency of the French, which spared the women and Adda had been before, ceased in its turn to be a children. protection to the army drawn up behind it. It is impossible to read the account of these se- Beaulieu, who had his head-quarters at Valleggio, verities, without contrasting them with the opinions a village nearly opposite to Borghetto, hastened to professed on other occasions,,both by the repub- retreat, and, evacuating Peschiera, marched his It has been alleged, that in a farce exhibited on the dismayed forces behind tile Adige, leaving five public stage by authority of Bonaparte, the pope was in- hundred prisoners, with other trophies of victory, troduced in his pontifical dress. This, which could not be in the hands of the French. Bonaparte had delooked on as less than sacrilege by a catholic population, signed that this day of success should have been does not accord with the general oonduct of Bonaparte. still more decisive, for he meditated an attack upon See, however, Tableatu des premieres gouerres de Bona.- Peschiera at the moment when the passage at parte, par le Chevalier Nichaud de Villete, p. 41: Paris, 1815. Borghetto was accomplished; but ere Augereau, to LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 197 whom this manceuvre was committed, had time to ways were only defended by gates and drawbridges. approach Peschiera, it was evacuated by the Aus- Mantua, low in situation, and surrounded by water, trians, who were in fill retreat by Castel Nuovo, in a warm climate, is naturally unhealthy; but the protected by their cavalry. air was likely to be still more destructive to a beThe left of the Austrian line, cut off from the sieging army (which necessarily lay in many respects centre by the passage of the French, had been sta- more exposed to the elements, and were besides in tioned at Ptzzuolo, lower on thile Mincio. When greater numbers, and less habituated to the air of Sebottendorf, who commanded the Imperial troops the place), than to a garrison who had been seasoned stationed on the left bank, heard the cannonade, he to it, and were well accommodated within the forimmediately ascended the river, to assist his cor- tress. inander-in-chief to repel the French, or to take them To surprise a place so strong by a coup-de-main in flank if it was already crossed. The retreat of was impossible, though Bonaparte represents his Beaulieu made both purposes impossible; and yet soldiers as murmuring that such a desperate feat this march of Sebottendorf had almost produced a was not attempted. But lie blockaded Mantua with result of' greater consequence than would have been a large force, and proceeded to take such other the most complete v-ictory. measures to improve his success as might pave the ~lThe French division which first crossed the Min- way to future victories. The garrison was numnercio had passed through Valleggio %without halting, ous, amounting to friom twelve to fourteen thousand in pursuit of Beaulieu, by whom the village had men; and the deficiencies of the fortifications, which been just before abandoned. Bonaparte with a small the Austrians had neglected in over security, were retinue remained in the place, and Massdna's divi- made up for by the natulal strength of the place. sion were still on the right bank of the Mincio, pre- Yet, of tile five causeways, Bonaparte made himself paring their dinner. At this moment the advanced master of 1itr; and thus the enemy lost possession guard of Sebottendorf, consisting of hulans and hus- of all beyond the walls of tile town and citadel, and sars, pushed into the village of Valleggio. There had only the means of attaining the mainland through was but barely time to cry to arms, and, shutting the citadel of La Favorita. Lines of circumvallation the gates of the inn, to employ the general's small were formed, and Serrurier was left in blockade of escort in its defence, while Bonaparte, escaping by the fortress, which the possession of four of the acthe garden, mounted his horse, and galloped towards cesses enabled him to accomplish with a body of IMassena's division. The soldiers threw aside their men inftrior to the garrison. cookery, and marched instantly against Sebotten- To complete the blockade, it was necessary to dorf, who, with much difficulty, and not without loss, come to some arrangement with the ancient republic effected a retreat in the same direction as his cornm- of Venice. With this venerable government Napomander-in-chief, Beaulieu. This personal risk in- leon had the power of working his own pleasure; duced Bonaparte to form what he called the corps for although the state might have raised a considerof guides, veterans of ten years' service at least, who able army to assist the Austrians, to whom its were perpetually near his person, and, like the senate, or aristocratic government, certainly bore Triarii of the Romans, were employed only when good-will, yet, having been in amity with the French the most desperate efforts of courage.were neces- Republic, they deemed the step too hazardous, and, sary. Bessi6res, afterwards Dnke of Istria, and vainly trusting that their neutrality would be reMarshal of France, was placed at the head of this spected, they saw the Austrian power completely chosen body, which gave rise to the formation of the broken for the time, before they took any active celebrated hInperial Guards of Napoleon. measures either to stand in their defence, or to deThe passage of the Mincio obliged the Austrians precate the wrath of the victor. But when the line to retire within the firontier of the Tyrol; and they of the Mincio was forced, and Bonaparte occupied might have been considered as completely expelled the Venetian territory on the left bank, it was time from Italy, had not Mantua and the citadel of Milan to seek by concessions that deference to the rights still continued to display the Imperial banners. The of an independent country, which the once haughty castle of Milan was a place of no extraordinary aristocracy of Venice had lost a favourable opporstrength, the surrender of which might be calculated tunity of stpporting by force. on so soon as the general fate of war had declared There was one circumstance which rendered itself against tile present possessors. But Mantua their cause unfavourable. Louis XVIII., under the was by nature one of those almost impregnable title of a private person, the Count de Lille, had fortresses, which may long, relying on its own re- received the hospitality of the republic, and was sources, defy any compulsion but that of famine. permitted to reumailn at Verona, living in strict seclnThe town and fortress of Mantuia are situated sion. The permission to entertain this distinguished on a species of island, five or six leagues square, exile the Venetian government had almorst mendicalled the Seraglio, produced by three lakes, which cated from the French revolutionary rulers, in a communicate with, or rather are formed by, the manner which we would term mean, were it not forMincio. This island has access to the land by the goodness of the intention, which leads us to five causeways, the most iniportant of which was regard the conduct of the ancient mistress of the in 1796 defended by a regular citadel, calleud, from Adriatic with pity rather than contempt. But when the vicinity of a ducal palace, La Favorita. Another the screen of the Austrian force no longer existed watm defended by an entrenched camp extending between the invading armies of France and the Vebetween the fortress and the lake. The third was netian territories —when the final subjugation of the protected by a hornwork. The remaining two cause- north of Italy was resolved on-the Directory per 198 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. emptorily demanded, and the senate of Venice were terested motives, therefore, if not from respect to obliged to grant, an order, removing the Count de justice, Bonaparte deferred seizing the territory of Lille from the boundaries of the republic. Veniice, when within his grasp, conscious that the The illustrious exile protested against this breach total defeat of the Austrians in Italy would, when of hospitality, and demanded, before parting, that accomplished, leave the prey as attainable, and his name, which had been placed on the golden more defenceless than ever. Having disposed his book of the republic, should be erased, and that the army in its position, and prepared some of its diviarmour presented by Henry IV. to Venice, should sions for the service which they were to perfobrm as be restored to his descendant. Both demands were moveable columns, he returned to 1\iilan to reap the evaded, as might have been expected in the circum- harvest of his successes. stances, and the future monarch of France left The first of these consisted in the defection of Verona on the 21st of April, 1796, for the army of the King of Naples from the cause of Austria, lo the Prince of CondU, in whose ranks he proposed to which, from family connexion, he had yet remained place himself, without the purpose of assuming any attached, though of late with less deep devotion. command, but only that of fighting as a volunteer in His cavalry had behaved better during the engagethe character of the first gentleman of France. ments on the Mincio, than has been of late the Other less distinguished emigrants, to the number custom with Neapolitan troops, and had suffered of several hundreds, who had found an asylum in accordingly. The king, discouraged with the loss, Italy, were, by the successes at Lodi and Borghetto, solicited an armistice, which he easily obtained; compelled to fly to other countries. for his domrinions being situated at the lower extreBonaparte, immediately after the battle of Bor- mity of Italy, and his force extendiiing to sixty thoughetto, and the passage of the Mincio, occupied the sand men at least, it was of importance to secure town of Verona, and did not fail to intimate to its the neutrality of a power who might be dangerous, magistrates, that if the pretender, as he termed and who was not, as matters stood, under the itllhim, to the throne of France, had not left Verona mediate control of the French. A Neapolitan ambefore his arrival, lie would have burnt to the ground bassador was sent to Paris to conclude a final peace; a town which, acknowledging him as King of in the meanwhile, the soldiers of the. King of the France, assumed, in doing so, the air of being itself Two Sicilies were withdrawn from the armlly of the capital of that republic. This might, no doubt, Beaulieu, and returned to their own country. The sound gallant in Paris; but Bonaparte knew well dispositions of the court of Naples continued, nethat Louis of France was not received in the Vene- vertheless, to vacillate, as opportunity of advantian territory as the successor to his brother's tage, joined with the hatred of' the queen (sister cf throne, but only with the hospitality due to an un- Marie Antoinette), or the fear of the French Inilifortunate prince, who, suiting his claim and title to tary superiority, seemed to predominate. his situation, was content to shelter his head, as a The storm now thickened round the devoted head private man might have done, fiom the evils which of the pope. Ferrara and Bologna, the territories seemed to pursue him, of which belonged to the Holy See, were occupied The neutrality of Venice was, however, for the by the French troops. In the latter place, foulr time admitted, though not entirely from respect for hundred of the papal troops were made l'isoners, the law of nations; for Bonaparte is at some pains with a cardinal who acted as their officer. The to justify himself for not having seized without ce- latter was dismissed on his parole. But when sumremony on the territories and resources of that re- moned to return to the French head-quarters, his public, although a neutral power as far as her utnmost eminence declined to obey, and amused the repubexertions could preserve neutrality. He contented lican officers a good deal, by alleging that the pope himself for the time with occupying Verona, and had dispensed with his engagement. Afterwards, other dependencies of Venice upon the line of the however, there were officers of no mean rank in the Adige. "You are too weak," he said to the Pro- French service, who could contrive to extricate veditore Fescarelli, " to pretend to enforce neutra- themselves from the engagement of a parole, withlity with a few hundred Sclavonians on two such out troubling the pope for his interference on the nations as France and Austria. The Austrians have occasion. Influenced by the approaching danger, the not respected your territory where it suited their Court of Rome sent Azara, the Spanish minister, purpose, and I must, in requital, occupy such part with full powers to treat for an armistice. It was as falls within the line of the Adige." a remarkable part of Bonaparte's character, that But he considered that the Venetian territories to he knew as well when to forbear as when to strike. the westward should in policy be allowed to retain Rome, it was true, was an enemy whom France, the character of neutral ground, which the govern- or at least its present rulers, both hated and dement, as that of Venice was emphatically called, spised, but the moment was then inopportune for the would not, for their own sakes, permit them to lose; prosecution of their resentment. To have detached while otherwise, if occupied by the French as con- a sufficient force in tihat direction, would have *weakquerors, these timid neutrals might upon any re- ened the French army in thle nolth of Italy, where verse have resumed the character of fierce oppo- fresh bodies of' German troops were already arrivnents And. at all events, in order to secure a ing, and might have been attended with great nltiterritory as a conquest, which, if respected as neu- mate risk, since there was a possibility tha;t the. tral, would secure itself, there would have been a English might have transported to Italv the iurces necessity for dividing the French forces, which it which they were about to withdrav ftolll Corsica, was Bonaparte's wish to concentrate. From in- amounting to six thousand men. But thougdi these LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 199 considerations recommended to Napoleon a nego- had now lost his last possession in Lombardy." tiation with the pope, his holiness was compelled When we read of the exactions and indignities to to purchase the armistice at a severe rate. Twenty- which the strong reduce the sweak, it is impossible one millions of francs, in actual specie, with large not to remember the simile of Napoleon himself, who contributions in forage and military stores, the ces- compared the alliance of France and an inferior sion of Ancona, Bologna, and Ferrara, not forget- state, to a giant embracing a dwarf. "' The poor ting one hundred of the finest picturles, statues, and dwarf," he added, " may probably be suffocated in silnilar objects of art, to be selected according to the arms of his friend; but the giant does not mean the choice of the committee of artists who attended it, and cannot help it." the French army, were the price of a respite which While Bonaparte made truce with several of the was not of. long duration. It was particularly sti- old states in Italy, or rather adjourned their depulated, with republican ostentation, that the busts struction in consideration of large contributions, he of the elder and younger Brutus were to be among was far from losing sight of the main object of the the number of ceded articles; and it was in this French Directory, which was to cause the adjacent manner that Bonaparte made good his vaunt, of es- governments to le revolutionized and new-modeled tablishing in the Romana capitol the statues of the il- on a republican form, corresponding to that of the ~lustrious and classical dead. Great Nation herself. The Archduke of Tuscany was next to undergo This scheme was, in every respect, an exceedingly the republican discipline. It is true, that prince had artful one. In every state which the French miglht given no offence to the French Republic; on the. overrun or conquer, there must occur, as we have contrary, he had claims of merit with them, from already repeatedly noticed, men fitted to form the having been the very first power in Europe who members of revolutionary government, and who, acknowledged them as a legal government, antd from their previous situation and habits, must neceshaving ever since been in strict amity with them. sarily be found eager to do so. Such men are sure It seemed also, that while justice required he should to be supported by the rabble of large towns, who be spared, the interest of the French themselves are attracted by the prospect ofplunder, and by the did not oppose the conclusion. His country could splendid promises of liberty, which they always have no influence on the fate of the impending war, understand as promising the equalization of probeing situated on the western side of the Appenines. perty. Thus provided with materials for their edifice, In these circumstances, to have seized on his mul- the bayonets of the French army were of strength seum, however tempting, or made requisitions on his sufficient to prevent the task from being interrupted, territories, would have appeared unjust towards the and the French Republic had soon to greet sister earliest ally of the French Republic; so Bonaparte states, under the government of men who held their contented himself with seizing on the Grand Duke's offices by the pleasure of France, and who were seaport of Leghorn, confiscating the English goods obliged, therefore, to comply with all her requisiwhich his subjects had imnlorted, and entirely ruin- tions, however unreasonable. ing the once flourishing commerce of the dukedom. This arrangement afforded the French government It was a principal object with the French to seize an opportunity of deriving every advantage froom the the British merchant vessels, who, confiding in the subordinate republics, which could possibly be drainrespect due to a neutral power, were lying in great ed out of them, without at the same time incurinog numbers in the harbour; but the English merchant- the odium of making the exactions in their own name. men had such early intelligence as enabled them It is a custom in some countries, when a cow who to set sail for Corsica, although a very great quan- has lost her calf will not yield her milk fi-eely, to tity of valuable goods fell into the possession of' the place before the refractory animal the skin of her French. young one stuffed, so as to have some resemblance While the French general was thus violating the to life. The cow is deceived by this ilnposture, and neutrality of the Grand Duke, occupying by surprise yields to be milked upon seeing this representative his valuable seaport, and destroying the commerce of her offspring. In like manner, the show of indeof his state, the unhappy prince was compelled to pendence assigned to the Batavian, and other assoreceive him at Florence, with allthe respect due to ciated republics, enabled France to drain these a valued friend, and profess the utmost obligation countries of supplies, which, while they had the to him for his lenity, while Manfredini, the Tuscan appearance of being given to the governments of minister, endeavoured to throw a veil of decency those who granted the supplies, passed, in fact, into over the transactions at Leghorn, by allowing that the hands of their engrossing ally. Bonaparte was the English were more masters in that port than was sufficiently aware that it was expected from him to the Grand Duke himself. Bonaparte disdained to extend the same system to Italy, and to accelerate, have recourse to any paltry apologies. "The French in the conquered countries of that fertile land, this flag," he said, " has been insulted in Leghorn-You species of political regeneration; but it would appear are not strong enough to cause it to be respected. that, upon the whole, he thought the soil scarcely The Directory has commanded mne to occupy the prepared for a republican harvest. He mentions, place." Shortly after, Bonaparte, during an enter- no doubt, that the natives of Bologna and Reggio, tainment given to him by the Grand Duke, at Flo- and other districts, were impatient to unite with rence, received intelligence that the citadel of Milan the French as allies and intimate filiends; bat even had at length surrendered. Hle rubbed his hands these expressions are so limited as to mauke it plain with self-colr-atulation, and tulrning to the Grand that the feelings of the Italians in generlal were not Duke, observe, " that the emperor, his brother, as yet favourable to that revolution which thile Di-------- -- -- - - -- - ----- - -~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 200 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. rectory desired, and which he endeavoured to for- resorted to in the consciousness of his weakness, — ward. like a hare which doubles before the hounds when He had, indeed, in all his proclamations, declared she has no other hope of escape. It will be well to the inhabitants of the invaded countries, that his with the world, when falsehood and finesse are as war was not waged with them but with their govern- thoroughly exploded in international communication, ments, and had published the strictest orders for the as they are among individuals in all civilized coundiscipline to be observed by his followers. But tries. though this saved the inhabitants from immediate But though those states, whose sovereigns could violence at the hand of the French soldiery, it did afford to pay for forbearance, were suffered for a not diminish the weight of the requisitions with time to remain under their ancient governments, it which the country at large was burthened, and to might have been thought that Lombardy, froml which which poor and rich had to contribute their share. the Austrians had been almost totally driven, They were pillaged with regularity, and by order, and where, of course, there was no one to combut they were not the less pillaged; and Bonaparte pound with on the part of the old government, would himself hllas informed us that the necessity of main- have been made an exception. Accordingly, the taining the French army at their expense very much French faction in these districts, with all the naretarded the march of French principles in Italy. merous class who were awakened by the hope of "You cannot," he says, with much truth, "at the national independence, expected impatiently the same moment strip a people of their substance, and declaration of their freedom from the Austrian persuade themn, while doing so, that you are their yoke, and their erection, under the protection of friend and benefactor." France, into a republic on the same model with that Re mentions also, in the St Helena manuscripts, of the Great Nation. But although Bonaparte enthe regret expressed by the wise and philosophical couraged men who held these opinions, and writers part of the community, that the revolution of Rome, who supported them, he had two weighty reasons the source and director of superstitious opinions, for procrastinating on this point. First, if France had not been commenced; but frankly admits that manumitted Lombardy, and converted her from a the time was not come for going to such extremities, conquered province into an ally, she must in conand that he was contented with plundering the sistency have abstained from demanding of the liRoman See of its money and valuables, waiting until berated country those supplies, by which Bonathe fit moment should arrive of totally destroying parte's army was entirely paid and supported. that ancient hierarchy. Again, if this difficulty could be got over, there reIt was not without difficulty that Bonaparte could mained the secret purpose of the Directory to be bring the Directory to understand and relish these considered. They had determined, when they should temrnporising measures. They had formed a false make peace with the Emperor of Austria, to exact idea of the country, and of the state and temper of the cession of Belgium and the territory of Luxemthe people, and were desirous at once to revolutionize bourg, as provinces lying convenient to France, and Rome, Naples, and Tuscany. had resolved, that, uinder certain circumstances, they Napoleon, more prudently, left these extensive would even give up Lonlbardy again to his domiregions under the direction of their old and feeble nion, rather than not obtain these more desirable governments, whom he compelled in the interim to objects. To erect a new republic in the country supply him with money and contributions, in ex- which they were prepared to restore to its former change for a protracted existence, which he intend- sovereign, would have been to throw a bar in the ed to destroy so soon as the fit opportunity should way of their own negotiation. Bonaparte had thereoffer itself. What may be thought of this policy in fore the difficult task of at once encouraging, on diplomacy, we pretend not to say; but in private life the part of the republicans of' Lombardy, the prinit would be justly branded as altogether infamnous. ciples which induced them to demand a separate In point of morality, it resembles the conduct of a government, and of soothing them to expect with robber, who, having exacted the surrender of the patience events, which he was secretly conscious traveler's property, as a ransom for his life, con- might possibly never come to pass. The final issue eludes his violence by murder. It is alleged, and shall be told elsewhere. It may be just necessary we have little doubt with truth, that the pope was to observe, that the conduct of the French towards equally insincere, and struggled only, by immediate the republicans whom they had formed no predetersubmission, to prepare for the hour, when the Aus- mination to support, was as uncandid as towards the trians should strengthen their power in Italy. But ancient governments whom they treated with. They it is the duty of the historian loudly to proclaim, that sold to the latter false hopes of security, and enthe bad faith of one party in a treaty forms no couraged the former to express sentiments and opiexcuse for that of the other; and that national con- nions, which must have exposed them to ruin, in tracts ought to be, especially on the stronger side, case of the restoration of Lombardy to its-old rulers, as pure in their intent, and executed as rigidly, as if an event which the Directory all along contemplated those with whom they were contracted wvere held to in secret. Such is, in almost all cases, the risk be equally sincere in their propositions. If the incurred by a domestic faction, who trust to carry more powerful party judge otherwise, the means are their peculiar objects in the bosom of their own in their -hand to continue the wvar; and they ought country by means of a foreign nation. Their too to encounter their ummore feeble enemy by detection, powerful auxiliaries are ever ready to sacrifice them and punishment of his fraud, not by anticipating to their own views of emolument. the same deceitful course which their opponent has Having noticed the effect of Bonaparte's short LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 201 but brilliant campaign on other states, we must self at the head of thirty thousand men from the observe the effects which his victories produced on Imperial forces on the Rhine, and, traversing the Austria herself. These were entirely consistent Tyrol, and collecting what recruits he could in with her national character. The same tardiness that warlike district, to assume the command of which hlas long made the government of Austria the Austrian army, which, expelled from Italy, slow in availing themselves of advantageous cir- now lay upon its frontiers, and might be supposed cumstances, cautious in their plans, and unwilling eager to resume their national supremacy in the to adopt, or indeed to study to comprehend, a new fertile climates out of which they had been so lately system of tactics, even after having repeatedly ex- driven. periencedl its terrible efficacies, is combined with Aware of the storm which was gatheling, Bonathe better qualities of firm determination, resolute parte made every possible effort to carry Mantua endurance, and unquenchable spirit. The Austrian before the arrival of the formidable Austrian army, slowness and obstinacy, which have sometimes whose first operation would doubtless be to raise the threatened them with ruin, have, on the other hand, siege of that important place. A scheme to take often been compensated by their firm perseverance the city and castle by surprise, by a detachment and courage in adversity. which should pass to the Seraglio, or islet on which Upon the present occasion, Austria showed am- Mantua is situated, by night and in boats, having pie demonstration of the various qualities we have totally failed, Bonaparte was compelled to open ascribed to her. The rapid and successive victories trenches, and proceed as by regular siege. The of Bonaparte appeared to her only the rash flight of Austrian general, Canto d'Irles, when summoned to an eaglet, whose juvenile audacity had over-esti- surrender it, replied that his orders were to defend mated the strength of his pinion. The Imperial the place to extremity. Napoleon, on his side, asCouncil resolved to sustain their diminished force in sembled all the battering ordnance which could be Italy, with such reinforcements as might enable collected from the walls of the neighbouring cities them to reassume the complete superiority over the and fortresses, and the attack and defence comFrench, thouigh at the risk of weakening their ar- menced in the most vigorous manner on both sides; nies on the Rhine. Fortune in that quarter, though the French making every effort to reduce the city of a various complexion, had been on the whole before Wurmser should open his campaign; the gomore advantageous to the Austrians than elsewhere, vernor determined to protract his resistance, if possiand seemed to authorize the detaching considerable ble, until he was relieved by the advance of that genereinforcements from the eastern frontier, on which ral. But although red-hot balls were expended in they had been partially victorious, to Italy, where, profusion, and several desperate and bloody assaults since Bonaparte had descended from the Alps, they and sallies took place, many more battles were to had been uniformly unfortunate. be fought, and much more blood expended, before Beaulieu, aged and unlucky, was no longer con- Bonaparte was fated to succeed in this important sidered as a fit opponent to his inventive, young, object. and active adversary. He was as full of displeasure, it is said, against the Aulic Council, for the associates whom they had assigned him, as they could caaigpt ei the Rhine-General plan.-Wartensleben be with him fhr his bad success.* He was recalled, and the Archduke Charles retire before Jourdan and therefore, in that species of disgrace which misfor. Moreau.-The Archdukeformos ajjunction with Wartenstune never fails to infer, and the command of his leben, ancd defeats Jourdan, who retires-M-orean, also, remaining forces, now drawn back and secured makes his celebrated retreat through the Black Forest.within the passes of the Tyrol, was provisionally Bonaparte raises the siege of Mcatuta, andl defeats the assigned to the veteran Melas. Austrians at Salo and Lonato.-Misbehaviou!r of the assieagxnvhile d Vt1} mse r accounted oede of the best French General, Valette, at Castiglione.-Lonato taken, Mhe Anwhrie au generals, waccountred ton of the bt with the French artillery, on 3d August —Retaken by of' the Austrian generals, was ordered to place him- M~assnla and Augereant.-Singular escape of Bonaparte from being captured at Lonato. — W rinser defeated be* The following letter appears in the j ournals as an inter- tween Lonato and Castigliose, and retreats on Trent cepted dispatch from Beaulieu to the Aulic Council of War. anid Roveredo.-Bonaparte restumes his positioni before It is perhaps supposititious, but seems worthy of preserva- M3antua.-Ejfects of thle French victories oni the different tion, as expressing the irritated feelings with which the Italian States.-Inflexibility of Austria.- Wurmser reveteran general was certainly affected, whether he wrote cruited.-Battle of Roveredo.-French victorious, and the letter in question or not. It will he recollected, that Masscila occupies Trent.-Bonaparte defeats Wuroser at Primolayto —and at Bassano, 8th S'eptevber. —Wurmd'Argentean, of whom he complains, was the cause of his at Primolcsto-acnd atBassaleo,8th Septensier-Wuyrmoriginal misfortunes at Monte Notte. See p. 183-4. "I asked erftiesto Vicezae.-Battle of Arcola.- Wuri2serjilaly shut isp within the walls of Manatuna. you for a general, and you have sent me Argenteau-I am quite aware that he is a great lord, and that he is to be THE reader must, of course, be aware, that Italy, created Field-marshlal of the Empire, to atone for my hav- through vhich we are following the victorious career ing placed him under arrest.-I apprise you that I have no of Napoleon, was not the only scene ofwar betwixt more than twenty thousand men remaining, and that the France and Austria, but that a field of equally French are sixty thousandl strong. I apprise you farther, Fstreneous and much more dobbtful contest wqas that I will retreat to-morrow-next day-the day after that strenuous and much more doubtful contest was -and every day-even to Siberia itself, if they pursue me opened upon the Rhine, where the high military so far. My age gives me right to speak out the truth. talents of the Archduke Charles were opposed to Hasten to make peace on any conditions whatsoever." — those of Moreau and Jourdan, the French gene-.Moniteur, 1705. No. 620. rals. lol. v's. 26 [ 202{) LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. The plan which the Directory had adopted for Forest, where the Austrians hoped to cut him off, the campaign of 1796 was of a gigantic character, has been always judged worthy to be compared to and menaced Austria, their most powerfill enemy a great victory. Such were the proceedings on the upon the Continent, with nothing short of total de- Rhine, and in the interior of Germany, which struction. It was worthy of the genius of Carnot, by mulst be kept in view as influencing, at first by the whom it was formed, and of Napoleon and Moreau, expected setccess of Moreau and Jourdan, and af: by whom it had been revised and approved. Under terwards by their actual fiailure, the movements of sanction of this general plan, Bonaparte regulated the Italian army. the Italian campaign in which he had proved so As the divisions of WXurmser's army began to successfull; and it had been schemed, that to allow arrive on the Tyrolese district of Trent, where the Austria no breathing space, Moreau, with the Army Austrian general had fixed his head-qularters, Bonaof the Sambre and Mentse, should press forward parte became urgent, either that reinforcements on the western frontier of Germany, supported on should be dispatched to him friom France, or that the left by Jourdan, at the head of the Army of the the armies on the Rhine should make such a moveRhine, and that both generals should continue to ment in advance t -wards the point where they might advance, until TMoreau should be in a position to co-operate with him, as had been agreed upon at communicate with Bonaparte through the Tyrol. arranging the original plan of the campaign. But When this junction of the whole forces of France, he obtained no succours; and thorigh the campaign in the centre of the Austrian dominions, was accom- on the Rhine commenced, as we have seen, in the plished, it was Carnot's ultimate plan that they month of June, yet that period was too late to afford should advance upon Vienna, and dictate peace to any diversion in favour of Napoleon, WVurmser and the emperor under the walls of his capital. his whole reinforcements being already either by that Of this great project, the part intrusted to Bona- time arrived, or on the point of arriving, at the parte was completely executed, and for some time place where they were to conmence operations the fortune of war seemed equally auspicious to against the. French army of Italy. France upon the Rhine as in Italy. Moreau and The thunder-cloud which had been so long blackJourdan crossed that great national boundary at ening on the mountains of the Tyrol seemed'now Neuwied and Kehl, and moved eastward through about to discharge its firy. XVtWurser, having under Germany, forming a connected front of more than his command perhaps eighty thousand men, was sixty leagues in breadth, until Moreau had actually about to march from Trent against the French, whose crossed the river Leck, and was almost touching forces, amounting toscarce half so many, were partly with his right flank the passes of the Tyrol, through engaged in the siege of Mantua, and partly dispersed which he was, according to the plan of the cam- in the towns and villages on the Adige and Chiese, paign, to have commlunicated with Bonaparte. for covering the division of Serrurier, which carried During this advance of two hostile armies, amount- on the siege. The Austlian veteran, confident in his ing each to seventy-five thousand men, which filled numbers, was only anxious so to regulate his adall Germany with consternation, the Austrian leader vance as to derive the most conclusive consequences WVartensleben was driven from position to position f'om the victory which he doubted not to obtain.by Jourdan, while the Archduke Charles was With an imprudence which the misfortunes of Beauequally unable to maintain his ground before Moreau. lieu ought to have warned him against, he endeaThe Imperial generals were reduced to this extremity voured to occupy with the divisions of his army so by the loss of the army, consisting of from thirty large an extent of country as rendered it very diffito thirty-five thousand men, who had been de- cult for theni to maintain their communications with tached under Wurmser to support the remains of each other. This was particularly the case with hIis Beaulien's forces, and reinstate the Austrian af- right wing, underQuasdonowic-l, thePrince ofRelss, fairs in Italy, and who were now on their march and General Ocskay, who were detached down through the Tyrol for that purpose. But the arch- the valley of the river Chiese, withi orders to direct duke was an excellent and enterprising officer, and their march on Brescia. This division was destined at this important period he saved the empire of to occupy Brescia, and cuit off the retreat of the Austria by a bold and decided manoetvre. Leaving French in the direction of Milan. The left wintl of a large part of his army to make head against i Wnrmser's army, under Melas, was to descend the 5Moreau, or at least to keep hinm in check, the Adige by both banks at once, an alcvlre oil archduke moved to the right with the rest, so as to Verona, while the centre, cotnmanded by the Armsfo:rn a junction with Wartenslehben, and overwhelln trian field-marshal in person, was to march southJourdan with a local superiority of numbers; being ward by the left bank of the Lago di Guard;, take the very principle on which the French themselves possession of Peschiera, which the French occupied, achieved so many victories. Jourdan was totally and, descending tire Mincio, relieve the siege of defeated, and compelled to make a hasty and dis- |Mantua. There was this radical error in the Ausorderly rehteat, which was rendered disastrous by trian plan, that, by sending Quasdonowich's division the insurrection of the German peasantry around by the valley of Clliese, Wtrnlmser placed the broad his fuigitie army. Moream, also unable to maintain lake of Guarda, occupied by a French flotilla, belimself in the heart of Germany, when Jourdan, tween his right w;ing and the rest of his armry, and of' iwitlh the army whichl covered his left flank, was course made it impossible for the centre and left to defeated, was likewise under the necessity of re- support Quasdonowich, or even to have intelligence tiring, brrt conriucted Iris retlograde movement with of his motions or his fate. such dexterity, that his retreat thrloughl the Black The active invention of Bonaparte, sure as he LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 23 was to be seconded by the zeal and rapidity of the prived of his commission in presence of his troops French army, speedily devised the means to draw for misbehaviour, an example which the gallantry advantage from this dislocation of the Austrian of the French generals rendered extremely infreforces. He resolved not to await the arrival of quent in their service. Wurmser and Melas, but, concentrating his whole Wurmser became now seriously anxious about strength, to march into the valley of Chiese, and the fate of his right wing, and determined to force avail himself of the local superiority thus obtained, a communication with Quasdonowich at all risks. to attack and overpower the Austrian division left But he could only attain the valley of the Chiese, under Quasdonowich, who was advancing on Bres- and the right bank of the Lago di Guarda, by breakcia, down the eastern side of the lake. For this ing a passage through the divisions of Massena and purpose one great sacrifice was necessary. The plan Augerean. On the 3d of August, at break of day, inevitably involved the raising of the siege of Man- two divisions of Austrians, who had crossed the tua. Napoleon did not hesitate to relinquish this Mincio in pursuit of Pigeon and Valette, now directed great object at whatever loss, as it was his uniform themselves, with the nfost determined resofution, system to sacrifice all secondary views, and to incur on the French troops, in order to clear the way all lesser hazards, to secure what he considered as between the commander-in-chief and his right wing. the main object of the campaign. Serrurier, who The late rear-guard of Massena, which, by his commanded the blockading army, was hastily order- counter-march, had now become his advanced guard, ed to destroy as much as possible of tie cannon and was defeated, and Lonato, the place which they stores which had been collected with so much occupied, was taken by the Austrians, with the pains for the prosecution of the siege. A hundred French artillery, and the general officer who comguns were abandoned in the trenches, and Wurmser, manded them. But the Austrian general, thus far on arriving at Mantua, found that Bonaparte had successful, fell into the great error of extending his retired with a precipitation resembling that of fear. line too much towards the right, in order, doubtless, On the night of the 31st July this operation took if possible, toturn the French position on their left place, and, leaving the division of Augereau at flank, thereby the sooner to open a communication Borghetto, and that of Mass6na at Peschiera, to with his own troops on the right bank of the Laao protect, while it was possible, the line of the di Guarda, to force which had been his principal Mincio, Bonaparte rushed, at the head of an army object in the attack. But in thus manoetlwing lie which his combinations had rendered superior, weakened his centre, an error of which Mass6na upon the right wing of the Austrians, which had al- instantly availed himself. He formed two strong ready directed its march to Lonato, near the bottom columns under Augerean, with which he redeemned of the Lago di Guarda, in order to approach the the victory, by breaking through and dividing the Mincio, and resume its communication with Wurm- Austrian line, and retaking Lonato at the point of ser. But Bonaparte, placed by the celerity of his the bayonet. The manceuvre is indeed a simple movements between the two hostile armies, defeat- one, and the same by which, ten years afterwards, ed one division of the Austrian right at Salo, upon Bonaparte gained the battle of Austerlitz; but it the lake, and- another at Lonato. At the same requires the utmost promptitude and presence of time, Augereau and Mass6na, leaving just enough mind to seize the exact moment for executing stuch of men at their posts of Borghetto and Peschiera a daring measure to advantage. If it is but I artially to maintain a respectable defence against WVurmser, successful, and the enemy retains steadiness, it is made a forced march to Brescia, which was occu- very perilous; since the attacking column, instead pied by another division of the Austrian right wing. of flanking the broken divisions of the opposite line, But that body, finding itself insulated, and conceiv- may be itself flanked by decided officers and detering that the whole French army was debouching mined troops, and thus experience the disaster on them from different points, was already in full which it was their object to occasion to the enemy. retreat towards the Tyrol, from which it had ad- On the present occasion, the attack on the centre vanced with the expectation of turning Bonaparte's completely succeeded. The Austrians, finding their flank, and destroying his retreat upon Milan. Some line cut asunder, and their flanks pressed by the Frencll troops were left to accelerate their flight, victorious columns of the French, fell into total and prevent their again making head, while Mass6na disorder. Some, who were farthest to the right, and Augereau, rapidly countermarching, returned pushed forward, in hopes to unite themselves to to the banks of the Mincio to support their respec. Quasdonowich, and what they might find remaining tive rear-guards, which they had left at Borgletto of the original right wing; but these were attacked and Peschiera, on the line of that river. in front by General Soret, who had been active in They received intelligence, however, which in- defeating Quasdonowich upon the 31t July, and duced them to halt upon this counter-march. Both were at the same time pursued by another detachrear-guards had been compelled to retire fi-om the ment of the French, which had broken through their line of the Mincio, of which river the Austrians had centre. forced the passage. The rear-guard of Mass6na, Such was the fate of the Autstrian right at the under General Pigeon, had fallen back in good or- battle of Lonato, while that of the left was no less der, so as to occupy Leonato; that of Augereau fled unfavourable. They were attacked by Augereau wito precipitation and confuision, and failed to make with the utmost bravery, and driven fionm Castia stand at Castiglione, which was occupied by Aus- glione, of which they had become masters by the trians, wvho entrenched themselves there. Valette, bad conduct of Valette. Augereau achieved this the general who commanded this body, was de- important result at the price of many brave men'us O4 210 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. lives; but it was always remembered as an essential whom he commanded, to the comparatively small service by Bonaparte, who afterwards, when such force which occupied Lonato. They grounded their dignities carne in use, bestowed on Augereau the arms accordingly, to one-fburth of their number, title of Duke of Castiglione. After their defeat, and missed an inviting and easy opportunity of there can be nothing imagined more confused or carrying Bonaparte prisoner to Wurmlser' s headcalamitous than the condition of the Austrian divi- quarters. sions, who, having attacked, without resting on The Austrian general himself, whose splendid each other, filund themselves opposed and finally army wvas thus destroyed in detail, hadl been hi-,overwhellned by an enemy who appeared to possess therto employed in revictualing Mantua, and throwhabiquity, simply firom his activity and power of ing in supplies of every kind; besides which, a combining his forces. large portion of his army had been detached in the A remarkable instance of their lamentable state vain pursuit of Serrurier, and the troops lately enof disorder and confusion, resembling in its conse- gaged in the siege, who had retreated towards quences more than one example of the same sort, Marcaria. WVhen WVurmser learned the disasters occurred at Lonato. It might, with any briskness of his right wing, and the destruction of the troops -of intelligence, orfirmness of resolution, have proved dispatched to form a communication with it, he a decisive advantage to their arims; it was, in its sent to recal the division which we have mentioned, result, a humiliating illustration how completely the and advanced against the French position between succession of bad fortune had broken the spirit of Lonato and Castiglione, with an army still numerthlle Austrian soldiers. The reader can hardly have ous, notwithstanding the reverses which it had forgotten the incident at the battle of Millesimo, sulstained. But Bonaparte had not left the interval iwhen an Austrian colunin which had been led astray, unimproved. He had recalled Serrurier from Marretook, as if it were by chance, the ilnportant village caria, to assail the left wing and the flank of the of Dego;* or the more recent instance, when a body Austrian field-marshal. The opening of Serrurier's,of Sebottendorf's advanced guard, alike unwittingly, fire was a signal for a general attack on all points had nearly made Bonaparte prisonerin his quartes.f of Wurmser's line. He was defeated, and nearly ]The present danger arose froni the same cause, the made prisoner; and it was not till after suffering Iconfusion and want of combination of the enemy; great losses- in the retreat and pursuit, that lie:and now, as in the former perilous occurrences, the gained with difficulty Trent and Roveredo, the very same circumstances which brought on the dan- positions adjacent to the Tyrol, forom which he had ger, served to ward it off. so lately sallied with such confidence of victory. A body of four or five thousand Austrians, partly He had lost perhaps one half of his finle army, and,composed of those who had been cut off at the the only consolation which remnailed was, tohat he battle of Lonato, partly of stragglers from Quas- had thrown supplies into the fortress of Mantua.!donowich, received information fiom the peasantry, His troops also no longer had the masculine confithat the French troops, having deparlted in every dence whichl is necessary to success in war. They direction to improve their success, had only left were no longer proud of themselves and of their a garrison of twelve hundred men in the town of commanders; and those, especially, who had snsLonato. The commander of the division resolved tained so many losses under Beaulieu, could hardly instantly to take possession of the town, and thus be brought to do their duty, in circumstances where to open his march to the Mincio, to join Wurm- it seemed that destiny itself was fighting against ser. Now, it happened that Bonaparte himself, them. conming fioom Castiglione with only his staff for pro- The Austrians are supposed to have lost nearly tection, had just entered Lonato. He was sur- forty thousand men in these disastrous battles. The prised when an Austrian officer was brought befobre French must have at least suffered the loss of one hinl blindfolded, as is the custom on such occasions, fourth of the number, though Bonaparte confesses who summoned the French commandant of Lonato only to seven thousand men; and their army, desto surrender to a superior force of Austrians, who, perately fatigued by so many marches, such conIhe stated, %were already forming columns of attack stant fighting, and the hardships of a campaign, to carry the place by irresistible force of numbers. where even the general for seven days never laid Bonaparte, with admirable presence of mind, col- aside his clothes, or took any regular repose, relectedl his numerous staff around him, caused the quiired some time to recover their physical strength. officer's eyes to be unbandaged, that lie might see Meantime, Napoleon resumed his position belbre in whose presence he stood, and upbraided him Miaintua; but the want of battering cannon. and the with the insolence of which he had been guilty, in commencement of the unhealthy heats of autumn, bringing a sumumons of surrender to the French amid lakes and inundations, besides the great commander-in-clief in the middle of his army. The chance of a second attack on thel part of Wurmlser, credulous officer, recognizing the presence of Bo- induced him to limit his measures to a simple naparte, and believing it impossible that he could blockade, which, however, was so strict as to be there without at least a strong division of his retain the garrison within the walls of the place, and army, stamnmered out an apology, and returned to cut themr off even fiom the islet called the Seraglio. persuade his dispirited commander to surrender The events of this hurried campaign threw light himself, and the four thousand men and' upwards on the feelings of the different states of Italy. Lolnbardy in general remained quiet, and the citizens of 4 See page 184-5. Milan seenled so well affected to the French, that t see page 197. Bonaparte, after the victory of Castiglione, returned It1 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 20:5 them his thanks in the name of the Republic. But The battle of Roveredo, fought upon the fourth o.i at Pavia, and elsewhere, a very opposite disposi- September, was one of that great general's splendid tion was evinced; and at Ferrara, the cardinal days. Before he could approach the town, one ok iMattei, archbishop of that town, nlade some pro- his divisions had to force the strongly entrenchedI gress in exciting an insurrection. His apology, camp of Mori, where the enemy made a desperate when introduced to Bonaparte's presence to answer defence. Another attacked the Austrians oil the for his condtct, consisted in uttering the single opposite bank oufthe Adige (for the action took place word Peccavi! and Napoleon, sootlhed by his sub- on both sides of the river), until the enemy at length mission, imposed no punishment on him for his of- retreated, still fighting desperately. Napoleoli senu fence, but, on the contrary, used his mediation in his orders to General Dubois, to charge ivith the first some negotiations with the court of Rome. Yet regiment of hussars-he did so, and broke the enemy, though the Bishop of Ferrara, overawed and de- but fell mortally wounded with three balls. "I die,'" spised, was permitted to escape, the conduct of his he said, "for tlhe Republic-bring me but tidings superior, the pope, who lad shown vacillation in his that the victory is certain.? purposes of submission, when he heard of tile tern- The retreating enemy were driven through the porary raising of the siege of Mantua, was carefuilly town of Roveredo, without having it in their power noted and remembered for animadversion, when a to make a stand. The extreme stlength of tile suitable monlent should occur. position of Calliano seemed to afford thenm rallying Nothing is more remarkable, dtuning these cam- ground. The Adige is there bordered by precipitous paigns, than the inflexibility of Austria, which, re- mountains, approaching so near its course, as only duced to the extremity of distress by the advance to leave a pass of forty toises' breadth between the of Moreau and Jourdan into her territories, stood river and the precipice, which opening was defended nevertheless on the defensive at every point, and by by a village, a castle, and a strong defensive wall extraordinary exertions again recruited Wurmser resting upon the rock, all well garnished with arwith fresh troops, to the amount of twenty thousand tillely. The French, in their enthusiasm of victory, men; which reinforcement enabled that general, could not be stopped even by these obstacles. Eight though under no more propitious star, again to re- pieces of light artillery were brought forward, under sume the offensive, by advancing fiiom the Tyrol. cover of which tile infantry charged and carried this Wurmser, with less confidence than before, hoped strong position; so little do natural adsantages avail now to relieve the siege of Mautua a second time, when the minds of the assailants are influenced with and at a less desperate cost, by removing fr'om Trent an opinion tihat they are irresistible, and those of the towards Mantua, through the defiles formed by the defenders are depressed by a unilform and uninterriver Brenta. This manceuvre he proposed to exe. rupted course of defeat. Six or seven thousand cute with thirty thousand men, while he left twenty prisoners, and iifteen pieces of cannon captured, thousand, under General Davido-wich, in a strong were the fruits of this splendid victory; and Masposition at or near Roveredo, for the purpose of s6na the next morning took possession of Trenat its covering the Tyrol; an invasion of which district, the Tyrol, so long tile strong-hold where Wurmser on the part of the French, must have added much bad maintained his head-quarters. to the general panic which already astounded Ger- T'he wrecks of Davidowich's army fled deeper many, from the apprehended advance of loreau and into the'lyrol, and took up their position at Lavisa, Jourdan from the banks of the Rhine. a small village on a river of a similar name, about Bonaparte penetrated the design of the veteran three leagues to the northward of'irent, and situated general, and suffered him without disturbance to in the principal road which communicates with march towards Bassano upon the Brenlta, in order Brixen and Innspruck. Bonaparte intstantly pursued to occupy tile line of operations on which he intend- them with a division of his army, commanded by ed to mancelvre, with the secret intention that he Vaubois, and passed the Lavisa with his cavalry, would himself assume the offensive, and overwhelm while the enemy were amused with an assault uponl Davidowich as soon as the distance betwixt them the bridge. Thus he drove them firom their position, precluded a communication betwixt that general and which, being the entrance of one of the chief defiles Warmser. [Ie left General Kilmaine, an officer of of the Tyrol, it was of importance to secure, and it Irish extraction, in whom he reposed confidence, was occupied accordingly by Vantbois with his vicwith about three thousand men, to cover thle siege torious division. of Mantta, by posting himself under the walls of Bonaparte, in consequence of his present condition, Verona, while, concentrating a strong body of forces, becanme desirous to conciliate the martial inhabitants Napoleon marched upon the town of Roveredo, si- of the Tyrol, and published a proclamiation, in which taated in the valley of the Adige, and having in its lie exhorted them to lay down their armls, and retulrn rear the strong position of Calliano. The town is to their homes; assuring thein of protection against situated on the high-road to Trent, and Davidowvich military violence, and labouring to convince then, lay there with twenty-five thousand Austrians, in- that they had themselves no interest in the war, tended to protect the Tyrol, while ~WTurmser moved which he waged against the emperor and his down the Brenta; which runs in the saume direction government, but not against his subjects. That his with thle Adige, but at about thirty miles' distance, conduct might appear to be of a piece with his reaso that no communication for mutual support could soning, Napoleon issued an edict, disuniting the take place between WurVrmser and his lieutenant- principality of Trent from the German empire, and general. It was upon Davidowich that Bonaparte annexing it in point of sovereignty to the French first meant to pour his thunder. Reptublic, Nwhile he intrusted, or seemed to intrust, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. the inhabitants themselves, with the power of ad- the blockade, of Mantua. Mesaros departed acministerinlg their own laws and governiment. cordingly, and, leaving Wurmser at Bassano ot1 Bounties which depended on the gift of an armed tile Brenta, marched southwestward towards the enemy, appeared very suspicious to the Tyrolese, collateral valley of the Adige, and attacked Kilwho were aware that in fact the order of a French maine, who, by drawing his men under cover of officer would be more effectual law, whenever that the fortifications of Verona, made a resolute denation had the power, than that of an) administrator fence. The Austrian general, finding it impossible of civil affairs whom they might themselves be per- to carry the place by a coup-de-rnain, was memitted to chuse. As for the proclamation, the ditatiug to cross the Adige, when he was recalled French general night as well have wasted his elo- by the most urgent commands to rejoin Wuramser queence on the rocks of the country. The Tyrol, one with all possible dispatch. of the earliest possessions of' the house of Austria, As soon as Bonaparte learned this new separation had been uniformly governed by those princes with of Wurmser fiom a large division of his army, he strict respect to the privileges of the inhabitants, anticipated the possibility of defeating the fieldwho were possessed already of complete personal marshal himself, driving him from his position at freedom. Secured in all the immunities which were Bass*ano, and, of consequence, cutting off at his necessary for their comfort, these sagacious peasants leisure the division cf Mezaros, which had adsaw nothing to expect fiom the hand of a stranger vanced so far to the southward as effectually to general, excepting what Bonaparte himself has compromise its safety. termed, those vexations necessarily annexed to a To execute this plan required the utmost rapidity country which becomes the seat of war, and which, of movement; for, shoultd Wurmser learn that in more full detail, include whatever the avarice of Bonapiarte was advancing towards Bassano, in time the general, the necessities of the soldiers, not to to recal Mezaros, he might present a front too mention the more violent outrage of marauders and numerous to be attacked with hope of success. plunderers, may chuse to exact from the inhabitants. There are twenty leagues' distance betwixt Trent But, besides this prudent calculation of conse- and Bassano, and that ground was to be traversed quences, the Tyrolese felt the generous spirit of by means of very difficult roads, in the space of two national independence, and resolved thattheir moun- days at farthest. But it was in such circumstances tains should not be dishonoured by the march of an that the genius of Napoleon triumphed through the armed enemy, if the unerring rifle-guns of their enthusiastic power which he possessed over the children were able to protect their native soil from soldiery, and by which he could urge them to the such indignity. Every mode of resistance was pre- most incredible exertions. He left Trent on the pared; and it was then that those piles of rocks, 6th September at break of day, and reached, in the stones, and trunks of trees, were collected on the course of the evening, Borgo di Val Lugano, a verge of the precipices which line the valley of the march of ten French leagues. A similar forced Inn, and other passes of the Tyrol, but which re- march of five leagues and upwards, brought him mained in grim repose till rolled down, to the utter up with WVurmser's advanced guard, which was annihilation of the French and Bavarian invaders in strongly posted at Primolano. 1809, under the direction of the valiant Hoffer and The effect of the surprise, and the impetuosity of his companions in arms. the French attack, surmounted all the advantages More successful with the sword than the pen, of position. The Austrian double lines were penleBonaparte had no sooner disposed of Davidowich trated by a charge of three French columns-the and his army, than he began his operations against cavalry occupied the high-road, and cut off the Wurmser himself, who had by this time learned enemy's retreat on Bassano-in a word, Warmser's the whole defeat of his subordinate division, and van-guard was totally destroyed, and more than that the French were possessed of Trent. The four thousand men laid down their armls. from Austrian field-marshal immediately conceived that Primolano the French, dislodging whatever enemies the French,eneral, in consequence of his suc- thley encountered, advanced to Cismone, a village, cesses, would be disposed to leave Italy behind, where a river of thie same name unites with the and advance to Inuspruck, in order to commnunicate Brenta. There they halted, exhausted with fatigue; with the armies of Moreau and Jourdan, which and on that evening no sentinel in the army endured were now on the full advance into Germany. In- more privations than Napoleon himself, who took up Bstead, therefore, of renouncing his own scheme of his quarters for the night without either staff-officers,relieving Mantua, Wurmnser thought the time favour- or baggage, and was glad to accept a share of a able for carrying it into execution; and in place of private soldier's ration of bread, of which the }poor falling back with his army on Friuli, and thus fellow lived to remind his general when he was keeping open his communication with Vienna, lie become enperor. committed the great error of involhing himself still Cismone is only about four leagues from Bassano, deeper in the Italian passes to the southward, by and WVurmser heard with alarm that the French an attempt, with a diminished force, to execute a leader, whom he conceived to be already deeply purpose, which he had been unable to accomplish engaged in the Tyrolese passes, had destroyed his when Iis army was double the strength of the van-guard, and was menacingr his own position. It French. With this ill-chosen plan, he detached was under this alarm that he dispatched expresses, Mezaros with a division of his forces, to manoeuvre as already mentioned, to recal Mezaros and his dion Verona, where, as we have seen, Bonaparte had vision. But it was too late; for that general was stationed Kilmaine, to cover the siege, or rather under the walls of Verona, nigh fifteen leagues from LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 307 Wurmser's position, on the night of the 7th Septem- to reconnoitre tile blockade of Mantua, and the fa, ber, when the French army was at Cismone, within cilities which might present themselves for accorama third part of that distance. The utmost exertions plishing a retreat on that fortress. This precaution of Mezaros could only bring his division as far as proved for the time the salvation of Wu\Vrmser, and Montebello, upon the 8th September, when the battle what remiainred of his army. of Bassano seemed to decide the fate cf his unfbr- Fortune, which has such influtence in warlike tunate commander-in-chief. afTairs, tad so ordered it, that Kilmaine, apprehendThis victory was as decisive as any which Bona- ing, that utnrm'ser would attenipt to fbrce a passage parte had hitherto obtained. Tile village of Salagna at Verona, and desirous to improve his means of was first carried Iby main force, and then the French resistance against so great a force, had sent orders ariy, continuing to descend the defiles of the Brenta, thiat the garrison of foir hundred men who guarded attacked Wnurmser's miain body, which still lay the bridge at Leglnago should join him at Verona, 1under hIis own command in the town of Bassano. and that an equal nnumnber should be detaclihed fi-on A uereau pienetrated into the town upon the right, the hlockade of Mantut, to supply their lace on.!; sd-na upon the left. They bore down all oppo- the Lower Adige. The fobrmer part of his conmmand siton, and seizedl the cannon by which tile bridge hlad been obeyed, and tle garrison of Legnago were wans Irfeinhed, in spite of the elforts ofthe Austrian on their march for Verona. But the relief wvhich g. hitTrs, charged with tihe duty of protecting was designed to occupy their post, thonugh on their \,'Vi~iiaser and his stafy, who wvere now in absolute way to Legnago. had not yet arrived. The Austlighi~~~~l~t. ~trian cavalry, who ihad passed over at Albarado,'I'he~ field marshal Iiniself, with the military chest encountering this body on its march ifrom the vici-, hi.~ arniy, nearly fell into the hands of the French; nity of Mantua, attacked them with spirit, and an(d thugi he esmapled bor thle tinie, it was after sabred a good many. T'he commander of the French an alni.st general dispersion of his troops. Six battalion, confounded at this appearance, concluded thisa idl Austrians su rrendered to Boniiaparte; Quas- that the whole Austrian army had gained the riglht dl.,nowich, Lith thifee or four tlhousand men, effected bank of the Adige, and that hlie should necessarily a retreat to the north-east, and gained Friuli; while be cut off if hlie prosecuted his march to Legnago. Wiuruser himself, finding it itnipossile to escape Thus the passage at that place was left altogether othierwise, fled to Vicenza in the opposite direction, undefended; and Wuriirnser, apprised of this unandr tlhere united the scattered fiorces which still hoped-fbr chance of escape, occupied the village, f'olOihed him with the division of Mezaros. When and took possession of the bridge. this janction was accomplished, the aged marshal Bonaparte, in the nieantime, having moved firom lihd still the command of about sixteen thousand Bassano to Arcola in pursuit of the defeated enenres, out of' sixty thousand, with whliom lie had, my, learned at the latter place that n W runser still scarce a week before, commenced the campaign. lingered at Legnago, perhaps to grant his troops The miaterial part of his army, guns, waggons, and sonme indispensable repose, perhaps to watch whebaggage, w;as all lost-his retreat upon the hleredi- ther it might be even yet possible to give the slip to tars states of'Austria was entirely cutoff —the flower the French divisions b whlich lie was surrounded, of his ariy was destroyed-courag e and confidence and, by a rapid march hack upon Padna, to regain vwere gone —there seemned no remedy but that he his commiinicatioii with the Austrian territories, should lay down his arms to the youthful conqueror, instead of inclosing hiiimiself in Mantna. Bonaparte!y whose forces lie was now snurrouniidcd on all hastened to avail himself (:f tlhese moments of insides, without, as it appieared, any possiliility of decision. Auger.an was ordered to imarch upon extric-ting himself: Bit fite itsel'f seeiiied to take Legnago by tile road firom Paduia, so as to cut off any some tardy compassion on this venerable and gallant possibility of Vuirmaser's retreat in that direction; veteirani, and not only adjourned his final hill, but while Masseuna's division was thrown aciross the even granted him leave tri gather sne brief..hlated Adig by a ferry at Riono, to strengthen General laurels, as the priests of' old 0 ere writ to garluild Kili aine, wvho iihi alreadyv occupied the line of a their victinis betore tile final sacrifice. snmall river called the MoliellaI, which intersects Sinrounded by dangers, and cut off fi'onm any the country hetween Legiiao aniid Mansia. Ifl this other retreat, \WVUnruiser fomed the gallant deter- position could be nmade good, it iwas concluded that minatiton to throw himself and his reiiain:ng forces the Austrian general, iinalale to reach lantia, or into Mantuna, and share the tfite of tile beleaguered to nmaintain himself at Legnago, must even yet surfrtress wvlhiich he hiad vainly stri ven to relieve. But render himself aiid his ariny. to execute this puripose it was necessary to cross On the 12th Selitemlher, WVurniser began his the Adige, nor was it easy to say how this was to be march. He swas first opposed at Cores, where accomplished. Verona, one point of passage, seas Murat and Pigeon had united their forces. BI:t defended my Kilmaine, who had already repulsed WVnrmser made his dispositions, and attackerl wifth Mezaros. Legnag'o, shere there was a bridge, was a fury whliich swept out of tile way both the caralry also, garrison ed hy the French' and Wur-mser bhad and infantry of the enemrny, and obtained possessioii lost mis bridge of pontoons at thIe hbattle of Bassano. of thIe village. In the hieat of' the skirmish, aid At the villige imf Albarado, however, there was an just wlien the French svere givirug way, Bonaparte established ferry, totally insuffticient for passing himself enteredl Cores, with tlhe purpose of personover so consideratife a firce wsith the necessiar ally superintending the dispositions made for initerdislpatch, lt whirch Wilurmser used for thle purpose ceptling the retreat of \Vnrmnser, w-,hen, but for flte af seidiing aicross two sqaadrons of cavalry, in order speed of his horse, lie had nearly fallen as a aprisimur 208 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. into the hands of the general whose destruction he stand of colours had been taken by the victorswas labouring to insure. Warmser arrived on the forty thousand Austrians had laid down their arms spot a few minutes afterwards, and gave orders for -and, what was not the least surprising part of the a pursuit in every direction; commanding, however, whole, these deeds had been accomplished by an that the Frencll general should, if possible, be taken army of only thirty thousand Frenchmen, commandalive-a conjunction of circumstances worthy of ed by a general scarce twenty-six years old." remark, since it authorized the Austrian general for the moment to pronounce on the fate of him, who, CHAPTER XXV. before and after, was the master of his destiny. Having again missed this great prize, Wurmser continued his march all ni0ht and turningf aside Corsica re-united with France.-Criticalsituation of Bocnndhn0 a n-.tlapar~e in. Italy at this period. —The Austrian general from the great road, where the blockading army had Alvinzi placed at the heed of a new arnsy.-Yarious taken measures to intercept him, he surprised a contests, attended with no decisive resielt.-WMtcnlt of small bridlge over the Molinella, at a village called concert among the Austrian ge.nerals.-French army Villa Impenta, by which lie eluded encountering begin to miurmnr.-First battle of Arcola-Napoleon in the forces of Kilmaine. A body of French horse, sent personal danger-No deci.ive result.-Second battle of to impede his progress, was cut to pieces by the Arcola —The French victorios.s.-Fresh swant of concert Austrian cavaltry. On the 14th, Wrmser obtained among the Austrian generals. —General views of milia simnilar success at Castel-Dui, where his cuiras- tary and political affairs, after the conclasion of the siers destroyed a body of French infantry; and fourlh Italian calpaiyg.-Austria: commences a fifth havingr now forced himself into a communication campaign-but has omot profited by e.vperielce.-Battle with ~Maualla, he enca~mped between the sluburb of of Rivoli, and victory of the French —Fairther successful at La Favorita.-French regain their lost ground Saint George and the citadel, and endeavoured to inl Italy. —S$ureneder of Alaltua. —Isstances oJ' Negrokeep open the communicationf with the country, for leon's generosity. the pulrpose of obtaining a supply of forage and provisions. ABOUT this period the re-union of Corsica with Bat it was not Bonaparte's intention to leave him France took place. Bonaparte contributed to this undisturbed in so commodions a position. Having change in the political relations of his native country received the surrender of an Austrian corps which indirectly, in part by the high pride which his was left in Porto Legnago, and gleaned up such countrymen must have originally taken in his splenother remnants of Wurmser's army as could not ac- did career; and lie did so more immedliately, by company their generlal in his rapid march to Mantna, seizing the town and port of Leghorn, and assisting he resolved once more to force his way into the islet those Corsicans, who had been exiled by the English of the Seraglio, upon which Mantua is built, and party, to return to tht ir native island. Ile intimated confine the besieged withlin the walls of their garri- the event to the Directory, and stated that lie had son. On tlhe 15th, after a very severe and bloody appointed Gentili, the principal partisan of the action, the French obtained possession of the suburb French, to govern the island )provisionally; and that of St George, and the citadel termed La Favorita, the Commissioner Salicetti was to set sail for the and a long series of severe sallies and attacks took purpose of making other necessary arrangenments. place, which, altholgh gallantly fought by the Aus. The communication is coldly made, nor does Bonatrians, generally tended to their disadvantage, so parte's love of his birth-place induce himn to expathat they were finally again blockaded within the tiate lpon its importance, altllons l the I)iectory walls of the city and castle. afterwards made the acquisition of that island a The woes of war now appeared among them in a great theme of exultation. But' his destinies had different and evesn more hideous form than when called him to too high an elevation to permit his inflficted with the sword alone. When Wtirmser distinguishing the obscure islet which lie had arisen threw himself into Mantua, the garrison lnight from originally. He was like the young lion, wlho, amount to tweslty-six thousand men; yet ere Octo- while he is scattering the herds and destroying the ber was far adsvanced, there were little above the hunters, thinks little of the forest-cave in which he half of the nlumber fit for service. There were first saw the light.' nearly nine thousand sick in the hospitals,-infectious diseases, privations of every kind, and thie un- We have said (p. IN6.) that Bonaparte never distinguishhealthy air of the lakes and marshes with which ed his native country after his highl exaltation, ausud did not they were surrounded, had cut off the remainder. of course possess the affection of tile inhahitants in a strong The French also hlad lost great numbers; but the degree. But in his Memoirs, while at St Helena, he gives conquerors could reckon up their victories, and forget a sketch of the geographical descripticn and h.istory of the price at which they had been purchased. Corsica, and suggests several plans for civilization of his It was a proutd atunt, and a cuare in itself for many cointrymen,-one of which, the depriving themn of the arms losses, that the miunister of war had a right to make which tley constantly wear, might be prudent were it the follolwing spcli to the Directory, at the forlmal practicable, bht certainly would be highly unpalatahle. introdltion ot Ilrmont, tlen aide-de-camp of 0 There is an odd observation, "that the crown of Corsica introduaction o Lrrnrmonct, then aide-de-canp ofn ho- p must, on the temporary annexation of the island to Great naperte, and coamunissioned to present. on his part nthe,s and cos'msisioneds token preset oneIispart Britain, have been surprised at finding itself appertaintlue colours and standards taklen finom the enemy: — in, to th:e successol of Fingal." Not more we should think " In the co-urse of a single camnpaign," he truly said, than the diadem of Fraunce, and the iron crown of Italy, Italy had been entirely conlqered -three large may hove marveled at meeting on the brow of a Corsican armaies hald been entirely dlestrsvyed1-nmore thana fifty soldier of fiortune. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 209 Indeed Bonatparte's sktuation, however brilliant, your. It seems, however, that Victory, as if diswas at tile same time critical, and required his pleased that mortals should presume to calculate tile undlivided thouights. Mantula still held out, and motives of so fickle a deity, was on this occasion -was likely to do so. \Vurinser had caused ahout disposed to be more coy than fo)rmerly even to her three-RthbIlths of the horses btlonging to his cavalry greatest fitourite, and to oblige him to toil harder to be killed and salted bor tlie use of the garrison, than lie had done even when the odds were more and thus made a large addition, such as it was, to againist him. the provisions of tile place. His character for coll- D avidowich commanded the body of the Austrians rage and determination was completely established; which was in the Tyrol, and which included the and being now engtaged in defenling a fortress by fine nilitia of tlat inmatial province. There was little ordinary rules of art, which he peri fctly understood, dmifficulty in prev ailing on thleni to advance into Italy, he was in no danger of being overreached and out- convinced as they were that there;was small security manwouvr'ed by tile new systeum of tactics, wxich oc- for their national independence while the French casioned his mislfortunes in tile oien field. remainedl il possession of Lombardy. Bonaparte, W\lhile, therefre, tie last pledge of Austria's do- on the other hand, had placed Vanbois in the passes minions itl Italy was confidted to such sale custody,,,pou the river Lavisa, above Trent. to cover that the errlperor and his ministers wsere eagerlv engaged new possession of' the French Republic, and check in making a newv etflot to iecover their Italian terri- the advance of Davidowich. It snas the plan of tories.'Th'e dete.t of' Jonidan, and the retreat of' Alvinzi to descend froln Friiuli, and a)proach ViMoreall tfi;le thfe Arclhdtluke Cllalles, had given cenza, to which place he expected lDajidowich the Imperialists somie breathingg time, anid enabled might penetrate by a colrespondling mrvement down themn, by extensive levies in the awarlike province the Adige. Having thiis bllought his united arlly of Illyria, as well as draights fiom ithe army of the into actiity, his design wavos to advanlce on 1ManRhine, to talke the field withi a new armnv for the tua, the constant object of' bloi(ly contention. I-He recovery of the Italian provinces, and the relief of commenced his iialchi in the begiliring of Octo5Mantua. B13y ordels of tle Aulic Council, tvwo aimies ber, 1796. were assemliled o, tile Italian firontier; one at Fiiuli, As soon as Bonaparte heartl tlhat Alvinzi was in which was partly conrposed of that portion of the motion, he sent orders to Vaiibois to attack Davidarmy of Wulrilser, which, cut ofl froin their imain owich, and to Mass6na to advance to Bassano upon body at the battle of Bassalo,: had effected, ullder the 13renta, and make head against the Atistriaii Quasdonowich, a retreat ii that direction; the other commander-in-chieft Both measures failed in eftect. was to be formlied on the Tyrol. TIhey were to ope- Vaubois indeed made his attack, hut' so unsuccessrate in conjunction, and both were placed under the fully, that after two days' fighting he was compelled commatnd of Marshlal Alvinzi, an officer of hligh re- to retreat before the Austliians, to evacuate tile city putation, which was then thoughlt merited. of Trent, and to retreat upon Calliano, already men-'T'its, for the fourth -time, Bonaparte was to con- tioned as a very strong positiotn, in the previois test the sanme objects on- the same ground, with account of the battle of lRoveredo.' A great part of' new fibces belonging to the same enemy. Hle had, his opponents beinag Tyrolese, and admirably calcuindeed, himself, received from France reinforce- lated for mountain walfare, they forced Vaubois fiorn ments to the numiiinber: of twelve battalions, from a situation which was almost impregnable; and their those trl-ops which had been frrnierly e-mployed army. descending the Adige upon the right bank, in La Vendire. Th e armiy, in geeraerl, since victory appeared to moance ivre with the purpose of marchhad lplaced thle resources of the rich country which ing on Montebaldo and Rivol, and thus opening the they occtipiedtl t the colnlmand of their leader, had commnnication with Alvinzi. been wvell srpplied withl clolhes, fbod, and provi- On the other hanid, thoirghr Mass6na had sustained sions, aidl s:ere devotedly attached to tile chief no loss, for he avoided an engagement, the approach who' }hid (' ldi cted thierri fromlr starving- on the bar- of Alvinzi, wvith a superior army, compelled hiim to ren Alps irnto tills land of plenty, and had directed evacuate Bassano, and to leave the enesmy in intheirrnilitary elffots vith such skill, that they could disputed possession of the valley of the Brenta. scarce ever be said to hiave failed of success in Bnahparte, thlerefore, hi-mself, saw the necessity of whatever they rlldertorok under his direction. advancing wvith Aulgereau's division, determined to Naproleonl haid also on his side the good wvishes, give hattle to Alvinzi, and force him back on the if not of tile Italians in general, of a considerable Piave befbre the arrival of Davidowich. But he party, especially inm Lomhaardy, andt friends and experienced unusual resistance; and it is amid comnenetnies were alike impressed with belief in his pre- plairts of' tile weather, of nmisadventures and misdestined success. Dring tie formler attempts of carriages of difflerent sorts, that he faintly claims the Wurrnser, a contrarly opinion had prevailed, and the natmre of a victory for his first encounter with Alnews that tIhe Alrstlriats were in motion, had given vinzi. It is clear that he had made a desperate birth to insurrectiols agailnst the French in many attelmpt to drive the Austrian general from Bassano Iplaces, and to the ptiblication of sentintents minfa- -that lie had not succeeded; but, on the contrary, voulrable to tlienrl almost everywhere. BIt now, was under the necessity of retreating to Vicen)za. It when all predicted thle certain sricc ess of Napoleon, is further manifest, that Bonaparte was sensible this the friends of AtIstria remained quiet, and the na- retreat did not accord well with his claim of vicinertcrs 1palrty who desire in such cases to keep on tory; and he says, with a consciousness which is the vwirrning side, adtdedl s,,eisht to tire actual friends of France, by expressing thleir opinions in her fa- * Page 208. I' s,.'/, `2;)10 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. alilulsing, that the inhabitants of Vicenza were sur- disquiet the French leader's position on that river, 1r4ised to see the French army retire through their and give Alvinzi himself the opportunity of forcing town, as they had been witnesses of their victory on a passage. tihe preceding day. No doubt there was room for Bonaparte, with his usual rapidity of resolution, astonishment, if the Vicenzans had been as com- resolved to drive the Austrian from his position on pletely convinced of the fact as Bonaparte repre- Caldiero, before the arrival of Davidowich But sents them. The truth was, Bonaparte was sensible neither on this occasion was fortune propitious to that Vaubois, being in complete retreat, was ex- him. A strong French division, under Mass6na, posed to be cut off unless he was supported, and he attacked the heights amid a storm of rain; but their hasted to prevent so great a loss, by meeting and most strenuous exertions proved completely unsucreinforcing him. His own retrograde movement, cessful, and left to the general only his usual mode however, which extended as far as Verona, left the of concealing a check, by railing at the elements. whole country betwixt the Brenta and Adige open The situation of the French became critical, and, to the Austrians; nor does there occur, to those what was worse, the soldiers perceived it, anad who read the account of the campaign, any good complained that they had to sustain the whole burreason why Davidowich and Alvinzi, having no den of the war, had to encounter army after army, body of French to interrupt their communication, and must succumb at last, under the renewed and should not instantly have adjusted their operations unwearied efforts of Austria. Bonaparte parried on a common basis. But it was the bane of the these natural feelings as well as he could, promising Austrian tactics, through the whole war, to neglect that their conquest of Italy should be speedily sealthat connexion and co-operation betwixt their se- ed by the defeat of this Alvinzi; and he applied his parate divisions, which is essential to secure the whole genius to discover the means of bringing the general result of a campaign. Above all, as Bonaparte war to an effective struggle, in which he confided himself remarked of them, their leaders were not that, in spite of numbers, his own talents, and the sufficiently acquainted with the value of time in enterprising character of an army so often victorious, military movements. might assure him a favourable result. But it was Napoleon having retreated to Verona, where he no easy way to discover a mode of attacking, with could at pleasure assume the offensive by means of even plausible hopes of success. If he advanced the bridge, or place the Adige between himself and northward on the right bank to seek out and destroy the enemy, visited, in the first place, the positions Davidowich, he must weaken his line on the Adige, of Rivoli and Corona, where were stationed the by the troops withdrawn to effect that purpose; and troops which had been defeated by Davidowich. during his absence, Alvinzi would probably force They appeared before him with dejected coun- the passage of the river at some point, and thus tenances, and Napoleon upbraided them with their have it in his power to relieve Mantila. The heights indifferent behaviour. L' You have displeased me," of Caldiero, occupied by the Austrian main body, he said;-" You have shown neither discipline, nor and lying in his front, had, by dire experiment, constancy, nor bravery. You have suffered your- been proved impregnable. selves to be driven from positions where a handful In these doubtful circumstances the bold scheme of brave men might have arrested the progress of a occurred to the French general, that the position of large army. You are no longer French soldiers.- Caldiero, though it could not be stormed, might be Let it be written on their colours —' They are not turned, and that by possessing himself of the village of the Army of Italy.'" rears, and groans of sorrow of Arcola, which lies to the left and in the rear of and shame, answered this harangue-the rules of Caldiero, the Austrians might be compelled to fight discipline could not stifle their sense of mortifica- to disadvantage. But the idea of attacking Arcola tion, and several of the grenadiers, who had de- was one which would scarce have occurred to any served and wore marks of distinction, called out general save Bonaparte. fiom the ranks —" General, we have been misre- Arcola is situated upon a small stream called the presented-Place us in the advance, and you may Alpon, which, as already hinted, finds its way into then judge whether we do not belong to the Army the Adige, through a wilderness of marshes, inof Italy." Bonaparte, having produced the necessary tersected with ditches, and traversed by dikes in effect, spoke to them in a more conciliatory tone; various directions. In case of an unsuccessful atand the regiments who had undergone so severe a tack, the assailants were like to be totally cut off in rebuke redeemed their character in the subsequent the swamps. Then to debouche from Verona, and part of the campaign. move in the direction of Arcola, would have put AlWVhile Napoleon was indefatigable in concentrat- vinzi and his whole army on their guard. Secrecy ing his troops on the right bank of the Adige, and and celerity are the soul of enterprise. All these inspiring them with his own spirit of enterprise, Al- difficulties gave way before Napoleon's genius. vinzi had taken his position on the left bank, nearly Verona, it must be remembered, is on the left oppsite to Verona. His army occupied a range bank of the Adige-on the same with the point of heights called Caldiero, on the left of which, which was the object of Bonaparte's attack. At and somewhat in the rear, is the little village of nightfall, the whole forces at Verona were under Arcola, situated among marshes, which extend arms; and leaving fifteen hundred men under Kilaround the foot of that eminence. EIere the Austrian maine to defend the place from any assault, with general had stationed himself, with a view, it may strict orders to secure the gates, and prevent all be supposed, to wait until Davidowich and his divi- communication of his nocturnal expedition to the sion should descend the right bank of the Adige, enemy, Bonaparte commenced his march at first to LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 211 the rear, in the direction of Peschiera; which between Alvinzi and his reserves, and destroy his seemed to imply that his resolution was at length park of artillery. But the risk was avoided by the taken to resign the hopes of gaining Mantua; and timely caution of the Austrian field-marshal. perhaps to abandon Italy. The silence with which Alvinzi was no sooner aware that a great division the march was cenducted, the absence of all the. of the French army was in his rear, than, without usual rumours which used in the French army to allowing them time for farther operations, he instantly precede a battle, and the discouraging situation of broke up his position on Caldiero, and evacuated affairs, appeared to presage the same issue. But these heights by a steady and orderly retreat. Bonaafter the troops had marched a little way in this parte had the mortification to see the Austrians direction, the heads of columns were wheeled to the effect this manoeuvre by crossing a bridge in their left, out of the line of retreat, and descended the rear over the Alpon, and which could he have occuAdige as far as Ronco, which they reached before pied, as was his purpose, he might have rendered day. Here a bridge had been prepared, by which their retreat impossible, or at least disastrous. As they passed over the river, and were placed on the matters stood, however, the village of Arcola came same bank with Arcola, the object of their attack, to lose its consequence as a position, since, after and lower than the heights of Caldiero. Alvinzi's retreat, it was no longer in the rear, but in There were three causeways by which the marsh the front of the enemy. of Arcola is traversed-each was occupied by a Bonaparte remembered he had enemies on the French column. The central column moved on the right as well as on the left of the Adige; and that causeway which led to the village so named. The Davidowich might be once more routing Vatbois, dikes and causeways were not defended, but Arcola while he was too far advanced to afford him assistand its bridge were protected by two battalions of ance. He therefore evacuated Arcola, and the Croats with two pieces of cannon, which were placed village of Porcil, situated near it, and retreating to in a position to enfilade the causeway. These re- Ronco, re-crossed the liver, leaving only two denmiceived the French column with so heavy a fire on brigades in advance upon the left bank. its flank, that it fell back in disorder. Augereau The first battle of Arcola, famous for the obstinacy rushed forward upon the bridge with his chosen with which it was disputed, and the number of brave grenadiers; but, enveloped as they were in a de- officers and men who fell, was thus attended with no stractive fire, they were driven back on the main decisive result. But it had checked the inclination body. of Alvinzi to advance on Verona-it had delayed Alvinzi, who conceived it only an affair of light all communication betwixt his army and that of the tr oops, sent, however, forces into the marsh by means Tyrol-above all, it had renewed the Austlrians' of the dikes which traversed them, to drive out the apprehensions of the skill of Bonapalte and the French. These were checked by finding that they bravery of his troops, and restored to the French were to oppose strong columns of infantry, yet the soldiery the usual confidence of their national chabattle continued with unabated vigour. It was racter. essential to Bonaparte's plan that Arcola should be Bonaparte remained stationary at Ronco until carried; but the fire continued tremendous. At next morning at five o'clock, by which time he relength, to animate his soldiers to a final exertion, ceived intelligence that Davidowich had lain quietin he caught a stand of colours, rushed on the bridge, his former position; that he had no cause to be and planted them there with his own hand. A fresh alarmed for Vaubois' safety, and might therefore body of Austrians arrived at that moment, and the operate in security against Alvinzi. This was renfire on flank blazed more destructively than ever. dered the more easy (16th November), as the AusThe rearof the French column fell back; the leading trian general, not aware of Bonaparte's having files, finding themselves unsupported, gave way, halted his army at Ronco, imagined he was on his but, still careful of their general, bore him back in march to concentrate his forces near Mantua,'and their arms through the dead and dying, the fire and hastened therefore to overwhelm the rear-guard, the smoke. In the confusion he was at length pushed whom he expected to find at the ferry. Bonaparte into the marsh. The Austrians were already be- spared them the trouble of a close advance to the twixt him and his own troops, and he must have Adige. He again crossed to the left side, and perished or been taken had not the grenadiers per- again advanced his columns upon the dikes and ceired his danger. The cry instantly arose,-" For- causeways which traversed the marshes of Arcola. wvard-forward-save the general!" Their love to On such ground, where it was impossible to assign Bonaparte's person did more than even his com- to the columns more breadth than the causeways mands and example had been able to accomplish. could accommodate, the victorious soldiers of France They returned to the charge, and at length pushed had great advantage over the recent levies of Austhe Austrians out of the village; but not till the tria; for though the latter might be superior in numappearane of a French corps under General Guieux ber on the whole, success must in such a case had turned the position and he had thrown himself depend on the personal superiority of the front or in the rear of it. These succours had passed at the leading files only. The French, therefore, had the ferry of Albarado, and the French remained in pos- first advantage, and drove back the Austrians upon,session of the long-contested village. It was at the the village of Arcola; but here, as on the former moment a place of the greatest importance; for the day, Alvinzi constituted his principal point of depossession of it would have enabled Bonaparte, had fence, and maintained it with the utmost obstinacy. the Austrians remained in their position, to operate After having repeatedly failed when attacking in on their communications with the Brenta, interpose front a post so difficult of approach, Napoleon en 212 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. deavoured to turn the position by crossing the little Alvinzi was now compelled to give way, and river Alpon, near its union with the Adige. He commenced his retreat on Montebello. lie disattempted to effect a passage by means of fascines, posed seven thousand men in echelons to cover this but unsuccessfully; and the night approached with- movement, which was accomplished without very out anything effectual being decided. Both parties much loss; but his ranks had been much thinned drew off, the French to Ronco, where they re- by the slaughter of the three battles of Arcola. crossed the Adige; the Austrians to a position behind Eight thousand men has been stated as the amount the well-contested village of Arcola. of his losses. The French, who made so many and The battle of the 16th November was thus far fa- so sanguinary assaults upon the villages, must also vourable to the French, that they had driven back the have suffered a great deal. Bonaparte acknowAustrians, and made many prisoners in the corn- ledges this in energetic terms. " Never," he writes mencement of the day; but they had also lost many to Carnot, " was field of'battle so disputed. I have men; and Napoleon, if he had gained ground in the almost no generals remaining-I can assure you that day, was fain to return to his position at night, lest the victory could not have been gained at a cheaper Davidowich, by the defeat of Vaubois, might either expense. The enemy were numerous, and desperelieve Manttta, or move on Verona. The 17th was rately resolute." The truth is, that Bonaparte's to be a day more decisive. mode of striking terror by these bloody and des-'The field of battle, and the preliminary man- perate charges in front upon strong positions, was oeuvres, were much the same as on the preceding a blemish in his system. They cost many men, and day; but those of the French were nearly discon- were not uniformly successful. That of Arcola was certed by the sinking of one of the boats which con- found a vain waste of blood, till science was emstituted their bridge over the Adige. The Austrians ployed instead of main force, when the position was instantly advanced on the demi-brigade which had turned by Guieux on the first day; on the third, by been stationed on the left bank to defend the bridge. the troops who crossed the Alpon. But the French, having repaired the damage, ad- The tardy conduct of Davidowich, during these vanced in their turn,, and compelled the Austrians three undecided days of slaughterous struggle, is to retreat upon the marsh. Mass6na directed his worthy of notice and censure. It would appear that attack on Porcil-General Robert pressed forward from the 10th November that general had it in his on Arcola. But it was at the point where he wished power to attack the division which he had hitherto to cross the Alpon that Bonaparte chiefly desired to driven before him, and that he had delayed doing attain a decided superiority, and, in order to win it, so till the 16th; and on the 18th, just the day after he added stratagem to audacity. Observing one of Alvinzi had made his retreat, he approached Vehis columns repulsed, and retreating along the cause- rona on the right bank. Had these movements way, he placed the 32d regiment in ambuscade in a taken place before Alvinzi's defeat, or even during thicket of willows which bordered the rivulet, and any of the three days preceding, when the French saluting the pursuing enemy with a close, heavy, were engaged before Arcola, the consequences must and unexpected fire, instantly rushed to close with have been very serious. Finding, however, that the bayonet, and attacking the flank of a column of Alvinzi had retreated, Davidowich followed the nearly three thousand Croats, forced them into the same course, and withdrew into the mountains, not marsh, where most of them perished. much annoyed by the French, who respected the It was now that, after a calculation of the losses character of' his army, which had been repeatedly sustained by the enemy, Napoleon conceived their victorious, and felt the weakness incident to their numerical superiority so far diminished, and their own late losses. spirit so much broken., that he need no longer con- Another incidental circumstance tends equally fine his operations to the dikes, but meet his enemy strongly to mark the want of concert and commuon the firm plain which extended beyond the Alpon. nication among the Austrian generals. Wurmser, He passed the brook by means of a temporary who had remained quiet in Mantua during all the bridge which had been prepared during night; and time when Alvinzi and Davidowich were in the the battle raged as fiercely on the dry level, as it neighbourhood, made a vigorous sally on the 23d had done on the dikes and amongst the marshes. November; when his doing so was of little conseThe Austrians fought with resolution, the rather quence, since he could not be supported, that their left, though stationed on dry ground, was Thus ended the fourth campaign undertaken for secured by a marsh which Bonaparte had no means the Austrian possessions in Italy. The consequences of turning. But though this was the case, Napoleon were not so decidedly in Bonaparte's favour as contrived to gain his point by impressing on the those of the three former. Mantua, it is true, had enemy an idea that he had actually accomplished received no relief; and so far the principal object that which he had no means of doing. This he ef- of the Austrians had miscarried. But Wurmser fected by sending a daring officer, with about thirty was of a temper to continue the defence till the last of the guides (his own body-guards they may be moment, and had already provided for a longer decalled), with four trumpets, and directing these de- fence than the French counted upon, by curtailing termined cavaliers to charge, and the trumpets to the rations of the garrison. The armies of Friuli sound, as if a large body of horse had crossed the and the Tyrol had also, since the last campaign, marsh. Augereau attacked the Austrian left at the retained possession of Bassano and Trent, and resame moment; and a fresh body of troops advan- moved:the French from the mountains through cing from Legnago, compelled them to retreat, but which access is gained to the Austrian hereditary not to fly. dominions. Neither had Alvinsi suffered any such LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 213 heavy defeat as his predecessors Beaulieu or on the cruelty of aggravating the laws of war, Wurmser; while Davidowich, on the contrary, was which are already too severe; so that the system uniformly successful, had he known how to avail of military execution was renounced on both sides. himself of his victories. Still the Austrians were But notwithstanding this display of zeal and not likely, till reinforced again, to interrupt Bona- loyalty on the part of the Austrian nation, its parte's quiet possession of Lombardy. councils do not appear to have derived wisdom from During two months following the battle of Arcola experience. The losses sustained by Wurmser and and the retreat of the Attstrians, the war which had by Alvinzi proceeded in a great measure fiom the been so vigorously maintained in Italy experienced radical error of having divided their forces, and a short suspension, and the attention of Bonaparte commenced the campaign on a double line of operawas turned towards civil matters-the arrangement tion, which could not, or at least were not made to, of the French interests with the various powers of correspond and comnmunicate with each other. Yet Italy, and with the congress of Lombardy, as well they commenced this campaign on the same linas the erection of the districts of Bologna, Fer- happy principles. One army descending from the rara, Re-gio, and Modena, into what was called Tyrol upon Montebaldo, the other was to march the Cispadane Republic. These we shall notice down by the Brenta on the Paduan territory, and elsewhere, as it is not advisable to interrupt the then to operate on the lower Adige, the line of course of our military annals, until we have re- which, of course, they were expected to force, counted the last struggle of the Austrians for the for the purpose of relieving Mantua. The Aulic relief of Mantua. Council ordered that these two armies were to It mustbein the first place observed, that, whether direct their course so as to meet, if possible, upon from jealousy or from want of means, supplies and the beleaguered fortress. Should they succeed in recruits were very slowly transmitted from France raising the siege, there was little doubt that the to their Italian army. About seven thousand men, French must be driven out of Italy; but even were who were actually sent to join Bonaparte, scarcely the scheme only partially successful, still it might repaired the losses which he had sustained in the allow Wurmser with his cavalry to escape from late bloody campaigns. At the same time the treaty that besieged city, and retreat into the Romagna, with the pope being broken off, the supreme pontiff where it was designed that he should, with the threatened to march a considerable army towards assistance of his staff and officers, organize and Lombardy. Bonaparte endeavoured to supply the assume the command of the papal army. In the want of reinforcements by raising a defensive legion meantime, an intelligent agent was sent to commuamong the Bombards, to which he united many nicate, if possible, with Wurmser. Poles. This body was not fit to be brought into This man fell into the hands of the besiegers. It line against the Austrians, but was more than suffi- was in vain that he swallowed his dispatches, which cient to hold at bay the troops of the Papal See, were inclosed in a ball of wax; means were found who have never enjoyed of late years a high degree to make the stomach render up its trust, and the of military reputation. document which the wax inclosed was found to be lMeantimrne Austria, who seemed to cling to Italy a letter, signed by the emperor's own hand, directwith the tenacity of a dying grasp, again, and now ing WVurmser to enter into no capitulation, but to for the fifth tinle, recruited her armies on the fron- hold out as lorng as possible in expectation of relief, tier, and placing Alvinzi once more at the head of and if compelled to leave Mantua, to accept of' no sixty thousand men, commanded him to resume the conditions, but to cut his way into the Romagna, offensive against the French in Italy. The spiiit of and take upon himself the command of the papal the country had been roused instead of discouraged army. Thus Bonaparte became acquainted with the by the late defeats. The volunteer corps, consisting storm which was approaching, and which was not of persons of respectability and consideration, took long of breaking. the field, for the redemption, if their blood could Alvinzi, who commanded the principal army, adpuichase it, of the national honour. Vienna fur- vanced from Bassano to Roveredo upon the Adige. nished four battalions, which were presented by Provera, distinguished for his gallant defence of the empress with a banner, that she had wrought Cossaria during the action of Millesimo,* commandfor them with her own hands. The Tyrolese also ed the divisions which were to act upon the lower thronged once more to their sovereign's standard, Adige. He marched as f:ar as Bevi l'Acqua, while undismayed by a proclamation made by Bonaparte his advanced guard, under Prince Hohenzollern, after the retreat from Arcola, and which paid compelled a body of French to cross to the right homage, though a painful one, to these brave bank of the Adige. marksmen. " Whatever Tyrolese," said this atro- Bonaparte, uncertain which of these attacks he cious document, "is taken with arms in his hand, was to consider as the main one, concentrated his shall be put to instant death." Alvinzi sent abroad army at Verona, vwhich had been so important a place a counter proclamation, "that for every Tyrolese during all these campaigns as a central point, from put to death as threatened, he would hang up a which he might at pleasure march either up the French officer." Bonaparte again replied, "that Adige against Alvinzi, or descend the river to resist if the Austrian general would use the retaliation he the attempts of Provera. He trusted that Jobhert, threatened, he should execute in his turn officer for whom he had placed in defence of' Corona, a little officer out of his prisoners, commencing with Al- town which had been strongly fortified for the purvinzi's own nephew, who was in his power." A little calmness on either side brought them to reflect * See p. 184. 214 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. pose, might be able to make a good temporary de- three battalions of French infantry, who had been fence. He dispatched troops for Joubert's support counter-marched by Jaubert to prevent Quasdonoto Castel Nuovo, but hesitated to direct his principal wich's purpose, struggled up the steep ascent on force in that direction until ten in the evening of another point. The activity of the French brought 13th January, when he received information that them first to the summit, and having then the adJoubert had been attacked at La Corona by an im- vantage of the ground, it was no difficult matter for mense body, which he had resisted with difficulty them to force the advancing Austrians headlong during the day, and was now about to retreat, in down the hill which they were endeavouring to order to secure the important eminence at Rivoli, climb. Meantime, the French batteries thundered which was the key of his whole position. on the broken columns of the enemy-their cavalry Judging from this account that the principal dan- made repeated charges, and the whole Austrians ger occurred on the upper part of the Adige, Bona- who had been engaged fell into inextricable disorder. Iparte left only Augerean's division to dispute with The columns which had advanced were irretrievably Provera the passage of that river on the lower part defeated; those who remained were in such a of its course. He was especially desirous to secure condition, that to attack would have been madness. the elevated and commanding position of Rivoli, Amid this confusion the division of Lusignan, before the enemy had time to receive his cavalry which was the most remote of the Austrian columns, and cannon, as he hoped to bring on an engagement being intrusted with the charge of the artillery and ere he was united with those important parts of his baggage of the army, had, after depositing these army. By forced marches Napoleon arrived at according to order, mounted the heights of Rivoli, Rivoli at two in the morning of the 14th, and from and assumed a position in reasof the French. Had that elevated situation, by the assistance of a clear this column attained the same ground while the moon-light, he was able to discover that the bivouac engagement continued in front, there can be no of the enemy was divided into five distinct and doubt that it would have been decisive against separate bodies, from which he inferred that their Napoleon. Even as it was, their appearance in the attack the next day would be made in the same rear would have startled troops, however brave, number of columns. who had less confidence in their general; but those The distance at which the bivouacs were stationed of Bonaparte only exclaimed, "There arrive farther from the position of Joubert made it evident to supplies to our market," in full reliance that their Napoleon that they did not mean to make their at- commander could not be out-manoeuvred. The tack before ten in the morning, meaning, probably, Austrian division, on the other hand, arriving after to wait for their infantry and artillery. Joubert was the battle was lost, being without artillery or cavalry, at this time in the act of evacuating the position and having been obliged to leave a proportion of which he only occupied by a rear-guard. Bonaparte their numbers to keep a check upon a French commanded him instantly to counter-march, and brigade, felt that, instead of being in a position to resume possession of the important eminence of cut off the French, by attacking their rear while Rivoli. their front was engaged, they themselves were cut A few Croats had already advanced so near the off by the intervention of the victorious French French line as to discover that Joubert's light betwixt then and their defeated army. Lusignan's troops had abandoned the chapel of Saint Marc, of division was placed under a heavy fire of the artillery which they took possession. It was retaken by the in reserve, and was soon obliged to lay down its French, and the struggle to recover and maintain it, arms. So critical are the events of war, that a brought on a severe action, first with the regiment military movement, which, executed atone particular to which the detachment of Croats belonged, and period of tine woilld have insured victory, is not afterwards with the whole Austrian column which unlikely, from the loss of a brief interval, to occasion lay nearest to that point, and which was commanded only more general calanlity.? The Austrians, on by Ocskay. The latter was repulsed, but the co- this as on some other occasions, verified too much lumn of Kobler pressed forward to support them, Napoleon's allegation, that they did not sufficiently and having gained the sunmmit, attacked two regi- consider the value of time in military affairs. ments of the French who were stationed there, each The field of Rivoli was one of the most desperate protected by a battery of cannon. Notwithstanding that Bonaparte ever won, and was gained entirely this advantage, one of the regiments gave way, and by superior mnilitary skill, and not by the overbearBonaparte himself galloped to bring up reinforce- ing system of mere force of numbers, to which he ments. The nearest French were those of Masse- has been accused of being partial. He himself had na's division, which, tired with the preceding night's his horse repeatedly wounded in the course of the march, had lain down to take some rest. They action, and exerted to the utmost his personal instarted utp, however, at the command of Napoleon, and suddenly arriving on the field, in half an hour It is represented in some military accounts; that the the column of Kobler was beaten and driven back. division which appeared in the rear ofthe French l1elonged That of Liptay advanced in turn; and Qnasdono- to the army of Provera, and had been detached by him on wich, observing that Joubert, in prosecuting his crossig the Adige, as poentioted below. But Napoleol's v the division. o., StHelenamanuscriptsprovethe contrary. Provera only success over the division of Ockay, had puslhed crossed on the 14th January, and -it was on the morning forward and abandoned the ohapel of Saint Marc. of the same day that Napoleon had seen the five divisions detached three battalions to ascend the hill, and of Alvinzi, that of Lusignan which afterwards appeared in occupy that post. While the Austrians scaled, on the rear of his army being one, lying around Joubert's posione side, the hill on whic.s the chapel is situated, tion of Rivoli. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 215 fluence to bring up the troops into action where or independent fortress. Napoleon, returning at their presence was most required the head of his victorious forces, surrounded and Alvinzi's error, which was a very gross one, attacked with fury the troops of Provera, while the consisted in supposing that no more than Joubert's blockading army compelled the garrison, at the inconsiderable force was stationed at Rivoli, and in bayonet's point, to re-enter the besieged city of preparing, therefore, to destroy him at his leisure; Mantuna. Provera, who had in vain, though with when his acquaintance with the French celerity of much decision and gallantry, attempted the relief movement ought to have prepared him for the pos- of Mantua, which his Inperial master had so much sibility of Bonaparte's night-march, by which, bring- at heart, was compelled to lay down his arms with ing up the chosen strength of his army into the po- a division of about five thousand men, whom he had sition where the enemy only expected to find a still united under his person.'The detached corps feeble force, he was enabled to resist and defeat a which he had left to protect his bridge, and other much superior army, brought to the field upon dif- passes in his rear, sustained a similar fate. Thus, ferent points, without any just calculation on the one division of the army, which had commenced means of resistance which were to be opposed; the campaign of January only on the 7th of that without the necessary assistance of cavalry and ar- month, were the prisoners of the destined conqueror tillery; and, above all, without a preconcerted plan befere ten days had elapsed. The larger'army, of co-operation and mutual support. The excel- commanded by Alvinzi, had no better fortune. lence of Napoleon's manceunres was well supported They were close pursued from the bloody field of' by the devotion of his generals, and the courage of Rivoli, and never were permitted to draw breath his soldiers. Mass6na, in particular, so well se- or to recover their disorder. Large bodies were conded his general, that afterwards, when Napo- intercepted and compelled to surrender, a practice leon as emperor conferred on him the title of duke, now so frequent among the Austrian troops, that it he assigned him his designation from the battle of ceased to be shameful. Rivoli. Nevertheless, one example is so peculiar as to Almost before this important and decisive victory deserve commemoration, as a striking example of was absolutely gained, news arrived which required the utter consternation and dispersion of' the Austhe presence of Bon;iparte elsewhere. On the very trians after this dreadful defeat, and of the confident same day of the battle, Provera, whom we left and audacious promptitude which the French offimanoeuvring on the Lower Adige, threw a bridge cers derived firom their unvaried success. Rlend, a of pontoons over that river, where the French were young officer, was in possession of the village not prepared to oppose his passage, and pushed called Guarda, on the lake of the same name, and, forward to Mantua, the relief of which fortress he in visiting his advanced posts, he perceived some had by stratagem nearly achieved. A regiment of Austrians approaching, whom he caused his escort his cavalry, wearing white cloaks, and resembling to surround and make prisoners. Advancing to the in that particular the first regiment of French hus- front to reconnoitre, he found himself close to the sars, presented themselves before the suburb of head of an Imperial column of eighteen hundred St George, then only covered by a mere line of men, which a turning in the road had concealed till circumvallation. The barricades were about to be. he was within twenty yards of them. "Down with opened without suspicion, when it occurred to a your arms!" said the Austrian commandant; to sagacious old French sergeant, who was beyond which Rend answered with the most ready boldthe walls gathering wood, that the dress of this ness, "Do you lay down your arms! I have (leregiment of white cloaks was fresher than that of stroyed your advanced guard, as witness these the French corps, called Berchini's, for whom they prisoners-ground your arms, or no quarter." And were mistaken. He communicated his suspicions the French soldiers catching the hint of their leader, to a drummer who was near him; they gained the joined in the cry of " Ground your arms." The suburb, and cried to arms, and the guns of the Austrian officer hesitated, and proposed to enter defences were opened on the hostile cavalry whom into capitulation; the Frenchman would admit of no they were about to have admitted in the guise of terms but instant and immediate surrender. The friends. dispirited Imperialist yielded -sp his sword, and About the time that this incident took place, commanded his soldiers to imitate his example. Bonaparte himself arrived at Roverbella, within But the Austrian soldiers began to suspect the twelve miles of Mantua, to which he had marched truth; they became refractory, and refiused to obey with incredible dispatch from the field of battle at their leader, whom Rend addressed with the utmost Rivoli, leaving to Mass6na, Murat, and Joubert, apparent composure. "You are an officer, sir, and the task of completing his victory, by the close a man of honour-you know the rules of war —you pursuit of Alvinzi and his scattered forces. have surrendered-you are therefore my prisoner, In the meanwhile, Provera communicated with but I rely on your parole-Here, I return your sword the garrison of Mantua across the lake, and con.- -compel your men to submission, otherwise I direct certed the measures for its relief with WVurmser. against you the division of six thousand men who On the 16th of January, being the morning after the are under my command." The Austrian was utterly battle of Rivoli, and the unsuccessful attempt to confounded, betwixt the appeal to his honour and surprise the suburb of St George, the garrison of the threat of a charge from six thousand men. He Mantua sallied from the place in strength, and took assured Rena he might rely on his punctilious cornpost at the causeway of La Favorita, being the pliance with the parole he had given him; and only one which is defended by an inclosed citadel, speaking in German to his soldiers, persuaded then 216 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. to lay down their arms, a submission which he had on the subject, that he had afforded to Wurmser soon afterward the satisfaction to see had been such conditions of surrender as became the genemade to one twelfth part of their number. rosity of tile French nation towards an enemy, who, Amid such extraordinary success, the ground having lost his army by misfortune, was so little which the French had lost in Italy was speedily desirous to secure his personal safety, that he threw resumed. Trent and Bassano were again occupied himself into Mantua, cutting his way through the by the French. They regained all the positions and blockading army; thus voluntarily undertaking the strong-holds which they had possessed on the fron- privations of a siege, which his gallantry protracted tiers of Italy before Alvinzi's first descent, and might until almost the last morsel of provisions was experhaps have penetrated deeper into the moun- hausted. tainous frontier of Germany, but for the snow which But the young victor paid still a more delicate choked up the passes. and noble-minded compliment, in declining to be One crowning consequence of the victories of personally present when the veteran Wurmser had Rivoli and of La Favorita, was the surrender of the nCrtification to surrender his sword, with his Mantua itself, that prize which had cost so much garrison of twenty thousand men, ten thousand of blood, and had been defended with such obstinacy. whom were fit for service. This self-denial did For several days after the decisive actions which Napoleon as much credit nearly, as his victory, and left him without a shadow of hope of relief, Wurm- must not be omitted in a narrative, which, often ser continued the defence of the place in a sullen called to stigmatise his ambition and its consequences, yet honourable despair, natural to the feelings of a should not be the less ready to observe marks of gallant veteran, who, to the last, hesitated between dignified and honourable feeling. The history of this the desire to resist, and the sense that, his means of remarkable man more frequently reminds us of the subsistence being almost totally expended, resist- romantic and improbable victories imputed to the ance was absolutely hopeless. At length he sent heroes of the romantic ages, than of the spirit of his aide-de-camp, Klenau (afterwards a name of chivalry attributed to them; but in this instance celebrity), to the head-quarters of Serrurier, who Napoleon's conduct towards Wurmser may be justly commanded the blockade, to treat of a surrender. compared to that of the Black Prince to his royal Klenau used the customary language on such occa- prisoner, King John of France. sions. lie expatiated on the means which he said Serrurier, who had conducted the leaguer, had Mantua still possessed of holding out, but said, that the honour to receive the surrender of Wurmser, as Wurmser doubted whether the place could be after the siege of Mantua had continued for six relieved in time, he would regulate his conduct as to months, during which the garrison is said by Naimmediate submission, or farther defence, according poleon to have lost twenty-seven thousand men by to the conditions of surrender to which the French disease, and in the various numerous and bloody generals were willing to admit him. sallies which took place. This decisive event put A French officer of distinction was present, muf- an end to the war in Italy. The contest with Ausfled in his cloak, and remaining apart from the two tria was hereafter to be waged on the hereditary officers, but within hearing of what had passed. dominions of that haughty power. When their discussion was finished, this unknown The French, possessed of this grand object of person stepped forward, and, taking a pen, wrote their wishes, were not long in displaying their nadown the conditions of surrender to which Wurmser tional characteristics. Their military and prescient was to be admitted-conditions more honourable sagacity were evinced in employing one of the most and favourable by far than what his extremity could celebrated of their engineers, to improve and bring have exacted. "These," said the unknown officer nearly to perfection the defence of a city which to Klenau, "are the terms which Nutrmser may may be termed the citadel of Italy. They set afoot accept at present, and which will be equally tender- besides, civic feasts and ceremonies, and, among ed to him at any period when he finds farther others, one in honour of Virgil, who, being the paresistance impossible. WTe are aware he is too negyrist of an emperor, was indifferently selected much a man of honour to'give up the fortress and as the presiding genius of an infant republic. Their city, so long and honourably defended, while the cupidity was evinced by their artists' exercising means of resistance remain in his power. If he their ingenuity in devising means to cut from tilhe delays accepting the conditions for a week, for a wall and carry off the fresco paintings, by Titian, month, for two months, they shall be equally his of the wars between the Gods and the Giants, at when he chuses to accept them. To-morrow I pass all risks of destroying what could neverbe replaced. the Po, and march upon Rome." Klenau, perceiv- Luckily the attempt was found totally unadvisable. ing that he spoke to the French commnander-in-chief, frankly admitted that the garrison could not longer delay surrender, having scarce three days' provi- CHAPTER XXVI. sions unconsumed. This trait of generosity towards a gallant but un- Situation and views of Bonaparte at this period of the fortunate enemy was highly honourable to Bonaparte. campaign-His politic conduct towards the ItaliansThe taste which edictated t~he stabge-effect of the Popularity.-Severe terms of peace proposed to the pope-rejected. —Napoleon differs from the Directory, cloak may indeed be qulestioned; but the real currentI of his eeh towards the venerable object of and negotiatio.ns are renewed-but again rejected.of his rTeeling towalds the venerable object of The pope raises his army to 40,000mnen-Napoleon inhis respect, and at the same time compassion, is vcules the Papal Territories-T-Ae papal troops deascertained otherwise. He wrote to the Directory feated near Imola-atd at Ancna-which is captnered feared~ aeat' mol — ml at An -wi] is cat~re LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 217 -Loretto taken.-Clemency of Bonaparte to the French worthy of the charge; men young, or at least not re tssalt clergy.-Peace of Tolentino.-Napoleon's letter I advanced in years, to whose ambition the Revoluto the pope.-Seen Maarino.-View of the situation of the tion, and the wars which it had brought on, had eiferelnt Italian States-Romtle-Naples-'uscasey-Ve- opened an unlimited career, and whose genius wvas nice. inspired by the plans of their leader, and tile success which attended them. Bonaparte, who had his eve THE eyes of all Europe were now riveted on on every man, never neglected to distribulte rewards Napoleon Bonaparte, whose rise had been so sud- and punishments, praise and censure, with a liberal den that he was become the terror of empires and hand, or omitted to press for what latterly was rarely the founder of states; the conqueror of the best if ever denied to himn-the promotion of'suclh officers generals and most disciplined troops in Europe, as particularly distinguished themselves. 1-le wilwithin a few months after he had been a mere lingly assumed the task of soothing the feelings of soldier of fortune, seeking rather for subsistence those whose relations had fallen under his banners. than expecting honourable distinction. Such sudden His letter of consolation to General Clarke upon the elevations have occasionally happened amid semi- death of young Clarke his nephew, who fell at barbarous nations, where great popular insurrections, Arcola, is affecting, as showing that amid all his desolating and decisive revolutions, are common victories he felt himself the object of reproach and occurrences, but were hitherto unheard of in civi- criticism.* His keen sensitiveness to the attacks of lized Europe. The pre-eminence which he had the public press attended him through life, and, like suddenly obtained had, besides, been subjected to the slave in the triumphal car, seemed to rlemind so many trials, as to afford every proof of its perma- himn that he iwas still a mortal man. nence. Napoleon stood aloft like a cliff on which It should farther be remarked, that Napoleon successive tempests had expended their rage in withstood, instantly and boldly, all the numerous vain. The means which raised him were equally attempts made by conmissaries, and that description competent to make good his greatness. He had of persons, to encroach upon the fund destined for infiused into the armies which lie commanded the the use of the army. Much of his public, and more firmest reliance on his genius, and the greatest love of his private correspondence, is filled with coinfor his person; so that he could always find agents plaints against these agents, although lie must have. ready to execute his most difficult commands. He known that, in attacking them, ihe disobliged men had even inspired them with a portion of his own of higher influence, who had firequently some secret indefatigable exertion and his commanding intelli- interest in their wsealth. Bat his military tfrne made gence. The maxim which he inculcated upon them his services indispensable, and permlitted himt to set when practising those long and severe marches at defiance the enmity of such persons, who are gewhich formed one essential part of his system, was, nerally as timid as they are sordid. Bonaparte's for" I would rather gain victory at the expense of your rner patron, Barras, was supposed to be accessible legs than at the price of your blood." The French, to this species of corruption. uusnder his training, seemed to become the very men Towvards the general officers there took place a he wanted, and to forget, in the excitation of war gradual change of deportment, as the comnmanderald the hope of victory, even the feelings of weari- in-chief began to feel gradually, more and snore, the ness and exhaustion. The following description of increasing sense of his own personal insportanlce. the French soldier by Napoleon himself occurs in We have been infornled by an officer of the highest his dispatches to the Directory during his first cam- rank, that, during the earlier campaigns, Napoleon psign in Italy:- used to rejoice with, and embrace theist as asso"Were I to name all those who have been dis- ciates, nearly on the same footing, engaged in the tinguished by acts of personal bravery, I must send same tasks. After a period, his language and cartlhe mnlster-roll of all the grenadiers and carabineers riage became those of a frank soldier, lwhlo, sensible,f the advanced guard. They jest with danger and of' the merit of his subordisate assistsants, yet ul;akes laughtl at death; and if anything can equal their themn sensible, by his manner, that he is their consintrepidity, it is the gaiety with which, singing mander-in — chief. WhIen llis infant fob tunes began to alternately songs of love and patriotism, they ac- come of age, his deportlnent to his generals wvas complish the most severe forced marches. When * Letter from Napoleon to General Clarke, 25 Brmllaoire, they arrive at their bivouac, it is not to take their 5th year of the Republic.-" Your nephew has been slain on repose, as might be expected, but to tell each his the field of battle at Arcola. The young man had been story of the battle of the day, and hvoduce his plan familiar with arns —had led on columnis, andt would have for that of to-morrow; anid many of tisemn think wzith been one day an excellent officer. He has tl;ed with glory great correctness on military subjects. The other in the face of the enemy. He did not suffer for al inday I was inspecting a demi-brigade, and as it filed stalt. Wlhat mawoul not envy such a death?-Who is he that would not accept as a favaourahle coindition the past me, a common chasseur approached my Lorse, sast use, a common chasseur approachled my h~or~se, choice of tlus escaping from the vicissitudes of a couitetnpand said,'General, you ought to do so and so.'- Hol n d your peace, you rogue!' I replied. Ile di tible world?-Who is there among us who has not a huti-' Hold your peace, you rogue!' I replied. lie dis- dred times regretted that he has not been thus withldrawn apl)eared immediately, nor have I since been able to from the powerful effects of calumny, of envy, alnd of all fiend him out. But the manoeuvre which le recom- the odious passions which seem the almost exclusive dinlended was the very same which I had prisat:tly rectors of the conduct of mankind?"-This letter, remarkresolved ti carry into execution." able in many respects, will remind the Englislh reader of To command this active, intelligent, and intre- Cato's exclamation over the body of his solnpid soldiery, Bonaparte possessed officers entirely "Who would not be this youth?" VOL. VI. 28 218 -- LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. tinctured with that lofty courtesy which princes lie made use of the established phrases Liberty and ase towards their subjects, and which plainly inti- Equality, acknowledged no dignity superior than nmated, that he held themii as subjects in the war, not citizen, and thee'd and t/oa'd whlomsoever lhe adas brethren.*' dressed, was permitted to mix miany grains of Napoleon's condauct towards the Italians indivi- liberality with those democratic forms. Irndeed, tlhe dually was, in most instances, in the higlhest degrl e republican creed of the day beglan to re semble the prud(lent and political, while, at the same time, it leathern apron of the brazier lwho founded a dynasty coincided, as true policy usually does, with the rules in the east-his descendants contintled to display it f1 justice and moderation, and served in a great as their banner, but enriched it so mruch willi gelms measure to counterbalance the odiumi which lie in- and embroidery, that there was little of the original curred by despoiling Italy of thle -works of art, and staff to be discoveretd. even by his inftiiDgelnents on the religious system of Jacobinisnm, for example, being founded on the tihe catholics. principle of assimilating tile national character to tile On the latter subject, the general became parti- gross ignorance of the lowver classes, was the natural cularly cautious, and his dislike or contempt of the enemy of tihe fine arts and of litera!.ure, whose proChurch of Roime was no longer shown in that gross ductions tile sans-culottes could not coiprehendl, species of satire which he had at first given loose to. and whlich thev destroyed for tlhe samle el}ligh'tened On the contrary, it was veiled under philosophlical reasoiis that Jack Cade's followvers hanged thme clerk indifIerence; anrd, while relieving the clergy of their of Cliatham, with his pel andl inkhorn a;bout his worldly possessions, Napoleon took care to avoid neck. Bonaparte, on the contrary, saw theat knowtile error of the jacobins; never prolposing their ledge, of whatsoever kiind, rwas powelr; and. thelreefolre tenets as an object of persecution, but protecting he distinguished himself hlonourably alidst hiis victheir persons, and declaring himself adecided fiiend tories, by seeking the conversation of men distiiito general toleration on all points ofconscience. guished for literary attainmllents, and displayinl an In point.of politics, as well as religion; the opi- interest in the antiquities and curiosities of tile nions of Bonaparte appeared to hase experienced a towns which hel visited, that could not b(lt seeni great change. It may be doubted, indeed, ifl he ever flatterinlg to the inhabitants. In a letter addressed illi his heart adopted those of the outrageous jacabins; publicly to Oriani, a celebrated astronolmer, he but lhe mast doubtless have professed them, whether assures 1him that all men of genius, all who hiad sincerely or not, when he first obtained promotion distinguished tllenmselves in the republic of letters, under the influence of the younger Robespierre, were to be accounted natives of France, whatever Salicetti, and Barras, who, afterwards a theriiii- righit be the actual jlance of their birth. " Hitherto," dorien, was a sans-culotte during the siege of Tou- he said, " the learned in Italy did not enjoy the conlon.t Bonaparte's clear and sound good sense sideration to which they were entitled-they lived speedily made him sensible, that such a violence retired in their laboratories and libraries, too happy on the established rules of reason and morality, as if they could escape the notice, and consequently an attempt to mnake the brutal force of the multitude the persecution, of kings and priests. It is now no tile forcible controler of those possessed of the longer thus-there is no longer religious inquisition, visdorn, property and education of a c.ountry, is too nor despotic power. Thought is free in Italy. I unnatulral to remain long, or to become the basis of invite the literary and scientific persons to consult a ewell-regillated state. Being at present a republican togetlher, and propose to ume their ideas on the subject of tile thertnidorien party, Bonaparte, even thsoughll of giving new vigour anld life to the fine arts anld sciences. All who desire to visit France will be + Count Las Cases mentions an incident of the same received Nwith distinction by the governlelnt. T'le kind. Anl officer, who had known Bonaparte fainiliarly people of France have lole pride in enlrjlling anois before Touilon, was, when he obtained the commarnd of the their citizens a skilfil inathenisatician -s painter I,f Army of Italy, about to rush illto the arms of his old corn- repti, a distin ma in ass ite rade. But the look and malnner of tihe general made it ratrtre, than in adding to ther ter ritories a large and evident there was an end to their intimacy, and that the t initercourse between them had changed its character ith. I est tt ke n seintimrnents known to the nmost distilguishhed literary t Even when. before Toulon, he was not held by clear- peisons in the state of Miln."'t the municipality sighted persons to be a very ortliodoxjacobiiin. General of Pavia lie wrote, desiring that thie plrofessors of Cartaux, the stupid sans-culotte under whom lie first served, their celebrated iniversity sholid resuitoe their was talking of the young commandant of artillery with course of instruction tnder the securiity of his proapplause, when hIis wife, wtvho was somewhat first in coin tection, and inviting them to point out to hinl slihi malud at home, advised hiin not to reckon too much on that measures as might occur, br givinl, a nore brilliant yotllng main, "who had too much sense to be long a sais- existelce to their ancient serrinamies. culotte."- Sense! Femalecitizen Cartaux," said her of-'he interest which lie thit tool in tIe literature fended husband, ado you take us for fools?" -"By no and te nsttio b a means," ansiwered the lady; "but his sense is inot of the salne kild wziths yours."~-7ldomsral lde Ste-eIlrdle, par te mitting men of science or letters fieely to his i eisoil. Comste de Las Cases, vol. I, pp. 201-2: 8 vols lvo, Paris, Tieir comlln ication was time morei latterilm', thlt 1823-4. In the same work, we read an admission of Napo- being hinimself of Italiau (lescetit, adr fhimmimliiir wVithI letui, thiat his brother Lucien was a much more violenlt the beaiutifhl Iangtnageoftlle couniltry roi-o his infamrncy. jaclbhia than himnself, and that some papers published as his conversation wvithi mlell of litermryv elmirlence;was his, w-ithi the signature, Brutus Bonaparte, ought in fact easily clonducted. It may he mentioned etisjodicllly, to he ascribed to Lucien. that Napoleon found a reniuant of his family it italy, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 219 in the person of the Abbe Gregorio Bonaparte, the agreed to guarantee his principality, on paymetnt of only remaining branch of that Florentine family, of inmmense contributions in muoney and stores, besides whom the Corsican line were cadets. He resided at the surrender of the most valuable treasures of' his San Miniato, of' wich he was canon, and was an old museum. In consequence, the Duke of Modena mlan, and said to be wealthy. The relationship was was permitted to govern his estates by a regency, eagerly acknowledged, and the general, with his lie himself fixing hiis residence in Venice. But his whole staff, dined with the Canon G(regorio. The two principal towns, Reggio and Modena, especially whole mind of the old priest was wrapt up in a pro- the former, became desirous of shaking off his gojc-ct of obtaining the honours of regular canonization verninent. Anticipating in doing so the approbation for one of the amrnily called Bonaventura, who had of the French general and government, thle citizens been a capuchin in the 17th century, and was said of Reggio rose in insurrection, expelled froml their to have died in the odour of' sanctity, though his town a body of the ducal troops, and planted thle right to divine honours had never been acknow- tree of liberty, resolved, as they said, to constitute ledged. It must have been ludicrous enough to themselves a free state, under the protection of thle have heaid the old man insist upon a topic so unin- French Republic. The ducal regency, vith a View teresting to Napoleon, and press the French repub- of protecting Modena fromi a similar attempt, mourntlican general to use his interest with the pope. ed cannon on their ramparts, and took othier defenThere can be little doubt that thIe holy father, to sive lmeasures. have escaped other demands, would have canonized Bonaparte affected to consider these preparations a whole French regiment of Carmagnoles, and rank- as designed against the French, and, marching a ed' them with the old militia of the calendar, tile body of troops, took possession of the city without Theban Legion. But Napoleon was sensible that resistance, deprived the duke of all tile advantages any request on such a subject coming from himr which he had purchased by tile iimediation of the would be only ludicrous.* celebrated Saint Jerome, and declared the town The progress which Bonaparte made personally under protection of France. Bologna and Ferrara, in tile favour of the Italians was, doubtless, a great legations belonging to the papal see, had been assistance to the propagation of the new doctrines already occupied by French troops, and placed tillwhich were connected with the French Revolution, der the mana-gement of a committee of their citizens. and was much aided by the trust which lie seemed They were now encouraged to coalesce wvith Regdesirousto repose in the natives of the country. He gio and Modena. A congress of a hundred deleretained, no doubt, in his own hands the ultimate gates fiom the four districts was summoned, to effect decision of everything of consequence; but in rmat- the formation of a govelrnmlent which sllould extend ters of ordinary importance lie permitted and encou- over thenm all.'T'he congress met accordingly, enraged the Italians to act for themselves in a nmanner gaged their constituents in a perpetual union, under they had not been accustomed to tinder their Ger- title of the Cispadane Republic, friomn their situation man masters. The internal government of their on the right of the river Po; thus assuming the cllatowns was intrusted to provisional governors, chosen racter of independence, while, illn fct, they remained without respect to rank, and the maintenance of under thle authority of Bonaparte, like clay in tlle police was committed to the armed burghers, or hands of the potter, who may ultimately model it national guards. Conscious of the importance an- into any shape lie has a mind. In tile meantime, nexed to these privileges, they already becanie iu,- he was careful to renlind them that the liberty which patient for national liberty. Napo!eon could hardly it was desirable to establish ought to be consisteint rein back the iintense ardour of the large party with due subjection to tile laws. " Never folget," among the Lomlbards who desired an innmmediate he said, in reply to their address announcing tlheir declaration of independence, and lie had no other new form of governmient, " that laws are mere nulexpedient left than to amnuse them with procrasti- lities without the force necessary to suppl)(t themll. nating excuses, which enhanced their desire of such Attend to your military organization, vlhichl you have anll event while they delayed its gratification. Other the means of placing on a respectable footing. —you towns of Italy-for it was ariong the citizens of the will be more fortunate than tile people of France, towns that these sentiments were chiefly cultivated foir you will arrive at liberty without passing thllrough -began to evince the same wish to new-model their the ordeal of revolution." governments on the revolutionary system; and this This was not the language of a jacobin, arnd it ardour was chiefly shown on the southern side of flrtifies tile belief that, even now, while adheing the Po. ostensibly to tile republican systemn, Bonaparte anIt nmrst be remembered, that Napoleon had en- ticipated considlerable changes ii that of F'rance. gaged in treaty with the Duke of Modlena, and had Aleanwhile thle Lombards becarme irirpatient at seeing tlheir neighbours outstrip tlhem in the path of * Las Csses says, thrt'afterwards the pope himself * Las Cases says, that rflerovarls tle pope himself revolution and of nonminal independence. Tle ratouched on the same topic, aid was disposed to see the im- nicipality of ilan proeeded to destroy all titles of iediasie guidance arid protection afforded by the consan- nIcipality of M eeded to destoy titls of guinrean Saint Bonaventura in the great deeds wrought y honour, as a balge of ferdrl dependence, ind behiis relation. It was said of the church-endowing saint, came so inipatient that Bonaparte was obliged to rnavid King of Scotland, that he was a sore saint for the pacify themll by a solemn assurance that they should crownr; certainly Saintt Bonaventura n'ust hiave ieen a sp eedily enijoy tile benefits of a republican constitusore saint for the papal see. The oldt aht left Nspoleon tionl, and, to tranqutillize their irritation, placed them hiis fo)rtune, which he conferred onl sonme public ilnstitu- under thle goverinmtient of a provisional council, se_ tion. lected frio all classes. labourers included. 220D LIFE OF NAPOLI'EON BONAPA1RTE. This measure made it manifest, that the motives But there were others made cn him. in capacity of which had induced the delay of the French govern- head of the church, which he could not grant, if he ment to recognize the independence (as they termed meant in f'uttre to lay claiim to any authority utnder it) of Lombardy, were now of less force; and in a that once venerallle title. The sovereign poutiif short tinie, the provisional council of Milan, after was required to recal all the briefs which le had sorne modest doubts on tlleir own powers, revolu- issued;gainst France since 1789, to sanction the hionized their country, and assnumed the title of' constitutional oath whlich rleeased the French clergy the Transpadane Republic, which they afterwards from the dominion of' the Holy See, and to ratify laid aside, when, on thleir ntion with the Cispadane, the confiscation of the churich-lands. Treastires toth svere united umnder the name of the Cisalpine might be expended, secular dignities resigned, and Conmmonwealth. This decisive step was altopted proviuces ceded; but it was clear that the sovereign 3d January, 1797. Decrees of a popular character pontitff could not do what was expressly contrary had preceded the declaration of independence, but to the doctrines of the church whictl lie represented. ali tir of' noderation was observed in the revolution'I'liere were but Ifv cleigyyieen in Iriance who find itself' The nobles, deprived of their fetudal rights hesitated toiprove their devotion to theo church of and titular dignities, were subjected to -no incapa- Rome, by suibmitting to expulsion, rathler than take cities; the refbriiation of the church was touched the constitutional oath. It was now fbr the head of I upo)n gently, and without indicating any design of the churchl to show in his own person a siimilar disits destruction. In these particulars, the ltalian interested devotion to her interests. comnimonwealths stopped short of their Gallic pro- Accordingly, the College of Cardinals having retotype. jected the proposals of France, as containing arIf Bonaparte may be justly charged with want ticles contrary to conscience, thle pope declared of faith, in destroying the authority of the Duke his determination to abide by tie utniost extrienity, of Modena, after hasing accepted of a price for rather than accede to conditions destructive, degradgranting him peace and protection, we calnnot ob- ing, anid, in lis opinion, imlpious.'lhe Directory ject to him the same charge for accediig to the instanltly determilined on tile total ruin of' the pope, Cispadane Republic, in so far as it detached the and of his power, both spiritual and temporal. legations of' Ferrara and Bologna firom tile Roman Napoleon disseiited froiio the olinion of the governSee. These had been in a great nieasure reserved inent. In point of'oral effect, a reconciliation with for the disposal of the French, as circumstances the pope wouild have beein of great advantage to should dictate, when a final treaty should take place France, and have tended to reunite her with other betwixt the Republic and the sovereign pontiff. But catholic nations, and di minish the horror with which many circunstances hlad retarded this pacification, she was regarded as sacrilegious and atheistical. and seemed at lengtli likely to break it off without Even the army of thie Holy See was not altogether to hope of renewral. be despised, in case of any reverse takinig place in If Bonaparle is correct in his statenent, which the wvar wvith the Austriaus. Under thlese conlsidera| we see no reason to doubt, the delay of a pacifica- tions, he prevailed on the 1)irectory to renew the (ion with the Ronian See was chiiefly the fault of negotiatiins at Florence. But the French cornthe Directory, whose avaricious and' enurossing missioners, having presented as preliminaries sixty spirit was at this pieriod its most distingulishing indispensable conditions, containing the sane articharacteristic. An armistice, purchlsed by trea- cles which had -been already rejected, as conr.rary sure, by ontriblitions, by pictures and statues, and to the conscience of tile pontiff, the conferences by the cession of the two legations of' Bologna asid broke up; and the pope, in despair, resolved to Ferrara, havAng been medinted for his hioliniess by makre common cause with the house of Austria, the Spanish nambassador Azara, the pope sent tw-o and have recourse to the seculnar foice, which tilt pleiiipotentiaries to Paris to treat of a definitiie Ronman See had dlisilsed ftr so iiaiiy years. peace. But the conditions proplosed were so se- It was a case of dire necessity; but the ar-iiig vere, that, however desperate his condition, the of the pope's governiment, }whlose military force had pope found them totally inadmissible. His holiness been long the subject of ridicule,? against thie sicwas required to pay a large contribuuition in grainl for torions conqu:eror of' five Austrian arties, remilnls tei years, a regular tribute of six millioans of Roman us of Priaum, wvhen, in extremity of years and decrowns for six years, to cede to France in per- spair, lie buckled oni his rusty armour, to oplprse age petuity tile ports of Ancona and Civita Vecchia, and decreplitude to thle youthful strengthi of Pvrand to declare tile independence of Ferrara, Bo- lhus.t'Yet the measulres of Sexttis iundicated con. logna, and Ravenna. To add insult to oppression, siderable energy. lRe brought back to Rotne an thle total cession of the Cletientine Museum was instalnient of sixteen millios of' stipulatedl tribute, required, and it was stipulated that Franlce should which was on thie road to Bonaparte's military have under aianagement of' her m:inister at Roine, a chest-took every measure to increase his arimy, separate tribunal for judging her subjects, and a separate theatre for their amulsement. Lastly, the * Voltaire, in somne of his rornances, terms the pope an secular sovereigi)ty of the dominions of thle church old gentllemnan having a guard of one hunldtred meni,;bho was to be executed by a senate and a popular Inouint guard with umbrellas, and who mltake vwar on noodny. body. These demands rrmight have been complied with, t Amisa diu senior desueta, treneItibus uNvo althoug'h they went the length of entirely stripping Circumdat nequicquam humeris, et inutile fermol L.s holiness of the character of a secular prince. Cingitur -- n —eid. Lib. II. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 2Q2'and by the voluntary exe:tions of the noble fanilies higher up than the position of the Roman army, of Rome, he actually raised it to forty thousand which, taken in the rear, fled in every direction, men, and placed at its head the same General Colli, after a short resistance. A few hundreds were wvho had commanded with credit the troolps of Sar- killed, among whoml were several monks, who, dinia during the campaign on the Alps. The ut- holling the crucifix in their hand, had placed themmost pains were taken by tile clergy, both regular selves in the ranks to encourage the soldiers. Faenza and secular, to give the expected war the character held out, and was taken by storm; but the soldiers of a crusade, and to excite the fierce spirit of those were Nvithheld from pillage by the generosity or peasantry who inhabit the Appenines, and were prudence of Napoleon, and he dismissed the pridoubly disposed to be hostile to the French, as soners of war to carry into the interior of the country foreigners and as heretics. The po)pe endeavoured the news of their owvn defeat, of the irresistible sualso to form a close alliance with the King of the periority of the French army, and of the clemency Two Sicilies, who promised in secret to cover Rome of thleir general. with an army of thirty thousand men. Little re- Next day, three thousand of the papal troops, liance was indeed to be placed in the good faith occun ying an advantageous position in front of Alnofthe court of Naples; but the pope was compared, cona, and commanded by Colli, were made prisonby the French envoy, to a moan who, in the act of ers without firing a shot; and Ancona was taken falling, would grasp for suppoprt at a hook of red- after slight resistance, though a place of' some hot iron. strength. A curious piece of priestcraft had been While the court of Rome showed this hostile dis- lay-ed off in this town, to encourage the peol)le position, Napoleon reproached the French govern- to resistance. A miraculous image was seen to mnent for having broken off the negotiation, which shed tears, and the French artists could not disthey ought to have protracted till the event of Al- cover the mode in which the trick was managed vinzi's march into Italy was known; at all events, tuntil the image was brought to head-quarters, when until their general had obtained possession of the a glass shrine, by which the illusion was managed, sixteen millions, so much wanted to pay his forces. was removed.'The Madonna was sent back to tlhe In reply to his remonstrances, he received permis- church which owned her, but apparently had besion to renew the negotiations upon modified terms. come reconciled to tile foreign visitors, and dried But the pope had gone too far to recede. Even the her tears in consequence of her interview with BoFrench victory of Aricola, and the instant threats of naparte. bonaparte. to march against him at the head of a On the 10th of February, thle French, moving flying column, were unable to move his resiilition. with great celerity, entered Loretto, where the ce"' Let the French general nmarch upon Rome;," said lebrated Santa Casa is the subject of the catholic's the papal minister; " tle pope, if necessary, will devotional trliumph, or secret scorn, according as quit his capital. The farther the French are drawn his faith or his doubts predominate. The wealth from the Adige, the nearer they are to their ultimate which this celubrated shrine is once supposed to destruction." Napoleon was sensible, on receiving have possessed by gifts of the faithful, had been a hostile answer, that the pope still relied on thle removed by Colli-if, indeed, it had not been translast preparations which were made bfor the relief of ported to Rolne long before the period of which Mantua, and it was not safe to attempt his chastise- wre treat; yet, precious metal and gems to the ment until Alvinzi and Provera shlould he disposed anlont of a million of livres, fell into the possession of. But the decisive battles of Rivoli and La Fa- of the French, whose capture was also enriched by vorita having ruined these armies, Napoleon wsas at the holy image of' Our Lady of Loretto, with the leisure to execute his purpose of crushing the power, sacred porringer, at1d a bed-gown of dark-coloured such as it was, of the Holy See. For this purpose camnlet, warranted to have belonged to the Blessed he dispatched Victor with a French division of tfour Virgin. The image, said to have been of celestial thousand men, and an Italian army of nearly the workmanship, wNas sent to Paris, but -was restored same force, supplied by Lombardy and by the Trans- to thie pope in 180'2. WVe are not informned that any padane Republic, to invade the territories of the of the treasures were given back along with the church on the eastern side of Italy, by the route of Madonna, to whom they had been devoted. Imola. As the French army advanced ip1)on the Roman Meantirme, tile utmost exertions had been made territory, there was a menace of the interference (of' by the clergy of Romagna, to raise the peasants in the King of Naples, worthy to be mentioned, both a mass, and a great miany obeyed the sound of the as expressing the character of that court, anmd showtoesin. B13ut an insurrectionary force is more cal- irng Napoleon's readiness in anticipating and defeatculated to embarrass the movements of a regular ins the arts of indirect diplomacy. army, by alarms on their flanks and rear, by cutting The prince of Belmonte-Pignatelli, who attended off their comnmunications, and destroying their sup- Bonalparte's head-quarters, in the capacity perhaps plies, defending passes, and skirmishing in advan- of an observer, as much as of anmbassador for Natageous positions, than by opposing them in the open ples, came to the French general in secrecy, to field. The papal army, consisting of about seven show him, under strict confidence, a letter of the or eight thousand mnen, were encamped on the river! Queen of the Two Sicilies, proposing to march an Senimo, vvhi,:h runs on tile southward of the town of army of thirty thollsand men towards Rome. " Your inmola, to dispute the passage. The banks were confidence shall bIe repaid," said Bonaparte, who def..ndled with cannon but the river being unusually j at once saw through the spirit of the comlnmunication tlow, the French crossed about a league and a half — " You shall know what I have long since settled I222 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. to do ia case of stch an event taking place." He the mercy of France, as had been recommended to called for tile portfolio containing the papers re- him by B3onaparte in a confidential comnmunication spectiag Naples, and presented to the disconcerted through tire stperior of the monastic order of Carnalprince the copy of a dispatch written in November duli, and more openly in a letter addressed to Carpreceding, which contained this passage: —"The dinal Mattei. T'lire King of Naples llmade no moveapproach of'Alinvai would not prevent nta sending ment to his-assistance. In fine, after hesitating what six thousand men to chastise the court of Rome; course to take, and having had at one time Iis bat, as the Neapolitan army mnight march to their equipage ready harnessed to leave Rome and tly to assistance, I will postpone this movement till after Naples, the pontiff judged resistance and flight the surrender of Ylantua; in which case, if the I(ing alike unavailing, and chose the hutmiliating alternapf Naples should interfere, I shall be able to spare tiveof entire submission to the will of the conqleror. vwelty-five thousand men to march against his ca- It was tile object of the Directory entirely t.o pital, and drive him over to Sicily." Prince Pigna- destroy the secular authority of the pope, and to telli was qiite satisfied with the result of this mu- deprive him of all hisu4emporalities. But Bonaparte tual confidence, and there was no more said of foresaw, that whether the Ronlan territories wezre Neapolitan armed interference. united with the new Cispadane Reptlblic, or formled From Ancona the division commanded by Victor into a separate state, it would alike bring oin preniaturned westward to Foligno, to unite itself with turely a renewal of the war with Naples, ere thle another column of French which penetrated into the north of Italy was yet sufficiently secure to admit territories of the church by Perugia, which they the marching a French force into the southern exeasily accomplished. Resistance seemed now un- tremities of the Italian peninsula, ex-posed to deavailiag. The pope in vain solicited his subjects to scents of the English, and insurrections in the rear. rise against the second Alaric, who was approach- These Napoleon foresaw would be the more daning the holy city. They remained deaf to his ex- gerous and difficult to subdue, that though lie night hiortations, though made in the names of the Blessed strip the ipope of his temporalities, he could not deVirgin, and of the Apostles Peter and Paul, who prive him of the supremacy assigned him in spiritual had of old been the visible protectors of the metro- matters by each catholic; which, on the contrary, polis of the christiar world in a similar emergency. was, according to the progress of human feeling, All was dismiay and confuision in the patrimony of likely to be tile more widely felt and recognized ini Saint Peter's, which was now the sole territory re- favour of' a wanderer and a sufferer for what would mainirig in possession of his representative. be accounted conscience-sake, than of one who, But there was an unhappy class of persons, who had submitting to circumstances, retained as much oft found shelter in Ronme, rather than disown whose alle- tie goods of this world as the clemency of his congiance they had left their homes, and resigned their queror would perrilit. means of' living. These were the recusant French Influenced by these considerations, Bonaparte clergy, who htid reflsed to take the constitutional admlitted the pope to a treaty which terminated ins oath, arad who now, recollecting the scenes which the peace of Tolentino, by which Sextus purchased they witnessed in France, expected little else, than such a political existence as was left to him, at the that, on tIhe approach of the repuiblican troops, they highest rate whicch he lhad the least chance of' disworld, like the Israelitish captain, be slain between clharging. Napoleon mientions, as a curious instarce the horns of the very akar at which they had taken of the crafty and unscrpuilous character of' tile refiuge. It is said that one of their number, fiantic Neapolitans, tlhat the same Pignatelli, whlom we have at thoughts of the fate which he supposed awaited already comlmemnorated, attached himself closely to them, presented himriself to Bonaparte, annorunced the pulenipotentiaries during tile whole treaty of his name and condition, and prayed to be led to Tolentilo; arnd in Iris ardour to discover whether instant death. Napoleon took the opportrnity to there existed any secret article betwixt tile pope. show once nuore that hie was acting on principles and Bonaparte which unighlt comnpromiise the indifferent firomi the brutal and persecuting sltirit of tr(-lests of Iis irraster, was repeatedly discov ered listjacobinismn. He issuleld a proclamation. in whlih, |elling at tIhe door of' thie apartment in which the preirlising that tie recursant priests, though banlished discuissions w\ere carried on. |fonr the French territory, were not prohibited fiom Tl'e articles which the pope was obliged to acresiding in countries which might bJe conqjiered by cept at Tolhrntino included tire cession of Aviginon thle French arms, Ire declares hirtself satisfied witil I and its territories, the alppropriation of which, by their conduct. The proclamation goes on to prohibit, France, had never yet been recognized; tile rernnder the most severe penalty, the French soldiery, sigiing tie legations of Bologna, Ferrara, and Roaud all other persons, from doing any injury to these mlagna; the occupation of Ancona, tile otlly pru t lunfortlnate exiles. The convenlts are directed to excepting Venice which Italy lias in the Adriatic; afford theri lodgig, rnorrishmenet, and fifteen French the payisent of 30 mrillions of livres, in specie, or livres (twelve shilling.s and sixpence British) imonth- in valuable effects; the complete execution of' the. ly to each individual, for which the priest was to article in the armistice of Bologna respecting tihe compensate by saying mnsses ad valorem;-thus delivery of paintings, manuscripts, and objtects of assigning the Italian convents payment for their art; and several other stipulations of simlilar sevehospitality, in the same coin with which they them- rity. selves requited the laity. Bonaparte informs us, that it was a principal ohPerhaps this liberality might have some weight ject in this treaty to compel the abolition of tIle with the pjope in inducing him to ihrow himself upon Inquisition, from which he had only departed in LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 23 consequence of receiving information, that it had scene of action-the King of the Two Sicilies, or ceased to be used as a religious tribunal, and sub- rather his wife, the high-spirited daughter of Maria sisted only as a co'rt of police. The conscience of Theresa, dared not offer the least interference witil the pope seemed also so tenderly affected by the tile purposes of the French general. Tuscany had proposal, that he thought it safe to desist friom it. apparently consented to owe her political existence The same dispatch, in which Bonaparte informs to any degree of clemency or contempt whichl the Directory, that his committee of artist collec- Bonaparte might extend to hler; and, entertaining tors "had made a good harvest of paintings in the hopes of some convention between the French and papal dominions, and which, with the objects of English, by which the Grand Duke's port of Legart ceded by the pope, included almost all that was horn migdht be restored to him, remained passive as curious and valuable, excepting soume few ol,'cts the dead. The Reepublic of Venice alone, feeling still at Turin and Naples," conveyed to them a doct- the stiniulus arising from her ancient importance, and ment of a verv different kind.'Ihis was a respect- yet painfully conscious of her present want of power, ftil and almost reverential letter from Napoleon to strained every exertion to place herself in a respectthe pope, recommending to his holiness to distrust able attitude. That city of lofty remembrances, thle such persons as might excite him to doubt the good Tytre of thle middle ages, whose traders were princes, intentions of France, assuring him that he vwoutld and her merchants the honourable of the earth, I always find the Republic most sincere and faithful, fallen as she was froum her former greatness, still and expressing in his own name the petfect esteeml presented some appearance of vigour. Hier oligaland veneration which he entertained for the person chical government, so long known and so dreaded, of his holiness, and the extreme desire which lie had for jealous precautions, political sagacity, the inipeto atford lhim proofs to that effect. netrability of their plans, and the inflexibility of their This letter furnished much amusement at tlie rigour, still preserved the attitude of independence, time, and seemed far less to intimate the sentiments and endeavoiired, by raising additional regiments of a sans culotte general, than those of a civilized of Sclavonians, disciplining their peasantry, who highwayman of the old school of MIacheath, who were of a very martial character, and fbrming milinever dismissed the travelers whom lie lhad pllm- tary magazines of considerable extent, to maintain dered, without his sincere good wislhes for the such an aspect, as might make their friendship to happy prosecution of their journey. be courted, and their enmity to be feared. It was A more pleasing view of BoInaparte's character already evident that the Austrians, notwithstanding was exhibited about this tinie, in his conduct to- all their.recent defeats, were again about to make wards the little interesting Republic of San Marino. head on their Italo-German frontier; and France, That state, which only acknowledges the pope as a in opposing thlemr, could not be indifferent to the protector, not as a sovereign, had maintained for very neutrality of Venice, upon whose territories, to all many years an independence, which conqulerors had appearance, Bonaparte imust have rested the flank spared either in contempt or in respiect. It consists of his operations, in case of his advancing towards of a single mountain and a single town, and boasts Friiili. So circumstanced, and when it was reabout seven thousand inhabitants; governed by their collected thlat the nlistress of the Adriatic had still ownlaws. Citizen Mtonge, the chief of tihecoinliiittee fifty thousand men at her comrmanld, and those of a of collecting-artists, was sent deputy to San Marimno fierce and courageous description, chiefly consistiiug to knit the bands of amity betweeni the two repub- of Sclavonianls, Venice, even yet, was an enelmy lics,-which nmighlt well resemble a uinion between not to be lightly provoked.. But the ilnhmabitants Lilliput and Brobdignag. There were no pictures were not Ilmnarnimllos, especia'ly those of thle Terra in the little republic, or they miighlt have been a Firma, or mnainland, who, not beiig enrolled in the temptation to the citizen collector.'The people of golden book of the insllar nobility of Venice, Awere San Marino conducted themselves with much saga- discontented, and axailed themselves of thie encity; and although rmore complimientary to Borna- coumrgernenmt anld assistance of the new-cmeated parte than Diogenes to Alexalnder tlme Great, wslien republics on the Po to throw off their allegiance. lie came to visit the philosolpher in his tiub, they Brescia andi Belgarno, in particular, were claimllrshowed the same jodgument in eschewing too nmuch otis for independenlce. courtesy. They respectfuilly declined an accession Napoleon saw, in this state of dissension, tile of territory, which could butt have involved them in means of playing an adroit game; and while, on subsequent quarrels with the sovereign froinm whom the one hand, he endeavoured to restrain, till a it was to be wrested, and only accepted as an ho- molOre favoll'able opportunity, tie ardoulr of tilhe norary gift the present of four field-pieces, being a patriots, he attelmpteud, on the other, to convince train of artillery upon the scale of their military the senate, that tmhey had no safe policy bhtm in eaiforce, and of which, it is to lie hoped, the captain bracing at once the alliance of Fiance, offensise regets of the little contented state will never have and defensive, and joining their ftlrces to those of any occasion to make use. the army with whlichl he was abilt to move against Rome might, for the present at least, be con- thle Auistrians. He offered, on these condlitions; to, sidered as coumpletely subjugated. Naples was at guarantee the possessions of thle mepubiic, esen, peace, if the signature of a treaty cani create without exacting any modification of their oliga — peace. At any rate, so distant from Rome, and so chical constitution. But Venice declaredl fr an i coatroled by the defeat of the papal arms-by the impartial neutrality. It hlad beefn, they said, their fear that the English fleet migllt be driven fromu the ancient and sage policy, nor would they now deMediterranean-and by their distance from tile part freom it. "'Remainm then neutel," said Napo | 221 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. leon; "I consent to it. I march upon Vienna, yet to be subjected, notwithstanding his high rank, to wvill leave enough of French troops in Italy to the interference of the Aulic Council, who, sitting control your republic.-But dismiss these new at Vienna, and ignorant of the changes and vicislevies; and remark that if, while I am in Germany, situades of the campaign, were yet, by the ancient my communications shall be interrupted, my de- and jealous laws of the Austrian empire, entitled tachl cents cut off, or my convoys intercepted in the to control his oi inion, and prescribe beforehand Venetian territory, the date of your republic is ter. the motions of the armies, while tile generals ini inated. She will have brought on herself annihi- trusted with the execution of their schemes had lation." often no choice left but that of adherence to their Lest these threats should be forgotten while he instructions, however emierging circumstances might was at a distance, he took the best precautions in require a deviation. his power, by garrisoning advantageous points on But although the encounter betwixt these two the line of the Adige; and, trusting partly to this distinguished young generals be highly interesting, I defence, partly to the insurgents of Bergamo and our space will not permit us to detail the campaigns Brescia, who, for their own sakes, would oppose of Austria at the jame length as those of Italy. The any invasion of the mainland by their Venetian latter formed the commencement of Bonaparte's miInasters, whose yoke they had cast aside, Napoleon litary career, aid at no subsequent period of his again unfurled his banners, and mrarched to new life did he achieve the same wondrous victor;es triumphs over yet untried opponents. againstsuch immense odds, or with such comparatively inadequate means. It was also necessary, in CHAPTER XXVII. the outset of his military history, to show in minute detail the character of his tactics, and illustrate that spirit of energetic concentration, which, neglectArchdluke Charles —Compared with Napoleon —Feitered byl the Anlic CsOcil.-NrCpOlesOn, by a stranta'empcsses ing the extremities of an extended line of operations, the Tagliamento, and compels the archduke to retreat. combined his whole strength, like a bold and skil-Gradisca carried by storm.-Chiusa- Veneta taken by ful fencer, for one thrust at a vital part, which, if Masseina; vith the loss of 5000 Austrians, baggage, successful, must needs be fatal. The astonishing cautsIwro,, etc.-The seaports of Trieste and Fiane oc- rapidity of his movements, the audacious vivacity cupied by the French.-Venice breaks the neutrality, of his attack, having been so often described in ad cosimnences hostilities by a massacre of 100 French- individual cases, may now be passed over with gemen at Verona —Terrified on learning that an armistice neral allusions; nor will we embarrass ourselves had taken place betzcixt Frcance and Austria-Circlm- and our readers with minute details of positions, or stances which led to this.-The archduke retreats by encumber our pages with the names of obscure hasty umarches on Vienna-His prospects of success in villages, unless when there is some battle calliog defendinlg it —The government and people irresolute, for a particular narrative, either from its importance and the treaty of Leoben signed —Venice now makes or its i the most hecutiliatimng submissionls.-Napoleon's speech to or its singularity. the Venetian envoys-He declares war against Ventice, By the direction of the Aulic Council, the Archancd evades obeyiilg the orders of the Directory to spare duke Charles had take n up his position at Friuli, it. —The Great Council, on 31st May, concede every thing where it had been settled that the sixth Austrian to Bonaparte, ancd lisperse in terror.-Termsgranted army. designed to act against Bonaparte for the by the French general. defence of the Italo-German frontier, should be assembled. This position was strangely preferred THE victories of the Archduke Charles of Aus- to the Tyrol, where the archduke could have formed tria on the Rhine, and his high credit with the sol- ajunction ten days sooner with an additional force diers, seemced to point him out as the commander of forty thousand men fiom the army of the Rhine, falling most naturally to be employed against the marching to reinforce his own troops,-men accusyopung general of the French Republic, who, like a tomed to fight and conquler under their leader's eye; i gifted hero of romance, had borne down succes- whilst those with whom he occupied Frituli and the! sively all opponents who had presented themselves in line of the Piave, belonged to the hapless Imperial the field. lThe opinions of Europe were suspended foirces, which, under Beaulieuc, WVurmser, and Alcncerning the proba:ble i-ssue of' the contest. Both vinzi, had never encountered Bonaparte without gelierals Awere young, armbitious, enthusiastic in the inlcurring some notable defeat. ililitary priofession, and warnily beloved by their While the archduke was yet expecting those soldiers. The exploits of both i a,l filled the trunipet reinforcements which were to form the strength of of Fame; and although Bonapalte's success had his aeromy, his active adversary was strengthened by been less uninterrupted, yet it could not be denied, mrlisre than twenty thousand men, sent from the that if the archduke's plans were not equally bril- French armies on the Rhine, and which gave him at liant and original with those of his great adversary, the moment a numerical superiority over the Austhey were just and sound, and had been attended trian general. Instead, therefore, of waiting, as on repeatedly with great results, and by the defeat of forrler occasions, until the Imperialists should conmsuch men as Moreau and Jourdan. But there were mence the war by descending into Italy, Napoleon two particulars in which the Austrian prince fell resolved to anticipate the march of the succours fotr short of Napoleon,-first. inl that ready, decided, expected by the archduke, drive hin from his posiarnd vigorous confidence, which seizes the favour- tion on the Italian firontiers, and follow him into able instant for the execution of plans resolved Germany, even tip to the wtalls of Vienna. No upon, —and, secondly, in having the disadvantage scheme appeared too bold for the gtneral's imagina LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 2E5 tion to form, or his genius to render practicable; and valry, passed through and attained tile opposite his soldiers, with the view before them of plunging bank. They were repeatedly charged by the Ausinto the midst of an immense empire, and placing trian cavalry, but it was too late —they had gotten chains of motuntains betwixt theml and every possi- their footing, and kept it. The archduke attempted bilitv of reinforcement or communication, were so to turn their flank, but was pre'ented by the second confident in the talents of their leader, as to follow line of the French, and by their reserve of cavalry. him under the most undoubting expectation of vic,- iHe was compelled to retreat, leaving prisctlers and tory. The Directory had induced Bonaparte to cannon in the hands of the enemy. Such was the expect a co-operation by a similar advance on the first disastrous tleeting between the Archlduke part of' the armies of the Rhine, as had been at- Charles and his future relative, tempted in the forlmer campaign. The Austrian prince had the farther misfortune Bonaparte took the fielkd in the beginning of to learn, that Massdna had, at the first sound of'the March, advancing from Bassano. The Austrians cannonade, pushed across the Tagliamento, higher lhad an arnmy of observation under Lusignan on the fip than his line of defence, and destroying what banks of the Piave, but their principal force was troops he found before him, had occupied the passes stationed upon the Tagliamlento, a river whose course i of the Julian Alps at the sources of that river, and is nearly thirty miles more to the eastward, though thus interposed himself between the Imperial right collateral with the Piave. The plains on the Taglia- wing and the nearest communication with Vienna. mento affbrded ftacilities to the archduke to em- Sensible of the importance of this obstacle, the archploy the noble cavalry which have always been thle duke hastened, if possible, to remove it. He broaght boast of the Austrian army, and to dislodge him up a fine column of grenadiers from the Rhine, whlich from the strong and mountainous country which he had just arrived at Klagenfurt, in his rear, and, occupied, and which covered the road that pene- joining them to other troops, attacked Mass6nsa withi trates between the mountains anld the Adriatic, and the utmost fury, venturing his own person like a forms the mode of communication in that quarter private soldier, and once or twice narrowly escaping betsvixt Vienna and Italy, thllrough Carinthia, it was being made prisoner. It was in vain-all in vainl. not only necessary that he should be pressed in He charged successively and repeatedly, even with front, a service which Bonaparte took upon himself, the reserve of the grenadiers, but no exertion could but also that a French division, occupying the change the fortune of the dcay. mountains on thle prince's right, should precipitate Still the archduke hoped to derive assistance from his retreat by maintaining the perpetual threat of the natural or artificial defences of the strong country turning himl on that wing. With this view, Mass6na through which he was thus retreating, and in doing had Bonaparte's orders, which lie executed With so was involuntarily introducing Bonaparte, after lie equal skill and gallantry. HIe crossed the Piave should have surmounted the border frontier, into tohe about the eleventh March, aind ascending that river, most fertile prlorinces of his brother's empire.'VTie. directed his course into tUle mountains towards Bel- Lisonzo, usually.a deep aind fiurious torrent, clo0sad lano, driving before him Lusignan's little corps of in by a chain of impassable mountains, seeomed? to observation, and finally compelling his rear-guard, oppose an insutrmountable barrier to hiss daing ptsto the nunlber of five hundred men, to surrender. suprs. But nature, as well as events, fought against Tl'h Archduke Charles, in the meantime, con- the Austrians. The stream, reduced by frost, was tinued to maintain hlis position on the Tagliamento, fordable in several places. The river thus passed, andl the French approached the riglft bank, with the town of Gradisca, which had been covered witlh Napoleon at their head, determined apparently to field-works to protect the line of the Lisonzo, wls force a passage. Artillery and sharp-shooters were surprised and carried by sto-m,. and; its garrison of disposed in such a manner as to render this a very two thousand five hundred menmsade prisoners, by hazardous attempt, while two beautiful lines of ca- the divisions of Bernadotte and Serrurier. valry were drawn up, prepared to charge any troops Pushed in every direction,. thels Austians sustained who nright make their way to the left bank, lwhiile every day additional and: more severe losses. The they were yet in the confusion of landing. strong fort of Chiusa-Veneta was occupied by MasA very simple stratagem disconcerted this fair sena, who continued his active and. indefatigable display of resistance. After a distant cannonade, operations on tlle- right of the retreating army. This tind some skirmnishing, the French armly drew off, success canlsed the envelopment, and, dispersion or as if despairing to force their passage, moved to the surrender, of a wvhole division of Austrians, five rear, and took up apparently their bivouac fbr the thousand of whomoremained prisoners, while their niglit. The archduke was deceived. He imasagined baggage, cannonm colours, and all that constituted that the French, lwho had marched all the preceding thesr an. army, fell into the hands of, the French, night, were fatigled, and lie also withdrew from Forr-generals were madeprisoners on this occasion; tlhe bank of the river to his camp. But two hours andct many of the mountaineers of Carniola and Croaafterwards, when all seemed profoundly quiet, the tian,. who had joined tile Austrian army fiorn their French army suddenly got under arms, and forming natural love of war, seeing:that success appeared in two lines, Inarched rapidly to the side of the' to lhave abandonsed the Imnperial cause, became deriver, ere the astonished Austrians ywere able to spondent, broke up thieir corps, and retired as stragmake the same dispositions as formerly for defence.- glers to their villages. Arrived on the margin, the first line instantly broke Bonaparte availed himself of their loss of courage, up into colamns, which, throwing the.mselves baldly and had recomlrse to proclamations,, aspecies of armas into the streamrs, protected on the flanks by the ca- which he valued himself as much, upon using to ad-'oV. vI. 29 - 226 LIFE OF NAPOI.EON BONAPARTE. vantage, as he did upon his military fame. He arresting the progress of the enemy; but it was witf assured them that the French did not come into difficulty, and not without loss, that he effected his their country to innovate on their rights, religions proposed union, and his retreat from the Tyrol gave customs, and manners. He exhorted them not to infinite spirits not only to the martial Tyrolese, but meddle in a war with which they had no concern, to all the favourers of Austria in the north of Italy. but encouraged them to afford assistance and furnish The Austrian general, Landon, sallied fiom the supplies to the French army, in payment of which Tyrol at the head of a considerable force, and he proposed to assign the public taxes which they compelled the slender body of French, under Balhad been in the habit of paying to the emperor. His land, to shut themselves tp in garrisons; and their proposal seems to have reconciled the Carinthians to opponents were for the moment again lords of a part the presence of the French, or, more properly speak- of Lombardy. They also re-occupied Trieste and ing, they submitted to the military exactions which Fiume, which Bonaparte had not been able suffithey had no means of resisting. In the meanwhile, the ciently to garrison; so that the rear of tile French French took possession of Trieste and Fiume, the army seemed to be endangered. only seaports belonging to Austria, where they seized The Venetians, at this crisis, fatally for their much English merchandize, which was always a wel- ancient republic, if indeed its doom had not, as is come prize, and of the quicksilver mines of Idria, most likely, been long before sealed, received with where they found a valuable deposit of that mineral. eager ears the accounts, exaggerated as they were Napoleon repaired the fortifications of Klagenfurt, by rumour, that the French were driven friom the and converted it into a respectable place of arms, Tyrol, and the Austrians about to descend the where he established his head-quarters. In a space Adige, and resume their ancient empire in Italy. of scarce twenty days, he had defeated the Austrians The senate were aware that neither their governin ten combats, in the course of which Prince ment nor their persons were acceptable to the French Charles had lost at least one-fourth of his army. The general, and that they had offended him irreconcilF'rench had surmounted the southern chain of the ably by declining the intimate alliance and contribuJulian Alps; the northern line could, it was sup- tion of troops which he had demanded. He had posed, otfer no obstacle sufficient to stop their irre- parted from them with such menaces as were not sistible general; and the archduke, the pride and easily to be misunderstood. They believed, if his hope of the Austrian armies, had retired behind the vengeance might not be instant, it was only the river Meuthr, and seemed to be totally without the more sure; and conceiving him now deeply engaged means of covering Vienna. in Germany, and surrounded by the Austrian levies There were, however, circumstances less favour- en masse from the warlike countries of Hungary able to the French, which require to be stated. and Croatia, they imagined that throwing their own When the campaign commenced, the French ge- weight into the scale, at so opportune a moment, neral Joubert was posted with his division in must weigh it down for ever. To chastise their the gorge of the Tyrol above Trent, upon the insurgent subjects of Bergamo and Brescia, was an same river Lavisa, the line of which had been lost additional temptation. and won during the preceding winter. He was Their mode of making war savoured of the ancient opposed by the Austrian generals Kerpen and Lan- vindictive temper ascribed to their countrymen. don, who, besides some regular regiments, had An insurrection was secretly organized through all collected around them a number of the Tyrolese the territories which Venice still pos.essed on the militia, who among their own mountains were. at mainland, and broke out, like the celebrated Sicilian least equally formidable. They remained watching vespers, in blood and massacre. In Verona they each other during the earlier part of the campaign; assassinated more than a hundred Frenchmen, many but the gaining of the battle of the'agliamento was of theim sick soldiers in the hospitals,-an abornithe signal for Joubert to commence the offensive. nable cruelty, which could not fail to bring a curse His directions were to push his way through the on their undertaking. Fioravante, a Venetian geTyrol to Brixen, at which place Napoleon expected neral, mlarched at the head of a body of Sclavonians lie might hear news of the advance of the French to besiege the forts of Verona, into wlhicl the re- armies from the Rhine, to co-operate in the march maining French had made their retreat, and Nwhe;-e upon Vienna. But the Directory, fearing perhaps to they defended themselves. Landon made his alptrust nearly the whole force of the Republic in the pearance with his Austrians and Tyrolese, and it lhands of a general so successful and so ambitious as seemed as if the fortunes of Bonaparte haid at length Napoleon, had not fulfilled their promises in this found a check. respect. The army of Moreau had not as yet But the awakening from this pleasing dream was crossed the Rhine. equally sudden and dreadfiul. News arrived that Joubert, thus disappointed of his promised object, preliminaries of peace had been agreed upon, and began to find himself in an embarrassing situation. an armistice signed between France and Austria. The whole country was in insurrection around him, Landon, therefore, and the auxiliaries on whom and a retreat in the line by which he had advanced, the Venetians had so much relied, retired from Vemight have exposed him to great loss, if not to rona. The Lombards sent an army to the assistance destruction. He determined, therefore, to elude of the French. The Sclavonians, under Fioravante, the enemy, and by descending the river Drave, to after fighting vigorously, were compelled to surachieve a junction with his commander-in-chief, render. The insurgent towns of Vicenza, Treviso, Napoleon. He accomplished his difficult march by and Padua, were again occupied by the republibreaking down the bridges behind him, and thus cans. Rumour proclaimed the terrible return of LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 227 Napoleon and his army, and the ill-advised senate The whole tone of the lettel is ingeniously calof Venice were lost in stupor, and scarce had sense culated to give the proposition tile character of left to decide betwixt unreserved submission and moderation, and -at the same time to avoid the aphopeless defence. pearance of too ready an advance towards his It was one of the most artfult rules in Bonaparte's object. The archduke, after a space of two days, policy, that when hie had an enemy at decided returned this brief answer, in which lie stripped advantage, by some point having been attained Bonaparte's proposal of its gilding, and treated it which seemed to give a complete turn to the cam- upon the footing of an ordinary proposal for a treaty paign in his favour, he seldom failed to offer peace, of peace, made by a party, who finds it convenient and peace upon conditions much more f:avourable for his interest: —" Unquestionably, sir, in making than perhaps the opposite party expected. By doing war, and following the road prescribed by honoulr this, he secured such inimediate and undisputed and duty, I desire as much as you the attainment of fruits of his victory, as the treaty of peace contained; peace for the happiness of the people, and of hlumaand he was sure of means to prosecute farther ad- nity. Considering, however, that in tile situation vantage at some future opportunity. He obtained, which I hold, it is no part of my business to inquire moreover, the character of generosity; and, in the into and determine the quarrel of the belligerent present instance, he avoided the great danger of powers; and that I am not firnished on the part of urging to bay so formidable a power as Austria, the emperor with any plenipotentiary powers for whose despair might be capable of the most formi- treating, you will excuse me, general, if I do not dable efforts. enter ifito negotiation with you touching a matter WVith this purpose, and assuming for the first time of the highest importance, but which does nlt lie that disregard for the usualceremonial of courts, and within my department. Whatever shall happen, etiquette of politics, which he afterwards seemed to either respecting the future chances of the war, or have pleasure in displaying, he wrote a letter in per- the prospect of peace, I request you to be eqlally son to the Archduke Charles on the subject of peace. cosnvinced of my distinguished esteem." This composition affects that abrupt laconic se- The archduke would willingly have made some verity of style, which cuts short argument, by laying advantage of this proposal, by obtaining an armistice down general mlaxims of philosophy of a trite cha- of five hours, sufficient to enable him to form a racter, and breaks through the usual laboured peri- junction with the corps of Kerpen, which, having phrastic introductions with which ordinary politicians left the Tyrol to come to the assistance of the conlpreface their proposals, when desirous of entering mander-in-chief;, was rnov within a short distance. upon a treaty. "'It is the part of a brave soldier," But Bonaparte took care not to permit himself to he said, "-to make war, but to wish for peace. The be hamlnpered by any such ill-timed engagenment, and present strife has lasted six years. Have we not after some sharp fighting, in which the Frentch as yet slain enough of men, and sufficiently outraged usual were successful, he was able to interpose such humanity? Peace is demanded on all sides. Europe a force as to prevent the junction taking place. at large has laid down the arms assumed against the Two encounters followed at Neumark and at French Republic. Your nation remains alone in Unzmark-both gave rise to fresh disasters, and the hostility, and yet blood flows faster than ever. This continued retreat of the Archduke Charles and the sixth canlpaign has commenced under ominous cir- Imperial army. The French general then pressed curristances-end how it will, some thousands of forward on tile road to Vienna, through mountainmien ilore will be slain on either side; and at length, passes and defiles, which could not have been after all, we nmust come to an agreement, for every- opened otherwise than by turning them on the flank. thing nmst have an end at last, even the angry pas- But these natural fastnesses were no longer deaions ofmten. Tile Executive Directory made known fences. Judenburg, the capital of Upper Styria, to the emnperor their desire to put a period to the was abandoned to the French without a blow, and war which desolates both countries, but the inter- shortly after Bonaparte entered Gratz, the principal *e ution of the courlt of London opposed it. Is there town of Lower Styria, with the same fiaciliy. then no means of coming to an understanding, and The archduke now totally changed his plan of Imuist we continue to cut each other's throats for the warfare. He no longer disputed the ground foot by interests or passions of a nation, herself a stranger foot, but began to retreat by hasty marches towvards to tile miseries of wvar? You, the general-in-chief, Vienna, determined to collect the last and uttlost whllo approach by birth so near to tile crown, and strength which the extensive states of' the emperor are above all those petty passions which agitate could supply, and filht for the existence, it might llitisters, and the members of government, will you be, of his brother's throne, under the walls of his resolve to be the benefactor of mankind, and tile true capital. However perilous this resolution nighlt apsaviour of Germany? Do not suppose that I mean pear, it was worthy of the high-spirited prince by by that expression to intimate, that it is inmpossible whom it was adopted: and there were reasons, perfor you to defend yourself by force of arms; but haps, besides those arising from soldierly pride and under the supposition, that fortune were to become princely dignity, which seemled to recolmmend it. favourable to you, Germany would be equally ex- The army with which the enterprising French posed to ravage. With respect to my own feelings, general was now about to debouche firom the moungeneral, if this proposition should be the means of tains, and enter the very centre of Germany, had saving one single man's life, I should prefer a civic suffered considerably since the commencement of crown so mrerited, to the melancholy glory attending the campaign, not only by the sword, but hy the military success." severity of weather, and the excessive fatigue which _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ I 2.28 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. the;y endured in executing the rapid marches, by may conceive agitated by every species of childish which their leader succeeded in securing victory; terror derived friom the approach of the victorious anrd the French armies on the Rhine had not, as general, on wvhom she was, at a fultulre and sinilar thile plan of the campaign dictated, made any move- crisis, destined to bestow her hand. ment ill advance corresponding with the march of Tile cries of thle wealthy burghers were of course Bonaparte. for peace. The enemy were within fourteell or Nor, in the country which they were about to fifteen days' march of their walls; nor ihad the city enter with diminished forces, could Bonaparte trust (perhaps fortunately) any fortifications which in the to the influence of the same moral feeling in the modern state of war could have made it defensible people invaded which had paved the way to so even for a day. They were, moreover, seconded many victories on the Rhine. The citizens of Ans- by a party in the cabinet; and, in shor't, whether it tria, though living under a despotic government, are chanced fbr good or for evil, the selfish principle of little sensible of its severities, and are sincerely at- those who hbad much to lose, and awere timid inl protached to the emperor, whose personal habits incline portion, predominated against that whvlich desired at him to live with his people without much form, and all risks the contintance of a determined and obstimix in public amulsements, or appear in the public nate defence. It requiied many lessons to convince walks, like a father in the midst of his family. The both sovereign aild people, that it is better to ),tit nobility were as ready as in former times to bring all oin the hlazard-better even to lose all —thlan to oit their vassals, anld a general knowledge of dis- sanction the being pillaged at dilfferent times, and cipline is familiar to the German peasant as a part by degrees, under pretence of friiendshii,) aid amllity. of his education. Hungary possessed still the high- A bow which is forcibly strained back will rinitil spirited race of barons and cavaliers, who, in their its natural position; but if' suijpple enlllgh to yield of great convocation in 1740, rose at once, and drawing itself to the counter direction, it wvill never recover their sabres, joined in the celebrated exclamation, its elasticity. " Moriamzur pro reye nostro, 1Malria Teresa!" The affairs, however, of the Alestrians were in Thle Tyrol was in possession of its own warlike such a condition, that it could lhardly be said wheinhabitants, all in arms, anid so far successful as to ther the party who declared'fo Ipeace, to obtain have driven Joubert out of their mountains. Trieste some respite from the distresses of the country, or and Filumne were retaken in the rear of the French those who wished to continue var v with tile chlai(es army. Bonaparte had no line of communication of success Whlich we have indicated, advised the when separated froom Italy, and no means of obtain- least embarrassing course. Th'lle court of Viena ing supplies, but from a country which would pro- finally adopted the altern;ative of tleity, acnd thiat of bably be soon inl insurrection in his rear, as well as Leoben was set on foot. on his flanks. A battle lost, when there was nei- Generals Bellegarde and Melfhel't, on the parlt cf tler support, reserve, nor place of arms nearer than the emperor, presented themselves at tile headKlagenf'urt, would have been annihilation. To add quarters of' Bonaparte, 13th April, 1797, and anto these considerations, it svas now known that the nounced the desire of their soieleign f;or peace. Venetian Republic had assumned a formidable and Bonaparte granted a suspension of' arml, to endture hostile aspect in Italy; by which, joined to a natural for five days only; which was afterwards extended, explosion of feeling, religious and national, the when the probability of the definitive treaty of peace French cause was considerably endangered in that was evident. country. There were so many favonrers of the old It is affirmed, that in the whole dliscussions iesystem, together with the general influence of the specting this most important armistice, Napoleoncatholic clergy, that it seemed not unlikely this in- as a conqueror whose victories had been inr a certain surrectioin might spread faist and ftar. Italy, in that degree his own, whose army had beeii sltppo'oted case, would have been no effectual place of refilge and paid firom the resources of the coultry lwhich to Bonaparte or his army. The archduke eninme- he conquered, who had received reinflorcemerleits rated all these advantages to the cabinet of Vienna, from France only late and reluctantly, and who mlad and exhorted theam to stand the last cast of the recruited his arniy by new levies ailonig thle replbbloody die. licanized Italians —maintained a n appearanuce of inButt the terror, glief, and confilsion na-tiral in a dependence of the government of France. ile had, great iletropolis, whose peace for the first time for even at this period, assumed a fi'eedom of thought so many years wvas alarmied with tile approach of and action, the tenth part of the silsl)icionl attached tile unconq:oevred and apparently fated general who, to which would have cost the most popular general having t (.teated and destroyed five of their choicest his head in the times of Danton anLd Robespierre. armies, was now dlriving under its walls the remnants But, though acquired slowly, and in counteraction of the last, though commanded by that prince whoml to the once overpowering, and still powerfil, dethey regarded as the hope and flower of Austrian mocratic influence, the authority of Bonaparte was warfire, opposed this daring resolution. The alarim great; and indeed, the power wvhichl a conquering was gelneral, beginning with the court itself; and general attains, by means of his successes, in the the most valuable property and treasnre were pack- bosom of his soldiers, beconles soon formidable to ed up to be carried into [lugary, where the royal any species of government, where thie soldier is family determined to take refiuge. It is worthy of not intimately interested in the liberties of the mention, that among the filgitives of the Inmperial subject. house was the Archduchess Maria Louisa, then be- Yet it must not be supposed that Napoleon exhitween five and six years old, whom ouriimagination bited publicly any of that spirit of independence LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 229 I wlhicll the Directory appear to have dreaded, and their security, thatn when more powerful nations in which, according to the opinion which he himself their vicinity are about to conclude peace. It is so intimates, seems to have delayed the promised easy to accommodate these differences of the strong co-operation, which was to be afforded by tile eastern at the expense of such weaker states, as, if they armies on the banks of the Rhine. Far from testi- are injured, have neither the power of mnaling their fying such a feeling, his assertion of the rights of complaints heard, nor of defending themselves by the Republic was decidedly striking, of which the force, that, in the iron age in which it has been our followving is a remarkable instance. The Austrian fate to live, the injustice of such an arrangement commlissioner, in hopes to gain some credit for the has never been considered as offering any counteradm:,ission, had stated in the preliminary articles of poise to its great convenience, whatever the law of the convention, as a concession of consequence, nations might teach to the contrary. tlhat his Imperial majesty acknowledged the French i It is unnecessary to enter upon the subject of the governmnent in its present state. " Strike out that preliminaries of Leoben, until we notice the treaty condition," said Bonaparte, sternly; "the French of Campo Formio, under which they were finally Republic is like the sun in hea, en. The misfortune modified, and by which they were adjusted and Ies with those wvho are so blind as to be ignorant of controled. It may be, however, the moment to the existence ofeither." It was gallantly spoken; state, that Bonaparte was considerably blarmed, by but how strange to reflect, that the same individual, tie Directory and others, for stolping short in the in three or four years afterwards, was able to place career of conquest, and allowing the house of Ausan extinguisher on one of those salns, without even tria terms which left her still formidable to France, an eclipse being the consequence.a' when, said the censors, it wouLld have cost him but It is remarkable also, that while asserting to fo- another victory to blot the most constant and powerreigners this supreme dignity of the French Repub- ful enemy of the French Republic out of the mlap of lic, Bonaparte should have departed so far fiom the Europe; or, at least, to confine her to lier heredirespect he owed its rulers. The preliminaries of tary states in Germany. To such criticism he repeace were proposed for signatutre on the 18th plied, in a dispatch to the Directory from Leoben, April. But General Clarke, to whom the Directory duling the progress of the treaty: "If at the cornmhad committed full powers to act in the matter, was mencement of these Italian campaigns I had made still at Turin. He was understood to be the full a point of going to Turin, I should never have confident of his masters, and to have instructions to passed the Po-had I insisted prtematurely on adwatch the motions of Bonaparte, nay to place him vancing to Rome, I could never have secured Milan tnder arlrest, should he see cause to doubt his fealty -and now, had I made an indisl:ensable object of to the French government. Napoleon, nevertheless, reaching Vienna, I might have destroyed the did not hesitate to tender his individual signature Republic." and warranty, and these were readily admitted by Such was his able and judicious defence of a conthe Austrian plenipotentiaries;-an ominous sign of duct, which, by stopping short of some ultimate and the delension of the powers of the Directory, con- extreme point apparently within his grasp, extractcidtering that a military general, without the support ed every advantage fronm fear, which despair pereven of thle commissioners frotl the government, or haps might not have yielded him, if the enemy. had proconsuis, as they were called, was regarded as been driven to extlernity. And it is remarkable, snfficient to ratify a treaty of stuch consequence. that the catastrophe of' Napoleon himself wvas a No doulbt seems to have been entertained that lie corollary of the doctrine which he now laid dowln: hIad the power to perform swhat lie had guaranteed; for, had lie not insisted upon penetrating to Moscow, and the part which he acted was thel more remark- there is no judging how munch longer he umight have able, considering the higll commission of General held the empire of France. Clarke. The contents of the treaty of Leoben, so far as The articles in thle tleaty of Leoben remained they were annonnced to the representatives of the long sectet; the cause of which appears to have French nation by the Directory, only made known beemn, that the high contracting parties were not as part of the preliminaries, that the cession of thll willing comparisons should be umade between the Belgic provinces, and of such a boundary as France preliminaries as they were originally settled, and mnight chluse to demand upon the Rhine, had beetn the strange and violent alterations which occriired admitted by Austria; and that she had consented to ill the definitive tieaty of Campo Formio. These recognize a single republic in Italy, to be comtwo treaties of pacification differed, the one fiorn posed out of those which had been provisionally the otlier, in relation to the degree and manner how established. But shortly afterwards it transpired, a meditated parltition of the territory of Venice, of that Mantla, the subject of so imuch and such bloody tile Cisalpine Republic, and other smaller powers, contest, and the very citadel of Italy, as had apwas to be accomplished, for the mutual benefit of peared from the events of these sanguinaly camnFrance and Austria. It is nmelancholy to observe, p)aigns, was to be resigned to Austtia, fionml whose but it is nevertheless an inmportant trutil', that there tenacious grasp it had been wrenched vith so much is no moment during which independent states of the difficulty. Th'lis measure nwas unpopular; and it second class have more occasion to be alarmed for will be found that Bonaparte had the ingenuity, in 4 Bonaparte first mentions this circumstance as having the definitive treaty of peace, to substitlte an intaken place at Leoben, afterwards at the definitive treaty deinnification, which he otlght not to have given, of Camp6 Folrio. Tile effect is the same wherever thle anti which was certainly the last which the Auswords were spoken. trians should have accepted. 230 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. It was now the time for Venice to tremble. She some of the crew to have been killed. The news had declared against the French in their absence; of these fresh aggressions did not fail to aggravate her vindictive population had murdered many of his indignation to the highest pitch. The terrified them; tile resentment of the French soldiers was deputies ventured to touch with delicacy on tile excited to the utmost, and-the Venetians had no subject of pecuniary atonement. Bonaparte's anright to reckon upon the forbearance of their ge- swer was worthy of a Roman. "If yoa could proffer neral. The treaty of Leoben left the senate of that me," he said, "the treasures of Perul-if you could ancient state absolutely without support; nay, as strew the whole district with gold, it could not atone they afterwards learned, Austria, after pleading for the French blood which has been treacherously their cause for a certain time, had elided by stipu- spilt." lating for a share of their spoils, which had been Accordingly, on the 3d of May, Bonaparte deassigned to her by a secret article of the treaty. clared war against Venice, and ordered the French/.'I':e doom of the oligarchy was pronounced ere minister to leave the city; the French troops, and Bonaparte had yet traversed the Noric and Julian those of the new Italian republics, were at the same Alps, for the purpose of enforcing it. By a letter time commanded to advance, and to destroy in their to the doge, dated from tile capital of Upper Styria, progress, wherever they found it displayed, the wingNapoleon, bitterly upbraiding the senate fobr requit- ed Lion of St Marc, the ancient emblem of Venetian ing his generosity with treachery and ingratitude, de- sovereignty. The declaration is dated at Palmla No% a. manded that they should return by his aide-de-camp It had been already acted upon by the French vho bore the letter, their instant choice betwixt who were on the Venetian fiontier, and by La Hotze, war and peace, and allowing them only four-and- a remarkable character, who was then at the head twenty hours to disperse their insurgent peasantry, of the army of the Italian republics of the new and submit to his clemency. model, and the forces of the towns of Brescia and Junot, introduced into the senate, made the Bergamo, which aspired to tile same independence. threats of his master ring in the astounded ears of' This commander was of Swiss extraction; an exthe members, and by the blunt and rough manner cellent young officer, and at that time enamotred of a soldier, who had risen from the ranks, added of liberty on the French system, though he afterto the dismay of the trembling nobles. The senate wards saw so much reason to change his opinions, returned a humnble apology to Bonaparte, and dis- that he lost his life, as we may have occasion to patched agents to deprecate his wrath. These mention, fighting under the Austrian banners. envoys were doomed to experience one of those The terrified senate of Venice proved unworthy scenes of violence, which were in some degree na- descendants of the Zenos, Dandolos, and Morosinis, tural to this extraordinary man, but to which in as the defenders of Christendom, and the proud opcertain cases he seems to have designedly given posers of papal oppression. The best resource way, in order to strike consternation into those they could imagine to themselves, was to employ at whom he addressed. "Are the prisoners at liberty?" Paris those golden means of intercession which Bolie said, with a stern voice, and without replying naparte had so sturdily rejected. Napoleon assures to the hulmble greetings of the terrified envoys. They us, that they found favour by means of these weighty answered with hesitation, that they had liberated arguments. The Directory, moved, we are informthe French, the Polish, and the Brescians, whohad ed, by the motives often millions of French francs, been made captive in the insurrectionary war. "I transmitted from Venice in bills of exchange, sent will have them all-all!" exclaimed Bonaparte- to the general of Italy orders to spare the ancient "' all who are in prison on account of their political senate and aristocracy. But the account of the sentiments. I will go myself to destloy your dun- transaction, with the manner in which the remitgeons on the Bridge of Tears-opinions shall be tances were distributed, fell into the hands of NTaiiree-I will have no Inquisition. If all the pri- poleon, by dispatches intercepted at Milan. The soners are not set at instant liberty, the English members of the French government, whom these doenvoy dismissed, the people disarmned, I declare cumnents would have convicted of peculation and instant war. I might have gone to Vienna if I had bribery, were compelled to be silent; and Bonalisted.-I have concluded a peace with the emperor parte, availing himself of some chicanery as to cer-I have eighty thousand men, twenty gun-boats- tain legal solemnities, took it on him totally to disI will hear of no Inquisition, and no senate either regard the orders he had received. -I will dictate the law to you-I will prove an The senate of Venice, rather stupified than stiAttila to Venice. If you cannot disarm your popu- mulated by the excess of their danger, were holding lation, I will do it in your stead-your government on the 30th April a sort of privy council in the is antiquated-it manst crulmble to pieces." apartments of the doge, when a letter from the coinWhile Bonaparte, in these disjointed yet signifi- mnudant of their flotilla informed them, that the cant threats, stood before the deputies like the French were erecting fortifications on the low Argantes of Italy's heroic poet, and gave them the grounds contiguous to the lagoons or shallow chanchoice of peace and war with the air of a superior nels which divide from the mainland and fiom each being, capable at once to dictate their fate, he had not other the little isles on which the amphibious risyet heard of the massacre of Verona, or of the bat- tress of the Adriatic holds her foundation; and proteries of a Venetian folrtonthe Lido having fired upon )osillg, in the blunt style of a gallant sailor, to a French i essel, who had run into the port to escape batter them to pieces about their ears before tile the pumrsut of two armed Austrian ships. The vessel works could be completedl. Indeed, nothing would was alleged to have been stink, and the master and have been more easy than to defend tile lagoons LIFE OF NA-POLEON BONAPARTE. 2311 against an enemy, who, notwithstanding Napoleon's before, would have been a signal of death to the bravado, had not even a single boat. But the pro- individual who had dared to hint at it. posal, had it been made to an abbess and a convent An English satirist has told us a story of a man of nuns, could scarce have appeared more extraor- persuaded by an eloquent friend to hang himself, dinary than it did to these degenerate nobles. Yet in order to preserve his life.* The st(ry of the fall the sense of shame prevailed; and though trem- of Venice vindicates the boldness of the satire. It bihing for the consequences of the order which they does not appear that Bonaparte could have gone issued, the senate directed that the admiral should farther, nay it seems unlikely he would have gone proceed to action. Immediately after the order was so far, as was now recommended. received, their deliberations were interrupted by As the friendly advisers had hinted that the utthe thunder of the cannon on either side-the Ve- most speed was necessary, the committee scarce netian gun-boats pouring their fire on the van of the interposed an interval of three days, between reFrench army, which had begun to arrive at Fusina. ceiving the advice and recommending it to the To interrupt these ominous sounds, two plenipo- great council; and began in the meanwhile to antentiaries were dispatched to make intercession ticipate the destruction of their government and with the French general; and to prevent delay, the surrender of their city, by dismantlin.g their fleet doge himself undertook to report the result. and disbanding their soldiers. The grand council was convoked on the 1st May, At length the great council assepmbled on the when the doge, pale in countenance, and discon- 31st May. The doge had commenced a pathetic certed in demeanour, proposed, as the only means discourse on the extremities to which the country of safety, the admission of sonme democratic modi- was reduced, when an irregular discharge of firefications into their forms, under the direction of Ge- arms took place under the very windows of the neral Bonaparte; or, in other words, to lay their council-house. All started up in confusion. Some institutions at tile feet of the conqueror, to be re- supposed the Sclavonians were plundering the cilimodeled at his pleasure. Of six hundred and ninety zens; some that the lower orders had risen on the patricians, only twenty-one dissented fiom a vote nobility; others, that the French had entered Vewhich inferred the absolute surrender of their con- nice and were proceeding to sack and pillage it. stitution. The conditions to be agreed on were The terrified and timid counsellors did not wait to indeed declared subject to the revision of the coun- inquire what was the real cause of the disturbance, cil; but this, in the-circumstances, could only be but hurried forward, like sheep, in the path which consideredasa clause intended to save appearances. had been indicated to them. They hastened to The surrender must have been regarded as uncon- despoil their ancient government of all authority, to ditional and total. sign in a manner its sentence of civil death-added Amidst the dejection and confusion which pos. everything which could render the sacrifice more sessed the government, some able intriguer (the agreeable to Bonaparte-and separated in confusecretary, it wvas said, of the French ambassador at sion, but under the impression that they had taken Venice, whose principal had been recalled) con- the best measure in their power for quelling the trived to induce the Venetian government to commit tumult, by meeting the wishes of the predominant an act of absolute suicide, so as to spare Bonaparte party. Buttthis was by no means the case. On the the trouble and small degree of scandal which might contrary, they had the misfortune to find that the attach to totally destroying the existence of the re- insurrection, of which the firing was the signal, was public. directed not against the aristocrats, but against those On the 9th of May, as the committee of the great who proposed the surrender of the national indecouncil were in close deliberation with the doge, pendence. Armed bands shouted, "Long live Saint two strangers intruded upon those councils, which Marc, and perish foreign domination!" Others inheretofore-such was the jealous severity of the deed there were, who displayed, in opposition, oligarchy —were like those of supernatural beings, three-coloured banners, with the war-cry of "Lithose who looked on them died. But now, afflic- berty for ever!" The disbanded and mutinous soltion, confusion, and fear, had withdrawn the guards diers mixed among these hostile groups, and threatfiorn these secret and mysterious chambers, and ened the town with fire and pillage. laid open to the intrusion of strangers those stern Amid this horrible confusion, and while the parties haunts of a sulspicions oligarchy, where, in other were filing on each other, a provisional government days, an official or lictor of the government might was hastily named. Boats were dispatched to blring have been punished with death even for too loud a three thousand French soldiers into the city. These foot-fall, far Inore for the fatal crime of having heard took possession of the Place of Saint Mlarc, xwhile more than was designed to come to his knowledge. some of the inhabitants shouted; but the greater All this was now elded; and without check or re. part, who were probably not the less sensible of the buke the two strangers were permitted to commu- execrable tyranny of the old aristocracy, saw it nicate with the senate by writing. Their advice, fell in rournfoid silence, because there fell, along which had the terms of a command, was, to anti- with the ancient institutions of their country, howcipate the intended reforms of the French —to dis- ever little some of these were to be regretted, solve the present governmient-throw open their the honour and independence of the state itself: prisons-disband their Sclavonian soldiers-plant The terms which the French granted, or rather the tree of liberty on the Place of Saint Marc, and imposed, appeared sufficiently moderate, so far as to take other popular measures of the same nature, the least of which, proposed but a few months Dr Arbuthnot, in the History of John Bull. 232 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. they were made pu blic. They announced that the ment as fiery in love as in war. The language of the foreign troops would remain so long, and no longer, conqueror, who was disposing of states at his pleathan mig-ht be necessary to protect the peace of sure, and defeating the most celebrated commanders Venice-they undertook to guarantee the public of the time, is as enthusiastic as that of an Arcadian. debt, and the payment of the pensions allowed to We cannot suppress tile truth, that (in passages the impoverished gentry. They required, indeed, which we certainl),all not quote) it carries a tone the continuance of the prosecution against the coin- of indelicacy, which, notwithstanding the intimacy mander of that fort of Luco who had fired on the of the married state, an English husband would not French vessel; but all other offenders were par- use, nor an English wife consider as the becomringr doned, and Bonaparte afterwards suffered even this expression of connubial affection. There seems no affair to pass into oblivion; which excited doubt doubt, however, that the attachment which these whether the transaction had ever been so serious letters indicate was perfectly sincere, and on one as had been alleged. o- ccasion at least, it was chivalrously expressed; — Five secret and less palatable articles attended "Wurmser shall buy dearly the tears which he these avowed conditions. Olne provided for the makes you shed!" various exchanges of territory which had been al- It appears fiom this correspondence that J;s6ready settled at the Venetian expense betwixt Aus- phine had rejoined her husband tinder the guardiantria and France. The second and third stipulated ship of Junot, when he returned from Paris, after the payment of three millions of fiancs in specie, and as many in naval stores. Another prescribed given, and there seems no reason to doubt their authenthe cession of three ships of war, and of two frigates, ticity. The following may serve as a specimen and will armned and equipped. A fifth ratified the exaction, perhaps confirm the opinion of a great lawyer, that lovein the usual style of French cupidity, of twenty letters seem the most unutterable nonsense in the world to pictures and five hundlred manuscripts, all but the personi who writes, and the party who receives It will be seen hereafter what advantages the them:_ Venetians purchased by all these unconscionable UBy what art is it that you have been able to captivate conditions. At the moment, they understood that the all my faculties, and to concentrate in yourself my y moral existence? It is a magic, my sweet love, which will finish stipulations were to imply a guarantee of the inde- only with my life. To live for Josplhine-there is the hispendent existence of their country as a democratical tory of my life. I am trying to reach you,-I am dying state. In thle meanwhile, the necessity for raising to be iear you. Fool that I am, I do not pelrceive that I the supplies to gratify the rapacity of the French, increase the distance heteteen us. What lands, what counobliged the provisional government to have recourse tries separate us! Whlat a time before you read these to forced loans; and in this mnanner they inhospi- weak expressions of a troubled soul in whiclh you reign! tably plundered the Duke of Modena (who had fled Ah! my adorable wite, I know not what fate awaits me, to Venice for refuge when Bonaplarte first entered but if it keep me much longer from you, it will be insupLombalrdy) of Ihis remaining treasure, amounting to portable,-my courage will not go so far. There'was a one hundred and ninety thousand sequins. time when I -was proull of my courage; asnd sonmetimes, when contemplating on the ills that mian could dto ne, on the fate which destiny could reserve for me, I fixed my CHAPTER YXVII1. eyes steadfastly on the most nunheard-of Il;isfortunes without a frown, without alairm;-but now tle idea that lcly Nanpoleona's astatory corresponde(nee witih Josiphive.- Josdphille may be uln-well, the idea that slle may be ill, anud, His court at Afowtebtllo-Negotiatisots atid pleasure above all, thle cruel, t:lle fatal thought, that sle nsay love wvingled there.-GGenoa-Revolhttionary spirit cf the mne less, withers msy soul, stol)s my bloovd, Lenders me sad, Genoese-They rise int insuvrrectionc, but are qnelle.d by cast down, anid leases me not even the courage of fury th/e governament, al the lF rench pltnderede ancd impri- and despair. Formerly I used often to say to mlyself, men sored —Bonlaparte ittetferes, aid appoivts the outfliles cohluit not hurt himn who could die withlout regret; but, of a new goveralmtent.-Sar(ditia.-Naples.-Th/e Cis- now, to die without being loved by lhee, to die illiout tltvt padale, Transpalanle, (tnd Emilinn Republics, unitfed certainty, is the torment of hiell; it is the lively and itnder the namine of the Cisalpine Repuzblic.-Th7e Valte- striking imnage of absolute annihilation-[ feel as if I wvere fine.-Th/e Grisoins. —7/e Vtalteltte unttited to Lonmbardy. stifled. My incomparablle comnpanii;n, thou wshlsomn filte ias -Great intprovecment of Italy, alnd the Italiant can- destined to make along witll me the painlful journvey of racter, front these chanlrges. —Diculties int the way of life, the day on which I shall cease to possess thy heart pacification betwixt France and Avtstria.-The Directory will be tile day on -which tarched nature Will be to me withaizt Napoleoc take dtifferetnt views.-Treaty of Campo out warmtll or vegetation. Formio.-Boatc:parte takes leave of the army of Italy, "I stop, my sseet love, my soul is sad-my body is fato act as French plectipotentiary at Rcastadt. tigled —ny head is giddy!-men disgust ine-I ought to hlate them —they separaee me froml miy beloved. W6HEN peace returns, it brings back the domestic "I am at Port Maurice, near Oneille; to-morrow I shall affections, and affords the means of indilgiivog them. be at Albenga; the two armies are in motion —We are enBolnaparte was yet a b-idefrolom, thllogh he lhad deavouring to deceive each otler —Victory to le nost skilful! I am pretty well satisfied with Beaulieu-If ihe now been two years rvmarried, and upwards. A part alarm me mulch, he is a better man thlan ihis predecessor. of his correspondence wvith his bride has been pro- I shall beat him, I htolpe, in good style. Do not be unieasy served,? and gives a curious picture of a tempera- -love me as your e!es —but tlat is not enosgh —as your* It.is published in a Toucr throvcgh t/Ae Netherlaends, self, more than yourself, than your Ilthoght, your mtliti, fRollacid, Germancty. Sw;itzerland, Satvoy, and Franece, in your sight, your all. Swseet love, forgive mie,-I amn sink. thfe years 1821-2, by Charles Tennant, Esq: 2 vols. 8vo, ing. Nature is weak for him wiho feels stroilgly, for him Longman anld Co. London. Autographs of the letters are whom you love! LIFE OP NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 233 having executed his mission of delivering to the Honour, beyond that of a crowned head, was his Directory, and representatives of the French people, own, and had tile full relish of novelty to a mind the banners and colours taken from Beaulieu. In which two or three years before was pining in December, 1796, Josephine was at Genoa, where obscurity. Power was his, and he had not exshe was received with studied magnificence, by perienced its cares and risks; high hopes were those in that ancient state who adhered to the formed of him by all around, and he had not yet French interest, and where, to the scandal of the disappointed them. He was in the flower of youth, rigid catholics, the company continued assembled, and married to the woman of his heart. Above all, at a ball given by Monsieur de Serva, till a late he had the glow of Hope, which was marshaling hour on Friday morning, despite the presence of a him even to more exalted dominion; and he had senator having in his pocket, but not venturing to not yet become aware that possession brings satiety, enforce, a decree of the senate for the better ob- and that all earthly desires and wishes terminate, servation of the fast day upon the occasion. These, when fhlly attained, in vanity and vexation of spirit. however, were probably only occasional visits; The various objects which occupied Bonaparte's but after the signature of the treaty of Leoben, and- mind during this busy yet pleasing interval were the during the various negotiations which took place affairs of Genoa, of Sardinia, of Naples, of the Cisbefore it was finally adjusted, as ratified at Campo alpine Republic, of the Grisons, and lastly, and by Formio, Jos6phine lived in domestic society with far the most important of them, the definitive treaty her husband, at the beautiful seat, or rather palace, with Austria, which involved the annihilation of Veof Montebello. nice as an independent state. This villa, celebrated from the important negotia- Genoa, the proud rival of Venice, had never dttions of which it was the scene, is situated. a few tained the same permanent importance with that leagues from Milan, on a gently sloping hill, which sister republic; but her nobility, who still adminiscommands an extensive prospect over the fertile tered her government according to the model asplains of Lombardy. The ladies of the highest signed them by Andrew Doria, preserved more rank, as well as those celebrated for beauty and national spirit, and a more warlike disposition. The accomplishments,-all, in short, who could add neighbourhood of France, and the prevalence of her charms to society,-were daily paying their homage opinions, had stirred up among the citizens of the to Josephine, who received them with a felicity of middling class aparty taking the name of Morandists, address, which seemed as if she had been born for from a club so termed, whose object it was to break exercising the high courtesies that devolved upon down the oligarchy, and revolutionize the governthe witfe of so distinguished a person as Napoleon. ment. The nobles were naturally opposed to this, Negotiations proceeded amid gaiety and pleasure. and a large body of the populace, much employed The various ministers and envoys of Austria, of the by them, and strict catholics, were ready to second pope, of the Kings of Naples and Sardinia, of the them in their defence. Duke of Parma, of the Swiss Cantons, of several The establishment of two Italian democracies of the Princes of Germany,-the throng of generals, upon the Po, made the Genoese revolutionists conof persons in authority, of deputies of towns,-with ceive the time was arrived when their own state the daily arrival and dispatch of numerous couriers, ought to pass through a similar ordeal of regenerathe bustle of important business, mingled with tion. They mustered their strength, and petitioned fetes and entertainments, with balls and with hunt- the doge for the abolition of the government as it ing parties,-gave the picture of a splendid court, existed, and the adoption of a democratic model. and the assemblage was called accordingly, by the The doge condescended so far to their demand, as Italians, the Court of Montebello. It was such in to name a committee of nine persons, five of them point of importance; for the deliberations agitated of plebeian birth, to consider and report on the there were to regulate the political relations of means of infusing a more popular spirit into the conGermany, and decide the fate of the King of Sar- stitution. dinia, of Switzerland, of Venice, of Genoa; all The three chief Inquisitors of State, or Censors, destined to hear, from the voice of Napoleon, the as the actual rulers of the oligarchy were entitled, terms on which their national existence was to be opposed the spirit of religious enthusiasm to that of prolonged or terminated. democratic zeal. They employed the pulpit and Montebello was not less the abode of pleasure. the confessional as the means of warning good caThe sovereigns of this diplomatic and military court tholics against the change demanded by the moranmade excursions to the Lago Maggiore, to Lago dists-they exposed the Holy Sacrament, and made di Como, to the Borromean islands, and occupied processions and public prayers, as if threatened at pleasure the villas which surround those deli- with a descent of the Algerines. cious regions. Every town, every village, desired Meanwhile the morandists took up arms, disto distinguish itself by some peculiar mark of played the French colours, and, conceiving their homage and respect to him, whom they then enatrprise was on the point of success, seized the named the Liberator of Italy. These expressions gate of the arsenal and that of the harbour. But are in a great measure those of Napoleon himself, their triumph was short. Ten thousand armed lawho seems to have looked back on this period of bourers started as from out of the earth, under the his life with warmer recollections of pleasurable command of their syndics, or municipal officers, enjoyment than he had experienced on any other with cries of Viva Maria! and declared for the occasion. aristocracy. The insurgents, totally defeated, were It was probably the happiest timte of his life. compelled to shut themselves up in their houses, VOL. yr. 30 234 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. where they were assailed by the stronger party, ratified, but too late to serve Bonaparte's object. and finally routed. The French residing in Genoa Naples, whose conduct had been vacillating and inwere maltreated by the prevailing party, their houses sincere, as events seemed to promise victory or threapillaged, and they themselves dragged to prison. ten defeat to the French general, experienced, notThe last circumstance gave Bonaparte an osten- withstanding, when he was in the height of triumph, sible right to interfere, which he would probably the benefit of his powerful intercession with the have done even had no such violence been com- government, and retained the full advantage secured mitted. He sent his aide-de-camp, Lavalette, to to herby the treaty of Paris of']O0th October, 1796. Genoa, with the threat of instantly moving against A most important subject of consideration rethe city a division of his army, unless the prisoners mained after the pacification of Italy, respecting the were set at liberty, the aristocratic party disarmed, mode in which the new republics were to be governand such alterations, or rather snch a complete ed, and the extent of territory which should be change of government adopted, as should be agree- assigned to them. On this subject there had been able to thie French commander-in-chief. Against long discussions; and as there was much animosity this there was no appeal. The Inquisitors were and ancient grudge betwixt some of the Italian cities laid under arrest, for having defended, with the as- and provinces, it was no very easy matter to consistance of their fellow-citizens, the existing institu- vince them, that their true interest lay in as many tions of the state; and the doge, with two other of them being united under one energetic and magistrates of the first rank, went to learn at Mon- active government, as should render them a power tebello, the head-quarters of Napoleon, what was to of some importance, instead of being divided as be the future fate of the city, proudly called of heretofore into petty states, which could not offer Palaces. They received the outlines of such a effectual resistance even to invasion on the part of a democracy as Napoleon conceived suitable for power of the second class, much more if attacked them; and he appears to have been unusually favour- by France or Austria. able to the state, which, according to the French The formation of a compact and independent state affectation of doing everything upon a classical mo- in the north of Italy was what Napoleon had much del, now underwent revolutionary baptism, and was at heart. But the Cispadane and Transpadane called the Ligurian Republic. It was stipulated, Republics were alike averse to a union, and that that the French who had suffered should be indem- of Romagna had declined on its part a junction with nified; but no contributions were exacted for the the Cispadane Commonwealth, and set upfobr a puny use of the French army, nor did the collections and and feeble independence, under the title of the Emicabinets of Genoa pay any tribute to the Parisian lian Republic. Bonaparte was enabled to overcome Museum. these grudgings and heart-burnings, by pointing out Shortly after, the democratic party having gone to them the General Republic, which it was now so far as to exclude the nobles-from the government, his system to create, as being destined to form the and from all offices of trust, called down by doing kernel of a state, which should be enlarged fromt so a severe admonition from Bonaparte. He dis- time to time as opportunities offered, until it shoulld charged them to offend the prejudices, or insult the include all Italy under one single government. l'his feelings of the more scrupulous catholics, declaring flattering prospect, in assigning to Italy, though at farther, that to exclude those of noble birth from somne distant date, the probability of fbrmling one public functions is a revolting piece of injustice, and, great country, united in itself; and independelt of' in fact, as criminal as the worst of the errors of the the rest of Europe, instead of being, as now, parpatricians. Bonaparte says he felt a partiality for celled out into petty states, naturally overcame all Genoa; and the comparative liberality with which the local dislikes and predilections which might he treated the state on this occasion furnishes a good have prevented the union of the Cispadane, Trlnsproof that he did so. padane, and Emilian Republics into one, and that The King of Sardinia had been prostrated at the important measure was resolved upon accordingly. feet of' France by the armistice of' Cherasco, which The Cisalpine Republic was tile name fixed upon. concluded Napoleon's first campaign; and that to designate the united commonwealth. The French sagacious leader had been long desirous that the would more willingly have named it, with respect Directory should raise the royal supplicant (for he to Paris, the Transalpine Republic; but that would could be termed little else) into some semblance of have been innovating upon the ancient title which regal dignity, so as to make his power available as Rome has to be the central point, with reference to an ally. Nay, General Clarke had, 5th April, 1797, which all other parts of Italy assume their local subscribed, with the representative of his Sardinian description. It would have destroyed all classical Majesty, a treaty offensive and defensive, by which propriety, and have confused historical recollections, Napoleon expected to add to the army under his if, what had hitherto been called the ultramontane command four thousand Sardinian or Piedmontese side of' the Alps, had, to gratify Parisian vanity, infantry, and five hundred cavalry; and lie reckoned been termed the hither side of the same chain of much on this contingent, in case of the war being mountains. renewved with Austria. But the Directory shifted Tihe constitution assigned to the Cisalpine Reand evaded his solicitations, and declined confirming public was the same which the French had last of this treaty, probably because they considered the all adopted, in what they called the year Three, hayarmy under his command as already sufficiently ing a Directory of executive administrators, and two strong, being, as the soldiers were, so devoted to Councils. They were installed upon the 30th of their leader At length, however, the treaty was June, 1797. Four members of the Directory were LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 235 namned by Bonaparte, and the addition of a fifth was and elsewhere, Napoleon resolved to proceed againx rornised with all convenient speed. On the 14th them in default of appearance; and declaring that, of July following, a review was made of thirty as the Grisons had failed to appear before him, or thousand national guards. The fortresses of Lom- to comply with his injunctions, by admitting the bardy, and the other districts, were delivered up to people of the Valteline to be parties to their league, the local authorities, and the French army, retiring he, therefore, adjudged the state, or district, of the from the territories of the new republic, took up Valteline, in time coming, to belong to and be part cantonments ill the Venetian states. Proclamation of the Cisalpine Republic. The Grisons in vain had already been made, that the states belonging to humbled themselves when it was too late, and the Cisalpine Republic having been acquired by protested their readiness to plead before a mediator France by tie right of conquest, she had used her too powerful to be declined under any ground known privilege to form them into their present free and in law; and the Valteline territory was adjudged inindependent government, which, already recognized alienably annexed to, and united with Lombardy, by the emperor and the Directory, could not fail to of which, doubtless, it forms, from manners and be acknowledged within a short time by all the contiguity, a natural portion. other powers of Europe. The existence of a state having free institutions, Bonaparte soon after showed that he was serious however imperfect, seemed to work an almost inin his design of enlarging the Cisalpine Republic, as stant amelioration on the character of the people of opportunity could be made to serve. There are the north of Italy. The effeminacy and trifling three valleys, termed the Valteline districts, which habits which resigned all the period of youth to runll down from the Swiss mountains towards the intrigue and amusement, began to give place to Lake of Como. The natives of the Valteline are firmer and more manly virtues-to the desire of about one hundred and sixty thousand souls. They honourable minds to distinguish themselves in arts speak Italian, and are chiefly of the catholic persua- and arms. Bonaparte had himself said, that twenty sion. These valleys were at this period the subjects years would be necessary to work a radical change of the Swiss Cantons, called the Grisons, not being on the national character of the Italians; but even a part of their league, or enjoying any of their privi- already those seeds were sown, among a people leges, but standing towards the Swiss community, hitherto frivolous because excluded from public generally and individually, in the rank of vassals to business, and timorous because they were not persovereigns. This situation of thraldom and depend- mitted the use of arms, which afterwards made the ence was hard to endure, and dishonourable in itself; Italians of the north equal the French themselves and we cannot be surprised that, when the nations in braving the terrors of war, besides producing around them were called upon to enjoy liberty and several civil characters of eminence. independence, the inhabitants of the Valteline should Amid those subordinate discussions, as they might have driven the Swiss garrisons out of their val- be termed, in comparison to the negotiations betwixt leys, adopted the symbol of Italian freedom, and Austria and France, these two high contracting carried their complaints against the oppression of parties found great difficulty in agreeing as to the their German and protestant masters to the feet of pacific superstructure which they should build upon Bonaparte. the foundation which had been laid by the preliuliThe inhabitants of the Valteline unquestionably naries exchanged at Leoben. Nay, it seemed as if had a right to assert their natural liberty, which is some of the principal stipulations, which had been incapable of suffering prescription; but it is not there agreed upon as the corner-stones of tbheir equally clear how the French could, according to treaty, were even already beginning to be unsettled. the law of nations, claim any title to interfere be- It will be remembered, that, in exchange tor the tween them and the Grisons, with whom, as well cession of Flanders, and of all the countries on tlhe as with the whole Swiss Union, they were in pro- left side of the Rhine, including the strong city of found peace. This scruple seems to have struck Mentz, which she was to yield up to France in perBonaparte's own mind. He pretended, however, petuity, Austria stipulated an indemnification on to assume that the Milanese government had a right some other frontier. The original project bore, that to interfere, and his mediation was so far recognized, the Lombardic Republic, since termed the Cisalpine, that the Grisons pleaded before him in answer to should have all the territories extending from Piedtheir contumacious vassals. Bonaparte gave his mont eastward to the river Oglio. Those to the eastopinion, by advising the canton of the Grisons, ward of that river were to be ceded to Austria, as an which consists of three leagues, to admit their Val- equivalent for the cession of Belgium, and the left teline subjects to a share of their franchises, in bank of the Rhine. The Oglio, rising in the Alps, the character of a foulth' association. The modera- descends through the fertile districts of Brescia and tion of the proposal may be admitted to excuse the Cremasco, and falls into the Po near Borgo forte, irregularity of the interference. inclosing Mantua on its left bank, which strong The representatives of the Grey League were, fortress, the citadel of Italy, was, by this allocation, notwithstanding, profoundly hurt at a proposal which to be restored to Austria. There were farther went to make their vassals their brother freemen, compensations assigned to the emperor, by the and to establish the equality of the Italian serf, who preliminaries of Leoben. Venice was to be deprived drank of the Adda, with the free-born Switzer, who of her territories on the mainland, which were to bhe quaffed the waters of the Rhine. As they turned a confiscated to augment the indemnity destined for deaf ear to his proposal, deserted his tribunal, and the empire; and this, although Venice, as far as endeavoured to find support at Berne, Paris, Vienna, Bonaparte yet knew, had been faithful to thile neu :236 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. trality she had adopted. To redeem this piece of the death-warrant; while Istria, Daltatia, VPnice injustice, another was tobe perpetrated. The state herself, and all her other dominions, should be of Venice was to receive the legations of Bologna, appropriated to Austria. The latter power, through Ferrara, and Romagna, in lieu ot the dominions her minister, consented to this arrangement with as which she was to cede to Austria; and these lega- little scruple as to the former appropriation of her tions, it must not be forgotten, were the principal forlorn ally's possessions on the Terra Firma. materials of the Cispadane Republic, founded by But as fast as obstacles were removed on onP Bonaparte himself. These, however, with their side, they appeared to start up on another, and a population, which he had led to hope for a free sort of pause ensued in the deliberations, which popular government, he was now about to turn over neither party seemed'to wish to push to a close. In to the dominion of Venice, the most jealous oligarchy fact, both Napoleon, plenipotentiary for France, in the world, which was not likely to forgive those and Count Cobentzel, a man of great diplomatic who had been forward in expressing a desire of skill and address, who took the principal managefreedom. This was the first concoction of the treaty ment on the part of Austria, were sufficiently aware of Leoben, from which it appears that the negotia- that the French government, long disunited,was in the tors of the two great powers regarded the secondary act of approaching to a crisis. This accordingly took and weaker states, whether ancient or of modern place, under circumstances to be hereafter noticed. erection, merely as make-weights, to be thrown into on 18th Fructidor, creating, by a new revolutionary either scale, as might be necessary to adjust the movement, a total change of administration. When balance. this revolution -was accomplished, the Directory, who It is true, the infant Cispadane Republic escaped accomplished it, feeling themselves more strong, the fate to which its patron and founder was about appeared to lay aside the idea of peace, and showed to resign it; for, after this arrangement had been a strong disposition to push their advantages to the provisionally adjusted, news came of the insurrec- utmost. tion of Venice, the attack upon the French through Bonaparte was opposed to this. Hle knew that her whole territory, and the massacre at Verona. if war was resumed, the difficulties of the campaign This aggression placed the ancient republic, so far would be thrown on him, and the blame also, if thie as France was concerned, in the light of a hostile results were not happy. He was determined, therepower, and entitled Bonaparte to deal with her as a fore, in virtue of his fall powers, to bring the matter conquered one, perhaps to divide, or altogether to to a conclusion, whether the Directory would or annihilate her. But, on the other hand, he had not. For this purpose he confronted Cobentzcl, received their submission, ratified the establishment who still saw his game in gaining delay, with the of their new popular constitution, and possessed sternness of a military envoy. On the 16tti October, himself of the city, under pretence of assigning it a the conferences were renewed upon the former free government, according to the general hope grounds, and Cobentzel went over the whole subject which he had held out to Italy at large. The right of the indemnifications, insisting that Mantua, and of conquest was limited by the terms on which sur- the line of the Adige, should be granted to the emrender had been accepted. Austria, on the other peror, threatened to bring down the Russians in hand, was the more deeply bound to have protected case the war should be renewed, and insinuating the ancient republic, for it was in her cause that that Bonaparte sacrificed the desire of peace to his Venice so rashly assumed arms; but such is the military famue, and desired a renewal of the war. gratitude of nations, such the, faith of politicians, that Napoleon, with stern but restrained indignation, she appears, fiom the beginning, to have had no took from a bracket an ornamental piece of china, scruple in profiting by the spoils of an ally, who had on which Cobentzel set some value, as being a prereceived a death-wound in her cause. sent from the Empress Catherine. " The truce," he By the time the negotiators met for finally dis- said, "is then ended, and war declared. But becussing the preliminaries, the Directory of France, ware-I will break your empire into as many frageither to thwart Bonaparte, whose superiority be- ments as that potsherd." He dashed the piece of came too visible, or because they actually entertained china against the hearth, and withdrew abruptly. the fears they expressed, were determined that Again we are reminded of the Argantes of Tasso.* Mantua, which had been taken with such difficulty, The Austrian plenipotentiaries no longer hesitated should remain the bulwark of the Cisalpiue Republic, to submit to all Napoleon's demands, rather than instead of returning to be once more that of the again see him commence his tremendous career of Austrian territories in Italy. The Imperial plenipo- irresistible invasion. The treaty of Campo Formnio tentiaries insisted, on the other hand, that Mantua therefore was signed; not the less promptly, perhaps, was absolutely necessary to the safety of their Italian that the affairs at Paris appeared so doubtful as to possessions, and became more so from the peculiar invite an ambitious and aspiring man like Napoleon character of their new neighbour, the Cisalpine Re- to approach the scene where honours and power public, whose example was likely to be so perilous were distributed, and where jarring factions seemed to the adjacent dependencies of alln ancient monar- to await the influence of a character so distinguished chy. To get over this difficulty, the French general and so determined. proposed that the remaining dominions of Venice ~ Spieg6 quel crudo il seno, e'l manto scosse, should be also divided betwixt Austria and France, Ed a guerra mortal, disse, vi sfido; the latter obtaining possession of the Albanian ter- E'1 disse in atto si feroce ed empio ritories and the cmllian islands belonging. to the re- Che parve aprir di Giano il chiuso tempio. public, of which the hilg contracting powers signed La Gerusalemlme Liberata, Canto II. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. The fate of Venice, more from her ancient history hundred thousand men whom he might call his own than either the value of her institutions, which were and the uncertainty of the future destinies to which execrable, or the importance of her late existence, he might be summoned, are enough to account for still dwells somewhat on the memory. The ancient this, without supposing, as some have done, that republic fell "as a fool dieth." The aristocrats he already had distinctly formed any of those procursed the selfishness of Austria, by whom they jects of ambition which time opened to him. Doubtwere swallowed up, though they had periled them- less, however, his ardent ambition showed him selves in her cause. The republicans hastened tot remote and undefined visions of greatness. He escape from Austrian domination, grinding their could not but be sensible that he returned to the teeth with rage, and cursing no less the egotistic capital of France in a situation which scarce adpolicy of the French, who, making a convenient mitted of any mediocrity. He must either be raised pretext of their interest, had pretended to assign to a yet more distinguished height, or altogether them a free constitution, and then resigned them to broken down, leveled with the mass of subjects, become the vassals of a despotic government. and consigned to comparative obscurity. There The French secretary of legation, who had played was no middle station for the Conqueror and Libea remarkably active part during the Revolution, rator of Italy. hazarded a remonstrance to Bonaparte on the surrender of Venice to Austria, instead of its being CHAPTE XXI formed into a free democracy, or united with the Cisalpine Republic. Bonaparte laughed to scorn a Retrospect. The Directory-they become'Unpopular.man, whose views were still fixed on diffusing and Cdseses oftheir npopularity-Also at enmity among propagating the principles of jacobinism. " I have themselves.-State of pcublicfeeling in France-In point received your letter," was the stern and contemp- of niumbers, favolurable to the Bourbons; but the araty tuous reply, " and cannot comprehend it. The Re- and monied interest against them. —Pichegru, head of public of France is not bound by any treaty, to sa- the royalists, appointed President of the Council of crifice its interests and advantages to the Committee Five Hundred.-Barbh Marbois, another royalist, Preof Public Safety in Venice, or to. any other class of sident of the Council of Ancients.-Directory throw individuals. France does not make war in behalf themselves upon the succouer of Hoche and Bonsaparte. and for the benefit of others.* I kliow it costs no- — Bonaparte's personal politics discussed.-Pichegru's thing for a few chattering declaimers, whom I might correspondence d with the Bouerbons-known to BoD abetter describe as madmen, to talk of an universalerean to Paris-Directory arrest their principal opponents in the councils on the republic-I wish they would try a winter campaign. 18th Fructidor, alid btWtsh theni to Ciaa.-Narrow The Venetian Republic exists no longer. Effeminate, and inipolitic conduct of the Directory to Bonaparte. corrupted, treacherous, and hypocritical, the Vene- -Projected ianvasion oJ' England. tians are unfit for liberty. If she has the spirit to appreciate, or courage to assert it, the time is not WHILE the Conqueror of Italy was pursuing his unfavourable-let her stand up for it." Thus, with victories beyond the Alps, the French Directory, insult added to misery, and great contempt thrown in whose name he achieved them, had become, to by Napoleon on the friends of liberty all over the the conviction of all men, as unlikely to produce the world, the fate of Venice was closed. The most benefits of a settled government, as any of their remarkable incident of the final transfer to the Aus- predecessors vested with the supreme rule. trians was, that the aged Doge Marini dropt down It is with politics as with mechanics, ingenuity is senseless as he was about to take the oath of allegi- not always combined with utility. Some one obance to the Imperial commissioner, and died shortly served to the late celebrated Mr Watt, that it was after. wonderful for what a number of useless inventions, Napoleon Bonaparte had now finished for the illustrated by the most ingenious and apparently present his career of destiny in Italy, which country satisfactory models, patents were yearly issued; he first saw his rising talents, and was always a sub- replied, that he had often looked at them with inject of peculiar interest to him. He took an affect- terest, and had found several, the idea of which ing leave of the soldiers, who could scarce hope had occurred to himself in the course of his early ever to see him replaced by a general of merit so studies. " But," said he, with his natural mascutranscendant, and made a moderate and judicious line sagacity, " it is one thing to make an ingenious address to the Cisalpine Republic. Finally, he de- model, and another to contrive an engine which parted, to return through Switzerland to Rastadt, shall work its task. Most of these pretty toys, wshen where a congress was sitting for the settlement they are applied to practical purposes, are found and pacification of the German empire, and where deficient in some point of strength, or correctness he was to act as a plenipotentiary on the part of of mechanism, which destroys all chance of their France. ever becoming long or generally useful." Some On the journey he was observed to be moody and such imperfection seems to have attended the works deeply contemplative. The separation from a of those speculative politicians who framed the vaThe language of injustice is alike in similar instances. rious ephemeral constitutions of France. However well they looked upon paper, -and however reasonWhen Edward I., inthe course of overrunning Scotland, well they looked upon paper, and however reasonwas reminded of the claims of the candidate for the throne, able they sounded to the ear, no one ever thought of in whose cause he had pretended to take arms, he answered them as laws which required veneration and obein the very words of Bonaparte,-" Have we nothing else to dience. 1Did a constitutional rule preclude a fado but to conquer kingdoms for other people?" votiite measure, to break it down, or leap over it, L, IFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. was the French statesman's unhesitating practice. at once upon the individuals who indulged in it, A rule was always devised applicable to circum- and the state whom they represented. They loaded stances; and before that, the theory of the consti- with exactions the trade of the Batavian republic, tation was uniformly made to give way. whose freedom they had pretended to recognize, I he constitution of the year Three was not more and treated with most haughty superiority the amlpermanent than thosp by which it had been pre- bassadors of independent states. Some of these ceded. For some time, the Directory, which con- high officers, and Barras in particular, were suptained men of considerable talent, conducted them- posed accessible to gross corruption, and believed selves with great prudence. The difficulty and to hold communication with those agents and stockdanger of their situation served to prevent their brokers, who raised money by jobbing in the public separating, as the weight put above an arch keeps fuhnds-a more deservedly unpopular accusation than |the stones in their places. Their exertions in the which can hardly be brought against a minister. It attempt to redeem the finances, support the war, was indeed a great error in the constitution, that and re-establish the tranquillity of the country, were though one hundred thousand livres were yearly attended at first with success. The national fac- allowed to each Director while in office, yet lie hadl tions also sunk before them for a season. They had no subsequent provision after he had retired fromt defeated the aristocratic citizens of Paris on the his fractional share of sovereignty. This penury, on i 13th Venddmiaire; and when the original revolu- the part of the public, opened a way to temptation, tionists, or democrats, attempted a conspiracy, under though of a kind to which mean minds only are ohthe conduct of Gracchus Baboeuf, their endeavour noxious; and such men as Barras were tempted to to seduce the troops totally failed, and their lives make provision for futurity, by availing themlselves paid the forfeit of their rash attempt to bring back of present opportunity. the reign of'Terror. Thus, the Directory, or exe- Their five majesties (sires) of the Luxembourg, cutive power, under the constitution of the year as people called them in ridicule, had also their Three, were for a season triumphant over the in- own individual partialities and favourite objects, ternal factions, and, belonging to neither, were in a which led them in turn to tease the French people situation to command both. with unnecessary legislation. La R6veillere Lepeaux But they had few who were really, and on prin- was that inconsistent yet not uncommon character, ciple, attached to their government, and most en- an intolerant philosopher and an enthusiastic deist. dured it only as something better than a new revo- He established a priesthood, and hymns and cerelutionary movement, and otherwise in no respect monies for deism; and, taking up the hopeful project eligible. To have rendered their authority per- of substituting a deistical worship for the christian smanent, the Directory must have had great unani- faith, just where Rohespierre had laid it down, he mity in their own body, and also brilliant success harassed the nation with laws to oblige them to obabroad, and they enjoyed neither one nor the other. serve the dccades of their new calendar as holidays, The very concoction of their body included the and to work at their ordinary trades on the chlllistian principles of disunion. They were a sort of five Sabbath. At La R1veillere's theory freetllinkers'kings, retiring from office by rotation, inhabiting laughed, and religious men shuddered; but all were each his separate class of apartments in the Luxem- equally annoyed by the legislative measures adoptbourg palace, having each his different establish- ed on a subject so ridiculous as this new ritual of ments, classes of clients, circles of' courtiers, flat- heathenism. Another cause of vexation was the terers, and instruments. The republican simplicity, philosophical arrangement of weights and ileasullres of late so essential to a patriot, was laid aside en- upon a new principle, which had in the meantime tirely. New costumes of the most splendid kind the inconvenience of introducing doubt and uncerwere devised for the different office-bearers of the tainty into all the arrangements of internal conlstate. This change took its rise from the weakness merce, and deranging entirely such as France and vanity of Barras, who loved show, and used to continued to hold wvith countries who were only acgo a-hunting with all the formal attendance of a quainted with the ordinary standard. prince. But it was an indulgence of luxury, which It might have been thought that the distinguished gave scandal to both the great parties in the state; success of the French arms under the auspices of the republicans, who held it altogether in contempt; the Directory would have dazzled the eyes of the and the royalists, who considered it as an usurpation French, attached as they have always been to miliof the royal dress and appendages. tary glory, and blinded them to other less agreeable The finances became continually more and more measures of their government. But the public were a subject of uneasiness. In the days of Terror money well aware, that the most brilliant share of these was easily raised, because it was demanded under laurels had been reaped by Bonaparte on his own pain of death, and assignats were raised to par by account; that he had received but slender reinforceguillotining those who sold or bought them at less ments from France (the magnitude of his achievethan their full value; but the powerful argument of ments considered); and that, in regard to the inviolence and compulsion being removed, the paper structions of government, much of his success was money fell to a ruinous discount, till its depression owing to his departure from them, and following his threatened, unless remedied, altogether to stop the own course. It was also whispered, that he was an course of public business. It perhaps arose from object of suspicion to the directors, and on his part the difficulty of raising supplies, that the Directory undervalued their talents, and despised their perassumed towards other countries a greedy, grasp- sons. On the Rhine, again, though nothing could ing, and rapacious character, which threw disgrace have been more distinguished than the behaviour of LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 239 the republican armies, yet their successes had been by the many thousands who saw no possible chance cLequered with many reverses, and, contrasted of settling the nationon any other model; and there with the Italian campaigns, lost their impression on is little doubt, that had France been permitted at the imagination. that moment an uninfluenced choice, the Bourbon While they were thus becoming unpopular in the family would have been recalled to the throne by the public opinion, the Directory had the great mis- great majority of the French people. fortune to be at enmity among themselves. From But for reasons mentioned elsewhere, the military the time that Letourneur retired from office in terms were the decided opponents of the Bourbons, and of the constitution, and Barthelemy was elected in the purchasers of national domains, through every his stead, there was a majority and an opposition in successive sale which might have taken place, were the Directory, the former consisting of Barras, Rew- deeply interested against their restoration. Numbexs bel, and La Reveillere-the latter, of Carnot and might be on the side of the royalists; but physical Barth6lemy. Of the two last, Carnot (who had force, and the influence of wealth andof the monied been, it may be remembered, a member of the Com- interest, were decidedly against them. mittee of Public Safety tinder Robespierre) was a Pichegrn might now be regarded as chief of the determined republican, and Bartihelemy a royalist; royal party. He was an able and successful general, -so strangely do revolutionary changes, like the to whom France owed the conquest of Holland. eddies and currents of a swoln river, bring together Like La Fayette and Dumourier, he had been disand sweep down side by side, in the same direction, gusted with the conduct of the Revolution; and like objects the most different and opposed. Barthdlemy the last of the two generals named, had opened a of course dissented from the majority of the direc- communication with the Bourbons. He was accused tors, because secretly and warmly he desired the of having suffered his army to be betrayed in a derestoration of the Bourbons, an event which must feat by Clairfayt, and the government in 1796 rehave been fraught with danger to his colleagues, all moved him from the command of the Army of the of whom had voted for the death of Louis XVI. Sambre and Meuse, offering him in exchange the siCarnot also differed from the majority, certainly tuation of ambassador to Sweden. He declined this with no such wish or view; but, his temper being species of honourable exile, and, retiring to Francheas overbearing as his genius was extensive, he was Comte, continued his correspondence with the Irmimpatient of opposition, especially in such cases perial generals. The royalists expected much from where he knew he was acting wisely. He advised the countenance of a military man of a name so strongly, for example, the ratification of the articles imposing; but we have seen more than once in the of Leoben, instead of placing all which France had course of these memoirs, that a general without an acquired, and all which she might lose, on the last army is like a hilt without the blade which it should fatal cast with an enemy, strong in his very despair, wield and direct. and who might raise large armies, while that of An opportunity, however, offered Pichegru the Bonaparte could neither be reinforced nor supported means of serving his party in a civil capacity, and in case of a reverse. Barras's anger on the occasion that a most important one. The elections of was so great, that he told Carnot at the council- May 1797, made to replace that proportion of the board, it was to him they owed that infamous treaty councils which retired by rotation, terminated geneof Leoben. rally in favour of the royalists, and served plainly While the Directory were thus disunited among to show on which side the balance of popular feelthemselves, the nation showed their dissatisfaction ing now leaned. Pichegru, who had been returned openly, and particularly in the two bodies of repre- as one of the deputies, was chosen by acclamation sentatives. The majority indeed of the Council of President of the Council of Five Hundred, and Elders adhered to the Directory, many of that body Barbe Marbois, another royalist, was elected to the belonging to the old republican partisans. But in same office by the Council of Ancients, while, as the more popularly composed Council of Five Hnn- we have already said, Barthelemy, likewise fi-iendly dred, the opposition to the government possessed a to monarchy, was introduced into the Directory. great majority, all of whom were decidedly against These elections were evil signs for the Directory, the Directory, and most of them impressed with the who did not fail soon to be attacked on every side, wish of restoring, upon terms previously to be ad- and upbraided with the continuance of the war and justed, the ancient race of legitimate monarchs. This the financial distresses. Various journals were at body of persons so thinking was much increased by the disposal of the party opposed to the majority of the number of emigrants, who obtained, on various the Directors, and hostilities were commenced begrounds, permission to return to their native country tween the parties, both in the assemblies, where after the fall of Robespierre. The forms of civil life the royalists had the advantage, and in the public began now to be universally renewed; and, as had papers, where they were also favourably listened been the case in France at all times, excepting to. The French are of an impatient temper, and during the bloody reign of Terror, women of rank, could not be long brought to carry on their warfare beauty, talent, and accomplishments, began again within the limitsassigned by the constitution. Each to resume their places in society, and their saloons party, without much regard to the state of the law, or boudoirs were often the scene of deep political looked about for the means of physical force with discourse, of a sort which in Britain is generally con- which they might arm themselves. The Directory fined to the cabinet, library, or dining-parlour. The (that is, the majority of that body), sensible of their wishes of many, or most of these coteries, were in unpopularity, and the predominance of the opposite favourofroyalty; the same feelings were entertained party, which seemed for a time to have succeeded 240 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. to the boldness and audacity of the revolutionary lies, his ideas were studiously moderate, and he class, had, in their agony of extremity, recourse to expressed the strongest fear of, and aversion to, rethe army, and threw themselves upon the succour volutionary doctrines. He recommended the granting of Hoche and of Bonaparte. equal rights and equal privileges to the nobles, as WVe have elsewhere said, that Bonaparte at this well as to the indignant vassals and plebeians who period was esteemed a steady republican. Pichegra had risen against them. In a word, lie advocated a believed him to be such when he dissuaded the free set of institutions, without the intermediate royalists from any attempt to gain over the General purgatory of a revolution. He was therefore, at this of Iatly; and as he had known him at school at period, far from being a jacobin. Brienne, declared him of too stubborn a character But though Bonaparte's wishes were thus wisely to afford the least hope of success. Augereau was moderated by practical views, he was not the less of the same opinion, and mistook his man so much, likely to be sensible that he was the object of fear, that when Madame de Stail asked whether Bona- of hatred, and of course of satire and misrepresentaparte was not inclined to make himself King of tion, to that side of the opposed parties in France Lombardy, he replied with great simplicity, " that which favoured royalty. Unhappily for himself, lihe he was a young man of too elevated a character. "m was peculiarly accessible to every wound of this Perhaps Bonaparte himself felt the same for a mo- nature, and, anxiously jealous of his fame, suffered ment, when, in a dispatch to the Directory, he re- as much under the puny attacks of the journalists, quests their leave to withdraw from the active as a noble steer or a gallant horse does amid his rich service of the Republic, as one who had' acquired pasture, under the persecutions of insects, which, in more glory than was consistent with happiness. comparison to himself, are not only impotent, but " Calumny," he said, " may torment herself in vain nearly invisible. In several letters to the Directory, with ascribing to me treacherous designs. My civil, he exhibits feelings of this nature which would have like my military career, shall be conforming to re- been more gracefully concealed, and evinces an publican principles." t irritability against the opposition prints, which we The public papers also, those we mean on the think likely to have increased the zeal with which side of the Directory, fell into a sort of rapture on he came forward on the republican side at this imthe classical republican feelings by which Bonaparte portant crisis. was actuated, which they said rendered the hope of Another circumstance, which, without determinhis return a pleasure pure and unmixed, and pre- ing Bonaparte's condtuct, may have operated in included the possibility of treachery or engrossing creasing his good.will to the cause which he emideas on his side. "The factious of every class," braced, was his having obtained the clew of Pichethey said, " cannot have an enemy more steady, or gru's correspondence with the house of Bourbon. To the government a friend more faithful, than he who, have concealed this would have made but a secondinvested with the military power of which he has rate merit with the exiled family, whose first thanks made so glorious a use, sighs only to resign a situa- must have been due to the partisan whom he protion so brilliant, prefers happiness to glory, and now tected. This was no part for Bonaparte to play; that the Republic is graced with triumph and peace, not that we have a right to say he would have acdesires for himself only a simple and retired life." cepted the chief' character had it been ofelbred to But though such were the ideas then entertained him, but his ambition could never have stooped to of Bonaparte's truly republican character, framed, any inferior place in the drama. In all probability, doubtless, on the model of Cincinnatus in his clas- his ideas fluctuated betwixt tile example of Cromsical simplicity, we may be permitted to look a well and of WVashington-to be the actual liberator, little closer into the ultimate views of him, who was or the absolute governor of his country. admitted by his enemies and friends, avouched by His particular information respecting Pichegru's himself, and sanlctioned by the journals, as a pure secret negotiations, was derived fiom an incident and disinterested republican; and we think the fol- at the capture of Venice. lowing changes may be traced. When the degenerate Venetians, more under the Whether Bonaparte was ever at heart a real impulse of vague terror than from any distinct plan, jacobin, even for the moment, may be greatly adopted in haste and tumult the rmleasuie of totally doubted, whatever mask his situation obliged him surrendering their constitution and rights, to be newto wear. He himself always repelled the charge as modeled by the French general after his pleasure, an aspersion. His engagement in the affair of the they were guilty of a gross and aggravated breach sections probably determined his opinions as re- of hospitality, in seizing the person and papers of publican, or rather thermidorien, at the time, as be- the Count d'Entraigues,* agent, or envoy, of the came him by whom the republican army had been led and corirmanded on that day. Besides, at the * This gentleman was one of the second emigration, who head of an army zealously republican, -even his left France during Robespierre's ascendancy. He was employed as a political agent by the court of Russia, after power over their minds required to be strengthened, the affair of Venice, which proves that he was not at for some time at' least, by -an apparent correspond- least convicted of treachery to the Bourbon princes. In ence in political sentiments betwixt the troops and July, 1812, he was assassinated at his villa at Hackney, the general. But in the practical doctrines of govern- near London, by an Italian domestic, who, having mureient which he recommended to the Italian Repub- tdered both the count and countess, shot himself through the head, leaving no clew to discover the motive of his /est trop bien glevi pour cela. villany. It was remarked that the villain used Count 5 J Monitecr, 1797, No. 224. d'Entraigues' own pistols and dagger, which, apprehensive LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 941 exiled Bourbons, who wvas then residing under their parte served the Directory at this important crisis. protection. The envoy himself, as Bonaparte alleges, He dispatched Augereau to Paris, ostensibly for the swas not peculiarly faithful to his trust; but, besides purpose of presenting the standards taken at Manhis information, his portfolio contained many proofs tua, but in reality to command the armed force of Pichegru's correspondence with the allied gene- which the majority of the Directory had determined rals and with the Bourbons, which placed his secret to employ against their dissentient colleagues, and absolutely in the power of the General of Italy, and the opponents of their nieasures in the national niight help to confirm the line of conduct which he councils. Augereau was a blunt, bold, stupid soldier, had already meditated to adopt. a devoted jacobin, whose principles were suffiPossessed of these documents, and sure that, in ciently well known to warrant his standing upon no addressing a French army of the day, lie would constitutional delicacies. But in case the Directory swim with the tide if he espoused the side of repub- failed, Bonaparte kept himself in readiness to march licanislm, Bonaparte harangued his troops on the instantly to Lyons at the head of fifteen thousand anniversary of tile taking the Bastille, in a manner men. There rallying the republicans, and all who calculated to awake their ancient democratic en- were attached to the Reiolution, he would, accordthusiasm. " Soldiers, this is the 14th July! You ing to his own well-chosen expression, like Caesar, see before you the manes of your companions in have crossed the Rubicon at the head of the popuarms, dead in the field of honour for the liberty of lar party-and ended, doubtless, like Cesar, by their country. They have set you an example, that himself usurping the supreme command, which he you owe your lives to thirty millions of Frenchmen, pretended to assert in behalf of the people. and to the national name, which has received new But Bonaparte's presence was not so esseatially splendour friom your victories. Soldiers, I am aware necessary to the support of the Directory as he might you are deeply. affected by the dangers which have expected, or as he perhaps hoped. They had threaten the coulntry. But she can be subjected military aid nearer at hand. Disregarding a fundasto none which are real. The same men who made mental law of the constitution, which declared that France triumph over united Europe, still live- armed troops should not be brought within a certain: Mountains separate us from France, but you would distance of the legislative bodies, they moved totraverse thlelm with the speed of eagles, were it ne- wards Paris a part of GCeneral Hoche's army. The cessary, to maintain the constitution, defend liberty, majority of the councils becoming alarmed, prepared protect the government and the republicans. Sol- meansof defence by summoning the National Guards diers, the government watches over the laws as a to arms. But Augereau allowed them no time. lie sacred deposit committed to them. The royalists marched to their place of meeting, at the head of shall no longer show themselves but what they shall a considerable armed force. The guards stationed cease to exist. Be without uneasiness, and let us for their protection, surprised or faithless, offered swear by the names of those heroes who have died no resistance; and, proceeding as men possessed by our sides for liberty-let us swear, too, on our of the superior strength, the Directory treated their standards-War to the enemies of the Republic, political opponents as state prisoners, arrested Barand fidelity to the constitution of the year Three? th61lemy (Carnot having fled to Geneva), and made It is needless to remark, that, under the British prisoners, in the hall of the assembly and elsewhere, constitution, or any other existing on fixed princi- Willot, President of the Council of Ancients, Piples, the haranguing an armed body of soldiers, Mith chegru, President of that of the Five Hundred, and the purpose of inducing them to interfere by fobrce in above one hundred and fifty deputies, journalists, any constitutional question, would be in one point of and other public characters. As an excuse for these view mutiiny, in another high treason. arbitrary and illegal proceedings, the Directory made The hint so distinctly given by the general was public the intercepted correspondence of Picllegru; immediately adopted by the troops. Deep called to although few of the others involved in the same acdeep,'and each division of the army, whatever its cusation were in the secretof the royalist conspiracy. denomination, poured forth its menaces of military Indeed, though all who desired an absolute repose force and compulsion against the opposition party in from tile revolutionary altercations which tore the the councils, who held opinions different from those country to pieces, began to look that way, he must of their nlilitary chief, but which they had, at least have been a violent partisan of royalty indeed, that hitherto, only expressed and supported by those could have approved of the conduct of a general, means of resistance which the constitution placed in who, like Pichegru, commanding an armly, had their power. In other words, the soldier's idea of a made it his business to sacrifice his troops to the republic was, that the sword was to decide the sword of the enemy, by disappointing and derangconstitutional debates, which give so much trouble ilg thoseplans which it was his duty to have carto ministers in a mixed or settled government. The ried into effect. Prsetoriau bands, the Strelitzes, the Janissaries, have Few would at first believe Pichegru's breach all in their turn entertained this primitive and sim- of faith; but it was suddenly confirmed by a prople idea of refoblrming abuses in a state, and chang. clamation of Moreau, who, in the course of the war, ing, by the application of military force, an unpopular had intercepted a baggage waggon belonging to the dynasty, or an obnoxious ministry. Austrian general Klinglin, and became possessed It was not by distant menaces alone that Bona- of the whole secret correspondence, which, nevertheless, he had never mentioned, until it came out of danger as a political intriguer, he liad always ready pre- by the seizure of the Count d'Entraigues' portfolio. pared in his apartment. Then indeed, fearing perhaps the consequences of VOL. V. 31 2412 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. having been so long silent, Moreal published what prior to the 18th Fructidor, that he refused to remit he knew. R6gnier had observed the same suspi- a sum of money with which he had promised to aid cious silence; which seems to infer, that if these them for the purpose of forwarding that event. generals did not precisely favour the royal cause, Barras's secretary was sent to task him with this they were not disposed to be active in detecting the contumacy; which lie did so unceremoniously, that conspiracies formed in its behalf. the general, unused to contradiction, was about to The Directory made a tyrannical use of the power order this agent to be shot; but, on consideration, which they obtained by their victory of the 18th Fruc- put him off with some insignificant reply. tidor, as this epoch was called. They spilt, indeed, It followed, from the doubtful terms on which no blood, but otherwise their measures against the Bonaparte stood with the Directory, that they must defeated party were of the most illegal and oppres- have viewed his return to Paris with some appresive character. A law, passed in the heat of ani- hension, when they considered the impression likely mosity, condemned two directors, fifty deputies, to be made on any capital, but especially on that of and a hundred and forty-eight individuals of dif- Paris, by the appearance there of one who seenmed ferent classes (most of whom were persons of some to be the chosen favourite of Fortune, and to deserve character and influence), to be transported to the her favours by the use which he umade of them. The scorching, and unhealthy deserts of Guiana, which, mediocrity of such men as Barras never gives them to many, was a sentence of lingering but certain so much embarrassment, as when, being raised to an death. They were barbarously treated, both on elevation above their desert, they find themselves the passage to that dreadful place, and after they placed in comparison with one to whom nature has arrived there. It was a singular part of their fate, given the talents which their situation requires in that they found several of the fiercest of their an- themselves. The higtler their condition, their decient enemies, the jacobins, still cursing God and de- meanour is the more awkward; for the factitious fying man, in the same land of wretchedness and exile. advantages which they possess cannot raise them Besides these severities, various elections were to the natural dignity of character, unless in the arbitrarily dissolved, and other strong measures of sense in which a dwarf; by the assistance of crutches, public safety, as they were called, adopted, to render may be said to be as tall as a giant. The Directory the power of the Directory more indisputable. Dur- had already found Bonaparte, on several occasions, ing this whole revolution, the lower portion of the a spirit of the sort which would not be commanded. population, which used to be so much agitated upon Undoubtedly they would have been well pleased, like occasions, remained perfectly quiet; the strug- had it been possible to have found him employment gle lay exclusively between the middle classes, who at a distance; but, as that seemed difficult, they inclined to a government on the basis of royalty, were obliged to look round for the means of employing and the Directory, who, without having any very him at home, or abide the tremendous risk of his tangible class of political principles, had become finding occupation for himself. possessed of the supreme power, desired to retain It is surprising that it did not occur to the Direcit, and made their point good by the assistance of tory to make at least the attempt of conciliating the military. Bonaparte, by providing for his future fortune largely Bonaparte was much disappointed at the result of and liberally, at the expense of the public. He the 18th Fructidor, chiefly because, if less decisive, deserved that attention to his private affairs, for he it would have added more to his consequence, and had himself entirely neglected them. While he have given him an opportunity of crossing, as he drew from the dominions which he conquered or termed it, the Rubicon. As it was, the majority of overawed in Italy, immense sums in behalf of the the Directors,-three men of no particular talent, French nation, which lie applied in part to the supundistinguished alike by birth, by services to their port of the army, and in part remitted to the Direncountry, or even by accidental popularity, and cast, tory, he kept no accounts, nor were any demanded as it were by chance, upon supreme power,-re- of him; but according to his own account, he transmained by the issue of the struggle still the masters mitted fifty millions of francs to Paris, and had not of the bold and ambitious conqueror, who probably remaining of his own funds, when he returned from already felt his own vocation to be for command Italy, more than three hundred thousand. rather than obedience. It is no doubt true, that, to raise these sums, Napoleon appears by his Memoirs to have regret- Bonaparte had pillaged the old states, thus selling ted the violence with which the victorious Directors to the newly-formed commonwealths their liberty prosecuted their personal revenge, which involved and equality at a very handsome rate, and probably many for whom he had respect. Hle declares his leaving them in very little danger of corruption from own idea of punishment would have gone no farther that wealth which is said to be the bane of repubthan imprisoning some of the most dangerous con- lican virtue. But on the other hand, it must he spirators, and placing others under the watchful acknowledged, that if the French general plundered superintendance of the police. He must have taken the Italians as Cortez did the Mexicans, he did not some painful interest in the fate of Carnot in parti- reserve any considerable share of the spoil for his cular, whom he seems to have regarded as one of own use, though the opportunity was often in his his most effective patrons.* Indeed, it is said that power. he was so much displeased with the Directory even The commissary Salicetti, his countryman, re* In Carnot's Memoirs, the merit of discovering Bona- be., it is certain that Napoleon acknowledged great obligapartc's talents and taking care of his promotion, is attri- tions to Carnot, and protested to him perpetual gratitude. buted to (Jarnot, ratber than to Barras. However this may -Sec Moziteur, an 5, No. 140. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 243 commended a less scrupulous line of conduct. Soon was alike ungracious and impolitic. They ought to after the first successes in Italy, he acquainted have calculated, that a generous mind would have Napoleon that the Chevalier d'Este, the Duke of been attached by benefits, and that a selfish one Modena's brother and envoy, had four millions of might have been deterred from more doubtful and francs, in gold, contained in fbur chests, prepared ambitious projects, by a prospect of sure and direct for his acceptance. " The Directory and the le- advantage; but that marked ill-will and distrust gislative bodies will never," he said, " acknowledge must in every case render him dangerous, who has your services-your circumstances require the the power to be so. money, and the duke vill gain a protector." Their plan, instead of resting on an attempt to "I thank you," said Bonaparte; " but I will net for conciliate the ambitious conqueror, and soothe him four millions place myself in the power of the Duke to the repose of a tranquil indulgence of indepenof Modena." dence and ease, seems to have been that of devising'Ihe Venetians, in the last agony of their terrors, for him new labours, like the wife of Eurystheus for offered the French general a present of seven mil- the juvenile Hercules. If he succeeded, they may lions, which was refused in the same manner. have privately counted upon securing the advantages Austria also had made her proffers; and they were for themselves; if he failed, they were rid of a nothing less than a principality in the empire, to be troublesome rival in the race of power and popuestablished in Napoleon's favour, consisting of two larity. It was with these views that they proposed hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants at least, a to Napoleon to crown his'military glories, by assurnprovision which would have put him out of danger ing the command of the preparations made for the of suffering by the proverbial ingratitude of a repub- conquest of England. lic. The general transmitted his thanks to the emperor for this proof of the interest which he took in his fortune, but added, he could accept of no wealth or preferment which did not proceed from View of the respective situations of Great Britain and the French people, and that he should be always France, at the period of Napoleon's return from Italy. satisfied with the amount of revenue which they -Negotiations at Lille-Broken, off; and Lord Malhnesnight be disposed to afford him. bury ordered to quit the Republic.-Army of England But, however free from the wish to obtain wealth decreed, and Bonaparte namned to the commasnd-He by any indirect means, Napoleon appears to have takes up his residence in Paris-Description of his perexpected, that in return for public services of such sonal character and manners.-ladame de Stal.unusual magnitude, some provision ought to have Public honours paid to Napoleon.-Project of invasio, been made for him. An attempt was mlalme to pro- terminated, and the real views of the Directory discocure a public grant of the domain of Chanibord, and vered to be the expedition to Egypt.-Armies of Italy a large hotel in Paris, as an acknowledgment of the end the Rhine, compared and contrasted-Napoleon's national gratitude for his brilliant successes; but views and notionls in heading the E gyptian expedition -t.hose of the Directory regarding it-Its actual inathe Directory thwarted the proposal. policy.-Culrios statement regarding Bonaparte, preThe proposition respecting Chanlbord was not viozcs to his departure, given by Mliot. —Te armament the only one of the kind. Malibran, a member of the sails from Toulonl, on 19th May, 1798.-Napoleon arrives Council of Five Hundred, made a motion that Bona- before Malta on the IOth of Jzunme-Proceeds on his coarse, parte should be endowed with a revenue, at the anld, escapilng the British squadron,, lands at Alexanpublic charge, of fifty thousand livres annually, with dria on the 1st qf July.-Description of the various a reversion to his wife of one half of that sum. It classes of nations who ishabit Egypt:-l. The Fellahs may be supposed that this motion had not been acid Bedouins-2. T'e Copts-3. The MamelLkes.-Naposufficiently considered and preconcerted, since it leon issues a proclamation from Alexantdric, against was verv indifferently received, and was evaded by the Manlelckes-Marches against them oml the 7th July. the swaggering declaration of a member, that such -M1amelnke mode of fighting.Discontenst and disappointment of the French troops and their coLmmanders glorious deeds could not be rewarded by gold. So — Arrive at Cairo.-Battle of the Pyramids on 21st of that the assembly adopted the reasonable principle, Jully, in which the Mamnelhkes were comnpletely dethlat because the debt of gratitude was too great to feated anmd dispersed.-Cairo suerrenders. be paid in money, therefore he to whom it was due was to be suffered to remain in comparative indi- IT might have been thought, such was the success gence — an economical mode of calculation, and not of the French arms on the land, and, of the British unlike that high-sounding doctrine of the civil law, upon the sea, that the war must now be near its which states that a free man being seized on, and natural and unavoidable termination, like a fire when forcibly sold for a slave, shall obtain no damages on there no longer remain any combustibles to be dethat account, because the liberty of a citizen is too voured. Wherever water could bear them, the transcendently valuable to be put to estirnation. British vessels of war had swept the seas of the Whatever might be the motives of the Directory, enemy. The greater part of the foreign colonies whether they hoped that poverty might depress belonging to France and her allies, among whom Bonaparte's ambition, render him more dependent on she now numbered Holland and Spain, were in the the government, and oblige him to remain in a private possession of the English, nor had France a chance condition for want of means to put himself at the of recovering them. On the contrary, not a musket head of a party; or whether they acted with the was seen pointed against France on the Continent; indistinct and confused motives of little minds, who so that it seemed as if the great rival nations, fightwisih to injure those whom they fear, their conduct ing with different weapons and on different ele_~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~n wit ditrn eposado ifeetee 244 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. ments, must at length give up a contest, in which for pillaging Italy of her pictures and statues, and it was almost impossible to come to a decisive who looked, doubtless, to a new harvest of rarities struggle. in England, accepted, on the part of the army and An attempt accordingly was made, by the nego- general, the task imposed by the French rulers. tiation of Lille, to bring to a period the war, which " The government of England and the French Re appeared now to subsist entirely without an object. public cannot both continue to exist-you have Lord Malmesbury, on that occasion, gave in, on the given the word which shall fall-already our victopart of Britain, an offer to surrender all the conquests rious troops brandish their arms, and Scipio is at she had made from France and her allies, on condi- their head." tion of the cession of Trinidad, on the part of Spain, W\hile this farce, for such it proved, was acting and of the Cape of Good Hope, Cochin, and Ceylon,, in Paris, the chief of the intended enterprise arrived on the part of Holland, with some stipulations in there, and took up his abode in the same modest favour of the Prince of Orange and his adherents in house which he had occupied before becoming the the Netherlands. The French commissioners, in conqueror of palaces. The community of Paris, reply, declared, that their instructions required that with much elegance, paid their successful general the English should make a complete cession of their the compliment of changing the name of the street conquests, without any equivalent whatsoever; and from Rue Chantereine to Rue de la Victoire. they insisted, as indispensable preliminaries, that In a metropolis where all is welcome'that can the King of Great Britain should lay aside his titular vary the tedium of ordinary life, the arrival of any designation of King of France-that the Toulon fleet remarkable person is a species of holiday; but such shotld be restored-and that the English should an eminent character as Bonaparte-the conqueror renounce their right to certain mortgages over the -the sage-the politician-the undaunted braver Netherlands, for money lent to the emperor. Lord of every difficulty-the invincible victor in every Malmesbury, of course, rejected a sweeping set of battle, who had carried the banners of the Republic propositions, which decided every question against from Genoa till their approach scared the pontiff in England, even before the negotiation commenced, Rome and the emperor in Vienna, was no every-day and solicited the French to offer some modified form wonder. His youth, too, added to the marvel, and of treaty. The 18th Fructidor, however, had in the still more the claim of general superiority over the interim taken place, and the republican party, society in which lie mingled, though consisting of being in possession of complete authority, broke off the nmost distinguished persons in France-a supethe negotiation, if it could be called such, abruptly, riority cloaking itself with a species of reserve which and ordered the English ambassador out of the inferred, " You may look upon me, but you cannot dominions of the Republic with very little ceremony. penetrate or see through mie." Napoleon's general It was now proclaimed generally, that the existence manner in society, during this part of his life, has of the English Carthage in the neighbourhood of the been described by an observer of first-rate power; French Rome was altogether inadmissible; that according to whom, he was one for whom the admiEngland must be subdued once more, as in the ration which could not be refused to him was always times of William the Conqueror; and the hopes of mingled with a portion of fear. He was different a complete and final victory over their natural rival in his manner from other men, and neither pleased and enemy, as the two nations are but overapt to nor angry, kind nor severe, after the common fashion esteem each other, presented so flattering a prospect, of humianity. He appeared to live for the execution that there was scarce a party in France, not even of his own plans, and to consider others only in so amongst the royalists, which did not enter on what far as they were connected with and could advance was expected to prove the decisive contest, with the or oppose them. He estimated his fellow-mortals revival of all those feelings of bitter animosity that no otherwise than as they could be useful to his had distinguished past ages. views; and, with a precision of intelligence which Towards the end of October, 1797, the Directory seemed intuitive from its rapidity, he penetrated the announced that there should be instantly assembled sentiments of those whom it was worth his while to on the shores of the ocean an army, to be called the study. Bonaparte did not then possess the ordJnary Army of England, and that the Citizen General tone of light conversation in society; probably his Bonaparte was named to'the command. The intel- mind was too much burthened or too proud to stoop ligence was received in every part of France with to adopt that mode of pleasing; and there was a all the triumph which attends the anticipation of stiffness and reserve of manner, which was perhaps certain victory. The address of the Directory num- adopted for the purpose of keeping people at a disbered all the conquests which France had won, and tance. His look had the same character. When the efforts she had made, and prepared the French he thought himself closely observed, he had the nation to expect the fruit of so many victories and power of discharging from his countenance all exsacrifices when they had punished England for her pression, save that of a vague and indefinite smile, perfidy and maritime tyranny. " It is at London and presenting to the curious investigator the fixed where the misfortunes of all Europe are forged and eyes and rigid features of a bust of marble. manufactured-It is in London that they must be When he talked with the purpose of pleasing, terminated." In a solemn meeting held by the Bonaparte often told anecdotes of his life in a very Directory, for the purpose of receiving the treaty of pleasing manner; when silent, he had something peace with Austria, which was presented to them disdainful in the expression of his face; when disby Berthier and Monge on the part of Bonaparte, posed to be quite at ease, he was, in Madame de the latter, who had been one of the commissioners Stael's opinion, rather vulgar. His natural tone of LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 245 feeling seemed to be a sense of internal superiority, than the woman of literature. After his fall, Maand of secret contempt for the world in which he dame de Stael relented in her resentment to him; lived, the men wvith whom he acted, and even the and we remember her, during the campaign of 1814, very objects which he pursued. His character and presaging-in society how the walls of Troyes were manners were, upon the whole, strongly calculated to see a second invasion and defeat of the Huns, as to attract the attention of the French nation, and to had taken place in the days of Attila, while the excite a perpetual interest even from the very mys- French emperor was to enact the second Theocloric. tery which attached to him, as well as from the In the hmeantime, while popular feeling and the splendour of his triumphs. The supreme power was approbation of distinguished genius were thus seekresiding in the Luxembourg ostensibly; but Paris ing to pay court to the youthfll conqueror, the Diwas aware that the means which had raised, and rectory found themselves obliged to render to him which must support and extend, that power, were to that semblance of homage which could not have be found in the humble mansion of the newly-chris- been withheld without giving much offence to getened Rue de la Victoire. neral opinion, and injuring those who omitted to pay Some of these features are perhaps harshly de- it, much more than him who was entitled by the signed, as being drawn recentibus odiis. The dis- unanimous voice to receive it. On the 10th of Deagreement between Bonaparte and Madame de cember, the Directory received Bonaparte in public. Stael, from whom we have chiefly described them, with honours which the republican government had is well known. It originated about this time, when, not yet conferred on any subject, and which must as a first-rate woman of talent, she was naturally have seeneed incongruous to those who had any redesirous to attract the notice of the Victor of Victors. collection of the liberty and equality, once so emThey appear to have misunderstood each other; for phatically pronounced to be the talisman of French the lady, who ought certainly to know best, has in- prosperity. The ceremony took place in the great formed us, " that far from feeling her fear of Bona- court of the Luxembourg Palace, where the Direcparte removed by repeated meetings, it seemed to tory, surrounded by all that was officially important increase, and his best exertions to please could not or distinguished by talent, received fiom Bonaparte's overcome her invincible aversion for what she found hand the confirmed treaty of Campo Formio. The in his character." tHis ironical contempt of excel- delivery of this document was accompanied by a lence of every kind, operated like the sword in ro- speech from Bonaparte, in which le told the Dimance, which froze while it wounded. Bonaparte rectory, that, in order to establish a constitution seems never to have suspected the secret and mys- founded on reason, it was necessary that eighteen terious terror with which he impressed the in- centuries of prejudices should be conquered-" The genious author of Corinne; on the contrary, Las constitution of the year THREE, and you, have Cases tells us that she combined all her efforts, and triumphed over all these obstacles." The triumph all her means, to make an impression on the general. lasted exactly until the year EIGHT, when the orator She wrote to him when distant, and as the count un- himself overthrew the constitution, destroyed the gallantly expresses it, tormented him when present. power of the rulers who had overcome the prejuIn truth, to use an established French phrase, they dices of eighteen centuries, and reigned in their stood in a false position with respect to each other. stead. Madame de Stael ntight be pardoned for thinking The French, who had banished religion from their that it would be difficult to resist her wsit and her thoughts, and from their system of domestic policy, talent, when exerted with the purpose of pleasing; yet usually preserved some perverted ceremony but Bonaparte was disposed to repel, rather than connected with it, on public solemnities. They had encourage the advances of one whose views were disused the exercises of devotion, and expressly so shrewd, and her observation so keen, while her disowned the existence of an object of worship; yet sex permitted her to push her inquiries farther than they could not do without altars, and hymns, and one man might have dared to do in conversing with rites, upon such occasions as the present. The another. She certainly did desire to look into him general, conducted by Barras, the President of the " with considerate eyes," and on one occasion put Directory, approached an erection, termed the Altar his abilities to the proof, by asking him rather of the Country, where they went through various abruptly, in the middle of a brilliant party at Talley- appropriate ceremonies, and at length dismissed a rand's, " WVhom he esteemed the greatest woman numerous assembly, much edified with what they in the world, alive or dead?"-"Her, madam, that had seen. The two councils, or representative has borne the most children," answered Bonaparte, bodies, also gave a splendid banquet in honour of with much appearance of simplicity. Disconcerted Bonaparte. And whathe appeared to receive with by the reply, she observed, that he was reported more particular satisfaction than these marks of not to be a great admirer of the fair sex. "I am distinction, the Institute admitted him a member of very fond of my wife, madam," he replied, with its body in the room of his friend Carnot (who lwas one of those brief and yet piquant observations, actually a fugitive, and believed at the time to be which adjourned'a debate as promptly as one of his dead), while tile poet Chdnier promulgated hlis characteristic manouvres would have ended a battle. praises, and foretold his future triumphs, and his From this period there was enmity between Bona- approaching conquest of England. parte and Madame de Stael; anmd at different times There is nothing less philosophical than to attach he treated her with a harshness which had some ridicule to the customs of other nations, merely appearance of actual personal dislike, though per- because they differ from those of our own; yet it haps rattler dlimected against the femllale politician marks the difference between England and her conti 246 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. nental neighhoulr, that the two Houses of Parliament their eyes fixed on the fleets and armies destined never thought of giving a dinner to Marlborough, against the latter country, the Directory and their nor did the Royal Society chuse his successor in the general had no intention of using these preparations, path of victory a member by acclamation; although except as a blind to cover their real object, which the British nation in either case acquitted themselves was the celebrated expedition to Egypt. of the debt of gratitude which they owed their illus- While yet in Italy, Bonaparte had suggested to trious generals, in the humbler and more vulgar the Directory (13th September, 1797) the advantage mode of conferring on both large and princely do- which might be derived from seizing upon Malta, mains. which he represented as an easy prize. The knights, Meantime the threat of invasion was maintained he said, were odious to the Maltese inhabitants, and with unabated earnestness. But it made no impres- were almost starving; to augment which state of dission on the British, or rather it stimulated men of all tress, and increase that incapacity of defence, he ranks to bury temporary and party dissensions about had already confiscated their Italian property. He politics, and bend themselves, with the whole then proceeded to intimate, that being possessed of energy of their national character, to confront and Corfui and Malta, it was natural to take possession resist the preparations made against them. Their of Egypt. Twenty-five thousand men, with eight or determination was animated by recollections of their ten ships of the line, would be sufficient for the exown traditional gallantry, which had so often inflict- pedition, which lie suggested might depart from the ed the deepest wounds upon France, and was not coasts of Italy. now likely to give up to anything short of the most Talleyrand, then minister for foreign affairs (in his dire necessity. The benefits were then seen of a answer of 23d September), saw the utmost advernfree constitution, which permits the venom of party tage in the design upon Egypt, which, as a colony, spirit to evaporate in open debate. Those who had would attract the commerce of India to Europe, in differed on the question of peace or war were una- preference to the circuitous route by the Cape of nimous in that of national defence; and resistance to Good Hope. This correspondence proves that, even the common enemy, and those who appeared in the before Bonaparte left Italy, he had conceived the vulgar eye engaged in unappeasable contention, idea of the Egyptian expedition, though probably were the most eager to unite themselves together for only as one of the vast and vague schemes of ambithese purposes, as men employed in fencing would tion which success in so many perilous enterprises throw down the foils and draw their united swords, had tended to foster. There was something of' wild if disturbed by the approach of robbers. grandeur in the idea, calculated to please an ambiBonaparte in the meanwhile made a complete tious imagination. He was to be placed far beyond survey of the coast of' the British Channel, pausing at the reach of any command superior to his own, and each remarkable point, and making those remarks left at his own discretion to the extending conquests, and calculations which induced him to adopt at an and perhaps founding an empire, in a country long after period the renewal of the project for a descent considered as the cradle of knowledge, and celeupon England. The result of his observations de- brated in sacred and profane history as having been cided his opinion, that in the present case the under- the scene of ancient events and distant revolutions, taking ought to be abandoned. The immense prepa- which, through the remoteness of ages, possess a rations and violent threats of invasion were carried gloomy and mysterious effect on the fancy. The illto no more serious effect than the landing of about first specimens of early art also were to be found twelve or fourteen hundred Frenchmen, under a among the gigantic ruins of Egypt, and its tinieGeneral Tate, at Fishguard, in South Wales. They defying monuments of antiquity.'This had its effect were without artillery, and behaved rather like men upon Bonaparte, who affected so particularly the whom a shipwreck had cast on a hostile shore, than species of fame which attaches to the protector and like an invading enemy, as they gave themselves up extender of scieno e, philosophy, and the fine arts. as prisoners, without even a show of defence, to On this subject lie had a ready and willing counLord Cawdor, who had marched against them at the sellor at hand. AIonge, the artist and virtuoso, was head of a body of tile W;Telch militia, hastily drawn Bonaparte's confidant on this occasion, and, there is together on the alarm. The measure was probably no doubt, encouraged him to an undertaking which only to be considered as experimental, and as such promised a ric!h harvest to the antiqua-ian, amonlg must have been regarded as an entire failure.* the ruins of temples and palaces, hitherto imperfectly The demonstrations of invasion, however, were examined. ostensibly continued, and everything seemed ar- But although the subject was mentioned betwixt ranged on either side for a desperate collision be- the Directory and their mninisters and Bonaparte, twixt the two most powerful nations in Europe. yet, before adopting the course which the project But the proceedings of politicians resemble those opened, the general was probably determined to see of the Indian traders called Banians, who seem the issue of the revolution of the 18th Fructidor; engaged in talking about ordinary and trifling affairs, doubting, not unreasonably, whether the conquerors while, with their hands concealed beneath a shawl in that strugg'le could so ahr avail themselves of the that is. spread between them, they are secretly de- victory which they had obtained over the majority of bating and adjusting. by signs, bargains of the. utmost the national representatives, as to consolidate and importance. While all France and Eiglanld had establish on a fimin foundation their own authority. He knew the Directory themselves were popular * See Appendix, No. 2 — Descent of the French in South with none. Tile numerous party, who were now Wales, under General Tate." inclined to a monarchical goverument, regarded LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 247 them with horror. The army, though supporting had all high reputations, scarce inferior to his own; them rather than coalesce with the royalists, de- and the troops who had served under them were spised and disliked them; the violent republicans disposed to elevate them even to an equality with remembered their active share in Robespierre's the Conqueror of Italy. Bonaparte also knew that downfal, and the condemnations which followed his popularity, though great, was not universal. He thile detected conspiracy of Babocuf, and were in no was disliked by the middle classes, from recollecrespect better disposed to their domination. Thus tion of his commanding during the affair of the Secdespised by the army, dreaded by the royalists, and tions of Paris; and many of the republicans exdetested by the republicans, the directorial govern- claimed against him for his surrendering Venice to ment appeared to remain standing, only because the the Austrians. In a word, he was too much elbowfactions to whom it was unacceptable were afraid of ed and incommoded by others to permit his taking each other's attaining a superiority in the struggle with full vigour the perilous spring necessary to which must attend its downfal. place him in the seat of supreme authority, though This crisis of public affairs was a tempting op- there were not wanting those who would fain have portunity for such a character as Bonaparte, whose persuaded him to venture on a course so daring. almost incredible successes, unvaried by a single To such counsellors he answered, that "the fzuit reverse which deserved that name, naturally fixed was not ripe," —a hint which implied that appetite the eyes of the multitude, and indeed of the nation was not wanting, though prudence forbade the banat large, upon him, as upon one who seemed des- quet. tined to play the most distinguished part in any of Laying aside, therefore, the characr of General those new changes, which the mutable state of the of the Army of England, and adjourning to a future French government seemed rapidly preparing. day the conquest of that hostile island; silencing at The people, naturally plartial to a victor, followed the same time the internal wishes and the exterior him everywhere with acclaiantions, and his soldiers, temptations which urged him to seize the supreme in their camp-songs, spoke of pulling the attorneys power, which seemed escaping from those who held out of the seat of governlnent, and installing their it, Napoleon turned his eyes and thoughts eastward, victorious general. Even already, for the first time and meditated in the distant countries of the rising since the commencement of the Revolution, the sun, a scene worthy his talents, his military skill,'French, losing their recent habits of thinking and and -his ambition. speaking of the nation as a body, began to interest The Directory, on the other hand, eager to rid themselves in Napoleon as an individual; and that themselves of his perilous vicinity, lastened to acexclusive esteem of his person had already taken complish the means of his expedition to Egypt, upon 1r0ot in the. public mind, which afterwards formed a scale far more formidable than any which had yet the founcldation of his throne. sailed from modern Europe, for the invasion and I-et, in spite of these promising appearances, subjection of distant and peaceful realms. Napoleon, cautious as well as enterprising, saw that It was soon whispered abroad that the invasion tile time'was not arrived when he could, without of England was to be postponed, until the Conqueror great risk, attempt to possess himself of the supreme of Italy, having attained a great and national object, g,\vernment in France. The soldiers of Italy were by the success of a secret expedition fitted out on a indeed at his devotion, but there was another great scale of stupendous magnitude, should be at leisure not)d riv.al army belonging to the Republic, that of to resume the conquest of Britain. the Rlhine, which had never been under his coin- But Bonaparte did not limit his views to those of iadrlnd, never had partaken his triumphs, and which armed conquest; he meant that these should be natulrally looked rather to Moreau than to Bonaparte softened by mingling with them schemes of a liteas their general and hero. rary and scientific character, as if he had desired, Mladame de Stael describes the soldiers from as some one said, that Minerva should march at the these two arl-aies, as resembling each other in no- head of his expedition, holding in one hand her thing save the valour which was common to both. dreadful lance, and with the other introducing the The troops of the Rhine, returning from hard-fought sciences and the muses. The various treasures of fields, which, if followed by victory, had afforded art which had been transferred to the capital by the but little plunder, exhibited still the severe simpli- influence of his arms, gave the general of the Italian city which had been affected under the republican army a right to such distinctions as the French men model; whereas the Army of Italy had reaped richer of literature could confer; and lie was himself' posspoils than barren laurels alone, and made a display sessed of deep scientific knowledge as a mathemaof wealth and enjoynment which showed they had tician. He became apparently much attached to not neglected their own interest while advancing learned pursuits, and wore the uniform of the Instithe banners of France. tute on all occasions when lie was out of military It was not likely, while such an army as that of costume. This affectation of uniting the encouragethe Rhine existed, opposed by rivallry and the jea- ment of letters and science with his military tactics, lousy of fame to the troops of Bonaparte, that the led to a new and peculiar branch of the intended latter should have succeeded in placing himself at expedition. the head of affairs. Besides, the forces on which The public observed with astonishment a detachhe could depend were distant. Fortune had not ment of no less than one hundred men, who had afforded him the necessary pretext for crossing, as cultivated the arts and sciences, or, to use the he termed it, the Rubicon, and bringing twenty French phrase, savans, selected for the purpose of thousand rilen to Lyons. Moreau, Jourdan, K16ber, joining this mysterious expedition, of which the oh 248 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, ject still remained a secret; while all classes of no occasion to send her best general, and hazard people asked each other what new quarter of the her veteran army, for the purpose of seizing a disworld France had determined to colonize, since tant province, merely to facilitate her means of she seemed preparing at once to subdue it by her feeding her population. To erect that large counarms, and to enrich it with the treasures of her try into a French colony, would have required a science and literature. This singular department of drain of popuilation, of expense, and of supplies of the expedition, the first of the kind which ever ac- all sorts, which France, just recovering from the companied an invading army, was liberally supplied convulsion of her revolution, was by no means fit to with books, philosophical instruments, and all means encounter. The climate, too, is insalubrious to of prosecuting the several departments of know- strangers, and must have been a constant cause of ledge. loss, until, in process of time, the colonists had beBonaparte did not, however, trust to the supe- come habituated to its peculiarities. It is farther riority of science to insure the conquest of Egypt. to be considered, that the most perfect and absolute He was filly provided with more effectual means. success in the undertaking must have ended, not in The land forces belonging to the expedition were giving a province to the French Republic, but a of the most formidable description. Twenty-five separate and independent kingdom to her victorious thousand men, chiefly veterans selected from his and ambitious general. Bonaparte had paid but own Italian army, had in their list of generals subor- slight attention to the commands of the Directory dinate to Bonaparte the names of KI!ber, Desaix, when in Italy. Had he realized his proposed conBerthier, RWgnier, Murat, Lannes, Andrlossi, Me- quests in the East, they'would have been sent over non, Belliard, and others well known in the revo- the Mediterranean altogether in vain. lutiunary wars. Four hundred transports were as- Lastly, the state of war with England suljected sembled for the conveyance of the troops. Thirteen this attempt to add Egypt to the French dominions, ships of the line, and four frigates, commanded by to the risk of defeat, either by the naval strength of Admiral Brueis, an experienced and gallant officer, Britain interj osing between France and her new formed the escort of the expedition; a finer and possessions, or by her land forces fiom India and more formnidable one than which never sailed on so Europe, making a combined attack upon the French bold an adventure. army which occupied Egypt; both which events acVWe have already touched upon the secret objects tually came to pass. of this armament. The Directory were desirous to It is true, that, so far from dreading the English be rid of Bonaparte, who might become a dangerous forces which were likely to be employed against competitor in the present unsettled state of the them, the French regarded as a recommendation to French government. Bonaparte,. on his side, ac, the conquest of Egypt, that it was to be the first cepted the command, because it opened a scene of step to the destruction of the British power in India; conquest worthy of his ambition. A separate and and Napoleon continued to the last to consider the uncontroled command over so gallant an army conquest of Egypt as the forerunner of that of uniseemed to promise him the conquest and the sove- versal Asia. His eye, which, like that of the eagle, reignty, not of Egypt only, but of Syria, Turkey, saw far and wide, overlooking, however, obstacles, perhaps.Oonstantinople, the Queen of the East; and which distance rendered diminutive, beheld little he himself afterwards more than hinted, that but more necessary than the toilsome mar'ches of a few for controling circumstances, he would have bent weeks, to achieve the conquests of Alexander the his whole mind to the establishment of an oriental Great. He had already counted the steps by which dynasty, and left France to her own destinies. he was to ascend to oriental monarchy, and has When a subaltern officer of artillery, he had nou- laid before the world a singular reverie on the prorished the hope of being King of Jerusalem. In his babilities of success. "If' St-Jean d'Acre had yieldpresent situation of dignity and strength, the sove- ed to the French arms," said lie, "'a great revoluvereignty of an Emperor of the universal East, or tion would have been accomplished in the East; the of a Caliph of Egypt at the least, was a more con- general-in-chief would have founded an empire mensurate object of ambition. there, and the destinies of France would have underThe private motives of the government and of the gone different conmbinations from those to which they general are therefore easily estimated. But it is were subjected." not go easy to justify the Egyptian expedition upon In this declaration we recognize one of the pecuany views of sound national policy. On the con- liarities of Bonaparte's disposition, which refuise(d trary, the object to be gained by so much risk, and to allow of any difficulties or dangers save those, of at the same time by an act of aggression upon the which, having actually happened, the existence Ottoman Porte, the ancient ally of France, to whom could not be disputed. The small British force beEgypt belonged, was of very doubtful utility. The fore Acre was sufficient to destroy his whole plans immense fertility of the alluvial provinces irrigated of conquest; but how many other means of destrucby thle Nile, no doubt renders their sovereignty a tion might Providence have employed for the same matter of great consequence to the Tur&ish empire, purpose! The plague-the desert-mutiny among which, firom the oppressed state of their agriculture his soldiers-courage and enterprise, inspired, by everywhere, and from the rocky and barren cha- favourable circumstances into the tribes by whom ra.cter of their Grecian provinces, are not in a eon- his progress was opposed-the computation of these, dition to suplly the capital with grain, did they not and other chances, ought to have taught him to dIraw it fioml that never-failing land. But France acknowledge, that he had not been discomfited by hersel, fulli!y slupplied from her own resources, had the only hazard which could have disconcerted his LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 249 enterprise; hut that, had such been the will of God, dispatch him to Rastadt, where the congress was the sands of Syria might have proved as fatal as the still sitting, with full powers to adjustthe difference. snows of Russia, and the scimitars of the Turks as Bonaparte accepted the commission, and while he the lances of the Cossacks. In words, a march affected to deplore the delay or miscarriage of " the from Egypt to India is easily described, and still greatest enterprise which he had ever meditated," more easily measured off with compasses upon the wrote in secret to Count Cobentzel, now minister of map of the world. But in practice, and with an foreign affairs at Vienna, inviting him to a conarmy opposed as the French would probably have ference at Rastadt, and hinting at political changes, been at every step, if it had been only from mo- by which the difficulties attending the execution of tives of religious antipathy, when the French ge- the treaty of Campo Formio might be taken away. neral arrived at the skirts of British India, with The tenor of this letter having become known to forces thus diminished, he would have had in front the Directory, and it appearing to them that Bonathe whole British army, commanded by generals parte designed to make that mission a pretext for accustomed to make war upon a scale almost as interesting Cobentzel in some change of government enlarged as he himself practised, and accustomed to in France, in which he deemed it ad isable to obvictories not less decisive. tain the concurrence of Austria, they instantly reWe should fall into the same error which we solved, it is said, to compel himn to set sail on the censure, did we anticipate what might have been expedition to Egypt. Barras, charged with the comthe result of such a meeting. Even while we claim mission of notifying to the general this second alterthe probability of advantage for the army most nu- ation of his destination, had an interview with Bomerous, and best provided with guns and stores, naparte in private, and at his own house. The mien we allow the strife must have been dreadful and of the director was clouded, and, contrary to his dubious. But if Napoleon really thought he had custom, lie scarcely spoke to Madame Bonaparte. only to show himself in India, to insure the de- When he retired, Bonaparte shut himself up in struiction. of the British empire there, he had not cal- his own apartment for a short time, then gave direcculated the opposing strength with the caution to tions for his instant departure from Paris for Toulon. have been expected from so great a general. He These particulars are given as certain by Miot;* has been represented, indeed, as boasting of the but he alleges no authority for this piece of secret additions which he would have made to his army, history. There seems, however, little doubt, that by the co-operation of natives trained after the French the command of the Egyptian expedition was bediscipline. But can it be supposed that these hasty stowed on Bonaparte by the Directory as a species levies could be brought into such complete order as of ostracism, or honourable banishment from France. to face the native troops of British India, so long At the moment of departure, Bonaparte made one and so justly distingulished for approaching Euro- of those singular harangues, which evince such a peans in courage and discipline, and excelling them mixture of talent and energy with bad taste and perhaps in temperance and subordination? bombast. He promised to introduce those who had In a word, the Egyptian expedition, unless con- warred on the mountains and in tile plains, to marisidered with reference to the private views of the time combat; and to a great part of the expedition Directory, and of their general, must have been he kept his word too truly, as Aboukir cauld witregarded from the beginning, as promising no results ness. He reminded them that the Romans combated in the slightest degree worthy of the great risk in- Carthage by sea as well as land-he proposed to culred, by draining France of' the flower of her conduct them, in the name of the Goddess of Liarmy. berty, to the most distant regions and oceans, and Meanwhile, the moment of departure approached. he concluded by promising to each individual of his The blockading squadron, commianded by Nelson, army seven acres of land. Whether this distribution was blown off the coast by a gale of' wind, and so of property was to take place on the banks of the mucih damaged that they were obliged to run down Nile, of the Bosphorus, or the Ganges, the soldiers to Sardinia. The first and most obvious obstacle to had not the most distant guess, and the commanderthe expedition was thus removed. The various in-chief himself would have had difficulty in informsquadrons fronm Genoa, Civita Vecchia, and Bastia, ing them. set sail and united with that which already lay at On the 19th of May, 1798, this magnificent arToulon. manient set sail from Toulon, illuminated by a splenYet it is said, though. upon slender authority, did sunrise, one of those which were afterwards that even at this latest moment Bonaparte showed popularly termed the suns of' Napoleon. The linesonie inclination to abandon the command of so of-battle ships extended for a league, and the seniidoubtful and almost desperate an expedition, and circle forned by the convoy was at least six leagues wished to take the advantage of a recent dispute in extent. They were joined on the 8'h June, as they between France and Austria, to remain in Europe. swept along the Mediterranean, by a large fleet of The misunderstanding arose from the conduct of transports, having on board the division of General Bernladotte, amnbassador for the Republic at Vienna, Desaix. who incautiously displayed the national colours be- The 10th June brought the armament before Malta, fore his hotel, in conlsequence of which a popular once the citadel of Christendom, and garrisoned by turnult arose, and the ambassador was insulted. those intrepid knights, who, half warriors and half In their first alarm, lest this incident should occasion a renevwal of the war, the Directory hastily * Memoires polar servir d l'Histoire des Expeditions en determined to suspend Bonaparte's departure, and Bgypte et en,Syrie: llntroduction, p. xx. VOL. VI. t32 ) 5 0 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. priests, opposed the infidels with the enthusiasm at the westward, although the haze prevented the once of religion and of chivalry. But those by English from observing their enemy, whose squadron whom the Order was now maintained were dis- held an opposite direction. united aniong themselves, lazy and debauched vo- Escaped firom the risk of an encounter so perilous, luptuaries, who consumed the revenues destined to Bonaparte's greatest danger seemled to be over on fit out expeditions again.st the Turks in cruizes for the 29th June, when the French fleet camle in sight pleasure, not war, and giving balls and entertain- of Alexandria, and saw befole them the city of the ments in the seaports of' Italy. Bonaparte treated Ptolernies and of Cleopatra, with its double harbour, these degenerate knights \with a want of ceremony, its Pharos, and its ancient and gigantic monlrments which, however little it accorded with the extreme of grandeur. Yet at this critical moment, and wvhile strength of their island, and with the glorious de- Bonaparte contemplated his meditated conquest, a fence which it had fobrmlerly made against the infi- signal announced the appearance of' a strange sail, dels, was perfectly suited to their present condition. which was construed to be an English fiigate, the Secure of a party anong the French knights, with precursor of the British fleet. "WAhat! " said whom he had-been tampering, he landed troops, and Napoleon, " I ask but six hours, —and, Fortune, took possession of these almost imipregnable for- wvilt thou abandon mle? " T'he fickle goddess was tresses with so little opposition, that Calbarelli said then, and for many a succeeding year, true to her to Napoleon, as they passed through thle most for- votary. The vessel proved fiiendly. mnidable defences,-" It is well, general, that there The disembarkation of the French arnly took was some one within to open the gates to us. WVe place about a league and a half firomi Alexandria, at should have had more trouble in entering, if the an anchorage called Marabout. It was rlot acplace had been altogether empty." complished without losing boats and Dnen on tile A sufficient garrison was established in Malta, surf, though such risks were encountered with great destined by Bonaparte to be an intermnediate station joy by the troops, who had been so long confined on between France and Egypt; and on the 19th, the shipboard. As soon as five or six thousand len daring general resumed his expedition. On tile were landed, Bonaparte marched towards Alexcoast of Candia, while the savans were gazing on andria, when the Turks, incensed at this hostile the rocks where Jupiter, it is said, was nurtured, invasion on the part of a nation with whoml they and speculating concerning the existence of some were at profound peace, shut tile gates, and ilanned vestiges of the celebrated labyrinth, Bonaparte the walls against their reception. Burt tile walls learned that a new enemy, of a different description were ruinous, and presented breaches ill iany firol the Knights of St John, were in his inlmmediate places, and the chief weapons of resistance were vicinity. This was the English squadron. musketry and stones. The conquerors of' Italy Nelson, to the end as unconquerable on his own forced their passage over such obstacles, but not element as Bonaparte had hitherto shown himself easily or with impunity. Two hulndred French upon shore, was now in frill and anxious putrsiiit of were killed. There was severe inilitary execution his renowned contemporary. Reinforced by a done upon the garrison, and the town was abandonsquadron of ten ships of the line, a meeting with ed to plunder for three hours; which has been Napoleon was the utmost wish of his heart, and justly stigmatized as an act of unnecessary cruelty, was echoed back by the meanest sailor on board perpetrated only to strike terror, and extend the his numerous fleet. The French had been heard of fame of the victorious French general. But it was at Malta, but as the British admiral was about to Napoleon's object to impress the highest idea of' his proceed thither, he received news of their depar- power upon the various classes of natives, who, ture; and concluding that Egypt must be unques- ditffering widely from each other in mianners aid tionably the object of their expedition, he made sail condition, inhabit Egypt as their coimmoni homne. for Egypt. It singularly happened, that although These classes are, first, thie Arab race, dividecd Nelson anticipated the arrival of tile French at into Fellahs and Bedouins, tihe most nurlnerouls and Alexandria, and accordingly directed his course least esteemed of the population. Thle Bedouins, thither, yet, keeping a more direct path than Brneis, retaining the manners of Arabia Proper, rove when he arrived there on the 28th June, he heard through the Desert, and subsist by Imeans of' their nothing of the enemy, who, in the meanwhile, were flocks and herds. The Fellahs clrltivate tile earth, proceeding to the very same port. The English ad- and are the ordinary peasants of the country. miral set sail, therefore, for Rhodes and Syracuse; The class next above the Arabs in consideration and thus were tile two large and hostile fleets tra- are thie Copts, supposed to be descended fromll the versing the same narrow sea, without being able to pristine Egyptians. They profess christianity, are attain any certain tidings of each other's movements. timnid and unwarlike, burt artfill and supple.'Th'ley This was in part owing to the English admiral hav- are employed in the revenue, and in almost all civil ing no frigates with him, which mighlt have been offices, and transact the coiirmmerce and the business detached to cruize for intelligence; partly to a con- of the country. tinuance of thick unisty weather, whichi at once The third class in elevation Awere the formidable concealed the French fleet fromi their adversaries, Mamelukes, who held both Copts and Arabs in proand, obliging them to keep close together, dirninish- found subjection. These are, or we may say wiere, ed the chance of discovery, wxhicrh nmight otherwise a corps of professed soldiers, having no trrade excepthave taken place by the occupation of a larger inrg war. In this they resemble the Janissaries, the spaoe. On the 23thl, accordlingl to Denon, Nelson's fleet rwas actually seen by tile I re nch stlandilg to * Miot saysjfve days. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 251 Strelitzes, the Pretorian bands, or similar military " Glory to tile sultaln, and to the French army, his bodies, which, constituting a standing army under a allies! Accursed be the Alamelukes-and good fordespotic government, are alternately tile protectors tune to the land of Egypt!" and the terror of the sovereign who is their nominal Upon the 7th July the army marched from Alexancommander. But the peculiar feature of the consti- dria against the Mamelukes. Their course was up tution of the Mamelukes was that their corps was the Nile, and a small flotilla of gun-boats ascended recruited only by the adoption of foreign slaves, the river to protect their left flank, while the infanparticularly Georgians and Circassians. These were try traversed a desert of burning sands, at a distance purchased when childrln by the several beys or fiona the stream, and without a drop of' water to reMameluke leaders, who, twenty-fobur in number, oc- lieve their tormenting thirst. The Army of Italy, cupied each one of the twenty-four departments accustomed to the enjoyments of that delicious into which they had divided Egypt. The youthful country, were astonished at the desolation they saw slave, purchased with a heedful reference to his around them. " Is this," they said, "the country in strength and personal appearance, was carefully which we are to receive our farms of seven acres trained to arms in the family of his master. When each? The general might have allowed us to take created a Mameluke, he was received into the troop as much as we chose-no one would have abused of the bey, and rendered capable of succeeding to the privilege." Their officers, too, expressed holrhim at his death; for these chiefs despised the or- ror and disgust; and even generals of such celebrity dinary connexions of blood, and their authority was, as Murat and Lannes threw their hats on the sand, upon military principles, transferred at their death and trod on their cockades. It required all Bonato him amongst the band who was accounted the parte's authority to maintain order, so much were best soldier. They fought always on horseback; the French disgusted with the commencement of and in their peculiar mode of warialre they might be the expedition. termed, individually considered, the finest cavalry To add to their embarrassment, the enemy began in the world. Completely armted, and unboundedly to appear around thenm. Mamelukes and Arabs, confident in their own prowess, they were intrepid, concealed behind the hillocks of sand, interrupted skilful, and formidable in battle, but with their their march at every opportunity, and woe to the military bravery began and ended thle catalogue of soldier who straggled from the ranks, were it biut their virtues. Their vices were, unpitying cruelty, fifty yards. Some of these horsemen were sure to habitual oppression, and the unlimited exercise of dash at him, slay him on the spot, and make off tile most gross and disgusting sensuality. Such before a musket could be discharged at them. At were the actual lords of Egypt. length, however, the audacity of' these incursions Yet the right of sovereignty did not rest with the was checked by a skirmish of some little itnlporbeys, but with the pacha, or lieutenant-a great tance, near a place called Chebrheis, in which the officer dispatched from the Porte to represent the French asserted their military superiority. Grand Seignor in Egypt, where it was his duty to An encounter also took place on the river, becollect the tribute in money and grain which Con- tween the French flotilla and a number of atined stantinople expected from that rich province, with vessels belonging to the Mameltikes. Victory first the additional object of squeezing out of the country inclined to the latter, but at length determined in as much imore as he could by any means secure, favour of the French, who took, however, only a for the filling of his own coffers.'The pacha mtain- single galliot. tained his authority sometimes by the assistance of Meanwhile, the French were obliged to march Turkish troops, sometimes by exciting the jealousy with the utmost precaution. The whole plain was of one bey againist another. Thus this fertile coon- now covered with Mamelukes, mounted on the finest try was subjected to the oppression of twenty-four Arabian horses, and armed with pistols, carabines, proetors, who, whether they agreed atnong them- and blunderbusses. of the best English workmansilip selves, or with the pacha, or declared war against — their plumed turbans waving in the air, and thie representative of the sultan, and against each their rich dresses and arms glittering in thile sin. other, were alike the terror and the scourge of the Entertaining a high contempt fol the French force, unhappy Arabs and Copts, the right of oppressing as consisting allltost entirely of infantry, this splendid wvhom by every species of exaction, these haughty barbaric chivalry watched every opportunity for slaves regarded as their noblest and most undeniable charging them, nor did a single straggler escape thi privilege. unrelenting edge of their sabres.'ITtleir charge was From the moment that Bonaparte conceived the alnost as swift as the wind, and as their severe bits idea of invading Egypt, the destruction of the power enabled them to halt, or wheel their horses at full of the Mamelukes must have been determined upon gallop, their retreat was as rapid as their advance. as his first object; and he had no sooner taken Even the practised veterans of Italy were at first Alexandria than lie announced his purpose. He embarrassed by this new mode of fighting, and lost sent forth a proclamation, in which he professed his several men; especially when fatigue caused any respect for God, tile Prophet, and the Koran-his one to fall out of the ranks, in which case his fate friendship for the Sublitme Porte, of which he affirm- became certain. But they wore soon reconciled to ed the Frelnch to be the faithfil allies-and his de- fighting the Mameluikes, wuen they discovered that termination to make war upon the Mameltikes. He each of these horsemen carried about him his forcuitmmtandedt that the prayers should be continued in tune, and that it not uncommonly atnounted to contm;e umosques as usual, with some slight modifica- siderable sums in gold. tions, and that all true moslems should exclaim- During these alarms, the French love of the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. ludicrous was not abated by the fatigues or dangers paid their audacity. Nothing in war was ever seen of thejourney. The savans had been supplied with more desperate than the exertions of the Marneasses, the beasts of burden easiest attained in Egypt, lukes. Failing to force their horses through the to transport their persons and philosophical appara- French squares, individuals were seen to wheel tus, The general had given orders to attend to them round and rein them back on the ranks, that their personal safety, which were of course obeyed. they might disorder them by kicking. As they beBut as these civilians had little importance in the came frantic with despair, they hurled at the imtmoveyes of the military, loud shouts of laughter used to able phalanxes, which they could not break, their burst from the ranks, -while formiing to receive the pistols, their poniards, and their carabines. Those Manmelakes, as the general of division called out, who fell wounded to the ground dragged themselves with military precision, "' Let the asses and the sa- on, to cut at the legs of the French with their crookvans enter within the square." The soldiers also ed sabres. But their efforts were all in;ain. marnsed themselves, by calling the asses demi-savans. The Mamelukes, after the most courageous efforts In times of discontent, these unlucky servants of to accomplish their purpose, were finally beaten off science had their full share of the soldiers' re- with great slaughter; and, as they could not form proaches, who imagined that this unpopular expedi- or act in squadron, their retreat became a confused tion had been undertaken to gratify their passion flight. The greater part attempted to return to their for researches, in which the military took very camp, frorn that -)ilt of instinct, as Napoleon termed slender interest. it, which leads fuigitives to retire in the same direction.Under such circumstances, it may be doubted in which they had advanced. By taking this route whether even the literati themselves were greatly they placed themselves betwixt the French and the,delighted, when, after fourteen days of such marches Nile, and the sustained and insupportable fire of the as we have described, they arrived'in(leed within former soon obliged them to plunge into the river, in six leagues of Cairo, and beheld at a distance the hopes to escape by swimming to the opposite bank, celebrated Pyramids, but learned at the same time, a desperate'etffort in which few succeeded. Their that Murad Bey, with twenty-two of his brethren, infantry at the same time evacuated their camp at the head of their Miamelukes, had formed an en- without a show of resistance, precipitated themntrenched camp at a place called Embabeh, with tle selves into the boats, and endeav ored to cross the purpose of covering Cairo, and giving battle to the Nile. Very many of these also were destroyed. French. On the 21st of July, as the French con- The French soldiers long afterwards occupied themtinued to advance, they saw their enemy in the field, selves in fishing for the drowned Mamelukes, and and in full force. A splendid line of cavalry, under i:iled not to find money and valuables upon all Murad and the other beys, displayed the whole whom they could recover. Murad Bey, with a part strength of the Mamelukes. Their right rested on of his best Mamelukes, escaped the slaughter by a the imperfectly entrenched camp, in which lay more regular movement to the left, and retreated by twenty thousand infantry, defended by forty pieces Gizeh into Upper Egypt. of cannon. But the infantry were an undisciplined Thus were in a great measure destroyed the finest rabble; the guns, wanting carriages, were niounted cavalry, considered as individual horsemen, that on clumnsy wooden frames; and the fortifications of were ever known to exist.. "Could I have united the camp were but commenced, and presented no the Mameluke horse to the French infantry," said folrmidable opposition. Bonaparte made his dispo- Bonaparte, "I would have reckoned myself nmaster sitions. lie extended his line to the right, in such of the world." The destruction of a body hitherto a manner as to keep out of gunshot of the en- regarded as invincible, struck terror, not through trenched camp, and have only to encounter the line Egypt only, but far into Africa and Asia, wherever of cavalry. the moslem religion prevailed; and the rolling file Murad Bey saw this movement, and, fully aware of musketry, by which the victory wcas achieved, of its consequence, prepared to charge with his procured for Bonaparte the oriental appellation of magnificent body of horse, declaling he would cut Sultan Kebir, or King of Fire. the French up like gourds. Bonaparte, as he di- After this combat, which, to render it more strikrected the infantry to form squares to receive them, ing to the Parisians, Bonaparte termled the "Battle called out to his men, " From yonder Pyramids of the Pyramids," Cairo surrendered without resistfo;ty centuries behold your actions." The Marle- ance. The shattered remains of the Mamlelukes lukes advanced with the utmost speed, and corre-, ho had swam the Nile and united under Ibtrahirn sponding fury, and charged with horrible yells. They Bey, were compelled to retreat into Syria. A party.disordered one of the French squares of infantry, of three hundred French cavalry ventured to attack lhichl would have been sabred in an instant, but them at Salahieh, but were severely handled by that the mass of this fiery militia was a little behind Ibrahim Bey. and his followers, who, having cut the advanced guard. The French had a moment to many ofthemrn to pieces, pursued their retreat without restore order, and used it. The combat then in farther interruption. Lower Egypt was completely some degree resembled that which, nearly twenty in the hands of the French, and thus far the expediyears afterwards, took place at WVatelloo; the h(s- tion of Bonaparte had been perfectly successfil. tile cavalry thriously charging the squares of infan- But it was not the will of Heaven, that even the Itrv, and trying, by the most undaunted efforts of most fortunate of mnen should escape reverses, and comrage, to break in upon them at every praclicable a severe one awaited Napoleon. point, while a tremendous fire of musketry, grapeshot, and shells, crossing in various directions, re LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, V5 q and the incalcullable force afforded to the lancd CHAPTER XXXI. army by the presence of the squadron, the admiral thought it was his duty not to quit these seas." French naval squadron-Conflicting statements of Bonn- Looking at the matter more closely-considering parte and Admiral Gantheaume in regard to it.-Battle the probability of Nelson's retlln, and the corseof Aboukir on 1st August, 1795-Number and position tf quent danger of the fleet-considering, too, the the enemy, and of the English-Particulars of the action. especial interest which naval and military officers -The French admiral, Braceis, killed, anrd his ship, attach each to their peculiar service, and the relative l'Orient. blown up-The victory conmplete, two only of disregard with which they contemplate the other, the French fleet, and twoafrigates, escaping on the morn- we can see several reasons why Bonaparte might ing of the 2d.-Effects of this disaster on the French have wished, even at some risk, to detain the fleet army.-Means by which Napoleon proposed to establish the coast of Egypt, bnt not one wlic collld llhimself inL Egypt.-IHis aclitListration in! mlany respects duce Bru1eis to continue there, not only without the useful and praiseworthy-in others, his conduct impo-.'. sefl and praiseworty-i others, is condc ip- consent of thle commander-in-clhief, but, as Napoleonr litic and absurd.-He desires to be regarded an envoy aferwards alleed, agiinst his express orers. X t of the Deity, but withouct success.-His endeavours afterwards alleged, against his express orders. It of the Deity, bat wcithout success. —lis endeavoltrs equally ensuccessfl to propitiate the Porte.-The IFort is one of the cases in which no degree of liberality of El Arish falls into his hands.-MAassacre of raga.- can enable us to receive the testimony of Bonaparte, Admnitted by Bonaparte himself-His arguntents int its contradicted at once by circumstances, and by the defence-Replies to them-General conclusions.-Plague positive testimony of Gantheamne. breaks out in the Frentch army-Napoleon's hunmanity We now approach one of the most brilliant acand courage upon this occasion-Proceeds against Acre tions of the English navy, achieved by the admiral to attack Djezzar Pacha.-Sir Sydney Smith —His cha- whose exploits so indisputably asserted the right of racter-Captures a French convoy, and throws him- Britain to the dominion of the ocean. Our limits self into Acre.-Frenchi arrive before Acre own 17th require that we should state but briefly a tale, at March, 1799, and effect a breach on the 28th, buit are which every heart in our islands will long glow; driven back-Assaulted by an Armty of Moslems bf va- ncd we are the more willingly cocise that our rious nations assembled without the walls of Acre, whom they defeat and disperse.-Interesting particulars readers possess it at lelgth in one of' the bestof the siege.-Personal misnlderstanding and hostility written popular histories in the English language.4 betwixt Napoleon anttl Sir Sydnley Smith-explained Although unable to enter the harboulr of Alexanand accounted for. —Bonalparte is finally compelled to dria, the French admiral believed his squadron raise the siege and retreat, safely moored in tile celebrated Bay of Aboukir. They fornied a compact line of battle, of a selmiWMVEN Bonaparte and his army were safely land- circular form, anchored so close to the shoal-water ed in Egypt, policy seemed to demand that the and surf, that it was thought impossible to get benaval squladron by which they had been escorted tween them and the land; and they concluded, thereshould have been sent back to France as soon as fore, that they could be brought to action on the possible. The French leader accordingly repeatedly starboard side only. On the ist Amugst the Briasserts, that he had positively commanded Admiral tish fleet appeared; and Nelson had no sooner reBrueis, an excellent officer, for whom he himself connoitred the French position than he resolved to entertained particular respect,* either to carry his force it at every risk. Where the French ships squadron of Inen-of-war into the harbour of Alex- could ride, lie argued, with instantaneous decision, andria, or, that being found inipossible, instantly to there must be room for English vessels to anchor set sail for Corfil. The harbour, by report of the between them and the shore. He mnde signal fbr Turkish pilots, was greatly too shallow to admit attack accordingly. As the vessels approached the without danger vessels of such a deep draught of French anchorage, they received a heavy and raking water; and it scarce can be questioned that Admiral fire, to which they could make no return; but they Brueis would have embraced the alternative of set- kept their bows to tile enemy, and continued to near ting sail for Corfu, had such been in reality per- their line. The squadrons were nearly of the same mitted by his orders. But the assertion of Bona- numerical strength. Tile French had thirteen ships parte is pointedly contradicted by the report of of the line and four fiigates. The English thirteen Vice-Admiral Gantheaume, who was himself in the ships of the line, and one 50 gun shiji. Bitt the battle of Aboukir, es.aped from the slaughter with French had three 80 gull ships, and l'Olient, a difficulty, and was intrusted by Bonaparte with superb vessel of 120 guns. All the British were drawing up the account of the disaster, vwhich he seventy-fours. The van ofthe English fleet, six in transmitted to the minister of war. "Perhaps it number, rounded successively the French line, and,. may be said," so the dispatch bears, " that it would dropping anchor betwixt them and the shore, openhave been advisable to have quitted the coast as ed a tremendous fire. Nelson himself and his other soon as the disembarkation had taken place. But vessels, ranged along the same French ships on the considering the orders of the commaender-in-chief, outer side, and thus placed them betwixt two fir.ss; while the rest of the French line remained for a' In a letter published in the Moniteur, No. 90, an 6, time unable to take a shale in the combat. The Bonaparte expresses the highest sense of Admiral Brueis' firmness and talent, as well as of the high order in which he kept the squadron under his command; and concludes * Mr Southey's " Life of Admiral Nelson; in which one by saying, he had bestowed on him, in the name of the Di- of the most distinguished men of genius and learning whoms rectory, a spy-glass of the best construction which Italy our' age has produced has recorded the actions of the greatafforded. est naval hero that ever existed. 154. LIFE OF NAPOLEON xBONA LPARTE. batttle cornnlenced with the utmost fury, and lasted thority. The Fellahs, or peasantry, sure to be 611, tile sun having set and the night fallen, there squeezed to the last penny by one party or other, was no light by which the combat could be con- willingly submitted to the invaders as the strongest, tinued, save the flashes of the continuous broad- and the most able to protect them. The Copts, or sides. Already, however, some of the French ves- mien of business, were equally ready to serve the sels were taken, and the victors, advancing onwards, party which wvas in possession of the country. So assailed those which had not yet been engaged. that the French became the masters of both, as a ZMeantime a broad and dreadful light was thrown natural consequence of the power which they had on the scene of action, by the breaking out of a obtained. conflagration on board the French admniral's flag- But the Turks were to be attached to the conship, l'Orient. Brueis himself had by this timhe queror by other means, since their haughty national fallen by a cannon-shot. The flamrres soon mas- character, and the intolerance of the mahotnmedan tered the immense vessel, where the carnage was religion, rendered them alike inaccessible to profit, so terrible as to prevent all attempts to extinguish the hope of which swayed the Copts, and to fear, thell; and l'Orient remained blazing like a volcano which was the prevailing argument with the Fellahs. in the middle of the combat, rendering for a time To gratify their vanity, and soothe their fprejudices, the dreadful spectacle visible. seemed the only mode by which Napoleon could At length, and while the battle continued as fu- insinnate himself into the favour of this part of the rious as ever, the burning vessel blew up with so population. With this view, Bonaparte was far tremendous an explosion, that for a while it silenced from assuming a title of conquest in Egypt, though the fire on both sides, and made an awful pause in he left few of its rights unexercised. On the conthe midst of what had been but lately so horrible a trary, he wisely continued to admit the pacha to tumult. The cannonade was at first slowly and that ostensible share of authority which was yielded partially resumed, but ere midnight it raged with to him by the beys, and spoke with as much seeming all its original fury. In the morning the only two respect of the Sublime Porte, as if it had been his French ships who had their colours flying, cut their intention ever again to permit their having any cables and put to sea, accompanied by two frigates; effective power in Egypt. Their imaums, or priests; being all that remained undestroyed and uncaptured, their ulemats, or nler of' law: their cadis, or judges; of the gallant navy that so lately escorted Bona- their sheiks, or chiefs; their janissaries, or privileged parte and his fortunes in triumph across the Medi- soldiers, wvere all treated by Napoleon with a certain terranean. degree of attention, and the Sultan Kebir, as they Such was the victory of Abonkir, for which ie, called him, affected to govern, like the Grand Seiwho achieved it felt that word was inadequate. He gntor, by the intervention of a divan. called it a conquest. The advantages of the day, This general council consisted of about forty lgreat as they were, might have been pushed much sheiks or moslenims of distinction by birth or office, farther, if Nelson hadl been possessed of frigates who held their regular meetings at Cairo, and from and small craft. The store-ships and transports in which hotly emanated tile authority of' provincial the harbour of Alexandria would then have been divans, established in the various departments of anfallibly destroyed. As it was, tile results were of Egypt. Napoleon affected to consult the superior the utmost importance, and the destinies of the council, and act in niany cases according to their French army were altered in proportion. They had report of the lalw of the Prophet. Onl one occasion, no longer any means of communicating with the he gave them a rnoral lesson which it would be mother-country, but became the inhabitants of an great injustice to suppress. A tribe of roving Arabs insulated province, obliged to rely exclusively on had slain a peasant, and Bonaparte had given direc. tihe resources whith they had brought with them, tions to search out and punish tile murderers. One Bonaparte, however surprised hiy this reverse, the general manifested on so slight a caurse. exhibited great equanimity. Three thousand French " WVhat have you to do with the death of this seamen, the remainder of nearly six thousand en- Fellah, Sultan Kebir?" said he, ironically; "was he gaged in that dreadful battle, were sent ashore by 3our kinsman?" cartel, and formed a valuable addition to his forces. "lie was more," said Napoleon; " he was one Nelson, more grieved almost at being firustrated of fcr whose safety I am accolntable to God, who hlis complete purpose, than rejoiced at hiis victory, placed hirm utinder lily government." left the coast, after establishing a blockade on tihe "He speaks like an inspired person!" exclaimed port of Alexandria. the sheiks; who call admire the beauty of a just We are now to trace the means by which Napo- sentiment, though incapable, filom tile scope they leon proposed to establish and consolidate his go- allow their passions, to act up to the precepts of vernment in Egypt; and in these we can recognize moral rectitude. I much that was good and excellent, mixed with such Thus far the conduct of Bonaparte was admirable. irregularity of imagination, as vindicates the term of He protected the people who were placed under Jupiter Scapin, by which the Abbl de Pradt distin- his power, he respected their religious opinions, he guished this extraordinary man. administered justice to them according to their own His first care was to gather up the reins of govern- laws, until they should be supplied with a better ment, such as they were, which had dropt from the system of legislation. Unquestionably, his good adhrandls of the defeated beys. With two classes of ministration did not amend the radical deficiency of the Egyptian nation it was easy to establish his au- his title; it was still chargeable against hiti that lihe LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. z5 had invaded the dominions of the most ancient ally a deserter from the standard of his country; and of France, at a time when there was the most pro- though the services of either may be accepted and found peace between the countries. Yet in deliver- used, they remain objects of disregard and contempt, ing Egypt from the tyrannical sway of the Mame- as well with those to whose service they have delukes, and administering the government of the serted, as with the party whom they have abandoned. country with wisdom and comparative humanity, The Turks and Arabs of Cairo soon afterwards the mode in which he used the power which he had showed Bonaparte, by a general and unexpected acquired might be admitted in some measure to insurrection in which many Frenchmen were slain, atone for his usurpation. Not contented with direct- how little they were moved by his pretended attaching his soldiers to hold in respect the religious ob- ment to their faith, and how cordially they consiservances of the country, he showed equal justice dered him as their enemy. Yet, when the instrand policy in collecting and protecting the scattered gents had been quelled by force, and the blood of remains of the great caravan of the Mecca pilgrim- five thousand moslems had atoned for that of three age, which had been plundered by the Mamelukes hundred Frenchmen, Napoleon, in an address to on their retreat. So satisfactory was his conduct to the inhabitants of Cairo, new-modeling the general the moslem divines, that he contrived to obtain council, or divan, held still the same language as befrom the clergy of the Mosque an opinion, declaring fore of himself and his destinies. " Scherifs,' he said, that it was lawful to pay tribute to the French, " ulemats, orators of the mosque, teach the people though such a doctrine is diametrically inconsistent that those who become my enemies shall have no with the Koran. Thus far Napoleon's measures had refuge either in this world or the next. Is there any proved rational and successful. But with this laud- one blind enough not to see that I am the agent of able course of conduct was mixed a species of Destiny, or incredulous enough to call in question the artifice, which, twhile we are compelled to term it power of Destiny over human affairs? Make the impious, has in it, at the samle time, something ludi- people understand that, since the world was a world, crous and almost childish. it was ordained, that having destroyed the enemies Bonaparte entertained the strange idea of per- of islamism, and broken down the cross,* I should suading the moslems that he himself' pertained in come from the distant parts of the West to accomsome sort to their religion, being an envoy of the plish the task designed for me-show them, that in Deity, sent on earth, not to take away, but to con- more than twenty passages of the Koran my coming firm and complete, the doctrines of the Koran, and is foretold. I could demand a reckoning from each the mission of Mahommed. He used, in executing of you for the most secret thoughts of his soul, this purpose, the inflated language of the East, the since to me everything is known; but the day will molre easily that it corresponded, in its allegorical come when all shall know from whom I have my and amplified style, with his own natural tone of commission, and that human efforts cannot prevail composition; and lie hesitated not to join in the against me." external ceremonial of the mahommedan religion, It is plain from this strange proclamation, that that his actions might seem to confirm his words. Bonaparte was willing to be worshiped as a suphet as it recurred, with some sheik of eminence, worshipers collected together. But the Turks and and joined in the litanies and worship enjoined by Arabs were wiser than the Persians in the case of the Koran. He affected, too, the language of an young Ammon. The Sheik of Alexandria, wsho inspired follower of the faith of Mecca, of which the affected much devotion to Bonaparte's person, came following is a curious example. roundly to the point with him. He remarked the On entering the sepulchral chamber in the pyra- French observed no religions worship. " Why not, mid of Cheops, " Glory be to Allah," said Bonaparte, therefore," he said, " declare yourself moslem at "' there is no God but God, and Mahomnled is his once, and remove the only obstacle betwixt you prophet." A confession of faith which is in itself and the throne of the East?" Bonaparte objected a declaration of islamism. the prohibition of wine, and the external rite whiclh "Thou hast spoken like the most learned of the Mahommed adopted from tile Jewish religion. The prophets," said the mufti, who accompanied him. officious sheik proposed to call a council of the "I can command a car of fire to descend from moslem sages, and procure for the new proselytes heaven," continued the French general, " and I can some relaxation of these fundamental laws of thle guide and direct its course upon earth." Prophet's faith. According to this hopeful plan, "Thou art tile great chief to whom Mahommed the moslems must have ceased to be such in two gives power and victory," said the mufti. principal articles of their ritual, in order to induce Napoleon closed the conversation with this not the French to become a kind of imperfect renevery pertinent oriental proverb, "The bread which gades, rejecting, in tile prohibition of wine, tilhe the wicked seizes upon by force shall be turned to only peculiar guard which Mahommed assigned to dust in his mouth." the moral virtue of his followers, while they erThough tile mufti played his part in the above braced the degrading doctrine of fatality, the limcene with becoming gravity, Bonaparte over-es- centious practice of polygamy, and the absurd chitimated his own theatrical powers, and did too little meras of the Koran. justice to the shrewdness of the Turks, if he sup- Napoleon appears to have believed the sheik posed them really edified by his pretended prose- * Alluding to the capture of the island of Malta, and sub lytism. With them as with us, a renegade from the jection of thie pope, on which he was wont to found as serreligious faith in which he was brought up, is like vices rendered to the religion of Mahomlimed. 5256- LIFE OF NAPOLEON B ONA PARTE. serious, which is very doubtful, and to have con- Porte liad long since declared, that any attack upon templated with eager ambition the extent of views Egypt, the road to the holy cities of Mecca and which his conversion to islamism appeared to open. Medina, would be considered as a declaration of war, His own belief'in predestination recommended the whatsoever pretexts might be alleged. They regardcreed of Mahormmed, and for the Prophet of Mecca ed, therefore, Bonaparte's invasion as an injllry himself he had a high respect, as one of those who equally unprovoked and unjustifiable. They declared had wrought a great and enduring change on the war against France, called upon every follower of face of the world. Perhaps he envied the power the Prophet to take the part of his vicegerent upon which Mahonlmed possessed, of ruling over men'g earth, collected forces, and threatened an immesouls as well as their bodies, and might thence have diate expedition, for the purpose of expelling the been led into the idea of playing a part, to which infidels firom Egypt. The success of the British at time and ciirumstances, the character of his army Aboukir increased their confidence. Nelson was and his own, were alike opposed. No man ever loaded with every mark of honour which the sultan succeeded in imposing himself on the public as a could bestow, and the most active preparations supernatural personage, who was not to a certain were made to act against Bonaparte, equally condegree the dupe of his own imposture; and Napo- sidered as enemy to the Porte, whether he professleon's calculating and reflecting mind was totally ed himself christian, infidel, or renegade. devoid of the enthusiasm which enables a man to Meantimne, that adventurous and active chief was cheat himself into at least a partial belief of the busied in augmenting his means of defence or condeceit which he would impose on others. The quest, and in acquiring the information necessary to French soldiers, on the other hand, bred in scorn protect what he had gained, and to extend his doof religion of every description, would have seen minions. For the former purpose, corps were raised nothing but ridicule in the pretensions of their leader from among the Egyptians, and some were mounted to a supernatural mission; and in playing the cha- upon dromedaries, the better to encounter the perils racter which Alexander ventured to personate, of the Desert. For the latter, Bonaparte underBonaparte would have found in his own army many took a journey to the isthmus of Suez, the wella Clitus, wvho would have considered his pretensions known interval which connects Asia with Afriica.. I-le as being only ludicrous. He himself, indeed, ex- stbscribed the charter or protection, granted to the pressed himself satisfied that his authority over his Maronite Monks of Sinai, with the greater pleasure, soldiers was so absolute, that it would have cost that the signature of Mahommed had already sancbut giving it out in the order of the day to have tioned that ancient document. He visited the cemade them all become AMahommedans; bit, at the lebrated fountains of Moses, and, misled by a guide, same time, he has acquainted us that the French had nearly been drowned in the advancing tides of troops were at times so much discontented with the Red Sea. This, he observes, would have filrtheir condition in Egypt, that they formed schemes nished a text to all the preachers in Europe. But of seizing on their standards, and returning to the same Deity, who rendered that gulf fatal to France by force. What reply, it may be reason- Pharaoh, had reserved for one, who equally defied ably asked, were they likely to make to a proposal and disowned his power, the rocks of an island in which would have deprived them of their Euro- the midst of the Atlantic. pean and French character, and leveled them with When Napoleon was engaged in this expedition, Africans and Asiatics, whose persons they des- or speedily on his return, he learned that two Turkpised, and whose country they desired to leave? ish armies had assembled,-one at Rhodes, and It is probable, that reflections on the probable the other in Syria, with the purpose of recovering consequences prevented his going farther than Egypt. The darirg genitus, which always desired the vague pretensions which he announced in his to anticipate the attempts of the enemy, determined proclaimations, and in his language to the sheiks. him to march with a strong fobce for the occupation He had gone far enough, however, to show, that of Syria, and thus at once to alarm the Turks by the the considerations of conscience would have been progress which lie expected to make in thatprovince, no hindrance;and that, notwithstanding the strength and to avoid being attacked in Egypt, by two of his understanding, (common sense had less in- Turkish armies at the same time. IHis commenceflLuence than might have been expected, in check- ment was as successful as his enterprise was daring. ijg his assertion of claims so ludicrous as well as A body of Mamelhukes was dispersed by a night atso profane. Indeed, his disputes with the Otto- tack. The fort of El Arish, considered as one of man Porte speedily assumed a character, which the keys of Egypt, fell easily into his hands. Finally, his taking the turban and professing himself a at the head of about ten thousand men, lie traversed nloslem in all the forms could not have altered the Desert, so famous in biblical history, which seto his advantage. parates Afiica from Asia, and entered Palestine It had been promised to Bonaparte that the abi- without much loss, but not without experiencing lities of' Talleyrand, as minister of foreign affairs, the privations to which the wanderers in those sandy should be employed to reconcile the Grand Seignor wastes have been unniformly subjected. While his and his counsellors to the occupation of Egypt. But soldiers looked with fear on the howling wilderness the efforts of that able negotiator had totally failed which they saw around, there was something in the in a case so evidently hopeless; and if Talleyrand extent and loneliness of the scene that corresponded had even proceeded to Constantinople, as Napoleon with the swelling soul of Napoleon, and accommoalleged the Directory had promised, it could only dated itself to his ideas of immense and boundless have been to be confined in the Seven Towers. The space. ie was pleased with the flattery, which LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 257 derived his christian name from two Greek words, Revolution, were dispatched with the bayonet. signifying the Lion of the Desert. Their bodies were heaped together, and formed a Upon his entering tile Holy Land, Bonaparte again pyramid which is still visible, consisting now of drove before him a body of Mamelukes, belonging human bones as originally of bloody corpses. to thofre who, after the battles of the Pyramids and The cruelty of this execution occasioned the fact of Salahieh, had retreated into Syria; and his army itself to be doubted, though coming with strong occupied without resistance Gaza, anciently a city evidence, and never denied by the French themof the Philistines, in which they found supplies of selves. Napoleon, however, frankly admitted the provisions. Jaffa, a celebrated city during the time truth of the statement, both to Lord Eblington and of the Crusades, was the next object of attack. It to Dr O'Meara. Well might the author of this -was bravely assaulted, and fiercely defended. But cruelty write to the Directory, that the storm of Jaffi the French valour and discipline prevailed-the was marked by horrors which he had never elsewhere place was carried by storm-three thousand Turks witnessed. Bonaparte's defence was, that the were put to the sword, and the town was abandoned massacre was justified by the laws of war-that the to the license of the soldiery, which, by Bonaparte's head of his messenger had been cut off by the goown admission, never assumed a shape more fright- vernor of Jaffa, when sent to summon him to finl.* Such, it may be said, is the stern rule of war; surrender-that these Turks were a part of the garand if so, most of our readers will acquiesce in the rison of E1 Arish, who had engaged not to serve natural exclamation of the Marshal de Montluc, against the French, and were found immediately " Certes, we soldiers stand in more need of the afterwards defending Jaffa, in breach of the terms Divine mercy than other men, seeing that our pro- of their capitulation. They had incurred the doom fession compels us to command and to witness deeds of death, therefore, by the rules of war-Wellington, of such cruelty." Itwas not, however, to the ordi- he said, would have in his place acted in the same nary horrors attending the storm of a town, that the manner. charge against Bonaparte is on this occasion limited. To this plea the following obvious answers apply. He is accused of having been guilty of an action of If the Turkish governor had behaved like a barbagreat injustice, as well as of especial barbarity. rian, for which his country, and the religion which Concerning this we shall endeavour to state, stripped Napoleon meditated to embrace, might be some of colouring and exaggeration, first the charge, and excuse, the French general hadavenged himself by then the reply, by Napoleon himself. the storm and plunder of the town, with which his After the breach had been stormed, a large part of revenge ought in all reason to have been satisfied. tfie garrison, estimated by Bonaparte himself at If some of these unhappy Turks had broken their twelve hundred men, which Miot raises to betwixt faith to Bonaparte, and were found again in the two and three thousand, and others exaggerate still ranks which they had sworn to abandon, it could not, inore, remained on the defensive, and held out in according to the most severe construction of the the mosques, and a sort of citadel to which they had rules of war, authorize the dreadfidl retaliation of retreated, till, at length, despairing of succour, indiscriminate massacre upon a multitude of pri. they surrendered their arms, and were in appearance soners, without inquiring whether they had been all admitted to quarter. Of this body, the Egyptians equally guilty. Lastly, and admitting them all to were carefully separated fi'om the Turks, Mau- stand in the same degree of criminality, although grabins, and Arnaouts; and while the first were their breach of faith might have entitled Bonaparte restored to liberty, and sent back to their country, to refuse these men quarter while they had arms in these last were placed under a strong guard. Pro- their hands, that right was ended when the French visions were distributed to them, and they were general received their submission, and when they permitted to go by detachments in quest of water. had given up the means of defence, on condition of According to all appearance, they were considered safety for life at least. and treated as prisoners of war. This was on the This bloody deed must always remain a deep 7th of March. On the 9th, two dabs afterwards, stain on tllecharacter ofNapoleon. Yet we do not this body of prisoners were marched out of Jaffa, in view it as the indulgence of an innate love of cruelty; tile centre of a large square battalion, commanded for nothing in Bonaparte's history shows the existby General Boa. Idiot assures us that lie himself ence of that vice, and there are many things which mounted his horse, accompanied the melancholy intimate his disposition to have been naturally hucolumnn. and witnessed the event. The Turks mane. But he was ambitious, aimed atimmense foresaw their fate, but used neither entreaties nor and gigantic undertakings, and easily learned to complaints to avert it. They marched oil, silent and overlook the waste of human life, which the execucomposed. Sonme of them, of higher rank, seemned cution of his projects necessarily involved.. He to exhort the others to submit, like ser- ants of the seems to have argued, not on the character of the Prophet, to thle decree which, according to their action, but solely on the effect which itwas to-produce belief, was written on their forehead. They were upon his own combinations. His army was small; escorted to the sand-hills to the south-east of Jaffi, it was his business to strike terror into his numerousdivided there into small bodies, and put to death by enemies, and the measure to be adoptedl seemed musketry. The executio n lasted a considerable capable of making a deep impression on all whos timne, and the wounded, as in the fusillades of the should hear of it. Besides, these men, if-dismissed, would imnmediately rejoin his enemies. He had' Seehis dispatch to the Directory, on the Syrian cam- experienced their courage, and to disarm them,. paign. would have been almost an unavailing- precaution,s VOL. Yr. 33 258 LIFE OF NAPOLEON B1ONAPARTEo where their national weapon, the sabre, wvas so easily coast, had been taken on one occasion, and, conattained. To detain them prisoners would have trary to the law of nations, and out of a mean spirit required a stronger-force than Napoleon could afford, of revenge, was imprisoned in the Temple, firom would have added difficulty and delay to the move- which he was delivered by a daring stratagem, efment of his troops, and tended to exhaust his supplies. fected by the French royalist party. He had not That sort of necessity, therefore, which nmen fancy been many hours at Acre, when Providence afibrded to themselves when they are unwilling to forego a him a distinguishing mark of favour. The Theseus, favourite object for the sake of obeying a moral pre- which had been detached to intercept any Frencli cept-tthat necessity which might be more properly vessels that might be attending on Bonaparte's terlmed a temptation difficult to be resisted-that march, detected a small flotilla stealing under Mount necessity which has been called the tyrant's plea, Carmlel, and had the good fortune to make prize of was the cause of the massacre at Jaffia, and must seven out (of nine of them. They were a convoy remain its sole apology. from Damietta, bound for Acre, having on board It might almost seem that Heaven set its vindictive heavy cannon, platforms, ammunition, and other brand upon this deed of butchery, for about the time necessary articles. These cannon and military it was committed the plague broke out in the army. stores, destined to form the siege of Acre, became Bonaparte, with a moral courage deserving as much eminently useful in its defence, and the. consequence praise as his late cruelty deserved reprobation, went of their capture was eventually decisive of the into the hospitals in person, and while exposing him- struggle. General Philippeaux, a French royalist, self, without hesitation, to the infection, diminished and officer of engineers, immediately applied himself the terror of the disease in the opinion of the soldiers to place the cannon thus acquired, to the amount of generally, and even of the patients themselves, who betwixt thirty and forty, upon the walls which they were thus enabled to keep up their spirits, and had been intended to destroy. This officer, who gained by doing so the fairest chance of recovery. had been Bonaparte's schooliellow, and the princiMeanwhile, determined to prosecute the conquest pal agent in delivering Sir Sydney Smith from priof Syria, Bonaparte resolved to advance to St-Jean son, possessed rare talents in his profession. Thus d'Acre, so celebrated in the wars of Palestine. The strangely met under the walls of Acre, an English Turkish pacha, or governor of Syria, who, like officer, late a prisoner in the Temple at Paris, and a others in his situation, accounted himself almost French colonel of engineers, w.ith the late general of an independent sovereign, was Achmet, who, by his the Army of Italy, the ancient companion of Philipunrelenting cruelties and executions, had procured peaux,* ar.d about to become almost the personal the terrible distinction of Djezzar, or the Butcher, en.emy of Smith. -Bonaparte addressed this formidable chief in two On the 17th March the French came in sight of letters, offering his alliance, and threatening him Acre, which is built; upon a peninsula advancing into with his vengeance if it should be rejected. To the sea, and so conveniently situated that vessels neither did the pacha return any answer-in the can lie near the shore and annoy with their fire whatsecond instance he put to death the messenger. The ever advances to assault the fortifications. NotFrench general advanced against Acre, vowing withstanding the presence of two British ships of revenge. There were, however, obstacles to the war, and the disappointment concerning his battersuccess of his enterprise, on which he had not cal- ing cannon, which were now pointed against him culated. from the ramparts, Bonaparte, with a characteristic The pacha had communicated the approach of perseverance which bn such an occasion was pushed Napoleon to Sir Sydney Smith, to whom had been into obstinacy, refused to abandon his purpose, and committed the charge of assisting the T'urks in their proceeded to open trenches, although the guns whichf proposed expedition to Egypt, and who, for that he had to place in them were only twelve-pounders. purpose, was cruizing in the Levant. He hastened The point of attack was a large tower which preto sail for Acre with the Tigre and Theseus, ships of dominated over the rest of the fortifications. A maine the line, and arriving there two days ere the French at the same time was run under the extreme demade their appearance, contributed greatly to place fences. the town, the fortifications of which were on the old By the 28th March a breach was effected, the Gothic plan, in a respectable state of defence. mine was sprung, and the French proceeded to the Sir Sydney Smith, wa. so highly distinguished assault upon that day. They advanced at the himself on this occasion, had been long celebrated chalging step, under a murderous file from the for the most intrepid courage, and spirit of enter- walls, but had the mortification to find a deep ditch prise His character was, besides, marked by those betwixt them and the tower. They crossed it, nevertraits of enthusiasm at which cold and vulgar minds theless, by help of the scaling-ladders, which they are apt to sneer, because incapable of understanding carried with them, and forced their way as far as them,' yet without which great and honoirable ac- the towel, from which it is said that the defenders, tions have rarely been achieved. He had also a impressed by the fate of Jaffa, were beginning to fly. talent, uncommon among the English, that of acting easily with foreign, and especially with barbarous Philippeaux died during the siege, of a fever brought troops, and understanding hw to mae their efforts on by fatigue. Bonaparte spoke of him with more respect availing for the service of the common causef though than he usually showed to those who had been successful in availing for the service of the common cause, though opposing him. One reason might be, that the merit given exerted in a manner different from those of civilized to Philippeaux was in some d egree subtracted from Sir nationi. This brave officer having been frequently Sydney Smith. The former was a Frenchman, and deadintrusted with the charge of alarming the French the latter alive, and an Englishman. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 259 They were checked by the example of Djezzar tifications, which had been constructed under Phihimself, who fired his own pistols at the French, lippeaux's directions, and at the same time enfiladed and upbraided the moslems who were retreating by the fire of the British shipping. At length, enmfrom the walls. The defences were again manned; ploying to the uttermost the heavy artillery now in the French, unable to support the renewed fire, his possession, Bonaparte, in spite of a bloody and were checked and forced back; and the Turks fall- obstinate opposition, forced his way to the disputed ing upion them in their retreat with sabre in hand, tower, and made a lodgment on the second story. It killed a number of their best men, and Mailly, who afforded, however, no access to the town; and the commanded the party. Sorties were made from the troops remained there as in a cul-de-sac, the lodgplace to destroy the French works; and although ment being covered firom the English and Turkish the cries with which the Turks carry on their mili- fire by a work constructed partly of packs of cotton, tary mnaneuavres gave the alarm to the enemy, yet, partly of the dead bodies of the slain, built up along assisted by a detachment of' British seamen, they with them. did the French considerable damage, reconnoitred At this critical moment, a fleet, bearing reinforcethe mine awhich they were forming anew, and ob- ments long hoped for and much needed, appeared tained the knowledge of its direction necessary to in view of the garrison. They contained Turkish prepare a counter mnine. troops under the command of Hassan Bey. Yet, WVhile the strife was thus fiercely maintained on near as they were, the danger was imminent that both sides, with mutual loss and increased animosity, Acre might be taken ere they could land. To prethe besiegers were threatened with other dangers. vent such a misfortune, Sir Sydney Smith in person An army of moslem troops of various nations, but proceeded to the disputed tower, at the head of a all actuated by the same religious zeal, had formed body of British seamen, armed with pikes. They themlselves in the mountains of Samaria, and, uniting united themselves to a corps of brave Turks, who with then the warlike inhabitants of that country, defended the breach rather with heavy stones than now called Naplous, formed the plan of attacking with other weapons. The heap of ruins which dividthe French army lying before Acre on one side, ed the contending parties served as a breast-work while Djezzar and his allies should assail them upon to both. The muzzles of the muskets touched each the other. Klber, with his division, was dispatch- other, and the spearheads of the standards were ed by Bonaparte to disperse this assemblage. But locked together. At this. moment one of the Turkthough he obtained considerable advantages over ish regiments of Hassan's army, which had by this detached parties of the Syrian army, their strength time landed, made a sortie upon tile French; and was so disproportioned, that at last, while he held though they were driven back, yet the diversion oca position near Mount Tabor, with two or three thou- casioned the besiegers to be forced ti'ltu th!eir lodgsand men, lie was surrounded by about ten times ment. his own nlumber. But his general-in-clief was has- Abandoning the ill-omened tower, wdich had cost tening to his assistance. Bonaparte left two divisions the besiegers so many men, Bonaparte now turned to keep the trenches before Acre, and penetrated his efforts towards a considerable brtach ti.at hadl into the country in three columns. Miirat, at the been effected in the curtain, and whlich pInroised head of a fourth, occupied the pass called Jacob's a more easy entrance. It proved, indeed, bhut too Bridge. The attack, made on various points, was easy; for Djezzar Pacha opposed to the assault on everywhere successfiu. The camp of the Syrian this occasion a new mode of tactics. Confiding in army was taken; their defeat, almost their disper- his superior numbers, le suffered the Frlech, who sion, was accomplished, while their scattered re- were commanded by the intrepid General Lannes, mains fled to Damascus. Bonaparte returned, crown- to surmount the breach without opposition, by which ed with laurels, to the siege of Acre. they penetrated into the body of the place. They Here, too, the arrival of thirty heavy pieces of had no sooner entered, than a numerous body of cannon flom Jaffi, seemed to promise that success Turks mingled among them with loud shouts; and which the French had as yet been unable to attain. ere they had time or room to avail themselves of It was about this time that, walking on the mount their discipline, brought them into that state of close which still retains the name of Richard Coeur-de- fighting, where strength and agility are superior to Lion, Bonaparte expressed himself to Murat in every other acquirement. The Turks, wielding the these terms, as he pointed to St-Jean d'Acre:- sabre in one hand, and the poniard in the other, cut "The fiute of the East depends upon yonder petty to pieces almnost all the French who had entered. town. Its conquest will insure the main object of General Rambaud lay a headless corLpse in the mty expedition, anid Damascus will be the first fruit breach —Lannes was with difficulty brought offl; seof iti.' Thus it would seem, that, while engaged verely wounded. The Tnrks gave no quarter; and in the enterprise, Bonaparte held the same language, instantly cutting the heads off' of those whom they which he did many years after its failure when at slew, carried them to the pacha, who sat in public St Helena. distributing money to those who brought him these Repeated and desperate assaults proved, that the bloody trophies, which now lay piled in heaps consequence which he attached to taking Acre was around him. This was the sixth assault upon these as great as his words expressed. The assailants tottering and blood-stained ramparts. " Victory," suffered severely on these occasions, for they were said Napoleon, " is to the most persevering;" and, exposed to the fire of two ravelins, or external for. contrary to the advice of Kliber, he resolved upon another and yet more desperate attack.' Related by Miot, as communicated to hin by Murat. On the 21st May the final effort was made. The 260 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. attack of the morning failed, and Colonel Venoux to break off all communication between the commorenewed it at mid-day. " Be assured," said he to dore and the discontented of his own army. After Bonaparte,- " Acre shall be yours to-night, or the heat excited by their angry collision had long Venoux will die on the breach." He kept his word subsided, it is amusing to find Napoleon, when in at the cost of his life. Bon was also slain, whose the island of St Helena, declaring, that his opinion division had been the executioners of the garrison of of Sir Sydney Smith was altered for the better, since Jaffa. The French now retreated, dispirited, and he had become acquainted with the rest of his coundespairing of success. The contest had been carried trymen, and that he now considered him as a worthy on at half a musket-shot distance; and the bodies of sort of man-for an Englishman. the dead lying around, putrified under the burning The siege of Acre had now continued sixty days sun, and spread disease among the survivors. An since the opening of the trenches. The besiegers attempt was made to establish a suspension of arms had marched no less than eight times to tile assault, for removing this horrible annoyance. Miot says while eleven desperate sallies were evidence of the that the pacha returned no answer to the proposal of obstinacy of the defence. Several of the best French the French. According to Sir Sydney Smith's offi- generals were killed; among the rest Cafiraelli,X cial reports, the armistice for this humane purpose for whom Bonaparte had a particular esteem; and was actually agreed on, but broken off by the the army was greatly reduced by the sword and French firing upon those who were engaged in the the plague, which raged at once among their demelancholy office, and then rushing on to make voted bands. Retreat became inevitable. Yet their last unsuccessful charge and assault upon the Bonaparte endeavoured to give it such a colouring breach. This would have been a crime so useless, as might make the measure seem voluntary. Someand would havetended somuch to the inconvenience times he announced that his purpose of' going to of the French themselves, that we cannot help sus- Acre was sufficiently accomplished when he had pecting some misunderstanding had occurred, and battered down the palace of the pacha; at other that the interruption was under a wrong conception times he affirmed he had left the whole town a heap of the purpose of the working party. of ruins; and finally, he informed the Directory thlA This is the more probable, as Sir Sydney Smith, he could easily have taken the place, but the plagtue who reports the circumstance, was not at this time being raging within its walls, and it being imlposdisposed to put the best construction on any action sible to prevent the troops from seizing on infected of Bonaparte's, who, on the other hand, regarded clothes for part of their booty, he had rather declined the British seaman with peculiar dislike, and even the capture of Acre, than run the risk of introdacmalignity. The cause of personal quarrel betwixt ing this horrid malady among hlis soldiers. What them was rather singular. his real feelings must have been, while covering Bonaparte had addressed the subjects of Achmet his chagrin with such flimsy pretexts, may be conDjezzar's pachalik, in terms inviting them to revolt, jectured from the following frank avowal to his atand join the French; yet was much offended when, tendants in St Helena. Speaking of the dependence imitating his own policy, the pacha and Sir Sydney of the most important affairs on the most trivial, he Smith caused letters to be sent into his camp before remarks that the mistake of the captain of a frigate, Acre, urging his soldiers to mutiny and desertion. who bore away, instead of forcing his passage to the Sir Sydney also published a proclamation to the place of his destination, had prevented the face of Druses, and other inhabitants of the country, calling the world from being totally changed. "Acre," he on them to trust the faith of a christian knight, rather said, "would otherwise have been taken —the than that of an unprincipled renegado. Nettled at French army would have flown to Damascus and these insults, Bonaparte declared that the English Aleppo-in a twinkling of an eye they would have commodore was mad; and, according to his account, been on the Euphrates-the Syrian christians would Sir Sydney replied by sending him a challenge. have joined us-the Druses, the Arnmenians would The French general scornfully refused this invita- have united with us."-Some one replied, " we tion, unless the challenger would bring Marlborough might have been reinforced to the number ot' a to meet him, but offered to send one of his grenadiers hun red thousand men."-" Say six hundred thouto indulge the Englishman's desire of single combat, sand," said the emperor; "who can calculate the The good taste of the challenge may be doubted, if amount? I would have reached Constantinople indeed such was ever sent; but the scorn or the re- and the Indies-I would have changed the face of ply ought to have been mitigated, considering it was the world."t addressed to one, in consequence of whose dauntless and determined opposition Bonaparte's favour-. Caffarelli was shot in the elbow, and died of the ampluite object had failed, and who was presently to tation ofthelimb. He hadbeforelost aleg, which in(duced conmpel him for the first time to an inglorious retreat. the French soldiers, who disliked him as one of the prinAnother calumny, circulated by Bonapalrte against cipal contrivers of the Egyptian expedition, to say, when the English commodore, was, that Sir Sydney they saw him hobble past, "He, at least, need care little Smith had endeavoured to expose his French pri- about the matter-he is sure to have one foot in France." soest the infection of the plague, by plaigHe had some days' delirium before he died; but Count iLas soners to the infection of the plague, by placing Cases reports, that whenever Bonaparte was announced, them in v asels where that dreadful contagion pre- his presence-nay, his name alone-seemed to cure the vailed. This charge had no other foundation, than wanderings of the patient's spirit, and that this phenoin Bonaparte's wish, by spreading such a scandal, menon was renewed so often as the general made him a visit. R Miot says Murat. t Mhmorial de Ste-Helene, vol. Ill, pp. 36-7. The extra LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 261 ciples, who, advocating the legality of suicide, natuICHAPTER XXXII. rally might believe, that if a man has a right to relieve himself of intolerable evils by depriving Disclussion concerling the allegedpoisoning of the sick in himself of life, a general or a monarch may d.eal the hospitals at Jaffa-Napoleon? acquitted of the charge. forth that measure to his soldiers or subjects, which -French army re-enter Cairo on the 14th June.-Re- he would think it advisable to act upon in his own trospect of what had taken place in Upper and Lower case. It was consistent, also, with hi's character, Egypt (tduring his absence.-Ictrsion of MAfurad Bey.- rather to look at results than at the measures which 18,000 Turks occupy Aboukir —Attacked and defeate y vere to produce them, and to consider in tr;any Bonaparte-This victory terminates Napoleon's career cases the end as an excuse for the means. " I would bt Egypt —Views of his situation there after thcat battle. ave desired such a relief for myself in the same -Adiyniral Gantheanmne receives orders to make ready for sea.-O0 thte 23d1 Auglust, Napoleon, embarks forl t he said to Mr Warden. To OMeara Franlce, leaving tle'ber a2nd Alenournst aNnd second in he affirmed, "that he would have taken such a step comn2azd of the army-Arrives in Ajaccio, in Corsica, even with respect to his own son." The fallacy of on the 30th September, anld lands at Frtius, in France, this reasoning is demonstrable; but Bonaparte was on the M9t October. saved from acting on it by the resistance of Desgenettes. A rear-guard was left to protect these TuE retreat from before Acre was conducted unhappy men; and the English found some of them with equal skill and secrecy, though Bonaparte was alive, who, ifDesgenettes had been more compliant, compelled to leave behind his heavy cannon, which would have been poisoned by their physician. If lie either buried or threw into the sea. But by a Bonaparte was guilty ofentertaining such a purpose, rumour which long prevailed in the French army, whether entertained from indifference to human he was alleged to have taken a far more extra- life, or from wild and misdirected ideas of himaordinary measure of preparation for retreat, by nity, he met an appropriate punishment in the genedestroying with opium the sick in the hospitals, ral belief which long subsisted, that the deed had who could not march along with the army. been actually carried into execution, not in the This transaction is said to have taken place tinder of a few expiring wretches only, bot upan the following circumstances. The siege of Acre everal hundred men. Miot says the report was beveral hundred men. Niot says the report was being raised on the 20th of May, 1799, the French current in the French army,-Sir Robert Wilson army retreated to Jatfa, where their military hospitals found it credited among their officers, when they had been established during the siege. Upon the became the English prisoners,-and Count Las Cases 27th, Bonaparte was under the necessity of continuing admits it was generally believed by the soldiers. his retreat, and in the meantime such of the patients But though popular credulity eagerly receives whatas were convalescent were sent forward on the ever stories are marked by the horrible and wonroad to Egypt, under the necessary precautions fbr derful, history, on the contrary, demands direct their safety. There remained an indefinite number, evidence, and the existence of powerfoil motives, reaching at the greatest computation to betwixt for whatever is beyond the ordinary bounds of twenty and thirty, but stated by Bonaparte himself credibility. The poisoning of five or six hundred to be only seven, whose condition was desperate. men is neither easily managed nor easily concealed; Their disease was the plague, and to carry them and why should the French leader have had recourse onward, see.red to threaten the army with infection; to it, since, like many a retreating general before while to leave them behind, was abandoning them him, he had only to leave the patients for whom he to the cruelty of the Turks, by whom all stragglers had not the means of transportation? To poison and prisoners were cruelly murdered, often with the sick and helpless, must have destroyed his protracted torture. It was on this occasion that interest with the remainder of his soldiers; whereas,.Bonaparte submitted to Desgenettes, chief of the to have left them to their fate, was a matter too medical staff, the propriety of ending the victims' customary, and too much considered as a point of misery by a dose of opium. The physician answer- necessity, to create any discontent * among those, ed, with the heroism belonging to his profession, that his art taught bhim how to cure meii, not how to M nMiot gives a melancholy, but too true a picture of the indifference with which soldiers, when on a retreat, regard kill them. the sufferings of those whose strength does not enable them The proposal was agreeable to Bonaparte's prin- to keep up with the marchb. He describes a man, affected vagance of Napoleon's plan unavoidably reminds us of the hy the fear of being left to the cruelties of the Turks, vanity of human wishes. The cause to which he ascribes it is snatching up his knapsack, and staggering after the column the mistake of a captain of a frigate, who, instead of forcing to which he belonged, while his glazed eye, uncertain mohis way to Acre, against the opposition of two ships of the tion, and stumbling pace, excited the fear of some, and the line, was unfortunately taken by them. This is a mode of ridicule of others. " His account is made up," said one of reasoning which Napoleon was very ready to adopt. The his comrades, as he reeled about amongst them like a miscarriage of his plans was seldom imputed by hint to the drunkard. "He will not make a long mIarch of it," said successful wisdoln or valour of anl enemy, but to some acci- another. And when, after more than one fall, he at length dental cirt.umstance, or blunder, which deranged the scheme became unable to rise, the observation, that " he had taken which must otherwise have been infallible. Some of his best up his quarters," was all the moan which it was thought genelrals were of a different opinion, and considered the necessary to make. It is in these cases, as Miot justly rashness of the attack upon Acre, as involving the cer- observes, that indifference and selfishness become uni. tainty of failure. Kldber is reported to have said, that the versal; and he that would be comfortable mlust manage to Turks defended themselves with the skill of christians, and rely on his own exertions, and, above all, to remain ila that the Frentch attacked like rurks. good health. .262 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. whose interest, as well as that of their general, and, after a number of encounters, terminating geneconsisted in moving on as fast as possible. Again, rally to the advantage of the French, the remaining had such a horrible expedient been had recourse to, Mamelukes, with their allies the Arabs, were at it could not have escaped the knowledge of Sir length compelled to take shelter in the Desert. Sydney Smith, who would not have failed to give Egypt seemed entirely at the command of the the horrid fact publicity, wvere it only to retaliate French; and Cosseir, a seaport on the Red Sea, upon Bonaparte for the scandalous accusations had been taken possession of by a flotilla, fitted out whick he had circulated against the English. But to command that gulf: though he mentions various complaints which the Three or fobur weeks after Bonaparte's return from prisoners made against their general, and though he Syria, this flattering state of tranquillity seemed on states himself to have found seven men alive in the the point of being disturbed. Murad Bey, re-enterhospitals at Jaffa (being apparently the very persons ing Upper Egypt with his Mamelukes and allies, whom it had been proposed to dispatch by opium), descended the Nile in two bodies, one occupying he says not a word of what he would doubtless have each bank of the river. Ibrahini Bey, formerly hIis told not unwillingly, hoad there been ground for partner in the government of Egypt, made a corresbelieving it. Neither, among the numerous persons ponding movement towards the frontiers of Syria, to whom the truth must be known, has any one as if to communicate with the right-hand division of come forward since Bonaparte's fall, who could Mlurad's army. La Grange was dispatched against give the least evidence to authenticate the report the Mamelukes who occupied the right bank, while otherwise than as a rumourl, that had sprung out of Murat marched against those who, under the Bey the unjustifiable proposal which had indeed been himself, were descending the Nile. The French made by Bonaparte to Desgenettes, but never acted were entertained at the idea of the two Murats, as upon. The same patient and impartial investigation, they termed them, fiorn the similarity of their names, therefore, which compels us to record that the meeting and encountering each other; but the Mamassacre of the Turkish prisoners in cold blood is meluke Murad retreated before le bean salrecur fully proved, induces us to declare, that the poison- -the handsome swordsman-of the French armvy. ing of the sick at Jafla has been affirmed without Meantime the cause of this incursion was explainsufficient evidence.. ed by the appearance of a Turkish fleet off AlexanBonaparte continued his retreat from Syria, an- dria, who disembarked eighteen thousand men at noyed by the natives, who harassed his march, and Aboukir. This Turkish armuy possessed themselves retaliating the injuries which he received, by plan- of the fort, and proceeded to fortify themselves, dering and burning the villages which lay in the expecting the arrival of the Mamelakes, according course of his march. He left JafFa on the 28th May, to the plan which had previously been adjusted for and upon the 14th June re-entered Cairo, with a expelling the French from Egypt. This news reachreputation not so much increased by the victory at ed Bonaparte near the Pyramids, to which le had Mount Tabor, as diminished and sullied for the time advanced in order to insure the destruction of Mllurad by the retreat from Acre. Bey. The arrival of the Turks instantly recalled Lower Egypt, during the absence of Bonaparte, him to Alexandria, whence lie marched to Aboukir had remained undisturbed, unless by partial insur- to repel the invaders. He joined his army, which rections. In one of these an impostor personated had assembled firom all points within a short distance that mysterious individual, the Imaurm Mohadi, of of the Turkish camp, and was employerl late in the whom the Orientals believe that he is not dead, but night making preparations for the battle on the next is destined to return and combat Antichrist, before morning. Murat w"as alone with Bonaparte, when the consummation of all things takes place. This the last suddenly made the oracular declaration, pretender to supernatural power, as well as others "Go how it will, this battle will decide the fate of who placed themselves at the head of insurrections the world." without such high pretensions, was completely de- "The fiate of this army, at least," replied Murat, feated; and the French showed the greatest severity who did not comprehend Bonaparte's secret meanin pufishing their followers, and the country which ing. " But the Turks are without horse, and ifever had furnished them with partisans.. infantry were charged to the teeth by cavalry, they In Upper Egypt there had been more obstinate shall be so charged to-morrow by mine." contention. Murad Bey, already mentioned as the Napoleon's meaning, however, referred not to ablest chief of the Mamelukes, had maintained him- Egypt alone, but to Europe; to Lwhich he probably self in that country with a degree of boldness and already meditated an unexpected return, whIic sagacity, which gave the French much trouble. His must have been prevented had lie not succeeded in fine force of cavalry enabled him to advance or re- obtaining the most complete triurmph over tihe lTurks. treat at pleasure, and his perfect acquaintance with The leaving his Egyptian army, a dubious step at the country added much to his advantage. best, would have been altogether indefensible, hliad Desaix, sent against Murad after tile battle of the there remained an enemy in their friont. Pyramids, had again defeated the Mameluke chief Next morning, being the 25th July, Bondparte at Sedinan, where was once more made evident the commenced an attack on the advanced posts of tile superiority of European discipline over the valour enemy, and succeeded in driving themr in upon tilhe of the irregular cavalry of the East. Still the de- main body, which was commanded by Seid Mlstastruction of the enterprising bey was far from cornm- pha Pacha. In their first attack, the French were plete. Reinfrorced by a body of cavalry, Desaix, eminently successful; and pursued the filgitive Turks in the month of Decemlber, 1798, again attacked him, to their entrenchments, doing great execution. But LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 2631 when the batteries opened upon them fron the I dwelt on the recollection of the survivors. The trenches, while they were at the sarne time exposed march upon Constantinople was now an impossibility, to the fire from the gun-boats in the bay, their im- that to India an empty dream. To establish a petuosity was checked, and the Turks, sallying out French colony in Egypt, of which Bonaparte someupon them with their muskets slung at their backs, times talked, and to restore the Indian traffic to made such havoc among the French with their the shores of the Bed Sea, thus sapping the sources sabres, poniards, and pistols, as compelled theam to of British prosperity in India, was a work for the retreat in their turn. The advantage was lost by time of peace, when the necessary communication the eagerness of the baLbarians to possess them- was not impeded by the naval superiority of Engselves of the heads of their fallen enemies, for which land. The French general had established, inthey receive a certain reward. They threw ther- deed, a Chamber of Commerce; but what commlerce selves confusedly out of the entrenchlmnents to obtain could take place fi'om a closely-blockaded harbour? these bloody testimonials, and were in considerable Indeed, even in a more propitious season, the esdisorder, when tile French suddenly rallied, charged tablishmnent of a pacific colony was no task for the them with great filry, drove them back into the ardent and warlike Napoleon, who, although his works, and scaled the ramparts along with them,. active spirit was prompt in striking out commrercial Murat had made good his promise of the preced- schernes, was not possessed of the patience or steadiing evening, and had been ever in the front of' the ness necessary to carry them to success. It follows, battle. When the French had surmounted the that if he remained in Egypt, his residence there entrenchments, he formed a column which reversed must have resembled the situation of a governorl in the position of' the Turks, and, pressing thenm with a large city, threatened indeed, but as yet in no the bayonet, threw them into utter and inextricable danger of being besieged, where the only fame confusion. Fired upon and attacked on every point, which can be acquired is that due to prudent and they became, instead of an army, a confused rabble, patient vigilance. This would be a post which no who, in the impetuosity of animal terror, threw young or ambitious soldier would covet, providing themselves by hundreds and by thousonds into the he had the choice of being engaged in more active sea, which at once seemed covered with turbans. service. On the other hand, fionm events which we, It was no longer a battle, but a massacre; and it shall endeavour to trace in the next chapter, there was only when wearied with slaughter that quarter opened a scene of ambition in France, which perwas given to about six thousand men-the rest of mitted an almost boundless extent of hopes and the Turkish army, originally consisting of eighteen wishes. Thus Napoleon had the choice either of thousand, perished on the field or in the waves. becoming a candidate for one of the greatest prizes Mustapha Pacha was taken, and carried in triumph which the world afforded-the supreme authority before Bonaparte. The haughty Turk had not lost in that fine country-or of remaining the governor his pride with his fortunes. " I wvill take care to of a defensive army in Egypt, waiting the arrival of inform the sultan," said the victor, meaning to be some new invaders-English, Russians, or Turks, courteous, " of the courage you displayed in this to dispute his conquest with him. Had he chosen battle, though it has been your mishap to lose it." this latter line of conduct, he might have soon found " Thou mayst save thyself the trouble," answered himself the vassal of Moreau, or some other milithe prisoner, haughtily; " sy master knows me tary adventurer (perhaps from his own Italian army), better than thou canst." who, venturing on the course from which he had Bonaparte returned in triumph to Cairo on the 9th himself withdralwn, had attained to the government August; having, however, as he continued to re- of France, and might soon have been issuing orders present himself friendly to the Porte, previously set fiom the Luxembourg or the Tuileries to General on foot a negotiation for liberation of' the Turkish Bonaparte, in the style of a sovereign to his subject. prisoners. There remained to be separated those strong ties This splendid and most decisive victory of Abou- which were formed betwixt Napoleon and the army kir concluded Napoleon's career in the East. It which lie had so often led to victory, and who unwas imperiously necessary, ere he could have ven- questionably thought he had cast his lot to live or tured to quit the command of his army, with the die with them. But undoubtedly lie might palliate hope of preserving his credit with the public; and his departure by the consideration, that lie left them it enabled him to plead that he left Egypt for the victorious over their boastful enemy, and without tinie its absolute security. the chance of being speedily summoned to the field; His military views had indeed been uniformly and we can see no. reason for supposing, as has been successful; and Egypt was under the dominion of alleged, that anything like fear had an influence in France as completely as the sword could subject it. inducing Napoleon's desertion, as it has been terimFor two years afterwards, like the strong man in ed, of his army. We cannot, indeed, give him credit the parable, they kept the house which they had for the absolute and pure desire of serving and won, until in there came a stronger, by whom they saving France, which is claimed by his more devoted were finally and forcibly expelled. adherents, as the sole motive of his return to EuBut though the victory over the Turks afforded rope; but we have no doubt that some feelings of the French for the time undisturbed possession of this kind-to which, as we are powerful in deceivEgypt, the situation of Bonaparte no longer permitted ing ourselves, he himself might afford more weight him those brilliant and immense prospects, in which than they deserved-mingled with his more selfish his imagination loved to luxuriate. IIis troops were hopes, and that he took this important step with considerably weakened, atid the miscarriage at Acre the desire of serving his country, as well as of ad 26~4 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. vancing his own interest. Nor should it be forgotten, later period, for not having made his way from that the welfare even of the Egyptian army, as well Toulon to Alexandria, with reinforcements and supas his own ambitious views, required that he should plies. But Bonaparte, slow to see what contradicted try his fortune at Paris. If he did not personally a favourite project, could never be made to believe, exert himself there, it seemed highly probable some unless when in the very act of experiencing it, that revolution might take place, in which one of the the superiority of the British naval power depends consequences might he, that the victors of Egypt, upon circumstances totally different from -those deserted by their countrymen, should be compelled which can be removed by equal courage, or even to lay down their arms. equal skill, on the part of the French naval officers, The circumstances in which Bonaparte's resolu- and that until it be removed, it will be at great hation is said to have originated, as related by himself, zard that France shall ever attempt to retain a prowere singularly fortuitous. Some intercourse took vince so distant as Egypt. place with the Turkish fleet, in consequence of his, Napoleon left behind him a short proclamation, sending the wounded Turks on board, and Sir Syd- apprising the army that news of importance from ney Smnith, by way of taunting the French general France had recalled him to Europe, but that they with the successes of the Russians in Italy, sent him should soon hear tidings of him. He exhorted them a set of newspapers containing an account of Su- in the meantime to have confidence in their new warrow's victories, and a deplorable view of the commander, who possessed, he said, his good opiFrench affairs on the Continent. It we may trust nion, and that of the government, and in these terms other authorities, however, to be quoted in their he bade them farewell. Two figates, La Muiron proper place, he already knew the state of affairs, and La Carere, being ready for sea, the general both in Italy and France, by his own secret corres- embarked from an unfrequented part of tile beach pondence with Paris, informing him not only of the on the 23d August. Menou, who had met inlm there, military reverses which the armies of the latter came to Denon and others, who had attended the country had sustained, but of the state of parties and rendezvous without knowing exactly its purpose, as of the public mind,-intelligence of greater utility they were gazing in surprise at the unusual sight of and accuracy than could have been communicated two French frigates ready to put to sea, and informed by the English newspapers. them with agitation that Bonaparte waited for them. Howsoever his information was derived, Bonaparte They followed as in a dream; but Denon had already lost no time in acting upon it, with all the secrecy secured that mass of measurements, drawings, mawhich a matter of such importance required. Ad- nuscripts, and objects of antiquarian and scientific miral Gantheaume, who had been with the army curiosity, which afterwards enabled him to comever since the destruction of the fleet, received the plete the splendid work, which now contains the general's orders to make ready for sea, with all pos- only permanent or useful fruits of the memorable sible dispatch, two frigates then lying in the harbour expedition to Egypt. of Alexandria. Ere the frigates were far from land, they were Meantime, determined to preserve his credit with reconnoitred by an English corvette, a circumstance the Institute, and to bring evidence of what he had which seemed of evil augury. Bonaparte assured done for the cause of science, Bonaparte commanded his companions, by his usual allusions to his own Monge, who is said to have suggested the expedition, destiny. " We will arrive safe," he said; " Forand the accomplished l)enon, who became its his- tune will never abandon us-we will arrive safe in torian, with Berthollet, to prepare to accompany despite of the enemy." himn to Alexandria. Of military chiefs, he selected To avoid the English cruizers, the vessels coasted the Generals Berthier, Murat, Lannes, Marnlont, the shores of Africa, and the wind was so contrary, Desaix, Andr6ossi, and Bessi6res, the best and that they made but a hundred leagues in taenty most attached of his officers. He left Cairo as soon days. During this time Bonaparte studied alteras he heard the fiigates were ready and the sea nately the Bible and the Koran, more solicitous, it open, making a visit to the Delta the pretext of his seemed, about the history of the countries which he tour. Kl1ber and Mlenou, whom he meant to leave had left behind, than the part which he was to play first and second in command, were appointed to in that to which he was hastening. At length they meet him at Alexandria. But he had an interview ventured to stand northward, and on the 30th Sepwith the latter only. tember, they entered, by singular chance, the port K16ber, an excellent soldier, and a man of consi- of Ajaccio in Corsica, and Bonaparte found himself derable parts, was much displeasedat the hasty and near his native city.+ On the 7tll October, they disordered manner in which the command of an again put to sea, but, upon approaching the French important province, and a diminished army, were coast, they found themselves in the neighsbourhood thrust upon him, and remonstrated, in a letter to of a squadron of English men of-war.''The admiral the Directory, upon the several points of the public would have tacked about, to return to Corsica. service, which, by his conduct on this occasion, "To do so," said Bonaparte, " would be to take the Bonaparte had neglected or endangered. Napoleon road to England-I am seeking that to France." afterwards laboured hard to answer the accusations which these remonstrances implied, and to prove, * The natives came off in numbers to see their illusthat. in leaving the Egyptian army, he had no in- trious countryman, but as he does not appear to have tention of abandoning it; on the contrary, that he landed, his transient presence in the harbour formed no intended either to return in person, or to send exception to what is said at p. 166, of his not revisiting powerfil succours. He blamed Gantheaumle, at a his own country. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 265 He probably meant that the manoeuvre would at- lution, that should for ever overthrow the directorial tract the attention of the English. They kept on system. their course; but the peril of being captured seemed When Bonaparte sailed for Egypt, he left France so imminent, that, though still several leagues from at peace with Austria, and those negotiations prothe shore, Gantheaume proposed to man his long- ceeding at Rastadt, which no one then doubted boat, in order that the general might attempt his would settle on a pacific footing the afihirs of Gerescape in her. Bonaparte observed, that that mea- many. England alone remained hostile to France, sure might be deferred till the case was more des- but the former being victorious on the sea, and the perate. latter upon the land, it seemed as if the war must At length they passed unsuspected and unques- languish and die of itself;, unless there had been a tioned, through the hostile squadron, and on the 9th third element, of which the rivals might have disOctober, at ten in the morning, he on whose fate puted the possession. But though the interest of the world so long seemed to depend, landed at St- France, as well as of humanity, peremptorily deRapheau, near Fr6jus. He had departed at the head manded peace, her rulers, feeling that their own of a powerful fleet, and a victorious army, on an ex- tottering condition would be rendered still more pedition designed to alter the destinies of the most precarious by the disbanding their numerous armies, ancient nations of the world. The result had been resolved to continue the war in a new quarter. far from commensurate to the means employed- Under the most flimsy and injurious pretexts, The fleet had perished-the army was blockaded in they attacked the neutral States of Switzerland, a distant province, when their arms were most ne- so eminent for their moderation; and the French cessary at home. He returned clandestinely, and troops, levied in the name of Freedom, were sent almost aloae; yet Providence designed that, in this to assail that country which had been so long her apparently deserted condition, he should be the in- mountain fortress. The ancient valour of the Switstrument of more extensive and more astonishing zers was unable to defend them against the new dischanges, than the efforts of the greatest conquerors coveries in the art of war, by which the strongest had ever before been able to effect upon the civi- defiles can be turned, and therefore rendered inlized world. defensible. They fought with their ancient courage, particularly the natives of the mountain cantons, and only gave way before numbers and discipline. CHAPTER XXXIII. But these gallant mountaineers sacrificed more than thrice their own amount, ere they fell in their Retrospect of public events since the departure of Nrpo- ranks, as became the countrymen of William Tell. leonfor Egypt.-Invasion and conquest of Switzerland. The French affected to give the Swiss a constitution -Seizure of Turin.-Expulsion of the pope. —The Neapolitans declare tear against France —are defeated- on the model of their own, but this was a mere and the French enter Naples.-Disgraceful avarice farce. The arsenals, fortresses, and treasures of the exhibited by the Directory-particularly in their iego- cantons, were seized without scruple or apology, tiations withz the United States of America-Are zun- and the Swiss were treated in all respects like a successful, and their shame msde public.-Russia comes conquered nation. The fate of this ancient and forward in the general cause-Her strength and re- unofiending people excited deep and general fear sources.-Reverses of the French. in Italy, and on the and detestation, and tended, more perhaps tihan any Rhine.-Insurrections in Belgium and Holland against other event, to raise the animosity of' Europe in the French.-Anglo-Russian expedition sent to Holland. general against France, as a country which had -The Chouns again in the field.-Great and ucniversal now plainly shown, that her ambition could be unpopularity of the Directory.-State of parties Zl bounded by no consideration of justice or internaFrance.-Law of Hostages.-Abbi Silyes becontes one of the Directory-His character and geunius-De- Ki.onal law. seription of thle constitutiosn proposed by him for the he King of Sadinia, who had first acknow-ear Tree.-Ducos, Gohier, and Miosulins, also intr-o- ledged the superiority of Bonaparte, and purchased &dwced into the Directory.-Famoily o, Napoleon strive to his existence as a continental sovereign, by surkeep himn in the recollection of the people. —Favourable rendering all his fortresses to France, and permitchange in fJte French affairs.-Holland evacuated by ting her troops to march through his country as their the Anglo-Rtussiasn army.-Korsakow defeated by Mas- own, had surely some claim to forbearance; but now, sina-and Suwarrow retreats before Lecourbe. without even a pretext for such violence, the French seized upon Turin, the capital of this their vassal VHIEN Napoleon accepted what was to be con- monarch, and upon all his continental dominions, sidered as a doom of honourable banishment, in the sending him and his family to the island of Sarcommand of the Egyptian expedition, he answvered dinia. to those friends who advised him rather to stay and Another victim there was of the French grasping assert a pre-eminent station in the government at ambition, in whose fate the catholic world was deeply homne, " that the fruit was not ripe." The seventeen interested. We have seen already, that Bonaparte, months, or thereabouts, of his absence, had done tl:ough he despoiled the pope of power and treasure, much to complete the maturity which was for- judged it more prudent to permit him to subsist as a nlerly imperfect. The French government had petty prince, than, by depriving him of all temporal ceased to be invariably victorious, and at times had authority, to drive him to desperation, and oblige suffered internal changes, which, instead of restor- him to use against the Republic those spiritual ing the national confidence, had only induced a ge- weapons, to which the public opinion of catholic neral expectation of some farther and decisive revo- countries still assigned strength. But the Directory VOL. VI. 34 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. were of a different opinion; and though the pope had new classical-sounding governnent was created at submitted passively to every 4emand which had the command of the French general,-The Parthebeen made by the French ambassador, however nopean Republic. The French were now possessed inconsistent with the treaty of Tolentino, the Direc- of all Italy, excepting Tuscany, and that was exempttory, with the usual policy of their nation, privately ed from their authority in name only, and not in encouraged a party in Rome which desired a revo- efect. lotion. These conspirators arose in arms, and, when The FIench people, notwithstanding the success dispersed by the guards, fled towards the hotel of of these several undertakings, vwere not deceived Joseph Bonaparte, then the ambassadorof the French or flattered by them in a degree equal to what proto the pope. In the scuffle which ensued, the am- bably their rulers expected. Their vanity was alarmbassador was insulted, his life endangered, and ed at the meanoess of the motives which the DirecGeneral Duphot actually killed by his side. This tory exhibited on almost every occasion. Even the outrage of course sealed the fall of the pope, which dazzling pride of conquest was sullied by the iuerhad probably long been determined on. Expelled cenary views with which war was undertaken. On fiom his dominions, the aged Pits VI. retired to one occasion the veil was raised, nnd all Frenchmen Sienna, more the object of respect and veneration in who had feelings of decency, not to say of probity his condition of a dethroned exile, than when holding or honour, remaining, must have held themselves the semblance of authority by permission of France. disgraced by the venal character of their governIn place of the pontiff's government arose the shadow ment. of a mighty name, the Roman Republic. But the Some disputes existing between France and the Gauls were in possession of the Capitol, nor did the United States of America, commissioners were sent ancient recollections, connected with the title of the by the latter country to Paris, to endeavour to renew commonwealth, procure for the Romans more store a good understanding. They were not publicly independent authority than was possessed by any of acknowledged by France in the character of amthe other ephemeral republican governments. bassadors; but were distinctly given to understand, In the fall of the pope, and the occupation of the that they could only be permitted to treat, on conRoman territories by a French army, the King of dition that the States of America should lend to the Naples saw the nation whom he feared and hated, Republic the sum of a million sterling; to which and by whom he knew he was considered as a de- was added, the unblushing demand of fifty thousand sirable subject of plunder, approach his frontiers, pounds, as a douceur for the private pocket of the and become his neighbours. War he perceived was Directors. The astonishment of the envoys was unavoidable; and he formed the resolution to be the extreme at this curious diplomatic proposal, and first in declaring it. The victory of Nelson, and the they could hardly credit their ears when they heard interest which that distinguished hero acquired at it repeatedly and grossly urged. "The essential what might be called a female court, with the laurels part of the treaty," said one of the French agents, of the Nile fresh upon his brow, confirmed the Nea- "is il faut de I'argent-il fiaut beaucoup d'arpolitan government in the resolution. Mack, an gent;" and, to render the matter palatable, he told Austrian general, who had got the reputation of a the Americans of other countries which had paid great tactician and a gallant soldier, was sent by large sums to obtain peace, and reminded them of the emperor to discipline and command the Nea- the irresistible power of France. The Transatlantic politan army. Nelson's falcon eye measured the republicans, unmoved by these arguments, stoutly man's worth at once. " General Mack," said he, answered, "That it belonged only to petty states " cannot move wvithout five carriages-I have formed to purchase independence by payment of tributemy opinion-I heartily pray I may be mistaken." that America was willing and able to protect herself He was not mistaken. The Neapolitan army by arms, and would not purchase with money what marched to Rome, wvas encountered by the French, she possessed by her powerful means of self-defoulght just Iong enough to lose about forty men, then fence." They added, " that they had no power fled, abandoning guns, ba-gage, arms, and every- whatever to enter into any engagements concerning thing besides. "'The Neapolitan officers did not a loan." lose much honour," said Nelson, " for God knows The agents of France lowered their tone so fir they had little to lose —but they lost what they had." as to say, that if the commissioners would pay someThle prescient eye, which was as accurate by land thing in the way of fees, they might be permitted as by sea, had also foreseen the instant advance of to remain in Paris, whilst one of their number rethe French to Naples. It took place accordingly, turned to America to obtain instructions from their but not unresisted. The naked rabble, called Lazza- government; but not even to that modification of roni, showed the most desperate courage. They bribery Nwould the Americans listen. They would attacked the French ere they came to the city; and, not, according to the expression used in incendiary notwithstanding a murderous defeat, they held out letters, " put five pounds in a certain place." The Naples for two days with their irregular musketry treaty became public, to the scandal alike of France only, against regular for;es'amply supplied with and of Europe, which joined in regardaing a governartillery. Whiat can mwe say of a country, where ment that made war on such base principles, as the rabble are courageous and the soldiers cowards? standing, in comparison to those who warred in the what, unless that the higher classes, from who m the spiit of' conquest, in the relation of footpads to higllofficers are chosen, must be the parties to be cen- wvaymen. The only attempt made by Talleyrand sulrel. towards explanation of this singular transaction, The royal fanlily fled to Sicily; and in Naples a was a shuffling denial of the fact, which he strengthL~~ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 267 ened by an insinuation, that the statement of the The united forces of Austria and Russia, chiefly American envoys was a weak invention, suggested under the command of this singular character, sucto them by the English. ceeded, in a long train of bloody battles, to retake Not to multiply instances, the rapacity and do- and re-occupy those states in the north of Italy, mineering insolence with which the Directory con- which had been conquered in Bonaparte's first camducted themse lvees towards the new republics, who paigns. It was in vain that Macdonald, whose were every moment made sensible of their total de- name stood as high among the republican generals, pendence on the Great Nation-the merciless exac- as his character for honour and rectitude among tions which they imposed, together with the rapa- French statesmen, marched from Naples, traversing cious peculations of many of their generals and the whole length of Italy, to arrest the victorious agents, made them lose interest almost as fast as progress of the allies. After a train of stubborn they could acquire territory. Their fair pretexts of fighting, it was only by displaying great military extending fireedom, and the benefits of a liberal talent thathe could extricate the remains of'his army. government, to states which had been oppressed by At length the decisive and desperate battle of Novi the old feudal institutions, were now valued at no seemed to exclude the French from the possession more than their worth; and it was seen, thattlhe of those fair Italian provinces, which had been only equality which republican France extended to acquired by such expense of life. the conquered countries, was to render all classes On the Rhine, though her defeats were not of alike degraded and impoverished. Thus, the suc- such a decided character, France also lost reputacesses which we have hastily enumerated rather en- tion and territory. Jourdan proved no match for the dangered than strengthened the empire of France, as Archduke Charles, who, having no longer Bonaparte they rendered her ambition the object of fear and to encounter, asserted his former superiority over suspicion to all Europe. The catholic nations be- inferior French generals. His royal highness finally held the degradation ofthe supreme pontiff with ab- compelled the French torecross the Rhine, while horrence-every king in Eulrope feared a similar fate the Austrian generals Bellegarde and La Hotze, with the sovereigrns of Sardinia and Naples-and, supported by a Russian division under Korsakow, after the fate of Switzerlard, no people could rely advanced to the line of the Lirnmat, near Zurich, upon a peacefll, unoffending, and strictly neutral and waited the jaunction of Suwarrow to occupy character, -as ground sufficient to exempt them from Switzerland, and even to menace France, who, in Frenchl aggression. Thus a general dread and dis- a great measure despoiled of her folreign conquests, like prepared for a new coalition against France, in had now reason to apprehend the invasion of her which Russia, for the first time, was to become an own territory. active co-operator. In the Netherlands, the French interest seemed The troops of this powerful empire were eminently equally insecure. Insurrections bad already iaken qualified for encountering with the French; for, place in what they called Belgium, and it seemed added to their hardihood, courage, and discipline, that the natives of these populous districts desired they had a national character-a distinction less but opportunity and encouragement for a general known to the Germans, whose subdivision into dif- revolt. Holland, thro:rgh all its provinces, was ferent states, often at war with each other, has in equally disaffected; and the reports fi-om that counsome degree diminished their natural spirit ofpa- try encouraged England to send to the coast an triotism. Accustomed also to warfare on a great expedition, consisting of British and Russian forces, scale, and to encounter such an enemy as the Turk, to which two divisions of the Dutch fleet delivered the. Russians, while they understood the modern up their vessels, hoisting at the same time the cosystem of' tactics were less servilely bigoted to it lours of the stadtholder. Here was another risk of than the Austrians. Their ideas more readily went an imminent and pressing description, which Ineback to the natural and primitive character of war, naced France and its directorial government. and they were better prepared either to depart from It remains to be added to the tale of these boreign strict technical rules themselves, or to see them de- calamities, that the Chouans, or royalists of Breparted from, and calculate the results. These new tagne, were again in the field with a number of enenies of France, moreover, were full of confidence bands, amounting, it is said, to forty thousand men in their own character, and unchecked in their mili- in all. They had gained several successes, and, tary enthusiasm by the frequent recollections of though falling short of' the chivalrous spirit of tllhe defeat, which clouded the spirit of the Austrians. Vendeans, and having no general equal in talents to Above all, the Russians had the advantage of being Charette, were nevertheless sufficiently brave and commanded by Seawarrow, one of the most extraor- well commanded, to become extremely formidable, dinary men of his time, who, possessed of the most and threaten a renewal of all the evils which had profound military sagacity, assumed the external been occasioned by the formei civil war. appearance of fhnatical enthusiasm, as in society he Amidst these louring appearances, the dislike often concealed his perfect knowledge of good and disrespect with which the Directors were rebreeding under the show of extravagant buffoonery. garded, occasioned their being loaded with every These peculiarities, which wvould not have succeed- species of accusation by the public. It was not fored with a French or English army, gained for him gotten that it was the jealousy of Barras, Rewbel, an -unbounded confidence among his countrymen, and the other Directors, which had banished from who considered his eccentric conduct, followed, as France the most successful of her generals, at the it almost always was, by brilliant success, as the head of a gallant army, who wvere now needed to result of something which approached to inspiration. detend the provinces which their valour had gained. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.'he battle of Aboukir, while it annihilated thleir fleet, grants to resume their property., Those who enterhad insulated the land forces, vwo, now cut off tained such sentimelnts were called moderns. The from all communication with their mother country, ancient blood-red jacobins could hardly be said to and shut up in an insalubrious province, daily wasted exist. The - ation had had a surfeit of blood, and in encounters with the barbarous tribes that valour, all parties looked back with disgust on the days of and those lives, which, hazarded on the frontiers of Robespierre. But there existed a kind of white France, might have restored victory to their stand- jacobins; men who were desirous to retain a large eards. proportion of democratical principle in tile constituTo these upbraiding complaints, and general tion, either that they might not renounce the classical accusations of incapacity, as well as of peculation, name of' a republic, or because they confided in their the Directors had little to answer. What was a still own talents, to "wield at will the fierce democracy;" greater deficiency, they had no party to appeal to, or because they really believed that a potent infioby whom their cause, right or wrong, might have sion of such a spirit in the forms of government was been advocated with the staunch adherence of par- necessary for the preservation of liberty. This party tisans. They had undergone, as we shall presently was greatly inferior in numbers to the others; and show, various changes in their own body, but with- they had lost their authority over the populace, by out any alteration in their principles of administra- means of which they had achieved such changes tion, which still rested on the principle of Bascule, during the early periods of thle Revoluition. B3ut or see-saw,* as it is called in English; the attempt, they were bold, enterprising, active; and their chiets, in short, to govern two contending factions in tile assuming at first the name of the Pantheon, saterstate, by balancing the one against the other, without wards of' the Mandge Club, formed a uarty in tire adhering to either. In consequence of this mean state, which, fiom the character of the leaders, gave and temporising policy, which is always that of great subject of jealousy to tile Directory. weak minds, the nmeasures of the government were The rapacity and insolent bearing of the F.'ench considered, not with refere+nce to the general wel- government having, as we have seen, provoked a fare of the state, but as they should have eftFect upon new war with Austria and Russia, the means to one or other of tile parties by which it was divided. which the Directors had recourse for maintaining it It followed also, that having rno certain path and were a forced loan imposed on the wrealthy, which plan, but regulating their movements upon the wish gave alarm to property, and a conscription of two to maintain an equality between the factions, in hundred thousand men, which was alike distressing ocrder that they might preserve their authority over to poor and rich. Both measules had been submitted both, the Directors had no personal followers or to during the reign of Terror; but then a mnurmur supporters, save that most sordid class, who regulate cost the complainer his head. The Directory had their politics on their interest, and who, though no such summarly mode of settling grievances. These faithful adherents of every settled administration, tvwo last inflictions greatly inflamed the public disperceive, by instinctive sagacity, the moment that content. To meet the general tendency to insurrectheir patrons are about to lose their offices, and de- tion, they had recourse to a measumre equally harsh sert their cause on such occasions with all conve- and unpopular. It was called the Law of Hostages, aient speed. by which the unoffending relatives of emigrants, or Yet the Directors, had they been men of talent, royalists, supposed to be in arms, were thrown into integrity, and character-above all, had they been prison,-and rendered responsible for the acts of united amrnng themselves, and agreed on one steady their connexions. This unjust law filled the prisons course of policy, might have governed France with with women, old men, and children,-victims of' a little diflicullty. The great body of the nation were government which, because it was not stromng enolgh exhausted by the previous fury of the revolutionary to subdue insurrection by direct ftorce, visited the mlovements, had slipped full with politics, and were consequences of its own weakness on age, childimuch disposed to sit down contented under any go- hood, and helpless females. vernlent which promised protection for lifb and Meantime the dissensions among the directors property. Even the factions had lost their energy. themselves. which continued to increase, led to Those who inclined to a monarchical form were various chanuges within their own body. When many of them become indifferent by whom the Bonaparte left Europe, the Directory consisted of' sceptre was wielded, providing that species of go- Barias, Rewbel, Treilhard, Merlin, Riveillere L6verniment, supposed by them mIost suitable to the peaux. The opposition attacked them with so much habits and character of the French, should be again fury in the legislative asseimblies, Boulay de la adopted. Many who were of this opinion saw great Meurthe, Lucien Bonaparte, Franc.ois, and othir objection to the restoration of the Bourbons, for fear men of talent leading the way, thast at length the that along with their right might revive all those Directors appear to have become afraid of' being oppressive feudal claimis which the Revolution had made personally responsible by impeachment for swept away, as well as the pretensions of the emui- the pecuilations of their agents, as well as for the result of the insolences by which they had exasper* The term, it is scarcely necessary to say, is derived ated the fiiends and allies of France. Rewbel, he from the chililish amusemnelt, where two boys swing at the whose character for talent and integrity stood Iost opposite ecads of a plank, Inoving up and down, in what fair with the public, was removed from office by tile Dr Jolhnsen calls a "reciprocating motion,' while a third lot which announced him as the Director who was urchin, placed on the cent-re of notion, regulates their to retire. It has been said sonie art was uised to aoveyemeats. guide fortune on this occasion. His name in the list LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 2i9 was succeeded by one celebrated in the Revolution; this, was both singular and ingenious. The officethat of the Abb6 Si6yes. bearers were thus to be selected out of three orders, This remarkable statesman had acquired a high of the state, fborming a triple hierarchy... The cirepultation, not only by the acuteness of' his neta- tizens of each commune were to aname one-tenth of physical talent, but by a species of mystery in their number, to be called the Commnll al Notables, which he involved himself and his opinions. He was From these were to be selected the magistrates of certainly possessed of great knowledge and expe- the comnlmnes, and the justiees of' peace 2. The' rience in the affairs of France, was an adept in the Communal Notables were again to chuse a tenth composition of new constitutions of all kinds, and part of their number, who were called the Departhad got a high character, as possessed of secrets mental Notables. The prefects, judges. and propeculiarly his own, for conducting the vessel of tile vincial administrators, were selected firoml this sestate amidst the storms of revolution. The abbe in cond body. 3. The Departmental Notables, in like fact managed his political reputation as a prudent manner, were to elect a tenth of their number, coimtrader does his stock; and by shunning to venture puted to amount to about six thousand persons; and on anything which could in any degree peril his from this highest class of citizens were to be filled credit, he extended it in the public opinion, perhaps the most dignified and important situations in the much farther than his parts justified. A temper stat he minlisters and members of government7 less daring in action than bold in metaphysical the legislature, the senate or grand jury, tlhe prinspeculation, and a considerable regard for his own cipal judges, ambassadors, and the like. By this personal safety, accorded well with his affected air system it will be perceived, that instead of equality, of mystery and reserve. In the States-general he three ranks of privileged citizens were to be estahad made a great impression, by his pamphlet ex- blished, fionm whose ranks alone certain offices could plaining the nature of the third estate; * and he had be filled. But this species of nobility, or, as it was the principal part in procuring the union of the called, notability, was dependent, not on birth, blt three separate Estates. A flaming patriot in 1792-3, on the choice of the people, from whom, though he voted for the death of the unfortunate Louis; more or less directly, all officers without exception and, as was reported, with brutal levity, using the received their commissions. The elections were to.celebrated expression, " La mort sans phrase." take place every five years. He was no less distinguished for bringing forward To represent the national dignity, power, and the important measure for dividing France into de- glory, there was to be an officer called the Grand partments, and thus blending together and confound- Elector, who was to have guards, a revenue, and ing all the ancient distinctions of provinces. After all the external appendages of royalty; all acts of this period he became passive, and was little heard government, laws, and judicial proceedings, were of during the reign of Terror; for lie followed the to rms in his name. This species of' soi fcinkant maxim of Pythagoras, and worshiped the Echo was to possess no part of the royal authority, except (only found in secret and solitary places), when he the right of naming two consuls, one for peace, and heard the tempest blow hard. the other for war; and tile farther right of selecting, After the revolution of 9th Theruridori, Sieyes from lists of candidates to be supplied by the three came in with the moderate party, and had the merit ranks of the hierar-chy, the individuals who were to to propose the recal of the members who had been fill official situations as they should become vacant. forcibly expelled by the jacobin faction on the tall But having exercised this privilege, the grand elecof the girondists. He was one of the committee of tor, or proclaimer general, wasJfitsctes officio,.and eleven, to whom was committed the charge of had no active duties to perfbrnm, or power to exerforming the new constitution, afterwards called that cise. The two consuls, altogether uncolltroled by of the year Three. This great metaphysical philo- him or each other, were to act each in their own sopher and politician showed little desire to share exclusive department of peace or war; aid the other with any colleagues the toil and honour of a task to ftunctionaries were alike indeperldent of the grand which he deemed himself exclusively competent; proclainler, or elector, so soon as he had appointed aild he produced, accordingly, a model entirely of them. He was to resenmble no sovereign ever' heard his own composition, very ingenious, and evincing a of but the Queen Bee, who has nothing to do bilt to wonderfully intimate acquaintance with political repose in idleness and luxury, and give being to the doctrines, together with a multitude of nice ba- active insects by whose industry tile business of the lances, capacities, and disqualifications, so consti- hive is carried on. tuted as to be checks on each other. As strongly T'he government being thus provided for, the characteristic of the genius of the man, we shall Abb6 Si6yes's system of legislature wvas solrietlhinl here give an account of his great work. like that of France in the time of the parliament. His plan provided that the constitution, with its Tihere was to be a legislative body of two hIundred powers of judicature and of administration, should and fifty deputies, but they were to fornl rather a emanate from the people; but lest, like that nna.- tribunal of judges, than a popular and deliberative tural parent the sow, the people should devour assembly. Two other bodies, a Council of State their own nine farrow, the functionaries thus in- on the part of the government, and a Tribtnate of vested with power were to be placed, when created, one hundred deputies, on the part of thi people, out of the reach of the parents who had given them were to propose and discuss measures in presence birth. The mode in which it was proposed to effect of this legislative coluncil, who then proceeded to adopt or reject them upon scrutiny and by vote, but See pp. 1~ z, without any oral delivery of opinions. The Tribu a70 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. nate was invested with the right of guarding the preliminary, obtained, as we have said, Rewbel's freedom of the subject, and denouncing to the Con- seat in the Directory. Merlin and LUpeaux, mevocative Senate such nlisconduct of office-bearers, naced with impeachnients, were induced to send in or ill-chosen measures, or ill-advised laws, as should their resignation. TreilhaTd had been previously appear to them worthy of reprobation. i displaced, on pretext of an informality in the choice. But, above all, the Abb6 Siryes piqued himself Instead of them were introduced into the Directory upon the device of what he termed a Conservative Roger Ducos, a moderr, or rather a royalist, with Senate, which, possessing in itself no power of ac- I Gohier and Moulins, men of talents too ordinary to tion or legislation of any kind, was to have in charge throw any opposition in the path of Siryes. Barras, the preservation of the constitution. To this senate by his expenses and his luxurious mode of life, his was given the singular power of calling in to be- connexion with stock-jobbers, and encouragenlent come a member of their own body, and reducing of' of peculation, was too much in danger of impeach-.course to their own state of incapacity, any indivi- ment, to permit him to play a manly part. He dual occupying another situation in the constitution, truckled to circumstances, and allied himself with, Iwhose talents, ambition, or popularity, should render or rather subjected himself to, Sidyes, who saw the him a subject of jealousy. Even the grand elector time approaching when the constitution of the year himself was liable to this fate of absorption, as it Three must fall, and hoped to establish his own rewas called, although he held his crown of Cocaign jected model in its stead. But the revolution which in the common case for life. Any exertion on his he meditated could only be executed by force. part of what might seemn to the senate an act of ar- The change in the Directory had destroyed the bitrary authority, entitled them to adopt him a government by bascule, or balance, and that intermember of their own body. He was thus removed mediate and trimming influence being removed, the.from his palace, guards, and income, and made two parties of the mod6rds and the republicans for ever incapable of any other office than that of a stood full opposed to each other, and ready to try senator. This high point of policy was carrying their strength in a severe struggle. Siryes, though the system of checks and balances as far as it could no royalist, or at least certainly no adherent of well go. the house of Bourbon, stood, nevertheless, at the The first glance of this curious model must have head of the nloddr6s, and taxed his sagacity for conviaced a practical politician that it was greatly means of insuring their victory. The modlres postoo complicated and technical to be carried into sessed a majority in the Council of the Ancients; effect. The utility of laws consists in their being but the Society of the Mandge, republicans if of a character which compels the respect and obe- not jacobins, had obtained, at the last election, a dience of those to whomf they relate. The very great superiority of numbers in the Council of' delicacy of such an ingenious scheme rendered it Five Hundred. They were sure to be in decided incapable of obtaining general regard, since it was opposition to any change of the constitution of the too refined to be understood save by profound phi- year Three; and such being the case, those bho losophers. To the rest of the nation it must have plotted the new revolution could not attempt it been like a watch to a savage, who, being com- without some external support. To call upon tlhe mnaided to regulate his time by it, will probably people was no longer the order of the day. Indeed, prefer to make the machine correspond with his it may be supposed that the ancient revolutionary inclinations, by putting backward and forward the columnns would rather have risen against Si6yes, index at pleasure. A man of ordinary talent and and in behalf of the Society of the Manege. The honest disposition might have been disqualified for proposers of a new change had access. however, to public life by this doctrine of absorption, just as a the arny, and to that they determined to appeal. snan ignorant of swimming would perish if flung into The assistance of some military chief of the first a lake. But a stout swimmer would easily gain the reputation was necessary. Sieyes cast his eyes uponl,ehore. and an individual like Bonaparte would set Joubert. an officer of high reputation, and one of the at defiance the new species of ostracism, and decline most distinglised amongst Bonaparte's generals. to be neutralized by the absorption of thle senate. l e wvas named by the Dilectols to the command of Above all, the plan af the abbe destroyed the true tie Delartment of Paris, but shortly after was sent principle of national representation, by introducing to Italy, with hopes that, acquiring a new fund of -a metaphysical election of members of legislation, glory by checking the progress of SuYwarl-ow, hie instead of one immediately derived from the direct imighlt be yet more fitted to fill the public eye, and vote of the people themselves. In the abbd's alermbic, influence the general mind, in the crisis when S;dyes the real and invaluable principle of popular repre- looked for his assistance. Joubert lost his lift-.{ sentation was subtilized into slnoke. lhowever, at the great battle of Novi, fought betwixt] For these, or other reasons, the commissioners of him and Suwvarrow; and so opportunely did hias the year Three (lid not approve of the plan proposed death make room for the pretensions of Bonaparte, by Sidyes; and, equally dissatisfied with the con- that it has been rumoured, certainly without the stitution which they adopted, he withdrew himself least probability, that he did not fall by the fire of from their deliberations, and'accepted the situation the Austriians, but by that of assassins hired by the of ambassador to Prussia, where he discharged with family of Napoleon, to take out of the way a powergreat ability the task ofa diplomatist. fil competitoroftheir brother. This woulld have beeln In 1799, Sieyes returned from Berlin to Paris, a gratuitous crime, since they could neither reckon full of hope to establish his own favourite model on with certainty on the arrival of Bonaparte, nor upon the ruins of the directorial constitution, and, as a his being adopted by Sieyes in place of Joubert. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, 2S7 Meanwhile, the family of Napoleon omitted no urged forward. Though they succeeded in eluding mode of keeping his merits in public remembrance. the danger, it was still liar from being over, and the Reports from time to time appeared in the papers democrats would probably have dared somne despeto this purpose, as when, to give him conseq ence rate mcvement, if any additional reverse had beea doubtless, they pretended that the Tower guns of' sustained on the fiontier. Loudon were fired, and public rejoicings made, But as if' the calamities of France, which of late upon a report that Napoleon had been assassinated. had followed each other in quick succession, had Madarme Bonaparte, in tile meanwhile, lived at attained their height of tide, the atlhirs of tlhat'great expense, and with nmuch elegance, collecting country began all of a sudden to assume a more around her whatsoever was remarkable for talent favourable aspect. The success of General Brune and accomplishment, and many of the women of in ftolland, against the Anglo-Russian army, had Paris who were best accustomed to the management obliged the invaders of Hl-olland to retreat, antl of political intrigue. Lucien Bonaparte distin- enter into a convention for evacuation of the country guished himself as an orator in the Council of Five on which they had made their descent. A dispute Hundred, and although he had hitherto affected or misunderstanding, having occurred between the republican zeal, he now opposed, with much abi- Emperors of Austria and Russia, the Archduke lity, the reviving influence of the democrats. Joseph Charles, in order, it was alleged, to repel an incurBonaparte, also, a man of talent, and of an excellent sion of the French into the countries on the Maine, character, though much aspersed afterwards in con- withdrew a great part of his army from the line of sequence of the part in Spain assigned him by his the Lilimat, which was taken up by the Russians brother, lived hospitably, saw much company, and under Korsakow. Mass6na took the advantage of maintained an ascendance in Parisian society. We this imprudent step, crossed the Limmat, surprised? c annotV-doubt that these near relatives of Bonaparte the Russians, and defeated Korsakow, whilst the foulnd means of communicating to him the state of formidable Suwarrow, who had already advanced, affairs in Pai'is, and the opening which it afforded to communicate with that general, found his right for the exercise of his distinguished talents. flank uncovered by his defeat, and had the greatest The communication betwixt Toulon and Alexan- difficulty in executing a retrograde movement before dria was, indeed, interrupted, but not altogether General Lecourbe. broken off, and we have no doubt that the struggle The news of these successes induced the repubof parties in the interior, as well as thie great disas- licans to defer their attack upon the moderate party; ters on the frontier, had their fi1l influence in de- and on so nice a point do the greatest events hang, tertnining Bonaparte to his sudden return, M\liot, that had a longer period intervened between these though in no very positive strain, has named a victories and the arrival of Bonaparte, it is most Greek called Bamblki, as the bearer of a letter probable that lie would have found the situation of firom Joseph to his brother, conveying this important military chief of the approaching revolution, which intelligence. The private Memoirs of Fouch6 pre- became vacant on the death of Joubert, filled up by tend that that minister purchased the secret of some one of those generals, of whom success had Napoleon's return being expected, from Josephine extended the fame. But he landed at the happy criherself, for the sam of a thousand louis, and that sis, when the presence of a chief of first-rate talents tile landing at Fr6jus was no surprise to hirn. Both was indispensable, and when no favourite name had these pieces of p'ivate history may be safely doubt- yet been found, to fill the public voice with haIf ed but it would be difficult to convince us that Bo- such loud acclaim as his own. napalrte took the step of quitting Egypt on the vague intelligence afforded by the journals, and without CHAPTER XxXIV confidential communication with his own family. To retlrn to the state of the French government. General rejoicing on the return of Bonaaparte-He, vmeanThe death of Joubert not only disconcerted the wthile, secldes hinmself in retirement and literature.schernmes of Sienves, blAt exposed him and his party Advances made to hism on all sides.-N-apoleon coalesces tol retaliation. Bernadotte was minister of war, and with the Abi Siyes.-Revolof tios o -the 18th tBrnmvs tre Josrdan and ee, were all- Pa rticslars of that evenlt.-Clas]i:r g cviewss of' the le, wvith Jolurdan and Augereau, were all warm in he,,vita,-',.,.Councils of Ancieats, ansd the Five fltndred.-Barras the, cause of republicanism. Any of these distin- Csunhis colleaes esi, eaig ie i hole posver in lh guished generals was capable of leading the military handis of Npoleon.-Proceedisg gs, of' the colcils oen the fIrlce to compel such an alteration in the constitution 18th —and 19th.-Sittisngs removed fromi Par.is to,S.tas might suit the purpose of their paity, and thus Cloud —Bonaparte visits both/ on the lstterday.- Vio/e. t reversing the project of S~:yes, who, without Jon-,-msmnotios in the Council of Five Iltemdrecl —Tvapoiel belt, vwas like the head without the arm that should received uvith great hosizlity, snensced and assultted, execuate. Already, Jourdan had made in the Coun- andrfitnally, extricated by his grenadiers, breath ess actd cil of Five Hundred a speech on the dangers of the exhasssted.-Lsccien Bonsaparte, the presiderlt, sitris country, which, in point of vehemence, might haveh a siarescort-leclaresthe Giibeen pronounced in the ancient hall of the jacobins. cil of Five Htlndred dissoved-They are thess dispersed by nmilitary force. —variouts rutmouzrs statedt ai1d dlisHe in plain terms threatened the mnoddr6s with such be military force.-Variosss rssiirs stated sid tiscussed.-Both councils adjosurn to the 19th Februarzy, a general insurrection as had taken place in the 180, after appsisg a Protoiomeal Consmilar Gover,year 179'2, and proposed to declare the country in sent, of lonaparte, aSioyes, and Dscos. danger. He was answered by Lucien Bonaparte, Chinier, and Boulay, who had great difficulty to BONAPARTE had caused himself to be preceded parry the impetuosity with which the motion was by an account of his campaigns in Africa and Asia, 27S LIFlE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. in which tile splendid victory over the Turks at the usual visits of form with the ministers of thle Aboukir enabled hini to gloss over his bad success Republic, lie was more frequently to be found at in Syria, the total loss of his fleet, and the danger the Institute, or discussing with the traveler Volney, of Malta, which was closely besieged by the Eng- and other men of letters, tile information which lie lish. Still, however, these dispatches could never had acquired in Egypt on science and antiquities, have led any one to expect the sudden return of a than in haunts of politicians, or the society of thle general engaged on a foreign service of the utmost leaders of either'party in the state. Neither was imp'ortance, who, without lsaving a better reason to he to be seen at tile places of popular resort-lie allege, than his own opinion that his talents were went into no general cornmpany, seldom attended the more essential to hIis country in France than in theatres, and, when lie did, took his seat in a private Eg'ypt, left his arrny to its fate, and came without box. either order or permission from his government, to A public entertainment was given in honour of volrlnteer his services where they were not expect- the general in the Church of St-Srilpice, which was ed, or perhaps wvished fbr. Another in the same attended by both tile Legislative Bodies. Moreau circumstances, or perhaps the same general at an- shared the same honour, perhaps on tlhat account other period of the Revolution, would have been not the more agreeable to 13onaparte. Jourdan and received by the public with alienated favour, and by Augereau did not appear-a cloud seemed to hang the governmllent with severe ivquiry, if not with over the festival-Napoleon only presented himself denunciation. for a very short time, and the whole was over in On the contrary, such was the general reliance the course of an holur. on the talents of Bonaparte, that, delighted to see To the mnilitary, his conduct seenled equally rehim arrive, no one thoullght of asking wherefore, or served —lhe held no levees, and attended no reviews. by wlhose authority he had returned. HIe was re- While all ranks contended in offerinlg their tribute of ceived like a victorious monarch re-entering his applause, he turned in silence fronm receiving them. dominions at his own tinie and pleasure. Bells were In all this there was deep policy. No one knew everywhere ruing, illuminations made, a delirium better how muchl popular applaulse depends on the -of joy agitated the purblic mind, and the messenger gloss of novelty, and how great is the difference in who carried the news of his disembarkation to Paris public estimation, betwixt him who appears to hunt was received as if he had brought news of a battle and court acclamations, and the wiser and more gained. dignified favourite of the multitude, whose popularityr Thle hall of the Council of Five Hundred re-echoed follows after himr and seeks him out, instead of with cries of' victory, while the orator, announcing being the object of his putrsuit and armbition. Yet the victories of' Brune over the English, and Mas- under this still and apparently indifferent demeansena over tlhe Rurssians, dwelt upon the simple fact our, Napoleon was in secret employed in collecting of Bonaparte's rletarn, as of interest equnal to all all the information necessary concerninrg tlre purposes these successes. He was heard with shouts of and the powers of the various parties in the state; "Long live the Republic!" which, as the event anid as each was eager to obtain hIis countenance, he proved, was an exclaniation bust very indifferently had no difficulty in obtaining full explanations on adapted to tile occasion. these points. Jos6phinre, anti Joseph Bonaparte, apprised by'I'he violent republicans, wvho possessed the the government of the arrival of Napoleon, hastened majority in tile Council of' Five Hundred, made to meet himr on the road; and his progress towards advances to himln; and tIhe Generals Jollrdan, Au-LI Paris was everywhere attended by the same gene- reau, and Bernadotte, offered to place hinl at tire ral acclamations which had received him at landing. head of that party, provided li he would m:rintain tile The members of government, it must be supposed, democratical constitution of tile year Three. In felt alarm and anxiety, which they endeavoulred to uniting with this active and violent p;krty, Bonap arte conceal, nuder the appearance of sharing ill the ge- saw every chance of instant and irinmlediate sluccess; meral joy. The arrival of a person so influential by brtt, by succeeding in the outset, Ire would lprobably iris famlie, so decided ill his character, engaged with have mnarred the farther projects of'ambition which no faction, and pledged to no political system, was Ire already nourished. Military leader-, such as likely to give victory to one or tile other party who Jourdlan and Bernadotte, at the Ilead of a party so were contending for sualeriority, as he shoulht him- firlious as thie republicans, could not have been self determnine. The eyes of all men were tupon thrown aside without bothl danler andl difficulty Napoleon, while Iris reserved and retired mode of arid it being unqurestionably tile ultimriate intentison of' life prevented any accurate anticipation being form- Bonaparute to usurp the suuprenme power, it was liodt ed of tile part which lie was likely to take in the natural fbr himr to seek adherents aionig thl.se, who, alpproachi.ng convulsions of the state. While both thoughl differing concerluinrg the kind of governlllent parties migirt hope for his participation and succour, which should be finally established, coinculrred ill neither ventured to call into question his purpose, desiring a change froml the republican 1Irodel. or the authlority by which lie had left his army in 13arras, too, endeavoured to sound thle purplnoses Egypt, and appeared thus unexpectedly in the ca- of tihe general of the Army ofEgypt. He hintted to pital. On tile contrary, they courted him on either him a plan of placing at tile head of the Directory hian as tile arbiter, whose decision was likelyv to Hedouville, a mlan of ordinary talent, then general lraee mnost influence ohu tile state of the nation. of what was still termed tile Army of England, of Nalpoleon, meanwhlile, seemed to give his excla- retiring himself from power, and of coirlerring on Sire attentionl to literature, arid, having exchanged Napoleon the general command of the republican LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 273 forces on the frontiers, which he vainly supposed members of both legislative bodies were cautiously ref'erment sufficient to gratify his anbition. Bona- intrusted with what was going forward, and others pi lrlte would not listen to a hint which wvent to were generally advised to hold themselves in readirermove him from the capital, and the supreme ness for a great movement. adrlinistration of affairs-he knew also that Barras's A sufficient nmilitary force was next to be procharacter was contemptible, and his resources vided; and this was not difficult, for the reputation diminished-that his subsequent conduct had can- of Bonaparte insured the conspirators unlimited inceled the merit which he had acquired by the fluence among the soldiery. Three regiments of overthrow of Robespierre, and that to unite with dragoons were enthusiastically petitioning the hohim in any degree would be to adopt, in the public nour of being reviewed by Napoleon. The adheropinion, the very worst and most unpopular portion ence of these troops might be counted upon. The of' the directorial government. He rejected the officers of the garrison of Paris were desirous to pay alliance of Barras, therefore, even when, abandon- their respects to him; so were the forty adjutants of ing his own plan, the Director offered to concur in the National Guard, whom he himself had appointed any which Napoleon might dictate. when general of the troops in the interior. Many iA union with Sidyes, and the party whom lhe other officers, as well reduced as holding commisintfllenced, promised greater advantages. Under sions, desired to see the celebrated general, that thxis speculative politician were united for the time they might express their devotion to his person, and all who, though differing in other points, joined in adherence to his fortunes. All these introductions desiring a final change from a revolutionary to a had been artfully postponed. r1moderate and efficient goverilment, bearing some- Two men of more renowned name, 3Moreau and thing of a monarchical character. Their number Macdonald, had made tenders of service to Bonaendlered this party powerfill. In the Directory it parte. These both favoured the moderate party, was espoused by Sidyes and Ducos; it possessed a and had no suspicion of the ultimate design of' Nalarge majority in the Council of Ancients, and a poleon, or the final result of his undertaking. respectable minority in that of the Five Hundred. A final resolution on 15th Brunmaire determined The greater part of the middling classes throughout the 18th (9tb November) for the great attempt-an France embraced with more or less zeal the prin- interval was necessary, but the risk of discovery ciples of moderation; and agreed, that an executive and anticipation made it desirable that it should be government of some strength was necessary to save as short as possible. The secret was well kept; themn firom the evils of combined revolutionary move- yet, being unavoidably intrusted to many persons, mlents. Though the power of the moderates was some floating and vague rumours did get abroad, great, yet their subsequent objects, in case of success, and gave an alarm to the parties concerned. were various. Thus Bonaparte saw himself encou- Meanwhile, all the generals and officers whom raged to hope for victory over the existing govern- lwe have named, were invited to repair to Napoleon's milent and the republicans, by the united, strength of house at six o'clock on the morning of the 18th Bruthe moderates of every class, whilst their difference maire, and the three regiments of cavalry already in opinion concerning the ultimate measures to be mentioned were appointed to be ready and mounted adopted, afforded him the best opportunity of ad- in the Champs Elysdes, to receive the honour of X ancing, during the competition, his own pretensions being reviewed by Bonaparte, according to their to the larger share of the spoil, petition. As an excuse for assigning so unusual an Napoleon communicated accordingly with Sieyes, hour of rendezvous, it was said that the general upon the understanding that he was to be raised to was obliged to set out upon a journey. Many ofitihe principal administration of affairs; that the con- cers, however, understood or guessed what was to stitution of the year Three, which he himself had be done, and came armed with pistols as well as once pronounced "the masterpiece of legislation, with swords. Sone were we ithout such infoirmation which had abolished the errors of eighteen centuries," or presentiment. Lefebvlre, the commandant of the was entirely to be done away; and that a constitu- guard of the representative bodies, supposed to be tion was to be adopted in its stead, of which he devoted to the Directory, had only received an inknew nothing more, than that it was ready drawn vitation to attend this miitary assembly on the prelip, and lay in the portfolio of Sidyes. No doubt, ceding midnight. Bernadotte, unacquainted with the general mentally reserved the right of altering the project, and attached to the republican faction, and adjusting it as should best suit his own views, was, however, brought to Bonaparte's house by his -a right which he failed not to exercise to a serious brother Joseph. extent. When these great preliminaries had been The surprise of some, and the anxious curiosity of adjusted, it was agreed that it should be executed all, may be supposed, when they found a military between the 15th and 20th Brumaire. levee so numerous and so brilliantly assembled at a In the interim, several men of influence of both house incapable of containing half' of them. Bonacouncils were admitted into the secret. Talleyrand, parte was obliged to receive them in the open air.who had been deprived of office by the influence of Leaving them thus assembled, and waiting their cue tl) republicans, brought his talents to the aid of to enter on the stage, let us trace the political Bonaparte. Fouchi, according to Napoleon, was not manoeuvres from which the military were to take the consulted-the Memoirs which bear his name aver signal for action. the contrary-it is certain, that in his important Early as Bonaparte's levee had taken place, the capacity of minister of police, he acted in Bona- Council of Ancients, secretly and hastily assembled, parte's favour during the Rev -section. Some leading had met still earlier. The ears of all were filled v OL. vI. j 28'4 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. by a report, generally circulated, that the repub- him. He entered their hall, surrounded by his miI. an party had formed a daring plan for giving a litary staff, and by those other generals whose names new popular impulse to the' government. It was carried the memory of so many victories. "You said, that the resolution was taken at the Hotel de are the wisdom of the nation," he said to the counSaim, amongst the party who still adopted the prin- cil; "I conle, sulTounded by the generals of the ciples of the old jacobins, to connectthe two repre- Republic, to pronlise you their support. I name sentative bodies into one National Assembly, and Leftbvre my lieutenant. Let us not lose time look, invest the powers of government in a Committee of ing for precedents. Nothing in history ever lePublic Safety after the model of what was called serobled the end of the eighteenth century-nothing the Reign of Terror. Circulated hastily, and with in the eighteenth century resembled this moment. such additions to the tale as rumours speedily ac- Your wisdom has devised the necessary measure, quire, the mind of the Council of Ancients was our arms shall put it into execution." He announced agitated with much fear and anxiety. Cornudet, to the military the will of the council, and the comLebrun, and Fargues made' glowing speeches to the mand with which they had intrusted him; and it assembly, in which the terror that their language was received with loud shouts. inspired was rendered greater by the mysterious Tn the meanwhile the three Directors, Barras, and indefinite manner in which they expressed them- Gohier, and Moulins, who were not in the secret selves. They spoke of personal danger-of being of the morning, began too late to take the alarm. overawed in their deliberations-of the fall of Ii- Moulins proposed to send a battalion to surround the berty, and of the approaching destruction of the house of Bonaparte, and make prisoner the general, Republic. and whomsoever else they found there. But they " You have but an instant to save France," said had no longer the least influence over the soldiery, Cornudet; " permit it to pass away, and the country and had the mortification to see their own personal will be a mere carcase, disputed by the vultures, guard, when summoned by an aide-de-camp of Bowhose prey it must become." Though the charge of naparte, march away to join the forces which he conspiracy was not distinctly defined, the measures commanded, and leave them defenceless. recommended to defeat it were sufficiently decisive. Barras sent his secretary, Bottot, to expostulate By the 102d, 103d, and 104th articles of the Con- with Bonaparte. The general received him with stitution, it was provided that the Council of An- great haughtiness, And publicly, before a large group cients might, if they saw it expedient, alter the of officers and soldiers, upbraided him with the replace where the legislative bodies met, and convoke verses of the country; not in the tone of anr ordinary them elsewhere; a provision designed doubtless to citizen, possessing but his own individual interest prevent the exercise of that compulsion, which the in the fate of a great nation, but like a prince, who, Parisians had at one time assumed over the National returning from a distant expedition, finds that in his Assembly and Convention. This power the Council absence his deputies have abused their trust, and of Ancients now exercised. By one edict the sit- misruled his dominions. "What have you done," tings of the two councils were removed to St-Cloud; he said, " for that fine France, which I left you in by another, the council delegated to General Bona- such a brilliant condition? I left you peace, I have parte full power to see this measure carried into found war-I left you the wealth of Italy, I have effect, and vested him for that purpose with the found taxation and misery. Where are the hundred military command of the department. A state mes- thousand Frenchmen whom I have known?-all of senger was sent to communicate to the general these them my companions in glory!-They are dead." It important measures, and require his presence in the was plain, that even now, when his enterprise was Council of Ancients; and this was the crisis which but commenced, Bonaparte had already assumed he had so anxiously expected. that tone, which seemed to account every one anA few words determined the numerous body of swerable to him for deficiencies in the public service, officers, by whom the messenger found him sur- and lie hiumself responsible to no one. rounded, to concur with him without scruple. Even Barras, overwhelmed and stunned, and afraid, General Lefbhvre, who commanded the guard of perhaps, of impeachment for his alleged peculations, the legislative bodies, declared his adhesion to belied the courage which he was once supposed to Bonaparte. possess, and submitted, in the nmost abject terms, The Directory had not even yet taken the alarm. to the will of the victor. He sent in his resignaTwo of them, indeed, Sieyes and Ducos, being in tion, in which he states, " that the weal of the Reithe secret of the conspiracy, were already at the public, and his zeal for liberty alone, could have'Tuileries, to second the movement which was pre- ever induced him to undertake the burden of a paring. It is said that Barras had seen them pass public office; and that, seeing the destinies of the tin the morning, and, as they were both mounted, had Republic were now in the custody of her youthful lbeen much amused with the awkward horsemanship and invincible general, he gladly resigned his auof Si6yes. He little guessed on what expedition he thority." He left Paris for his country-seat, ac-,; as bound. companied by a guard of cavalry, which Bonaparte When Bonaparte sallied forth on horseback, and ordered to attend him, as much perhaps to watch at -the head of such a gallant cavalcade of officers, his motions as to do him honour, though the last was'his irst movement was to assume the command of the ostensible reason. His colleagues, Gohier and the three regiments of cavalry, already drawn up Moulins, also resigned their office; Sieyes and Duin the Champs llys6es, and to lead them to the cos had already set the example; and thus, the Tuileries, where the Council of Ancients expected whole Constitutional Executive Council was dis LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 275 solved, while the real power was vested in Bo- the majority, were prepared to carry forward and naparte's single person. Cambacere's, minister of complete their measures for a change of government justice, Fouch6, minister of police, with all the and constitution. But the minority, having rallied rest of the administration, acknowledged his autho. after the surprise of the preceding day, were neither rity accordingly; and he was thus placed in full silent nor passive. The Commission of Inspectors, possession as well of the civil as the military power. whose duty it was to convene the council, wvere The Council of Five Hundred, or rather the re- inculpated severely for having omitted to give inpublican majority of that body, showed a more formation to several leading members of the minostubborn temper; and if, instead of resigning, Barras, rity, of the extraordinary convocation which took Gohier, and Molllins, had united themselves to its place at such an unwonted hour on the morning leaders, they might perhaps have given trouble to preceding. The propriety, nay the legality, of the Bonaparte, successful as he had hitherto been. transference of the legislative bodies to St-Cloud, This hostile council only met at ten o'clock on was also challenged. A sharp debate took place, that memorable day, when they received, to their which was terminated by the appearance of Naposurprise, the message, intimating that the Council leon, who entered the hall, and harangued the of Ancients had changed the place of meeting from members by permission of the president. " Citizens," Paris to St-Cloud; and thus removed their debates said he, " you are placed upon a volcano. Let me from the neighbourhood of the populace, over whom tell you the truth with the frankness of a soldier. the old jacobinical principles might have retained Citizens, I was remaining tranquil with my family, influence. The laws, as they stood, afforded the when the commands of the Council of Ancients young council no means of evading compliance, and called me to arms. I collected my brave military they accordingly adjourned to meet the next day at companions, and brought forward the arms of the St-Cloud, with unabated resolution to maintain the country, in obedience to you who are the head. democratical part of the constitution. They sepa- We are rewarded with calumny-they compare me rated amid shouts of " Long live the Republic and to Cromwell-to Caesar. Had I desired to usurp the constitution!"' which were echoed by the gal- the supreme authority, I have had opportunities to leries. The tricoteuses,* and other more zealous do so before now. But I swear to you the country attendants on their debates, resolved to transfer has not a more disinterested patriot. WVe are surthemselves to St-Cloud also, and appeared there in rounded by dangers and by civil war. Let us not considerable numbers on the ensuing day, when it hazard the loss of those advantages for which we was evident the enterprise of Si6yes and of Bona- have made such sacrifices-Liberty and Equality." parte must be either perfected or abandoned. "And the Constitution!" exclaimed Linglet, a The contending parties held counsel all the even- democratic member, interrupting a speech which ing, and deep into the night, to prepare for the seemed to be designedly vague and inexplicit. final contest on the morrow. Si6yes advised that " The Constitution!" answered Bonaparte, giving forty leaders of the opposition should be arrested; way to a more natural expression of his feelings, and but Bonaparte esteemed himself strong enough to avowing his object more clearly than he had yet obtain a decisive victory, without resorting to any dared to do-" It was violated on the 18th Fructisuch obnoxious violence. They adjusted their plan dor-violated on the 22d Flor6al-violated on the of operations in both councils, and agreed that the 30th Prairial. All parties have invoked it-all have government to be established should be provision- disregarded it in turn. It can be no longer a means ally intrusted to three consuls, Bonaparte, Sidyes, of safety to any' one, since it obtains the respect of and Ducos. Proper arrangements were made of no one. Since we cannot preserve the constitution, the armed force at St-Cloud; and the command was let us at least save liberty and equality, the foundaconfided to the zeal and fidelity of Murat. Bona- tions on which it is erected." He went on in the parte used some interest to prevent Bernadotte, same strain to assure them, that for the safety of the Jourdan, and Augereau, from attending at St-Cloud Republic he relied only on the wisdom and power the next day, as he did not expect them to take his of the Council of Ancients, since in the Council of part in the approaching crisis. The last of these Five Hundred were found those men who desired to seemed rather hurt at the want of confidence which bring back the Convention, with its revolutionary this caution implied, and said, "What, general! committees, its scaffolds, its popular insurrections. dare you not trust your own little Augereau?" He "But I," he said, " will save you from such horrors wvent to St-Cloud accordingly. -I and my brave comrades at arms, whose swords Some preparations were necessary to put the and caps I see at the door of the hall; and if any palace of St-Cloud in order, to receive the two hired orator shall talk of outlawry, I will appeal to councils; the Orangerie being assigned to the Coun- the valour of my comrades, with whom I have fought cil of Five Hundred; the Gallery of Mars to that and conquered for liberty." of the Ancients. The assembly invited the general to detail the In the Council of Ancients, the mod6res, having particulars of the conspiracy to which he had alluded, but he confined himself to a reference to 4 The women of lower rank who attended the debates of the testimony of Si6yes and Ducos; and again the council, plying the task of knitting while they listened reiterating that the constitution could not save the to politics, were so denominated. They were always zea- country, and inviting the Council of Ancients to lous democrats, and might claim in one sense Shakspeare's adopt some course which might enable them to do description of so, he left them, amid cries of Vive Bonaparte! Thefree maids, who weave their thread with bones. loudly echoed by the military in the court-yard, to 276 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. try the effect of his eloquence on the more un- advanced, with a measured step and uncovered, manageable Council of Five Hundred. about one-third up the room. The deputies of the younger council having found He was received with loud murmurs. " What! the place designed for their meeting filled with drawn weapons, armed men, soldiers in the sancworkmen, were for some time in a situation which tuary of the laws!" exclaimed the members, whose seemed to resemble the predicament of the National courage seemed to rise against the display of force Assembly at Versailles, when they took refuge in a with which they were menaced. All the deputies tennis-court. The recollection was of such a nature arose, some rushed on Bonaparte, and seized him as inflamed and animated their resolution, and they by the collar; others called out —" Outlawry-outentered the Orangerie, when at length admitted, in lawry-let him be proclaimed a traitor!" It is said no good humour with the Council of Ancients, or that Arena, a native of Corsica like himself; aimed a with Bonaparte. Proposals of accommodation had dagger at his breast, which was only averted by the been circulated among them ineffectually. They interposition ofoneofthe grenadiers. The fact seems would have adnitted Bonaparte into the Directory, extremely doubtful, though it is certain that Bonabut refused to consent to any radical change in the parte was seized by two or three members, while constitution of the year Three. others exclaimed,' "Was it for this you gained so The debate of the day, remarkable as the last in many victories?" and loaded him with reproaches. which the republican party enjoyed the full freedom At this crisis a party of grenadiers rushed into the of speech in France, was opened on 19th Brumaire, hall with drawn swords, and extricating Bonaparte at two o'clock, Lucien Bonaparte being president. from the deputies, bore him off in their arms breathGaudin, a member of the moderate party, began by less with the scuffle. moving, that a committee of seven members should It was probably at this crisis that Augereau's faitl be formed, to report upon the state of the Republic; in his ancient general's fortune began to totter, and and that measures should be taken for opening a his revolutionary principles to gain an ascendance correspondence with the Council of Ancients He over his military devotion. "A fine situation you was interrupted by exclamations and clamour on the have brought yourself into," he said to Bonaparte, part of the majority. who answered sternly, "Augerean, things were "The constitution!" "The constitution or worse at Arcola-Take my advice-remain quiet, death!" was echoed and re-echoed on every side. in a short time all this will change." Angereau, "Bayonets frighten us not," said Delbrel; " we are whose active assistance and co-operation might have free men." been at this critical period of the greatest conse"Down with the dictatorship-no dictators!" quence to the council, took the hint, and continued cried other members. passive.* Jourdan and Bernadotte, who were ready Lucien in vain endeavoured to restore order. to act on the popular side, had the soldiers shown Gaudin was dragged from the tribune; the voice of the least hesitation in yielding obedience to Bonaother moderates was overpowered by clamour- parte, perceived no opening of which to avail themnever had the party of democracy shown itself selves. fiercer or more tenacious than when about to receive The council remained in the highest state of comthe death-blow. motion, the general voice accusing Bonaparte of " Let us swear to preserve the constitution of the having usurped the supreme authority, calling for a year Three!" exclaimed Delbrel; and the applause sentence of outlawry, or demanding that lie should which followed the proposition was so general, that be brought to the bar. " Can you ask me to put the it silenced all resistance. Eventhe members of the outlawry of my own brother to the vote?" said moderate party-nay, even Lucien Bonaparte him- Lucien. But this appeal to his personal situation self-were compelled to take the oath of fidelity to and feelings made no impression upon the assembly, the constitution, which he and they were leagued to who continued clamorously to demand the question. destroy. At length Lucien flung on the desk his hat, scarf, "The oath you have just taken," said Bigonnet, and other parts of his official dress. "Let me be " will occupy a place in the annals of history, beside rather heard," hle said, "as the advocate of hin the celebrated vow taken in the tennis-court. The whom you falsely and rashly accuse." But his one was the foundation of liberty, the other shall The oniter is anxios to exclpate Angerea from'v The Moniteuer is anxious to exculpate Aulgereau fr~i)m consolidate the structure." In the midst of this fer-e mentation, the letter containing the resignation of 19th Brumaire. That officer, it says, did not join in the Barras was read and received with marks of con- general oath of fidelity to the constitution of tlhe year termpt, as the act of a soldier deserting his post in the Three. The same official paper addcs, that on the evening time of danger. The moderate party seemed si- of the 19th, being invited by sone of the leading persons of lenced, overpowered, and on the point of coalescing the democratic faction, to take the military command of with the great majority of the council, when the their partisans, he had asked them hby way of reply, " Wheclash of arms was heard at the entrance of the apart- ther they supposed he would tarnish the reputation he had mnent. All eyes were turned to that quarter. Bayo- acquired in the army, by taking command of wretches like nets, drawn sabres, the plumed hats of general them?" Augereau, it may be remembered, was the geneofficers and aides-do-camp, and the cap.s of grena- ral who was sent by Bonaparte to Paris to act as military chief on the part of the Directory, in the revolution of the diers, were visible without, while Napoleon entered 18th Fructidor, in which the soldiery had willingly followed the Orangerie, attended by four grenadiers belong- hin (See p. 241). Bonaparte was probably well pleased to ing to the constitutional guard of'the councils. The keep a man of his military reputation and resolved chasoldiers remained at the bottom of the hall, while he racter out of the combat, if possible. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 277 request only added to the tumult. At this moment Bonaparte affirms, that one of the general offia small body of grenadiers, sent by Napoleon to his cers in his suite offered to take the command of brother's assistance, marched into the hall. fifty men, and place them in ambush to fire on the They were at first received with applause; for deputies in their flight, which he wisely declined as the council, accustomed to see the triumph of de- a useless and gratuitous cruelty. mocratical opinions among the military, did not The result of these violent and extraordinary doubt that they were deserting their general to range measures was intimated to the Council of Ancients; themselves on the side of the deputies. Their ap- the immediate cause of the expulsion of the Five pearance was but momentary-they instantly left Hundred being referred to the alleged violence on the hall, carrying Lucien in the centre of the detach- the person of Bonaparte, which was said by one ment. member to have been committed by Arena, while. Matters were now come to extremity on either another exaggerated the charge, by asserting that it side. The council, thrown into the greatest dis- was offered in consequence of Bonaparte's having order by these repeated military incursions, remained made disclosure of some mal-practices of the Corsiin violent agitation, furious against Bonaparte, but can deputy while in Italy. The IMooniteur soon after without the calmness necessary to adopt decisive improved this story of Ar6na and his single poniard, measures. into a party consisting of Arena, Marquezzi, and Meantime the sight of Napoleon, almost breath- other deputies, armed with pistols and daggers. less, and bearing marks of' personal violence. ex- At other times, Bonaparte was said to have been cited to the highest the indignation of the military. wounded, which certainly was not the case. The In broken words he told them, that when he wished effect of the example of Brutus upon a republican, to show them the road to lead the country to victory and an Italian to boot, might render the conduct and ftrele, " they had answered him with daggers." ascribed to Ar6na credible enough; but the existCries of resentment arose from the soldiery, ence of a party armed with pocket-pistols and dagaugmented when the party sent to extricate the pre- gers, for the purpose of opposing regular troops, is sident brought hini to tile ranks as to a sanctuary. too ridiculous to be believed. Ar6na published a Luicien, who seconded his brother admirably, or denial of the attempt; and among the numbers who iather who led the way in this perilous adventure, witnessed the scene no proof was ever appealed mounted on horseback instantly, and called out, in a to, save the real evidence of a dagger found on the voice naturally deep and sonorous, " General, and floor, and the torn sleeve of a grenadier's coat, ciryou, soldiers! The President of the Council of Five curmstances which might be accounted for many Hundred proclaims to you, that factious men, with ways. But having served at the time as a popular drawn daggers, have interrupted the deliberations apology for the strong measures which had been of the assembly —le authorizes you to employ force adopted, the rumour was not allowed to fall asleep. agarinst these disturbers-The Assembly of Five Thom6, the grenadier, was declared to have merited Hundred is dissolved!" well of his country by the legislative body, entexMulat, deputed by Bonaparte to execute the tained at dinner by the general, and rewarded with commands of' Lucien, entered the Orangerie with a salute and a valuable jewel by Josephine. Other drums beating, at the head of a detachment with reports were put in circulation concerning the violent fixed bayonets. He summoned the deputies to dis- purposes of the jacobins. It was said the ancient perse on their peril, while an officer of the constitu- revolutionist, Santerre, was setting a popular movetional guard called out, he could be no longer an- ment on foot in the Faubourg St-Antoine, and that swerablefor theirsafety. Criesoffearbecamenow Bonaparte, through the Ex-Director Moulins, had mingled with vociferations of rage, execrations of cautioned him against proceeding in his purpose, abhorrence, and shouts of Vive la Republique! An declaring, that if he did, he would have him shot by officer then mounted the president's seat, and sum- martial law. moned the representatives to retire. "The general," But the truth is, that although there can be no said lie, " has given orders." doubt that the popular party entertained a full purSome of the deputies and spectators began now pose of revolutionizing the government anew, and to leave the hall; the greater part continued firm, restoring its republican character, yet they were and sustained the shouts by which they reprobated anticipated and surprised by the movement of the this military intrusion. The druns at length struck 18th and 19th Brumaire, which could not, therefore, up, and drowned fulrther remonstrance. in strict language, be justified as a defensive mea" Forward, grenadiers," said the officer who com- sure. Its excuse must rest on the proposition which nianded the party. They leveled their muskets, seems undoubted, that affairs were come to such and advanced as if to the charge. The deputies extremity that a contest was unavoidable, and that seem hitherto to have retained a lingering hope that therefore it was necessary for the moderate party to their persons would be regarded as inviolable. They take the advantage of the first blow, though they now fled on all sides, most of them jumping from exposed themselves in doing so to the reproach of the windows of the Orangerie, and leaving behind being called the aggressors. them their official caps, scarfs, and gowrns. In a The Council of Ancients had expressed some very few minutes the apartments were entirely clear; alarm and anxiety about the employment of military and thus, furnishing, at its conclusion, a striking force against the other branch of the constitutional parallel to the scene which ended the Long Parlia- representation. But Luicien Bonaparte, having suement of Charles the First's time, terminated the last ceeded in rallying around him about a hundred of democratical assembly of Fran-,e. the Council of the Juniors, assumed the character 278 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. and office of that legislative body, now effectually maire were condemned to deportation by the solefiat purged of all the dissidents, and, as President of the of the consuls. Si6yes is said to have sugge, ted this Five Hundred, gave to the Council of Ancients such unjust and arbitrary measure, which, bearing a colour an explanation, as they, nothing loth to be con- of revenge and persecution, was highly unpopular. vinced, admitted to be satisfactory. Both councils It was not carried into execution. Exceptions were then adjourned till the 19th February, 1800, after at first made in favour of' such of the condemned each had devolved their powers upon a committee persons as showed themselves disposed to be tractof twenty-five persons, who were instructed to pre- able; and at length the sentence wvas altogether pare a civil code against the meeting of the legisla- dispensed with, and the more obnoxious partisans of tive bodies. A provisional consular government democracy were only placed under tile superintendwas appointed, consisting of Bonaparte, Si6yes, and ance of the police. Thllis conduct showed at once Roger Ducos. conscious strength, and a spirit of clemency, than The victory, therefore, of the 18th and 19th Bru- which no attributes can contribute more to the pomaire, was, by dint of sword and bayonet, completely pularity of a new government; since the spirit of the secured. It remained for the conquerors to consider opposition, deprived of hope of success, and yet the uses which were to be made of it.;* noturged on by despair of personal safety, gradually becomes disposed to sink into acquiescence. The CHAPTER XXXV. democrats, or, as they were now termed, the anarchists, became intimidated, or cooled in their zeal; Effects of the victory of the 18th and 19th Brunmaire.-Cle- and only a few of the more enthusiastic continued neency of the new Consulate.-Beneficial change.in the yet to avow those principles, to breathe the least finances.-Late of Hostages repealed.-Religious liberty doubt of which had been, within but a few months, allowed.-Improvements in the war department.-Sub- a crime worthy of death. mission of the Chouans, andpacification of La Vende. Other and most important decrees were adopted -Ascenldancy of Napoleon inp the Conlsltlate.-Disap- by the consuls, tending to lighten the burdens which pointment of the Abbe Siyes.-Committee formed to ponsidtmentr pla of te Abb Siyes.-Cmittee formed to their predecessors had imposed on the nation, and con~sider Sites' plan of a constitution-Adopted in which had rendered their government so unpopular. part-but rejected in essentials.-A nlew one adopted, whh had rendered their governmet so tneo ilar. olarchical in everytzhing butform.-S~iyes retiresfron Two of the most oppressive measures of the Direcpublic life on a pension.-General view of the lew con- tols were repealed witho-t delay. sularfJorm of government.-Despotic power of the first The first referred to the finances, which aere consul.-Reflections on Bonalarte's conduct sepon this found in a state of ruinous exhaustion, and were occasion. only maintained by a system of compulsory and progressive loans, according to rates of' assessment on THE victory obtained over the Directory and the the property of the citizens. The new minister of democrats, upon the 18th and 19th Brumaire, was finance, Gaudin, would not even go to bed, or sleep generally acceptable to the French nation. The a single night, until he had produced a substitute feverish desire of liberty, which had been the cha- for this ruinous resource, for which he levied an racteristic of all descriptions of persons in the year additional rise of twenty-five per cent on all contri1792, was quenched by the blood shed during the butions, direct and indirect, which produced a large reign of Terror; and even just and liberal ideas of sum. He carried order and regularity into all the freedom had so far fallen into disrepute, from their departments of finance, improved the collection resemblance to those which had been used as a and income of the funds of the Republic, and inpretext for the disgusting cruelties perpetrated at spired so much confidence by the moderation and that terrible period, that they excited from associa- success of his measures, that credit began to revive, tion a kind of loathing as well as dread. The great and several loans were attained on easy terms. mass of the nation sought no longer guarantees for The repeal ofthe Law of Hostages was a measure metaphysical rights, but, broken down by suffering, equally popular. This cruel and unreasonable enactdesired repose, and were willing to submit to any ment, which rendered the aged and weak, unprogovernment which promised to secure to them the tected females, and helpless children of emigrants, ordinary benefits of civilization. or armed royalists, responsible for the actions of *Bonaparte and Si6yes,-for, though only during a their relatives, was immediately mitigated. Coubrief space, they may still be regarded as joint au- riers were dispatched to open the prisons; and this thorities,-were enabled to profit by this general act of justice and humanity was hated as a pledge acquiescence, in many important particulars. It of returning moderation and liberality. put it in their power to dispense with the necessity Important measures were also taken for tranlquilof pursuing and crushing their scattered adversaries; lizing the religious discord by which the countlry and the French saw a revolution effected in their had been so long agitated. Bonaparte, wlho had system, and that by military force, in which not a lately professed himself more than half persuaded drop of blood was spilt. Yet, as had been the termi- of the truth of Mahommed's mission, became now nation of most recent revolutions, lists of proscrip- -such was the decree of Providence-the means tion were prepared; and, without previous trial or of restoring to France the free exercise of the legal sentence, fifty-nine of those who had chiefly christian faith. The mummery of R1veillere L&opposed the new Consulate on the 18th and 19th Bru- peaux's heathenism was by general consent aban-,S Apni ho -L i\n doned. The churches were restored to Ipublic worSee Appendix, No. 3-" Historical notes on the 18th ship; pensions were allowed to such religious Brumaire.- persons as took an oath of fidelity to the government; LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 279 and more than" twenty thousand clergymen, with mained in office but a short time, for, being a demowhom the prisons had been filled, il coasequence of crat in principle, he disapproved of' the personal intolerant laws, were set at liberty upon taking the elevation of Bonaparte; but, during the period that same vow. Public and domestic rites of worship he continued in adlministration, his services in rein every form were tolerated and protected; and storing order in the military department, and comnthe laws of the decades, or Theophilanlthropic fes- bining the plans of the campaign with Moreau and tivals, was abolished. Even the earthly relics of Bonaparte, were of the highest importance. Pope Pills VI., who had died at Valence, and in Napoleon showed no less talent in closing the exile, were not neglected, but received, singular to wounds of internal war, than in his other arrangerelate, the rites of sepulture with the solemnity due ments. The Chouans, under various chiefs, had to his high office, by command of Bonaparte, who disturbed the western provinces; but the despair of had first shaken the papal authority; and in doing pardon, which drove so many malcontents to their so, as he boasted in his Egyptian proclamations, standard, began to subside, and the liberal and had destroyed the emblem of christian worship. accommodating measures adopted by the new conThe part taken by Cambac&rds, the minister of sular government induced most to make peace with justice, in. the revolution of Brumaire, had been Bonaparte. This they did the more readily, that agreeable to Bonaparte; and his moderation now many of them believed the chief consul intended aided him in the lenient measures which he had by degrees, and when the opportunity offered, to deterumined to adopt. lie was a good lawyer, and accomplish the restoration of the Bourbons. Many a man of sense and information, and under lsis ad- of the chiefs of the Chouans submitted to him, and ministration means were taken to relax the oppres- afterwards supported his government. Chitillon, sive severity of the lavws against the emigrants. Suzannet, d'Autichamp, nobles and chiefs of the Nine'of them, noblemen of the most ancient families royalist army, submitted at Montlucon, and their in France, had been thrown on the coast near Ca- reconciliation with the government, being admitted lais ty shipwreck, and the Directors had meditated on liberal terms, was sincerely observed by them. bringing to trial those whom the winds and waves Bernier, rector of St-L6, who had great influence had spared, as falling under the class of emigrants in La Vendde, also made his peace, and was afterreturned to France without permission, against wards made Bishop of Orleans by Bonaparte, and whom the laws denounced the penalty of death. enmployed in negotiating the Concordat with the pope. Bonaparte more liberally considered their being Count Louis de Frotte, an enterprising and highfound within the prohibited territory, as an act, not spirited young nobleman, refused for a long time to of volition, but of inevitable necessity, and they enter into terms with Bonaparte; so did another were dismissed accordingly. chief of the Chouans, called Georges Cadoudal, a From the same sipirit of politic clemency, La peasant of the district of Morbihan, raised to the Fayette, Latour Maubourg, and others, who, although command of his countrymen, because, with great revolutionists, had been expelled from France for strength and dauntless courage, he combined the not carrying their principles of freedom sufficiently qualities of enterprise and sagacity. Frotti was high and far, were permitted to return to their na- betrayed and made prisoner in the house of Guidal, tive country. commandant at Alencon, who had pretended friendIt may be easily believed that the military de- ship to him, and had promised to negotiate a favourpartment of the state underwent a complete reform able treaty on his behalf. He and eight or nine of under the authority of Bonaparte. Dubois Crance, his officers were tried by a military commission, and the minister at war under the Directors, was re- condemned to be shot. They marched hand in placed by Berthier; and Napoleon gives a strange hand to the place of execution, remained to the last picture of the incapacity of the former functionary. in the same attitude, expressive of their partaking He declares he could not furnish a single report of the same sentiments of devotion to the cause in the state of the army-that he had obtained no which they suffered, and died with the utmost regular returns of the effective strength of the dif- courage. Georges Cadoudal, left alone, became ferent regiments-that many corps had been formed unable to support the civil war, and laid down his in the departments, whose very existence was un- arms for a time. Bonaparte, whose policy it was to known to the minister at war; and finally, that unite in the new order of things as many and as when pressed for reports of the pay, of the victual- various characters as possible, not regarding what ing, and of' the clothing of the troops, he had re- parts they had formerly played, provided they now plied, that the war department neither paid, clothed, attached themselves to his person, took great paills nor victualed them. This may be exaggerated, for to gain over a man so resolute as this daring Breton. Napoleon disliked Dubois Cranc6 as his personal He had a personal interview with hin,. which he opponent; but the improvident and corrupt cha- says Georges Cadoudal solicited; yet why he should racter of the directorial government renders the have done so it is hard to guess, unless it were to charge very probable. By the exertions of Berthier, learn whether Bonaparte had any ultimate purpose accustomed to Bonaparte's mode of arrangements, of serving the Bourbon interest. He certainly did the war department soon adopted a very different not request the favour in order to drive any bargain face of activity. for himself, since Bonaparte frankly admits, that all The same department received yet additional his promises and arguments failed to make any imvigour when the consuls called to be its head the pression upon him; and that he parted with Georges, celebrated Carnot, who had returned from exile, in professing still to entertain opinions for Which he consequence of the fall of the Directors. He re- had fought so often and so desperately. 280 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. In another instance which happened at this period, future rest upon the arbitrary pleasure of one man. Bonaparte boasts of having vindicated the insulted It was in the meantime necessary that sonie formr rights of nations. The Senate of Hamburg had of government should be established without delay, delivered up to England Napper Tandy, Blackwell, were it only to prevent the meeting of the two counand other Irishmen, concerned in the rebellion which cils, who must have resumed their authority, unless had lately wasted Ireland. Bonaparte took this up superseded by a new constitution previous to the in a threatening tone, and expounded to their trem- 19th February, 1800, to which day they had been bling envoy the rights of a neutral territory, in prorogued. As a previous measure, the oath tak;.n language, upon which the subsequent tragedy of the by official persons was altered friom a direct acknowDuke d'Enghien formed a singular commentary. ledgment of the constitution of the year Three, so as While Bonaparte was thus busied in adopting to express a more general profession of adherence measures for composing internal discord, and re- to the cause of the French nation. How to salve new:ing the wasted resources of the country, those the wounded consciences of those who had prediscussions were at the same time privately carry- viously taken the oath in its primitive form, no care ing forward. which were to determine by whom and was used, nor does any appear to have been thought in what way it should be governed. There is little necessary. doubt, that when Sieyes undertook the revolution The three consuls, and the legislative committees, of Brumaire, he would have desired for his military formed themselves into a general committee, for thile assistant a very different character from Bonaparte. purpose of organizing a constitution; and Si6yes Sorne general would have best suited him, who pos- was invited to submit to them that model, on the sessed no knowledge beyond that of his profession, preparation of which he used to pique himself, and and whose ambition would have been contented to had been accustomed to receive the flattery of his accept such share of power as corresponded to his friends. Hle appears to have obeyed the call slowly, limited views and capacity. The wily priest, how- and to have produced his plan partially, and by ever, saw, that no other coadjutor save Bonaparte fragments; probably because he was aware, that could have availed him, after the return of the lat- the offspring of his talents would never be accepted ter fiom Egypt, and was not long of experiencing in its entire form, but must necessarily undergo that Napoleon would not be satisfied with anything such mutilations as might fit it for the purposes and short of the lion's share of the spoil. to the pleasure of the dictator, whose supremacy he At the very first meeting of the consuls, the de- had been compelled to announce to his party. fection of Roger Ducos to the side of Bonaparte On being pressed by his colleagues in the conmconvinced Si6yes, that he would be unable to sup- mittee, the mnetaphysical politician at length proport those pretensions to the first place in the govern- duced his fiull plan of the hierarchical representament, to which his friends had expected to see him tion, whose authority was to emanate from the choice elevated. He had reckoned on Ducos's vote for of the people and of a Conservative Senate, which giving him the situation of first consul; but Ducos was at once to protect the laws of the commonsaw better where the force and talent of the Consau- wealth, and absorb, as it was termaed, all furious late must be considered as reposed. " General," and over-ambitious spirits, by calling them, when said he to Napoleon, at the first meeting of the con- they distinguished themnselves by any irregular exersular body, "the presidency belongs to you as a tion of power, to share the'comlibrts and incapamatter of right." Bonaparte took the chair accord- cities of their own body, as they say spirits of old ingly as a thing of course. In the course of the de- were conjured down, and obliged to abide in the liberations, Si6yes had hoped to find that the gene- Red Sea. He then brought forward his idea of a ral's opinions and interference would have been Legislative Body, which was to vote and decide, limited to military affairs; whereas, on the contrary, but without debate; and his Tribtmate, designed to he heard him express distinetly, and support firmly, plead for, or to impeach the measures of governpropositions on policy and finunce, religion and ju- ment. These general outlines were approved, as risprudence. He showed, in short, so little occasion being judged likely to preserve more stability and for an independent coadjutor, that Si6yes appears permanence than had been found to appertain to from this, the very first interview, to have given up the constitutions, which, since 1792, had in such all hopes of establishing a separate interest of his quick succession been adopted and abandoned. own, and to have seen that the Revolution was from But the idea which Si6yes entertained of lodginlg that moment ended. On his return home, he said the executive government in a grand elector,,. ho to those statesmen with whom he had consulted was to be the very model of a Kinlg of Lubberland, and acted preceding the 18th Brumaire, as Talley- was the ruin of his plan. It was in vain, that in rand, Boulay, Rcederer, Cabanis, etc.-" Gentle- hopes of luring Bonaparte to accept of this office, men, you have a master-give yourself no farther he had, while depriving it of all real power, attached concern about the affairs of the state-Bonaparte to it a large revenue, guards, honours, and rank. can and will manage them all at his own pleasure." The heaping with such distinctions an official perThis declaration must have announced to those son, who had no other duty than to name two-conwho heard it, that the direct and immediate advan suls, who were to carry on the civil and military tages proposed by the Revolution were lost; that the business of the state without his concurrence or augovernment no longer rested on the popular basis, thority, was introducing into a modern state the but that, in a much greater degree than could have evils of a worn-out Asiatic empire, where the sultan, been said to have been the case during the reign of or mogul, or whatever he is called, lies in his h ralre the Bourbons, the whole measures of state must in in obscure luxury, while the state affairs are con LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 2~.1 ducted exclusively by his viziers, or lieutenants. of power and faculty was heaped upon the cliif Bonaparte exclaimed against the whole concoc- consul, with a liberality which looked as if raulce, tion.-" Who," said he, " would accept an office, of to atone for her long jealousy of those who had bee! which the only duties were to fatten like a pig upon the administrators of her executive power, was now so many millions yearly?-Or what man of spirit determined to remove at once every obstacle whlichtl would consent to name ministers, over whom, being might stand in the way of Bonaparte to arbitrary natned, he was not to exercise the slightest au- power. He possessed the sole right of nominating thority?-And your two consuls for war and peace, counsellors of state, ministers, ambassadors, officerls, the one surrounded with judges, churchmlen, and civil and military, and almost all functionaries whatcivilians-the other with military men and diplo- soever. He was to propose all new laws, and take matists,-on what footing of intercourse can they be all measures for internal and external defence of the said to stand respecting each other?-the one de- state. IHe commanded all the. forces, of whatever | manding money and recruits, the other refusing the description, superintended all the national relatioins supplies? A government, involving such a total at home and abroad, and coined the public money.11 i separation of offices necessarily connected, would In these high duties he had the advice of his brotller be heterogeneous,-the shadow of a state, but with- consuls, and also of a Council of State. But he wvas out the efficient authority which should belong to recognized to be independent of them all. I'.e one." consuls were to be elected for the space of ten years, Si6yes did not possess powers of persuasion, or and to be re-eligible. liromptness of speech, in addition to his other ta- The Abb6 Sieyes's plan of dividing the people lents. He was silenced and intimidated, and saw into three classes, which should each of them declare his favourite elector general, with his two consuls, a certain number of persons eligible to certain graor rather viziers, rejected, without making much dations of the state, was ostensibly adopted. The effort in their defence. lists of these eligible individuals were to be addressStill the systemn which was actually adopted bore, ed by the various electoral classes to the Conservain point of form, some faint resemblance to the model tive Senate, which also was borrowed from the of'Si6yes. Three consuls were appointed; the first abbe's model. This body, the highest and most to hold the sole power of nominating to public of- august in the state, were to hold their places for life, fices, and right of determining on public measures; and had a considerable pension attached to them. the other two were to be his indispensable coun- Their number was not to exceed eighty, aiid they sellors. The first of these offices was designed to were to have the power of supplying vacancies in bring back the constitution of France to a monarchi- their own body, by chasing the future senator from cal system, while the second and third were added a list of three persons; one of thenl proposed by the merely to conciliate the republicans, who were not chief consul, one by the Legislative Body, and one yet prepared for a retrograde movement. by the Tribunate. Senators became for ever incaThe office of one of these supplementary consuls pable of any other public duty. Their duty was to was offered to Si6yes, but he declined to accept of receive the national lists of persons eligible for offiit, and expressed his wish to retire from public life. cial situations, and to annul such laws or measures His disappointment was probably considerable, at as should be denounced to their body, as unconstifinding himnself acting but a second-rate part, after tuitional or impolitic, either by the government or the success of the conspiracy which he had himself the Tribunate. The sittings of the senate were not schemed; but his pride was not so great as to de- public. cline a pecu'niary compensation. Bonaparte be- The new constitution of France also adopted the stowed on him by far the greater part of the private Legislative Body and the Tribunate proposed by treasuke arnassed by the ex-directors. It was said the Abbe Sieyes. The duty of the Legislative Body to amount to six hundred thousand firancs, which was to take into consideration such laws as should Si yes called une poire pour la soif; in English, a be approved by the Tribunate, and pass or refuse morsel to stay the stomach. He was endowed also them by vote, but without any debate, or even any with the fine domain and estate of Crosne; and to expression of their opinion. render the gift more acceptable, and save his de- The Tribunate, on the contlary, w-as a deliberative licacy, a decree was issued, compelling him to body, to whom the chief consul, and his Council of accept of this manifestation of national gratitude. State, with whom alone lay the initiative privilege, The office of a senator gave him dignity; and the were to propose such laws as appeared to them deyearly appointment of twenty-five thousand fiancs sirable. These, when discussed by the Tribunate, annexed to it, added to the ease of his situation. and approved of by the silent assent of the Legislanl short, this celebrated metaphysician disappeared tive Body, passed into decrees, and became binding as a political person, and became, to use his own upon the community. The Legislative Body heard expression, absorbed in the pursuit of epicurean the report of the Tribunate, as expressed by a deindulgences, which he covered with a veil of mys- putation from that body; and by their votes alone, tery. There is no doubt that by thus showing the but without any debate or delivery of opinion, regreedy and mercenary turn of his nature, Sidyes, filsed or confirmed the proposal. Some of the more notwithstanding his abilities, lost in a great measure important acts of government, such as the proclamathe esteem and reverence of his countrymenl; and tion of peace or war, could only take place on the this was a consequence not probably unforeseen motion of the chief consul to the Tribunate, upon by Bonaparte, when he loaded him with wealth. their recommending the measure to the Legislative To return to the new constitution. Every species Body; and finally, upon the Legislative CommnisVOL. VI. 36 1282 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. sions affirming the proposal. But the power of the to represent the sheafof grain which it was originally chief consul was not much checked by this restric- drawn from. What chance was there that in a huntion; for the discussion on such subjects was only to tired men so chosen, there should be courage and take place on his own requisition, and always in se- independence enough found to oppose that primary cret committee; so that the greatest hindrance of power, by which, like a steam-engine, the whole despotism, the weight of public opinion formed upon constitution was put in motion? Such tribunes were public debate, was totally Wanting. also in danger of recollecting, that they only held A very slight glance at this consular form of go- their office tor four years, and that the senators had vernmlent is sufficient to show, that Bonaparte their offices for life; while a transition fronl the one selected exactly as much of the ingenious constitu- state to the other was in general thought desirable, tion of Sidyes as was applicable to his own object of and could only be gained by implicit obedience during acquiring supreme and despotic authority, while he the candidate's probation in the Tribunate. Yet, got rid of all, the Tribunate alone excepted, which slender as was the power of this Tribunate body, contained, directly or indirectly, any check or ba- Bonaparte showed some jealousy even of this slight lance affecting the executive power. The substitu- appearance of freedom; although, justly considered, tion of lists of' eligible persons or candidates, to be the Senate, the Conservative Body, and the Tribumade up by the people, instead of the popular nate, were but three different pipes, which, sepaelection of actual representatives, converted into a rately or altogether, uttered sound at the pleasure metaphysical and abstract idea the real safeguard of him who presided at the instrument. of liberty. It may be true, that the authority of an The spirit of France must have been much broken official person, selected from the national lists, might when this arbitrary system was adopted swithout be said originally to emanate from the people; debate or contradiction; and when we remember because, unless his name had received their sanction, the earlier period of 1789, it is wonderfll to conhe could not have been eligible. But the difference sider how, in the space of ten years, the race of is inexpressibly great, between the power of nanming men, whose love of liberty carried them to such a single direct representative, and that of naming a extravagances, seems to have become exhausted. thousand persons, any of whom may be capable of Personal safety was now a principal object with being created a representative; and the popular most. They saw no alternative between absolute interference in the state, which had hitherto com- submission to a military chief of talent and power, prehended the former privilege, was now restrained and the return to anarchy and new revolutionary to the latter and more insignificant one. This was excesses. the main error in Si6yes's system, and the most fatal During the sitting of Bonaparte's Legislative blow to liberty, whose constitutional safety can Committee, Madame d&e Stael expressed, to a rehardly exist, excepting in union with a direct and presentative of the people, her alarms otn the subject unfettered national representation, chosen by the of liberty. "Oh, madam," he replied, "we are people themselves. arrived at an extremity in which we must not All the other balances and checks which the abbe trouble ourselves about saving the principles of the had designed to substitute instead of that which Revolution, but only the lives of the men by whom arises from popular election, had been broken and the Revolution was effected." cast away; while the fragments of the scheme that Yet more than one exertion is said to have been remained were carefully adjusted, so as to form the made in the committee, to obtain some mIodification steps by which Bonaparte was to ascend to an tn- of the supreme power of the chief consul, or at least limited and despotic throne. Si6yes had proposed some remedy in case of its being abused. Several that his elector general should be merely a graceful members of the committee which adjusted the new termination to his edifice, like a gilded vane on the constitution made, it is said, an eflort to persuade top of a steeple —a sovereign without power-a roti Bonaparte, that, in taking possession of the office of fain&tnt, with two consuls to act as joint matties supreme magistrate, without any preliminary elecdu valais. Bonaparte, on the contrary, gave the tion, he would evince an ambition which might prewhiole executive power in the state, together with judice him with the people; and, entreating hiini to the exclusive right of proposing all new laws, to the be satisfied with the office of generalissimo of the chief consul, and made the others mere appendages, I armies, with full right of treating with foreign powers, to be thrown aside at pleasure. invited him to set off to the frontier and resume his Neither were the other constitutional authorities train of victories. " I will remain at Paris," said calculated to offer effectual resistance to the engross- Bonaparte, biting his nails to the quick, as was his ing authority of this all-powerful officer. All these i custom when agitated-" I will remain at Paris-I bodies were, in fact,'mere pensioners. The Senate, am chief consul." which met in s'ecret, and the Legislative Body, Chenier hinted at adopting the doctrine of absorpwhose lips were padlocked, were alike removed tion, but was instantly interrupted-" "I will have from influencing public opinion, and being influenced nIo such mulimmery," said Bonaparte; " blood to the by it. The Tribunate, indeed, consisting of a hlun- knees rather." * These expressions may be exagdred persons, retained in some sort the right of gerated, but it is certain that, whenever there was debate, and of being publicly heard. But the an attempt to control his wishes, or restrict his members of the Tribmtnate were selected by the power, such a discontented remark as intimated Seiiate, not by the people, Mwhom, except in meta- "that lie would meddle no more in the business," physical mockery, it could not be said to represent, any more than a bottle of distilled liquor can be said * Memnoires de Fouchlt, vol. I, p. 164-5. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 78S3 was sufficient to overpower the opposition. The freedom of the subject. The principal powers of committee saw no option betwixt submitting to the Europe, if required, would have gladly guaranteed authority of this inflexible chief, or encountering the to the French people any class of institutions which horrors of a bloody civil war. Thus were lost at might have been thought adequate to this purpose. once the fruits of the virtues, the crimes, the blood, But, besides that such a course cut off Bonaparte the treasure, the mass of human misery, which, fronm any higher reward of his services, than were flowing from the Revolution, had agitated Prance connected with the rank of' a subject, tile same for ten years; and thus, having sacrificed almost all objections to the restoration of the Bourbon family that men bold dear, the rights of humanity them- still prevailed, which we have before noticed. The selves included, in order to obtain national liberty, extreme confusion likely to be occasioned by the her inhabitants, without having enjoyed rational conflicting claims of the restored emigrants, who freedom, or the advantages which it insures, for a had left France with all the feelings and prejudices single day, returned to be tie vassals of a despotic peculiar to their birth and quality, and those of the government, administered by a chief whose right numerous soldiers and statesmen, who had arisen to was only in his sword. A few reflections on what eminence during the Revolution, and whose pretenmight or ought to have been Bonaparte's conduct in sions to rank and office woullld be urged with jealous this crisis, naturally arise out of the subject. vehemence against those who had shared the forWe are not to expect, in the course of ordinary tunes of the exiled monarch, was a powerful objeclife, moral any more than physical miracles. There tion to the restoration. The question concerning have lived men of a spirit so noble, that, in servings the national domains remained as embarrassing as their country, they had no other object beyond the before; for, while the sales which had been made merit of having done so; but such men belong to a of that property could scarce be canceled without less corrupted age than ours, and have been trained a severe shock to national credit, the restored Bourin the principles of disinterested patriotism, which bons could not, oni the other hand, fail to insist upon did not belong to France, perhaps not to Europe, an indemnification to the spirituality, who had been in the eighteenth century. We may, therefore, take stripped of their property for adherence to their it for granted, that Bonaparte was desirous, in some religious vows, and to the nobles, whose estates had shape or other, to find his own interest in the service been forfeited for their adherence to the throne. of his country, that his motives were a mixture of It might also have beeri found, that, among the patriotism and the desire of self-advanceiment; and army, a prejudice against the Bourbons had surit remains to consider in what manner both objects vived their predilection for the Republic, and that were to be best obtained. although the French soldiers might see with pleasure The first alternative was the re-establishment of a crown placed on the brow of their favour-ite gethe Republic, upon some better and less perishable neral, they might be unwilling to endure the restoramodel than those which had been successively tion of the ancient race, against whomn they had long adopted and abandoned by the French, in the se- borne arms. veral phases of the Revolution. But Bonaparte had All these objections against attempting to recal already determined against this plan of government, the ancient dynasty, have weight in themselves, and and seemed unalterably convinced, that the various may readily have appeared insuperable to Bonamisfortunes and failures which had been sustained parte; especially considering the conclusion to be, in the attempt to convert France into a republic, that if the Bourbons were found ineligible, the crown afforded irrefragable evidence that her natural and of France-with a more extended empire, and more proper constitutional government must be monar- unlimited powers-was in that case to rest witlh Bochical. This important point settled, it remained, naparte himself There is no doubt that, in prle1st, To select the person in whose hand the kingly ferring the title of the B3oubons, founded on right, power was to be intrusted. 2dly, To consider in to his own, which rested on force and opportunity what degree the monarchical principle should be alone, Bonaparte would have acted a much more mingled with, and qualified by, securities for the noble, generous, and disinterested part, than in fieedom of tle people, and checks against the en- availing himself of circumstances to establish his croachments of the prince. own power; nay, that, philosophically speaking, Having broken explicitly with the republicans, such a choice might have been miser and happier. Bonaparte had it in his power, doubtless, to have But in the ordinary mode of viewing and acting itn united with those who desired the restoration of the this world, the temptation was immense; and BonaBourbons, who, at this nloment, formed a large pro- parte was, in some measure, unfettered by the cirportion of the better classes in France. The name cumstances which might have withhelfl some of his of the old dynasty must have brought fwith it great contemporaries fiorn snatching at the.f crown that advantages. Their restoration would have at once seemed to await his grasp. Whavever'were the restored peace to Europe, and in a great measure rights of the Bourbons, abstractedly considered, they reconciled the strife of parties in France. There were not of a kind to force themselves immlediately was no doubt of the possibility of the counter-revo- upon the conscience of Bonaparte. Hie had not enlution; for what was done in 1814 might have been tered public life, was indeed a mere boy, when the still more easily done in 1799. Old ideas would general voice of France, or that which appeared have returned with ancient names, and at the same such, drove the ancient race from the throne; lie time security might have been given, that the re- had acted during all his life hitherto in the service stored monarch should be placed within such legal of the French government deJacto; and it Vwas restraints as were necessary for the protection of the hard to require of him, now of a sudden, to sacurifice -.. _. l I 84S %LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. tle greatest stake which a man ever played for, to Spain, no war with Russia, no imperial decrees the abstract rigtit of the king de jure. Candour against British commerce. The people, who first will therefore allow, that though some spirits, of a felt the pressure of these violent and ruinous meeaheroic pitch of character, might, in his place, have sures, would have declined to submit to them in acted otherwise, yet the conduct of Bonaparte, in the outset. The ultimate consequlence-the overavailing himselt;, for his own advantage, of the throw, namely, of Napoleon himsell; would not have heighlit which he had attained by his own talents, was taken place, and hie might, ftr aught we can see. too natural a course of action to be loaded with have died on the throne of France, and bequeathed censure by any one, who, if he takes the trouble to it to his posterity, leaving a reputation which could consider the extent of the temptation, must acknow- only be surpassed in lustre by that of an individual ledge in his heart the difficulty of resisting it. who should render sinmilar advantages to his country, Bat though we may acknowledge many excuses yet decline the gratification, in any degree, of his for the ambition which induced Bonaparte to assume personal ambition. the principal share of the new government, and al- In short, it minst always be written down, as Bonathought we were even to allow to his admirers that parte's error as well as guilt, that, misusing the he became first consul purely because his doing so power which the 18th Brumnaire threw into his vwas necessary to the welfire of France, our candour hands, he totally destroyed the liberty of' Irance, can carry us no filtller. We cannot for an instant or, we would say, more properly, the chance which sanction the monstrous accumulation of authority that country had of attaining a fiee, and, at the same which engrossed into his own hands all the powers of time, a settled government. I-e might have been a the state, and deprived the French people, from that patriot prince; he chose to be a usurping despotperiod, of the least pretence to liberty, or powver of he might have played the part of Washington; he protecting themselves from tyranny. It is in vaini to preferred that of Cronlwell. urge, that they had not yet learned to make a proper,use of the invaluable privileges of which lie de. prired theml-equally in vain to say, that they consented to resign what it was not in their power to sented to resig w* a it was notistheirpower Proceedings of Bonaparte in order to consolidate his defend. It is a poor apology for theft that the per- power-iis great snccess-Canses that le to it.-Canison plundered knew not the value of the. gem taken bacirls and Lebruno chosen seconsd and third consuls.from him; a wvorse excuse for robbery, that the Talleyrand appointed minister for foreign ajtacirs, party robbed was disarmed and prostrate, and sub- and Fouschl minister of police —Their characters.mritted N;ithout resistance, where to resist would Other ministers nominated. — Varios changes made, in have been to die. In chnsing to be the head of a order to mark the coenmencenesnt oJ'a new era.-Nccapowell regulated and limited monarchy, Bonaparte leons addresses a letter personally to the Kin2g of Elgwonujl dutve consulted even his own interest better, land-Answered by Lord Grenzvide.-Negotiationv for the.n by preferring, as he did, to become the sole peace, tact foliowed, speedily broken of -Canupaigns aninlating spirit of a monstrous despotism. The in Italy, asud on the Rhine-Successes ofAloreac-Cezsured by Napoleonfor over-caution. —The charge concormmunication of conumon privileges, lwhile they sre by Napoleonfor over-cct-ioz.-The charge conunited discordant factions, would have fixed the sidered.-'lhe cief consll resolves to bring back, in disco*dan factions, wo ae persons, victory to the French standards in Italy-His attention of' all on the head of the government, as measuresJsor tlat pIurpse. their mutual benefactor. The constitutional rights which he had reserved for the crown would have THE structure of government which Bonaparte been respected, when it was rememnbered that the had selected out of the broken outlines of the plan freedom of the people had been put in a rational of Si&yes, being not only monarchical but despotic, form, and its privileges rendered available by his it remained that its otfices should be filled vith liberality. persons favourable to the new order of tliings; and Such checks upon his power would have been as to this the attention of Bonaparte was especially beneficial to himself as to his subjects. If, in the turned. In order to secure the selection of the course of his reign, he had met constitutional oppo- official individuals to himself, lie eluded entirely sition to tlse then imnmense projects of conquest, the principle by which Sidyes had proposed to which cost so much blood and devastation, to that elaborate his national representatives out of the vaopposition he would have been as mooch indebted, rious signed lists of eligibility, to be made tip by the ns a person subject to fits of lunacy is to the bonds three classes into which his hierarchy divided the by which, when tinder the influence of' his nmalady, French people. Without waiting for these lists of lie is restrained ftiom doing mtischief. Bonaparte's eligible persons, or taking any other rule but his own.active shpirit, withheld fiomn warlike pursuits, would pleasurle, and that of his counsellors, the two new have been exercised by the internal improvement of consuls, Bonaparte namned sixty senators; the senahis kingdom. The mode in which lie used his power tors niamed a hundred triblnes, and three hundred would have gilded over, as in many other cases, legislators; and thus the whole bodies of the state The imperfect nature of his title, and if he was inot, were filled up, by a choice emanating from the in every sense, the legitimate heir of the monarchy, executive government, instead of beissg vested, more hle imight have been one of the most meritorious or less directly, in the people. princes that ever ascended the throne. Had lie In availing himself of the privileges which he had permitted the existence of a power expressive of usurped, the first consul, as we must now call him, the national opinion co-equal with and restr-ictive of showed a moderation as artfill as it was conciliatory. his own, there would have been no occupation of His object was to avoid the odium of appearing to LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 285 hold his rank by his military character only. He mitted, the original temptation in its full extent —a desired, on the contrary, to assemble round lir a display of the kingdoms of the earth, over which he party, in which the predominant character of in- offered to extend the empire of France, providilg dividuals, whatever it had hitherto been, was to be always he was himself acknowledged as the object merged in that of the new system; as the statuary of general obedience, and almost adoration. throvws into the furnace broken fragments of bronze The system of Bonaparte, as it comblined great of every various description, without regarding art with an. apparent generosity and liberality, their immediate appearance or form, his purpose proved eminently successful among the people of being to unite them by fusion, and bestow upon the France, when subjected to the semblance of popular mass the new shape which his art destines it to vote. Thle national spirit was exhausted by tile present changes and the sufferings, the wars and the crimes, WVith these views, Napoleon said to Si'yes, who of so many years; and in France, as in all other reprobated the admission of FouchU into office and countries, parties, exhausted by the exertions and power, "' We are creating a new era. Of the past, vicissitudes of civil war, are in the very situation we must forget the bad, and only remember the where military tyranny becomes the next crisis. The good. Time, habits of business, and experience, rich favoured Bonaparte for the sake of protection, have formed many able men, and modified many -the poor for that of relief,-the emigrants, in many characters." These words may be regarded as the cases, because they desired to return to France,key-note of his whole system. Bonaparte did not the men of the Revolution, because they were afraid care what men had been formerly, so that they were of being banished from it;-the sanguine and colranow disposed to become that which was suitable to geous crowded round his standard in hope of victory, his interest, and for which he was willing to reward -the timid cowered behind it in the desire of safety. them liberally. The former conduct of persons of Add to these the vast multitude who follow the talent, whether in politics or morality, was of no opinion of others, and take the road which lies most consequence, providing they were willing, now, obvious, and is most trodden, and it is no wonder faithfully to further and adhere to the new order of that the. 18th Brumaire, and its consequences, rethings. This prospect of immunity for the past, and ceived the general sanction of the people. Tile conreward for the future, was singularly well calculated stitution of the year Eiglht, or consular government, to act upon the public mind, desirous as it w'as of was approved by the surflages of nearly four millions repose, and upon that of individuals, agitated by so of citizens-a more general approbation than any many hopes and fears as the Revolutiou had set preceding system had been received with. The afloat. The consular government seemed a general vote was doubtless a farce in itself; considering how place of refuge and sanctuary to persons of all va- many constitutions had been adopted and sworn to rious opinions, and in all various predicaments. It within so short a space; but still the numbers who was only required of them, in return for the safety expressed assent, more than doubling those votes which it afforded, that they should pay homage to which were obtained by the constitutions of 1792 the presiding deity. and of the year'Three, indicate the superior populaSo artfully was the system of Bonaparte contrived, rity of Bonaparte's system.. that each of the numerous classes of Frenchmen To the four millionis who expressly declared their found something in it congenial to his habits, his adherence to the nesw consullarconstitution, must be feelings, or his circumstances, providing only lie was added the n:any hundreds of thousands and millions willing to sacrifice to it the essential part of his more who were either totally indiferent upon the political principles. To the royalist, it restored form of government, provided they enjoyed peace monarchical forms, a court, and a sovereign-but he and protection unllder it, or who, though abstractly must acknowledge that sovereign in Bonaparte. To preferring other rulers, vere practically disposed to t.ie churchman, it opened the gates of the temnples, submit to the party in possession of the power. removed the tyranny of the persecuting philosophers Such and so extended being the principles on -promised in course of time a national church- which Bonaparte selected the neiembers of his gobut by the altar must be placed tile image of Bona- vernment, lie manifested, in chusing iidividuals, parte. The jacobin, dyed double red in murder and that wonderful penetration by which, molre perhaps massacre, was welcome to safety and security fi-om than any man who ever lived, he was enabled at the aristocratic vengeance which he had so lately once to discover the person most capable of serving; dreaded. The regicide was guaranteed against the hiim, and the means of securing Ins attachmine-t.return of the Bourbons-they who had profited by Formler crimes or errors made no cause of excinthe Revolution, as purchasers of national domains, sion; and in several cases the alliance betoweenl the were insured against their being resumed. But it first consul and his ministers might have been couu,was tinder the implied condition, that not a word pared to the marriages between the settlers on the was to be mentioned by those ci-devant democrats, Spanish mainland and the unhappy feimale.s the of liberty or equality: the principles for which for- refuse of great cities, sent out to recruit the colony. feitures had been made, and revolutionary tribunals " I ask thee not," said the buccaneer to the wvife he erected, were henceforth never to be named. To had selected fiom the cargo of vice, " what has been all these parties, as to others, Bonaparte held out the thy former conduct; but, henceforth, see thou consame hopes under the same conditions.-" All these tinue faithful to me, or this," striking his hand on things will I give you, if you will kneel down and his musket, " shall punish thy want of fidelity." worship me." Shortly afterwards, he awas enabled For second and third consuls Bonaparte chose to place before those to whoml the choice was sub- Cambaceres, a lawyer, and a member of the lmode-J 286 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. rate party, with Lebrun, who had formerly co- distracted country, the points which they were operated with the chancellor Maupeon. The former desirous of reaching, the modes by which they was employed by the chief consul as his organ of hoped to attain thenm, the character of their indivi- communication with the revolutionists, while Lebrun vidual leaders, and the means to gain themn over or rendered him the saime service with the royal party; to intimidate them. Formidable by his extensive and although, as Madame de Stael observes, they knowledge of the revolutionary springs, and the preached very different sermons on the same texts, address with which he could either put theim into yet they were both eminently successful in detach- motion, or prevent them from operating, IFouche, ing from their original factions many of either class, in the latter part of his life, displayed a species oi and uniting them with this third or government wisdom which came in place of' morality and beneparty, which was thus composed of deserters from volence. both. The last soon became so numerous, that Bo- Lovingr wealth and power, he was neither a man naparte was enabled to dispense with the bascule, of ardent passions, nor of a vengeful disposition; or trimming system, by which alone his predeces- and though there was no scruple in his nature to sors, the Directors, had been enabled to support withhold him fi-om becoming an agent in the great their power. crimes which state policy, under an arbitrary goIn the ministry Bonaparte acted upon the same vernment, must often require, yet he had a prtprinciple, selecting and making his own the mnen dential and constitutional aversion to unnecessary I whose talents were most distinguished, without evil, and was always wont to characterise his own reference to their former conduct. Two were par- principle of action, by saying, that he did as little ticularly distinguished as men of the most eminent harm as he possibly could. In his mysterious and talents and extensive experience. These were terrible office of head of the police, he had often Talleyrand and Fouche. The former, noble by means of granting fatours, or interposing lenity in birth, and Bishop of Autun, notwithstanding his behalf of individuals, of which he gained the full high rank in church and state, had been deeply credit, while the harsh measures of which he was engaged in the Revolation. He had been placed the agent, were set down to the necessity of his on the list of emigrants, firom which his name was situation. By adhering to these principles of moerased on the establishment of the directorial go- deration, he established for himself at length a chavernment, tinder which he became minister of foreign racter totally inconsistent with that belonging to a affairs. He resigned that office in the summer pre- member of the Revolutionary Committee, and receding 18th Brumaire; and Bonaparte, finding him sembling rather that of a timid but well-disposed at variance with the Directory, readily passed over sorvant, who, in executing his master's commands, some personal grounds of complaint which he had is desirous to mitigate as much as possible their against him, and enlisted in his service a supple and effect on individuals. It is, upon the whole, no dexterous politician, and an experienced minister, wonder, that although Si6yes objected to Fouchd, fond, it is said, of pleasure, not insensible to views from his want of principle, and Talleyrand was of self-interest, nor too closely fettered by principle, averse to him from jealousy, interference, and perbut perhaps unequaled in ingenuity. Talleyrand sonal enmity, Napoleon chose, nevertheless, to was replaced in the situation of minister for foreign retain in the confidential situation of minister of affairs, after a short interval assigned for the purpose police, the person by whom that formidable office of suffering the public to fbrget his prominent share had been first placed on an effectual footing. in the scandalous treaty with the Anerican commis- Of the other ministers, it is not necessary to sioners, and continued for a long tract of time one speak ill detail. Cambac6ers retained the situation of the closest sharers of Bonaparte's councils. of' mintister of' justice, for which he was well qualiIf the character of Talleyrand bore no strong fled; and the celebrated mathematician, Laplace, traces of public virtue or inflexible morality, that of was preferred to that of the Interior, for which he Fouch6 was marked with still darker shades. He was not, according to Bonaparte's report, qualified had been dipt in some of the worst transactions of at all. Berthier, as we have already seen, filled the reign of Terror, and his name is found among the war department, and shortly afterwards Carnot; the agents of the dreadfhl crimes of that unhappy and Gaudin administered the finances with credit period. In the days of tho Directory, he is stated to himself/ Forfait, a naval architect of eminence, to have profited by the unlversal peculation which replaced Bourdon in the helpless and hopeless dewas then practised, and to have amassed large stms partmrent of the French admiralty. by shares in contracts and brokerage in the public A new constitution having been thus formed, and fitnds. To atone for the imperfections of a cha- the various branches of duty distributed with much racter stained with perfidy, venality, and indiffer- address among those best capable of discharging,nce to human sutfe.ring, Fouch6 brought to Bona- thern, other changes were at the same time made, parte's service a devotion, never like to fail the which were designed to mark that a new era was first consul, unless his fortunes should happen to commenced, in which all former prejudices were to change, and a perfect experience with all the be abandoned and done away. weapons of revolutionary war, and knowledge of We have noticed that one of the first acts of the those who were best able to wield them. Hle had Provisional Government had been to new-modify managed, under Barras's administration, the de- the national oath, and generalize its terms, so that partment of police; and, in the course of his agency, they should be no longer confined to the constitution had become better acquainted perhaps than any of the year Three. but should apply to that which man in France with all the various parties in that was about to be framed, or to any other which LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. |7 might be produced by the same authority. Two honourable peace, or the restoration of victory to subsequent alterations in the constitution, which their national banners. It was necessary, too, that passed without much notice, so much was the revo- advances towards peace should in the first place lutionary or republican spirit abated, tended to be made, in order, if they were unsuccessful, that a show that farther changes were impending, and national spirit should be excited, which might rethat the Consular Republic was speedily to adopt concile the French to the renewal of the war with the name, as it already had the essence, of a mo- fresh energy. narchy. It was scarce three months since the Pre- Hitherto, in diplomacy, it had been usual to sound sideut of the Directory had said to the people, on the way for opening treaties of peace by obtcure the anniversary of the taking of the Bastille,- and almost unaccredited agents, in order that the "Royalty shall never raise its head again. We party willing to make propositions might not subject shall no more behold individuals boasting a title from themselves to a haughty and insulting answer, or Heaven, to oppress the earth with more ease and se- have their desire of peace interpreted as a confession cority, and who considered France as their private of weakness. Bonaparte went into the opposite patrimony, Frenchmen as their subjects, and the extreme, and addressed the King of England in a laws as the expression of their good-will and personal epistle. This letter, like that to the Archpleasure." Yet now, in contradiction to this sound- duke Charles, during the campaign of 1797, ining declamation, the national oath, expressing timates Bonaparte's affectation of superiority to the hatred to royalty, was annulled, under the pretext usual forms of diplomacy, and his pretence to a that the Republic, being universally acknowledged, character determined to emancipate itself fiom had no occasion for the guard of such disclamations. rules only designed for mere ordinary men. But the In like manner, the public observance of the day manner of the address was in bad taste, and ill on which louis XVI. had suffered decapitation, calculated to obtain credit for his being sincere in was formally abolished. Buonaparte, declining to the proposal of peace. He was bound to know so pass a judgment on the action as just, politic, or much of the constitutional authority of the monarch useful, pronounced that, in any event, it could only whomn he addressed, as to be aware that George 111. be regarded as a national calamity, and was there- would not, and could not, contract any treaty perfore in a moral, as well as a political sense, an unfit sonally, but must act by the advice of those ministers epoch for festive celebration. An expression of the whose responsibility was his guarantee to the nation first consul to Sieyes was also current at the same at large. The terms of' the letter set forth, as usual, time, which, although Bonaparte may not have the blessings of peace, and urged the propriety of used it, has been generally supposed to express his its being restored; propositions which could not sentiments. Si6yes had spoken of Louis under the admit of dispute in the abstract, but which admit established phrase of the Tyrant. " He was no ty- of much discussion when coupled with unreasonable rant," Bonaparte replied; " had he been such, I or inadmissible conditions. should have been a subaltern officer ofartillery, and The answer transmitted by Lord Grenville, in you, Monsieur l'Abb6, would have been still saying the forms of diplomacy, to the minister for foreign mass." affairs, dwelt on the aggressions of France, declared A third sign ofapproaching change, or rather of the that the restoration of the Bourbons would have approaching return to the ancient system of govern- been the best security for their sincerity, but disment under a different chief, was the removal of the avowed all right to dictate to France in her internal first consul from the apartments in the Luxembourg concerns. Some advances were made to a pacific Palace, occupied by the Directors, to the royal resi- treaty; and it is probable that England might at dence. of' the Tuileries. Madame de Stael beheld that period have obtained the same or better terms the entrance of' this fortunate soldier into the princely than she afterwards got by the treaty of Amiens. It residence of the Bourbons. He was already sur- may be added, that the moderate principles expressrounded by a vassal crowd, eager to pay him the ed by the consular government miglt, in the infancy homage which the inhabitants of those splendid halls of his power, and in a mnomeint of considerable had so long claimed as their due, that it seemed to doubt, have induced Bonaparte to make sacrifices, be consistent with the place, and to become the to which, triumphant and established, lie would not right of this new inhabitant. The doors were condescend. But the possession of Egypt, which thrown open with a bustle and violence, expressive Bonaparte must have insisted on, were it only for of the irnpor-tance of the occasion. But the hero of his own reputation, was likely to be an insuperable the scene, in ascending the magnificent staircase, up difficulty. The conjuncture also appeared to the which a throng of courtiers followed him,'seemed English ministers propitious for carrying on the totally indifferent to all around, his features bearing war. Italy had been recovered, and the Austrian: and contempt for mankind. Savoy, and mustering on the Rhine. Bonaparte, The first mneasures of Bonaparte's new govern- in the check received before Acre, had been ment, and the expectation attached to his name, had found not absolutely invincible. The exploits of Iready gone some length in restoring domestic Suwarrow over the French were recent, and had et; but he was Nvell aware that much more must been decisive. The state of the interior of France done to render that quiet permanent; that the was well known; and it was conceived, that though external relations of France with Europe nmist be this successful general had climbed into the seat of attended to without delay; and that the French supreme power which he found unoccupied, yet expected from him either the conclusion of an that two strong parties, of which the royalists ob i ~88 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. jected to his person, the republicans to his form of were in proportion dispirited and disorganized. v)rernament, could not fail, the one or other, to Whole corps abandoned their position, contrary to delprive him of his influence. orders; and with drums beating, and colours flying,'I'ile treaty was finally broken off, on the score returned into France. A proclamation from Nathat there was great reason to doubt Bonaparte's poleon was almost alone sufficient to remedy these sinlcelity; and, supposing that were granted, there disorders. He called on the soldiers, and particu\,as at least equal room to doubt the stability of a larly those corps who had formerly distinguished power so hastily acknowledged, and seeming to themselves under his command in his Italian carlcoltain in itself the principles of decay. There may paigns, to remember the confidence he had once be a diilfference of opinion in regard to Bonaparte's placed in them. The scattered troops returned to slhlcerity in the negotiation, but there can be none their duty, as war-horses when dispersed are said as to the reality of his joy at its being defeated. to rally and form ranks at the mere sound of the The voice whlich summoned him to war was that trumpet. Mass6na, an officer eminent for his acwhich sounded sweetest in his ears, since it was quaintance with the mode of carrying on war in a always followed by exertion and by victory. He mountainous country, filll of passes and strong pohad been personally offended, too, by the allusion sitions, was intrusted with the command of the to the legitimate rights of the Bourbons, and indulg- Italian army, which Bonaparte resolved to support ed his resentment by pasquinades in the M3oniteur. in person with the army of reserve. A supposed letter friom the last descendant of the Tile French army upon the Rhine possessed as Stuart family appeared there, congratulating the great a superiority over the Austrians, as Melas, on King of Britain on his acceding to the doctrine of the Italian frontier, enjoyed over Mass6na. Morean legitimacy, and summoning him to make good his was placed in the command of a large army, angprinciples, by an abdication of his crown in favour mented by a strong detachment from that of Geneof the lineal heir. ral Brune, now no longer necessary for the protec. The external situation of France had, as we be- tion of Holland, and by the army of Helvetia, which, fore remarked, been considerably improved by the after the defeat of Korsakow, was not fhrther consequences of the battle of Zurich, and the vic- required for the defence of Switzerland. In betories of Moreau. But the Republic derived yet stowing thisgreat chargeon Moreau, the first consll greater advant.ges from the breach between the showed himself superior to the jealousy which lnigl.t Emperors of A istria and Russia. Paul, naturally have dissuaded meaner minds from intrustisnga r val, of an uncertain temper, and offended by the ma- whose military skill was often compalred with his nagement of the last campaign, in which Korsakow own, with such an opportunity of distinguishing had been defeated, and Sawarrow checked, in con- himself. But Bonaparte, in this and other cases, sequence of their being unsupported by the Austrian preferred the employing and profiting by the public army, had withdrawn his troops, so distinguished service of men of talents, and especially nlen of' for their own bravery, as well as for the talents of military eminence; to any risk which he could run their leader, from the seat of war. But the Aus- from their rivalry. He had the just confidence in trians, possessing a firmness of character undismayed his own powers, never to doubt his supremacy, and by defeat, and encouraged by the late success of trusted to the influence of discipline, and the love of their arms under the veteran Melas, had made their profession, which induces generals to accept such gigantic exertions as to counterbalance the loss of command even under administrations of which of their Russian confederates. they disapprove. In this manner he rendered deTheir principal force was in Italy, and it was on pendent upon himself even those officers, who, the Italian fi-ontier that they meditated a grand effort, averse to the consular form ofgovernment, inclined to by which, supported by the British fleet, they pro- republican principles. Such were Mass6na, Brune, posed to reduce Genoa, and penetrate across the Jourdan, Lecourbe, and Championnet. He took Var into Provence, where existed a strong body of care at the same time, by changing the commands royalists ready to take arms, under the command of intrusted to them, to break off all combinations or conGeneral Willot, an emigrant officer. It was said nexions which they might have formed for a new the celebrated Pichegru, who, escaped from Guiana, alteration of the government. had taken refilge in England, was also with this General Moreau was much superior in numbers army, and was proposed as a chiefleader ofthe ex- to Kray, the Austrian who commanded on the pected insurrection. Rhine, and received orders to resume the offe'nsive. To execute this plan, Melas was placed at the He was cautious in his tactics, though a most excelhead of an army of 140,000 men. This army was lent officer, and was startled at the plan sent himn by quartered for the winter in the plains of Piedmont Bonaparte, which directed him to cross the Rhine and waited but the approach of spring to commence at Schaffhausen, and, marching on Ulm with his operations. whole force, place himself in the rear of the greater Opposed to them, and occupying the country be- part of the Austrian army. This was one of those twixt Genoa and the Var, lay a French army of schemes, fraught with great victories or great re40,000 men, the relics of those who had been re- verses, which Bonaparte delighted to form, and peatedly defeated in Italy by Suwarrow. They which often requiring much sacrifice of men, ocwere quartered in a poor country, and the English casioned his being called by those who loved him squadron, which blockaded the coast, was vigilant not, a general at the rate of ten thousand men per in preventing any supplies from being sent to them. day. Such enterprises resemble desperate passesin Distress was therefore considerable, and the troops fencing, and must be executed with the same decisive LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.89 resolution with which they are formed. Few even in which he added-if thiat were still possible-to of Bonaparte's best generals could be trusted with the high military reputation he had acquired. the execution of his master-strokes in tactics, unless In committing the charge of the calmparign upon nder his own immediate superintendance. the Rhine to Moreau, the first consul had reserved Moreau invaded Germany on a more modified for himself the task of bringing back victory to tilhe pilan; and a series of marches, countermarches, and French standards, on the fields in which he won his desperate battles ensued, in which General Kray, earliest laurels. His plan of victory again included I adairrably supported by the Archduke Ferdinand, a passage of the Alps, as boldly and nnexpectedly Made a gallant defence against superior numbers. as in 1795, bat in a different direction. That earlier In Bonaparte's account of this campaign he period had this resemblance to the lpresent, that, on Ilanies Morean for hesitation and timidity in follow- both occasions, the Austrians menaced Genoa; but iug up1 the advantages which he obtained. Yet to a in 1800, it was only floin the Italian friontier and tile liss severe, perhaps to a more impartial judge, Col cli Tende, whereas, in 1795, the enemy were in Miioreau's success might seem satisfactory, since, possession of the mountains of Savoy, above Genoa. crossing thie Rhine in the end of'April, he had his Swvitzerland too, formerly neutral, and allowing no headquarters at Augsburg upon the 15th July, passage for armies, was nowas open to themarch ready either to co-operate with the Italian army, or of French troops as any of their own provinces,;'ad to iiarch ijto the hleart of the Austrian territory. of this Bonaparte determined to avail himself Hel Nor' can it be denied that, during this whole cain- was aware of the Austrian plan of taking Genoa and paign, Moreau kept in view, as a principal olbject, entering Provence; and lie formedr the daring resothe iprotecting the operations of' Bonaparte in Italy, lhtion to put himself at the head of the army of re-,and sauiung that chief, in his dauntless and desperate serve, surmount the line of the Alps, even where invasion of the Milanese territory, fronim tile danger they are most difficult of access, and, descending \h1ich niight have ensued, had Kray found an into Italy, place himself in the rear of the Austrian opportunity of opening a communication with the army, interrupt their communications, carry off their Auastrian army in Italy, and dispatching troops to its magazines, parks, and hospitals, coop them up bestuipport. twixt his own army and that of M1assena, which was It niay be remarked of these two great generals, in their front, and compel them to battle, in a situathat, as enterprise was the characteristic of Bona- tion where defeat must be destruction. But to acparte's movements, prudence was that of Moreau's; complish this daring movement, it was necessary to and it is not unusual, even when there occur no other march a whole army over the highest chain of monontnctives for rivals uundervaluing each otlher, that the tains in Europe, by roads which affbrd but a danenterprising judge the prudent to be timid, and the gerous passage to the solitary traveler, and through prudent account the enterprising rash. passes where one man can do more to defend, thani It is nut ours to decide upon professional questions ten to force their way. Artillery was to be carried between men of sucd superior talents; and, having through sheep-paths and over precipices impractibarely alluded to the topic, we leave Moreau at cable to wheel carriages; ammunition and baggage Augsburg, where hlie finally concluded an armistice were to be transported at the same disadvantages; with General Kray, as a consequence of that which and provisions were to be conveyed through a counBonaparte had established in Italy after the battle try poor in itself, and inhabited by a nation which of Marengo. Thus mruch, therefore, is due in jus- had every cause to be hostile to France, and might tice to Moreau. His campaign was, on the whole, therefore be expected prompt to avail tlhemselves crowned in its results with distinguishled success, of any opportunity which should occur of revenging And when it is considered, that hlie was to mancnuvre themselves fobr her late aggressions. both with reference to the salety of the first consul's The strictest secrecy was necessary, to procure operations and his own, it may be doubted whether even the opportunity of attempting this audacious Bonaparte would, at the time, have thanked hIini for plan of operations; and to insure this secrecy, Boventuring on urore hazardous measures, the result naparte had recourse to a singular mode of deceiving of which miglit hare been either to obtain more the enemy. It was made as public as possible, by brilliant victory for the Army of the Rhine, in the orders, decrees, proclamations, and thle like, that the event of success, or, should they have miscarried, first consul was to place himself at the head of the to have insured the rein of the Army of Italy, as well army of reserve, and that it was to assemble at as of that conmmanded by Moreau iiniselt There Dijon. Accordingly, a numerous staff was sent to that must have been a wide dittference betwveen the part place, and much apparent bustle took place in aswhich Moreau ong'At to act as s:ibsidiary to Bona- sembling six or seven thousand men there, with parte (to whom it will presently be seen lie dis- great pomp and friacas. These, as the spies of patched a reinforcement of from fifteen to twenty Austria truly reported to their employers, were thousand men), and that which Bonaparte, in obe- either conscripts, or veterans unfit for service; and dience to his daring genius, might have himself caricatures were published of the first consul rethought it right t, perform. The commander-in-chief viewving troops composed of children and disabled may venture much on his own responsibility, which soldiers, whlich was ironically termed his army of must not be hazarded by a subordinate general, reserve. When an army so composed was reviewed whose motiona ought to be regulated upon the ge- by the first consul himself with great ceremony, it neral plan of the campaign. impressed a general belief that Bonaparte was only We return to the operations of Napoleon during endeavouring, by making a show of force, to divert one of the most important campaigns of his life, and the Austrians from their design' upon Genoa, and VOL. L. 3 290 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTTE. thus his real purpose was effectually concealed. the engineer.-'" Let us set forward then," said NaBulletins, too, were privately circulated by the poleon, and the extraordinary march wv.s cornagents of police, as if scattered by the royalists, in menced. which specious arguments were used to prove that On the 13th, arriving at Lausanne, BoLaparte the French army of reserve neither did, nor could joined the van of his real army of reserve, which exist-and these also were designed to withdraw consisted of six effective regiments, commanded by attention from the various points on which it was at the celebrated Lannes. These corps, together with the very moment collecting. the rest of the troops intended for the expedition, The pacification of the west of France had placed had been assembled from their several positions by many good troops at Bonaparte's disposal, which forced marches. Carnot, the minister at war, athad previously been engaged against the Chouans; tended the first consul at Lausanne, to report to the quiet state of Paris permitted several regiments hint that 15,000, or fiom that to the number of to be detached from the capital. New levies were 20,000 men, detached from Moreau's army, were made wvith the utmost celerity; and the divisions of in the act of descending on Italy by St Gothard, in the army of reserve were organized separately, and order to fornm the left wing of his army. The whole at different places of rendezvous, but ready to fbrnm army, in its various divisions, was now united under a junction when they should receive the signal for the command of Berthier nominally, as general-incommencing operations. chief, though in reality under that of the first consul himself. This was in compliance with a regulation of the constitution, which rendered it inconsistent CHAPTER XXXVII. for the first consul to command in person. It was a form which Bonaparte at present evaded, and'afThe chief consul leaves Paris on 6th AMay, 1800-Has an terwards laid aside; thinking truly, that the na ne, interview with Necker at Geneva on 8th-Arrives at as well as office of generalissimo, was most fittlngly Lazsaae oz te 13th -Varioe s corps ple t in fotion lo vested in his own person, since, though it might not cross r the hAlps.-Napoleon, at the asead of the laie be the loftiest of his titles, it was that which best exarmy, marches on the 15tA, aced ascends Mront St Bernaryd-Dmaifchllies of the m5adrch surmountedd-0n the pressed his power. The army might amount to 60,000 16th, the van-guard takes possession of Aosta.-For- men, but one-thild of the number were conscripts. tress and town of Bard threaten to baffle the whol Duriag the interval between the 15th and 18th of - The townt is captured-and Napoleon contrives to send May, all the columns of the French army were put his artillery through it, under the fire of the fort, his into motion to cross the Alps. Tureau, at the head infJointry and cavalry passing over the Albaredo.- of 5000 men, directed his march by Mount Cenis, Lanzes carries Ivrea.-Recapitnlati(,nt.-Operations of on Exilles and Susa. A similar division, cornthe Austrian general Melas-At the commencement of manded by Chabran, took the route of the Little St the canmpaign Melas advatcestowvards Genoa-Many Bernard. Bonaparte himself, on the 15th, at the actions betwmixt him tand Mfasstena.-In March Lord head of the main body of his army, consisting of Keith blockades Genoa.-M-elas compelled to retreat and upwards, marched om n Jrom Genoa-Enters Nice-Recal/ed from thence by the to the little village called St Piet-re, at which point leus of Napoleon's having crossed Mont St Bernard- e little village called St Pre, at poit Genot suerrenders-Bonlaparte enters Milan-Battle of there ended everything resembling a practicable.Montebello, and victory of the French-lThe chief consul road. An immense, and apparently iiiaccessible is joined by Desaix during the battle.-Great Battle of mountain, reared its head among general desolation Marengo on the 14lh June, and complete victory of the and eternal frost; while precipices, glaciers, ravines, Frenzch-Death of De.saix-Cs'pitteation ont the 15th, by and a boundless extent of faithless snows, swhich the which Genoa, etc., are yielded to the French.-Napoleon slightest concussion of the air converts into avareturns to Paris ont the 2d July, anid is received with all lancLes capable of burying armies in their descent, tAhe acclamnrzatiotls dlue to a great contqceror. appeared to forbid access to all living things but fihe chamois, and his scarce less wild pursuer. Yet ON the 6th of May, 1800, seeking to renew the foot by foot, and man by man, did the French solfortunes of' France, now united with his own, the diers proceed to ascend this formnidable barrier, chief consul left Paris, and, having reviewed the which nature had erected in vain to limit human pretended army of reserve at Dijon on the 7th, ar- ambition. The view of' the valley, emphatically rived on the 8th at Geneva. Here he had an inter- called " of Desolation," where nothing is to be seen view with the celebrated financier Necker. There but snow and sky, had no terrors for the first consul was always doomed to be some misunderstanding and his army. They advanced tip paths hitherto between Bonaparte and this accomplished family. only practised by hunters, or here and there a hardy Madame de Stael believed that Bonaparte spoke pedestrian, the infantry loaded with their arms, to her father with confidence on his future prospects; and in full military equipment, the cavalry leading while the first consul affirms that Necker seemed to their horses. Tile musical bands played from time expect to be intrusted with the management of the to time at the head of the regiments, and,- in places French finances, and that they parted with mutual of unusual difficulty, the drums beat a charge, as if inldifference, if not dislike. Napoleon had a more to encourage the soldiers to encounter the opposition interesting conversation with general Marescot, dis- of Nature herself. The artillery, without which patched to survey Mont St Bernard, and who had, they could not have done service, wvere deposited with great difficulty, ascended as far as the convent in trunks of trees hollowed out for the Purpose. of the Chartreux. "Is the route practicable?" said Each was dragged by a hundred men, and the Bonaparte-" It is barely possible to pass," replied troops, nlaking it a point of honour to bring forward LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 291 their guns, accomplished this severe duty, not with The descent on the other side of Mont St Bernard cheerfulness only, but with enthusiasm. The car- was as difficult to the infantry as the ascent had riages were taken to pieces, and harnessed on the been, and still more so to the cavalry. It was, howbacks of mules, or committed to the soldiers, who ever, accomplished without any material loss, and relieved each other in the task of bearing them with the army took tp their quarters for the night, after levers; and the ammunition wvas transported in the having marched fourteen French leagues. The next same manner. WVhile one half of the soldiers were morning, 16th May, the van-guard took possession thus engaged, the others were obliged to carry the of Aosta, a village of Piednont, fiom which extends muskets, cartridge-boxes, knapsacks, and provi- the valley of the same name, watered by the river sions of their comrades, as well as their own. Each Dorea, a country pleasant in itself, but rendered man, so loaded, was calculated to carry from sixty delightful by its contrast with the horrors which had to seventy pounds' weight, up icy precipices, where been left behind. a man totally without encumbrance could ascend but Thus was achieved the celebrated passage of slowly. Probably no troops save the French could Mont St Bernard, on the particulars of which we have endured the fatigue of such a march; and no have dwelt the more willingly, because, although a other general than Bonaparte would have ventured military operation of importance, they do not into require it at their hand. volve the unvaried details of human slaughter, to He set out a considerable time after the march which our narrative must now returs. had begun, alone, excepting his guide. le is de- Where the opposition of Nature to Napoleon's scribed by the Swiss peasant who attended him in march appeared to cease, that of man commenced. that capacity, as wearing his usual simple dress, a A body of' Austrians at Chatillon were overpowered grey sulltout, and three-cornered hat. lie traveled and defeated by Lannes; but the strong fortress of in silence, save a few short and hasty questions Bard offered more serious opposition. This little about the country, addressed to his guide fiom time citadel is situated upon an almost perpendicular to time. When these were answered, he relapsed rock, rising out of the river Dorea, at a place where into silence. There was a gloom on his brow, cor- the valley of Aosta is rendered so very narrow by responding with the weather, which was wet and the approach of two mountains to each other, tliat dismal. His countenance had acquired, during his the fort and walled town of Bard entirely close up eastern campaigns, a swart.complexion, which the entrance. This formidable obstacle threatened added to his natural severe gravity, and the Swiss for the mioment to shut uip the French in a valley, peasant who guided him felt fear as he looked on where their means of subsistence must have been him.* Occasionally his route was stopt by some speedily exhausted. General Lannes made a destemporary obstacle occasioned by a halt in the ar- perate effort to carry the fort by assault; hut the tillery or baggage; his commands on such occasions advanced guard of the attacking party were dewere peremptorily given, and instantly obeyed, his stroyed by stones, musketry, and hand-grenades, very look seeming enough to silence all objection, and the attempt was relinquished. and remove every difficulty. Bonaparte in person went now to reconnoitre, The army now arrived at that singular convent, and for that purpose ascended a huge rock called where, with courage equial to their own, but flowing Albaredo, being a precipice on the side of one of fiom a much higher source, the monks of St Bernard the mountains which form the pass, from the summit have fixed their dwellings among the everlasting of which he could look down into the town, and sniows, that they may afford succour and hospitality into the fortress. fie detected a possibility of taking to the forlorn travelers in those dreadful wastes. the town by storm, though he judged the fort was Ilitherto the soldiers had had no refreshmnet, save too strong to be obtained by a coup-de-main. The helien they dipt a morsel of biscuit amongst the town was accordingly carried by escalade; but the snow. The good fathers of the convent, who possess French who obtained possession of it had little considerable magazines of provisions, distributed cover fi-om the artillery of the fort, which fired fulbr'ead and cheese, and a cup of wine, to each soldier riously on the houses where they endeavoured to -as lhe passed, which was more acceptable in their shelter themselves, and which the Austrians might siluation, than, according to one who shared their have entirely demolished but for respect to the in|tttigues,t- would have been the gold of Mexico. habitants. Meanwhile, Bonaparte availed himself of the diversion to convey a great part of his army Ai-parently the -guide who conducted him from the in single files, horse as well as foot, by a precarious Granld Chartreux found the chief consul in better hu- patll formed by the pioneers over the tremendous inmolr, for Bonaparte said lie conversed freely with him, Albaredo, and so down on the othef side, in this and expressed some wishes with respect to a little farm, etc. manner avoiding the cainon of Fort Bard. u which he was able to gratify. To his guide from Martigny Still a most impoltant difficulty renained. It to St Pierre, he was also liberal; but the only specimen of was impossible, at least without great loss of time, his conversation which the latter remembered, was, when, to carry the French artillery over the Albaredo, shaking the rain-water from his hat, Ie. exclaimed-" There, see what I have done in your mountains-spoiled my new while, without artillely, it was impossible to move hat. Pshaw, I will find another on the other side." See, against the Austrians, and every hope of the camfor these and other interesting anecdotes, Mr Tennant's paign must be given up. Touer throulgh the Netherlands, lHolland, Gerrna;g, Scit- In the meantime, the astonished commandant of zerland, etc. the fort, to whom the apparition of this large army t Joseph Petit, fourrier des grenadiers de la garde, au- was like enchantmenlt, dispatched messenger after thor of Marengo, o0 C ampagne d'Italie: 8vo, an ix. messenger to warn Melas, then opposed to Suchet, '292 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. that a French army of 30,000 men and upwards, army they were to form the left wing. But ere we descending from the Alps by ways hitherto deemed prosecute the account of Bonaparte's movements impracticable for military movements, had occupied during this momentous campaign, it is necessary to the valley of Aosta, and were endeavouring to de- trace the previous operations of Melas, and the situbouche by a path of steps cut in the Albaredo. But ation in which that Austrian general now found he pledged himself to his commander-in-chief, that himself. not a single gun or ammunition waggon should pass It has been already stated, that, at the commencethrough the town; and as it was impossible to drag ment of this campaign of 1800, the Austrians enterthese along the Albaredo, he concluded, that, being tained the highest hopes that their Italian army, without his artillery, Bonaparte would not venture having taken Genoa and Nice, might penetrate into to descend into the plain. Provence by crossing the frontier at the Var, and But while the commandant of Bard thus argued, perhaps make themselves masters of Toulon anil he was mistaken in his premises, though right in Marseilles. To realise these hopes, Mlelas, having his inference. The artillery of the French army left in Piedmont a sufficient force, as he deemed it, had already passed through the town of Bard, and to guard the passes of the Alps, had advanced tounder the guns of the citadel, without being dis- wards Genoa, which Mass6na prepared to cover covered to have done so. This important manceuvre and defend. A number of severe and desperate was accomplished by previously laying the street actions took place between these generals; hat bewith dung and earth, over which the pieces of ing a war of posts, and fought in a very mountainous cannon, concealed under straw and branches of and difficult country, it was impossible by any skill trees, were dragged by men in profound silence. of combination to insure on any occasion more than The garrison, though they did not suspect what was partial success, since co-operation of movements going on, fired nevertheless occasionally upon some upon a great and extensive scale was prohibited by vague suspicion, and killed and wounded artillery- the character of the ground. There was much men in sufficient number to show it would have hard fighting, however, in which, though more of been impossible to pass under a severe and sus- the Austrians were slain, yet the loss was more tained discharge fromn the ramparts. It seems sin- severely felt by the French, whose numbers were gular that the commandant had kept up no intelli- inferior. gence with the town. Any signal previously agreed In the month of March, the Englislh fleet, tnder upon-a light shown in a window, for example- Lord Keith, appeared, as we have already hinted, would have detected such a stratagem. before Genoa, and commenced a blockade, which A division of conscripts, under General Chabrani strictly prevented access to the port to all vessels was left to reduce Fort Bard, which continued to loaded with provisions, or other necessaries, for the hold out, until, at the expense of great labour, bat- besieged city. teries were established on the top of the Albaredo, On the 6th of April, Melas, by a grand movement, by which it was commanded, and a heavy gun placed took Vado, and intersected the French line. Sutchet, on the steeple of the church, when it was compelled who commanded Mass1na's left wing, was cut off to surrender. It is not fruitless to observe, that the from that general, and thrown back on France. resistance of this small place, which had been over- Marches, manoeuvres and bloody combats, followed looked or undervalued in the plan of the campaign, each other in close detail; but the French, though was very nearly rendering the march over Mont obtaining advantages in several of the actions, could St Bernard worse than useless, and might have oc- never succeed in restoring the communication becasioned the destruction of all the chief consul's tween Sachet and Mass6na. Finally, while the forarmy. So little are even the most distinguished mer retreated towards France, and took up a line generals able to calculate with certainty upon all on Borghetta, the latter was compelled to convert the chances of war. his army into a garrison, and to shut himself lp in *From this dangerous pass, the van-guard of Bo- Genoa, or at least encamp in a position close under naparte now advanced down the valley to Ivrea, its ramparts. Melas, in the meantime, approached where Lannes carried the town by storm, and a se- the city more closely, when Mass6na, in a desperate cond time combated and defeated the Austrian sally, drove the Austrians from their advanced posts, division which had defended it, when reinforced forced them to retreat, made prisoners twelve and situated on a strong position at Romano. The hundred men, and carried off some warlike trophies. roads to Turin and Milan were now alike open to But the French were exhausted by their very sacBonaparte-he had only to decide which he chose cess, and obliged to remain within, or under the to take. Meanwhile he made a halt of four days at walls of the city, where the approach of famine Ivrea, to refresh the troops after their fatigues, and began to be felt. Men were already compelled to to prepare them for future enterprises. have recourse to the flesh of horses, dogs, and other During this space, the other columns of his army unclean animals, and it was seen that the place nmust were advancing to form a junction with that of the soon be necessarily obliged to surrender. main body, according to the plan of the campaign. Satisfied with the approaching fall of Genoa, Tureau, who had passed the Alps by the route of Melas, in the beginning of May, left the prosecution Mont Cenis, had taken the forts of Susa and La of the blockade to General Ott, and moved himself Brunneta. On the other hand, the large corps de- against Sachet, whom he drove before him in distached by Carnot from Moreau's army were ad- order, and who, overborne by numbers, retreated vancing by Mount St Gothard and the Simplon, to towards the French frontier. On the 11th of May, support the operations of the first consul, of whose Melas entered Nice, and thus commenced the pur LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTTE. 293 posed invasion of the French frontier. On the 14th, none. * At length, the situation of things seemed the Austrians again attacked Suchet, who now had desperate. The numerou!s population of Genoa rose concentrated his forces upon the Var, in hopes to in the extremity of their despair, and called for a protect the French territory. Finding this a more surrender. Bonaparte, they said, was not wont to difficult task than he expected, Melas next prepared march so slowly; he would have been before the to pass the Var higher up, and thus to turn the walls sooner, if he was to appear at all; he must position occupied by Suchet. have been defeated or driven back by the superior But on the 21st, the Austrian veteran received force of Melas. They demnanded the surrender of intelligence which put a stop to all his operations the place, therefore, which Mass6na no longer found against Suchet, and recalled him to Italy to face a himself in a condition to oppose. much more formidable antagonist. Tidings arrived Yet, could that brave general have suspended this that the first consul of France had crossed St Bernard, measure a few hours longer, he would have been had extricated himself from the valley of Aosta, spared the necessity of making it at all. General and was threatening to over-run Piedmont and the Ott had just received commands from Melas to raise Milanese territory. These tidings were as un- the blockade with all dispatch, and to fall back expected as embarrassing. The artillery, the equip- upon the Po, in order to withstand Bonaparte, who, age, the provisions of Melas, together with his in unexpected strength, was marching upon Milan. communications with Italy, were all at the mercy of The Austrian staff'officer, who brought the order, this unexpected invader, who, though his force had just received his audience of General Ott, when was not accurately known, must have brought with General Andrieux presented himself on the part of him an army more than adequate to destroy the Mass6na, announced the French general's desire to troops left to guard the fi'ontier; who, besides, were surrender the place, if his troops were permitted to necessarily divided, and exposed to be beaten in march out with their arms. There was no time to detail. Yet, if Melas marched back into Piedmont debate upon terms; and those granted to Massena against Bonaparte, he must abandon the attack by Melas were so unusually favourable, that perhaps upon Suchet, and raise the blockade of Genoa, they should have made him aware of the precarious when that important city was just on the eve of' state of the besieging army. He was permitted to surrender. evacuate Genoa without laying down his arms, and Persevering in the belief that the French army of the convention was signed 5th June, 1800. Meanreserve could not exceed twenty thousand men, or time, at this agitating and interesting period, events thereabouts, in number, and supposing that the of still greater importance than those which conprincipal, if not the sole object of the first consul's cerned the fate of the once princely Genoa, were daring irruption, was to raise the siege of Genoa, taking place with frightful rapidity. and disconcert the invasion of Provence, Melas Melas, with about one half of his army, had reresolved on marching himself against Bonaparte tired from his operations in the Genoese territory, with such forces, as, united with those he had left and retreated on Turin by the way of Coni, where in Italy, might be of power to face the French he fixed his head-quarters, expecting that Bonaparte army, according to his computation of its probable would either advance to possess himself of the castrength. At the same time, he determined to leave pital of Piedmont, or that he would make an effort before Genoa an army sufficient to insure its fall, to relieve Genoa. In the first instance, Melas and a corps of observation in front of Suchet, by deemed himself strong enough to receive the first means of which he might easily resume his plans consul; in the second, to pursue him; and in either, against that general, so soon as the chief constl to assemble such numerous forces as might harass should be defeated or driven back. and embarrass either his advance or his retreat. The corps of observation already mentioned was But Bonaparte's plan of the campaign was different under the command of General Ellsnitz, strongly frorn what Melas had anticipated. HIe had formed posted upon the Roye, and secured by entrench- the resolution to pass the rivers Sesia and Tesino, ments. It served at once to watch Suchet, and to and thus leaving Turlin and Melas behind him, to cover the siege of Genoa from any attempts to push straight for Milan, and form a junction with relieve the city, which might be made in the direc- the division of about 20,000 men, detached fiom the tion of France. right wving of Moreau's army, which, commanded by Mass6na, in the meantime, no sooner perceived Moncey, were on their road to join him, having the besieging army weakened by the departure of crossed the mountains by the route of St Cothard. Melas, than he conceived the daring plan of a gene- It was necessary, however, to disguise his purpose ral attack on the forces of Ott, who was left to from the sagacious veteran. carry on the siege. The attempt was unfortunate. With this view, ere Bonaparte broke up from The French were defeated, and Soult, who had Ivrea, Lannes, who had commanded his van-guard joined Mass6na, was wounded and made a prisoner. with so much gallantry, victorious at Romano, seemYet Genoa still held out. An officer had found his ed about to improve his advantage. He had marched way into the place, brought intelligence of Bonaparte's descent upon Piedmont, and inspired all.,p.a.rte's descent pon Piedmont, nd inspired all to send in provisions to feed these unhappy men, pledging with a new spirit of resistance. Still, however, his hotlour they should.be used to no otger purpose, and extreme want prevailed in the city, and the hope of that General Ott was displeased with Lord- Keith for deliverance seemed distant. The soldiers received declining to comply with a proposal so utterly unknown little food, the inhabitants less, the Austrian prison- in the usages of war. It is difficult to give credit to this ers, of whom they had about 8000 in Genoa, almost story. 294 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. on Chiavaso, and, seizing on a number of boats and to resist them, and the French retaining possession small vessels, appeared desirous to construct a of that place, tile Austrians could not occupy the bridge over the Po at that place. This attracted the valley of the Dorea, or relieve the besieged fortress attention of Melas. It might be equally a prelimi- of Bard. nary to an attack on Turin, or a movement towards The situation of Melas now became critical. His Genoa. But as the Austrian general was at the communications with the left, or north bank of the same time alarmed by the descent of General Po, were entirely cut off, and by a line stretching Tureau's division from Mont Cenis, and their cap- firom Fort Bard to Placentia, tile French occupied ture of Susa and La Brunneta, Turin seemed ascer- the best and fairest share of the north of Italy, while tained to be the object of the French; and Melas he found himself confined to Piedmont. The Ausacted on this idea. He sent a strong force to oppose trian army, besides, was divided into two parts,the establishment of the bridge, and while his atten- one under Ott, which was still near Genoa, that tion was thus occupied, Bonaparte was left to take had so lately surrendered to them,-one with Melas the road to Milan unmolested. Vercelli was occu- himself; which was at Turin. Neither were agreepied by the cavalry under Murat, and the Sesia was ably situated. That of Genoa was observed on its crossed without obstacle. The Tesino, a broad and right by Sucllet, whose army, reinforced with the rapid river, offered more serious opposition; but the garrison which, retaining their arms, evacuated that French found four or five small boats, in which they city under Mass6na, might soon be expected to pushed across an advanced party under General renew the offensive. There was, therefore, the G6rard. The Austrians, who opposed the passage, greatest risk, that Bonaparte, pushing a strong borce were in a great measure cavalry, who could not act across the Po, might attack and destroy either tile on account of the woody and ialpracticable character division of Ott, or that of Melas himself, before of the bank of the river. The passage was accom- they were able to form a junction. To prevent such plished; and, upon the second of June, Bonaparte a catastrophe, Ott received orders to nlarch forward entered Milan, where he was received with accla- on the Tesino, while Melas, moving towards Alexmations by anumerous class of citizens, who looked andria, prepared to resume his communications for the re-establishment of the Cisalpine Republic. with his lieutenant-general. The Austrians were totally unprepared for this Bonaparte, on his part, was anxious to relieve movement. Pavia fell into the hands of the French'; Genoa; news of the fall of which had not reached Lodi and Cremona were occupied, and Pizzighit- him. With this view he resolved to force his Ipastone was invested. sage over the Po, and move against the Austrians, Meantime, Bonaparte, fixing his residence in the who were found to occupy in strength the villages ducal palace of Milan, employed himself in receiving of Casteggio and Montebello. These troops proved the deputations of various public bodies, and in re- to be the greater part of tile very army which organizing the Cisalpine government, while he he expected to find before Genoa, and which nvas waited impatiently to be joined by Moncey and his commanded by Ott, beut which had moved westdivision from Mont St Gothard. They arrived at ward, in conformity to the orders of Melas. length, but marching more slowly than accorded General Lannes, who led the van-guard of the with the fiery promptitude of the first constl, who French, as usual, Nvas attacked early in the morning was impatient to relieve the blockade of Genoa, by a superior force, which he had much difficulty which place he concluded still held out. He now in resisting. The nature of the ground gave adissued a proclamation to his troops, in which he vantage to the Austrian cavalry, and the French described, as the result of the efforts he expected were barely able to support their charges. At from them, "cloudless glory and solid peace." On length the division of Victor came up to sulpport the 9th of June his armies were again in motion. Lannes, and the victory became no longer doubtfil, Melas, an excellent officer, had at the same time though the Austrians fought most obstinately. The some of the slowness imputed to his countrymen, or fields being covered with tall crops of grain, -and of the irresolution incident to the advanced age of especially of rye, thie different bodies were fi'eeighty years,-for so old was the opponent of Bo- quently hid until they found themselves at the naparte, then in the very prime of human life,-or bayonet's point, without having had any pre ious as others suspect, it may have been orders fron opportunity to estimate each other's force, a cicullVienna which detained the Austrian general so stance which led to rlmuch close fighting, and nelong at Turin, where he lay in a great measure in- cessarily to much slaughter. At length the Ausactive. It is true, that on receiving notice of Bona- trians retreated, leaving the field of battle coe cied parte's march on Milan, he instantly dispatched with their dead, and above 5000 prisoners in the orders to General Ott, as we have already stated,, hands of their enemies. to raise the siege of Genoa, and join him with all General Ott rallied the remains of his army under possible speed; but it seenled that, in tile mean- the walls of Tortona. From the prisoners taken at time, he might have disquieted Bonaparte's lines of the battle of Montebello, as this action was called, communication, by acting upon the river Dorea, Bonaparte learned. for the first time, the surrender attacking Ivrea, in which the French had left much i of Genoa, which apprised him that he was too late baggage and artillery, and relieving the fort of for the enterprise which he had meditated. He Bard. Accordingly, he made an attempt of this therefore halted his army for three days in the posikind, by detaching 6000 men to Chiavaso, who tion of Stradella, unwilling to advance into the open were successful in delivering some Austrian pri- plain of Marengo, and trusting that Melas would sonlers at that place; but Ivrea proved strong enough find himself compelled to give him battle ill the po LIFE OF NAPO-LEON, BONAPARTE. 295 nition which he had chosen, as most unfavolrable day's march from the rest of the army, which had like for the Austrian cavalry. I-le dispatched messengers to ha ve produced most sinister effects upon the event to SUchet, comrnanding himi to cross the lmonitains of the great battle that followed. by the Col di Cadihona, and iarcli on tile river Conlrary to what BIonaparte had anticipated, the' Scrivia, which would place hini ill the rear of the Austrian general, finding the first consul in his front, Austrians. and knowing thlat Sacliet was in his rear, had adoptEven during the very battle of Montebello, the ed, with thie consent l'a council of war, the resoluchief consuil was joined by Desaix, hho had just tion of trying t}he t;ite of' arms in a general battle. — arrived fionm Egylpt. Litlded at Ferdjus, u'fter a It was a bold butt not a rashl resolution. Thie Aushundred interruptionls, thlmat seenied as i' intended to triatns were kot-oe numlerous than the French in inwithhold hirn froml the f te lie was;ablut to iceet, fitntry vand artllery; much superior in cavalry, both he had received letters tl;o I Bonllpa,:te, inviting' in ploint O)t nullIbers nd of discipline; and it has him to come to himll %sitllhtlt delay.'l'lie tone of tile been alieadil said that the extensive plain of Maletters expressed discont-nt ani eibirrll;ltssltlet. rengo wvas favourable fbr tile use of that description "He has gaitted all,"' said Desnix, vito \\as tullchi of fotce. Melas. therefore, on the evening' of the attached to Bonaparite, " and yet lie is noit li;il)y."' 13th, concentrated his firces in ftiont of Alexandria, Immediately aftelllsiards, oln reatlill the accotr;t of divided by thle fixer Bormida fioin thle purposed his march oser St Bertnard, helt iddt, " He will field of figlt; and Napoleon, undeceived concerning leave us nothinrg to do." He ilt,ln diately set out thle intentions of his enemty, made with all haste the post to place hitiiself undter the commillnmtd o'f his an- necessary p)reparations to receive battle, and failed cient general, and, as it esenttinllvy proved, to en- not to send orders to Desaix to refturn as speedily coiunter an early deathi.'T'lev had ani ilter-esting as possible and join the arimy. l'hat general was conversation ont tle subject of Egypvt, to wl hich Bo- so fir advanced on his way towards Rivolta before naparte cottinued to cling, as to a Imlatter in vwhich these counter orders reached himl, thalt his [utiost his own t tlrte iwas iutiumately atnd intseparably con- haste only brought hin back after the battle had cerned. Desaix illlnuedliately received the comimand lasted several hours. of the division hIitherto tinder that of Botdet. Bonaparte's disposition swas as follows:-The in the mneanwhile, the lead-quarters of' Mlelas village of Marengo was occupied by the divisions had been renmoved fromt Turin, and fixed at Alexan- of Gardanne and Chambarlhac. Victor, with other dria for the space of two days; yet lie did not, as two divisons, and commanding the whole, was preBonaparte had expected, attempt to move forward pared to support them. He extended his left as far on the French positionl at Stradella, in order to force as Castel Ceriolo, a small village ilwhich lies almost his way to Mantuta; so that the first consul was parallel with Marengo. Behind this first line was obliged to advatice towards Alexandria, apprehen- placed.a brigade of cavalry, tinder Kellerrlanin, sive lest thle Austrians should escape from him, and ready to protect the flanks of the line, or to debouche either, by a march to the left flank, move for the through the intervals, if opportunity served, and Tesino, cross that river, and, by seizing Milan, open attack the enemy. About a thousand yards in the a communication with Austria in that direction; or, rear of the first line was stationed the second, tinder by marching to the right, and falling back on Ge- Lannes, supported by Chanipeaux's brigade of canoa, overwvhelln Suchlet, and take a position, the valry. At the same distance, in the rear of Lannes, right of which might be covered by that city, while was placed a strong reserve, or third line, consisting the sea was open for supplies and provisions, and of the division of Carra St-Cyr, and the Consular their flank protected by the British squadron. Guard, at the head of whom was Bonaparte himself. Either of these movements might have been at- Thus the French were drawn up on this nremlorable tended with alarming consequences; and Napoleon, day in three distinct divisions, each composed off a impatient lest his enemy should give him the slip, corps d'armee, distant about three quarters of a advanced hiis head-quarters on the 12th to Voghera, mile in the rear of each other. and on the 13th to St Juliano, in the midst of the The force which the French had in tle field in great plain of Marengo. As he still saw nothing of the commencement of the day was above twvellty the enemy, the chief consul concluded that Melas thousand men; the reserve, under Desaix, upon its l'hiad actulally retreated from Alexandria, having, arrival, might make the whole amount to thirty notswithstanding the temptation afforded by the level thousand. The Austrians attacked svith nearly ground around him, preferred withdrawing, most forty thousand troops. Both armies were in lhigh probably to Genoa, to the hazard of a battle. He spirits, determined to fight, and each confident in ivas still more confirmed in this belief, when, pushing their general-the Austrians itl the bravery alnd forward as far as the village of Marengo, he found experience of Melas, the French in the genlius alnd it only occupied by an Austrian rear-guard,;ihich talents of Bonaparte. The immediate stake was the offered-no persevering defence against the French, possession of Italy, but it was impossible to guess but retreated from the village without much opposi- how many yet more important consequences the tion. The chief consul could no longer doubt that event of tlie day might involve. Thus mutch seenled Mlelas had eluded him, by mnarching off by one of certain, that the battle must be decisive, and that his flanks, and probably by his right. He gave orders defeat must prove destruction to the party who to Desaix, ivwhom he had intrusted with the com- should sustain it. Bonaparte, if routed, could mand of the reserve, to march towards Rivolta, with hardly have accomplished his retreat upon Milan; a view to observe the communications with Genoa; and Melas, if defeated, had Suchet in his rear.'1The and in this manner the reserve was removed-half a fine plain on which the French were drawn up.1 296 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. seemed lists formed by nature for such an encoun- retreat to the rear. The French right, still resting ter, when the fate of kingdoms was at issue. on Castel Ceriolo, which formed the pivot of the Early in the morning the Austrians crossed the manoeuvre, had orders to retreat very slowly, the Ilormida, in three columns, by three military bridges, centre faster, the left at ordinary quick time. In and advanced in the samne order. The right and this manner the whole line of battle was changed, the centre colun.ns, consisting of infantry, were and instead of extending diagonally across the plain, commanded by Generals Haddick and Kaine; the as when the fighlt began, the French now occupied left, composed entirely of light troops and cavalry, an oblong position, the left being withdrawn as far made a d6tour round Castel Ceriolo, the village back as St Juliano, where it was protected by the mentioned as forming the extreme right of the advance of Desaix's troops. This division, being French position. About seven in the morning, Had- the sole remaining reserve, had now at length dick attacked Marengo'with fury, and Gardanne's arrived on the field, arid, by Bonaparte's directions, division, after fighting bravely, proved inadequate had t:iken a strong position in tiont of St Juliano, -to its defence. Victor supported Gardanne, and on which the Frenich were obliged to retreat, great endeavoured to cover the village by an oblique part of the left wing in the disorder of uitter flight, movement. Melas, who commanded in person the tile right wing steadily, ard by intervals firontingthe central column of the Austrians, noved to support enemy, and sustaining with firmness the attacks Haddick; and by their united efforts, the village of made upon them. Marengo, after having been once or twice lost and At this time, and when victory seemed within won, was finally carried. his grasp, the strength of General Melas, eighty The broken divisions of Victor and Gardanne, years old, and who had been many hours on horsedriven out of Marengo, endeavoured to rally on the back, failed entirely; and lie was obliged to leave second line, commanded by Lannes. This was the field, and retire to Alexandria, c'ommitting to about nine o'clock. WThile one Austrian column General Zach the charge of' completing a victory mlaneuvl'ed to turn Lannes's flank, in which they which appeared to be already gained. could not succeed, another, with better fortune, But the position of Desaix, at St Juliano, afforded broke through the centre of Victor's division, in a the first consul a rallying point, which he now considerable degree disordered them, and thus un- greatly needed. His army of reserve lay formed in covering Lannes's left wing, compelled him to re- two lines in front of the village, their flanks sustained treat. He was able to do so in tolerably good bybattalions enpotence, formed into close columns order; but not so the broken troops of Victor on the of infantry; on the left was a train of artillery; on left, who fled to the rear in great confusion. The the right, Kellernlann, with a large body of French colulmn of Austrian cavalry, who had come round cavalry, which, routed in the beginning of the day, Castel Ceriolo, now appeared on the field, and had rallied in this place. The ground that Desaix threatened the right of Lannes, which alone remain- occupied was where the high road forms a sort of ed standing firm. Napoleon detached two battalions defile, having on the one hand a wood, on the other of the Consular Guard from the third line, or re- a thick plantation of vines. serve, which, forlming squares behind the right wing The French soldier understands better perhaps of Lannes, supported its resistance, and withdrew than any other in the world the art of rallying, after fiom it in part the attention of the enemy's cavalry. having been dispersed. The fugitives of Victor's The chief consul hitnself, whose post was distin- division, though in extreme disorder, threw themguished by the furred caps of' a guard of two huld- selves into the rear of' Desaix's position, and cored grenadiers, brougllt up Monnier's division, which vered by his troops, renewed their ranks and their had but now entered the field at the momnent of courage. Yet, when Desaix saw the plain filled extremne need, being the advance of Desaix's re- with flying soldiers, and beheld Bonaparte himself serve, returned from their half day's march towards in full retreat, he thought all must be lost. They Rivolta. These were, with the guards, directed to m et in the middle of the greatest apparent confusion, support Lannes's right wing, and a brigade detach- and Desaix said, "The battle is lost-I srrppose ed fronm them was thrown into Castel Ceriolo, I can do nlo more for you than secure your retreat." which now became the point of' support on Bona- " By no means," answered the first consul, "' the parte's extreme right, and which the Austrians, battle is, I trust, gained-the disordered troops somewhat unaccountably, had omitted to occupy in whom you see are my centre and left, whom I will force when their left column passed it in the begin- rally in your rear-Push forward your column." ning of the engagement. Bonaparte, meantime, by Desaix, at the head of the ninth light brigade, inseveral desperate charges of cavalry, endeavoured stantly rushed forward, and charged the Austrians, in vain to arrest the progress of the enemy. His left wearied with fighting the whole day, and disordered wing was put completely to flight; his centre was by their hasty pursuit. The moment at which he in great disorder, and it was only his right wing, advanced, so critically favourable for Bonaparte, which, by strong support, had been enabled to was fatal to himself. He fell, shot through the stand their ground. head.*' But his soldiers continued to attack with In these circumstances the dav seemed so entire* The llIoniteur put in the mouth of the dying general ly against him, that, to prevent his right wing from a message to Bonaparte, in which he expressed his regret being overwhelmed, he was compelled to retreat in that lie had done so little for history, and in that of the the face of an eneimy superior in nummbers, and chief consul an answer, lamenting that he had no time to particularly in cavalry and artillery. It was, how- weep for Desaix. But Bonaparte himself assures us, that ever, rather a change of position, than an absolute Desaix was shot dead on the spot; nor is it probable that LIFE OF NAPO LEON BONAPARTE. 297 fury, and Kellermann, at the same time charging after Bonaparte's departure, so they revived with the Austrian column, penetrated its ranks, and se- even more than their original brilliancy, as soon as parated from the rest six battalions, which, surprised this Child of Destiny had returned to preside over and panic-struck, threw down their arms; Zach, them. An armistice was also agreed upon, which it who, in the absence of Melas, commanded in chief; was supposed might afford time for the conclusion of' being at their head, was taken with them. The a victorious peace with Austria; and Bonaparte Austrians were now driven back.in their turn. extended this truce to the armies on the Rhine, as Bonaparte galloped along the French line, calling on well as those in Italy. the soldiers to advance. " You know," he said, "it is Two days having been spent in the arrangements always my practice to sleep on the field of battle." which the convention with Melas rendered necesThe Austrians had pursued their success with in- sary, Bonaparte, on the 17th of June, returned to cautious hurry, and without attending to the due Milan, where he again renewed the republican consupport which one corps ought, in all circumstances, stitltion, which had been his original gift to the to be prepared to afford to another. Their left flank Cisalpinih State. He executed several other acts of was also exposed, by their hasty advance, to Bona- authority. Though displeased wvith Massiena for the parte's right, which had never lost order. They surrender of Genoa, he did not the less constitute were, therefore, totally unprepared to resist this ge- him commander-in-chief in Italy; and though doubtneral furious and unexpected attack. They were ful of Jourdan's attachment, who, on the 18th Bruforced back at all points, and pursued along the maire, seemed ready to espouse the republican lplain, suffering immense loss; nor were they again interest, he did not on that account hesitate to name able to make a stand until driven back over the himnminister of the French Republic in Piedmont, Bormida. Their fine cavalry, instead ofbeing drawn which was equivalent to giving him the adminisup in squadrons to cover their retreat, fled in dis- tration of that province. These conciliatory steps order, and at full gallop, riding down all that was in had the effect of making men of the most opposite their way. The confusion at passing the river was parties see their own interest in supporting the goinextricable-large bodies of men were abandoned vernment of the first consul. on the left side, and surrendered to the French in Tile presence of Napoleon was now eagerly the course of' the night, or next morning, desired at Paris. He set out from Milan on the It is evident, in perusing the accounts of this 24th June, and, in his passage through Lyons, paused battle, that the victory was wrested out of the hands to lay the foundation-stone for rebuilding the Place of the Austr'ians, after they had become, by the fa- Bellecour, a splendid square, which had been detigues of the day, too weary to hold-it. Had they stroyed by the frantic vengeance of the jacobins sustained the advance by reserves, their disaster when Lyons was retaken by them from the insurgent would not have taken place. It seems also certain, ~party of girondins and royalists. Finally, the chief that the fate of Bonaparte was determined by the consul returned to Paris upon the 2d of July. He arrival of Desaix at the moment he did, and that in had left it on the 6th of May; yet, in the space of not spite of the skilful dispositions by which the chief quite two months, how many hopes had he realised! consul was enabled to support the attack so long, he All that the most sanguine partisans had ventured to must have been utterly defeated had Desaix put anticipate of his success had been exceeded. It less dispatch in his counter-march. Military men seemed that his mere presence in Italy was of itself have been farther of opinion, that Melas was guilty sufficient at once to obliterate the misfortunes of a of a great error, in not occupying Castel Ceriolo on disastrous campaign, and restore the fi'nits of his the advance; and that the appearances of early vic- own brilliant victories, which had been lost during tory led the Austrians to be by far too unguarded his absence. It appeared as if he was the sun of in their advance on St Juliano. France —when he was hid from her, all was gloom In consequence of a loss which seemed in the -when he appeared, light and serenity were recircumstances altogether irreparable, Melas re- stored. All the inhabitants, leaving their occupasolved to save the remains of his army, by entering tions, thronged to the Tuileries to obtain a glimpse upon the 15th June, 1800, into a convention, or of the wonderfill man, who appeared with the laurel rather capitulation, by which he agreed, on receiving of victory in the one hand, and the olive of peace in permission to retire behind Mantua, to yield up the other. Shouts of welcome and congratulation Genoa, and all the fortified places which the Aus- resounded from the gardens, the courts, and the trians possessed in Piedmont, Lombardy, and the quays, by which the palace is surrounded; high and Legations. Bonaparte the more readily granted low illuminated their houses; and there were few these terms, that an English army was in the act of Frenchmen, perhaps, that were not for the moment arriving on the coast. Hiis wisdom taught him not to partakers of the general joy. drive a powerful enemy to despair, and to be satisfied with the glory of having regained, in the affairs of Montehello and of Marengo, almost all the loss sustained by the French in the disastrous campaign Napoleot ofers, and the Austriau envoy accepts, a sew of 1799. Enough had been done to show, thlat, as treaty-The emperor refuses it, unless England is inthe fortunes of France appeared to wane and dwindle chlded.-Negotiations then attempted wit]h EnglandTheyfail, and Austria is encouraged to a renewal of the tide of battle, then just upon the act of turning, left the war.-Reasoning on the policy of this conclusion.the consul himself time for set phrases, or sentimental An armistice offorty-five days isfollowed by the resumnpejaculations. tion of hostilities.-Battle of Hohenlincden gained by vYO. ye. |98 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. M[orean on the 3d December, 1800.-Other battles take prevent the war being recommenced for many place, by which'the Austrian affairs are made desperate, months; by which chance of delay, the French, as and they agree to a separate peace.-An1 armistice takes being- inferior at sea, were sure to be the gainers. place, which is falleauE by the treaty of Lunville.- The British statesmen, therefore, proposed some Cornvention between France and the Untied States.- modifications, to prevent the obvious inequality of aSplantory recapitulation.-The Quceen of Naples re- such armistice. But it was replied ont the part of pairs to Petersburg to intercede with the Emperor Paul France, that thrugh the ld accept of -His capricious character: originally a violent antiGalian, ihe grows cold and hostile to the A.ustrians, modified armistice, if Great Britain would enter and attachet to the fanme and cheeracter of the chie into a- sepalrate treaty, yet the chief consul would cosesul-Receives the Queen of Naples wilth cordiality, not consent to it if Austria was to be participant of nnrd ap.plies in zher behalf to Bonaparte-His envoy re- the negotiation. ceived at Paris with the utmnost listinction, and the Here, therefore, the overtures of peace betwixt Royal Family of Naples saved for the presenzt, thlough France and England were shipwrecked, and the oil severe conditions.-The Neatpolitan general compelled Austrian emperor was reduced to the alternative of to evacuate the Ro7man territories.-Rome restored to renewing the war, or entering into a treaty withot the authority of the pope.-Nacpoleon demands of the his allies. He appeals to ha-a deemed himself King of Spain to declare war against Portugal.-erous and mo obliged to prefer the more dangerous and more Oiivenza and Almneida taken.-Bonaparle's conlzduct to- h honourable course. wards tle Peninsular potwers overbearing and pereraptory-The1 British alone active in opposing tlheFrench. hs was a generous resolution on the part of — Malta, after a blockade of two years, obliged to sub- Austia, but by no means politic at the pteriodl, mit to the English. when their armies were defeated, their national spirit depressed, and when the French armties had NAPOLEON proceeded to manage with great skill penetrated so far into Germany. Even Pitt hinland policy the popularity which his success had self, upon whose declining health the misfortune gained for him. In war it was always his custom, made a most unfavourable impression, had consiafter he had struck some venturous and apparently deled the defeat of Marengo as a conclusion to decisive blow, to offer such conditions as might the hopes of success against France for a consiinduce the enemy to submit, and separate his in- derable period. " Fold up the map," he said, terest from that of his allies. Upon this system of pointing to that of Europe; " it need not be again policy he offered the Count de Saint-Julien, an opened for these twenty years." Austrian envoy, the conditions of a treaty, having Yet, unwilling to resign the contest, even while for its basis that of Campo Formio, which, after the a spark of hope remained, it was resolved upon in loss of Italy on the f:atal field of Marengo, afforded the British councils to encourage Austria to farther terms much more favourable than the Emperor of prosecution of the war. Perhaps, in recommendGermany was entitled to have expected from the ing such a measure to her ally, at a period when victors. The Austrian envoy accordingly took upon she had sustained such great losses, and was in himn to subscribe these preliminaries; biut they did the state of dejection to which they gave rise, not meet the approbation of the emperor, who Great Britain too much resembled an eager and placed his honour on observing accurately the en- over-zealous second, who urges his principal to gagements which he had formed with England, an-d continue a combat after his strength is exhausted. who refused to accede to a treaty in which she was Austria, a great and powerfull nation, if left to not included. It was added, however, that Lord repose, would have in time recruited her strength, Minto, the British ambassador at Vienna, had inti- and constituted once again a balance against the omated Britain's willingness to be included in a treaty power of France on the Continent; but if urged bfr general pacification. to farther exertions in the houlr of her extremity, This proposal occasioned a communication be- she was likely to sustain such farther losses, as tween France and Britain, through Monsieur Otto, might render her comparatively insignificant for a con mmissioner for the care of French prisoners. The number of years. Such at least is the conclusion French envoy intimated, that as a preliminary to which we, who have the advantage of considering Britain's entering on the treaty, she must consent to the measure with reference to its consequences, an armistice by sea, and suspend the advantages are now enabled to form. At the emergency, which she received from her naval superiority, in things were viewed in a different light. The -icthle same manner as the First Consul of France had tories of Sntwarrow and of tile Archlduke Ch~arles dispensed with prosecuting his victories by land. were rementibered, as well as the recent defeats This demand would harve withdrawn the blockade sustained by France in the year 1799, which hadt of the British vessels fi-orn the French seaports, and greatly tarnished the fame of her arms. The chiaallowed the sailing of reinforcements to Egypt and racter of Bonaparte was not yet sufficiently estiMalta, which last important place was on the point mated. His failure before Acre had ]made anll ilof surrendering to the English. The British mnitisters Ipression in England which was not erased by ilhe were also sensible that there was, besides, a great victory of Marengo i the extreme prudenlce which differeuce between a truce betwixt two land arnies, usually tempered his most venturous undertakings stationed in presence of each other, and asuspension was not yet generally known, and the belief andc of naval hostilities over the whole world; since itn hope were received, that one who ventured on the one case, on breaking off the treaty, hostilities such new and daring manoeuvres as Napoleon etican be almost instantly resumed; in the other, the ployed, was likely to behold them miscarry at distance and uncertainty of communication may length, and thus to fall as rapidly as he had risen. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 299 Influenced by such motives, it was determined in demnity in Germany. The French consul demanded, the British cabinet to encourage the emperor, by a with no less pertinacity, that Francis (though not loan of two millions, to place himself and his bro- empowered to do so by the Germanic constitution) tiler, the Archduke John, in command of the prin- should confirm the peace, as well in his capacity of cipal army, raise the whole national force of his Emperor of Germany, as in that of sovereign of his mighty empire, and at the head of tile numerous own hereditary dominions. This demand, from forces which he could summon into the field, either which Bonaparte would on no account depart, in. command a more equal peace, or try the fortunes volved a point of great difficulty and delicacy. One of the most desperate war. of the principal clauses of the treaty included the The money was paid, and the emperor joined the cession of the whole territories on the left bank of army; but the negotiations for peace were not the Rhine to the French Republic; thereby debroken off. On the contrary, they were carried on priving not only Austria, but Prussia, and various mauch-on the terms which St-Julien had subscribed other princes of the German empire, of their posto, with this additional and discreditable circumn- sessions in the districts, which were now made over stance, that the first consul, as a pledge of the to France. It was provided, that the princes who Austrian sincerity, required that the three fortified should suffer such deprivations were to be remutowns of Ingoldstadt, Ulal, and Philipstadt, should nerated by indemnities, as they were termed, to he be placed temporarily in the hands of the French; allotted to them at the expense of the Germanic body a condition to which the Austrians were compelled in general. Now the emperor had no power to to stubmit. But the only advantage pusrchased by authorize the alienation of these fiefs of the empire, this surrender, which greatly exposed the heredi- without consent of the diet, and this was strongly tary dominions of Austria, was an armistice of forty- urged by his envoy. five days, at the end of which hostilities were again Bonaparte was, however, determined to make renewed. peace on no other terms than those of the emperor's In the action of Haag, the Archduke John, whose giving away what was not his to bestow. Francis credit in the army almost rivaled that of his brother was compelled to submit, and, as the necessity of Charles, obtained considerable advantages; and, the case pleaded its apology, the act of tihe emperor encouraged by them, he ventured on the 3d of De- was afterwards ratified by the diet. Except in cember, 1800, two days afterwards, a great and these mortifying claims, the submission to which decisive encounter with Morean. This was the plainly intimated the want of power to resist comoccasion on which that general gained over the pulsioni, the treaty of Lun6ville was not much mnoe Austrians the bloody and most important victory of advantageous to France than that of Campo Forumio; Hohenlinden, an achievement which did much to and the moderation of the first consul indicated at keep his reputation for military talents abreast with once his desire of peace upon the Continent, and that of the first consul himself. Moreau pursued considerable respect for the bravery and strength of his victory, and obtained possession of Salzburg. Austria, though enfeebled by such losses as those At the same time Augereau, at the head of the of Marengo and Hohenlinden. Gallo.-Batavian army, pressed forward into Bohemia; We have already noticed the disputes betwixt and Macdonald, passing from the country of the France and America, and the scandalous turn of tihe Grisons into the Valteline, forced a division of his negotiations, by which the French Directory atarmy across the Mincio, and communicated with tempted to bully or wheedle the United States out Mass6na and the Frenih army in Italy. The Aus- of a sum of money, which, in part at least, Gsas to be trian affairs seemed utterly desperate. The Arch- dedicated to their own private use. Since that time duke Charles was again placed at the head of her the aggressions committed by the Frenlch on the forces, but they were so totally discouraged, that a American navy had been so numerous, that the tao retreat on all points was the only measure which republics seemed about to go to war, and thle United could be executed. States actually issued letters of marque for mnaking Another and a final cessation of arms was now the reprisals oil the French. New communications and only resource of the Austrians; and, in order to ob- negotiations, howevenr, wele opened, which Bonatain it, the emperor was compelled to agree to make! parte studied to bring to maturaity. His brother a peace separate from his allies. Britain,. itn consi- Joseph acted as negotiator, and on the 30th of Sepderation of the extremity to which her ally was re-. terrber, 1800, a convention was entered into, to duced, voluntarily relieved him from the engagement subsist for the space of eight years, agreeing on cerby which he was restrained front doing so without tain modifications of the right of search, declaring her participation. An armistice shortly afterwards that commerce should be fiee between the countries, took place, and the Austrians being now sufficiently and that the captures on either side, excepting such humbled, it was speedily followed by a peace. Jo- as were contraband, and destined for an enemy's seph Bonaparte, for this purpose, met with the harbour, should be mutually restored. Thius BonaAustrian minister, Count Cobentzel, at Lun6ville, parte restored peace between France and the United where the negotiations were carried on. j States, and prevented the latter, ii all probability, There were two conditions of the treaty, which from throwving themselves into a closer union with were peculiarly galling to the emperor. Bonaparte Britain, to which their common descent, with the peremptorily exacted the cession of Tuscany, the similarity of manners, language, an(l laws, overh —editary dominions of the brother of Francis, coming the recollection of recent hostilities, might vwhiclh were to be given up to a prince of the house have otherwise strongly inclined them. of Parma, while the Archduke was to obtain an in- Still more important results were derived by 300 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Napoleon, from the address and political sagacity, Damas retreated into the territories of the church, with which, in accommodating matters with the which were still occupied by the Neapolitan forces. caurt of Naples, he contrived to form what finally The conscquenoe of these events was easily forebecame a strong and predominating interest in the seen.'lThe Neapolitan troops, so soon as the councils, and even the affections of a monarch, French could find leisure to look towards them, whose amity was, of all others, the most important nmust be either destroyed entirely, or rdrivenl back to his plans. The prince alluded to was the Empe- upon Naples, and that city must be again forsaken ror of Russia, who had been, during the preceding by the royal family, happy if they were once lmore year, the most formidable and successful enemy en- able to mnake their escape to Sicily, as on the former countered by France since her revolution. A short occasion. resumption of facts is necessary, to understand the At this desperate crisis, the Queen of the Twvo circumstances in which the negotiation with Naples Sicilies took a resolution which seemned almllost as originated. desperate, and could only have been adopted by a VWhen Bonaparte departed for Egypt, all Italy, woman of a bold and decisive character. She reexcepting Tuscany, and the dominions assigned to solved, notwithstandinr the severity of the season, Austria by the treaty of Camnpo Formio, was in the to repair in person to the court of the Emperor Paul, hands of the French; while Naples was governed and implore his intercession with the first conlsll, by the ephemeral Parthenopean Republic, anid the in behalf of her husband and his territories. city of the popes by that which assumled the superb \Ve have not hitherto mentioned, except cursotitle of Roman. These authorities, however, were rily, the powerful prince whose mediation she only nominal the French generals exercised the real implored. The son and -successor of the celebrated authority in both countries. Suddenly, and as if by Catherine, far from possessing the prudence and magic, this whole state of affiirs was changed by political sagacity of his mother, seemed rather to the military talents of Suwarrow. The Austrians display the heady passions and imperfect judgment and Russians gained great successes in the north of of his unfortunate father. He was capricious in the Italy, and General Macdonald found himself obliged choice of his objects, pursuing for the time, with to evacuate Naples, and to concentrate the principal nucommon and irregular zeal and pertinacity, proresistance of the French in Lomibardy and Pied- jects which he afterwards discarded and abandoned, mont. Cardinal Ruffo, a soldier, chullrchman, and swelling trilles of dress or behaviour into matters of politiciaan, put himself at the head of a numerous importance, and neglecting, on the other hand, body of insurgents, and commenced war against what w:as of real consequence;-governed, in such French troops as had been left ili the south, short, rather by imagination than by his reasoning and in the middle of Italy. This movement was qualities, and sometimes affording room to believe actively supported by the British fleet. Lord Nel- that he actually laboured under a partial aberration son recovered Naples; Rome surrendered to Corn- of mind. Such characters are often to be mIlet with mrodore Trowbridge. Thus, the Parthenopean and in private society, the restraints of which keep Roman republics were extinguished for ever. The them within such limits, that they pass through iife royal family returned to Naples, and that fine city without attracting much notice, unless when creating and country were once more a kingdom. Rome, the a little mirth, or giving rise to some passing wonder. capital of the world, was occupied by Neapolitan But an absolute prince, possessed of such a dispositroops, generally supposed the most indifferent of tion, is like a giddy person placed on the verge of modern times. a precipice, which would try the soundest llead, Replaced in his richest territories by the allies, and nmust overpower a weak one. the King of Naples was bound by every tie to assist The emperor had first distingaished hitusellf by an them in the campaign of 1800. He accordingly sent energetic defence of the rights of sovereigns, and a an army into the March of Ancona, under the corn- hatred of whatever belonged to or was connected mand of Cotnt Roger de Damas, who, with the with the French Revolution, from a political rlaxim assistance of insurrectionary forces* among the to the shape of a coat or a hat.'IThe brother of inhabitants, and a body of Austrians was to clear Louis XVI., and inheritor of his rights. fbund a Tuscany of the French. Undeterred by the battle refuge in the Russian dorninions; and Paul, tiud, of Marengo, the Count de Darnas marched against as most princes are, of military glorly, promlised hlimthe French general Miollis, who commanded in Tus- self that of restoring the Bourbon dynasty by ifrce cany, and sustained a defeat by hin near Sienna. of arms. Retreat became now necessary, the more especially The train of victories acquired by Suwarrows was as the armistice which was entered into by General well calculated to foster these original partialities of Melas deprived the Neapolitans of any assistance the emperor; and, accordingly, vwhile success confrom the Austrians, and rendered their whole expe- tiuned to wait on his banners, he loaded his general dition utterly hopeless. They were not even in- with marks of his regard, elevated him to the rank. cluded( by name in the armistice, and were thus left of a prince, and conferred on him the title of Itaexposed to the whole vengeance of the French. linsky, or Italicu.s. The very first and only misfortune which befel' These were, at this period, easily raised in any part Suwarrow seems to have ruined him in the opinion of Italy. The exactions of the French had entirely alien- of his capricious master. The defeat of Korsakow ated the affections of the natives, who had long since seen by Mass6na, near Zurich, had involved Suwarrow through their pretexts of affording them the benefit of a in great momentary danger, as he advanced into free governulent. Switzerland, reckoning on the support of that gene LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 3] ral, whose disaster left his right uncovered. Nov, nation is indifferently regulated, the czar lhad ne'1 althoughl Suwarrow saved hlis armny on this occasion of some one of whoml to make his idol.''The extlra by a retreat, which required equal talent to that vwagant admiration which the Enmperor Peter felt for lwhich achieved his nunmerous victolries, yet the bare Frederick of Prussia, could not well he entertained fact of his having received a check was sufficient to for any one now alive, unless it were the filst colnruin him with his haughty sovereign. Paul was yet sul of France; and on him, therefore, Paul was niore offended with thle conduct of the Austrians. now disposed to tuln his eyes with a Imixture >f The Archduke Charles having left Switzerland, to wonder, and of a wish to imitate what he wondered descend into Germlany, had given occasion and at. This extravagance of admiration is a passion opportunity for Mass6na to cross the Lirlmat and natural to some minds (never strong ones), and imlay surprise Korsakow; and this, notwithstanding every be compared to that tendency which others have to explanation and apology, rankled in the mind of be in love all their lives, in defiance of advancing the czar. He recalled his armies fiomn the fiontiers age and other obstacles. of Germany, and treated his veteranl and victorious When Paul was beginning to entertain this hiageneral with such marks of neglect and displeasure, mour, the arrival of the Queen of Sjcily at his that the old man's heart sunk under themn. court gave hinl a graceful and even digmntied opporIn the meanwhile, Paul gathered up farther sub- tunity to aplproaclh towards a conuexionl with Najects of complaint against the Austrian government, poleon Bonaparte. His pride, too, must have been and complained of their having neglected to provide gratified by seeing the daughter of the renowned for some Russian l'risoners, under a capitulation Maria Theresa, the sister of the Emperor of' Asswhich they made in behalf of their own, at thle tria, at his court of St Petersburg, soliciting frtom surrender of Ancona to the French. the Czar of Russia tile protection which her brotler The Austrians could not atibrd to lose so powerfel was totally unable to atford her; anld a successfall and efficient an ally in the day of their adversity. interference in her behalf would be a kind of insult They endeavoured to explain, that thle mlovensent of to the misfortunes of that brother, against wvhonl, as the Archduke Charles was inevitably necessary, in we have noticed, Paul nourished resentfill feelings. consequence of an invasion of the Austrian territory He therefore resolved to open a communication with — they laid the blame of the onsission of the Rus- France, in behalf of the royal famnily of Naples. sians in the capitulation upon the commandant Lewinshotl, Grand Huntsnan of Russia, was disFroelich, and offered to place hlil under arrest. pFatchled to make the overtulres of illediation. He The Emperor of Austria even proposed, in despite was received with the ltrnost distinction at Paris, of the natural pride which is proper to his Oistingsuish- and Bonaparte lmade all isstant and gracefsul coned house, to place ssawarrow at the head of the cession to the'request of the Elmperor Paul. Tise Austrian arnmies,-a proffer which, if it had been first consul agreed to sulspend his military operaaccepted, osight have given rise to an extraordinary tions against Naples, and to leave tile royal fasmiliy struggle betwixt the experience, deterlsiination, and in possession of their sovereignlty; reserving to hlimswarlike skill of the veteran Scythian, and the for- self, however, the right otf dictating tile termls unlder niidable talents of Bonaparte, and which perhaps which he was to grant theti such as a amnesty. contained the only chance which Europe possessed It was time that soume effiectnal interposition should at the time, of opposing to the latter a rival worthy take place in defence of the King of Naples, who, of himself; for Suwarrow had never yet been con- toughli he had around hiisi a nation individtally qnered, arnd possessed an irresistible influence over brave and enthusiastic, was so ill-served, thlat is the minds of hIis soldiers. T'I'hese great generals, regular army was in the worst and most imperfect hlowever, were not destined ever to decide the fate state of discipline. Musrat, to whosi1 Bonaparte had of the world by their imeeting. committed the task of execustissg his vengeance on Suwarrow, a Russian in all his feelings, broke Naples, had already crossed the Alps, and planeed his heart, and died under the unmerited displeasure himlself at the hlead of an army of ten thousasnd chlosen of his emperor, whom he had served vitfi so muclI men; a force then judged sutfficient not only to dri ve fidelity. If the mIemory of his unfortunate sovereigns the Neapolitan general Damnas out of tie Ecclesiaswvere to be jutdged of according to ordinary rulles, tical States, but to pursue him as f:r as Naples, alss his conduct towards his distinguished subject would occupy that beautifisl capital of a printce, whose sehave left on it an indelible stigma. As it is, the gular arlmy consisted of more tlan thir-ty thoulslsd event niust pass as alnother proof, that the Emperor soldiers, arnd whose irregular fobces mnight have ieesl Paul was not amenable, firom the construction of increased to arny number by the Inountainseers of his unlderstanding and temperament, to the ordinary Calabria, who form excellent light troops, arnd by rules of censure. the numerous Lazziaroni of Naples, who had dis-. Meanwhile, the proposals of Austria were in vain. played their valour against Chasmpionnet, upon the The czar was not to be brought back to his former first invasion of the French. But tile zeal of a nasentiments. He was like a spoiled child, who, tired tion avails little wlhen the spirit of the goverlnlent of his favourite toy, seems bent to break asunder bears no proportion to it. The governlment of Naand destroy what was lately the dearest object of ples dreaded the approach of Murat as thiat of the his affection. Angel of Death; and they received the news that When such a character as Paul changes his opi- Lewinshoff has joined the French general at Flonlion of his friends, ihe generally runs into the op- rence, as a condemned criminal might have heard posite extreme, and alters also his thoughts of his the news ofareprieve. The Russian envoy was enemies. Like his father, and others whose imagi- received with distinguisl-d honours at Florence. 1~ EPLIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Murat appeared at the theatre with Lewinshoff, with his policy in 1798, when he had spared the where the Iltalians, who had so lately seen the Rus- temporalities of thle Holy See. Totally indifferent as sian and French banners placed in bloody oppesi- Napoleon was to religion in his personal capacity, tion to each other, now beheld them formally unlited his whole conduct shows his sense of its importin presence of these dignitaries; in sign, it was ance to the existence of a settled and peaceful state said, that thle tNso nations were combined for the of society. peace of the world and general benefit of humanity. Besides evacuating the Ecclesiastical States, the Untimely augury! How often after that period did Neapolitans were compelled by lMurat to restore these standards meet in the bloodiest fields history vasious paintings, statules, and other objects of art, ever recorded; and what a long and des perate which they had, in imitation of Bonaparte, taken struggle was yet in reserve ere the general peace forcibly from the Romans,-so captivating is tile inso boldly predicted was at length restored! fluence of bad example. A French army, of about The respect paid by the fi;'st consul to the wishes eighteen thousand mnen was to be quartered in Caof Paul slaved for the present the royal fantily of labria, less for the purpose of enforcing the condiNaples; but Murat, nevertheless, made them expe- tions of peace, than to save France the expense of rience a full portion of the bitter cup which the supporting the troops, and to have them stationed vanquished are generally doomed to swallow. Ge- where they might be embarked for Egypt at the vneral Damas was commanded in the haughtiest terms shortest notice. The haybours of the Neapolitan to evacuate tile Roman States, and not to presume dominions were of course to be closed against the to claim any benefit from the armistice which had English. A cession of part of the isle of Elba, ansd been extended to the Austrians. At the same time, the relinquishment of all pretensions upon.Tuscany, while the Neapolitans were thus compelled hastily summed up the sacrifices of' the King of Naples,'to evacuate the Roman territories, general surprise who, considering how often he had braved Napowas exhibited, when, instead of marching to Rome, leon, had great reason to thank the Emperor of and re-establishing the authority of the Roman Re- Russia for his effectual mediation in his fayour. public, Murat, according to the orders which he had These various measures respecting foreign relareceived from the first consul, carefully respected tions, thle treaty of Luntville, the acquisition of the the territory of the church, and reinstalled the of- good-will of the Emperor Paul, the restoration of ficers of the pope in what had been long termed the Rome to the pope's authority, and the mildness patrimony of St Peter's. This unexpected turn of of the penalty inflicted on the King of Naples, seenmcircullmstances originated in high policy on the part ed all to spriln from a sound and moderate system, of Bonaparte. the object of which was rather the consolidation of We certainly do Napoleon no injustice in sup- NapoleonL' governmlent, than any wish to extend its posing, that personally he had little or no influential influence or its conquests. His plans, in after times, sense of religion.'Some obscure yet rooted doc- often exhibited a mixture of the greatest good sense trines of fatality seem, so far as we can judge, to and prudence, with rash and sptlenetic explosions of have formed the extent of his metaphysical creed. an over-eager ambition, or a temper irritated by op-'We can scarce ternm him even a deist, and lie was position; but it is to be remembered that Bonaparte anl absolute stranger to every modification of chris- was not yet so firm in thie authority which he had tiall belief and worship. But he saw and valued but just acquired, as to encourage any display of the the use of a national religion as an engine of state infirmities of his mind and temper. policy. In Egypt, he was desirous of being thought His behaviour towards Portugal was, however, an envoy of Heaven; and though uncircumcised, of a character deviating from the- moderation he drinking wine and eating pork, still claimed to be lhad in general displayed. Portugal, the ancient and accounted a follower of the law of the Prophet. faithful ally of England, was on that account th6l H-le ihad pathetically expostulated with the Turks on especial object of the first consul's displeasure. He, their hostility towards hini. The French, he said, therefore, demanded of the King of Spain, who, had ceased to be followers of Jesus; and now that since the peace between the countries, had been the they were almost, if not altogether, moslernah, scubnmissive vassal of' France, to declare wvar on the wvould the true believers make war on those who Prince Regent of Portugal, although the husband of ead overthrown the cross, dethroned the pope, and his daughter. War accordingly was declared, iln extirpated the order of Malta, the sworn persecu- obedience to the mandate of the first consul, and the tors of the moslem faith? 0; his return to France, Spanish armies, together uwith an auxiliary army of all this was to be forgotten, or oiily remembered as French under Leclerc, entered Portlugal, toosk Olia trick played upon the infidels. He was, as we venza and Almeida, and compelled the Prince Re. have said, aware of the necessity of a national faith gent, 6th of June, 1801, to sign a treaty, engaging to to supl)port the civil government; and as, while in shut his ports against the English, and surreltder'ing Egypt, he affected to have destroyed the catholic re-. to Spain Olivenza, and other places on the fiontier ligion in honour of that of Mahommed, so, returned of the Guadiana. Bonaparte was highly disconto Europe, he was now desirous to becomle the re- tented with this treaty, to which hel would not storer of the temporal territories of the pope, in order accedle: and he refiused, at the same time, to withto obtain such a settlement of church affairs in draw from Spain the army of Leclerc. On the 29th France, as might procure for his owin government September, he condescended to grant Portugal the countenance of the sovereign pontiff, allnd for him. peace under some additional terms, which were not self an admission into the pale of christian princes. in themselves of much consequence, although the T'his restitution was in some measure consistent overbearing and peremptory conduct which he exhi LIFE OF'NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 303 bited towards the Peninsular powers was a sign of lition, and abandoning the conlnmon cause, he had tile dictatorial spirit which he was prepared to as- lost all right to expect that Great Britain shouldl same in the affairs of Europe. surrender to him an important acquisition made by Tlie same disposition was manifested in the mode her own arms, yet, with his usual intemperate inby which Bonaparte was pleased to show his dulgence of passion, he conceived hinlself deeply serse of' the King of Spain's complaisance. THe injured by its being withheld, and nourished from chose for that purpose to create a kingdom and a that time an implacable resentment against England king-a king, too,,of the house of Bourbon. An and her government, the effects of which are afterInfant of Spain obtained the throne of Tuscany, wards to be traced. under the name of Etruria, rent from the house of Austria. Madame de Stael terms this the commencement of the great masquerade of Europe; but CHAPTER XXXIX. it was more properly the second act. The stage, during the first, was occupied by a quadrille of re- Internal government of France.-General attachment to the chiefj consul, though the two Jfctions of reptublicans publics who were now to be replaced by an anti- and royaists are hostile to him. —Plot of theformer to mask of kings. This display of power pleased the remove him by assassination-Defecated.- Vain hopes of national vanity, and an uproar of applause ensued, the royalists, that Napoleon would be the instrument of while the audience at the theatre applied to Bona- restoring the Bourbons-Applications to him for that' parte the well-known line- effect disappointed.-Royalists methodize the plot of the lifernal Miachine-Descriptionl f it-Itf ails-,Suspicion J'ai fait des rois, madame, et n'ai pas voalu 1'etre. first falls on the republicans, and a decree of transporWVhile all the Continent appeared thus willing to tation is passed against a great snumber of their chiefs' — but is not carried into execotioin. —The actual conspisubmit to one so ready to avail himself of their sub- rators tried and executed.- Use made by Bonaparte of jection, Britain alone remained at war; without the conspiracy to consolidate despotism.- Various meaallies, without, it might seem, a direct object; yet sates devisedfor that purpose.-Systeom of the police.on the grand and unalterable principle, that no par- Foiuch — His skill, influence, and power. —Napoleon betial distress should induce her to submit to the sys- comes jealous of him, and organizes mneasures of pretern of degradation, which seemed preparing for all cawtion agaigest him.-Apprehensiosr entertained by the nations underl the yoke of France, and wchich had chief consul of the effects of literature, and his efbrts ragainstit.-Perse cutio7n ofllMadamede Statl. —T'he Conplaced France herself, with all her affected zeal of cordat-Vcarious views taken of that measure.-Plan liberty, under the government of an arbitrary ruler. for a general system of Jurisprudence-A nEesty grantede On every point the English -squadrons annihilated to the emigrants.-Plans of putblic educatioi. —Ot;he the commerce of France, crippled her revenues, plaits ofiimprovement. —Hopes of a general peace. blockaded her ports, and prevented those combinations which would have crowned the total conquest WE return to the internal government of France of Etrope, could the master, as he might now be under the chief consul. called, of the land, have enjoyed, at the same time, The events subsequent to the revolution of the the facilities which can only be afforded by commu- 18th Bruinaire seemed to work a miraculous change nication by sea. on the French nation.. The superior talents of NaIt was in vain that Bonaparte, who, besides his poleon, with the policy exercised by Talleyrand and natural hardiness of perseverance, connected a part Fouche, and the other statesmen of ability whom of his own glory with the preservation of Egypt, en- he had called into administration, and who desired deavoured by various means to send supplies to that at all events to put an end to fiurther revolutionary distant province. fHis convoys were driven back movements-but, above all, the victory of Marengo, into harbour by the English fleets; arnd he directed had at once created and attached to the person of i against his admirals, who could not achieve impos- the chief consul an immense party, which miiht sihilities, the unavailing resentment natural to one be said to comprehend all those, who, being neither who was so little accustomed to disappointment. decided royalists nor determined republicans, were The chance of relieving Egypt was rendered yet indifferent about the form of the governrtment, so they more precarious by the loss of Malta, which, after a found ease and protection while living under it. distressing blockade of two years, was obliged to B0it, on the otler hand, the heads of the two subhamit to the English arms on the 5th of September, factions contilued to exist; and, as the power of the 1800. The English were thus in possession of a first consul becal-me at once more absolute and more strong, and almost impregnable citadel, in the midst consolidated, it grew doubly hateful and formidable ofthe Mediterranean, with anexcellent harbour, and to them. His political existence was a total obeverything required for a naval station of the first struction to the systems of both parties, and yet one importance; above all, they had obtained the vwry which it was impossible to remove. There was no spot which Bonaparte had fixed upon for maintain- national council left, in which the authority of the ing the comnimunication with Egypt, which was now first consul could be disputed, or his measures imin greater danger than ever. peached, The strength of his military power bid The capture of Malta was, however, by its con- defiance alike to popular commotions, if the demosequences, favourable to Napoleon's views in one crats had yet possessed the means of exerting them, important respect. The Emperor Pall imagined he and to the scattered bands of the royalist insurhad rights upon that island, in consequence of his gents. What chance remained for ridding themhaving declared himself Grand Master of the order selves of the autocrat, in whom the republicans saw of St John; and although, by his deserting the coa- a dictator, the royalists an usurper? None, sa e 301 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. that, being mortal, Napoleon was subject to be spirators punished, till the more muemorable attempt taken off by assassination. on Napoleon's life by the royalists. The democrats were naturally the first to medi- The royalists, as a party, had far more interest tate an enterprise of this nature The right of'taking with Bonaparte than the deniocrats. Tle former off a tyrant was, according to their creed, as proper approved of the principles and formn of his goternto an private citizen as to those %0ho opposed him nient.-it was only necessary ohr their conversion armed in the field. The act of Harmoditis and Aris- that the. should learn to endaire his person; whereas togiton-t}te noble deed of Brutus and his associates the jacobins' being equally averse to the otfice to -were consecrated in history, and esteenied so which lie aspired, to his power, and to hiiself, congenial to tlle nature of a free constitation, that there were no hopes of their being brought to tolethe CGonvitionn, on the motion of Jean Debry, had rate either the:nonarch or the man. Of the letter, at oiie tiile determined to raise a legion of assassins, therelbre, Napoleon entertained equal dislike and armed with )ioniar'ds, who should devote themselves distrust; while, froii obvious causes, his feelings to the pious task ofexterminating all foreign princes, towards the ifornmer %vere in some measure friendly. statesmen, and mitiisters-in short, all who were The royalists, too, for some tiiie entertained a accounted the fbes of fredoit, without pity or dis- good opinion of Bonaparte, neld conceited that lie tinction. In a party entertaining such principles, intended, in his own time and his own tray, to act there could be no scruple on the score of morality in behalf' of' the exiled royal thinily. The enthuand where they had been so lately professed by siastic of the party were at a loss to conceive that thousands, it seeml d natural that, aiiid the multi- the throne of France should be again erected, and tude, they oust have made a deep inipression on that any one but a Bourbon should (dare to ascend some enthusiastic and gloomy disposition, which it. It seemed to theni impossible that the monarchy might be easily provoked to act upon them. should revive without the restoration of the legitiIt is ito xonder, therefore, that some obscure miate mionarch, and they could not believe that a jacobins shtould have early nourished the purpcse of Corsican soldier of fortune would meditate a-I usuirpassassinating Napoleon, as the enemy of his coun- atioon, or that France would be for a moment toietry's freedom, and the destroyer of her liberties; rant of his pretensions. The word liberty had, but it is singular, that most of the conspirators indeed, misled the people of France for a tine, bht, against his persont were Italians. Ar6na, brother of that illusion being dissipated, their natural love to the deptity who was said to have ainted a dagger at the royal race would retmurn like a ret iing spring', Bonaparte in the Colincil of Five Hundred, was at and again run in its old channel. the head of the conspiracy. He was a Corsican. So general was the belief aionttg this class, that With utim, Cerasclhi and N)iana, two Italian refit- Boinaparte meditated the restoration of the Bouargees; a painter, called Topino Lebrun; and two or bons, that several agents of the fotoily titade their three enthusiasts of low condition, formed a plot for way so far as to sound his own mtuind upon the sttb.. the purpose of'ass-ssinating' the chief constl at the ject. Louis himself, afterwards XVIII., addressed Opera-homuse. Their intention was detected by the to the first consul a letter of the followinti tenor:police Ceraschti and Diana were arrested behind "You cannot achieve the htaptpineiss of Fratice time scenes, armed, it itas said, and prepared for ivithotit my restoration, aty Itiore thati I can asceutd the attempt, ahnd Napoleon was congrattlated by the throne which is my right, without your co-operamost of tie constituted authorities upon having es- tion. Hlasten then to complete the good s ork, catped a great danger. which none but you cmaii accomlflish, anmi tuatlte the Crassous, President of thte Tribinate, made a rewards which you claim tbr your fri'tnds." singilar speech ott the occasion, whichi woild almost Bonaparte answered the letter with cold civility. bear a double interpretation. "There had been so He esteemed the person, he said, anl pitie-l thle many conspiraicies," lie said, "at so many diflerent misfortunes, of his Royal Iiritigexs the. ComemIt di periods, and anlder so imany ditllrent 1pretexts, which Provence, and should ie' gloht to assist miim, dhid an had tuever been follotved uf) either by iequiry or opportunity ipermit. Pit as his royiil mightiess itnishminit, that a great number of good citizens could not be restored to 1rance, Sait e it tfle exui'nse had becormue scepticual ot the subject of their exist- of' a httdred thoisand lives, it was an intrerprise ence. This itcredulity was dangerous," lie argied; in which he, Bonaparte, itmust declhne to aid lits. it was time it should he ended." With this view, A less direct, and more srtfril course. is said to Monsieur Crassouts recommended, that the persons have been attempted, hy the tmiuiou of, HIm' )IIguilty on time present occasion should be prosecuted chess (le Gitichie, otie of the tmost hiumItiftul und and punished ivith all the solemnity and rigour ofthe pleasing wvoimen of' the time, Who, ohtailuiuug hurmisIaNVs. sion to come to Puaris sinder pretext of hiur prisate Bonaparte replied, teith military indifference, that atfairs, was introduced at tfle'l'iltries, amd delig huthue had been in no real dainger. "The contemptible ed Jos6phine with the elegtance of ier mainim-rs. wretchesul he said, in something like a renewal of Napoleon did not escape thue foscimiatiun, )imt the his Egyptian vain, "uhad -no power to commit the instant she touched on the subject of pumitics, thie critme they miditated. Besides the assistance of itnterestingduchess received an urd er fluqfit Paris. the whole audience, I had twith tme a piquet of my As soon as the royalists discovered, by tlme ftilure brave gitard, fromn whom the wretches could not of these and similar applications, as iwell as by thie have borne a look." So ended this singular dis- gradual tendency of Bonaparute's meisures, that the course; and it is remarkabls that neither were thie restoration of the Bourbons was the thing fairthest circumstances of thue plot made public, nor the con- front his purpose, their disappointment exasperated LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 305 them against the audacious individual whose single a strong desire to remain at home, his wife and one person seemed now the only obstacle to that event. or two intimate fiiends insisted that he should go Monarchical power was restored, in spirit at least, to the Opera. He wvas slumbering under a canopy if not in form; was it to be endured, the more zeal- when they awaked him. One brought his hat, anous followers of the Bourbons demanded oft' each other his sword. He was in a manner forced inlto other, that it should become the prize of a military his carriage, where he again slumbered, and was usurper? This party, as well as that of the jaco- dreaming of the danger which lie had escaped in an bills, contained, doubtless, many adherents, whom attempt to pass the river Tagliamento some years the enthusiasm of their political principles disposed before. On a sudden le awaked amidst thunder to serve their cause, even at the expense of great and flame. crimes. The sentiments of the princes of the royal The cart bearing the engine, which was placed in family upon such a subject were becoming their high the street St-Nicaise, intercepted the progress of rank.* They were resolved to combat Bonapartds the chief consul's coach, which passed it with sonss pretensions with open force, such as befitted their difficulty. St-Regent had fired the match at the p'retensions as head of the chivalry of France, but appointed instant; but the coachman, who chanced to leave to jacobins the schemes of private assas- to be somewhat intoxicated, driving unusually hast, sination. Still there must have been many, among the carriage had passed the machine two seconds those characters which are found during the miseries before the explosion took place; and that almost and crimes of civil wvar, who conceived that the imperceptible fraction of time was enough to save assassination of the chief consul would be received the life which was aimed at. The explosion was as good service when accomplished, although it terrible. Two or three houses were greatly damaged, might not be authorized beforehand. Nay, there twenty persons killed, and about fifty-three wounded may have been partisans zealous enough to take the -among the latter was the incendiary' St-Rgent. crime and punishment on themselves, without look- The report was heard several leagues from Paris. ing farther than the advantage wLhich their party Bonaparte instantly exclaimed to Lannes and Beswould receive by the action. sieres, who were in the carriage, " We are blown A horrible invention, first hatched, it is said, by up!" The attendants would have stopped the coach, the jacobins,t was adopted by certain royalists of a but withl more presence of mind he commanded tllem low description, remarkable as actors in the wars to drive on, and arrived in safety at the Opera; his of the Chouans, of whom the leaders wtere named coachmban during the whole time never discovering Carbon and St-Rdgent. It was a machine, consist- what had happened, but conceiving the consul had ing of a barrel of gunpowder placed on a cart, to only received a salute of artillery. which it was strongly secured, and charged with A public officer, escaped from such a peril, became grape-shot so disposed around the barrel as to be an object of yet deeper interest than formerly to the dispersed in every direction by the explosion. The citizens in general; and the reception of the consul fire was to be communicated by a slow-match. It at the Opera and elsewhere was more enthusiastic was the purpose of the conspirators, undeterred by than ever. Relief was ostentatiously distributedl tile indiscrimlinate"slalagllte r which such a discharge amongst the wounded and the relatives of the slain; must occasion, to place the machine in the street and every one, shocked with the wild atrocity of through which the first consul wvas to go to the. such a reckless plot, became, while they execrated Opera, having contrived that it should explode the perpetrators, attached in proportion to the object exactly as his carriage should pass the spot; and, of their cruelty. A disappointed conspiracy always strange to say, this stratagem, which seemed as adds strength to the government against which it is uncertain as it was atrocious, was within a hair's directed; and Bonaparte did not fail to pushl this breadth of success. advantage to the uttermost. X On the evening of the 24th December, 1800, Bo- Notwithstanding that the infernal mlachine (for so naparte has informed us that, though he himself felt it was not unappropriately termed) had in fact been managed by the hands of royalists, the first suspiTle opinions of the royal family were nobly expressed, cion fell on thile republicans; and Bonaparte took the in a letter written by the Prince of Cond6 to the Count opportunity, befole the public were undeceived on d'A rtois, at a later period, 24th January, 182, which willbe the subject, of dealing that party a blow, from iher eafter quoted at length. the et'ects of which they did not recover during his -t It is said, in the Iemoirs of Fouclh6, that the infernal reign. An arbitrary decree of the Senate was asked machine was the invention originally of a jacobin named and readily obtained, for the transportation beyond Chevalier, assisted by Veycer, one of tihesaume party; that seas of nearly one hundred and thirty of the chiefs of they even made an experiment of its power, by exploding the broken faction of the jacobins, among whom an engine of the kind behind the Convent de la Salp6- were several nanies which belonged to the celetritre; ** that this circumstance drew on them the attcntior. brated reign of Terror, and had figured in the rolls of the police, and that they were arrested. It does not of tIe Natonal Convention. These men were so appear by what means the royalists became privy to the gen at jacollin plot, nor is the story in all its parts very probable; yet it would seema it mnus be partly true, since the attempt scenes dring tle reign of Robespierre; that the by means of the infernal srachine was at first charged upon uipopularity of their characters excused the irreguthe Jacobins, in consequence' of Chevalier's being knlown larity of the proceedings against them, and their fate to have had some scheme in agitation, to be executed by was viewed with complacency by many, and: with similar means, -h l'e course of the previousyear. indifference by all. In the end, the first consul be++ 3ismoires de Foevc/mt, vol. 1, p. 208. came so persuaded of the political insignificance of 39 306 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. these relics ofjacobinism (who, in fact, were as prisoners. He tells us in plain terms, he let the harmless as the fragments of a bomb shell after its revolutionary sages take their own way in arranging explosion), that the decree of deportation was never the constitution; determined, without regarding the enforced against them;and F61ix Lepelletier, Chau- rules they laid down on the chart, to steer his dieu, Talot, and their companions, were allowed to course by one fixed point to one desired haven. live obscurely in France, watched closely by the That polar star was his own selfish interest-that police, and under the condition that they should not haven was despotic power. What he considered as venture to approach Paris. most for his own interest, lie was determined to The actual conspirators were proceeded against consider as the government most suited for France with severity. Chevalier and Veycer, jacobins, also. Perhaps he may have persuaded himself that said to have constructed the original model of the he was actually serving his country as well as himinfernal machine, were tried before a military com- self; and, indeed, justly considered, he was in both mission, condemned to be shot, and suffered death instances equally grievously mistaken. accordingly. With the views which lie entertained, the chie f Ar6na, Ceraschi, Le Brun, and Demerville, were consul regarded the conspiracies against his life as tried before the ordinary c.ort of criminal judicature, affording a pretext for extending his power too and condemned by the voice of a jury; although favourable to be neglected. These repeated attacks there was little evidence against them, save that of on the head of the state made it desirable that some their accomplice Harel, by whom they had been mode should be introduced of trying such offences, betrayed. They also were executed. briefer and more arbitrary than the slow forms At a later period, Carbon and St-R6gent, royalists, required by ordinary jurisprudence. The prompt the agents in the actual attempt of 24th December, and speedy justice to be expected from a tribunal were also. tried, condemned, and put to death. freed from the ordinary restraint of formalities and Some persons tried for the same offence were ac- juries, was stated to be more necessary on account quitted; and justice seems to have been distributed of the state of the public roads, infested by bands with an impartiality unusual in France since the called chauffeurs, who stopped the public carriages, Revolution. intercepted the communications of commerce, and But Bonaparte did not design that the conse- became so formidable, that no public coach was quences of these plots should end with the deaths permitted to leave Paris without a military guard of of the wretches engaged in them. It afforded an at least four soldiers on the roof. This was used as opportunity not to be neglected to advance his prin- a strong additional reason for constituting a special cipal object, which was the erection of France into Court of Judicature. a despotic kingdom, and the possessing himselfof un- Bonaparte could be at no loss for models of such controled powerover the lives, properties, thoughts, an institution. As hero of the Revolution, he had and opinions, of those who were born his fellow- succeeded to the whole arsenal of revolutionary subjects, and of whom the very meanest but lately weapons forged in the name of Liberty, to oppress boasted himselfhis equal. He has himself expressed the dearest rights of humanity. He had but to.lis purpose respecting the constitution of the year select that which best suited him, and to mould it.E tight, or consular government, in words dictated to to the temper of the times. The country which had tGeneral Gourgaud. so long endured the Revolutionary Tribunal was not lvTh~le ideas of Napoleon were fi. red; but the aid likely to wince under any less stern judicature. iof tiiame and events were necessary for their realiza- The court which government now proposed to tioa. The organization of the Consulate had pre- establish, was to consist of eight members thus sented nothing in contradiction to thelm; it taught qualified: 1. The president and two judges of the unanitmity,,and that was the first step. This point ordinary crimlinal tribunal. 2. Three military men, g.aiine.d, Napoleon was quite indifferent as to tile bearing at least the rank of captain. 3. Two citifIorn and denominations of the several constituted zens, to be suggested by government, who should bodies. He was a stranger to the Revolution. It be selected frolml such as Swere by the constitution was natItral that the will of these Inec, who had qualified to act as judges. Thus five out of eight followed it through all its phases, should prevail in judges were directly named by the government for questions as difficult as they were abstract. The the occasion. The court was to decide without wisest plan was to go on from day to day-by the jury, without appeal, and without revision of any polar star by which Napoleon meant to guide the kind. As a boonl to the accused, the court were to Revolution to the haven he desired." have at least six members present, and there was to If there is anything obscure in this passage, it be no casting vote; so that the party would have his received but too luminous a commentary from the acquittal, unless six members out of eight, or four course of Bonaparte's actions; all of which tend to members out of six, should unite in finding him show that he embraced the consular government as guilty; whereas in other courts, a bare majority is a mere temporary arrangement, calculated to pre- sufficient for condemnation. pare the minds of the French nation for his ulterior With this poor boon to public opinion, the special views of ambition, as young colts are ridden withl a Commission Court was to be the jurisdiction before light bridle until they are taught by degrees to en- whom armed insurgents, conspirators, and, in gedure the curb and bit, or as water-fowl taken in a neral, men guilty of crimes against the social con,decoy are first introduced within a wider circuit of pact, were to undergo their trial. nets, in order to their being gradually brought within The counsellor of state, Portalis, laid this plan that strict enclosure where they are made absolute before the Legislative Bodyby whom it was, accord LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 307 ing to constitutional form, referred to the considera- frightfully dangerous. Moral delinquencies can be tion of the Tribunate. It was in this body, the only hardly with any probabllity attributed to worthy or existing branch of the constitution where was pre- innocent persons; but there is no character so pure, served some shadow of popular forms and of free that he who bears it may not be supposed capable debate, that those who continued to entertain free of entertaining false and exaggerated opinions in posentiments could have any opportunity of expressing litics, and, as such, become the victim of treachery them. Benjamin Constant, Daunon, Chenier, and and delation. In France, a prey to so many factions, others, the glieanings as it were of the liberal party, the power of the police had become overwhelming; made an honourable but unavailing defence against indeed the very existence of the government seemed this invasion of the constitution, studying at the in some measure dependent upon the accuracy of sane time to express their opposition in language their intelligence; anld for this purpose their numbers and by arguments least likely to give offence to the had been enlarged, and their discipline perfected, government. To the honour of the Tribunate, which under the administration of the sagacious and crafty was the frail but sole remaining barrier of liberty, Fouche. This remarkable person had been an outthe project had nearly made shipwreck, and was rageons jacobin, and dipped deep in the horrors of only passed by a snall majority of fobrty-nine over the revolutionary government-an adherent of Barforty-one. In the Legislative Body thfere was also a ras, and a partaker in the venality and peculation strong minority. It seemed as if the friends of which characterized that period. He was, therefore, liberty, however deprived of direct popular re- totally without principle; but Iris nature was not of presentation, and of all the means of influencing that last degree of depravity, which delights in evil public opinion, were yet determined to maintain an for its own sake, and his good sense told him, that opposition to the first consul, somewhat on the plan an unnecessary criTme was a political blunder. The of that of England. lenity with which he exercised his terrible cffinc, Another law, passed at this time, must have had when left in any degree to his own discretion, while a cooling effect on the zeal of some of these patriots, it never prevented his implicit execution of BonaIt was announced that there were a set of persons, parte's comnlands, nlade the abominable system over who were to be regarded rather as public enemies which he presided to a certain extent endurable; than as criminals, and who ought to be provided and thus even his good qualities, while they relieved against rather by anticipating and defeating their individual suffering, swere of disservice to his country, schemes than by punishing their offences. These by reconciling her to bondage. consisted of republicans, royalists, or any others en- The haute police, as it is called by the French, tetraining, or supposed to entertain, opinions ini- meaninjg that department which applies to politics mical to the present state of affairs; and the law and state affairs, hisd been unaccountably neglected now passed entitled the government to treat them by the ministers of Louis XVI., and was much disas suspected persons, and, as such, to banish them organized by the conrsequences of the Revolution. from Paris or from France. Thus was the chief The demagogues of the Conrention had little need consul invested with full power over the personal of' a regular system of the kind. Every affiliated liberty of every person whoma he chose to consider club of jacobins supplied them with spies, and with as the enemy of his government. instrulments of their pleasure. The Directory stood Bonaparte was enabled to avail himself to the in a diffterent situation. They had no general party uttermost of the powers which he had thus ex- of their own, and maintained their authority, by batracted fiom the constitutional bodies, by the fright- lancing the moderates and democrats against each fill agency of the police. This institution may, even other. They, therefore, were more dependent upon in its mildest form, be regarded as a necessary evil; the police than their predecessors, and they intrustfor although, while great cities continue to afford ed Fouche with the superintendance. It was then obscure retreats for vice and crimes of every de- that, destroying, or rather superseding, the separate scription, there must be men, whose profession it is offices where the agents of the police pretended to to discover and bring criminals to justice, as while a certain independence of acting, he brought the there are vermin in tile animal world, there must be whole system to concentrate within his own cabinet. kites and carrion-crows to dimini.sh their number; By combining the reports of his agents, and of the 5.e', as the excellence of these guardians of the various individuals with whom under various prepublic depends in a great measure on their famili- texts he maintained correspondence, tile minister of arity with the arts, haunts, and practices of culprits, police arrived at so accurate a knowledge of te.,they cannot be expected to feel the same horror for purpose, disposition, adherents, and tools of the di/' crimes, or criminals, which is common to other men. ferent parties in France, that he could anticipate On the contrary, they have a symlpathy with them of their mode of acting upon all occasions that were thIe same kind which hunters entertain for the game likely to occur, knew what measures were likely to which is the object of their pulrsuit. Besides, as be proposed, and by whom they were to be supmuch of their business is carried on by the medium ported; and when any particular accident took of spies, they must be able to personate the manners place, was able, from his previous general informaand opinions of those whom they detect; and are fre- tion, to assign it to the real cause, and the true qrrently induced, by their own interest, to diiect, en- actors. courage, nay, suggest crimes, that they may obtain An unlimited system of espial, and that stretching the reward due for conviction of the offenders. through society in all its ramifications, was necessary Applied to state offences, the agency of such per- to the perfection of this system, which had not arsons, though sometimes unavoidable, is yet more rived to its utmost height, till Napoleon ascended 308 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. the throne. Still, before his reign, it existed all summoned before Fouch6 when anything was inthrough France, controling the most confidential serted which could be considered as disrespectful expressions ofopinion on public affairs, and, like some to his authority. Threats and promises were limephitic vapour, stifling the breath though it was berally employed on such occasions, and such jourinvisible to the eye, and, by its mysterious terrors, nalists as proved refractory were soon made to feel putting a stop to all discussion of public measures, that the forner were no vain menaces. The supwhich was not in the tone of implicit approbation. pression of the offensive newspaper was often acThe expense of maintaining this establishment comrpanied by the banishment or inprisonment of was immense; for Fouche comprehended amongst the editor. The same measure was dealt to authors, his spies and informers persons, whom no ordinary booksellers, and publishers, respecting whom the gratuity would have moved to act such a part. But jealousy of Bonaparte amounted to a species of this expense was provided for by the large sums disease. which the minister of police received for the tolera- No one can be surprised that an absolute governtion yielded to brothels, gambling-houses, and other ment should be disposed to usurp the total manage. places of profligacy, to which he granted licenses, ment of the daily press, and such other branches of in consideration of their observing certain regula- literature as are immlediately connected with politics; tions. His system of espial was also extended, by but the interference of Bonaparte's police went much the information which was collected in these haunts farther, and fi-equently required froin those authors of debauchery; and thus the vices of the capital who wrote only on general topics, some express were made to support the means by which it was recognizance of'his authority. The ancient christians subjected to a despotic government. His autobio- would not attend the theatre, because it was necesgraphy contains a boast, that the private secretary sary that, previous to enjoying the beauties of the of the chief consul was his pensioner, and that the scene, they should sacrifice some grains of incense lavish profusion of Jos6phine made even her willing to the false deity, supposed to preside over the to exchange intelligence concerning the chief con- place. In like umanner, men of generous minds in sul's views and plans. Thus was Fouche not only France were often obliged to suppress works on a spy upon the people in behalf of Bonaparte, but a subjects the most alien to politics, because they spy also on Bonaparte himself. could not easily obtain a road to the public unless Indeed, the power of the director of this terrible they consented to recognize the right of the indivienginery was so great, as to excite the suspicion of dual, who had usurped the supreme authority, anr Napoleon, who endeavoured to counterbalance it extinguished the liberties of' his country. The by dividing the department of police into four distinct circumstances which subjected Madame de Stael to offices. There were established, 1st, The military a long persecution by the police of Bonaparte may police of the palace, over which Duroc, the grand be quoted as originating in this busy desire, of master of the household, presided. 2d, The police connecting his government with the publications of maintained by the inspector of the gendarmes. 3d, all persons of genius. That exercised over the city of Paris by the prefect. We have been already led to notice, that there 4th, The general police, wvhich still remained under existed no cordiality betwixt Bonaparte and the the control of Fouch6. Thus, the first consul re- gifted daughter of Necker. Their characters were ceived every day four reports of police, and esteem- far from suited to each other. She had manied himself secure of learning, through some one of festly regarded the first consul as a subject of close them, information which the others might have an and curious observation, and Bonaparte loved not interest in concealing. that anyone should make him the subject of minute The agents of these different bodies were fie- scrutiny. Madame de Stael was the centre also of quently unknown to each other; and it often hap- a distinguished circle of society in France, se veral pened, that when, in the exercise of their office, of whom were engaged to support the cause of lithey were about to arrest some individual who had berty; and the resolution of a few members of the incurred suspicion, they found him protected against Tribunate, to make some efforts to check the advance them, by his connexion with other bureaux of po- of Bonaparte to arbitrary power, was supposed to lice. The system was, therefore, as complicated as be taken in her saloon, and under her encourageit was oppressive and unjust; but we shall have such ment. For this she was only banished from Patis. frequent opportunity to refer to the subject, that we But when she was about to publish her excellent need here only repeat, that, with reference to his and spirited book on German manners and literature, real interest, it was unfortunate for Bonaparte that ill which, nhappily, there was no mention of the he found at his disposal so ready a weapon of des- French nation, or its supreme chief, Madame de potism as the organized police, wielded by a hand Stael's work was seized by the police, and she was so experienced as that of Fouche. favoured with a line from Savary, acquainting her It was the duty of the police to watch the progress that the air of France did not suit her health, and; of public opinion, whether it was expressed in ge- inviting her to leave it with all convenient speed. neral society, and confidential communication, or While in exile from Paris, which she accounted her by the medium of the press. Bonaparte entertained country, the worthy Prefect of Geneva suggested a a feverish apprehension of the effects of literature mode by which she might regain favour. An ode on on the general mind, and in doing so acknowledged the birth of the King of Rome, was recommended the weak points in his government. The public as the means of conciliation. Madame de Stail journals were under the daily and constant superin- answered, she should limit herself to wishing him a telndance of the police, and their editors were good nurse; and became exposed to new rigours, _ __ _ _ _ _ _ f. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 30)J even extending to the fiiends who ventured to visit nominate to them, but only such persons as should iher in her exile. So general was the French in- be approved by the government. 6. The governfluence all over Europe, that, to shelter herself tfrom ment was to make suitable provision folr the national the persecutions by which she was everywhere clergy, while the pope expressly renounced all followed, she was at length obliged to escape to right competent to him and his successors, to chalEngland, by the remote way of' Russia. Ch6nier, lenge or dispute the sales of church property which formerly the panegyrist of General Bonaparte, be- had been made since the Revolution. came, witl other literary persons who did not bend Such was the celebrated compact, by which low enough to his new dignity, objects of persecu- Pins VII. surrendered to a soldier, whose name was tion to the first consul. The childish pertinacity five or six years before unheard of in Europe, those with which Napoleon followed up such unreasonable high claims to supremacy in spiritual alhairs, which piques belongs indeed, chiefly, to the history of the his predecessors had maintained for so many ages emperor, but it showed its blossoms earlier. The against the whole potentates of Europe. A pluritan power of indulging siuch petty passions goes, in a might have said.of the Power seated on the Seven great measure, to foster and encourage their pro- Hills-" Babylon is fallen, it is fallen, that great gress; and in the case of Bonaparte, this power, city!" The more rigid catholics were of the same great in itself, was increased by the dangerous opinion. The Concordat, they alleged, showed facilities which the police offered, for gratifying the rather the abasement of the Roman hierarchy tilan spleen, or the revenge, of the offended sovereign. the re-erection of the Gallic Church. Another support, of a very different kind, and The proceedings against the existing bishops of grounded on the most opposite principles, was af- France, most of whom were of course emigrants, forded to the rising power of Napoleon, through the were also but little edifying. Acting upon the arre-establishment of religion in France, by his treaty ticle of the Concordat already noticed, and caused, with the pope, called the Concordat. T'wo great as the letter itself states, "' by the exigency of the steps had been taken towvards this important point, timles, which exercises its violence even on us," the by the edict opening the churches, and renewing pope required of' each of these reverend persons, the exercise of the christian religion, and by the re- by an especial mandate, to accede to the compact, storation of the pope to his temporal dominions, by surrendering his see, as therein provided. The after the battle of Marengo. The further objects to order was peremptory in its terms, and an answer be attained were the sanction of the first consul's was demanded within fifteen days.'the purlpose of government by the pontiff on the one hand, and, on this haste was to prevent consultation or combinathe other, the re-establishment of the rights of the tion, and to place before each bishop, individually, church in France, so far as should be found con- the choice of compliance, thereby gaining a right to sistent with the new order of things. be provided for in the new hierarchy; or of refusal, This important tleaty was managed by Josweph in which case the pope wvould be obliged to declare Bonaparte, who, with three colleagues, held con- the see vacant, in conformity to his engagement ferences for that purpose with the plenipotentiaries with Bonaparte. of the pope. The ratifications were exchanged on The bishops in general declined compliance with the ]8th of September, 1801; and, when they were a request, which, on the part of the pope, was published, it was singular to behold how submis- evidently made by compulsion. They offered to sively the once proud See of Rome lay prostrated lay their resignation at his holiness's feet, so soon before the power of Bonaparte, and how absolutely as they should be assured that there was regular he must have dictated all the terms of the treaty. canonical provision made for filling up their sees; Every article innovated on some of those rights and but they declined, by any voluntary act of theirs, claims, which the Church of Rome had for ages to give countenance to the surrender of the rights of asserted as the unalienable privileges of her infal- the church implied in the Concordat, and preferred lible head. exile and poverty to any provision which they might 1. It was provided, that the catholic religion obtain, by consenting to compromise the privileges should be fieely exercised in France, acknowledged of the hierarchy. These proceedings greatly inas the national faith, and its service openly prac- creased the unpopularity of the Concordat among tised, subject to such regulations of police as the the more zealous catholics. French government should judge necessary. 2. The Others of that faith there were, who, though they pope, in concert with the French government, was considered the new system as very imperfect, yet to make a new division of dioceses, and to require thought it might have tihe effect of preserving in of the existing bishops even the resignation of their France, some sense of the christian religion, which, sees, should that be found necessary to complete under the total disuse of public worship, stood a the new arrangement. 3. The sees which should clhance of being entirely extinguished in the minds become vacant by such resignation, or by depriva- of the rising generation. They remembered, that tion, in case a voluntary abdication was refilsed, as though the Jews in the days of Esdras shed tears also all fiiture vacancies, wereto he filled up by of natural sorrow when they beheld the inferiority the pope, on nominations proceeding from the French' of the second Temple, yet Providence had sanctiongovernment 4. The new bishops were to take an ed its erection, under the warrant, and by permisoath of fidelity to the government, and to observe a sion, of an unbelieving task-master. They granted, ritual, in which there were to be especial forms of that the countenance shown by Bonaparte to the prayer for the consuls. 5. The church-livings were religio(s establishment was entirely from motives to undergo a new division, and the bishops were to of self-interest; but still they hoped that God, who 310 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. works his own will by the selfish passions of indi- never regretted the Concordat," he said. "I must viduals, was now using those of the first consul to have had either that or something equivalent. Had recal some- sense of religion to France; and they the pope never before existed, he should have been anticipated that religion, as the best friend of all made for the occasion." that is good and graceful in humanity, was likely, The first consul took care, accordingly, to make in course of time, to bring back and encourage a his full advantage of the Concordat, by introducing sense of rational liberty, his own name as much as possible into the cateThe revolutionary part of France beheld the Con- chism of the church, which, in other respects, was cordat with very different eyes. The christian re- that drawn up by Bossuet. To honour Napoleon, ligion was, as to the Jews and Greeks of old, a the catechumen was taught, was the same as to stumbling-block to the jacobins, and foolishness to honour and serve God himself-to oppose his will, the philosophers. It was a system which they had was to incur the penalty of eternal damnation. attacked with a zeal even as eager as that which In civil affairs, Bonaparte equally exerted his they had directed against monarchical institutions; talents, in connecting the safety and interests of the and in the restoration of the altar they foresaw the nation with his own aggrandisement. He had alre-erection of the throne. Bonaparte defended him- ready laughed at the idea of a free constitution. self' among the philosophers, by comparing his "'The only friee constitution necessary," he said, " or Concordat to a sort of vaccination of religion, which useful, was a good civil code;" not considering, or by introducing a slighter kind into the system of the chusing to have it considered, that the best system state, would gradually prepare for its entire ex- of laws, when held by no better guarantee than the tinction. pleasure of an arbitrary prince and his council of In the meantime, he proceeded to renew the state, is as insecure as the situation of a pearl ancient league betwixt the church and crqwn, with suspended by a single hair. Let us do justice to as much solemnity as possible. Portalis was created Napoleon, however, by acknowledging, that he minister of religion, a new office, for managing the encountered with manly firmness the gigantic labour affairs of the church. He had deserved this pre- of forming a code of institutions, which, supplying ferment, by a learned and argumentative speech to the immense variety of provincial laws-that existed in the legislative body, in which he proved to the the different departments of France, and suppressing French statesmen (what in other countries is seldom the partial and temporary regulations made in the considered as matter of doubt), that the exercise of various political crises of the Revolution, were dereligion is congenial to human nature, and worthy signed to be the basis of a uniform national system. of being cherished and protected by the state. The For this purpose, an order of the consuls convoked Concordat was inaugurated at Notre Dame with Messrs Portalis, Tronclhet, Bigot-Pr6ameneu, and the utmost magnificence. Bonaparte attended in Maleville, jurisconsults of the highest character, person, with all the badges and pomp of royalty, and associated them with the minister of justice, and in the style resembling as nearly as possible Cambacdirs, in the task of adjusting and reporting that of the former kings of France. The Arch- a plan for a general system of jurisprudence. The bishop of Aix was appointed to preach upon the progress and termination of this great work will be occasion, being the very individual prelate who had hereafter noticed. The chief consul himself took delivered the sermon upon the coronation of Louis an active part in the deliberations. XVI. Some address, it was said, was employed An ordinance, eminently well qualified to heal the to procure the attendance of the old republican ge- civil wounds of France, next manifested the talents nerals. They were invited by Berthier to breakfast, of Bonaparte, and, as mnen hoped, his moderation. and thence carried to the first consul's levee; after This was the general amnesty granted to the emiwhich it became impossible for them to decline at- grants. A decree of the senate, 2ith April, 1801, tending him to the Church of Notre Dame. As he permitted the return of these unfortlnate persons to returned from the ceremony, surrounded by these France, providing they did so, and took the oath of military functionaries, Bonaparte remarked with fidelity to government, within a celrtain period. complacency, that the former order of things was There were, however, five classes of exceptions, fast returning. One of his generals boldly answered, containing such as seemed too deeply and strongly -"' Yes!-all returns-excepting the two millions pledged to the house of Bourbon, e er to reconcile of Frenchmen, who have died to procure the pro- themselves to the government of Bonaparte. Such scription of the very system now in the act of being were, 1st, Those who had been chiefs of bodies of restored." armed royalists;-2d, Who had held rank in the It is said that Bonaparte, when he found the armies of the allies;-3d, Who had belonged to the pope and the clergy less tractable than he desired, household of the princes of the blood;-4th, WNlho regretted having taken the step of re-establishing had been agents or encouragers of'foreifn or domestic religion, and termed the Concordat the greatest war;-5th, The generals and admirals, together with error of his reign. But such observations could only the representatives of tle people, who had been guilty escape hiim in a moment of pique or provocation. of treason against the Republic, together with the He well knew the advantage which a government prelates, who declined to resign their sees in terms must derive from a national church, which re- of the Concordat. It was at the sanme time declared, cognizes them in its ritual; and at St Helena, he that not more than five hundred in all should be exhinmself at once acknowledged the advantage of his cepted from the amnesty. Bonaparte truly judged, compact with the pope as a measure of state, and that the mass of emigrants, thus winlllowed and purihis indifference to it in a religious point of view. "I fled fronm all who had been leaders, exhausted illn fir LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 311 tune, and wearied out by exile, would in general be in Egypt.-Battle and victory of Alexandria-Death of grateful for permission to return to France, and pas- Sir Ralph Abercrombie-General Hutchlinson succeeds sive, nay, contented and attached subjects of his him.-The rench general Belliard, capitulates-as does dominion; and the event in a great measure, if not Menou.- War in Egypt brought to a victorious conclu fully, justified his expectations. Stch part of their s0on. property as had not been sold was directed to be restored to them; but they were subjected to the HAVIN'G thus given a glance at the internal affairs special superintendance of the police for the space of France during the commencement of Bonaparte's of ten years after their return. domination, we return to her external relations, With similar and most laudable attention to the which, since the peace of Luneville, had assumed duties of his high office, Bonaparte founded plans of the appearance of universal ascendancy, so much education, and particularly, with Monge'sassistance, had tile cutrent of human affairs been alteled by established the Polytechnic School, which has pro- the talents and fortunes of one man. Not only was duced so many men of talent. He inquired anxiously France in secure possession, by the treaty of Lun6into abulses, and was particularly active in correcting ville, of territories extending to the banks of the those which had crept into the prisons during the Rhine, but the surrounding nations were, under the Revolution, where great tyranny was exercised by plausible names of protection or alliance, as submonopoly of provisions, and otherwise. In amending m nissive to her government as if they had made intesluch evils, Bonaparte, though not of kingly birth, gral parts of her dominions. Holland, Switzerland, showed a mind worthy of the rank to which lie had and Italy, were all in a state of subjection to her ascended. It is only to be regretted, that in what will; Spain, like a puppet, moved but at her siglal; interfered with his personal wishes or interest, he Austria was broken-spirited and dejected; Prussia uniformly failed to manifest the sound and correct still remembered her losses in the first revolutionary views, which on abstract questions he could for. so war; and Russia, who alone could he considered us clearly. - unmoved by any fear of France, was yet in a sitlaOther schemes of a public character were held tion to be easily managed, by flattering and cajolil)gr out as occupying the attention of the chief consul. the peculiar temper of the Emperor Paul. Like Augustus, whose situation his own in some'We have already observed, that Bonaparte had measure resembled, Napoleon endeavonred, by the artfully availed hinlself of the misunderstanding bemagnificence of his projects for the improvement of tween Austria and Russia, to insinuate himself into tile state, to withdraw attention from his inroads the good graces of the czar. The disputes hetween upon public freedom. The inland navigation of Russia and England gave him still further advanLangiedoc was to be completed, and a canal, join- sages over the mind of that incautious monarch. ing the river Yonne to the Sadne, was to connect The refusal of Britain to cede the almost impregthe south part of the Republic so completely with nable fortress of Malta, and with it the command of the north, as to establish a communication by water the Mediterranean, to a power who was no longer between Marseilles and Amsterdam. Bridges were friendly, was aggravated by her declining to admit also to be built, roads to be laid out and improved, Russian prisoners into the cartel of exchange bemuseums founded in the principal towns of France, twixt the French and British. Bonaparte contrived and many other public labours undertaken, on a to make his approaches to the czar in a manner calscale which shourld put to shame even the boasted culated to bear upon both these subjects of grievance. days of Lorris-XIV. Bonaparte knew the French He presented to Paul, who affected to be considered nation well, and was aware that he should best re- I as the Grand Master of the Order of St John of concile' them to his government, by indulging his Jerusalem, the sword given by the pope to tile heown genius for bold and magnificent undertakings, roic John de la Valette, who was at the head'of the whether of a military or a civil character. order during the celebrated defence of Malta against B1t although these splendid proposals filled the tie Turks. With the same view of placing his own public ear, and flattered the national pride of France, conduct in a favourable contrast with that of Great cormmerce continued to languish, under the effects Britain, he nev-clothed and armed eight or nine of a constant blockade; provisions became dear, and thousand Russian prisomers, and dismissed them discontent against the Consulate began to gain freely, in token of his personal esteem for the cha. ground over the favourable sentiments which had racter of the emperor. hailed its commencement. The effectual cure for A more secret and scandalous mode of acquiring these heart-burnuiung s awas only to be found in a ge- interest is said to have been attained, through the neral peace; and a variety of events, some of them attachment of tile unfortunate prince to a French of a character very unpleasing to the first consul, actress of talents and beauty, who had been sent seemed gradually preparing for this desirable event. from Paris for the express purpose of acquiring his affections. From these concurring reasons, Paul began now openly to manifest himself as the warmr CHAPTER XL. ifriend of France, and the bitter enemy of Britain. In the former capacity, hle had the weak and unReturn to the external relations of France-Iler uoiver- the snal ascendancy.-Napoleons advances to the Emrperor worthy conlplaisance to withdraw the hospitality Paul.-Plan, of destroying the British power in India.- whic he had litlertoaffordedto he relics of the Right of search at sea.-Death of PauLc-Its efects on Royal Family of Bourbon, who were compelled to Bonaparte. —Afairs of Egypt-Assassination,of Klber remove from Mittau, where they had been hit.eito -Meenouc appointed to succeed him.-British army lands permitted to reside. 312 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. To gratify his pique against England, Paul gave English, that ever were practised by an angry and hearing at least to a magnificent scheme by which unreasonable despot. Bonaparte proposed to accomplish the destruction Prussia, more intent on her own immediate agof the British power in India, which' he bad in vain grandisement, than mildful of the welfare of Euhoped to assail by the possession of Egypt. The rope in general, took advantage of the universal ill. scheme was now to be effected by the union of the will against England, to seize upon the king's 4:onli. French and Russian troops, which were to force nental dominions of Hanover, with peculiar breach their way to British India overland, through the of public faith, as she herself had guaranteed the kingdom of' Persia; and a plan of such a campaign neutrality of that country. was seriously in agitation. Thirty-five thousand The consequences, with regard to the northern French were to descend the Danube into the Black powers, are well known. The promptitnde of' the Sea; and then, being wafted across that sea and the administration sent a strong fleet to the Baltic; and sea of Azof, were to march by land to the banks of the well-contested battle of Copenhagen detached the Volga. Here they were again to be embarked, Denmark from the Northern Confederacy. Sweden and descend the river to Astracan, and from thence had joined it unwillingly; and Russia altered her were to cross the Caspian Sea to Astrabad, where course of policy in consequence of the death of they were to be joined by a Russian army, equal in Paul. That unhappy prince had surmounted the forlce to their own. It was thought that, marching patience of his subjects, and fell a victim to one of thronugh Persia by Herat, Ferah, and Candahar, the those conspiracies, which in arbitrary monarchies, Russo-Gallic army might reach the Indus in forty- especially such as partake of the oriental character, five days f'om Astrabad. This gigantic project supply all the checks of a moderate and fiee constiNwould scarce have been formed by any less daring tution, where the prerogative of the crown is limited genius than Napoleonl; nor could any prince, withi by laws. In these altered circumstances, the cause a brain less infirm than Paul's, have agreed to be- of dispute was easily removed, by the right of search cone his tool in so extraordinary an undertaking, being subjected to equitable regulations and modififrom which France was'to derive all the advan- cations. tags, Bonaparte received the news of Paul's death with A nearer mnode of injuring the interests of England, much more emotion than he was usually apt to testify. than this overland march to India, was in the power It is said, that, for the first time in his life, a passionof the Emperor of Russia, A controversy being in ate exclamation of "M 11on Diez t!" escaped him in a dependence betwixt England and the northern tone of sorrow and surprise. With Paul's immense courts, afforded the pretext for throwing his weight power, and his disposition to place it at the disposal into the scale against her at this dangerous crisis. of France, the first consul doubtless reckoned upon T'he right of search at sea, that is, the right of the accomplishment of many important plans which stopping a neutral or firiendly vessel, and taking out his death disconcerted. It was natural, also, that of her the goods belonging to an enemy, is acknow- Napoleon should be moved by the sudden and violent ledged in the earliest maritimne codes. But England, end of a prince, who had manifested so much admiby her naval superiority, had been enabled to exert ration of his person and his qualities. He is said to this right so generally, that it became the subject of have dwelt so long on the strangeness of the incident, much heart-burning to neutral powers. The asso- that Fouch6 was obliged to renmind him, that it was ciation of the Northern States in 1780, known by a mode of changing a chief magistrate, or a course the name of the Armed Neutrality, had for its object of administration, which was common to the empire to put down this right of search, and establish the in which it took place.+ mllaxint that free bottoms made free goods; in other The death of Paul, so much regretted by Bonawords, that the neutral character of the vessel parte, was nevertheless the means of accelerating a should protect whatever property she might have peace between France and Great Britain, which, on board. This principle was now anxiously re- if it could have been established on a secure basis, claimed by France, as the most effective argument would have afforded hium the best chance of mainfor the purpose of irritating the neutral powers tairting his power, and transmitting itto his Iposterity. against Great Britain, whose right of search, which While the czar continued to be his observant ally, could not be exercised without vexation and incon- there was little prospect that the first consul would venience to their commerce, must necessarily be be moderate enough in the terms which he night unpopllar amongst them. Forgetting that the dan- have proffered, to permit the British mrinistry to ger occasioned by the gigantic power of France was treat with him. infinitely greater than any which could arise fi-om Another obstacle to peace was at this time rethe maritime claims of England, the northern courts moved, in a manner not more acceptable to Bonabecame again united on the subject of what they parte than was the death of the Emperor Paul. The termed the fireedom of the seas. Indeed, the Em- possession of Egypt by the French was a point which peror Paul, even before the offence arising out of the first consul would have insisted upon finom strong his disappointment respecting Malta, had proceeded personal feeling. The Egyptian expedition was so far as to sequestrate all British property in his intimnately connected with his own personal glory, dominions, in resentment of her exercising the right nor was it likely that he would have sacrificed its of search. But upon the fresh provocation which results to his desire of peace with Great Britain. he conceived himself to have received, the emperor became outrageous, and took the most violent mea- Qume voulez-voets? c'cst om soCe de desilutitio propre sures for seizing the persons and property of the a ce pays-ld.' LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 313 On the other hand, there was no probability that there was only one man in company with him, stabEngland wvould accede to any arrangement, which bed him dead. The assassin was justly condemned should sanction the existence of a French colony, to die by a military tribunal; but the sentence was settled ill Egypt with the express purpose of de- executed with a barbarity which disgraced those stroying our Indian commerce. Bnt this obstacle to who practised it. Being impaled alive, he survived peace was removed by the fate of arms. for four hours in the utmost tortures, which he bore Affairs in Egypt had been on the whole unfavour- with an indifference which his fanaticism perhaps able to the French, since that army had lost the alone could have bestowed. presence of the commander-in-chief. Kl6ber, on The Baron MenoU, on whom the command now whom the command devolved, was discontented (levolved, was an inferior person to Kldber. He both at the unceremonious and sudden manner in had made some figure amongst the nobles who folwhich the duty had been imposed upon him, and lowed the revolutionary cause in the Constituent with the scarcity of means left to support his de- Assembly, and was the same general wlose want fence. Perceiving himself threatened by a large of decision at the affair of the Sections had led to Turkish force, which was collecting fobr the purpose the employment of Bonaparte in his room, and to the of avenging the defeat of the vizier at Aboukir, he first rise, consequently, of the fortunes which bad became desirous of giving up a settlement which he since swelled so higrh. Menou altered for the worse despaired of maintaining. He signed accordingly a several of the regulations of K16ber, and, carrying convention with the Turkish plenipotentiaries, and into literal execution what Bonaparte had only Sir Sydney Smith, on the part of the British, by written and spoken of, he became an actual Malhormwhich it was provided that the French should medan, married a native Turkish woman, and asevacuate Egypt, and that K16ber and his army sumed the name of Abdallah Menou. This change should be transported to France in safety, without of religion exposed him to the ridicule of the French, being molested by the British fleet. When the while it went in no degree to conciliate the EgypBritish government received advice of this icouven- tians. tion, they refused to ratify it, on the ground that The succours from France, which Bonaparte had Sir Sydney Smith had exceeded his powers in enter- promised in his farewell address to the Egyptian ing into it. The Earl of Elgin having been sent out army, arrived slowly, and in small numbers and as plenipotentiary to the Porte, it was asserted quantity. This was not the fault of the chief consul, that Sir Sydney's ministerial powers were super- who had commanded Ganthealnme to put to sea with seded by his appointment. Such was the alleged a squadron, having on board four or five thousand informality on which the treaty fell to the ground; men; but, being pursued by the English fleet, that but the froth was, that the arrival of Klkber and admiral was glad to regain the harbour of Toulon. his army in the south of France, at the very moment Other efforts were made with the samle indifferent when the successes of Suwarrow gave strong hopes success. The French ports were too closely watched of making some impression on her fiontier, might to permit the sailing of any expedition on a large have had a most material effect upon the events of scale, and two frigates, with five or six hundred the war. Lord Keith, therefore, who commanded men, were the only reinforcements that reached in the Mediterranean, received orders not to permit Egypt. the passage of the French Egyptian army, and the Meantime, the English cabinet had adopted the treaty of El Arish was in consequence broken off. daring and manly resolution of wresting from France Kleber, disappointed of this mode of extricating this favourite colony by force. They had for a length himself, had recourse to arms. The Vizier Jousseff of time confined their military efforts to partial and Pacha, having crossed the Desert, and entered detached objects, which, if successful, could not Egypt, received a bloody and decisive defeat from have any effect on the general results of the war, the French general, near the ruins of the ancient and which, when they miscarried, as was the case city of Heliopolis, on the 20th of March, 1800. The before Cadiz, Ferrol, and elsewhere, tended to thllow measures which Klkber adopted after this victory ridicule on the plans of the ministry, and, however were well calculated to maintain the Possession of undeservedly, even upon the character of the forces the country, and reconcile the inhabitants to the employed on the service. It was by such ill-conFrench government. He was as moderate in the sidered and imperfect efforts that the w ar was imposts as the exigencies of his army permitted, maintained on our part, while our watchful and forgreatly improved the condition of the troops, and midable enemy combined his mighty means to effect made, if not peace, at least an effectual truce with objects of commensurate importance. VWe, like the restless and enterprising Murad Bey, who still pumy fencers, offered doubtful and uncertain blows, continued to be at the head of a considerable body which could only affect the extremities; he never of Marnelukes. Kleber also raised among the aimed, save at the heart, nor thrust, but with the Greeks a legion of fifteen hundred or two thousand determined purpose of plunging his weapon to the men; and with more difficulty succeeded in levying hilt. a regiment of Copts. The consequence of these partial and imperfect Whi-le busied in these measures he was cut short measures was, that even while our soldiers were in by the Jblowv of an assassin. A fanatic Tur'k, called the act of gradually attaining that perfection of disSoliman Haleby, a native of Aleppo, imta ined he cipline by which they are now. distinguished, they was inspired by Heaven to slay the enemy of the ranked —mostunjustly —lower in the respectof their Prophet and the Grand Seignos. He concealed him- countrymen, than at any other period in our history. self in a cistern, and springing out on Kliber when The pre-eminent excellence of our sailors had been VOL. VI. 40 314 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. shown in a thousand actions; and it became too troops should be safely transported to France, with usual to place it in contrast with the failure of our their-arms and baggage. This was on the 28th of expeditions on shore. But it was afterwards found June, and the convention had scarce been signed, that our soldiers could assume the same superiority, when the English army was reinforced in a manner whenever the plan of the campaign offered them a which showed the bold and successful combination fair field for its exercise. Such a field of action was of measures under which the expedition had been afforded by the Egyptian expedition. undertaken. This undertaking was the exclusive plan of an ill- An army of seven thousand men, of whom two requited statesman, the late Lord Melville, who had thousand were sepoys, or native Indian troops, were difficulty in obtaining even Mr Pitt's concurrence in disembarked at Cosseir, on the Red Sea, and, dea scheine, of a character so much more daring than tached firom the Indian settlements, now came to Britain had lately entertained. The expedition was support the European part of the English invasion. resolved upon by the narrowest possible majority in'hlle Egyptians sawv, with the extremity of wonder, the cabinet; and his late majesty interposed his con- native troops, many of them niosleinah, who worsent in terms inferring a solemn protest against the shiped in the mosques, and observed the ritual enrisk about to be incurred. " It is with the utmost joined by the Prophet, perfectly accomplished in reluctance, (such, or nearly such, vere the words the European discipline. The lower class were of George III.) thA;t I consent to a measure, which inclined to think, that this singular reinforcement sends the flower of my army upon a daingerous ex- had been sent to them in consequence of Mahompedition against a distant province." * The event, med's direct and miraculous interposition; only however, showed, that in arduous circumstances, their being commanded by English officers did not the daring gamne, if previously well considered, is favour this theory. often the most successful. In consequence of these reinforcements, and his On the 8th of March, 1801, General Sir Ralph own confined situation under the walls of AlexanAbercrombie, at the head of an army of seventeen dria, Menou saw himself constrained to enter into thousand men, landed in Egypt, in despite of the a. convention for surrendering up the province of most desperate opposition by the enemy. The ex- Egypt. He was admitted to the same terms of comcellence of the troops was displayed by the extreme position which had been granted to Belliard; and gallantry and calmnness with which, landing through thus the war in that quarter was, on the part of aheavy surtf; they instantly formed and advanced Great Britain, triumphantly concluded. againt the enemy. On the 21st of March, a general The conquest of this disputed kingdom, excited action took place. The French cavalry attempted a strong sensation both in France and Britain; but to turn the British flank, and made a desperate the news of the contest being finally closed by charge for that purpose, but failed in their attempt, Menou's submission, are believed to have reached and were driven back with great loss. The Fr-ench the former country some time before the English were defeated, and compelled to retreat on Alex- received them. Bonaparte, on learning the tidings, andria, under the valls of which they hoped to is reported to have said, " Well, there remains now maintain thllernseles.: But the British suffered an no alternative but to make the descent on Britain." irreparable loss in their lamented commander, Sir But it seems to have occurred to him presently Ralph Abercroimbie, who was imortally wounded in afterwards, that the loss of this disputed province the course of this action. In this gallant ieteran his might, instead of bring an aroumeint for carrying the country long regretted one of the best generals, anid war to extremity, be considered as the removal of one of the worthiest and most ammiable men, to whom an obstacle to a treaty of peace. she ever gave birth. The command descended on General HIutchinson, CHAPTER XLI. who was soon joined by the Capitan Pacha, with a Turkish army. The recollections of Aboukir and Preparations made for the Invasion o.f Briftain.-Nelsonm Heliopolis, joined to the remonstrances and counsels put in command of tje sea.-Atlack of ti~e Boulogne Floof their English allies, induced the Turks to avoid a tilla.-Pitt leaves the ministry-succeedeed by Mru Addinggeneral action, and confine themselves to skirmishes, ton.-Negotiations for peace.-J-ist punis.mlent of by which system the French were so closely watch- England, in regard to the conquered setlexlents of the ed, and their communications so effectually de- eneny-Forced to restore them all, saze Ceylon mid stroyed, that General Belliard, shut up in a for- T -inidad.-Malta is placed under the guarantee of a tilied camp in Cairo, cut off fioom Alexandria, and neutralpower.-Preliminaries of pasce signed-Joy of the English populace, and doubts of the better classes.threatened with insurrection writhin the place, was, wia was *Treaty of Amiens signed.-The ambitious projects of compelled to capitulate, under condition that his Napoleon, nevertheless,proceedivithout interruptionAt an after priod, the good king made the following lE xtension of his power in Italy-He is appointed consul a w.nifiia W. en Lord t 1etvite. for life, with the power of naming his successor-His act-nowlelgmi( tofhis mistake. W\len Lord Melville was cut of power, his majes!v c*i I him the honour to visit him at Wimbledon. an(t partook of some refreshment. On that occasion the king t ook an opportunity to fill a glass of wine, As the wolpds of the first cnsul appeared to nan(d havin.z mnade time company do the same, lie gave as timate, preparations were resumed on the French his toast. " The lealf l; of the courageous minister, who, coast for the invasion of Great Britain. Boulogne, szillnst the otpinion of many of his colleagues, and even the and every harbour along the coast, was (crowded remlolstlsrinces of lis kilnz, hal dared to conceive and carry with fiat-bottomed boats, and the shores covered 6ireougll tile Egypltian expeditionl" ltil calmlps of the men designed apparently to fill l~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.. ~J them. We need not at present dwell on the pre- necessary to him, since he otherwise must remains parations for attack, or those which the English pledged to undertake the hazardous alternative of adopted in defence, as we shall have occasion to invasion, in which chances stood incalculably against notice both, when Bonaparte, for the last time, his success; while a failure might have, in its conthreatened England with the same measure. It is sequences, inferred the total ruin of his power. All enough to say) that, on the present bccasion, the parties were, therefore, in a great degree inclined menaces of France had their usual effect in awaken- to treat with sincerity; and Boinaparte was with little ilng the spirit of Britain. difficulty brought to consent to the evacuation of The most extensive arrangements were made for Egypt, there being every reason to believe that he the reception of the invaders, should they chance to was alteady possessed of the news of the convention land, and, in the imeanwhile, our natural barrier with Menou. At any rate, the French cause in was not neglected. The naval preparations were Egypt had been almost desperate ever since the very great, and what gave yet more confidence than battle of Alexandria, and the first consul was conthe number of xessels and guns, Nelson was put into sceious that in this sacrifice he only resigned that counmrand ofthe sea, frbo Orlfordess to Beaclly-head. which there was little chance of his being able to Under his management, it soon became the question, keep. It was also stipulated that the French should not whether the French flotilla was to invade the evacuate Rome and Naples; a condition of little British shores, but whether it was to remain in safety consequence, as they were always able to re-occupy in the French harbours. Boulogne was bombarded, these countries when their interest required it. Tlhe and some of the small craft and gun-boats destroyed, Dutch colony of the Cape of Good Hope was to be the English admiral generously sparing the town; restored to the Batavian Republic, and declared a and not satisfied with this partial success, Nelson free port. prepared to attack them with the boats of tile squa- In respect of the settlements which the British dlon. The French resorted to the most unusual and arms had conquered, England underwent a punishformidable preparations for defence. Their flotilla ment not unmerited. The conquest of the enemies' was moored close to the shore in the mouth of Bou- colonies had been greatly too much an object of the logne harbour, the vessels secured to each other by English ministry; and thus the national force had chains, and filled with soldiers. Tile British attack been frittered away upon acquisitions of comparain some degree failed, owing to the several divisions tively petty importance, which, from the insalubrity of boats missing each other in the dark; some French of the climate, cost us more men to maintain them vessels were taken, but they could not be brought than would have been swept off by many a bloody off; and the French chose to consider this result as battle. All the conquests made on this peddling a victory, on their part, of consequence enolgh to plan of warfare were now to be returned, without balance the loss at Aboukir;-though it amounted any equivalent. Had the gallant soldiers, who peat best to ascertaining, that although their vessels fished miserably for the sake of these sugar-islands, could not keep the sea, they might, in some compa- been united in one well-concerted expedition, to the rative degree of safety, lie under close cover of support of Charette, or La Roche-Jacquelin, such a their own batteries. Meantime, the changes which force might have enabled these chiefs to mnarch to had taken place in the British administration, were Paris; or, if sent to Hollatnd, might have replaced preparing public expectation for that peace which the stadtholder in his dominions. And now, these all the world now longed for. very sugarislands, the pitiful compensation which Mr Pitt, as is well knlown, left the ministry, and Britain had received for tile blood of her brave was succeeded in the office of first minister of state children, were to be restored to those firoml whom by Mr Addington, now Lord Sidmnouth. The change they had been wrested. The important possessions was justly considered as fiiendly to pacific measures; of Ceylon in the East, and Trinidad in tile West for, in France especially, the gold of Pitt had been Indies, were the only part of her conquests which by habit associated witth all that was prejudicial to England retained. The integrity of her ancient ally, their country. The very massacres of Paris, nay, Portugal, was, however, recognized, and the indethe return of Bonaparte froun Egypt, were imputed pendence of the Ionian Islands was stipulated for to tile intrigues of the English minister; he was the and guaranteed. Britain restored Porto Ferrajo, scape-goat on whom were charged, as the ultimate and what other places she had occupied in the isle cause, all the follies, crimes, and misfortunes of of Elba, or on tihe Italian coast; but the occupation the Revolution. of Malta for sonme time threatened to prove an obA great part of his own countrynlen, as well as stacle to tile treaty. T'I'he English considered it as of the French, entertained a doubt of the possibility of the last consequence that this strong island should of concluding a peace under Mr Pitt's auspices; lemnain in their possession, and intimated that they while those who were most anti-Gallican in their regarded the pertinacious resistance which the first opinions, had little wish to see his lofty spirit stoop consul testified to this proposal, as implying a prito the task of arranging conditions of treaty on termls vate and tinavowed desire of renewing, at sonle so different from what his hopes had once dictated. fuiture opportunity, his designs on Egypt, to which The worth, temper, and talents of his successor Malta might be considered as in some measAure a seemed to qualify him to enter into a negotiation, to key. After much discussion,it was at length agreed which the greater part of the nation were now in- that the independence of the island should be seclined, were it but for the sake of experiment. cured by its being garrisoned by a neutral power, Bonaparte hirmself was at this tine, disposed to and placed under its guarantee and protection. peace. It Mas recessa:"- to France, and no less The preliminaries of peace were signed 10th CcI, _. 316 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. tober, 1801. General Law de Lauriston, the school extend the predominating influence of that country companion and first aide-de-camp of Bonaparte, over her continental fneighbours. brought them over from Paris to London, where By the treaty of Luneville, and by that of Tothey were received with the most extravagant joy lentino, the independent existence of the Cisalpine by the populace, to whom novelty is a sufficient re- and Helvetian Republics had been expressly stipucommendation of almost any~thing. But amidst the lated; but this independence, according to Bonabetter classes, the sensation was much divided. parte's explanation of the word, did not exclude There was a small but energetic party, led by the ce- their being reduced to mere satellites, who depended lebrated Windham, who, adopting the prilciples of on, and whose motions were to be regulated by Burke to their utmost extent, considered the act of France, and by himself, the chief governor of treating with a regicide governmlent as indelible France and all her dependencies. When, therefore, meanness, and as a dereliction, on the part of G; eat the Directory was overthrown in France, it was not Britain, of those principles of legitimacy, upon which his purpose that a directorial form of government the social comrnpact ought to rest. More moderate should continue to subsist in Italy. Measures were anti- Gallicans, while they regretted that our etiobts on this account to be takeh, to establish in that in flsvour of the Bourbons had been totally unavail- country somnething resenmbling the new consular ing, contended, wvth reason, that we were not so model adopted in Paris. closely leagued to their cause as to be bound to sa- For this purpose, in the beginning of January, crifice our own country, in a vain attempt to restore 1802; a convention of450 deputies fi'om the Cisalpine the exiled family to the throne of France. This States arrived at Lyons (for they were not trusted was the opinion entertained by Pitt himself; and the to deliberate within the liumits of their own country), most judicious aniong his followers. Lastly, there to contrive for themselves a new political system. was the professed opposition, who, while rejoicing In that period, when the mnodeling of constitutions that we had bPen able to obtain peace on any terms, was so common, there was no difficulty in drawing might now exult in the fulfilment of their predictions up one; which consisted of a president, a deputyof the bad success of the war. Sheridan summed president, a legislative council, and three electoral tlp xwhat was perhaps the most general feeling in the colleges, composed, 1st, of proprietors; 2d, of percountry, with the observation, "that it was a peace sons of learning; and, 3d, of commercial persons. If which all men were glad of, and no man could be the Italians had been awkward upon the occasion, proud of" they had the assistance of Talleyrand, and soon Amiens was appointed for the meeting of commis- after, the arrival of Bonaparte himself at Lyons sioners, who were finally to adjust the treaty of gave countenance to their operations. His presence pacification, which was not ended till five months was necessary for the exhibition of a most singular after the preliminaries had been agreed on. After farce. this long negotiation, the treaty was at length signed, A committee of thirty of the Italian convention, 27tlh March, 1802. The isle of Malta, according to whoml had been intrusted the principal duty of to this agreement, was to be occupied by a garrison suggesting tile new model of government, gave in a of Neapolitan troops, while, besides Britain and report, in which it was stated, that, from the -want France, Austria, Spain, Russia, and Prussia, were of any man of sufficient influence amongst themselves to guarantee its neutrality. The Knights of St John to fill the office of president, upon whom devolved xere to be the sovereigns, but neither French nor all the executive duties of the state, the new system English were in future to be members of that order. could not be considered as secure, unless Bonaparte'T'le harboars were to be fiee to the commerce of should be prevailed tpon to fill thiat situation,not, asit all nations, and the Order was to be neutral towards was carefully explained, in his character of head of all nations save the Algerines and other piratical the French government, but in his individual capastates. city. Napoleon graciously inclined to their suit. Napoleon, had he chosen to examine into the He informed them that he concurred in the modest feelings of the English, must have seen plainly that opinion they had formed, that their republic did not this treaty, unwillingly acceded to by them, and at present possess an individtal sufficiently gifted only by way of experiment, was to have a duration with talents and irmnartiality to take charge of their long or short, in proportion to their confidence in, affairs, which lie should, therefore, retain underi his or doubt of; his own good faith. His ambition, and own chief management, while circumstances rethe little scruple which he showed in gratifying it, quired hmim to do so. was, he must have been sensible, the terror of Having thus established his power in Italy as Europe; and until the fears he had excited were firmly as in Fracce, Bonaparte proceedrd to take disarmed by a tract of peaceful and moderate con- measures for extending his dominions in the former tiuct on his part, the suspicions of England must country and elsewhere. By a treaty with Spain, have been constantly awake, and the peace between now made public, it appeared that tIhe Duchy of the nations must have been considered as.precarious Parma was to devolve on France, together with the as an artmed truce. Yet these considerations could island of Elba, upon the death of the present duke, not induce him to lay aside, or even postpone, a -an event at no distant date to be expected. The train of measures, tending directly to his own per- Spanish part of the province of Louisiana, in North sonal aggrandisenment, and confirming the jealousies America, was to be ceded to France by the sanme which his character alleady inspired. These mea- treaty. Portugal, too, though the integrity of her sures were partly of a nature adapted to consolidate dominions had been guaranteed by tlhe preliminaries and prolong his own power in France; partly to of the peace with England, had been induced. bhv a L LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 317 treaty kept studiously private from the British court, retain his office, not for ten years longer, but for the to cede her province of Guiana to France. These term of his life. By this juggling, the plroposal (f stipulations served to show, that there was no quar- tile Senate was set aside, and that assembly soon ter of the world in which France and her present found it wrisest to adopt the more liberal views sugruler did not entei tain views of aggrandizement, and gested by the consuls, to whoim they returned thanks, that questions of national faith would not be consi- for having taught them (we suppose) how to appredered too curiously when they interf;ered with their ciate a hint. purpose. The question was sent down to the lepartments. While Europe was stunned and astonished at tile The registers were opened with great folrm, as if the spirit of conquest and accumtlla;tion manifested by }.eople had really some constitutional right to exerthis insatiable conqueror, France was made aware (ise. As the subscriptions were received at tlhe that he was equally desirous to consolidate and to offices of the various functionaries of government,:t prolong his power, as to extend it over near and is no wonder, considering the nature of the questiol, distant regions. He was all, and more than all, that that the ministers with whom the registers were sovereign had ever been; but he still wanted tile title finally deposited were enabled to report a imajority and the permanence which royalty requires. To of three millions of citizens who gave votes ill the attain these was no difficult matter, when the first affirmative. It was much more sulrprising, that there consul was the prime mnove.r of each act, whether in should lhave been an actual minority of a few hunthe Senate or Tribunate; nor was le long of disco- dred determiined republicans, with Carnot at their vering proper agents eager to gratify his wishes. head, who answvered the question in the negative, Chabot de l'Allier took the lead in the race of This statessman observed, as he signed his vote, that adulation. Arising in the Tribunate, he pronounced a he was subscribilg his sentence of deportation; long eulogium on Bonaparte, enhanlcing the gratiturlde fionm which we may conjecture his opinion concerndue to the hero, by whomr France had been preserved ing the fairntess of this mode of consulting the people. and restored to victory. He, therefore, proposed Ile was mistaken notwithstanding. Bonaparte that the Tribunate should transmit to the Coanser- found hlimself so strong, that l-e could afibrd to be vative Senate a resolution, requesting the Senate to nerciful, and to assumne a show of impartiality, by consider the nianner of bestowing on Napoleon Bo- suffering those to go unp-unished who had declined naparte a splendid mark of the national gratitude. to vote for the increase of his power. There was no misunderstanding this hint. The He did not, however, veniture to propose to the motion was unanimously adopted, and transmitted people another innovation, which extended beyond to the Senate, to the Legislative Body, atld to the his death the power which their liberal gift had consuls. contintued dluring his life. A simple decree of the The Senate conceived they should best meet the Senate assigned to Bonaparte the rihllt of norminating demand now made upon themn, by electing Napoleon his successor, by a testamentary deed. So that first consul for a second space of ten years, to com- Napoleon might call his children or relatives to the mence when the date of the original period, for succession of the empire of Fiance, as to a private which he was named by the constitution, should inheritance; or, like Alexander, he might leave it expire. to the most favoured of his lieutenant-generals. To The proposition of the Senate being reduced into such a pass had the domination of a military chief; the form'of a decree, was intimated to Bonaparte, for the space of betwixt tYo and three years, rebut fell short of his wishes; as it assigned to him, dulced the fierce democracy and stubborn loyalty of however distant it was, a leriod at which he maust the two factions, wlhich seerned hefore that period be removed from authority. It is true, that thle to coumbat for the possession of France. Nal;oleon space of seventeen years, to which the edict of the had stooped on them both, like tile hawk in tilhe Senate proposed to extend his power, seemed to fab!e. guarantee a very ample duration; and, in point of The period at which we are now arrived, was a iact, before the term of its expiry arrived, he was most important one in Napoleon's life, and seemed prisoner at Saint Helena. But still there was a ter- a crisis on which his fate, and that of France, deruination, and that was enougll to mortify his ama- pended. Britain, his most inveterate and most sucbition. cessfil enemsy, had seen herself compelled by cirlie thanked the Senatej therefore, for this fresh cturstances to resort to the experiment of a dolbtfdll mark of their confidence, but eluded accepting it in peace, rather than continue a war which seemned to express terms, by referring to the pleasure of the be waged without an object. The severe checks to people. Their suffrages, he said, had invested him nuational prosperity, wvhich arose fiom the ruined with power, and he could not think it right to accept commerce and blockaded ports of France, mnight of the prolongation of that power but by their coI- now, under the countenance of the first consul, be sent. It might have been thought that. there was exchanged for the wealth that waits utpon trade and now nothing left but to present the decree of the amanufactures. Her navy, of which few vestiges Senate to the people. But the second and third were left save the Brest fleet, nlight now be reconstuls, Bonaparte's colleagues at a humble distance, cruited, and resume by degrees that acquaintance took it upon them, though the constitution gave them with the ocean fron which they had long been deno warrant for such a manceuvre, to alter the ques. barred. The restored colonies of France might have tion of the Senate, and to propose to the people one added to the sources of her national wealth, and she more acceptable to Bonaparte's ambition, requesting might have possessed-what Bonaparte on a retheir judgment, whether the chief consul should markable occasion declared to be the principal 318 LIFE OP NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. objects he desired for her —ships, colonies, and But he was now beginning to show that, from the commerce. tinles of Pyrrhus to his own, ambition has taken In his personal capacity, the first consul possessed more pleasure in the hazards and exertions of the all the power which he desired, and a great deal chase than in its successful issue. All the power more than, whether his own or thle country's welfare which Bonaparte alteady possessed seemed only was regarded, he ought to have wished for. His valuable in his eyes, as it afforded him the means victories over the foes of France. had, by their mere of getting as much more; and, like a sanguine and fame, enabled him to make himself master of her eager garester, he went on doubling his stakes at freedom. It remained to show-not whether Na- every throw, till the tide of fortune, which had so poleon was a patriot, for to that honourable name he long run in his ftavolr, at length turned against him, had forfeited all title when he first usurped unli- and his ruin was total. -lis ruling and predomlinatirng -miteid power-but whether he was to use the power vice was aimbitionl-we would have called it his only which lie had wrongfully acquired, like Trajan or one, did not amblition, when of a character intensely like Domitian. His stranlgely-mingled character selfish, include so manry others. showed traits of both these historical portraits, It seems the most natural course, in continuing strongly opposed as they are to each other. Or our history, first to trace those events which disaprather, he might seem to be like Socrates in the al- pointed the general expectations of Europe, and, after legory, alternately influenced by a good and a male- a jealous and feverish armistice of little more than a!volent demonl; the fobrmer marking his course with year, again renewed the horrors of wvar. WVe shall actions of splendour and dignity; while the latter, then resume the internal history of France and her mastering human frailty by means of its prevailing rtler. foible, the love of self, debased the history of a hero, Altho-ugh the two contracting powers had been by actions and sentiments worthy only of a vulgar able to agree upon the special articles of the peace tyrant. of Amiens, they possessed extremely different ideas concerning the nature of' a state of';acification in general, and the relations which it establishes between two independent states. The English amiDiflerent views entertained by the English ministers and nister, a man of the highest personal worth and the chief consul of t/ie eticts of the trecay d' Aniens;- probity, entertained no doubt that peace was to Napoleon, mnisled tby the s.outs of a Lond(on ntob, mis- have its usual effect, of restoring all the ordinary iunderstafnds tlhefee,irgs of the people qf Great Britain. anticable intercourse betwixt France and England; -His colntinued enc'roa cohenls on the indelpendence of and that, in matters concerning their mutual allies, Europe-Flis condlctto Srwitzerland-ItterfJres in their and tile state of the European republic in general, po.'ilics, and sets hinmself tp, ttuninited, as mediator in the latter country, on sheathing the sword, had retheir concerns —Iis extraordinaary maenifesto address- tained the right of firiendly counsel and renmonstrance. ed to tohem.-Ney ecaters Swit-zerlaned at th'e heed of MAfr Addington could not hope to restore the balance 40,000) nmen —The patriot, Reding, disbands hias orces, ad40,00 enprio-Ted.-Sriot, z ng, isbcom eds hitos forcesh of Europe, for which so munch blood had been spilled and i imprisoned. —Sititzerland is compelled to furnish. France wilh a sbasidiary armny of 16,000 troops.-Thle in tile 18th century. The scales and beams of that chief cornstul adopts the itle oJf Grantd Mediator of the balance were broken into fragments, and lay under Helvetic Repeb.'ic. the feet of Bonaparte. But Britain did'not lie, prostrate. She stiil grasped in her hand the trident THIs eyes of Europe were now fixel on Bona- of the oceanI, and lhad by no event, in the late parte, as master of the destinies of the civilized contest, been reduced to surrender the right of world, which his will could either maintainll n a state remonstrating against violence and injustice, and of of general peace, or replunge into all the miseries protecting tle feeble, as far as circumstances wvould tf renewed and more inveterate war. Many hopes still permit. were entertained, from his eminent personal quali- But Bonaparte's idea of the effects of the treaty ties, that the course in which le wotld direct them of Atniens wvas very different. It was, according Iriglht prove as honourable to himself as happy for to his estimation, a treaty, containing everything the nations over whomrt he now possessed such un- that Britain was entitled to expect on the part of houndned influence. The shades of his character herself and her allies, and the accepting of which were either lost amid the lustre of his victories, or excluded hel fromr all ftarther right of interference in excused fronm thle necessity of his situation. The the affhirsofE-urope. It was like a botndigchlarter, massacre of Jaffa was little known, was acted afar which restricts the right of the l erson to whonr it is off, and might present itself to memory as an act of granted to the precise limits therein described, and military severity, which circumstances might pal- precludes the possibility of his making either clainl liate, if not excuse,. or acquisition beyond them. All Europe, then, was Napoleon, supposing him fully satiated with mar- to be at the disposal of France, and states created, tial glory, in which he had never been sulrpassed, dissolved, changed, and re-changed at her pleasure, was expected to apply himself to the arts of peace, unless England could lay her finger on the line in ty which he might derive fame of a more calm, yet the treaty of Amiens, which prohibited the proposed not less honourable character. Peace was all around measure. "England," said the Moniieur, in an him, and, to preserve it, he had only to will that it official tone, " shall have the treaty of Amiens, the shoull continue; and the season seemed eminently whole treaty of Amiens, and nothing but the treaty propitious for taking the advice of Cineas to the of Amiens!" In this manner the treaty was, so far Kingr ofEpirus, and reposing himrself after his labours. as England was concerned, understood to decide, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. g p I and that in favour of France, all questions which secret treaty with Portugal, he had acqllired the cocld possibly arise in the course of future time be province of Guiana, so far as it belonged to that tween the two countries; while, in ordinary candour, power. By another with Spain, he had engrossed and in common sense, it could be only considered as the Spanish part of Louisiana, and, what was still settling the causes of animosity between the parties, more ominous, the reversion of the Duchy of Partna, as they existed at the date of the pacification. and of the island of Elba, important as an excellent The insular situation of England was absurdly naval station. alleged as a reason why she should not interfere in In the German Diet, for settling the indemnities continental politics; as if the relations of states to to be granted to the various princes of the empire each other were not the same, whether divided by who had sustained loss of territory in consequence an ocean or a line of mountains. The very circum- of late events, and particularly of the treaty cf stance had been founded upon eloquently and justly Lun6ville, the influence of France predominated inl by one of her own poets, for claiming for Britain the a manner which threatened entire destruction to office of an umpire,* because less liable to be agitat- that ancient confederation. It may be in general ed by the near vicinity of continental war, and more observed, that towns, districts, and provinces, were likely to decide with impartiality concernlig con- dealt from hand to hand like cards at a gamingtending claims, in which she herself could have table; and the powers of Europe once more, after little interest. It was used by France in the sense the partition of Poland, saw with scandal the goof' another poet, and made a reason for thrusting vernment of freemen transferred from hand to hand, England out. of the European world, and allowing without regard to their wishes, aptitudes, and haher no vote in its most important concerns.t bits, any more than those of cattle. This evil imiTo such humiliation it was impossible for Britain tation of an evil precedent was fraught with misto submit. It rendered the treaty of Amiens, thus chief, as breaking every tie of affection betwixt the iuterpreted, the counterpart of the terms which the governor and governed, and loosening all attachCyclops granted to Ulysses, that he should be the ments which bind subjects to their rulers, excepting last devoured. If Britain were compelled to remain, those springing from force on the one side, and with fettered hands and padlocked lips, a helpless necessity on the other. and inactive witness, while France completed the In his transfer of territories and jurisdictions, the subjection of the Continent, what other doom could King of Prussia obtained a valuable compensation she expect than to be finally subdued? It will be for the Duchy of Cleves, and other provinces transseen afterwards that disputes arose concerning the ferred to France, as lying on the left bank of the execution of the treaty. These, it is possible, might Rhine. The neutrality of that monarch had been of have been accommodated, had not the general in- the last service to France during her late bloody terpretation, placed by the first consul on the whole campaigns, and was now to be compensated. The transaction, been inconsistent with the honour, safe- smaller princes of the empire, especially those on ty, and independence of Great Britain. the right bank of the Rhine, who had virtually It seems more than probable, that the extreme placed themsulves under trhe patronage of France, rejoicing of the rabble of London at signing the were also gratified With large allotments of territory; preliminaries, their dragging about the carriage of whilst Austria, whose pertinacious opposition was Lauriston, and shouting "Bonaparte for ever!" had well remembered, was considered as yet retaining misled the ruler of France into an opinion that peace too high pretensions to power and independence, was indispensably necessary to England; for, like and her indemnities were as much limited as those other foreigners, misapprehending the nature of our of the friends of France were extended. popular government, he may easily enough have The various advantages and accessions of povwer mistaken the cries of a London mob for the voice of and influence which we have hitherto alluded to, as the British people. The ministers also seemed to attained by France, were chiefly gained by address keep their ground in Parliament on condition of in treating, and diplomatic skill. But shortly after their making and maintaining peace; and as they the treaty of Amiens had been signed, Bonaparte showed a spirit of frankness and concession, it might manifested to the world, that where intrigue wlas be misconstrued by Bonaparte into a sense of weak- unsuccessfuil, his sword was as ready as ever to supness. Had he not laboured under some such irn- port and extend his aggressions. pression, he would probably have postponed, till The attack of the Directory on the Swviss Cantons the final pacification of Amiens, the gigantic steps had been always considered as a coarse and gross towards farther aggrandizement, which he hesitated violation of the law of nations, and was regarded as not to take after signing the preliminaries, and dur- such by Bonaparte himself. Bat he failed ncet to ing the progress of the congress. maintain the military possession of Switzerland by We have specified. in the last chapter, Napoleon's the French troops; nor, however indignant under acceptance of the Presidency of the Cisalpine Re- the downfal of her ancient fame and present li. public, on which he fiow'bestowed the name of berties, was it possible for that country to offer any Italian, as if it was designed at a future time to resistance, without the certainty of total destruc. comprehend the whole peninsula of Italy. By a tion. The eleventh article of the treaty of Luneville I Thrice happy Britain, from the kingdoms rent, seemed to afford the Swiss a prospect of escaping To sit the Guardian of the Continent. from this thraldom, but it was in words only. T'lhat ADDISON. treaty was declared to extend to the Batavian, Ileit - pentus tote divisos orbe Britanraos. vetic, Cisalpine, and Ligurian Republics. "The _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ -. Wi bfi0 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. contracting parties guarantee the independence of forest and mountain regions, in which the Swiss the said republics," continues the treaty, " and the have least degenerated from the simple and hardy right of the people who inhabit them, to adopt what manners of their ancestors. A civil war immediform of government they please." WVe have seen ately broke out, in the course of which it was seen, how far the Cisalpine Republic profited by this de- that in popularity, as well as patriotism, the usurpclaration of independence; the proceedings respect- ing Helvetic government, established by French ing Swoitzerland were much more glaring. interest, was totally inferior to the gallant foresters.'There was a political difference of opinion in the These last were guided chiefly by the patriotic Swiss cantons, conicerning the form of government Reding, who strove, with undmnted though ultito be adopted by them; and the question was so- mately with vain resolution, to emancipate his unlein-ly agitated in a diet held at Berne. The ma- fortunate country. The intrusive government were jority inclined for a constitution framed on the prin- driven from Berne, their troops everyw};ere routed, ciple of their ancient government by a federative and the federative party were generally received league, and the plan of such a constitution was ac- with the utmost demonstrations of joy by their cordingly drawn tp and approved of. Aloys Red- countrymen, few adhering to the usurpers, exceptinl, renowned for wisdom, courage, and patriotism, ing those who were attached to them by views of was placed at the head of this system. He saw the emolument. necessity of obtaining the countenance of France, But while Reding and the Swiss patriots were i:n order to the fiee enjoyment of the constitution triumphing in the prospect of restoring their ancient wh-lich his countrymen had chosen, and betook constitution, with all its privileges and immunities, himself to Paris to solicit Bonaparte's consent to the strong grasp of superior power was extended to it. This consent was given, upon the Swiss govern- crush their patriotic exertions. ment agreeing to admit to their deliberations six per- The fatal tidings of the proposed forcible intersons of the opposite party, who, supported by the ference of France were made known by the sudden French interest, desired that the constitution should arrival of Rapp, aide-de-camp of Bonaparte, with be one. and indivisible, in imitation of that of the a letter addressed to the eighteen Swiss cantons. Frenclh Republic. This manifesto was of a most extraordinary nature. Thls coalition, formed at the first consul's re- Bonaparte upbraided the Swiss with their civil quest, terminated in an act of treachery, which Bo- discords of three years' standing, forgetting that naparte had probably foreseen. Availing themselves these discords would not have existed but for the of an adjournal of the diet for the Easter holidays, invasion of the French. He told them that, when the French party summoned a meeting, from which he, as a boon granted, had been ilelsed to withthe other members were absent, and adopted a form draw his troops firom their country, they had immeof constitution which totally subverted the prin- diately turned their arms against each other. These ciples of that uncder which the Swiss had so long are singular propositions enough to be found in a lived in freedom, happiness, and honour. Bonaparte proclamation addressed by one independent niation congratulated them on the wisdom of their choice. to another. But what follows is still more extraIt was, indeed, sure to meet his approbation, for it ordinary. " You have disputed three years, %without was completely sulbversive of all the old laws and understanding one another; if left to yourselves, forms, and so might receive any modification which you will kill each other for three years miore, withhis policy should dictate; and it was to be adminis- out coniing to any better result. Your history shows tered of course by men, who, having risen under his thlat your intestine wars cannot be termlinated withinfluence, must necessarily be pliant to his will. out the efficacious intervention of France. It is Having made'his compliments on their being pos- true, I had resolved not to interllneddle vith your sessed of a free and independent constitution, he aff:irs, having always found that youer various gosignified his willingness to withdraw the troops of vernments hase applied to mne for ad\ ice which they France, and did so accordiingly. For this equitable never meant tof1ll'low, and have sometimnes m Iiade a nieasure mich gratitude was expressed by the bad use of my name to favoulr their own private Swiss, which minght have been saved, if they had interests and passions. B3ut I cannot relmlin insenknown that 3onaparte's policy rather than his gene- sible to the distress of which I see you tile prey-I rositv dictated his proceedings. It was, in the first recal my resolution of neutrality — conllsent to be place, his business to assume the appearance of the niediator of your differences. But amy mediation leaving the S;wiss in possession of their freedom; shall be effectual, as becomes the great niation in secondly, lie was sare that events would presently whose name I address you." happen, when they should be left to themselves, This insulting tone, with which, uninvit d, and which would aflird a plausible pretext to justify his as if granting a favour, the chief consul took uIton armed interference. him, as a matter of course, to exercise tlhe most The aristocratic cantons of the ancient Susiss arbitrary power over a firee and independent people, League were satisfied.with the constitution finally is equally remarkable at'the close of the manifesto. aduopted by the French party of their country; butt'The proclamation commands, that a deputation be not so the democratic, or small cantons, who, rather sent to Paris, to consult with the chief consul; and than submit to it, declared their resolution to with- concludes with an assertion of Bonaparte's' right draw from the general league, as new-modeled to expect that no city, community, or public body, by the French, and to form under their own ancient should presume to contradict the measures which it laws a separate confederacy. This was to consist might )lease him to adopt." To support the reasonof the cantons of Scrweitz, Uri, and Underwalden, ing of a manifesto which every schoolboy might have LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 221 confuted, Ney, with an armly of forty thousand men, by sending an envoy (Mr Moore) to thile Diet of entered Switzerland at different points. Schweitz, to inquire by what means she could give As the presence of such an overpowsering force assistance to their claims of independence; but, ere rendered resistance vain, Aloys Reding, and his his arrival, the operations of Ney had rendered all gallant companions, were compelled to dismiss their farther resistance imnpossible. A remonstrance was forces after a touching address to them. lThe Diet also made by England to the French government of Schweitz also dissolved itself; in consequence of upon this unprovoked aggression on the liberties of tlhe interference, as they stated, of an armed force of an independent people. But it remained unanswered foreigners, whom it was impossible.. in the exhaust- and unnoticed, unless in the pages of the loniteur, ed state of the country, to oppose. where the pretensions of Britain to interfere with Switzerland was thus, once more, occupied by the the afftairs of the Continent were held up to ridicule French soldiers. The patriots, who had distin- and contempt. After this period, Bonapalte adopted, guished themselves in asselting her.'ights, were and continued to bear, the title of Grand Mediator sought after and imprisoned. Aloys Redlirg was'of the Helvetian Republic, in token, doubtless, of urged to conceal himself, but lie declined to do so; the right which he had assumed, and effectually and when upbraided by the French officer who canme exercised, of interfering in their affairs whenever it to arrest him, as being the llead of the insurrection, suited him to do so. lie ans;wered nobly, "I have obeyed the call of conscience and my country-do you execute the colmmandlsll of yor' master." He was impfrisoned in CHAPTER XLIII. tile Castle of Aarsl)urg't'he resistance of thlese worthy patriots, their Increasing jealousies betwixt France and Entgland —Addicallum, dimgl;fietd, and nlalily condluct, their simple tional encroachments and offences on the part of the nlldl afllectmirn' plleas agaitlst oler-niastering violence, former.-Singulear instructions given by the first consul thought thuev failed to procure the adantages which to his coomntercialagents in British ports.-Orders issued their country, avere,no.ost t the 1by the Eslglish mtinisters, for the expulsion f fallpersons thlev hopled for their country, were not lost to the #they h,,o', ed,_'or tlteir ollntr, f.oi, ot.ost to the acting unter them.- V'iolence of the press on. both sides world, or to the cause of freedom.. Their pathetic of the Channel.-Peltier's celebrated royalist publicacomllaintllt, when perused in many a remote valley, lion, l'Amliigu.-Bonapartc answers through the Rloniexcited detestation of French usurpation, in bosoms teur.-Mlonsieur Otto's rote of' remlonstrance- Lord sfwhich had hitherto contented themselves with Hawkesbury's reply.-Peltier tried for a libel against regarding' tle x ictories of the republic with wonder, the first contsul —found CGuilty-but not brought utp for it' not with admiration. For other aggressions, sentence.-Napoleon's continued displeasure.-Angry the hurry of r-evolution, the extrenlity of war, the discussions respecting tAe treaty of' Aidens —Malta.strong compullsion of necessity might he pleaded; Ofensive report f Geteral Sbastianl-Resolittion of the hitt tlhat uplson.Swvitzerland wras as gratulitouls nd BBritish government int consequence.-Conferences beirooked it sas neariously unst. The name twixt Bonaparte and Lord Whlitworth.-The kiy sends Unprovoked as it was nefariously unjust. The name of the cantolns, connected with so many recollec- a messxge to pcrlictnent, denandin- additional aid. Bonaparte quarrels with Lord lWhitworth at a leveetiols of ancient faith and bravely, hardy simplicity, P articulars- Resentment of Enrland pot w this occasion. andl nanly fieedom, gave additional interest to the -Farther discussions concerning M3alta.-Beasons why suflieri;gs of' such a country; and no one act of his Bonaparte might desire to break off negotiations.-Brih public li i did Bonapar te so much injury throughout tain declares war against France on 18th May, 1803. Elrope, as his conduct towards Switzerland. T'Ihe dignified resistance of the Swiss, their re- THESE advances towards universal empire, made nwnll flor courage, and the policy of not thwarting during the very period when the pacific measures thenm too ftar, fhad some effect on the chief consul adopted by the preliminaries, and afterwards conhlilself, anid in the final act of mnediation, by which firmed by the treaty of Amiens, were in the act of lie saved themi t te farther trouble of taking thought being carried into execution, excited the natural abomut their own constitution, he permitted fede- jealousy of the people of Britain. They had not r;llisum to remnain as an integral principle. By a been accustomed to rely much on the sincenity of the.-ubsequent defe-nsive treaty, the cantons agreed to French nation; nor did the chatacter of its present refulse all passag, throuigh tile country to the enemies chief, so full ofanmbition, and so bold and suiccessfil of France. and engaged to mnaintain an army of a in his enterprises, incline them to feelings of greater f'ev thousand mnen to guarantee this engagenment. security. On the other hand, Bonaparte seemls to Switzerland also filrnishmed France with a su bsidiary have feilt as matter of personal offence the jealousy arlny of sixteen thousand men. to be maintainled at which the British entertained; and instead of sooththe expense of the French government. Bat the firm- ing it, as policy dictated, by concessions and conness which these mountaineers showed in the course fidence, lie shlowed a disposition to repress, or at of discutssinmg this treaty was such, that it saved least to punish it, by measures which indicated anger theml fiom having the conscription imposed on them, and irritation. There ceased to be any cordiality of as in other counltries tinder thle dominion of France.:intercourse betwixt the two nations, and they began Notwithstanding these qualifications, however, it to look into the conduct of each other for causes of was evident tilht the volitntary anld self elected Me- offence, rather than for the means of removing it. diator of Switzerland was in fact sovereign of that The English had several subjects of complaint country, as well as of France and the north of Italy; against France, besides the general encroachments but there was no voice to interdict this formlidable which she5 had continued to make on the liberties of accumulation of power. England alone interfered, Europe. A law had been made during the times of'OL. i. 41 3242 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. the wildest jacobinism, which condemned to forfei- Consuls thus nominated had reached Britain, but tare every vessel under a hundred tons burthen, car- had not, in general, occupied the posts assigned to rying British merchandise, and approaching within them, when the British government, becoming inlour leagues of France. It was now thought proper, formed of the duties they were expected to perform, that the enforcing a regulation of so hostile a cha- annomunced to them that any one who might repair racter, made during a war of unexampled bitterness, to a British seaport under such a character, should should be the first fruits.of returning peace. Several be instantly ordered to quit the island. Thle secrecy British vessels were stopped, their captains impri- with which these agents had been instructed to soned, their cargoes confiscated, and all restitution conduct themselves was so great, that one Faulvelet, refused. Some of these had been driven on the to whom the office of commercial age:nt at at Dublin French coast unwillingly, and by stress of weather; had been assigned, and who had reached the place but the necessity of the case created no exemption. of his destination before the nature of the aptointAll instance there was, of a British vessel in ballast, I ment was discovered, could not be found out by which entered Charente, in order to load with a some persons who desired to make an aflidavit becargo of brandy. The plates, knives, forks, etc. fore him as Consul of France. I1 can be no wonder used by the captain, being found to be of British that the very worst impression was made on the manufacture, tile circumstance was thought a saffi- public mind of Britain respecting the filrther projects cient apology for seizing the vessel. These aggres- ofher late enemies, when it was evident that they sions, repeatedly made, were not, so far as appears, availed themselves of the first moments of returnremnedied on the most urgent remonstrances, and ing peace to procure, by an indirect and most susseemed to argue that the French were already acting picious course of proceeding, that species of informon the vexatious and irritating principle which often ation which would be most useful to. France, and precedes a war, but very seldom immediately most dangerous to Britain, in the event of a refollows a peace. The conduct of France was felt newed war. to be the more unreasonable and ungracious, as all While these grievances and circumstances of susrestrictions on her commerce, imposed during the picion agitated the English nation, the daily press, war, had been withdrawn on the part of Great which alternately acts upon public opinion, and is Britain so soon as the peace was concluded. In reacted upon by it, was loud and vehement. The like manner, a stipulation of the treaty of Amiens, personal character of the chief consul wvas severely providing that all sequestrations imposed on the pro- treated; his measures of self-aggrandizemlent aoperty of French or of English, in the twocontending raigned, his aggressions on the liberty of France, countries, should be removed, was instantly cornm- of Italy, and especially of Switzerland, held lup to plied with in Britain, but postponed and dallied with opefi day; while every instance of petty vexation on the part of France. and oppression practised upon British commerce (or The above were vexatious and offensive measures, British subjects, was quoted as expressing his deep intimating little respect for the government of Eng- resentment against the only country which ipossessed land, and no desire to cultivate her good-will. They the will and the power to counteract his acquiring wvere perhaps adopted by the chief consul, in hopes thie universal dominion of Europe. of inducing Britain to make some sacrifices in order There was at this period in Britain a large p)artl to obtaillfronm his tavour a commercial treaty, the of French royalists, who, declining to rettirn to advantages of which, according to his opinion of the France, or falling tinder the ex;ceptions to the amEnglish nation, was a boon calculated to make them nesty, regarded Bonaparte as their pelsonal enemy, quickly forgive the humtiliating restrictions from as well as the main obstacle to the restoration of which it would emancipate their trade. If this were the Bourbolns, to which, hut for him only, the people any part of his policy, he was ignorant of the nature of France seemed otherwise more disposed tihan at of the people to whom it was applied. It is the any timie since the commencement of the Revolusluggishl ox alone that is governed by a goad. But tion. These gentlemen found all able and active what gave the deepest offelnce and most lively alarm advocate of their cause in Monsieur Peltier, an einito Britain, was, that while Bonaparte declined grant, a determuined royalist, and a man of that ready affording the ordinary facilities for English coan- wit and vivacity of talent which is peculiarly calmerce, itwas hispurpose, nevertheless, toestablish culated for periodical writing. Hie had opposed a commercial agent in every port of the British the democrats during the early days of the Revoludominions, whose ostensible duty was to watch over tion, by a publication termned the Acts of the that very trade which the first consul showed so Alpostles; in which he held up to ridicule alnd exelittle desire to encourage, hut whose real business cration the actions, pretensions, and princiljues of resembled that of an accredited and privileged spy. their leaders, with such success as induced Brissot Thlese official persons were not only, by their in- to assert. that he had done more harmu to the restructions, directed to collect every possible infor- publican cause than all tile allied armies. At the mation on commercial points, but also to furnish a present crisis, he connmenced the publication of a plan of the ports of each district with all the sound- weekly paper in London, in tile French language, ings, and to point out with what witld vessels could go called l'Arnbigu. The decoration at the top of the out and enter with most ease, and at what draught sheet was a head of Bonaparte, placed on the body of water the harbour might be entered by ships of of a Slhinrx. This ortlament being objected to after burthen. To add to the alarming character of such the first two or three numbers, the Sphinx appeara set of agents, it was found that those invested ed with the neck truncated; but, being still decked with the office were military men and engineers. with the consular emblems, continued to intimate LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 323 emblematically the allusion at once to Egypt, and published in the French papers, was held to express to the ambiguous character of the first consul. The the personal sentiments of the chief consul, who columns of' this paper were dedicated to the most thus, by destroying the freedom of the French press, severe attacks upon Bonaparte and the French go- had rendered himself answerable for every such vernment; and as it was highly popular, from the license as it was permitted to take. general feelings of the English nation towards both, It became speedily plain, that Bonaparte could it was widely dispersed and generally read. reap no advantage from a contest in which he was The torrent of satire and abuse poured forth from to be the defendant in his own person, and to mainthe English and Anglo-Gallican periodical press, tain a literary warfare with anonymous antagonists. was calculated deeply to annoy and irritate the per- He had recourse, therefore, to a demand upon the son against whom it was chiefly aimed. In England British government, and, after various representawe are so much accustomed to see characters the tions of milder import, caused his envoy, Monsieur most unimpeachable, nay, the most venerable, as- Otto, to state in an official note the following distinct sailed by the daily press, that we account the indi- grievances:-First, the existence of a deep and vidual guilty of folly, who, if he, be innocent of continued system to injure the character of the first giving cause to the scandal, takes it to heart more consul, and prejudice the effect of his public rmeathan a passenger would mind the barking of a dog, sures, through the medi;um of the press: Secondly, that yelps at every passing sotld. But this is a sen- the permission of a part of the princes of the house timent acquired partly by lhabit, partly by our know- of Bourbon, and their adherents, to remain in Engledge, that unsubstantiated scandal of this sort makes land, for tile purpose (it, was alleged) that they no impression on the public mind. Such indiffer- might hatch and encourage schemes against the life ence cannot be expected on the part of foreigners, and government of the chief consul. It was therewho, in this particular, resemble horses introduced fore categorically demanded, 1st, That the British fiom neighbouring counties into the precincts of forest government do put a stop to the publication of the districts, that are liable to be stung into madness by abuse complained of, as affecting the head of the a peculiar species of gad-fly, to which the race French government. 2d, That the emigrants rebred in the country are from habit almost totally siding in Jersey be dismissed from England-that indifferent. the bishops who had declined to resign their sees If it be thus with foreigners in general, it must'be also sent out of the country —that Georges Cabe supposed that from natural impatience of cen- doudal he transported to Canada-that the princes sure, as well as rendered susceptible and irritable by of the house of Bourbon be advised to repair to his course of uninterrupted success, Napoleon Bo- Warsaw, where the head of their family now renaparte must have winced under the animated and sided-and, finally, that such emigrants who contisustained attacks upon his person and government, nued to wear the ancient badges and decorations of which appeared in the English newspapers, and the French court, be also compelled to leave EngPeltier's Ambigit. He attached at all times, as we land. Lest the British ministers should plead, that have already had occasion to remark, muchiimport- the constitution of their country precluded them ance to the influence of the press, which in Paris from gratifying the first consul in any of' these dehe had taken under his own especial superintend- mnands, Monsieur Otto forestalled the objection, by ence, and for which he himself often conde- reminding them that the Alien Act gave them full scended to compose or correct paragraphs. To be power to exclude any foreigners front Great Britain assailed, therefore, by the whole body of British at their pleasure. newspapers, almost as numerous as their navy, To this peremptory mandate, Lord Hawvkesbury, seems to have provoked him to the extremity of his then minister for foreign affairs, instructed the Bripatience;and resentment of these attacks aggravated tish agent, Mr Merry, to make a reply, at once the same hostile sentiments against England, wahich, firm and conciliatory; avoiding the tone of pique froio causes of suspicion already mentioned, had and ill temper which is plainly to be traced in the begun to be engendered in the British public against French note, yet maintaining the dignity of the nation France and her ruler. he represented. It was observed, that, if the French Napoleon, in the meantimne, endeavoured to an- government hadreason to complain of the license of swer in kind, and the cohltnns of the Moniftezer ad the English journals, the British government had lumany an angry and violent passage directed against no less right to be dissatisfied with the retorts andl 3,oldand. Answers, replies, and rejoinders passed recriminations which had been poured out from those rapidly across the Channel, inflaming and atgment- of Paris; and that there wvas this remarkable feature ing the lostile spirit, reciprocally entertaineld by the of difference betwixt them, that tile Englishl mitwo countries against each other. But there was nistry neither had, could have, nor wished to have, this great disadvantage on Bonaparte's side, that any control over the freedom of the British press; while the English might justly throw tile blame of whereas the Monsitetur, in which the abuse of Eng'this scandalous warf:are on the license of a fi-ee landl had appeared, was the official organ of the press, the chief consul could not transfer the re- French government. But, finally upon this point, sponsibility ofthe attack on his side; because it was the British monarch, it was said, would make no universally known, that the French periodical publi- concession to any foreign power, at the expense of cations being under the most severe regulations, the freedom of the press. If what was pulblished nothing could appear in them except what had re- was libelous or actionable, tile printers and pubceived the previous sanction of the government. lishers were open to punishment, and all reasonable Every attack upon England, therefore, which was facilities would be afforded for prosecuting them 324 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. To the demands so peremptorily urged, respecting while the fire was returned from the English side of the emigrants, Lord IHawkesbury replied, by special the Channel, with double vehemence and tenfold answers applying to the different classes, but summed success. T'hese were ominous lprecursors to a state up in the general argument, that his majesty neither of peace, and more grounds of misunderstanding encouraged them in any scheme against the French were daily added. government, nor did he believe there were any The new discussions related chiefly to the execusuch in existence; and that while these unfortunate tion of the treaty of Amiens, in which the English princes and their followers lived in conformity to government showed no promptitude. Most of the the laws of Great Britain, and without affording na- French colonies, it is true, had been restored; but tions with whom she was at peace any valid or suf- the Cape, and the other Batavian settlements, above ficient cause of complaint, his majesty would feel it all, the island of Malta, were still possessed by the inconsistent with his dignity, his honour, and the British forces. At common law, if the expression common laws of hospitality, to deprive them of that may be used, England was bound instantly to reprotection, which individuals resident within the deem her engagement, by ceding these possessions, British dominions could only forfeit by their own and thus fulfilling the articles of tile treaty. In misconduct. equity, she had a good defence; since in policy, for To render these answers, being the only reply herself and Europe, she was bound to decline the which an English minister could have made to the cession at all risks. demands of France, in some degree acceptable to The recent acquisitions of France on the Continent Bonaparte, Peltier was brought to trial for a libel afforded the plea of equity to which we have alluded. against the first consul, at the instance of the at- It was founded on the principle adopted at the treaty torney-general. He was defended by Mr Mackin- of Amiens, that Great Britain should, out of her contosh (now Sir James), in one of the most brilliant quests over the enemy's foreign settlements, retain speeches ever made at bar or in forum, in which the so much as to counterbalance, in some measure, the jury were reminded, that every press on the Con- power which France had acquired in Europe. This tinent was enslaved, from Palermo to Hamburg, principle being once established, it followed that the and that they were now to vindicate the right we compact at Amiens had reference to the then existhad ever asserted, to speak of men both at home ing state of things; and since, after that period, and abroad, not according to their greatness, but France had extended her sway over Italy and Piedtheir crimes. mont, England became thereby entitled to retain arn The defendant was found guilty; but his cause additional compensation, in consequence of France's might be considered as triumphant.* Accordingly, additional acquisitions. This was the true and every part of the proceedings gave offence to Bo- simple position of the case; France had innovated naparte. He had not desired to be righted by the upon the state of things which existed when the English law, but by a vigour beyond the law. The treaty was made, and England might, therefore, in publicity of the trial, the wit and eloquence of the justice, claim an equitable right to innovate upon advocate, were ill calculated to soothe the feelings the treaty itself, by refusing to make surrender of' of Bonaparte, who knew human nature, and the what had been Plromised in other and very different character of his usurped power, too well, to suppose circumstances. Perhaps it had been better to fix that public discussion -could be of service to him. upon this obvious principle, as the ground of declinHe had demanded darkness, the English govern- ing to surrender such British conquests as were not ment had answered by giving him light; he had yet given up, unless France consented to relinquishI wished, like those who are conscious of flaws in the power which she had usurped upon the Contitheir conduct, to suppress all censure of his mea- nent. This, however, would have produced instant sures, and by Peltier's trial, the British ministers war; and the ministers were naturally loth to had made the investigation of them a point of legal abandon the prospect of prolonging the peace which necessity. The first consul felt the consciousness had been so lately established, or to draw their pen that he himself, rather than Peltier, was tried be- through the treaty of Amiens, while the ink with fore the British public, with a publicity which could which it was written was still moist. They yielded, not fail to blaze abroad the discussion. Far from therefore, in a great measure. The Cape of Good conceiving himself obliged by the species of atone- Hope and the Dutch colonies were restored, Alexanment which had been offered hini, he deemed the dria was evacuated, and the ministers confined their offence of the original publication was greatly ag- discussions with France to the island of Malta only; gravated, and placed it now directly to the account and, condescending still farther, declared themof the English ministers, of whom he could never selves ready to concede even this last point of dis be made to understand, that they had afforded him eussion, providing a sufficient guarantee should be the only remedy in their power. obtained for this important citadel of the MediterThe paragraphs hostile to England in the Moni- ranean being retained in neutral hands. The order feur were continued; an English paper called The itself was in no respect adequate to the purpose; Argus, conducted by Irish refilgees, was printed at and as to the proposed Neapolitan garrison (none of Paris, under permission of the government, for the the most trust-worthy in any case), France, by her purpose of assailing Britain with additional abuse, encroachments in Italy, had become so near and so formidable a neighbour to the King of Naples, that, + He was never brought up to receive sentence, our by a threat of invasion of his capital, she might have quarrel with the French having soon afterwards come to compelled him to deliver up Malta upon a very brief an absolute rupture. notice. All this was urged on the part of Britain. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 32) The French ministry, on the other hand, pressed for Malta, until his majesty had received the most literal execution of the treaty. After some diplo- ample satisfaction for this new and singular aggresmatic evasions had been resorted to, it appeared sion..as if the cession could be no longer deferred, when While things were thus rapidly approaching to a a publication appeared in the Moniteur, which rupture, the chief consul adopted the unusal resoluroused to a high pitch the suspicions, as well as the tion, of himself entering personally into conference indignation, of the British nation. with the British ambassador. He probably took The publication alluded to was a report of Gene- this determination upon the same grounds which ral Sebastiani. This officer had been sent as the dictated his contempt of customary forms, in enteremissary of the first consul, to various Mahomme- ing, or attempting to enter, into direct corresponddan courts in Asia and Africa, in all of which it ence with the princes whom he had occasion to seemis to have been his object, not only to exalt thie treat with. Such a deviation from the established greatness of his master, but to misrepresent and mode of procedure seemed to mnark his elevation degrade the character of England. He had visited above ordinary rules, and would afford him, he might Egypt, of which, with its fortresses, and the troops think, an opportunity of bearing down the British that defended them, he had made a complete sur- ambassador's reasoning, by exhibiting one of those vey. He then waited upon Djezzar Pacha, and bursts of passion, to which he had been accustomed gives a flattering account of his reception, and of to see most men give way. the high esteem in which Djezzar held the first It would have been more prudent in Napoleon to consul, whom he had so many reasons for wishing have left the conduct of the negotiation to I'alleywell to. At the Ionian Islands, he harangued the rand. A sovereign cannot enter in person upon natives, and assured them of the protection of Bo- such conferences, unless with the previous determinaparte. The whole report is full of the most hos- nation of adhering precisely and finally to whatever tile expressions towards England, and accuses Ge- ultimatum he has to propose. He cannot, without neral Stuart of having encouraged the Turks to as- a compromise of digtlity, chaffer or capitulate, or sassinate tie writer. Wherever S6bastiani wrent, he even argue, and of course is incapable of wielding states himself to have interfered in the factions and any of the usual, and allost indispensable weapons quarrels of the country; lie inquired into its forces; of negotiators. If it was Napoleon's expectation, renewed old intimacies, or made new ones with lead- by one stunning and emphatic declaration of his ing persons; enhanced his master's power, and was pleasure, to beat down all arguments, and confound liberal in promises of French aid. EIe concludes, all opposition, he would have done wisely to rethat a French army of six thousand men would be menmber, that he was not now, as in other cases, a sufficient to conquer Egypt, and that the Ionian general upon a victorious field of battle, dictating Islands were altogether attached to the French terms to a defeated enemy; but was treating upon interest. a footing of equality with Britain, mistress of the'The publication of this report, which seemed as if seas, possessing strength as formidable as his own, Bohaparte were blazoning forth to the world his though of a different character, and whose prince arnaltered determnination to persist in his eastern and people were f:ar more likely to be incensed than - projects of colonization and conquest, would have intimidated by any menaces which his passion might rendered it an act of treason in the English ministers, throw out. if; by the cession of Malta, they had put into his The character of the English ambassador was as land, or at least placed within his grasp, the readiest nmfavourable for the chief consul's probable purpose, means of carrying into execution those gigantic as that of the nation he represented. Lord Whitschemes of ambition, which had for their ultimate, worth was possessed of great experience and sagaperhaps their ml)st desired object, the destruction of city. His integrity and honour were undoubted; the Indian commerce of Britain. and, with the highest degree of courage, lie had a As it were by way of corollary to the gasconading calm and collected disposition, admirably calculated journal of S6bastiani, an elaborate account of the to give him the advantage in any discuission with aln forces and natural advantages of France was pub- antagonist, of a fiery, impatient, and overbearing lished at the same period, which, in order that temper. there might be no doubt concerning the purpose of We will make no apology for dwelling at unusual its appearance at this crisis, was summed up by the length on the conferences betwixt the first consul express conclusion, "'trhat Britain was unable to and Lord Whiitworth, as they are strikingly illulscontend with France single-handed." This tone of trative of the character of Bonaparte, and were in defiance, officially adopted at such a moment, added their consequences decisive of his fate, and that of nBot a little to tile resentment of the English nation, the world. not accustonied to decline a challenge or endure an Their first interview of a political nature took insult. place in the Tuileries, 17th February, 180)3. BonaThie cOurt of Britain, on the appearance of this parte, having announced that this meeting was for Report on the State of France, together with that of the purpose of" nmaking his sentiments knownv to the S&bastiani, drawn tip and subscribed by an official King of England in a clear and authentic nlainer," agent, containing insinuations totally void of founda- proceeded to talk incessantly for the space of' nearly t4on, and disclosing intrigues inconsistent with the two hours, not without considerable incoherence, preservation of peace, anid the objects for which his temper rising as he dwelt on the alleged cauises peace had been made, declared that the king would of complaint which he preferred against England, enter into loo thither discussion on the subject of though not so much or so incautiously as to rmaLe 326 LIFE OF NAPOLEON 8ONAPARTE. him drop the usual tone of courtesy to the ambassador. the negotiation was in dependence. You have ino He complained of the delay of the British in right to rectr to them at this time of day." To the evacuating Alexandria and Malta; cutting short all hint of indemnities which might he allotted to Engdiscussion on the latter subject, by declaring hel land out of the general spoil of 1Eulrope, if she would as soon agree to Britain's possessing the would cultivate the fi'indship of Bonaparte, Lord suburb of St-Antoine as that island. lie then re- Whitworth nobly answered, that the King of Briferred to the abuse thrown upjon him by the English tain's ambition led hiln to preserve,what was his, papers, but more especially by those French jour- not to acquire that which belonged to others. They nals published in London. I-e affirmed that Georges parted with civility, bhlt with a conviction on Lord and other Chotan chiefs, whom he accused of Whitworth's part, that Bonaparte would never designs against his life, received relief or shelter in resign his clairn to the possession of'ialta. England; and that two assassins had been appre- The British ministry were of the samne opinion; hended in Normandy, sent over by the French emi- for a message was sent down by his majesty to the grants to maurder him. This, he said, would be House of Commons, stating, that he ihad occasion publicly proved in a court of justice. From this fobr additional aid to enable him to defend his domipoint he diverged to Egypt, of which he affirmed nions, in case of an encroachment on the part of he could make himself master whenever he had a France. A reason was given, which injured tilhe mind; but that he considered it too paltry a stake cause of the ministers, by p)lacing the vindication of to renew the war for. Yet, while on this subject, their measures upon simulated grounds;-it was he suffered it to escape him, that the. idea of re- stated, that these apprehensions arose firom naval covering this favourite colony was only postponed, preparations in the diftelrent ports of France. No not abandoned. "'Egypt," lie said, "must sooner such preparations had been complained of duin'm the or later belong to France, either by the falling to intercourse between the ministers of France and pieces of the Turkish government, or in consequence England,-in truth, none such existed to allny conof some agreement with the Porte." In evidence siderable extent,-and in so far, the British iniof his peaceable intenitions, he asked, what he nisters gave the advantage to the French, by nlot should gain by going to war, since he had no means resting the cause of their country oii tle just anid of acting offensively against England, except by a true grounds. All, however, wvere sensible. of the descent, of which he acknowledged the hazard in real merits of the dispute, wlhih Nwere grounded the strongest termis. The chances, he said, were on the grasping and inordinate aumbition of tile a hundred to one against him; and yet he declared French ruler, and the sentiments of dislike aind that the attempt should be made if he vere now irritation with which he seemed to regardl Grcat obliged to go to war. He extolled the power of Britain. both countries. The army of France, he said, should The charge of the pretended naval preparationls be soon recruited to four hundred and eighty thous- being triumphantly refuted by France, Talleyrand and men; and the fleets of England were such as was next employed to place before Lord W\Vhitwvorthl he could not propose to match within the space of the means which, in case of a rupture, France posten years at least. United, the two countries right sessed of wounding Englandl, not directly, indeed, govern the world, would they but understand each but through the sides of those states of Europe whom other. Had he found, he said, the least cordiality she would most wish to see, if not absolutely indeon the part of England, she should have had in- pendent, yet inoppressed by milital7 exactior3a. demnities assigned her upon the Continent, treaties "It was natural," a note of this statesman asserted, of commerce, all that she could wish or desire. " that Britain being armed in consequenice of the But lie confessed that his irritation increased daily, king's message, France should arm also —that shn C'since every gale that blew fiorom England, brought should send an ariiiy into Hlollandl-form an ens nothing but enmity and hatred against him." campment on the frontiers of Hanover-contillue tc He then made an excursive digression, in which, maintain troops in Swvitzerland-nmarch others to th:e taking a review of the nations of Europe, he con- south of Italy, and, finally, forIm encanlpmient:, tended that England couldl hope for assistance upon the coast." All these threats, excepting thli firom none of them in a war with France. In the last, referlred to distant anld to neutral nations, wvli total result, he demanded the instant implement of were not alleged to have themselves given an; the treaty of Amiens, and the suppression of tlhe cause of complaint to France; but who were nowu abuse in the English papers. War was the alter- to be subjected to military occupation and exaction, native. because Britain desired to see tlheml happy and inDuring this excursive piece of declaumation, which dependent, and because harassing and( oppressing the first consul delivered with great rapidity, Lord them must be in proportion nnpleasing) to her. I. Wh-itworth, notwithlstanding the interiiew lasted was an entirely new principle of warlike policy, two hours, had scarcely time to slide in a few which introduced the oppression of unoffending and] words in reply or explanation. As lie endeavoured neutral neighltours as a legitimate mnode of carrying to state the newv grounduhs of mIristruist which induced on war against a hostile powver, against whom there the King of Englan(d to demand nllre advantageots was little possibility of uIsing measures directly of terms, in consequence of the accession of territory fensive. and iniflence whuich France had lately Inde, Na- Shortlv after this note had been lodged, Bonapoleon interrupted bim-" I suplpose you mean pa te, incenised, at the message of the king te Piedmont and Swiitzerland-thley are trifling cc. parliament, seemis to liave thored the scheme o) currences, which ulliSst h:ave been foreseen whille bringing the lprotracted negotiations betwixt France LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 327) and England to a point, in a time, place, and man- ment or caprice, the fate of Europe at this important ner, equally extraordinary. At a public court held crisis unhappily depended. In'England, the interat the Tuileries, on the 13th March, 1803, the chief view at the Tuileries, where Britain was held to be consul came up to Lord aTWhitworth in considerable insulted in the person of her ambassador, and that agitation, and observed aliond, and within healing in the presence of the representatives of all Europe, of the circle,-" You are then determined on war?" greatly augmented the general spirit of resentment. -and, without attending to the disclamations of the Talleyrand,? to whom Lord Whitworth applied English ambassador, proceeded,-" We have been for an explanation of the scene which had occurred, at war for fifteen years-you are determined on only answered, that the first consul, publicly af hostility for fifteen years more-and you force me fronted, as lie conceived himself, desired to exculto it." He then addressed Count Marcow and the pate himself in presence of the ministers of all the Chevalier Azzara-"'The English wvish for wvar; powers of Europe. The question of peace or war but if they draw the sword first, I will be the last came now to turn on the subject of Malta. The to return it to the scabbard. They do not respect retention of this fortress by the English could infer no treaties, which henceforth we must cover with black danger to France; whereas, if parted with by tlheml crape!" He then again addressed Lord Whit- under an insecure guarantee, the great probability worth-" To what purpose are these armaments?- of its falling into the hands of France, was a subject Against whom do you take these measures of pre- of the most legitimate jealousy to Britain, whlo must caution? I have not a single ship of the line in any always have regarded the occupation of Malta as a port in France-But if you arm, I too will take up preliminary step to the recapture of' Egypt. There arms-if you fight, I will fight-you may destroy seemed policy, therefore, in Napoleon's conceding Fl-ance, but you cannot intimidate her." this point, and obtaining for France that respite, "We desire neither the one nor the other," which, Vwhile it regained her colonies and recruited answered Lord Whitworth, calmly.-" WVe desire her commerce, would have afforded her the means to lire with her on terms of good intelligence." of renewing a navy, which had been almost totally Y"ou must respect treaties then," said Bona- destroyed during the war, and consequently of parte, sternlv. "' TWoe to those by whom they are engaging England, at some future and propitious enot respected! They will be accountable for the time, on the element which she called peculiarly her consequences to all Europe." own. It was accordingly supposed to be Talleyrand's So saying, and repeating his last remark twice opinion, that, by giving way to England on the over, lie retired from the levee, leaving the whole subject of Malta, Napoleon ought to lull her suspincilrcle smrprised at the want of decency and dignity cions to sleep. which had given rise to such a scene. Yet there were strong reasons, besides the miliThis remarkable explosion may be easily ex- tary character of Bonaparte, which might induce the plained, if' we refer it entirely to the impatience of a first consul to break off negotiation. His empire fiery temper, rendered, by the most extraordinary was founded on the general opinion entertained of train ef success, morbidly sensitive to any obstacle his inflexibility of purpose, and of his unvaied sucwhich interfered with a favourite plan; and, doubt- cess, alike in political objects as in the field of battle. less, it is not the least evil of arbitrary power, that Were lie to concede tIe principle which England lie who possesses it is naturally tempted to mix up now contested with him in the face of Europe, it his own feelings of anger, revenge, or mortification, would have in a certain degree derogated from the in ffalirs which ought to be treated under the most pre-eminence of the situation he claimed, as autocrat calim and impartial reference to the public good ex- of the civilized world. In that character le could.luisively. But it has been averred by those who not recede an inch from pretensions which he had 1nd best opportunity to know Bonaparte, that the once asserted. To have allowed that his encroachfits of violenit passion which he sometimles displayed, ment on Switzerland and Piedmont rendered it newere less the bursts of inrepressed and constitu- cessary that he should grant a compensation to tional irritability, than means previously calculated England by consenting to her retention of Malta, upon to intimidate and astound those iwith whom he would have been to grant that Britain had still a was treating at the time. There may, therefore, right to interfere in the affairs of the Continenlt, and have been policy amid the first consul's indignation, to point her out to nations disposed to throw off the and he may have recollected, that the dashing to French yoke, as a power to whose mediation lie still pieces Cobentzel's china jar in the violeit scene owed sonle deference. These reasons were not withwhich preceded the signing of tile treaty of' Campo out force in themselves, and, joined to the natural Forriio,* was completely successful in its issue. impetuosity of Bonaparte's temper, irritated and'l But the condition of Britain was very different from stuing by the attacks in the English papers, had their that of Austria, and lie might have broken all the weight probably in inducing him to give way to that porcelain at St-Cloud without making the slightest sally of resentmsent, by wvhich he endeavoured to cut impression on the equanimity of Lord Whitworth. short the debate, as he would have brought up his This" angry parle," therefore, went for nothing, guard in person to decide the fate of a long-disputed unless in so far as it was considered as cutting off action. the faint remaining hope of peace, and expressing Some lingering andl hopeless attempts were nmade I the violent and obstinate temper of the individual, to carry on negotiations. rThe English ministry upon whose pleasure, whether originating in jud(gA See Appendix, No. 4 —"Instructions by Napoleon to * See page 236. Talleyrand, Prinlce of Beneventumn." 328 LIFE OF NAPOIEON BONAPARTE. lowered their claim of retaining Malta in perpetuity, bravest, who had fallen without a wound, and void to the right of holding it for ten years. Bonaparte, of renown. on the other hand, would listen to no modification of The negroes, left to themselves, divided into difthe treaty of Amiens, but offered, as the guarantee ferent parties, who submitted to tile au:hority of atforded by the occupation of Neapolitan troops was chiefs, more or less independent of each other, objected to, that the garrison should consist of Rus- many of whoum displayed consi(lerable talent. Of sians or Austrians. To this proposal Britain would these tile principal leader was Toussaint Louverture, not accede. Lord WVhitworth left Paris, and, on who, after waging war like a savage, appeals to have the 18th Mlay, 1803, Britain declared war against used the power which victory procured him with France. much political skill. Although himself a negro, he. Before we proceed to detail the history of this had the sagacity to perceive how impartant it was eventfil strugpgle, we amust cast our eyes backwards, for the civilization of his subjects, tlt they should and review some events of inlmportance which had not be deprived of the opportunities of knowledge, happened in France since tile conclusion of tile and examples of industry, afforded them by the treaty of Anmiens. white people. He, therefore, protected and encouraged tihe latter,' and established, as an equitable CHAPT'ER XLIV. regulation, that the blacks, now ifreemen, should nevertheless continue to labour the plantations of Retrospect.-St Doimingo-The Negroes, victorious over the white colonists, while the produce of the estate the WIhites and Mulattoes, split into parties ulnder dif- should be divided in certain proportions betwixt the ferent chieJs-'T'ossaint Louverture the nmost distin- white proprietor and the sable cultivator. guished oJ these-His plansjor the anlelioratiol of his The least transgressions of these regulations ihe suljects-App~,ints, in oitation of France, a consular. snjcts-Apits, indsnitation ef Fperanie, ag cnstaSr punished with African ferocity. On one occasion, governl*ent.-France sedtls cot expedtition against St Domlingo, zndler General Leclerc, i Decemtber, SO1, a white female, the owner of a plantation, had been wdiChL is aSnCCdSSfl, c1c Totssairnt slis-fter a lmurdered by the negroes by whom it was laboured, briefinterlal, he is sent to France, where he ties under and who had formerly been her slaves.'otoussaint the hardships of confinemrent.-The French, visited by marched to the spot at the head of a party of his yellowlfever, are assaulted by the Negroes, anld war is horse-guards, collected the negroes belonging to canred on oj'nelv woith tdreadjcflfury.-Leclerc is cult off the plantation, and surrounded thenm with his black by the ldistemper, and is sUcceeded by Rochambeau..- cavalry, who, after a very brief inquiry, received'he French finally obliged to capitulate to an English orders to charge and cut them to pieces; of which squadron, on Ist December, 1803.-Bonaparte's schene order our informant witnessed the execution. His,to consolidate his power at hoime.-The Consular Guard unrelenting rigour, joined to his natural sagacity, augmented to 6,000 men-Description of it.-Legion r oon raised Tossaint to the chef command of the Hsonour-Account of it-Oppositioneformed, on thepros- soad and beuavaile hief of the ciple of the English one, against the consular govern- island; and he availed himself of the maritime ment.-They oppose the establishnment of' the Legion of peace, to consolidate his authority by establishing a Honour, which, however, is carried.-Application to constitution on the model most lately approved of the Cotunt ele Provence (Loutis XVIII.) to resign the in France, which, being that of the year Eight, concrown —Rtejected. sisted of a consular government.'Toussaint fililed not, of course, to assume the supreme government Wx IEN the treaty of Amiens appeared to have to himself, with power to name his successor. The restored peace to Europe, one of Bonaparte's first whole was a parody on the procedure of Bonapiarte, enterprises was to attempt the recovery of the which, doubtless, the latter was not highly pleased French possessions in tile large,,rich, and valuable with; for there are many cases in which an imlitaition colony of St i)olmliligo, the dlisasters of which is- by others, of the conduct we ourselves have held, land tbolorl a terrible episode il the history of is a matter not of complilent, but of the most severe the war. satire. The constitution of St Domingo wvas inThle convmulsions of the French Revolttion had stantly put in force, although, with an ostensible dereached St Dl)olingo, and, catchling like fire to com- ference to France, the sanction of her government bustibles, had bred a violent fetd between thle white had been ceremoniously required. It wvas evident people in thle island, and the nmulattoes, thle latter of that the African, though lnot innwillilg to ackljowwhom demanded to be admitted into the privileges ledge some nominal degree of sovereignty oil the alnd imInllrlities of the formler; tile newly established part of France, was determined to retain in his own rights of lenl, as they alleged, having no reference hands the effective government of the colony. But to the distinction of colour. While the whites this in no respect consisted with the iplalls ofl'Boand the people of colour wvere thus engaged in a naparte, who was impatient to restore to France civil war, thie nlego slaves, the mlost oppressed and those possessions of which the British naval supemost numerous class of thIe plopulation, arose against riority had so long deprived her-colonies, shippling, both parties, and rendered the whole island one and commllnerce. scene of bloodshed and conflagration. The few A powerlful expedition was fitted out at the harplanters whllo remained invited the support of the boulrs of Brest, Lorient, and Rochefort, destined to British arms, which easily effected a temporary con- restore St Dollmingo in fiull subjection to thie French quest. But tile European soldiery perished so fast enmpire. The fleet amounted to thirty-four ships throigh tile influence of the climate, that in 1798, bearing forty guns and mpwards, with more than the English were glad to abandon an island, which twenty frigates and smaller armed vessels. They hatd proved thle grave of so mlany of their best and had on board above twenty thousand men, and Ge LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 329 neral Leclerc, the brother-in-law of the first consul quoted and referred to as one of the worst actions was named commander-in-chief of the expedition, of Bonaparte, who ought, if not in justice, in genehlaving a staff composed of officers of acknowledged rosity at least, to have had compassion on a man, skill and bravery. whose fortunes bore in many respects a strong simiIt is said that Bonaparte had the art to employ a larity to his own. It afforded but too strong a considerable proportion ofthe troops which composed proof, that though humanity was often in Napoleon's the late army of the Rhine, in this distant expedi. mouth, and sometimes displayed in his actions, yet tion to an insalubrious climate. But he would not its maxims were seldom found sufficient to protect permit it to be supposed, that there was the least those whom he disliked or feared, firom tile fate danger; and he extrcised an act of family authority which tyranny most willingly assigns to its victims, on the subject, to prove that such were his real that of beingsilently removed fiolm the living world, sentiments. His sister, the beautiful Pauline, after- and inclosed in their prison as in a tomb, fi-om which I wards the wife of Prince Borghese, showed the no complaints can be heard, and where they are to utimost reluctance to accompany her present hus-. await the slow approach of death, like men who are band, General Leclerc, upon the expedition, and literally buried alive. only went on board when actually compelled to do The perfidy with which the French had conducted so by the positive orders of the first consul, who, themselves towards Toussaint was visited by early although she was his favourite sister, was yet better vengeance. That scourge of Europeans, the yellow contented that she should share the general risk, fever, broke out among their troops, and in an inthan, by remaining behind, leave it to be inferred credibly short space of time swept off General Lethat he himself augured a disastrous conclusion to clerc, with many of his best officers and bravest the expedition. soldiers. The negroes, incensed at the conduct of The armament set sail on the 14th of December, the governor towards Toussaint, and encouraged 1801, while an English squadron of observation, by the sickly condition.f the French army, rose uncertain of their purpose, waited upon and watch- upon them in every quarter, A species of war ened their progress to the West Indies. The French sued, of which we are thankfull it is not our task fleet presented themselves before Cape Francois on to trace the deplorable and ghastly particulars. The the 29th of January, 1802. cruelty which was perhaps to be expected in the Toussaint, summoned to surrender, seemed at savage Afiicans, just broke loose from the bondagd first'inclined to come to an agreement, terrified of slavery, communicated itself to the civilized probably by the great force of the expedition, which French. If the former tore out their prisoners' time and the climate could alone afford the negroes eyes with corkscrews, the latter drowned their capany chance of resisting. A letter was delivered to tives by hundreds, which inmitation of Carrier's rehim from the first consul, expressing esteem for his publican baptism they called " deportation into the person; and General Leclerc offered him the most sea." On other occasions, numerous bodies of nefavourable terms, together with the situation of groes were confined in hulks, and there smothered lieutenant-governor. Ultimately, however, Tous- to death with the fumes of lighted sulphur. The saint could not make up his mind to trust the French, issue of this hellish warfare was, that the cruelty of and he determined upon resistance, which lhe ma- the French enraged instead of terrifying their savage naged with considerable skill. Nevertheless, the antagonists; and at length, that the nnumbers of tile well-concerted military operations of the whites formler, diminished by disease and constant skirsoon overpowered fr the present the resistance of mishing, became unequal to the defence even of the Toussaint and his followers. Chief after chief sur- gar-ison-towns of the island, much more so to the rendered, and submitted themselves to General task of reconquering it. General Rochanmbeau, who Leclerc. At length, Toussaint Louverture himself succeeded Leclerc as comrmrander-in-chief; was seems to have despaired of being able to make fur- finally obliged to save the poor wreck of that fine ther or more effectual resistance. He made his army, by submitting at discretion to an English formal submission, and received and accepted Le- squadron, 1st December, 1803. Thus wvas the richest cl re's pardon, under the condition that he should colony in the West Indies finally lost to France. retire to a plantation at Gonaives, and never leave Remaining entirely in the possession of the black it - ithout permission of the commander-in-chief. population, St Domingo will show, in process of The French had not long had possession of' the time, how far the natives of Africa, having European colony, ere they discovered, or supposed they had civilization within their reach, a,-e capable of formdiscovered, sy-,ptoms of a consjiracy amongst the ing a state, governed by the usual rules of polity. negroes, and Toussaint was, on very slight grounds, While Bonaparte made these strong efforts tor accused as encouraging a revolt. Under this allega- repossessing France of this fine colony, it was not to tion, the only proof ot whicll was a letter, capable be supposed that he was neglecting the establishof an innocent interpretation, their unfortunate chief ment of'his own power upon a more firm basis. His was seized upon, with his whole family, and put on present situation was-like every other in lifeboard of a vessel b und t, France. Nothing, offi- considerably short of what he could have desired, cial was ever learned concerning his fate, fulrther though so infinitely superior to all that his most untlhan that he was imprisoned in the castle of Joux, reasonable wishes could at one time have aspired in Franche-Comt6, where the unhappy African fell to. He had all the real power of royalty, and, since a vicii.a to the severity of an Alpine climate, to the settlement of his authority for life, he had daily which he was unaccustomed, and the privations of assumed more of the pomp and circumstance with a close confinement. The deed has been often x~hich sovereignty is usually invested. The Tuileries VOL. VI. 42 330 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. were once mlr e surrounded with guards without, fame of Moreau, to whom a certain part of their and filled by levees within. The ceremonial of a number still adhered. The Consular Guard, a court was revived, and Bonaparte, judging of man- highly-privileged body of selected forces, was aug. kind with accuracy, neglected no minute observ- mented to the number of six thousand men. These ance by which the princes of' the earth are wont formidable legions, which included troops of every tb enforce their authority. Still there remained species of arms, had been gradually formed and inmnlch to be done. lie held the sovereignty only in creased upon the plan of the corps of guides %which the nature of a life-rent. He could, indeed, dispose Bonaparte introduced dlr'ing the first Italian camof it by will,. btt tile last wvills even of kings have paigns,* for immediate attendance on his person, been frequently set aside; and, at any rate, the pri- and for preventing such accidents as once or twice vilee C!omes short of that belonging to an hereditary had like to have bet:allen him, by unexpected encrown, which descends by the right of blood from counters with flying parties of the enemy. But the one possessor to another, so that in one sense it may guards, as now increased in numbers, had a duity be said to confer on the dynasty a species of immor- much more extended. They were chosen men, tality. Bonaparte knew also the virtue of names. taught to consider themselves as superior to the The title of chief consul did not necessarily infer rest of the army, and enjoying advantages in pay sovereigrn rights-it might signify everything, or it and privileges. When the other troops vere subject might signify nothing —in commyon launguage it in- to privations, care was taken th-at the guards should ferred alike one of the annual executive governors experience as little of them as possible, and that by of the Roman Republic, whose fiasces swayed the every possible exertion they should be kept in tile world, or the petty resident who presides over corn- highest degree of readiness for action. They \vere mercial affairs in a foreign seaport. There were only employed upon service of the utmost imlportno precise ideas of power or rights necessarily and ance, and seldom in the beginning of aln engageunalienably connected with it. Besides, Bonaparte ment, when they remained in reserve under the eve had other objiections to his present title of dignity. of Napoleon himself. It was usually by rueans of The title of first consul implied, that there were tswo his guard that the final and decisive exertion was others,-far, indeed, fi-om being co-ordinate with. made which marked Bonaparte's tactics, and so Napoleon, hut yet who occupied a higher rank on often achieved victory at the very crisis when it the steps of thle throne, and approached his person seemed inclining-to the enemy. Regarding themmore nearly, than he could have desired. Again, selves as considerably superior to the other soldiers, the word reminded the hearer, even ty the new and accustomed also to be under Napoleon's irnmode of its application, that it belonged to a govern- mediate command, his guards were devotedly atment of recent establishment, and of revoslutionary tached to him; and a body of troops of slch high origin, and Napoleon did not wvish to present such character might be considered as a formidable bulideas to the public mind; since that which was but wark around the throne whichl he meditated aslately erected might be easily destroyed, and tihat cending. which last arose out of the revolutionary cauldron The attachment of these chosen legions, and of might, like the phantoms which Lad preceded it, his soldiers in general, formed the foundation of give place in its turn to an apparition more potent. Bonaparte's power, who, of all sovereigns that ever Policy seemed to recommend to him, to have re- mounted to authority, nigllt be said to reign by dint course to the ancient model which Europe had been of victory and of his sword. 13t lie surrounded long accustomed to reverence; to adopt the formn of' hliisell' by anotlmer species of partisans. Thle Legion government best known and longest established of H:onour was destined to form a distinct and parthrough the greater part of the world; and, assum- ticllar class of privileged individluals, whom, by ing the title and rights of a monarch, to take his honours and bounties bestowed on them, he resolved place among tile ancient and recognized authorities to bind to his own interest. of Europe. This institution, which attainied considerable poIt was necessary to proceed with the utmost litical importance, originated in the custom which caution in this innovation, which, whenever accomr- Napoleon had early introduced, of' conferring on plishled, must necessarily involve the French people soldiers, of whatever rank, a sword, fiusee, or other in the notable inconsistency, of having murdered tie military weapon, in thle name of the state, as acdescendant of their old princes, committed a thou- knowledging and commemorating some act of pesand crimes, and suffiered under a nmass of misery, culiar gallantry. Thle influence of such public remerely because they were resolved not to permit the wavrds was of course very great. They encouraged existence of that crown, which was now to be placed those who had received them to make every effinrt on the head of a soldier of fortune. Before, there- to preserve tile character which they had thtusgained, fore, he could venture on this bold measure, in while they awakened t!le emllation of htundreds and which, were it but for very shame's sake, lie Imust thousands who desired similar marks of distinction. be certain of great opposition, Bonaparte endeavour- BIolaparte now folmed thle project of embodying ed, by every means in his power, to strengtlhen him- the persons who had merited such rewards into an self in his government. association, similar in many respects to those orders, The army was carefully newv-modeled, so as to or brotllerhoods of chivalry, with which, during f.the make it as Itmuch. as possible his own; and the imtiddle ages, the feudal sovereigns of Europe:mr. French soldiels, who regarded tlle power of Bona- roiludeid themselves, and which subsist t:) t.i;.9 ily, parte as thle frl'it of thleir own victories, were in general devtoted to his cai:se, notwsithstanding the See p. 197. .LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 33. though in a changed and modified form. These, most distinguished. These statesmen bad learned, however, have been uniformly created on thle feudal apparently, that it is better in human aflsirs to ait principles, and the honour they confer limited, or at that niinor degree of good which is practicable, supposed to be limited, to persons of' some rank and than to aspire to a perfection which is unattainable. condition; but the scheme of Bonaparte was to ex- In the opinion of most of them, the governmlent of tend this species of honourable distinction through Bonaparte was a necessary evil, without which, or all ranks, in the quality proper to each, as medals somethiing of the same strength, to control the fticto be distributed among various classes of the com- tions by which she was torn to pieces, France must munity are struck upon metals of different value, have continued to be a prey to a succession of suci but are all stamped with the same dye. The out- anarchical governments as had alleady almost 1ulines of the institurtion were these: — ined her. They, therefore, entertained none of tlhe The Legion of Hlonour was to consist of a great usual views of conspirators. They considered the Couincil of Adininistration and fifteen cohorts, each country as in the condition of a vwounded %warrior, of which was to have its own separate head quar- compelled for a short time to lay aside her priviters, in some distinguishied town of the Republic. leges, as lie his armiour; but they hoped, whlen Tihe Council of Administration was to consist of tile France had renewed hler strength and spirit by an three consuls, and four other members; a senatori, interval of repose, they mngilt see her, under better namely, a mienmber of the Legislative Body, a Iner- auspices than before, renew and assert her claims to ber of the Tribunate, and one of the Council of be free fiom military law. Meantime they held it State, each to be chosen by the body to which he their duty, proffessing, at the same tinme, thie highest belonged. Thle order mighlt be acquired by distin- respect to the government and its head, tile first guished merit, either of a civil or a military nature; consul, to keep alive, as far as -was permitted, the and various rules were laid down for thle mode of spirit of tile country, and oppose the encroachmnents selecting the members. of its ruler. They vere not lolng allowed to follow Tile first consul was, in right cf lis office, Cap- tlhe practical and useful path which they had sketchtain-general of the Legion, and President of the ed out; but the French debates were lnever so deCouncil of Administration. Every cohort was to cently or respectably conducted as during this peconsist of' seven grand officers, twenty command- riod. ers, thirty subaltern officers, and thiree l;hundred Tile opposition, as they may be called, had not and fifty legionaries. Their nomination was for life, objected to the re-appointlment of' Bonaparte to the and thleir appointments considerable. The grand consulate for life. Probably they were reluctant to officers enjoyed a yearly pension of 5000 francs; the have the appearance ofgivingl hlimpersonal orleance, comnmanders 2500; the officers 1000 francs; the were aware they would be too feebly sulpportedt, a;ld privates, or legionaries, 250. They were to swear' were sensible, that struggliog ftbr a point which tipon their honour to defend the governulent of could not be attained, was unlikely to lead to any France, and maintain the inviolability of her empire; good practical results. The institution of thie Legion to combat, by every lawful means, against the re- of Honour offered a better chance to try their neWv establishment of the feudal institutions; and to opposition tactics. colicur in maintaining the principles of liberty and Reederer, the orator, by whom the measure was equality. proposed to the Tribunate, endeavolred to place it Notwitlrstanding these last words, containing, in the most fa-ourrable light. It was founded, lie when properly understood, the highest political and said, upon the eighrty-seventh article of tile Constimoral truth, but employed in France originally to tutional Declaration, which provided thiat national cover the most abominable cruelties, and used mnore recompenses should be cortferred on thlose soldiers lately as mere words of course, the friends of liberty who hIad distinguislhed themselves in their country's were not to be blinded, regarding the purpose of service. HIe represented the proposed order as a this new inrstitution. - Their number was now much moral institution, calculated to raise to the Iighest limlited; but amidst tIeir weakness they had lis- tle patriotism and gallantry of tle Frenclh people. It teoed to thie lessons of prudence and experience, was a coin, lie said, of a value different from, and far and abandoning these high-swoln, illusory, and mrore precious thian that which was issued from the absurd pretensions, which had created such general treasury-a treasulre of a quality which could not be disturbance, seem ti have set themnselves seriously, debased, and of a quantity whlichi was inexhaustible, and at thle same time nloderately to work, to protect since the mine consisted in thle national sense of tihe cause of practical anl usefirl freedom, by such honour. resistance as the constitution still permitted themn to To this specious argument, it was replied by Roloiler, by ireans of the Tribunate and the Legislative lin and others, that tile law was of' a natulre danBody. gerous to public liberty. It was an abuse, they said, Anmong tihe statesmen who associated to form an of the constitutional article, on which it was alleged opposition, whicil, on the principle of the constita- to be founded, since it exhaasted at once, by tilhe tiourult opposition of Eungland, were to act towards creaitiorn of a nrumllerous corps, the stock of reynards tile executive governlnet rather as to arn erring whlicl: the article referred to hehld in firugal reserve firiend, whom thley desired to put right, than as an tOrecomulpenrse great actions as they shlould occmur. enermy, whom they Ineant to destroy, were Benjanmin If everythirng was given to remnrerate tnerits which Conistanlt, early distinguished by talent and elo- lad beern nlready uscertuine(l, lwlat stock, it uvas oluence, Chllnier, Savoye-Rollinu, Chauvelin, and asked, ren;:lilled fir con)mpensuating filtirre actions of sthers, amsong whiose nanues that of Carnrt uwrs grllanitry, exceptinrg tile chiatnce of;l tardy admlission |3S32 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. into the corps as vacancies should occur? But es- born. As a christian, I will fulfil those duties to mIly pecially it was pleaded, that the establishment of a last breath. As a descendant of Saint Louis, I will military body, distinguished by high privileges and i know by his example how to respect myself, even considerable pay, yet distinct and diffeiing from all were I in fetters. As the successor of Francis the the other national forces, was a direct violation of First, I will at least have it to say with hirn,'Ve the sacred principles of equality. Some reprobated have lost all excepting our honour!'" the intermixture of the civil officers of' the state in Such is the account which has been nliformily a military institution. Others were of opinion that given. by the princes of the house of Bourbon, conthe oath proposed to be taken was superfluous, if cerning this communication, which is said to hlave not ridiculous; since, how could the members of the I taken place on the 26th February, 1803. Bonaparte Legion of Honour be ilore bound to serve tile state, I has indeed denied that he was accessory to any such or watch over the constitution, than any other citi- transaction, ard has said truly enough, that an enzeuts; or, in what manner was it proposed they should deavour to acquire an interest in the Bourbons' title exert themselves for thiat purpose? Other arguiments by compromise, would have been an aldmission on were urged, but that which all felt to be the most his part that his own, flowing, as le alleged, friom cogent, was rather understood than even hinted at. the people, was imperfect, and needed repairs. This was tile immense additional strength which the Therefore, he denied having taken any step which first consul must attain, by having at his command could, in its consequences, have inferred suchl an the distribution of the new honours, and being thus admission. enabled to form a body of satellites entirely de- But, in the first place, it is not to be supposed that pendent upon himself, and carefully selected fiorn such a treaty would have been published by the the bravest and ablest within the realm. Bourbon family, unless it had been proposed by Tihe institution of the Legion of Hot!our was at Meyer; and it is equally unlikely that either lHalglength carried in the Tribunate, by a majority of witz or Meyer would have ventured on such a fifty-six voices over thirty-eight, and sanctioned in negotiation, excepting at the instigation of Bonathe Legislative Body by one hundred and sixty-six parte, who alone could make good the terms proover a hundred and ten. The strong divisions of posed on the one side, or derive advantage fro-r the the opposition on this trying question, showed high concessions stipulated on the other. Secondly, spirit in those who composed that party; but they without stopping to inquire how far the title which were placed in a situation so insulated and separated Bonaparte pretended to the supreme authority, was from the public, so utterly deprived of all constitu- of a character incapable of being improved by a tional egarantees for the protection of freedom, that cession of the Count de Provence's rights in his their resistance, however honourable to themselves, favour, it would still have continued an object of was totally ineflectual, and without advantage to the great political consequence to have obtained a sutrnation. render of' the claims of the house of Bourbon, which MAleanwlrile Bonaparte was deeply engaged in were even yet acknowledged by a very considerable intrigues of a different character, by means of which party within the kingdom. It was, therefore, worth he hoped to place the sovereign authority which lie while to venture upon a negotiation which mig'ht had acquired, on a footing less anomalous, and more have had the most important results, although, when corresponding with that of the other monarchs in it proved fruitless, we can see strong reasons for Europe, than it.vas at present. For this purpose Napoleon concealing and disowning his accession an overture was made by the Prussian mninister to a step, which might be construed as imlplying Haugwitz, through the medium of Monsieur de some sense of deficiency of his own title, and some Meyer, President of the Regency of Warsaw, degree of recognition of that of the exiled prince. proposing to the Count de Provence (since Louis It may be remarked, that, tup to this period, NaXVIII.), that he should resign his rights to the poleon had manifested no particular spleen towards crown of France to the successful general who the family of Bourbon. On the contrary, lie had occupied the throne, in which case the exiled princes treated their followers with lenity, and spoken with were to be invested with dominions in Italy, and decency of their own claims. But the rejection of restored to a brilliant existence. The answer of the treaty with Alonsieur Bonaparte, however moLouis was marked at once by moderation, sense, derately worded, has been reasonably supposed to and that firmness of character which corresponded have had a deep effect on his mind, and may have with his illustrious birth and high pretenrsions. "1 been one remote cause of a tragedy, for which it is do not confolnd Monsieur Bonaparte," said the impossible to find an adequate one-the inurder, exiled monarch, "with those who have preceded naarely, of the Duke d'Enghien. But before we him; I esteem his bravery and military talents; I approach this melancholy part of Napoleon's history, owe him good-will for many acts of his government, it is proper to trace the events which succeeded the for tile good which is done to my people I will al- renewal of the war. ways estee-m done to me. But he is mriistaken if he thinks that my rights can be made the subjects of CHAPTER XLV. bargain anid composition. The very step he is now adopting would go to establish them, colld they be Mfuttal feelings of Napoleon atd tIe British ntation, on otherwise called in question. I know not what mnay tie reueinal of the war.-First hostile neasucres on bot/h be the designs of God for myself and my family, but sides.-England lays an embargo on French/ vessels in.I am not ignorant of the duties imposed on me by her ports-Napoleon retaliates by detaining British zub.the rank in which it was his pleasure I should be iecta in France-E-fects of tkis unprecedented leastre. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 333 — Hanover and other places occupied by the French.- tending only to gratify his own resentment, and exScheme of invasion renewed.-Nature and extent of Na- tend the evils of war, already sufficiently nutrlerous. poleon:'s preparations.-Defensive measures of England. The English had, as is the universal customn, laitd -Reflections. an embargo on all French vessels in their ports, at the instant the war was proclaimed, alnd thle loss to THE bloody war which succeeded the short peace France was of course considerable. Bonaparte took of Amiens originated, to use the words of the satirist, a singular mode of retaliating, by seizing on the in high words, jealousies, and fears. There was no persons of thle English of every description, who special or determinate cause of quarrel, which could chanced to be at Paris, or travelingin the dominions be removed by explanation, apology, or concession. of France, who, trusting to the laws of good faith The English nation were jealous, and from the hitherto observed by all civilized nations, expected strides which Bonaparte had made towards universal nothing less than an attack upon their pertsonal power, not jealous without reason, of the farther fieedom. The absurd excuse at first set iup for this purposes of the French ruler, and demanded gua- extraordinary violation of hulmanity, at once, and of rantees against the encroschments which they ap- justice, was, that somle of these individuals migh;llt prehended; andl such guarantees he deemed it be- be liable to serve in the English militia, andl were neath his dignity to grant. The discussion of these therlefore to be corsidered as prisoners of war. But adverse claims had been unusually violent and in- this flimlsy pretext could not have excusedl the seiztemperate; and as Bonaparte conceived the English ing on the English of all ranks, conditions, and ages. nation to be his personal enemies, so they, on the The measure was adopted without the participation other hand, began to regard his power as totally of the first consul's nrinisters; at least we mlust incompatible with the peace of Europe, and inde- presume so, since Talleyrand himself elcou;aged pendence of Britain. To Napoleon, the English solne individulals to remain after the British abshaspeople, tradesmen and shopkeepers as he chose to sador had left Paris, with an assurance of satfety qualify them, seemed assuming a consequence in which he had it not in his power to make good. It Europe, which was, he conceived, far beyond their was tihe vengefill start of a haughty temper, tendered due. He was affected by feelings similar to those irritablle, as we have often stated, by uninterrupted with which Haman beheld Mordecai sitting at the prosperity, and resenlting, of conseq,,ence, resistance king's gate;-all things availing him nothing, while and contradiction, with an acuteness of ielilig apBritain held such a high rank amonlg the nations, proaching ts frienzy. without deigning to do hint reverence or worship. The individuals wvlo sffered tinder this capciciousc The English people, on the other hand, regarded and tyrannical act of arbitrariy power, were treated him as the haughty and proud oppressor, who had in all respects like pritsoners of war, anld confined to the will at least, if not the power, to root Britain prison as such, unless they gav e their parole to abide out from among the nations, and reduce them to a in certain towns assigned them, and keep within state of ignominy and bondage. particular limits. When, therefore, the two nations again arose to The mass of individual evil occasioned by this the contest, it was like combatants whose anger cruel measure wvas incalculablglreat. Twelve years, against each other has been previously raised to the a large proportion ofl humain liie, were cut fron- that highest pitch by mutual invective. Each had re- of each of these dotenus, as they were called, so f:ar course to the measures by-which their enemy could as regarded settied plan, or active exertion. Upon be most prejudiced. many, the interruption fe11 with'atal influlence, England had at her command the large means of blighlting all their hopes and prospects; others learned annoyance arising out of her immnense naval supe- to live only for tile passing day, and were thils deriority, and took her measures with the decision terred from habitual study or usefuil indnst'y. Tile which the emergency required. Instant orders were most tender bonds of aftection were broken asunder dispatched to prevent the cession of such colonies by this despotic sentelnce of imprisonument; the trost as yet remained to be given up, according to the fatal inroads were made on fitnmily feelings by this treaty of Amiens, anld to seize by a coarp-de-nsain long separation between children, and htusballds, such of the French settlements as had beeni ceded, and wives-all the nearest and dearest domestic reor were yet occupied by her. France, on the other lations. In short, if it was Bonaparte's desire to hand, in consequence of her equally great superiority inflict the highest degree of pain oin a certain number by land, assembled upon her extensive line of sea- of persons, only because t'hey were born in isritain, coast a very numerous army, with which she appear- lie certainily attained his end. It lie hoped, to gailt ed disposed to make good her rnler's threats of in- anything farther, he was completely buifietd; anl | vasion. At the same tnime, Bonaparte occupied with- when lie hypocritically imlnputes the sffti'l-itq's of tho out ceremony the territory of Naples, Holland, and dbitens to the obstinacy of the English min.ilstly, his such other states as Britain must have seen in his reasoning is the same with that of' a captlin u Itshands with feelings of keen apprehension, and thus lian bandidtti, who mn'lders his prisoner, and throws made good the previous menaces of Talleyrand in the blame of the crimne on the friel ds of the dceceased, his celebrated note. - who failed to send the ransorn at which lie had:rated But besides carrying to the utrmost extent all the his life. Neither is his vindication more reasonable, means of annoyance which the ordinary rules of hos- when he pretends to say that the measure was taken tility afford, Napoleon, going beyond these, had re- in order to purevent England, on futlure occasions, Course to strange and unaccustomed reprisals, un- from seizing, accorditlg to ancient usage, on the known as yet to the code of civilized nature, and shipping in her ports. This outrage must therefore 334 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. be recorded as one of those acts of wanton wil- the French failed not to make a furither use of their fulness in which Bonaparte indulged his passion, at invasion of Gernmany, by laying forced loans on the the expense of his honour, and, if rightly understood, Hanseatic towns, and other encroachments. of his real interest. IThe Prince Royal of Denmrark was the only soveThe detention of civilians, unoffending and de- reign who showed an honourable sense of these outfenceless, was a breach of those courtesies which rages, by assembling in Holstein an army of thirty lought to be sacred, as mitigating the horrors of war. thousand men; but, being unsupported by any other The occupation of Hanover was made in violation power, he was soon glad to lay aside the attitude of the Germanic Constitution. This patrimony of which he had assrumed. Austria accepted, as curour kings had in former wars been admitted to the rent payment, tile declaration of France, that by benefit of neutrality; a reasonable distinction being her occupation of Hanover she did not intend any taken betwixt the Elector of Hanover, as one of the act of conquest, or annexation of territory, but grand feudatories of the empire, and the same person merely proposed to retain the Electorate as a pledge in- his character of King of Great Britain; in which for the isle of Malta, which the English, contrary, latter capacity only he was at war with France. as was alleged, to tile tafith of treaties, refused to Biut Bonaparte was not disposed to recognize these surrender. Prussia, naturally dissatisfied at seeing metaphysical distinctions; nor were any of the the aggressions of France extend to the neighbourpowers of Germany in a condition to incur his dis- hood other own territories, was nevertheless obliged pleasure, by asserting the constitution and immunities to rest contented with the same excuse. of the empire. Austria had paid too deep a price The French ruler did not confinle himself to the fbr her former attempts to witllstand the power of occupation oft'lanover.'arentum., and other seaports France, to permit her to extend her opposition of the King of Naples's dominions, were seized beyond a feeble remonstrance; and Prussia had too upon, under thle same pretext of their being a pledge long pursued a temporizing and truckling line of for the restoration of Malta. In fact, by thus quarpolitics, to allow her to break shortwith Napoleon, tering hi.s troops upon neutral territories, by whom by endeavouring to merit the title her monarch once he took care that they should be paid and clothed, claimed, —-of protector of the North of Germany. Napoleon made the war support itselt; and spared Every thing in Germany being thus favourable to France tile burthen of maintaitning a great proporthe views of France, Mortier, who had allready as- tion of his immense army; while large exactions, sembled an army in Holland, and on the fi.or!tiers of not only on the commercial towns, but on Spain, Germany, moved forward on Hanover. A consider- Portugal, and Naples, and other neutral countries, able force was collected for resistance, under his in the name of loans, filled his treasury, and enabled Royal Highness the Dake of Cambridge, and Gene- him to carry on the expensive plans which hie moeral WValmoden. It soon appeared, hovever, that, ditated. left to their own resources, and' absolutely unsup- Any one of the separate manoeuvres which we ported either by England or the forces of tile eni- have nmentioned would, before this eventful wvar, pire, the Electorate was incapable of resistance; have been considered as a sufficient object for a and that any attempt at an ineffectual defelnce would long camrpaign. But the %whole united was regarded Auly serve to aggravate tile distresses of the coun- by Bonaparte only as side-blows, affecting Britain try, by subjectilug the inhabitants to the extremities indirectly through tile occupation of her monarchl' s of war. In compassion, therelb're, to the Hanove- family domrinions, the embarrassment offered to her mians, the Duke of Cambrildge was induced to leave coimumserce, and the destruction of such independence the hereditairy dominions of his flther's house; and as had bee n left to the continental powvers. lHis General \.allcloden had the mortification to find great and decisive game renmained to be playedhimself ohliged to enter into a convention, by which that scheme of invasion to vtwhich lie had so strongly the capital of the Electorate. and all its strong-holds, pleldged litnself in llis angry dialogue with Lord were to be delivered lup to the French, arid the \Vlitwtorthll. [ere, perhaps, if ever in his life, Ifanoverian army wlere to. retire behind the Elbe, Bonaparte, froti considerations of prudence, suffered son condition nlt to serve against France and her the pe iod to elapse vliich would liave nttorded tie allies till previously exclcanged. best chan;ce for execution of his venturols prqiect. The 13ritish government having refilsed to ratify It rsatst be in the memory of most wvho recollect this convention of' Slhlingen, as it was termed, the tlhe period, that the kingdom of Great Britain Nwas Hanoverian army were samnimcned to surrender as seldomn less proviiled against invasion tlian at the prisoners of war; thard termls, wvlich, upon the de- commencement of this second war; and that an etiternfined resistance of Waalmoden, wvere only tllis barkation front the ports of 1lolland, if undeltaken far softenled, that tlrese tried and ftitthful troops instantly after the war had broken out, might have were to be disbanded, anid deliver uip their arms, escaped our blockading sqltadrons, and have at least artillery, hoIrses, and military stores. In a letter to sl-hown what a French aruiy could have done on the first consul, Mortier declares that he granted British ground, at a moment whler the alarm was these miti.gated terms from respect to the rlisfor- general, and tile country in an unprepared state. tunes of a brave enemy; and mentions, in a tone of But it is probable that Bonaparte himself was as creditable feeling, the distress of General WValmo- much unprovided as England for the sudden breach den, and the despair of the fine regiment of Hano- of the treaty of Amiens, an event brought about more verian guards, whell dismiututing from thleir horses by tIhe influence of passion than of policy; so that its to surrender them up to thle French. consequences were as unexpected in hi.s calcllat ions At the same time that they occupied Hanot er, as in those of Great Britain. Besides, Ihe hadl not LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 335 diminished to himselfthe dangers ofthe undertaking, ment of their arms. Other classes of men were by which he most have staked his military renown. embodied, and destined to act as pioneers, drivers his power, which he held chiefly as the conse- of waggons, and in the like services. On a saudden, quence of his reputation, perhaps his life, upon a the land seemed converted to aln immense camp, desperate game, -which, thoughll he had already the whole nation into soldiers, and the good ol(1 kilng twice contemplated it, he had not yet found hardi- himself into a general-in-chief. All peacefill consihood enough seriously to enter upon. derations appeared for a time to be thrown asidel He now, however, at length bent himself, with the and the voice, calling the nation to defend their whole strength of his mind, and the whole force of dearest rights, sounded not only in parliament, and his empire, to prepare for this final and decisive un- in meetings convoked to second the measures of dedertaking. The gnn-boats in the Bay of Gibraltar, fence, but was heard in tle places of public amtusewhere calms are frequent, had sometimes in the ment, and mingled even with the voice of devotion course of the former war been able to do consider- -not unbeconmingly surely, since to defend our able damage to the English vessels of war, when country is to defend our religion. they could not use their sails. Such snlall craft, Beacons Nwere erected in conspicauous points, cortherefore, were sappoysed the proper force for co- responding with each other, all around and all vering the intended descent. They were built in through the island; and mornoing and evening, oine different harbours, and brought together by crawlinlg might Jhave said, every eye was turned towards along the French shore, and keeping under the pro- them to watch for the f:atal anld momentous signal. tection of the batteries, which were nowy established Partial alarms were given in different places, fionm on every cape, almost as if the sea-coast of the the mistakes to which such arrangements must neChannel on tlhe French side had been the lines of a cessarily be liable; and the ready spirit which anibesieged city, no one point of which could Nwith pril- mated every species of troops swhere such signals dence be left undefended by cannon. Boulogne called to arms, was of the most satisfactory descripNwas pitched upon as the centre port, from which the tion, and afforded the nmost perfect assurance, that expedlition was to sail. By incredible exertions, the heart of every man was in the cause of his counBonaparte hadl rendered its harbour and roads ca- try. pable of containing two thousand vessels of various Amidst her preparations by land, England did descriptions. The smaller seaports of Vimereux, not neglect or relax her precautions on the element Ambleteuse, and Etaples, Dieppe, HI1arre, St-Va- she calls her own. She covered the ocean with five lery, Caen, Gravelines, and Dunkirk, wvee. likewise hundred and seventy ships C(f war of various defilled with shipping. Flushing and Ostend were oc- scriptions. Divisions of her fleet blocked tip every culpied by a separate flotilla. Brest, Toulon, and French port in the Channel; and the army destined Reochefort, were each the station of as strong a navial to invade our shores might see the British flag flying squadron as France had still the means to send to in every direction on the horizon, waiting for theirl sea. issuing from the harbour, as bhids of prey may be A land army was assembled of the most formid- seen floating in the air above the animal which they able description, whether we'regard the high mili- design to pounce upon. Sometimes the British fiitary character of the troops, the extent and per. gates and sloops of war stood in, and cannonaded or fection of their appointments, or their numerical threw shells into HA-vre, Dieppe, Granville, and i strength. The coast, from the month of' the Seine Boulogne itself. Smetimes the seamen and marines to the Texel, was covered wvith forces; and Soidlt, landed, cut otut vessels, destroyed signal-posts, and Ney, Davolust, and Victor, names that were then the dismantled batteries. Such events were trifling, pride and the dread of war, were apl.oint d to and it was to be regretted that they cost tile lives of coummand thle Armly of Elgland (f,r that mnenacing gallant men; but although they produced no direct title was once moire assumed), and exectute those results of consequence, yet they had their use in mamnMcuvres, planned and superinltended by Bona- encouraging tile spirits of our sailors, and damping p,arte, tlhe issue (of whicol was to be the blotting out the confidence of the enemy', who must at lengtlh of Br3itain frorn tile rank of independent nations. hate looked forward with nmore doubt than ilope to Far lirom being alarmned at this formuidthle de- the invasion of the English coast, whenu the utmost monstration of force, England prepared far her vigilance could not prevent their elpeiriencing insults resistance withi an energy becoming her ancient upon their own. rank in Etarope, and far surpassing in its efforts any During this period of menaced attack and arranlextent of military preparation betfore heard of in her ed defence, Bonmparte visited Boulogne, anid seemedl history. To nearly one hundlred thousand troops of active in preparing his soldiers fi)r the grand efl;lt. the line, were added eighty thousand and upwards He reviewed them in an unusual imarnler, teaching of militia, which scarce yielded to the regulars in thenim to execute several mmanml-ures hy night; and point of discipline. The volunteer force, by which experimmuents were also made upon the best modle of every citizen was permitted andc invited to add his arranging the soldiers in the flat-bottomed hoats, efftrts to thle defence of; tIhe country, was far more and of embarking and disemblarking thema with celenumerous tlhan during the last war, was better of- rity. Omens were resorted to for keeping tip tile ficered also, and rendered every way more effective. enthusiasm which the presence of thle first consul It was computed to amount to three hundred and naturally inspired. A Romnan battle-axe s\as sa; | fifty thousa::d men, wlho, if we regard the shortness to be found when they removed thle earth to pitcl| of the timmme and the nature of the service, had at- Bonaparte's tent or barrack; and medals of William I tained considerable practice in the use and manage. the Conqueror were produced, as having been dug 836 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. up upon the same honoured spot These were plea- lay before Brest; Pellew observed the harbours of sant bodings, yet perhaps did not altogether, in the Spain; Nelson watched Toulon and Genoa; and minds of the soldiers, counterbalance the sense of it would have been necessary for the French and insecurity impressed on them by the prospect of Spanish navy to fight their way thro~ugh these imrpebeing packed together in these miserable chaloupes, -dinents, in order to form a union at Martinique. and exposed to the fire of an enemy so superior at It is wonderful to observe how incapable the best sea, that during the chief consul's review of the underltandings become of forming a rational judgfortifications, their frigates stood in shore with corn- ment, where their vanity and self-interest are conposure, and fired at him and his suite as at a mark. cerned, in slurring over the total failure of a faThe men who had braved the perils of the Alps and vourite scheme. While talking of the mliscarriage of the Egyptian deserts might yet be allowed to feel of this plan of invasion, Napoleon gravely exclaimalarm at a species of danger which seemed so ed to Lias Cases, " And yet the obstacles which inevitable, and which they had no adequate means made me fail were not of trunian origin-they were of repelling by force of arnts. the work of the elements. In the south, the sea A circumstance which seemed to render the ex- undid my plans; in the north, it was the conflagrapedition in a great measure hopeless, was the ease tion of Moscow, the snows and ice that destroyed with which the English could maintain a constant me. Thus, water, air, fire, all nature in short, have watch upon their operations within the port of been the enemies of a universal regeneration, cornBoulogne. The least appearance of stir or prepara- manded by nature herself.'I'lle problems of Protion, to embark troops, or get ready for sea, was vidence are inscrutable."+ promptly sent by signal to the English coast, and Independent of the presumptlousness of expresthe numerous British cruizers were instantly on the sions, by which an individual being, of the first-rate alert to attend their motions. Nelson had, in fact, talents doubtless, but yet born of a woman, seems during the last war, declared the sailing of a hos- to raise himself above the rest of his species, and tile armament from Boulogne to be a most forlorn deem himself unconquerable save by elemental reundertaking, on account of cross tides and other sistance, the inaccuracy of the reasoning is worth disadvantages, together with the certainty of the remarking. Was it the sea which prevented his flotilla being lost if there were the least wind west- crossing to England, or was it the English ships north-west. "As for rowing," he adds, "that is and sailors? He might as well have affirmed that impossible.-It is perfectly right to be prepared for the hill of Mount St John, and the wood of Soignies, a mad government," continued this incontestible and not the army of Wellington, were the obstacles judge of maritime possibilities; " but with the ac- which prevented him fiom marching to Brussels. tive force which has been given me, I may pro- Before quitting the subject, we may notice, that nonnce it almost impracticable." Bonaparte seems not to have entertained the least Bonaparte himself continued to the last to affirm doubts of success, could he have succeeded in disthat he was serious in his attempts to invade' Great embarking his army. A single general action was to Britain, and that tile scheme was very practicable. decide the fate of England. Five days were to bring He did nrot, however, latterly, talk of forcing his Napoleon to London, where he was to perform tilhe way by means of armed small craft and gun-boats, part of William the Third; but with more genewhile the naval forces on each side were in their rosity and disinterestedness. Ile was to call a present degree of comnparative strength, the allowed meeting of the inhabitants, restore themi what he risk of miscarriage being as ten to one to that of calls their rights, and destroy the oligarchical facsuccess;-this bravade, which he had uttered to tion. A few months would not, accord ng to his Lord Whllitworth, involved too much uncertainty to account, have elapsed, ere the two nationIs, late such be really acted upon. At times, long after, he determined enernies, would have been identified by talked slightingly to his attendants of the causes their principles, their maximrs, their interests. The which prevented his acnomplishing his project of full explanation of this gibberish (for it can be invasion;* halt whlen speaking seriously and in de- termed no better, even proceeding firomn the lips of tail, lie shows iplMinly that his sole hope of effecting Napoleon) is to be forund elsewhere, whenr lie spoke tire invasion wias, by assernbling silch a fleet as a language more genuine thein that of the Moniteuz r should give himin the temporary command of the and tile bulletins. "England," lie said, " nmust Ilnve Channel. Thris fleet was to consist of fifty vessels, ended, by becoming an appendage to the France of which, dispatched from t;ie various ports of France my system. Nature- has ilade it one of our islands, andti Spain, were to rendt.zvous at Martinique, and, as well as Oleron and Corsic u." i returning from thence to thie British Channel, pro- It is impossible not to pursue the train of reflections fect the flotilla, upon which were to embark one Whrich Bonaparte continued to pour forth to the hundred and sixty thousand ment Napoleon was colirpanion of his exile, on the rock of St Ilelenar. disappointed in his comrnblinations respecting the When England was conqurerd, and idenltified with shipping; for, as it happened, Admiral Cornwallis France in maxims and principles, accerding to one form of expression, or rendered an appeudndage and "St tie legers derange!nens nt'avaient mis obstacle c men entreprise de Bouslogne, que puurrait eire'Angle- depeindency, according to another phrase, the reader terr —e autjomrd'huri?"-A-e torial de Ste-Hltanc, vol. 11, nlay suppose that Bonaparte would have considered p. 439. his mission as accomplished. Alas! it was not t MHmoires icrits a Ste-Ilgline sous la dictie de P'Enperetur, par le G6n6ral Comnte de Montholon, vol. II, * M orial de Ste-Helbne, vol. If, p. 361i-2. pi. A. Ibid. vol, 1II, p. 439. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 337 much more than commenced. " I would have de- his throat ctr-A similar attempt made.-Georges #404 parted from thence (from subjugated Britain) to other conspirators tried-CoTndemned —and executed.carry the work of European regeneration (that is, Royalists silenced.-Moreau sent into exile. the extension of his own arbitr-ary authority) from south to north, under the republican colours, for I WIIILE Bonaparte was meditating the regencra. was then chief consul, in the same manner which tion of' Europe, by means of conquering firstBritain, I was more lately on the point of achieving it under and then the Northern Powers, a course of oppothe monarchical forrms." W~hen we find sachl sition to his government, and disatffection to his per. ideas retaining hold of Napoleon's imagination, and son, was beginning to arise even among the soldiers arising to his tongue after his irretrievable fall, it is themselves. The acquisition of the consulate for impossible to avoid exclaiming, Did ambition ever life was naturally considered as a death-blow to the conceive so wild a dream, alnd had so wild a vision Republic; and to that name lany of the principal ever a termination so disastrous and humiliating i officers of the army, who had advanced themselves It may be expected that something shoulld he here to promotion by means of the Reyolution, still held said, upon the chances which Britain would have a grateful attachment. The dissatisfaction of these had of defending herself successfully against the military menl was the more natural, as souse of them army of invaders. We are willing to acknowledge might see in Bonaparte nothing more than a successthat the risk must have been dreadful; and that fnil adventurer, Iwho had raised himself high abosve Bonaparte, with his genius and his army, must have the heads of his comrades and now exacted their inflicted severe calamities upon a country which homage. As soldiers, they quickly passed from had so long enjoyed tlhe blessings of peace. But murmurs to threats; and at a festive mseeting, which the people were unanimous in their purpose of de- was prolonged beyond the limits of sobriety, a cofence, and their forces composed of materials to lonel of hussars proposed himself as the Brutus to which Bonaparte did more justice when he came to remove this new Casar. Beilng expert at the use of be better acqulainted with them. Of the three British the pistol, he undertook to hit his rmlark at fifty yards' nations, the Esnglish have since shown themselves distance, during one of those reviews which were possessed of the same steady valour which won the perpetually taking-place in presence of the first confields of Cressy and Azincourt, Blenheim and Minden sul. The affair became known to the police, but -the Irish have not lost the fiery enthusiasm which was hushed up as much as possible by the address has distingslished them in all the countries of Elrope of Fonch6, who saw that Bonaparte nmight be pre— nor have the Scots degenerated fiomn the stubborn judiced by the bare act of making public thast such courage with whlich tlleir ancestors for two thousand a thing had.been agitated, however unthimkingly. years maintainel their independence against a supe- The discontent spread wide, and was secretly rior enemy. Even if London had.been lost, we augmented by the agents of the house of Bourbon; would not, unider so great a calamity, have despaired and, besides the constitutional opposition, whose of the freedom of the country; for the war would in voice was at times heard in the Legislative Body all probability have assumed that popular and aa- and the Tribunrate, there existed nmalcontents without tional character wshich sooner or later -wears out an doors, composed of two parties, one of whom coninvading army. Neithler does the confidence'with sidered Bonaparte as the enemy of public liberty, which Bonaparte affirms the conviction of his winning wh3ilst the other regarded him as the sole obstacle the first battle, appear so certainly well-founded. to the restoration of the Bourbons; and the most This, at least, we knlow, that the resolution of the- eager partisans of both began to meditate on the country was fully beit tlp to tIme halzald; and those practicability of removing him by any means, the who remlember the pleriod will bear us witness, most violent and the most secret not excepted. that the desire that the French wouldd niake the Those among the furious republicans, or enthuattempt was a general feeling through all classes, siastic royalists, who entertained such sentiments, because they had every reason to hope that the excused them doubtless to their conscience, by issue might be such as for ever to silenice the threat Napoleon's having destroyed the liberties, and of invasion. usurped tle supremle authority, of the country; thus palliating the complexion of a crime which can CHAPTER XLVI. never be vindicated. Thl'lese zealots, however, bore no proportion to Disafectionte begis to arise ag-inst Napsolveo)n amsng the the great body of Frenchmen, who, displeased with soldiery.-PcurIose of settissg up Moreau agtainst hi.- the usurpation of Bonaparte, and disposed to overCharactelr ojfi sreas.- a er ses eJ l estraigmeuiet-omyes throw it, if possible, held themselves yet obliged Cadsordel, P-iheg-, urle othuker oyaisls, areded is to refi-ain folnm all crooked and indirect practices France.-Desperate eliterprise of Georyes-De'eeted_-. against his life. Proposing to destroy his power in Arrest of Mo-reale-o I'ichegru-anLd Georges.-Captain the same way in which it had been built, the first Wlright.-Dizke d'Egzteis seized at Etteslheimsm —hurried and most necessary task of the discontented party to Paris-transfierred to Vimcesnnes-2'ried by a MAii- was to find some military chief, whose reputation tary Corssniissios, — Cozdemlned-and.execuited-Ulicer- might bear to be balanced against that of Napoleon; sal horror of France (amd Europe.-Bonaparte's vindi- and no one could claim such distinction excepting cation af hirs cidert- is dcefence considered-Picher AMoreau. If his campaigns were inferior to those of found dead in hisprison-Attempt to.explain his death by his great rival in the lightning-like brilliancy and.,}r#tusg himn with suic2ide.-Captain Wrightfouled with celerity of their operations, and in the boldness of Ilte'morial de Ste-Jllne, vol. II, p. 361. combination on which they were founded, they were VOL. VI, 43 __ _, _~~~~~~~~~~~~~4 338 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. ey.ecuted at smallel loss to his troops, and were less in a fresh attack upon the consular government. calculated to expose him to disastrous consequences They were probably in some degree deceived conif they chanced to miscarry. Moreall was no less cerning the strength of that party, which had been celebrated for his retreat through the defiles of the much reduced under Bonaparte's management, and Black Forest, in 1796, than for the splendid and had listened too implicitly to the promises and prodecisive victory of Ilohenlinden. jects of agents, who, themselves sanguine beyond Moreau's natural temper was mild, gentle, and what was warranted, exaggerated even their owe accessible to persuasion-a man of great abilities hopes in communicating them to the British minis. certainly, but scarcely displaying the bold and de- ters. It seems to have been acknowledged, that cisive character which lie ought to possess, who, in little success was to be hoped for, unless Moreau such times as we write of, aspires to place himself could be brought to join the conspiracy. This, howat the head of a faction in the state. Indeed, it ever, was esteemed possible; and notwithstanding rather would seem that he was forced into that si- the disagreement, personal as well as political, tuation of eminence by the influence of general opi- which had subsisted betwixt him and Pichegru, nion, joined to concurring circumstances, than that the latter seems to have undertaken to become the he deliberately aspired to place himself there. He medium of communication betwixt Moreau and the was the son of a lawyer of Bretagne, and in every royalists. Escaped from the deserts of Cayenne, to respect a man who had risen by the Revolution. which he had been exiled, Pichegru had for some He was not, therefore, naturally inclined towards time found refuge and support in London, and there the Bourbons; yet when Pichegru's communications openly professed his principles as a royalist, upon with the exiled family, in 1795, became known to which he had for a long time acted in secret. him bly the correspondence which he intercepted, A scheme was in agitation for raising the Morea, kept the secret until some months after, royalists in the west, where the Duke de Berri was when Pichegru had, with the rest of his party, fallen to make a descent on the coast of Picardy, to faunder the revolution of 18th Fructidor, which in- your the insurrection. The Duke d'Enghien, grandstalled the Directory of Barras, Rewbel, and La son of the Prince of Conde, fixed his residence RWveillere. After this period, Moreau's marriage, under the protection of the Margrave of Baden, at with a lady who entertained sentiments favourable the chateau of Ettenheim, with the purpose, doubtto the Bourbons, seems to have gone some length in less, of being ready to put himself at the head of the deciding his own political opinions. royalists in the east of France, or, if occasion Moreau had lent Bonaparte his sword and coun- should offer, in Paris itself. This prince of the tenance on the 18th Brumaire; but he was soon dis- house of Bourbon, the destined inheritor of the name satisfied with the engrossing ambition of the new of the great CondO, was in the flower of youth, rulerofFrance, and they became gradually estranged handsome, brave, and high-minded. He had been from each other. This was not the fault of Bona- distinguished for his courage in the emigrant army, parte, who, naturally desirous of attaching to himself which his grandfather commanded. He gained by so great a general, showed him considerable atten- his valour the battle of Bortsheim; and when his tion, and complained that it was received with army, to whom the French republicans showed no coldness. On one occasion, a most splendid pair quarter, desired to execute reprisals on their prisonof pistols had been sent to the first consul. " They ers, he threws himself among them to prevent their arrive in a happy time," he said, and presented violence. " These men," he said, " are Frenchmen them to Moreau, who at that instant entered his -they are unfortunate-I place them under the presence-chamber. Moreau received the civility as guardianship of your honosr and your humanity." one which he would willingly have dispensed with. Such was the princely youth, whose name must now He made no other acknowledgment than a cold bow, be Mvwrtten in bloody characters in this part of Naand instantly left the levee. poleon's history. Upon the institution of the Legion of lionour, one Whilst the French princes expected on the fi'onof the Grand Crosses was offered to him. " The tier the effect of commotions in the interior of fool!" said Morean, "does he not know that I have France, Pichegru, Georges Cadoudal, and about belonged to the ranks of honour for these twelve thirty other royalists of the most determined characyears'?" Another pleasantry on this topic, upon ter, were secretly landed in France, made their way which Bonaparte was very sensitive, was a com- to the metropolis, and contrived to find lurkingpany of officers, who dined together with Moreau, places invisible to the all-seeing police. There can voting a saucepan of honour to the general's cook, be no reason to doubt that a part of those agents, on account of his merits in dressing some particular and Georges in particular, saw the greatest obstacle dish. Thus, living estranged from Bonaparte, Mo- of their enterprise in the- existence of Bonaparte, reau came to be gradually regarded as the head of and were resolved to commence by his assassinathe disaffected party in France; and the eyes of all tion. Pichegru, who was constantly in company those who disliked Napoleon or his government, with Georges, cannot well be supposed ignorant of were fixed upon him, as the only individual whose this purpose, although better befitting the fierce influence might be capable of balancing that of the chief of a band of Chouans than the Conqueror of chief consul. Holland. Meantime the peace of Amiens being broken, the In the meantime, Pichegru effected the desired British government, with natural policy, resolved communication with Morean, then, as we have said, once more to avail themselves of the state of public considered as the chief of the discontented military fecling in France, and engage the partisans of royalty men, and the declared enemy of Bonaparte. They LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 339 nmet at least twice; and it is certain that on one of residing quietly at his country-house. On the day these occasions Pichegru carried with him Georges following, an order of the days signe(l by Murat, Cadoudal, at whose person and plans Moreau ex- then governor of Paris, announced the fact to the pressed horror, and desired that Pichegru would citizens, with the additional information, that Moreau not again bring that irrational savage into his cornm- was engaged in a conspiracy with Piclhegru, Georpalny. The cause of his dislike we must naturally ges, and others, who were closely pursued by the suppose to have been the nature of the measures police. Georges proposed, being the last to which a brave The news of Moreau's imprisonment produced and loyal soldier like Moreau would willingly have the deepest sensation in Paris; and the reports resorted; bult Bonaparte, when pretending to give which were circulated on the subject -were by no an exact account of what passed betwixt Moreau means favourable to Bonaparte. Some disbelieved and Pichegrs, represents the conduct of the former the plot entirely, while others, less sceptical, consiin a very different point of view. Moreau, accord- dered the chief consul as making a pretext of the ing to this account, informed Pichegru, that while abortive attempt of Pichegru and Georges for tlhe the first consul lived, he had not the slightest inte- purpose of sacrificing Moreau, who was at once his rest in the army, and that not even his own aides- rival in military fame, and the declared opponent of de-camp would follow him against Napoleon; but, his government. It was even asserted that seclet were Napoleon removed, Moreau assured them, all agents of Bonaparte in London had been active in eyes would be fixed on himself alone-that he encouraging the attempts of the original conspirators, would then become first consul-that Pichegru for the sake of implicating a man whom the first should be second; and was proceeding to make consul both hated and feared. Of this there was farther arrangements, when Georges broke in on no proof; but these and other dark suspicions pertheir deliberations with fury, accused the generals vaded men's minds, and all eyes were turned with of scheming their own grandeur, not the restoration anxiety upon the issue of the legal investigations of the kiing, and declared that, to chase betwixt which were about to take place. blue and blue (a phrase by which the Vendeans dis- Upon the 17th February, the grand judge of police, tinguished the republicans), he would as soon have by a report which was communicated to the Senate, Bonaparte as Moreau at the head orf affairs, and the Legislative Body, and the Tribunate, denounced concluded by stating his own pretensions to be Pichegru, Georges, and others, as having returned third consul at least. According to this aecaunt, to France from their exile, with the purpose of overtherefore, Moreau was not shocked at the atrocity of throwing the government, and assassinating the Georges' enterprise, of which he himself had been the chief consul, and implicated Moreau as having held first to admit the necessity, but only disgusted at the communication with them. When the report was share which the Chouan chief assorted to himself in read in the Tribunate, the brother of Moreau arose the partition of the spoil. Bust we give no credit and recalling the merits and services of his relative, whatever to this story. Though nothing could have complained of the cruelty of calumniating him withbeen so important to the first consul at the time as out proof, and demanded for him the privilege of to produce proof of Moreau's direct accession to the an open and public trial. plot on his life, no such proof was ever brought for- " This is a fine display of sensibility," said Curle, wal-d; and therefore the statement, we have little one of the tribunes, in ridicule of the sensation nadoubt, was ma(le up afterwards, and contains what turally produced by this affecting incident. Bonaparte might think probable, and desire that "It is a display of indignation," replied the broothers should believe, not what he knew from cer- ther of Moreau, and left the assembly. thin information, or was able to prove by credible The public bodies, however, did what was, doubttestimony. less expected of them, and carried to the foot of the The police was speedily alarmed, and in action. consular throne the most exaggerated expressions of Notice hall been received that a band of royalists their interest in the life and safety of him by whom Ihad introduced themselves into the capital, though it was occupied. it was for some time very difficult to apprehend Meanwhile the vigilance of the police, and the exthem. (Georges, meanwhile, prosecuted his attempt traordinary means employed by them, accomplished aI ainst the chief consul, and is believed at one the arrest of almost all the persons concerned in title to have insinuated himself in the disguise of the plot. A false friend, whom Pichegru had trusted a menial into the Tuileries, and even into Bona. to the highest degree, betrayed his confidence for a parte's apartment; bat without finding any opportu- large bribe, and introduced the gendarmes into his I ility to strike the blow, which his uncommon strength apartment while he was asleep. They first secured I and desperate resolution might otherwise have ren- the arms which lay beside him, and then his person, dered decisive. All the barriers were closed, and after a severe struggle Georges Cadoudal, pera division of Bonaparte's guards maintained the haps a yet more important capture, fell into the closest watch, to prevent any one escaping firom the hands of the police soon after. Hle had been traced city. I[i degrees sufficient light was obtained to so closely, that at length he dared not enter a house, enable the government to make a communication to but spent many hours of the day anid nighit in drivthe public upon the existence and tendency of the ing about Paris in a cabriolet. On being arrested, he conspiracy, which became more especially neces- shot one of the gendarmes dead, mortally wounded sary, when it was resolved to arrest Moreau him- another, and had nearly escaped from them all. self. This took place on the 15th February, 1804. The other conspirators, and those accused of counHe was seized without difficulty or resistance, while tenancing their enterprise, Were arrested to the 3i0 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. number of forty persons, who were of very different He lived in great privacy, and amused himself princharacters and condition; some followers or asso- cipally with hunting. A pension allowed him by ciates of Georges, and others belonging to the an- England was his only means of support. gient nobility. Among the latter were Messrs Ar- On the evening of the 14th March, a body of mand and Jules Polignac, Charles de ia Riviere, French soldiers and gendarmes, commanded by and other royalists of distinction. Chance had also Colonel Ordenner, acting under the direction of thrown into Bonaparte's power a victim of another Caulaincourt, afterwards called Duke of Vicenza, description. Captain Wright, the commander of a suddenly entered the territory of Baden, a power British brig of war, had been engaged in putting with whom France was in profound peace, and surashore on the coast of Normandy, Pichegru and some rounded the chlteau in which the unfortunate prince of his companions. Shortly afterwards, his vessel resided. The descendant of Cond6 sprung to his was captured by a French flotilla of superior force. arms, but was prevented from using them by one of Under pretence that his evidence was necessary to his attendants, who represented the force of' the asthe conviction of the French conspirators, he was sailants as too great to be resisted. The soldiers rushbrought up to Paris, committed to the Temple, and ed into the apartment, and, presenting their pistols, treated with a rigour which became a prelude to the demanded to know which was the Duke d'Eunghein. subsequent tragedy. - "If you desire to arrest him," said the duke, "you It might have been supposed, that among so many ought to have his description in your warrant."prisoners, enough of victims might have been se- "Then we must seize on you all," replied the officer lected to atone with their lives for the insurrection in command; and the prince, with his little housewhich they were accused of meditating; nay, for hold, was arrested and carried to a mill at some the attempt which was alleged to be designed against distance firom the house, where he was pernitted the person of the first consul. Most unhappily for to receive some clothes and necessaries. Being his fame, Napoleon thought otherwise; and, from now recognized, le was transferred, with his atcatlses which we shall hereafter endeavour to ap- tendants, to the citadel of Strasburg, and prepreciate, sought to give a fuller scope to the grati- sently afterwards separated from the gentlemen fication of' his revenge, than the list of his captives, of his household, with the exception of his aide-dethough containing several men of high rank, enabled camp, the Baron de St-Jacques. He was allowed himn to accomplish. to communicate with no one. He remained a close We have observed, that the residence of the prisoner for three days; but on the 18th, betwixt Duke d'Enghein upon the French frontier was to a one and two in the morning, lie was obliged to rise certain degree connected with the enterprise un- and dress himself hastily, being only infornmed that dertaken by Pichegru, so far as concerned the pro- he was about to commence a journey. He requestposed insurrection of the royalists in Paris. This ed the attendance of his valet-de-chambre; but we infer from the duke's admission, that he resided was answered that it was unnecessary. The linen at Ettenhleim in the expectation of having soon a which he was permnitted to take withl him amounted ipart of importance to play in France.' This Was to two shirts only, so nicely had his worldly wants perfectly vindicated by his situation and connex- been calculated and ascertained. He was tranlsions. But that the duke participated in, or coun- ported with the utnlost speed and secrecy towards tenanced ini the slightest degree, the meditated at- Paris, where he arrived oil the 20th, and, after terlpt on Bonaparte's life, has never even been having been committed for a few hours to the alleged, and is contrary to all the proof led in the Temple, was transferred to the ancient Gothic case, and especially to the sentiments impressed castle of Vincennes, about four mniles from the city, upon hin by his grandfather, the Prince of Conrd..t long used as a state prison, but whose walls never * The passage alluded to is in the Duke of Rovigo's did not give himi time to finish the details of his project, (Savary's) vindication of his own conduct. At the same but rejected the proposal with horror, assuring him that tine, no traces of such an admlnission are to be found in you, if present, would do the same. I told himl, we should the interrogations, as printed elsewhere. It is also said, always be the enemies of him who had arograted to hlimthat when the duke (then at Ettenheim) first heard of the self the power and the throne of our sovereign, until lihe conspiracy of Pichegru, he alleged that it must- have been should make restitution: that we had combated the usurponly a pretended discovery. "Had there been such an er by open force, and would do so again if opportunity intrigue in reality," he said, "my father and grandfather offered; but that we would never employ that species of would have let mle know something of the matter, that I means which only became the jacobin party; and if that might provide for my safety." It may be added, that if he faction should meditate such a crime, assuredly we would had' been really engaged in that conspiracy, it is probable not be their accomplices." This discourse the prince rethat lie would have retired from the vicinity of the French newed to the secret agent in the presence of the Chevalier territory on the scheme being discovered. de Roll, as a confidential friend of the Count d'Artois, and, t A remarkable letter from the Prince of Cond6 to the finally, advised the mall instantly to leave England, as, in Count d'Artois, dated 24th January, 1802, contains the case of his being arrested, the prince would afford him no following passage, which we translate literally:-" The countenance or protection. The person to whom the Chevalier de Roll will give you an account of what has Prince of Conde addressed sentiments so worthy of himself passed here yesterday. A man of a very simple and gentle and of his great ancestor, afterwards proved to be an agent exterior arrived the night before, and having traveled, as of Bonaparte, dispatched to sound the opinions of the he affirmed, on foot, from Paris to Calais, had an audience princes of the house of Bourbon, and, if possible, to impliof me about eleven in the forenoon, and distinctly offered cate themin such a nefarious project as shouldjustlyeoxcae to rid us of the usurper by the shortest method possible. I public indignation against them. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 3 received a mnore illustrious or a more innocenllt victim. apartment in which the pretended trial had taken There he was permitted to take some. repose; and, place, the prince was conducted by torch-light down as if the fiavollr had only been granted for the pur- a winding stair, which seemed to descend to the pose of being withdrawn, lie was awaked at midnight, dungeons of the ancient castle. and (alled upon to sustain an interrogatory on which " Am I to be immured in an oubliette?" he said, his life depended, and to which he replied with the naturally recollecting the use which had sometimes utmost composure. Oni the ensuing night, at the been made of those tombs for the living.-" No, salne dead hour, lie was brought before the pretend- Monseigneur," answered the soldier lie addressed, ed court. The law enDjoined tbhat he should have in a voice interrupted by sobs, "be tranquil on that had a defender appointed to plead his'cause. But subject." The stair led to a postern, whticlh opened none such was allotted hiim2. into the castle ditch, where, as we have already The inqlisitors before whom lie was hurried said, a grave was dug, beside which were drawn foruied a military commission of eight officers, up a party of the gendarmes d'dlite. It was near six having General Huliu as their president. They o'clock in the morning, and day had dawned. But were, as the proceedings express it, named by Bo- as there was a heavy mist on the ground, several naparte's brother-in-law, Murat, then governor of torches and lamps niixed their pale and oniinuas Paris. Though necessarily exhausted with fatigue light with thlat afforded by the hleavens,-a cirand want of rest, the Duke d'Engliien performed in cumestance which seems to have given rise to thle this melancholy scene a part worthy of the last de- inaccurate report, that a lantern was tied to the scendatt of the great Cond6. He avowed hIis name button of the xictiml, that his slayers might take the and rank, and time share which he had taken in the more certain aim. Savary was again in attendance, war against France, but denied all knoxviedge of Iand had taken his place upon a parapet which comPichegru or of his donspiracy. The interrogations m nanded the place of execution.'lIhe victim was ended by his denlau.ding an audience of the chief placed, the fatal word was given by the future Duke consul. "My name," lie said, " my rank, my senti- de Rovigo, the party fired, and the prisoner fell. uments, and the peculiar distress of my situation, The body, dressed as it was, and without the 1oad me to hope that my request vill not be re- slightest attention to the usual decencies of'sepulture, fused." was huddled into the grave with as little ceremony The military commissioners paused and hesitated as common robbers use towards tile carcases of the -nay, though selected doubtless as fitted for the murdered. office, they were even affected by thle whole belha- Paris iearned with astonishment and fear the sinviour, and especially by tile intrepidity, of the gular deed which had been perpetrated so near unhappy prince. But Savary, then chief of the po- her walls. No act had ever excited more universall lice, stood behind the president's chair, and con- horror, both in France and in foreign countries, and troled their sentiments of compassion. When they none has left so deep a stain on the nlenmory of Naproposed to further the prisoner's request of an poleon. If tl-lhere were tr:tlher proof necessaryof tlhe audience of tIe first consul, Savary cut the discus- general opinion of mankind on the subject, the sion short, by saying, that was inexpedient. At anxiety displayed by Savary, lHulin, and the other length they reported their opinion, that the Duke subaltern agents in this shameful transaction, to d'Enghien was guilty of having fought agaillst the diminish their own share in it, or transtfer it to others, Republic, intriguled with England, and maintained would be sufficient evidence of tile deep responsiintelligence in Strasburg, for the purpose of seizing bility to which they felt themselves subjected. the place;-great part of which allegations, and There is but justice, however, in listening to the especially the lamst, was in express contradiction to defence which Bonaparte set up for himself when in the only proof adduced, the adlllission, namely, of St Helena, especially as it appeared perfectly conthe prisoner himself. The report being sent to Bo- vincing to Las Cases, his attendant, who, though naparte, to know his farther pleasure, the court reconciled to most of his master's actions, had conreceived for answer their oswn letter, marked with tinued to regard thle Duke d'Enghien's death as the emphatic words, " Condemned to death." Na- so great a blot upon his escutcheon, that he blushed poleon was obeyed by his satraps with Persian even when Napoleon himself introduced the subdevotion. The sentence was pronolnced, and the ject.* prisoner received it with the same intrepid gallantry His exculpation seems to have assumed a diffevwhich distinguished him througlh the whole of the rent and inlconsistent character, according to the bloody scene. lie requested tile aid of a confessor. audience to whom it was stated. Among his inti" Would you die like a monlk?" is said to have been nmate friends and followers, lie appears to have rethP 1nsulting reply. The (luke, without noticing presented the whole transaction as an affiir not of the insult, knelt down for a minute, and seemed his own device, but which was pressed upoii him absorbed in prolotbund devotionl. by sulplise by his ministers. " I was s. ated," lie "Let is go," li he said, when he arose froim his knees. All was in readinless for thle execution; The illegal arrest-the precipitation of the mock trial-the and, as if to stamp the trial as a mere mockery, tie discoiforinity of the semltence eom tlle proof-the hulry of gve had been prep~ared ere the juidgeuent~ of time the executiln —all prove that the unfortunate prince was gaedoouned to die long befole hle as brought befolre thie milicourt was pronounced. - Upon quitting the tary commnission. See Appendix, No 5. —C Further particulars concern-'Tl:e reasoning and sentiments of Bonaparte on this iug the arrest, trial, and death of the Duke d'Egllien." slbject are taken from the work of Las Cases, vol. VII, avary has denied this. It is ot of miuch consequence. pp.427 —40, where they are given at great length. 312 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. when they came to announce to me the discovery transfer to his counsellor the guilt of the mneasures of some new machination. They represented it which he executed at his recommendation. The was time to put an end to such horrible attempts, murder, like the rebellion of Absalom, was not less by washing myself in the blood of one amongst the a crime, even supposing it recommended and f:aciliBourbons; and they suggested the Duke d'Enghien tated by the unconscientious counsels of a modern as the most proper victim." Bonaparte proceeds Achitophel. to say, that he did not know exactly who the Duke Accordingly, Napoleon has not chosen to trust to d'Enghien was, far less that he resided so near this defence; but, inconsistently with his pretence France as to be only three leagues fiom the Rhine. of being hurried into the measure by Talleyrand, This wvas explained. " In that case," said Napo- he has, upon other occasions, broadly and boldly leon, " he ought to be arrested." His prudent mi- avowed that it was in itself just and necessary; that nisters had foreseen this conclusion. They had the the Duke d'Eighien was condemned by the laws, whole scheme laid, and the orders ready drawn tp and suffered execution accordingly under their sancfor Bonaparte's signature; so that, according to tion. this account, he was hurried into the enormity by It is an easy task to show, that even according to the zeal of those about him, or perhaps in conse- the law of France, jealous and severe as it was in quence of their private views and mysterious in- its application to such subjects, there existed no trigues. He also charged Talleyrand with conceal- right to take the life of the duke. It is true he was ing from him a letter, written by the unfortunate an emigrant, and the law denounced the penalty of prisoner, in which he offered his services to Bona- death against such of these as should return to parte, but which was intercepted by the minister. France with arms in their hands. But the duke did If this had reached him in time, he intimates that not so return-nay, his returning at all was not an he would have spared the prince's life. To render act of his own, but the consequence of violence this statement probable, lhe denies generally that exercised on his person. He was in a more favourJosephine had interested herself to the utmost to able case than even those emigrants whom storms engage him to spare the duke; although this has had cast on their native shore, and whom Bonabeen affirmed by the testimony of such as declared, parte himself considered ais objects of pity, not of that they received the fact from the empress's own punishment. He had indeed borne arms against lips. France; but as a member of the house of Bourbon, It is unfortunate for the truth of this statement, he was not, and could not be accounted, a subject and the soundness of the defence which it contains, of Bonaparte, having left the country before his that neither Talleyrand, nor any human being save name was heard of; nor could he be considered as Bonaparte himself, could have the least interest in in contumacy against the state of France, for he, the death of the Duke d'Enghien. That Napoleon like the rest of the royal family, was specially exshould be fu'nious at the conspiracies of Georges and cluded friom the benefits of the amnesty which inPichegru, and should be willing to avenge the per- vited the return of the less distinguished emligrants. sonal dangers he incurred; and that he should be The act by which he was trepanned, and brought desirous to intimidate the family of Bourbon, by within the conmpass of French power, not of French "washing himself," as he expresses it, " in the law, was as much a violation of the rights of nations, blood of one of their house," was much in character. as the precipitation with which the pretended trial But that the sagacious Talleyrand should have followed the arrest, and the execution the trial, was hurried on a cruel proceeding, in which he had no an outrage upon humanity. On the trial no witearthly interest, is as unlikely, as that, if he had nesses were produced, nor did any investigation take desired to do so, he could have been able to elicit place, saving by the interrogation of the prisoner. fiom Bonaparte the powers necessary for an act of Wlhatevr points of accusation, therefore, are not so much consequence, without his master having established by the admnissios of the duke hinmsell, given the affair, in all its bearings, the most full and must be considered as totally unproved. Yet this ample consideration. It may also be noticed, that unconscientious tribunal not only fonn.rl their pribesides transferring a part at least of the guilt fiom soner guilty of having borne arms against the Rehimself, Bonaparte might be disposed to gratifyt public, which lie realilty admitted, but of hlaiing his revenge against Talleyrand, by stigmatising placed himself at the head of a party of French him, frols St Helena, with a crime the most odious emriigrants in the pay of England, and carried on to his new sovereigns oft' the house of Bolurbon. machinations for surprising the city of Strasburg; Lastly, the existence of the letter above-mentioned charges which he himself positively denied, arind has never been proved, and it is inconsistent with which were supported by no proof'whatsoever. every thought and sentimlent of the Duke d'Enghien. Bonaparte, well aware of tihe total irregularity of i It is besides said to have been dated firom Stras- the proceedings in this extraordinary case, seems, burg; and the duke's aide-de-camp, the Baron de on some occasions, to have wisely renounced any St-Jacques, has given his testimony that lie was attemplt to defeind what he imust have been col- never an instant separated from his patron during vinced was indefensible, and has vindicated his his confinement irn that citadel; and that the duke conduct sepon general grounds, of a nature well neither wrote a letter to Bonaparte nor to any worthy of notice. It seems that, whllen he spoke of one else. But, after all, if Bonaparte had actually the death of the Duke d'Enghien among his attendproceeded in this bloody matter upon the instigation ants, he always chose to represent it as a case falling of Talleyrand, it catmnot be denied, that, as a nian under tile ordinary forms of law, in'which all re-.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 313 gularity was observed, and where, though he might the immutable rules of right and wrong, but accordbe accused of severity, he could not be charged ing to the opportunities which the weakness of one with violation of justice. This was safe language kingdom may afford to the superior strength of to hearers fiom whloln he was sure to receive neither another. objection nor contradiction, and is just an instance It may be truly added, that even the pliant argit. of an attempt, on the part of a consciously guilty ment of state necessity was far from justifying this party, to establish, by repeated asseverations, an fatal deed. To have retained the Duke d'Enghien innocence which was inconsistent with fact. But a prisoner, as a hostage who might be made responwith strangers, from whom replies and argument sible for the royalists' abstaining from their plots, might be expected, Napoleon took broader grounds. might have had in it some touch of policy; but the He alleged the death of the Duke d'Enghien to be murder of the young and gallant prince, in a way so an act of self-defence, a measure of state polity, secret and so savage, had a deep moral effect upon arising out of the natural rights of hunmanity, by the European world, and excited hatred against which a man, to save his own life, is entitled to take Bonaparte wherever the tale was told. In the wellaway that of another. "I was assailed," he said, known words of Fouchd, the duke's execution was " on all hands by the enemies whom the Bourbons worse than a moral crime-it was a political blunder. raised up against me; threatened with air-guns, in- It had this consequence most unfortunate for Bonafelrnal machlines, and deadly stratagems of every parte, that it seemed to stamp his character as bloody kind. I had no tribunal on earth to which I could and unforgiving; and in so far prepared the public appeal for protection, therefore I had a right to mind to receive the worst impressions, and authorprotect myself; and by putting to death one of ized the worst suspicions, when other tragedies of those whose fhllowers threatened my life, I was a more mysterious character followed that of the entitled to strike a salutary terror into the others." last of the race of Cond6. We have no doubt that, ill this argument, which'Ihe Duke d'Enghien's execution took place on is in the original, much extended, Bonaparte ex- the 21st March; on the 7th April following General plained his real mutifves; at least we can only add Pichegru was found dead in his prison. A black to them the stimutlus of obstinate resentment, and handkerchief was wrapped round his neck, which implacable revenge. But the whole resolves itself had been tightened by twisting round a short stick into an allegation of' that state necessity, which has inserted through one of the folds. It was asserted been justly called the tyrant's plea, and which has that he had turned this stick with his own hands, always been at hand to defend, or rather to palliate, until he lost the power of respiring, and then, by the worst crimes of sovereigns. The prince may be laying his head on the pillow, had secured the stick lamented, who is exposed, from civil disaffection, to in its position. It did not escape the public, that the dagger of the assassin, but his danger gives him this was a mode of terminating life far more likely no right to turn such a weapon, even against the to be inflicted by the hands of others than those of individual person by whom it is pointed at him. the deceased himself: Surgeons were found, but Far less could the attempt of any violent partisans men, it is said, of small reputation, to sign a report of the house of Bourbon authorize the first consul to upon the state of the body, in which they atffirm that take, by a suborned judgment, and the most preci- Pichegru had died by suicide; yet as he must have pitate procedure, the life of a young prince, against lost animation and sense so soon as he had twisted whom the accession to the conspiracies of which the stick to the point of strangulation, it seems Napoleon complained had never been alleged, far strange he should not have then unclosed his grasp less proved. In every point of view, the act was a on the fatal tourniquet, which he used as the means murder; and the stain of the Duke d'Enghien's blood of self-destruction. In that case the pressure must must remain indelibly upon Napoleon Bonaparte. have relaxed, and the fatal purpose have remained WVith similar sophistry, he attempted to daub unaccomplished. No human eye could see into the over the violation of the neutral territory of Baden., dark recesses of a state prison, but there were not which was committed for the purpose of enabling wanting many who entertained a total disbelief of his emissaries to seize the person of his unhappy Pichegru's suicide. It was argued that the first victim. This, according to Bonaparte, was a wrong consul did not dare to bring before a public triwhich was foreign to the case of the Duke d'En- bunal, and subject to a personal interrogatory, a ghien, and concerned the Sovereign of Baden alone. man of Pichegru's boldness and presence of mind As that prince never complained of this violation, -it was said, also, that his evidence would have "tIhe plea," he contended, "could not be used by been decisively favourable to Morean —that the any other person."'This was merely speaking as citizens of Paris were many of themn attachedl to one who has power to do wrong. To whom awras Pichegru's person-that the soldiers had not forgotthe Duke of Baden to complain, or what reparation ten his military famle-and, finally, it was reported could he expect by doing so? He was in the con- that, in consideration of these circumstances, it was dition of a poor man, who suffers injustice at the judged most expedient to take away his life in hands of a wealthy neighbour, because lie has no prison. Public rumour went so far as to name, as means to go to law, but whose acquiescence under the agents in the crime, four of those Marnelukes, the injury cannot certainly change its character, or of whom Bonaparte had brought a sniall party fi-oin render that invasion just which is in its own cha- Egypt, and whom le used to have about his person racter distinctly otherwise. The passage may be as niatter of parade. Thislast assertion had a strong marked as showing Napoleon's unhappy predilec- impression on the multitude, who are accustomed tion to consider public measures not according to to thinkl, alld love to talk, about the mutes and 344 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPAR.TE. bowstrings of eastern despotism. But withl well- an answer to the presumptions formed against him. informed persons, its improbability threw some dis- The man who, under pretext of state necessity, credit on the whole accusation. The state prisons ventured on such an open violation of the laws of of France nmust have furnished from their officials, justice, ought not to complain if he is judged caenough of men as relentless and dexterous in such a pable, in every case of suspicion, of sacrificing the commission as those eastern strangers, whose un- rights of humanity to his passions or his interest. wonted appearance in these gloonmy regions must He himself has affirmed, that Wright died long have at once shown a fatal purpose, and enabled before it was announced to thle public, but has given every one to trace it to Bonaparte. no reason why silence was preserved with respect A subsequent catastrophe, of nearly the same to the event. The Duke de Rovigo, also denying all kind, increased by its coincidence the dark suspi- knowledge of Wright's death, acknowledges that it cions which arose out of the circumstances attend- was a dark and mysterious subject, and intimates ing the death of Pichegru. his belief that Fouctllh was at the bottom of the Captain Wright, from whose vessel Pichegru and tragedy. In Fouch6's real or pretended Memoirs, his companions had disenmbarked on the French the subject is not mentioned. We leave, in the coast, had become, as we have said, a prisoner of obscurity in which we found it, a dreadful tale, of war, his ship being captured by a much superior which the truth cannot, in all probability, be known, force, and after a most desperate defenmce. Under muntil the secrets of all hearts shall be laid open. pretext that his evidence iwas necessary to the con- Rid of' Pichegrn, by his own hand or his jailer's, viction of Pichegru and Georges, he was brought to Bonaparte's government was now left to deal with Paris, and lodgeed a close prisoner in the Temnple. It Georges and his comrades, as well as with Moreau. must also he mentioned, that CaptainWright had been With the first it was an easy task, for the Chouan an officer under Sir Sydney Smith, and that the mnind chief retained, in the court of criminal justice before of Bonaparte was tenaciously retentive of animosity which he was conveyed, the same fearless tone of against those who had aided to withstand a darling defiance which he had displayed from the beginning. purpose, or diminish and obscure the nlilitary re.. He acknowledged that he came to Paris for the sake nown, which was yet more dear to him. The treat- of making war personally on Napoleon, and seemed ment of Captain Wright was-must have been se- only to regret his captivity, as it had disconcerted vere, even if it extended no fart-her than solitary his enterprise. lie treated the judges with cool conimprisonment; but reports went abroad, that tor- tempt, and anmused himself by calling Thuriot, who tire was employed to bring the gallant seaman to conducted the process, and who had been an old such confessions as might suit the purposes of the jacobin, by the name of Monsieur Tue-Roi. There French government. This belief became very ge- was no difficulty in obtaining sentence of death neral, when it was heard that Wright, like Piche- against Georges and nineteen of his associates; griu, was found dead in his apartment, with his amongst whomo was Arnland de Polignac, for whose throat cut from ear to ear, the result, according to life his brother affectionately tendered his own. the account given by government, of' his own impa- Armand de Polignac, however, with seven others, tience and despair. This official account of the were pardoned by Bonaparte; or rather banishment second suicide committed by a state prisoner, aug- in some cases, and imprisonment in others, were mented and confirmed the opinions entertained con- substituted for a capital punishment. Georges and cerning the death of Pichegru, which it so closely the rest were executed, and died with the most deresembled. The unfortunate Captain Wright was termined firmness. supposed to have been sacrificed, partly perhaps to The discovery and suppression of this conspiracy Bonaparte's sentiments of petty vengeance, but seems to have produced, in a great degree, the etchiefly to conceal, within the walls of the Temple, fects expected by Bonaparte. The royal party the evidence which his person would have exhibit- became silent and submissive, and, but that their ed in a public court of justice, of the dark and aversion to the reign of Napoleon showed itself in cruel practices by which confession was sometimes lampoons, satires, and witticismns, which were cirextorted. cumlated in their evening parties, it could hardly Bonaparte always alleged his total ignorance have been known to exist. Offers were mrade to concerning the fate of Pichegru and WVright, and Bonaparte to rid him of the remaining Bourbons, in affirmed upon all occasions, that they perished, so consideration of a large sum of money; but with far as he knew, by their own hands, and not by better judgment tlian had dictated his conduct of those of assassins. No proof has ever been pro- late, he rejected the proposal. His interest, lhe dnced to contradict his assertion; and so far as he was now convinced, would be better consulted by is inculpated upon these heads, his crime can be a line of policy whichl should reduce the exiled only matter of strong suspicion. But it was singular family to a state of insignificance, than by any rash that this rage for suicidle should have thus infect- and violent proceedings which must necessarily ed the state prisons of Paris, and that both these draw men's attention, and, in doing so, were likely men, determined enemies of the emperor, should to interest them in behalf of the sufferers; and ani. have adopted the resolution of putting themselves mate them against their powerful oppressor. With to death, just when that event was most convenient this purpose, the names of the exiled family were, to their oppressor. Above all, it mlust be confessed, shortly after this period, carefully suppressed in all that, by his conduct towards the Duke d'Eughien, periodical publications, and withl one or two excepBonaparte had lost that mairmcss of character to tions, little allusion to their existence can be traced which lie might otherwise have appealed, as in itself it the pages of the official journal of France; and LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 345 unquestionably, the policy was wisely adopted shown that either the sudden tempest of ungoverned towards a people so light, and animated so intensely passion, or the rankling feelings of personal hatred, with the interest of the moment, as the French, to could induce himn to take the readiest means of whom the present is a great deal, the future much wreaking the basest, as well as the bloodiest venless, and the past nothing at all. geance. Deep indignation was felt through every Though Georges' part of the conspiracy was dis- country on the Continent, though Russia and Sweden posed of thus easily, the trial of Moreau involved a alone ventured to express their dissatisfaction with much more dangerous task. It was found impossible a proceeding so contrary to the law of nations. The to procure evidence against him, beyond his own court of St Petersburg wvent into state mourning for admission that he had seen Pichegrti twice; and this the Duke d'Enghien, and while the Russian minister admission was coupled with a positive denial that at Paris presented a note to M. Talleyrand, comlie had engaged to be participant in his schemes. A plaining of the violation of the Duke of Baden's majority of the judges seemed disposed to acquit territory, the Russian resident at Ratisbon was inhim entirely, but were cautioned by the president structed to lay before tile Diet of the Empire a IIdmart, that, by doing so, they would force the remonstrance to the same effect. The Swedish government upon violent measures. Adopting this minister did the same. The answer of the French hint, and willing to compromise matters, they de- minister was hostile and offensive. IHe treated with clared Moreau guilty, but not to the extent of a scorn the pretensions of Russia to interfere in the capital crime. He was subjected to imlprisonment affairs of France and Germany, and accused that for two years; but the soldiers continuing to interest power of being desirous to rekindle the flames of war themselves in his fate, Fouch6, who about this time in Europe. This correspondence tended greatly to was restored to the administration of police, inter- inflame the discontents already subsisting betwixt ceded warmly in his favour, and seconded the ap- France and Russia, and was one main cause of plications of Madame Moreau, for a commutation of again engaging France in war with that powerful her husband's sentence. His doom of imprisonment enemy. was therefore exchanged for that of exile; -a mode The Russian and Swedish remonstrance to the of punishment safer for Moreat, considering the late diet produced no effect. Austria was too much incidents in the prisons of state; and more advan- depressed, -Prussia was too closely leagued with tageous for Bonaparte, as removing entirely from France, to be influenced by it; and there were none the. thoughts of the republican party, and of the sol- of the smaller powers who could be expected to diers, a leader, whose military talents brooked provoke the displeasure of the first consul, by secondcomparison with his own, and to whom the public ing the complaint of the violation of the territory of eye would naturally be turned when any cause of Baden. The blood bf the Duke d'Enghein was not, discontent with their present government might in- however, destined to sleep unavenged in his obscure dine them to look elsewhere. Bonaparte thus dwelling. The Duke of Baden himself requested escaped from the consequences of this alarming the matter might be left to silence and oblivion; but conspiracy; and, like a patient whose disease is many of the German potentates felt as men, what brought to a favourable crisis by the breaking of an they dared not, in their hour of weakness, resent as imposthume, he attained additional strength by the princes. It was a topic repeatedly and efficaciously discomfiture of those secret enemies. resumed whenever an opportunity of resistance against the universal conqueror presented itself'; and the perfidy and cruelty of the whole transaction continued to animate new enemies against him, General indignation of Europe in consequence of the until, in the issue, they became strong enough to wor his overthrow. From the various and inconmurder of the Duke d'Enghein.-Russia complains tow. From the various and inconT'alleyrand of the violation of Baden; and, long wita sistent pleas which Bonaparte set up in defence of Sweden, remonstrates in a siote laid before the Geyan his conduct, now attempting to justify, now to apoDiet-brut without effect.-Charges brought by Bona- logize for, now to throw on others, a crime which parte against Mr Drake, and Mr Spencer Smith-who he alone had means and interest to commit, it is are accordingly dismissed from the courts of Munich believed that he felt the death of the Duke d'Enand S~ttgarid.-Seizure-imprisoinment-and dismissal ghien to be the' most reprehensible as well as the of Sir George nRumbold, the British envoy ct aouer most impolitic act in his life. Saxony.-Treachery attempted agaiunst Lord Elgin, by Already aware ofhe pulariy which attached the agents of Bonaparte -Details —Defeated by the to his late cruel proceedings, Bonaparte became exemplary prtdezce of that obleman.-lthese charges desto hirous lato counterbalan proced it by fiings, onaparte publicae brought before the House of Commons, andperemtptorily desilous to counterbalance it by filling the puclic denied by the chancellor of the exchequer. mind with a terrific idea of the schemes of England, which, in framing and encouraging attempts upon BONAPARTE, as we have seen, gained a great ac- his life, drove him to those unusual and extraordinary cession of power by the event of Pichegru's con- acts, which he desired to represent as measures of spiracy. But this was in some measure counter- retaliation. Singular manoeuvres were resorted to balanced by the diminution of character which for the purpose of confirming the opinions which he attached to the kidnapping and murdering the Duke was desirous to impress upon the world. The d'Eughien, and by the foul suspicions arising from imprudence-so at least it seems-of Mr Drake, the mnysterious fate of Pichegru and Wright. He British resident at Munich, enabled Bonaparte to possessed no longer the respect which might be make his charges against England with some speclailmed by a victor and legislator, but had distinctly ciousness. This agent of the British govelrnment _OL. vs. A~-/ 346 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. had maintained a secret correspondence with a Moniteur calls this gentleman the worthy associate person of inifamous character, called Mhde de la of Drake and Spencer Smith, and speaks of disTouche, who, affecting the sentiments of a royalist coveries amongst his papers which were to enlighten and enemy of Bonaparte, was in fact employed by the public on the policy of' England, that nothing the first consul to trepan Mr Drake into expressions precise was alleged against him, even to palliate t e which mnight implicate the English ministers, his outrage which the French ruler had committed. constituents, and furnish grounds for the accusations The tenor of Bonaparte's conduct in another inwhich Bonaparte made against them. It certainly stance, towards a British nobleman of distinction, appears that Mr Drake endeavoured, by the medium though his scheme was rendered;bortive by the of De la Touche, to contrive the means of effecting sagacity of the noble individual against whom it was an insurrection of the royalists, or other enemies of directed, is a striking illustration of' the species of Bonaparte, with whomr this country'was then at intrigue practised by the French police, and enables war; and in doing so, he acted according to the us to form a correct judgment of the kind of evipractice of all belligerent powers, who, on all occa- dence upon which Bonaparte brouglit forward his sions, are desirous to maintain a communication calumnious accusation against Britain and her subwith such malcontents as may exist in the hostile jects. nation. But, unless by the greatest distortion of The Earl of Elgin, lately ambassador of Great phrase and expression, there arises out of the letters Britain at the Porte, had, contrary to the usage not the slightest room to believe that Mr Drake en- among civilized nations, been seized upon with his conraged the party with whom he supposed himself family as he passed through the French territory; to be in correspondence, to proceed by the mode of and, during the period of which we are treating, he assassination, or any others than are compatible was residing upon his parole near Pan, in the south with the law of snations, and acknowledged by of France, as one of the dktents. Shortly after the civilized governments. The error of Mr Drake arrest of Moreau, Georges, etc., an older arrived seems to have been that he was not sufficiently for committing his lordship to close custody, in recautious respecting the sincerity of the person with prisal, it was said, of severities exercised in Engwhoin he maintained his intercourse. Mr Spencer land on the French general Boyer. The truth was, Smith, the British envoy at Stutgard, was engaged in that the affair of General Boyer had been satisfaca similar intrigue, which appears also to have been torily explained to the French government. In the a snare spread for him by the French government. Parisian papers, on the contrary, his lordship's imBonaparte failed not to make the utmost use of prisonment was ascribed to barbarities which he these pretended discoveries, which twere promnul- was said to have instigated against the Fiench prigated with great form by R11gnier, who held the soners of war in Turkey-a charge totally without offce of grand judge. I-lHe invoked the faith of foundation. Lord Elgin was, however, transferred nations, as if the Duke d'Enghien had been still to the strong castle of Lourde, situated on the deresiding in peaceable neutrality at Ettenheim, and scent of the Pyrenees, where the commandant reexclaimed against assassination, as if his state dun- ceived him, though a familiar acquaintance, with geons could not have whispered of the death of the reserve and coldness of an entire stranger. Pichegru. The complaisant sovereigns of Munich Attempts were made by this gentleman and his and Stutgard readily ordered Drake and Smith to lieutenant to exasperate the feelings which must naleave their courts; and the latter was forced to turally agitate the mind of a man torn from the bosom depart on foot, and by cross-roads, to avoid being of his family, and.committed to close custody in a kidnapped by the French gendarmes. - remote fortress, where the accommodation was as The fate which Mr Drake dreaded, and perhaps miserable as the castle itself was gloomy, strong, narrowly escaped, actually befel Sir George Rum- and ominously secluded fiomn the world. They bold, resident at the free German city of Hamburg, failed, however, in extracting friomn their prisoner in the capacity of his British Majesty's envoy to the any expressions of violence or impatience, however Circle of Lower Saxony. On the night of the 25th warranted by the usage to which he was subjected. October, he was seized, in violation of the rights After a fewn days' confinement, a sergeant of the attached by the law of nations to the persons of am- guard delivered to Lord Elgin a letter, the writer of bassadors, as well as to the territories of neutral coun- which informed him, that, being his fellow-prisoner, tries, by a partyofthe French roops,whocrossed the and confined in a secluded dungeor, he regretted Elbe for that purpose. The envoy, with his papers, he could not wait on his lordship, but that when he was then transferred to Paris in the capacity ofa close walked in the court-yard, he could have conversaprisoner, and thrown into the fatal Temple. The tion with him at the window of his room. Justly utmost anxiety was excited even amongst Bona- suspecting this communication, Lord Elgin departe's ministers, lest this imprisonment should be stroyed the letter; and while he gave the sergeant intended as a prelude to further violence; and both a louis-d'or, told him, that if he or any of his comFouch6 and Talleyrand exerted what influence they rades should again bring him any secret letter or possessed over the mind of Napoleon, to prevent message, he would inform the commandant of the the proceedings which were to be apprehended. circumstance. Shortly afterwards, the commandant The King of Prussia also extended his powerful of the fortress, in conversation with Lord Elgin, interposition; and the result was that Sir George spoke of the prisoner in question as a person whose Rumbrld, after two days' imprisonment, was dis- health was suffering for want of exercise; and next Aussed to Erngland, on giving his parole not to return day his lordship saw the individual walking in the to Hamburg. It seems probable, although the court-yard before his window. He manifested f~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~iufse LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 347 every disposition to engage his lordship in conver- and resumed the behaviour of a gentleman. He sation, which Lord Elgin successfully avoided. imputed Lord Elgin's liberation to the favourable A few weeks afterwards, and not till he had been report which he himself and his lieutenant had made subjected to several acts of severity and vexation, of the calm and dignified manner in which his Lord Elgin was permitted to return to Pan. Btt lordship had withstood the artifices which they he was not yet extricated from the nets in which it had been directed to use, with a view of working was the fraudulent policy of the French govern- on his feelings, and leading him into some internperment to involve him. The female, who acted as ance of expression against France or her ruler, portress to his lordship's lodgings, one morning pre- which might have furnished a pretext for treating sented him with a packet, which she said had been him with severity, and for implicating the British left by a woman from the country, who was to call government, in the imprudence of one of her nobles, for an answer. With the same prudence which invested with a diplomatic chnaracter.~ distinguished his conduct at Lourde, Lord Elgin The above narrative forms a singularly luminous detained the portress in the apartment, and found commentary on the practices imputed to Messrs that the letter was from the state prisoner already Drake and Smith, and subsequently to Sir George rmentioned; that it contained an account of his being Rulmbold; nor is it a less striking illustration of the imprisoned for an attempt to burn the French fleet; detention of the unfortunate Captain Wright. With and detailed his plan as one which he had still in one iota less of prudence and presence of mind, view, and which he held out in the colours most Lord Elgin must have been entangled in the snare likely, as he judged, to interest an Englishman. which was so treacherously spread for him. Ilad he The packet also covered letters to the Count d'Ar- even engaged in ten minutes' conversation with tois, and other foreigneas of distinction, which Lord the villanous spy and incendiary, it would have Elgin was requested to forward with his best con- been in the power of such a wretch to represent the venience. Lord Elgin thrust the letters into the fire import after his own pleasure. Or had his lordship in presence of the portress, and kept her in the retained the packet of letters even for half an hour rooni till they were entirely consumedl; explaining in his possession, which he might have most innoto her, at the same time, that such letters to him as cently done, he would probably have been seized might be delivered by any other channel than the with them upon his person; and it must in that case ordinary post, should be at once sent to the go- have been impossible for him to repel such accuvernor of the town. His lordship judged it his far- sations, as Bonaparte would have no doubt founded ther duty to mention to the prefect the conspiracy on a circumstance so suspicious. detailed in the letter, under the condition, however, WVhile Napoleon used such perfidious means, in that no steps should be taken in consequence, un- order to attach, if possible, to a British ambassador less the affair became known from some other of such distinguished rank, the charge of carrying quarter. on intrigues against his person, the British ministers, Some short time after these transactions, and in a tone the most manly and dignified, disclaimed when Bonaparte was appointed to assume the impe- the degrading charges which had been circulated rial crown (at which period there was hope of a against them through Europe. When the topic was general act of grace, which should empty the pri- introduced by Lord Morpeth into the British I-louse sons), Lord Elgin's fellow-captive at Lourde, being, of Commons, by a motion respecting the corresit seems, a real prisoner, as well as a spy, in hopes pondence of Drake, the chancellor of the exchequer of meriting a share in'this measure of clemency, replied, "I thank the noble lord fbr giving me an made a fuill confession of all which he had done or opportunity to repel, openly and courageously, one designed to do against Napoleon's interest. Lord of the most gross and most atrocious calumnies ever Elgin was naturally interested in this confession, fabricated in one civilized nation to the prejudice of which appeared in the Mioniteur, and was a good another. I affirm, that no power has been given, no deal surprised to see that a detail, otherwise minute, instruction has been sent, by this government to any bore no reference to, or correspondence regarding, individual, to act in a manner contrary to the law of the plan of burning the Brest fleet. He lost no time nations. 1 again affirm, as well in my own naume as in writing an account of the particulars we have in that of my colleagues, that we have not authomlentioned to a friend at Paris, by whom they were rized any human being to conduct himself in a communicated to Monsieur Fargues, senator of the manner contrary to the honour of this country, or the district of BWarn, whom these plots particularly dictates of humanity." interested as having his senatorie for their scene. This explicit declaration, made by British minisWhen Lord Elgin's letter was put into his hand, ters in a situation where detected falsehood would the senator cha ged countenance, and presently have proved dangerous to those by whom it was after expressed his high congratulation at what he practised, is to be placed against the garbled corcalled Lord Elgin's providential escape. He then respondence of which the French possessed themintimated, with anxious hesitation, that the whole selves by means violently subversive of the law of was a plot to entrap Lord Elgin; that the letters nations; and which correspondence was the result were written at Paris, and sent down to BEarn by a of intrigues that would never have existed but for confidential agent, with the full expectation that the treacherous suggestions of their own agents. they would be found in his lordship's possession. This was confirmed by the commandant of Lourde, * This account is abstracted from the full details which with whom Lord Elgin had afterwards an unreserv- Lord Elgin did us the honour to communicate in an aujd communication, in which he laid aside the jailer, thenticated manuscript. -I 134.:LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. great note (and who was perhaps selected on that CIIAPTER XLVIII. very account, that his proposal might be disavowed should it meet with unexpected' opposition), took the Napoleonl meditates a change of title from chief consul to lead in this measure, which was to destroy the slight emperor.-A motion to this purpose brought forward and nominal remains of a free constitution which in the Triblunate-Opposed by Carnot-Adopted by the France retained under her present formn of governTribtunate and Senate.-Ouutline of the new system- m-ent. "It was tiiie to bid adieu," lie said, " to Coldly received by the people.-Napoleon visits Boa- political illusions. The internal turanquillity of logne, Aix-la-Chapelle, and the Frontiers of Germlany, France had been regained, peace with foreign states where he is received with respect.-The coronation — s is smoned from Rme to the cerey at had been secured by victory. The fineances of the Pins Vii. is summoned from Rome to the ceremonty at Ptariso-Details.-Reflections.-Chanzges that took place country had been restored, its code of laws renovated in Italy.-Napoleon appoislted Sovereign of Italy, and and re-established. It was time to ascertain the crowtued eat Milan. —Genoa annlexed to France. possession of these blessings to the nation in future, and the orator saw no mode of doing this, save renTIsr time seemed now propitious for Bonaparte dering the supreme power hereditary in the person to make the last remaining movement in the great and family of Napoleon, to wvhom France owed such game, which he had hitherto played with equal skill, a debt of gratitude. This," he stated, "was the uniboldness, and success. The opposing factions of versal desire of the army and-of the people. lie the state lay in a great measure prostrate before invited the Tribunate, therefore, to give effect to the him.'The death of the Duke d'Enghien and of general wish, and hail Napoleon Bonaparte by the Pichegra had intimidated the royalists, while the title of emperor, as that which blest corresponded exile of AMoreau had left the republicans without a with the dignity of the nation." leader. The members of the Tribunate contended with These events, while they greatly injured Bona- each other who should most enhance the merits of parte's character as a man, extended, in a like pro- Napoleon, and prove, in the most logical and rhetoportion, the idea of his power, and of his determi- rical terms, the advantages of arbitrary power over nation to employ it to the utmost extremity against the various modifications of popular or limited gowhosoever might oppose him. This moment, there- vernments. But one man, Carnot, was bold enough fore, of general submission and intimidation, was to oppose the full tide of sophistry and adulation. the fittest to be used for transmuting the military This name is unhappily to be read among the colbaton of the first consul into a sceptre, resembling leaguses of Robespierre in the Revolutionary Comthose of the ancient and established sovereignties of mittee, as well as amongst those who voted for the Europe; and it only remained, for one who could death of the misused and unoff'ending Louis XVI.; now dispose of France as he listed, to dictate the yet his highly honourable conduct in the urgent crisis form and fashion of the new emblem of his sway. now under discussion, shows that f lie zeal for liberty The title of king most obviously presented itself; which led him into such excesses, was genuine and but it was connected with the claims of the Bour- sincere; ard that, in point of firmness and public bons, which it was not Bonaparte's policy to recal spirit, Carnot equalled the ancient patriots whom to remembrance. That of emperor implied a yet he aspired to imlitate. His speech was as temperate higher power of sovereignty, and there existed no and expressive as it was eloquent. Bonaparte, lie completitor who could challenge a claim to it. It admiiitted, had saved France, and saved it by the was a novelty also, and flattered the French love assumption of absolute power; but this he contended of change; and though, in fact, the establishment was ouly the temporary consequence of a violent of an empire was inconsistent with the various oaths crisis of the kind to which republics were subject, taken against royalty, it was not, in terms, so di- and the evils of which could only be stemmed by a rectly contradictory to themr. As the re-establish- remedy equally violent. The present head of' the ineat of a kingdom, so far it was agreeable to those government was, he allowed, a dictator; but in wlho might seek, not indeed how to keep their vows, the same sense in which Fabius, Camilluu, and but how to elude, in words at least, the charge of Cincinnatus, were so of yore, who retired to the having broken them. To Napoleon's own ear, the condition of private citizens when they had accornword king might sound as if it restricted his power plished the purpose foir which temporary supremacy within the limits of the ancient kingdom; while that had been intrusted to theim. T'he like was to be of emperor might comprise donminions equlal to the expected from Bonaparte, who, on entering on the wide sweep of ancient Rome herself, and the bounds government of the state, had invested it with repulbof the habitable earth alone could be considered as lican forms, which he had taken a solemn oath to circuurnscribing their extent. umaintain, and which it was the object of Ctlre's The mnain body of the nation being passive or in'- motion to invite himn to violate. He allowed that tinmidated, there was no occasion to stand upon much the various republican forms of France had been ceremony with the constitutional bodies, the metun- foulnd deficient in stability, which he contended was bers of vhich were selected and paid by Bonaparte owing to the tempestuous period in which they had himself; held their posts at his pleasure, had every been adopted, and the excited and irritable temper species of advancement to hope if they promnoted of men fired with political animosity, and incapable 1;; schemes: and every evil, of which the least at the mnloment of steady or philosophical reflection would be deprivation of office, to expect, should but he appealed to the United States of America, as they thwart him. an example of a democratical government, equally On the 30th of April, 1804, Curde, an orator of no wise, vigorous, and permanent: He admlitted the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 4Si| virtues and talents of the present governor of France, peror's direc~ descendants. Failing these, Napoleon, but contended that these attributes could not be ren- might adopt the sons or grandsons of his brothers, dered hereditary along with the throne. He re- to succeed him in such order as he might point out. minded the Tribunate that Domitian had been the In default of such adoptive heirs, Joseph and Louis son of the wise Vespasian, Caligula of' Germanicus, Bonaparte were, in succession, declared the lawful and Commodus of Marcus Aurelius. Again he heirs of the empire. Lucien and Jr&nbme Bonaparte asked, whether it was not wronging Bonaparte's were excluded from this rich inheritance-, as they glory to substitute a new title to that which he had had both disobliged Napoleon by marrying without rendered so illustrious, and to invite and tempt him his consent. to become the instrument of destroying the liberties 2d, The members of the imperial family were of the very country to which he had rendered such declared Princes of tile Blood, and by the decree inestimable services? He then announced the uri- of the Senate, the offices of Grand Elector, Archi. deniable proposition, that what services soever an chancellor of the Empire, Archchancellor of State, individual might render to the state of which he was High Constable, and Grand Admiral of the Empire, a member, there were bounds to public gratitude were established as necessary appendages of the prescribed by honour as well as reason. If a citizen emp iire. These dignitaries, named of course by the had the means of operating the safety, or restoring emperor himself, consisting of his relatives, conthe liberty of his country, it could not be termed a nexions, and most faithful adherents, formed hil becoming recompense to surrender to him that very grand council. The rank of Marshal of' the Emliberty, the re-establishment of which had been his pire was conferred upon seventeen of the most own work. Or what glory, he asketd, could accrue distinguished generals, comprehending Jourdan, Auto the selfish individual, who should claim the str- gereau, and others, formerly zealous republicans. render of his country's independence in requital Duroc was named Grand Marshal of the Palace; of his services, and desire to convert the state which Caulaincourt, Master of.the Horse; Berthier, Grand his talents had preserved into his own private patri- Huntsman; and the Count de S&gur, a nobleman of mony? the old court, Master of Ceremonies. Carnot concluded his manly and patriotic speech Thus did republican forms, at length and finally, by declaring, that though he opposed oh grounds of give way to those of a court; and that nation, whichl conscience the alteration of government which had no moderate or rational degree of freedom would been proposed, lie would, nevertheless, should it be satisfy, now contentedly, or at least passively, as. adopted by the nation, give it his unlimited obe- sumed the yoke of a mnilitary despot. France, dience. He kept his word accordingly, and retired in 1792, had been like the wild elephant in his fits to a private station, in poverty most honourable to of fury, when to oppose his course is death; in 1t04, a statesman who had filled the highest offices of the she was like the same animal tamed and trained, state, and enjoyed the most unlimited power of who kneels down and suffers himself to be mounted amassing wealth. by the soldier, whose business is to drive him into When his oration was concluded, there was a the throng of the battle. contention for precedence among the tilne-serving Measures were taken, as on former occasions, to speakers, who were each desirous to take the lead preserve appearances, by obtaining, in show at least, in refuting the reasoning of Carnot. It'would be the opinion of the people, on this radical change of tedious to trace them through their sophistry. The their system. Government, however, were already leading argument turned upon the talents of Bona- confident of their approbation, which, indeed, had parte, his services rendered to France, and the ne- never been refused to atly of the various constitucessity there was for acknowledging them by some- tions, however inconsistent, that had succeeded thing like a proportionate act of national gratitude. each other with such rapidity. Secure on this point, Their eloquence resembled nothing so nearly as the Bonaparte's accession to the empire was proclaimpleading of a wily procuress, who ende,.,ours to ed with the greatest pomp, without waiting to inpersuade some simple maiden, that the services quire whether the people approved of his promrotion rendered to her by a liberal and gallant admirer or otherwise. The proclamation was coldly recan only be rewarded by the sacrifice of her honour. ceived, even by the populace, and excited little The speaking (for it could neither be termed debate enthusiasm. It seemed, according to some writers, nor deliberation) was prolonged for three days, after as if the shades of D'Enghein and Pichegru had which the motion of Curle was adopted by the been present invisibly, and spread a damp over the Tribunate, witliout one negative voice excepting ceremony. The emperor was recognized by the that of the inflexible Carnot. soldiery with more warmth He visited the enThe Senate, to whom the Tribunate hastened to campments at Boulogne, with the intention, appapresent their project of establishing despotism under rently, of receiving such an acknowledgment frolm its own undisguised title, hastened to form a sena- the troops as was paid by the ancient Franks to tus-consultum, which established the new constitu- their monarchs, when they elevated them on their tion of France. The outline,-for what would it bucklers. Seated on an iron chair, said to have serve to trace the minute details of a design sketch- belonged to King Dagobert, he took his place beed in the sand, and obliterated by the tide of subse- tween two immense camps, having before him tile quent events,-was as follows:- Channel and the hostile coasts of Englaiid. The 1st, Napoleon Bonapartewas declared hereditary weather, we have been assured,. had been tenmEmperor of the French nation. The empire was Ipestuous, but no sooner had the emperor assumed I made hereditary, first in the male line of the em- his seat, to receive the homage of his shonting host, ~.. | 3X0 LIFE OF NAPOLtEON BONAPARTE.X than the sky cleared, and the wind dropt, retaining vember, he met Bonaparte at Fontainebleau; and just breath sufficient gently to wave the banners. the conduct of the Emperor Napoleon was as stuEven the elements seemed to acknowledge the im- diously respectful towards him, as that of Charlelperial dignity, all save the sea, which rolled as magne, whom he was pleased to call his predecessor, carelessly to the feet of Napoleon as it had formerly could have been towards Leo. done towards those of Canute the Dane. On the 2d December, the coronation took place in The emperor, accompanied with his empress, thle ancient cathedral of Notre Dame, with the addiwho bore her honours both gracefully and meekly, tion of every ceremony which could be devised to add visited Aix-la-Chapelle, and the frontiers of Ger- to its solemnity. Yet we have been told that the multimany. They received the congratulations of all the tude did not participate in the ceremonial with that powers of Europe, excepting England, Russia, and eagerness which characterises the inhabitants of all Sweden, upon their new exaltation; and the Ger- capitals, but especially those of Patis, upon similar man princes, who had everything to hope and fear occasions. They had, within a very few years, seen fron so powerful a neighbour, hastened to pay their so many exhibitions, processions, and festivals, escompliments to Napoleon in person, which more tablished on the most discordant principles, which, distant sovereigns offered by their ambassadors. though announced as permanent and unchangeable, But the most splendid and public recognition of had successively given way to newer doctrines, that his new rank was yet to be made, by the formal act they considered the splendid representation before of' coronation, which, therefore, Napoleon deter- them as an unsubstantial pageant, which would fade mined should take place with circumstances of so- away in its turn. Bonaparte himself seemed absent lemnity, which had been beyond the reach of any and gloomy, till recalled to a sense of his grandeur temporal prince, however powerful, for many ages. by the voice of the numerous deputies and functionHis policy was often marked by a wish to revive, aries sent up from all the several departments of imitate, and connect his own titles and interest France, to witness the coronation. These functionwith some ancient observance of former days; as aries had been selected with due attention to their if the novelty of his claims could have been ren- political opinions; and many of them holding offices dered more venerable by investing them with anti- under the government, or expecting benefits from, quated forms, or as men of low birth, when raised the emperor, made up, by the zealous vivacity of to wealth and rank, are sometimes desirous to con- their acclamations, for the coldness of the good citiceal the obscurity of their origin under the blaze of zens of Paris. heraldic honours. Pope Leo, he remembered, had The emperor took his coronation oath, as usual placed a golden crown on the head of Charle- on such occasions, with his hands upon the Scripmagne, and plroclaimed him Emperor of the Romans. ture, and in the folrm in which it was repeated to Piuts VII., he determined, should do the same for a him by the pope. But in the act of coronation successor to much more than the actual power of itself, there was a marked deviation from the uniCharlemagne; but though Charlemagne had repaired versal custom, characteristic of the man, the age, -to Rome to receive inauguration from the hands of and the conjuncture. In all other similar solemnithe pontiff of that day, Napoleon resolved that he who ties, the crown had been placed on the sovereign's now owned the proud, and in protestant eyes profane, head by the presiding spiritual person, as representtitle of Vicar of Christ should travel to France to per- ing the Deity, by whorn princes rule. But not even form the coronation of the successful chief; by whom front the head of the catholic church would Bonathe See of Rome had been more than once humbled, parte consent to receive as a boon the golden sympillaged, and impoverished, but by whom also her bol of sovereignty, which he was sensible he owed power had been re-erected and restored, not only in solely to his own unparalleled train of military and Italy, but in France itself. civil successes. The crown having been blessed by Humiliating as the compliance with Bonaparte's the pope, Napoleon took it from the altar with his request must have seemed to the more devoted ca- own hao1qs, and placed it on his brows. He then tholics, Pins VII. had already sacrificed to obtain put the diadem on the head of his empress, as if the Concordat, so much of the power and privileges determined to show that his authority was the child of the Roman See, that he could hardly have been of his own actions. Te Dezem was sung; the justified if he had run the risk of losing the advan- heralds (for they also had again come into fashion) tages of a treaty so dearly pur'chased, by declining proclaimed, " that the thrice glorious and thrice to incur some personal trouble, or, it might be august Napoleon, Emperor ojf the French, was termned, some direct self-abasement. The pope, crowned and installed." Thus concluded this reand the cardinals whom he consulted, implored the markable ceremony. Those who remember having illumination of Heaven upon their cotncils; but it beheld it, must now doubt whether they were was the stern voice of necessity which assured waking, or whether fancy had framed a vision so thel, tlhat, except at the risk of dividing the church dazzling in its appearance, so e xtraordinary in its oria schism, they could not refuse to comply with gin and progress, and so ephemleral in its endturace. Bonaparte's requisition. The pope left Rome on The very day before the ceremony of coronation thie 5fh November. He was everywhere received (that is, on the 1st of December), the Senate had on the road with the highest respect, and most pro- waited upon the emperor with the result of the Iobnd veneration; the Alpine precipices themselves votes collected in the departments, which, till that had been secured by parapets wherever they could time, had been taken for granted. Upwards of txp)Ose tie holy Father of the Catholic Church to three millions five hundred thousand citizens had allnger,,r even apprehension. Upon the 25th No- given their votes on this occasion; of whom only LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 35l about three thousand five hundred had declared not vote, must be held to have acquiesced in the against the proposition. The\vice-president, Neuf- opinion expressed by the majority of such as did. chiteau, declared, "' this report was the unbiassed This argument, being directly contrary to the pre. expression of the people's choice. No government sumption of law in all similar cases, is not more could plead a title more authentic." valid than the defence of the soldier, who, accused This was the established language of the day; but of having stolen a necklace firorr an image of' the when the orator went farther, and mentioned the Virgin, replied to the charge, that lie had first asked measure now adopted as enabling Bonaparte to the Madonna's permission, and, receiving no answer, guide into port the vessel of the Republic, one had taken silence for consent. would have thought there was more irony than In another point of view, it must be remembered compliment in the expression. that this vote, by which Napoleon claimed the absoNapoleon replied, by promises to employ the lute and irredeemable cession of the liberties of power which the unanimous consent of the Senate, France in his favour, was not a jot more solemn than the people, and the army, had contferred upon him, those by which the people had previously sanctioned for the advantage of that nation which he himself, the constitutional monarchy of 1791, the Republic of writing from fields of battle, had first saluted with 1792, the Directory of 1795, and the consular governthe title of the Great. He promised, too, in name ment of 1799. Now, either the vote upon all those ocof his dynasty, that his children should long preserve casions was binding and permanent, or it was capable the throne, and be at once the first soldiers in the of being denied and recalled at the pleasure of the army of France, and the first magistrates among her people. If the former was the case, then the people citizens. had no right, in 1804, to resume the votes they had As every word on such an occasion was scrupu- given, and the' oaths they had sworn, to the first lously silted and examined, it seemed to some that form of government in 1791. The others which they this promise, which Napoleon volunteered in behalf sanctioned in its stead, were, in consequence, mere of children who had as yet no existence, intimated usurpations, and that now attempted the most Paa meditated change of consort, since from his present grant of all, since three constitutions, each resting on empress he had no longer any hope of issue. Others the popular consent, were demolished, and three censured the prophetic tone in which he announced sets of oaths broken and discarded, to make room what would be the fate and conduct of unborn for the present model. Again, if the people, in beings, and spoke of a reign, newly commenced, swearing to one constitution, retained inalienably under the title of a dynasty, which is usually applied tile right of substituting another whenever they to a race of' successive princes. I thought proper, the Imperial Constitution remained We pause for a moment to consider the act of at their ilercy as much as those that preceded it; popular accession to the new government, because i and then on what could Bonaparte rest the inviolathere, if alywhere, we are to look for something bility of his authority, guarded with such jealous like a legal right, in virtue of which Napoleon might precaution, and designed to descend to his succesclaim obedience. He hilmselif, when pleading his sors, without any future appeal to the people? The own cause after his fall, repeatedly rests his right dynasty which he supposed himself to have planted to be considered and treated as a legitimate monarch, was in that case not thIe oak-tree which le concei ed iupon tile fact that he was called to the crown by the it, but, held during the good pleasure of a fickle voice of the people. people, rather resembled the thistle, whose unsubWe vwill not stop to inquire how the registers, in startial crest rests upon the stalk only so long as the which the votes of the citizens were enrolled, were wind shall not disturb it. Managed by the fIunctionaries who had tie charge But we leave these considerations; nor do we stop of them;-it is only necessary to state in passing, to inquire how many, amid the three millions and upthat these returning officers were in general acces- i wards of voters, gave an unwilling signature, which sible to the influence of government, and that there they would have refused if they had dared, nor how was no possibility of instituting any scrutiny into the - many more attached' no greater consequence to the authenticity of the returns. Neither will we repeat, act than to a piece of formal complaisance, which that instead of waiting for tile event of the popular every government expected in its turn, and whichls vote, he had accepted of the empire from the Senate, bound the subject no longer than the ruler had and had been proclaimed emperor accordingly. i means to enforce his obedience. Another and more Waiving those circumstances entirely, let it be re- formidable objection remains behind, which permembered, that France is usually reckoned to con- v! aded the whole pretended surrender by tire French tain upwards of thirty millions of inhabitants, and nation of their liberties, and rendered it void, null, that three millions five hundred thousand, only, and without force or effect whatsoever. It was, gave their votes. T'his was not a third part, deduct- from the commencement, what jurists call a pactlon ing women and children, of those who had a title to in illicito:-the people gave that which they had express their opinion, where it was to be held deci- I no right to surrender, and Bonaparte accepted that sive of the greatest change which the state could which he had no title to take at their hands. In most undergo; and it must be allowed that the authority instances of despotic usurpation-we need'only look of so limited a portion of the people is far too small at the case of CUsar-the popular party have been to bind the remainder. We have heard it indeed made the means of working out their own servitude; argued, that the question having been formally put! the government being usurped by some demagogue to the nation at large, every one was under an obli- who acted in their name, and had the art to make gation to make a specific reply; and they who did their own hands the framiers of their own chains. 352 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. BTut though such consent on the part of the peopl.e, serving that shrewd politicians have been of opinion, elicited hfoin all excess of partial confidence or of'that sovereigns who have only a questionable right gratitude, may have rendered such encroachments to their authority, are compelled, were it but for on tile freedom of the state more easy, it did not their own sakes, to govern in such a mariner as to and:l could not render it in any case more legal. The make the country {iel its advantage in submitting to ir lits of a fi-ee peoplle are theirs to enjoy, but not their government. We grant willingly, that in mllch tlieils to alienate or surrender. The people are of his internal adminlistration Bonaparte showed that i:n this respect like minors, to whom law assures lie desired to have no advantage separate from that their property, but invests them with no title to giv e of France; that he conceived her interests to be it asway or consumane it; the nationalprivileges are an connected with his own glory; that le expended his estate eitailed from generation to generation, and wealth in ornamenting the empire, and not upon lthey can neither be the subject of gift, exchange, nor objects mnore immediately personal to himself. We slr,'ender, by those who enjoy the usufruct or tern- have no doubt that lie had more pleasure in seeing o>rar y possession of them. No man is lord even of treas-ures of art added to the Muiseum, than in hanghis person, to the effect of surrendering his life or ing them on the walls of his own palace; and that liiibs to the mercy of another; the contract of the lie spoke truly, when asserting that he grudged JoMerchant of Venice would now be held null fi-om the s6plline the expensive plants with which she decobeginning in any court of justic'e in Europe. But alr rated her residence at Mallnaison, because her taste mtore should the report of 1804, upon Bonaparte's interfered with the prosperity of the public botanical election, be esteemed totally void, since it involved garden of Paris. We allow, therefore, that Bonathe cession on the part of the French people of that I parte fullly identified himself with the country which which ought to have been far more dear to themt, and hie had rendered his patrimony; and that while it held more inalienable, than the pound of flesh xnear- should be called by his name, he was desirous of ilest the heart, or the very heart itself. vesting it with as miiuch external splendour, and as As the people of France had no right to resign much internal prosperity, as his gigantic schemes their own liberties, and that of their posterity, fbor were able to compass. No doubt it may be said, so ever, so Bonaparte could not legally avail himself completely was the country identified with its of their prodigal and imprudent cession. If a blind ruler, that as France had inothing but what belonged man give a piece of gold by mistake instead of a 1 to its emperor, he was in fact improving his own piece of silver, he who receives it acquires no legal estate when he advanced her public works, and title to the sulrplus value. If an ignorant man enter could no more be said to lose sight of his own inunwittingly into an illegal compact, his signature, terest, than a private gentleman does, who neglects though voluntary, is not binding upon him. It is his garden to ornament his park. But it is not fair true, that Bonaparte had rendered the highest ser- to press the motives of human nature to their last vices to France, by his Italian campaigns in the first retreat, in which something like a taint of self ininstance, and afterwards by that wonderfill train of terest may so often be discovered. It is enough to success which followed his return from Egypt. Still, reply, that the selfishness which embraces the inthe services yielded by a subject to his native land, terests of' a whole kingdom is of a kind so liberal, like the duty paid by a child to a parent, cannot so extended, and so refined, as to be closely allied render him creditor of the country, beyond the to patriotism; and that the good intentions of Bo. amount which she has legal means of discharging. naparte towards that France, over which he ruled If France had received the highest benefits ftiol with despotic sway, can be no more doubted, than Bonaparte, she had in return raised him as high as thie affections of an arbitrary father, whose object it any subject could be advanced, and had, indeed, in is to make his son prosperous and happy, to which her reckless prodigality of gratitude, given, or suf lie annexes as the only condition, that le shall be fered hinm to assume, the very despotic authority, i implicitly obedient to every tittl.e of' his will. The which this compact of whith we treat was to conso- Im isibitune is, however, that arbitrary power is in lidate and sanction under its real name of einpire. itself a faculty, which, whether exercised over a Here, therefore, we close the argument; concluding, kingdoni, or in the bosom of a faimily, is apt to be the pretended vote of the French people to be totally used with caprice rather than judgnient, and beinull, both as regarding the subjects who yielded comes a slalre to those who possess it, as well as a their privileges, and the empteror who accepted of burthen to those over whom it extends. A father, their surrender-. The former could not give away for example, seeks the happiness of his son, while he rights which it was not lawful to resign, the latter endeavours to assure his fortunes, by compelling coulld not accept an authority which it was unlawful hliili to enter into a mercenary and reluctant marto exercise. riage; and Bonaparte conceived himself to be beneAn apology, or rather a palliation; of Bonaparte's fiting as well as aggrandising Franlce, when, preferusurpation, has been set up by himself and his more ring the splenldour of conquest to the blessings of ardeint admlil ers, and we are desirous of giving to it peace, he led the flower of ther young Inen to perish all the weight which it shall be found to deserve.. in foieign fields, and finally was the in meanls of her'hey huave said, and with great reason, that Bona-:.bilg delivered up, drained of her population, to the parte, viewed ill his general conduct, was no selfish mnercy of the foreign invaders, whose resentment his usurper, and that the mode in which he acquired uhmitmion had provoked. his power was gilded over by the use which he Such are thile considerations which naturally rise made of it. This is true; for we will not underrate ou~t of Napoleon's final and avowed assumption of the nmerits which Napoleon thus acquired, by oh- tile absolute power, which he had in reality possess LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.i | ed and exercised ever since hle had been created ployed on this second occasion, although, as Pills first consul for life. It was soon after madte mani- VII. was then on his return to Rome, he could fest, that France, enlarged and increased in strength scarcely have declined officiating, if he had been as she had been under his auspices, was yet too requested by Bonaparte to take Milan in his route narrow a sphere for his domination. Italy afforded for that purpose. Perhaps it was thought too harsh the first illustration of his grasping ambition. to exact from the pontiff the consecration of a King The northern states of Italy had followed the of Italy, whose very title implied a possibility that example of France through all her change of mo- his dominion might be oue day extended, so as to dels. They had become republican in a directorial include tile patrimony of St Peter. Perhaps, and form, when Napoleon's sword conquered them from we rather believe it was the case, some cause of the Austrians; had changed to an establishment dissatisfaction had already occurred betwixt Naposimilar to tthe consular, when that was instituted in leon and Pius VII. However this rlay be, the Paris by the 18th Brumaire; and were now destin- ministry of the Archbishop of Milan was held suffied to receive, as a king, him who had lately ac- cient for the occasion, and it was he who blessed cepted and exercised with regal authority the office the celebrated ilon crown, said to have girded the of their president. brows of the ancient kings of the Lornbards. BonaThe authorities of the Italian (late Cisalpine) Re- parte, as in the ceremony at Paris, placed the anpublic had a prescient guess of what was expected cient emblem on his head with his own hands, of them. A deputation appeared at Paris, to dle- assuming and repeating aloud the haughty motto clare the absolute necessity which they felt, that attached to it by its ancient owners, Dieu me la thei r gtvernment should assume a monarchical and donne; gare a qzi he touche.+ hereditary form. On the 17th March, they obtained The new kingdom was, in all respects, modeled an audlience of the emperor, to whom they intimated on the same plan with the French empire. An order, the unanimous desire of their countrymen, that Na- called " of the Iron Crown," was established on )ipoleon, fotunder of the Italian Republic, should be the footing of that of the Legion of Honour. A large monarch of the Italian Kingdom. He was to have French force,was taken into Italian pay, and power to name his successor, such being always a Eltgene Beanlharnais, the son of Josephine by her native of France or Italy. With an affectation of former marriage, who enjoyed and merited the conjealous independence, however, the authors of this fidence of his father-in-law, was created viceroy, "humlrble petition and advice" stipulated, that the and appointed to represent, in that character, the crowns of France and Italy should never, save in dignity of Napoleon. tile present instance, be placed on the head of the Napoleon did not leave Italy without farther exsame amonarch. Napoleon might, during his life, tension of his empire. Genoa, once the proud and devolve the sovereignty of Italy on one of his de- the powerful, resigned her independence, and her scendants, either natural or adopted; but it was doge presented to the emperor a request that the anxiously stipulated, that such delegation should Ligurian Republic, laying down her separate rights, not be made during the period while'France con- should be considered in future as a part of the tinued to occupy tile Neapolitan territories, the Rus- French nation. It was but lately that Bonaparte had sians Corfu, arid the British Malta. declared to the listening Senate, that the boundaries Bonaparte granted the petition of the Italian of France were permanently fixed, and should not States, and listened with indulgence to their jealous be extended for the comprehension of future conscruples. Hle agreed with them, that the separation quests. It is farther true, that, by a solemn alliance of the crowns of France and Italy, which might be with France, Genoa had placed her arsenals and useful to their descendants, would be in the highest harbours at the disposal of the French government; degree dangerous to themselves; and therefore he engaged to supply her powerful ally with six thouconsented to bear the additional burthen which their sand sailors, and ten sail of the line, to be equipped love and confidence imposed, at least until the in- at her own expense; and that her independence, or terest of his Italian subjects should permit him to such a nominal share of that inestimable privilege place the crown on a younger head, who, animated as was consistent with her connexion with this by his spirit, should, he engaged, "be ever ready formidable power, had been guaranteed by France. to sacrifice his life for the people over whom he But neither the charge of inconsistency with his own should be called to reign, by Providence, by the public declarations, nor consideration of the solemn constitution of the country, and by the will of Na- treaty acknowledging the Ligurian Republic,. prepoleon." In announcing this new acquisition to the vented Napoleon from availing himself of the pretext French Senate, Bonaparte made use of an expres- afforded by the petition of the doge. It was. convesion so singularly audacious, that to utter it requir- nient to indulge the city and government, of Genoa ed almost as much courage as to scheme one of his in their wish to become an integral part of the Great? most daring campaigns. " The power and majesty Nation. Bonaparte was well aware that, by. of the French empire," lie said, " are surpassed by recognizing them as a department of France,.he was' the moderation which presides over her- political augmenting the jealousy of Russiasand Austria,. who transactions." had already assumed a threatening front towards. Upon the 11th April, Napoleon, with his empress, him; but, as he visited the splendid city of the, set off to go through the form of coronation, as King Dorias, and saw its streetsofomarble palaces, ascendof Italy. The ceremony almost exactly resembled that by which he had been inaugurated emperor. * God has given it me; Let him beware who would The ministry of the pope, howuever, was not em- touch Wt. L... I. 354 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. ing from and surrounding its noble harbours, he was string of general propositions, which, Affirmed on the heard to exclaim, that such a possession was well one si(le, and undisputed on the other, left the quesworth the risks of war. The success of one mighty plan tion between the belligerent powers as undecided as only induced him to form another; and while he was formerly. The question was, not whether peace was conscious that he was the general object of jealousy desirable, but on what terns it was offered, or could and suspicion to Europe, Napoleon could not refrain be obtained. If Bonaparte, while stating, as he from encroachments, which necessarily increased and might have been expected to do, that the jealousies perpetuated such hostile sentiments towards him. entertained by England of his power were unjust, had agreed, that, for the tranquillity of Europe, the weal of both nations, and the respect-in which he CHAPTER XLIX. held the character of the monarch whom he addressed, Malta should remain with Britain in perNapoleon addresses a second letter to the King of Eng- petuity, or for a stipulated period, it would have land personally-The folly and inconvenienca of this innovation discussed-Answered by the British secre- given a serious turn to his overture, which was at innovation discussed —Answered by the British secretary of state to Talleyrand.-Allianee formed betwixt as wague in its tendency, as it was nusua Russia and England.-Prussia keeps aloof, and the Emperor Alexa~nder visits Berlin.-Austria prepares The answer to his letter, addressed by the British for woar, and marches an army into Bavaria-Her im- secretary of state to Talleyrand, declared, that Bripolicy in prematurely commencing hostilities, and in tain could not make a precise reply to the proposal her conduct to Bavaria.- Unsoldierlike conduct of the of peace intimated in Napoleon's letter, until she Austrian general, Mack. —Bonaparte is joined by the had communicated with her allies on the Continent, Electors of Bavaria and Wirtemberg, and the Duke of and in particular with the Emperor of Russia. Baden.-Skilful matcezuvres of the French general, and These expressions indicated, what was already successive losses of the Austrians.-Napoleon violates well known to Bonaparte, the darkening of another the neutrality of Prussia, by marching through Anspach continental storm, about-to be directed against his and Bareuth.-Further losses of the Austrian leaders, On this occasion, and consequent disunion among them.-Mack is cooped. O n this occasion, tlssia was the soul or up in mIsses a formidale declario on the the confederacy. Since the death of the unlfortmunate up in ULtm-Issues a formidable declaration on the 16th October-and surrenders on the following day.- Paul had placed that mighty country under the goFatal results of this man's poltroonery, want of skill, vernment of a wise and prudent prince, whose edland probable treachery. cation had been sedulously cultivated, and who had profited in an eminent degree by that advantage, her BONAPARTE, consul, had affected to give a direct counsels had been dignified, wise, and moderate. testimony of his desire to make peace, by opening She had offered her mediation betwixt the belligea communication immediately and personally with rent powers, which, accepted willingly by Great the King of Great Britain. Bonaparte, emperor, Britain, had been somewhat haughtily declined by had, according to his own interpretation of his France, whose ruler was displeased, doubtless, to proceedings, expiated by his elevation all the crimes find that power in the hands of a sharp-sighted and of the Revolution, and wiped out forever the memory sagacious sovereign, which, when lodged in those of of those illusory visions of liberty and equality, Paul, lie might reckon upon as at his own disposal, which had alarmed such governments as continued through his influence over that weak and partial to rest their authority on the ancient basis of legiti- monarch. macy. He had, in short, according to his own From this time there was coldness betwixt the belief', preserved in his system all that the Republic French and Russian governments. The murder of had produced of good, and done away all the me- the Duke d'Enghien increased the misunderstanding. mory of that which was evil. The Emperor of Russia was too high-spirited to With such pretensions, to say nothing of his ab- view this scene of perfidy and violence in silence; 9alute power, hehastened to claim admission among and as he not only remonstrated with Bonaparte the acknowledged princes of Europe; and a second himself, but appealed to the German Diet on the viotime (27th January, 1805), by a letter addressed to lation of the territories of the empire, Napoleon, unKing George III., personally, under the title of used to have his actions censured and condemned by "Sir, my brother," endeavoured to prove, by a others, how powerful soever, seems to have regardstring of truisms,-on the preference of a state ed the Emperor Alexander with personal dislike. of peace to war, and on the reciprocal grandeur Russia and Sweden, and their monarchs, became of France and England, both advanced to the the subjects of satire and ridicule in the Monitevlr; highest pitch of prosperity,-that the hostilities and, as every one kneiw, such arrows were never between the nations ought to be ended. discharged without Bonaparte's special authority. We have already stated the inconveniences which The latter prince withdrew his ambassador from must necessarily attach to a departure from'the usual Paris,, and in a public note, delivered to the French course of treating between states, and to the trans- envoy at Stockholm, expressed his surprise at the ference of the discussions usually intrusted.to inferior "indecent and ridiculous insolencies which Monand responsible agents, to those who are themselves sieur Napoleon Bonaparte had permitted to be inat the head of the nation. But if Napoleon had been serted in the Moniteur." Gustavus was, it is true, serious in: desiring peace, and saw any reason for of an irregular and violent temper, apt to' undertake directly communicating with the English king rather plans, to the achievement of which the strengthl of than with the English government, he ought to have his kingdom was inadequate; yet he would scarcely:made his proposal something more specific than a have expressed himself with so little veneration for LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 355 the most formidable authority in Europe, had he not of Europe. The councils, therefore, of Prussia were been confident in the support of the czar. In fact, divided; and though those which were favourable on the 10th of January, 1805, the King of Sweden to France prevailed so far as to prevent her immehad signed a treaty of close alliance with Russia; diately becoming a member of the coalition, yet, by and, as a necessary consequence, on the 31st of i ncreasing her army to the war establishment, and October following, he published a declaration of marching forces towards the country which appearedl wvar against France, in terms personally insulting to about to become the scene of hostilities, Prussia Napoleon. gave plain intimation that the continuance of her Russia and England, in the meantime, had en- neutrality depended upon the events of war. gaged in an alliance, the general purpose of which To animate her councils, if possible, with a more wats to form a league upon the continent, to compel t decided spirit, Alexander visited the court of Berlin the French government to consent to the re-esta- I in person. He was received with the utmost disblishmellt of the balance of Europe. The objects I tinction, and both the King of Prussia and his beauproposed were briefly the independence of Holland i tiful antd interesting queen, gave manifest tokens of anrd Switzerland; the evacuation of Hanover and the share they took personally in the success of the the north of Germany by the French troops; the alliance. An oath was taken by the two sovereigns restoration of Piedmont to the King of Sardinia; and at the tomb of the great Frederick, by which they the complete evacuation of Italy by the French. are said to have devoted themselves to the liberation These were gigantic schemes, for which suitable of Germany,-a vow which, though at a distant eforts were to be nmade. Five hundred, thl!osancd i period, they amply redeemed. Still, whatever might men were to be employed; and Britain, besides af- be the personal opinions of the King of Prussia, the frding the assistance of her forces by sea and land, counsels of Haugwitz continued to influence his was to pay large subsidies for supporting the armies cabinet; and the emperor withdrew from Berlin, of' the coalition. to place himself at the head of his troops, while the Great Britain and Russia were the animating Prussian monarch, assembling an army of observasources of this new coalition against France; but it tion, assumed the menacing air of a neutral who Nwas impossible, considering the insular situation of feels himself able to turn the scale in faLvour of the first of those powers, and the great distance of either of the belligerent powers at his pleasure. thf.e second from the scene of action, that they alone, This was not the moment for Bonaparte to take without the concurrence of the Emperor of Austria offence at these demonstrations, as the doing. so and the King of Prussia, should be able to assail might convert a doubtful friend into an avowed and France with any prospect of making a successful dete:mined enemy. But the dubious policy of iression. Every effort, therefore, was used to i Prussia was not forgotten,-it- was carefully treaawaken those states to a sense of the daily repeated sured in Napoleon's memory, as that for which she'encroachments of Bonaparte, and of the extreme i was to be called to account at a fittulre period. In (langer to which they were respectively exposed by the meantime le had the full advantage of her hesi. tini rapidly increasing extent of his empire. tating councils and doubtful neutrality. Bult since the unsuccessfiul campaign of the yearI Austria was more accessible to the application of 1 192, Prussia had observed a cautious and wary the allies. Notwithstanding the disasters of the neutrality. She had seen, not perhaps without last two wars, the loss of a large portion of Italy, secret pleasure, the huniliation of Austria, her na- the disasters of Bellegarde, Alvinzi, and Wurmser, tulral rival in Germany, and she had taken many and the disastrous defeats of Marengo and Hohenolpportunities to make acquisition of petty objects of linden, the extent and military character of her aidvantage, in consequence of the various changes population, amongst whom a short interval of peace uplon the Continent; so that she seemed to find her was sufficient to recruit the losses of the most bloody own interest in the successes of France. It is ima- war, —above all, the haughlty determination of a.ilned, also, that Bonaparte had found some of her cabinet remarkable for the tenacity with which they leading statesmen not altogether inaccessible to in- retain and act upon the principles which they have flience of a different kind, by the liberal exercise once adopted, induced her government to accede to!cf which lie was enabled to maintain a strong interest the alliance betwixt Russia and Great Britain. in the Prussian councils. But the principles of She had not forgotten the successeswhich her genethese iniisters were far from being shared by the rals and armies had obtained when fighting by the nation at large. The encroachments on the German side of Suwarrow, and might hope to see once more empire intimately concerned the safety of Prussia, renewed the victories of Trebia and of Novi. She tiand the nation saw, in the decay of the Austrian therefore increased her force in every quarter: and influence, the creation and increase of a strong Ger- while the Archduke Charles took the command of main party in favour of France, to whom Bavaria, eighty thousand men in Italy, on which country Wirtemberg, and almost all the petty princes upon Austria always kept a wishful eye, eighty thousand thIe Rhine and its vicinity, began now to look up more, destined to act upon the Lech, and it was with the devotion and reverence which had hitherto hoped upon the Rhine, were placed under the been paid to the great states of Austria and Prussia. charge of General Mack, whose factitious and illThe subjects of the great Frederick also remember- merited reputation had, unfortunately for Austria, ed his numerous victories, and, proud of the army remnained unabated, notwithstanding his miserable which he had created and bequeathed to his suc- Neapolitan campaign in 1799. The Archduke Fercessor, felt neither apprehension nor unwillingness dimand;s a prince of great courage and hopes, was at tile thought of measuring forces with the Dictator the nominal commvander of the last-mentioned army, 356 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. while the real authority was lodged in this old and i to join the confederacy with a violence of urgency, empty professor of tactics. To conclude this detail both unjust and impolitic. Ite was farther given to of preparation, the Archduke John was appointed understand, that his troops would not be permitted to command in the Tyrol. to remain as a separate army, but must be incorpoIt remained only to try the event of negotiation, rated with those of Austria. These were terms so ere finally proceeding to military extremities. It harsh, as to render even the precarious alliance of was not difficult to state the causes of the war, France preferable to submission. Maximilian, rewhich was now about to break out anew. By the treating from his capital of Munich to Wnrtzburg, peace of Lunrville, finally concluded betwen Austria and withdrawing his army into Franconia, again and France, the independence of the Italian, Hel- endeavoured to negotiate for neutrality. It was vetian, and Batavian republics had been stipulated; again imperiously refused; and while the Austrian but instead of such terms being complied with, government insisted that the elector should join Napoleon, rendering himself Grand Mediator of them with his whole forces, the Austrian troops Switzerland and King of Italy, had at the same were permitted to conduct themselves as in an time filled Holland with troops, and occupied the enemy's country; requisitions were raised, and other whole three countries in such a manner, as made measures resorted to, tending to show that the inthem virtually, and almost avowedly, the absolute vaders remembered the ancient grudge which had dependencies of France. so long subsisted between Bavaria and Austria. It Complaints on these heads, warmly urged by was natural that the Bavarian prince, incensed at Austria, were sharply answered by France, who in this treatment, should regard the allies as enemies, her turn accused Austria of want of confidence, and and wait the arrival of the French an liberators. of assuming arms in the midst of peace. The Em- The military mnanoeuvres of the Austrian army peror of Russia interfered, and sent a special ambas- were not more able, than her conduct towards the sador to Paris, with the purpose of coming, if pos- neutral state of Bavaria was politic or just. There sible, to an amicable accommodation, which might are two errors, equally fatal, into which a general even yet preserve the tranquillity of Europe. But of middling or inferior talent is apt to fall, when ere Novosiltzoff had reached his place of destination, about to encounter with an adversary of genius. If the union of Genoa with the French empire was he mixes presumption with his weakness of parts, announced; an encroachment, which, joined to he will endeavour to calculate the probable motions Napoleon's influence in Switzerland, rendered the of his antagonist; and having, as he supposes, aswhole north-western frontier of Italy completely certained what they are likely to be, will attempt to open for the march of French armies, and preclul.ed anticipate and interrupt them, and thereby expose the possible hope of that fine country assuming any himself to some signal disaster, by mistaking the character of independence, even if, at a future principle on which his enemy designs to act. Or, time, its crown should be vested in a person different if intimidated by the reputation of the commander from the ruler of France. opposed to hinm, such a general is apt to remain Upon hearing of this new usurpation, made at the passive and irresolute, until the motions of the enemy very time when Napoleon's steps towards the aggran- make his purpose evident, at a tine when it is prodisement of his power were under challenge, Russia bably impossible to prevent his attaining it. It was countermanded her ambassador; and Austria, after left for General Mack, within the space of a very the exchange of some more angry notes, began her brief campaign, to unite both characters; and fall daring enterprise by marching a large army upon first into errors of rashness and presumption, after. Bavaria. It would have been better, probably, had wards into those of indecision and cowardice. the Emperor Francis suspended this decisive mea- It required little experience to know, that, after sure, and continued to protract, if possible, the two singularly unfortunate wars, every precaution negotiation, until the Russian auxiliary armies, two should have been taken to bring the Austrian troops in number, of fifty thousand men each, could have into contact with their enemy, under such advantages advanced to the assistance of their allies; or until a of position and numbers as might counterbalance sense of the approaching crisis had removed the the feelings of discouragement with which the bravindecision in the Prussian councils, and induced est soldiers must be affected, in consequence of a the king to join tile coalition. Either of these events, course of defeat and disaster so uniform, that there and more especially both, might have given a very seemed to be a fate in it. In this point of view, the different turn to this disastrous campaign. Austrian armies ought to have halted on their own But Austria was not to be blamed only for preci- territories, where the river Inn forms a strong and pitating the war —she exposed herself to censure by excellent line of defence, extending betwixt the the mode in which she conducted it. Occupying Tyrol and the Danube, into which the Inn empties Bavaria with numerous forces, the elector was re- itself at Passau. Supposing Mack's large force conquired to join the confederacy. Maximilian of Ba-. centrated, with this formidable barrier in front, it varia was not disinclined to unite his forces with seems as if the Austrians might have easily mainthose which proposed for their object the defence tained a defensive position until the artmies of Rusof Germany; but he pleaded that his son, now tr am-ia appeared to support them. veling in France, wouldbe made responsible, should If, determined upon the imperious and unjust aghe join the coalition. " On my knees," he said, in a gression on Bavaria, Mack found it necessary to letter to the Emperor Francis, "I implore you for advance more to the westward than the line of the permission to remain neutral." His reasonable re- Inn, in order to secure the country of the elector, quest was rejected, and the elector was required the Lech, in its turn, offered him a position in which LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 3571 he n might have awaited the Russians, though their proach of war, by a report, dated 22d September, junction must necessarily have been protracted, in in which, acquainting them with the cause of quarrel proportion to the extent of' his advance. But it betwixt himnselfand the allied powers, he asked, and was the choice of this unlucky tactician to leave of course obtained, two decrees; one for ordering Bavaria also behind him, and, approaching the eighty thousand conscripts to the field, another for frontiers of France, to take possession of Ulm, the organization of the National Guard. He then Memmingen, and the. line of the Iller and Danube, put himself at the head of his fobrces, and proceeded where he fortified himself with great care, as if to to achieve the destruction of Mack's army, not as that watch the defiles of the Black Forest. It can only of Melas at Marengo, by one great general battle, be thought by those who judge most favourably of but by a series of grand manocuvres, and a train of Mack's intentions, that, as the passes of that cele- partial actions necessary to execute them, which brated forest had been frequently the route by which rendered resistance and retreat alike impossible. the French invaded Germany, he had concluded it These manceuvres we can only indicate, nor can must therefore be by that road, and no other, that they. perhaps be well understood without the assisttheir approach on the present occasion was to be ance of the map. expected. Knowing with whom he had to contend, While Mack expected the approach of the French the Austrian general ought to have suspected the upon his front, Bonaparte had formed the daring direct contrary; for Bonaparte's manoeuvres were resolution to turn the flank of the Austrian general, not more distinguished by talent, than by novelty cut him off from his country and his resources, and and originality of design. reduce him to the necessity, either of surrender, or It is not to be supposed that this great confederacy of giving battle without a hope of success. To exetook at unawares one who had so many reasons for cute this great conception, the French army was being alert. The Austrian forces, though they had parted into six grand divisions. That of Bernacornmenced the camnpaign so hastily, were not more dotte, evacuating Hanover, which it had hitherto early ready for the field, than were the immense ar- occupied, and traversing Hesse, seemed as if about mies of the French empire. The camps at Bou- to unite itself to the main army, which had now logne, so long assembled on the shores of the Chan- reached the Rhine on all points. But its real desnel, were now to be relieved from their inactivity; tination was soon determined, when, turning towards and, serious as the danger was in which their as- the left, Bernadotte ascended the river Maine, and sistance was required, Bonaparte was perhaps not at Wurtzbur,, formed a junction with the Elector displeased at finding a fair pretext to withdraw from of Bavaria, who, with the troops which had folthe invasion to which he had hastily pledged him- lowed him into Franconia, immediately declared for sell: This formidable assemblage of troops, laying the French cause. aside the appellation of the Army of England, was The Elector of WVirternberg and the Duke of hereafter distinguished by that of the Grand Army. Baden followed tile same line of politics; and thus At the same time, the armies maintained in Holland, Austria had arrayed against her those very German and in the north of Germany, were put into motion. princes, whom a moderate conduct towards Bavaria In this remarkable campaign Bonaparte com- might perhaps have rendered neutral; France, at nrenced, fobr the first time, the system of issuing offli- the outset of the contest, scarce having the power cial bulletins, for the purpose of announcing to the to compel them to join her standard. The other French nation his accounts of success, and impress- five columns of French troops, under Ney, Soult, ilg lupon the public mind what truths he desired Davoust, Vandatnme, and Marmont, crossed the them to know, and, at the same time, what false- Rhine at different points, and entered Germany to hoods he was desirous they should believe. In every the northward of Mack's position; while Murat, country, such official accounts will naturally have a who made his passage at Kehl, approaching the partial characterl as every government must desire Black Forest, manoeuvred in such a manner as to to represent the result of its measulres in as favour- confirm Mack in his belief that the main attack was able a light as possible. Where there is a. ftee to come from that quarter. But the direction of all press, however, the deception cannot be carried to the other dlivisions intimated that it was the object of extremity; imposture cannot be attempted, on a grand the French Emperor to move round the right wing of scale at least, where it can be contrasted with other the Austrians, by keeping on the north or left side sources of information, or refuted by arguments de- of the Danube, and then, by crossing that river, to rived ihorn evidence. But Bonaparte had the unli- put themselves in the rear of Mack's army, and mited and exclusive privilege of sayinlg what he interpose betwixt him and Vienna. For this purpleased, without contradiction or commentary, and pose, Soult, who had crossed at Spires, directed his lie was liberal in using a license which could not be rmarch upon Augsburg; while, to interrupt commuchecked. Yet his bulletins are valuable historical nication betwixt that city and Ulm, the Austrian documents, as well as the papers in the Moniteur, head-quarters, Murat and Lannes had advanced to which lie himself frequently composed or superin- Wertingen, where a sanart action took place. The tended. Much correct information there certainly Anstrians lost all their cannon, and it was saill is; and that which is less accurate is interesting, four thousand men-an ominous commenceim-ent of since it shows, if' not actual truths, at least what the campaign. The action would have been termed Napoleon desired should be received as suchl, and a battle, had thie armies been on a smaller scale; so throws considerable light both on his schemes and but where such great numbers were engaged on on his character. either side, it did not rank much above a skirmish. Bomaparte cornmlmricated to the Senate the al,- With the same purpose of disquieting Mack in 358 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE his 1head-quarters, and preventing him from attend- tics, of attacking and destroying in detail the diviing to what passed on his left wing and rear, Ney, sions opposed to him. Tire defeat at Guntzburg who advanced from Stutgard, attacked the bridges induced Mack at length to concentrate his army over the Danube, at Guntzburg, which were gal- around Ulm: but Bavaria and Suabia were now lantlv but fruitlessly defended by the Archduke fully in possession of the French and Bavarians; and Ferdinand, who had advanced from Ulm to that the Austrian general Spangenberg, surrounded in place. The Archduke lost many guns, and nearly Memmingen, was compelled to lay down his arims three thousand men. with five thousand men. The French had crossed In the meantime, an operation took place, which the Rhine about the 23th September; it was now' marked in the most striking manner the inflexible the. 13th October, and they could scarcely be said and decisive character of Napoleon's counsels, corn- to have ibegun the campaign, when they had made, pared with those of the ancient courts of Europe. on various points, not fewer than twenty thousand To accomplish the French plan, of interposing prisoners. Napoleon, however, expected that rebetwixt Mack and the supplies and reinforcements, sistance from Mack's despair which no other motive both Austrian and Russian, which were ill motion had yet engaged him to offer; and le announced to towards hilm, it was necessary that all the French his army the prospect of a general action. He calldivisions should be directed upon Nordlingen, and ed on his soldiers to revenge themselves on the particularly that the division under Bernadotte, Austrians for the loss of the plunder of London, of which now included the Bavarian troops, should which, but for this new continental war, they would accomplish a simultaneous movement in that direc- have been already in possession. He pointed out tion. But there was no time for the last-mentioned to them, that, -as at Marengo, he had cut the enermy general to get into the desired position, unless by off from his reserves and resources, and he summonlnviolating the neutrality of Prussia, and taking the ed them to signalize Ulh by a battle, which should straight road to the scene of operations, by nlarch- be yet more decisive. ilg through the territories of Anspach and Bareuth, No general action, however, took place, though belonging to that power. A less daring general, a several sanguinary affairs of a partial inature were more timid politician than Napoleon, would have fought, and terminated uniformly to the misfblrtlne hesitated to commit such an aggression at such a of the Austrians. In the meantime, disunion took moment. Prussia, undecided in her counsels, was place among their generals. Tile Archdluke Firyet known to be, in point of national spirit, hostilely dinand, Schwartzenberg, afterwards destined to disposed towards France; and a marked outrage of play a remarkable part in this changeful history, this nature was likely to raise the indignation of the with Collowrath and others, seeing thelnsele es inpeople in general to a point which Haugwitz and vested by toils which were daily narrowed upon his party might be unable to stem. The junction of them, resolved to leave Mack and his army, and Prussia with the allies, at a moment so critical, cut their way into Bohemia at the head of the camight be decisive of the fate of the campaign, and valry. Thle archduke executed this movement wvith wvell if the loss ended there. the greatest gallantry, but not witlhout considerable Yet with these consequences before his eyes, loss. Indeed, the behaviour ofthe Austrian princes Napoleon knew, on the other hand, that it was not of the blood throughout these wars was such, as want of pretexts to go to war which prevented if' Fate had meant to mitigate the disasters of the Prussia from drawing the sword, but diffidence in Imperial house, by showing forth the talents a-nd i the power of the allies to resist the arms and fortune bravery of their ancient race, and proving, that of France. If, therefore, by violating the territory although Fortune frowned on them, Honour remained of Prussia, he should be able to inflict a sudden and faithfitl to their line. Ferdinand, after much ifigh it terrible blow upon the allies, he reckoned truly that ing, and considerable damage done. and received, the court of Berlin would be niore astounded at his at length brought six thousand cavalry in safety success, than irritated at the means which he had to Egra, in Bohemia. taken to obtain it. Bernadotte received, therefore, Meanwhile, Mack found himself, with the iethe emperor's commands to march through the ter- mains of'his army, cooped uip in Ulln, as Wunrmser ritory of Anspach and Bareuth, which were only had been in Mantua. He published an order of defended by idle protests and reclarmations of the the day, which intimated an intention to imitate the rights of neutrality. The news of this aggression persevering defence of that heroic veteran. He gave the utmost offence at the Prussian court; and forbade the word surrender to be used by anlly one the call for war, which alone could right their in- -he announced the arrival of two powerful armies, jured honour, became almost rlnaninl.ous through the one of Austrians, one of Russians, hlose appearance nation. But while the general irritation, which Bo- would presently raise tile blockade-he declared naparte of course foresaw, was thus taking place on his determination to eat horse-flesh rather than listen the one side, the success which he had achieved to any terms of capitulation. This bravado appeared over the Austrians acted on the other as a powerful on tile 16th October, and the conditions of surrender sedative. were sulbscribed by Mack on tile next day, having The spirit of enterprise had deserted Mack as been probably in the course of adjustment wvhen ihe soton as acthual hostilities comrmeniced. With the was making these notable professions of resistance. stull] fault of An strian generals, he had extended The course of military misconduct which we have Iis masitiuri too far, andi embraced too many points traced, singular as it is, might be perhaps referred of defet ce, renderingl his c!mrnmrtica tions difficult, to folly or incapacity on the part of Mack, though it and L''eriuilgh facrlilies fCor Bounaparte's favou'ite tac- must be owned it was of that gross kind which LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 359 civilians consider as equal to fraud. But another make an indifferent serf to an English farmer; an circumstance remains to be told, which goes far to English prisoner a still more intractable assistant to prove that this once celebrated and trusted general a French agriculturist. The advantages of cornhad inlgrafted the traitor upon the fool. The terms parative freedom would be in both cases counterof capitulation, as subscribed on the 17th October, balanced, by a feeling of degradation in the personal bore, that there should be an armistice until 26th Oc- subjection experienced. tober at midnight; and that if, during this space, an When the general officers of the Austrians were Austrian or Russian army should appear to raise admitted to a personal interview with the French the blockade, the army at Ulm should have liberty Emperor, he behaved with courtesy to Klenan and to join them, with their arms and baggage. This others of reputation, whose character had become stipulation allowed the Austrian soldiers some hope known to him in the Italian campaigns. But he of relief, and in any event it was sure to interrupt complained of the politics of their court, which he the progress of Bonaparte's successes, by detaining said had forced him into war when he knew not the principal part of his army in the neighbourhood what he was fighting for. He prophesied the fall of of Ulm, until the term of nine days was expired. the house of Austria, unless his brother the emperor But Mack consented to a revision of these terms, a hastened to make peace, and reprobated the policy thing which would scarcely have been proposed to which brought the uncivilized Russians to interfere a man of honour, and signed on the 19th a second in the decision of more cultivated countries than capitulation, by which he consented to evacuate their own. Mack* had the impudence to reply, that.Ulm on the day following; thus abridging consider- the Emperor of Austria had been forced into the ably, at a crisis when every minute was precious, war by Russia. " Then," said Napoleon, "you no any advantage, direct or contingent, which the longer exist as an independent powver." The whole Austrians could have derived fiom the delay ori- conversation appeared in the bulletin of the day, ginally stipulated. No reason has ever been alleged which also insinuates, with little probability, that the for this concession. Bonaparte, indeed, had given Austrian officers and soldiers concurred generally in Mack an audience previous to the signing of this blaming the alliance between their own emperor additional article of capitulation, and what argu- and Alexander. From this we infer, that the union ments he then employed must be left to conjecture. between those two powerful sovereigns was, even The effects of Mack's poltroonery, want of skill, in the moment of this great success, a subject of,and probable treachery, were equal to the results of apprehension to Bonaparte; whose official notes are a great victory. Artillery, baggage, and military sometimes expressed with generosity towards the stores, were given up to an immense extent. Eight vanquished, who had ceased to struggle, but always general officers surrendered upon parole, upwards with an eager tone of reproach and offence towards of 20,000 men became prisoners of war, and were those from whom an animated resistance was to be marched into France. The numbers of the prisoners apprehended. taken in this campaign were so great, that Bonaparte distributed them amongst the agriculturists, that their work in the fields might make up for the absence of the conscripts, whorm he had withdrawn Position of the French armnies. —Napoleon advances tofirom such labour. The experiment was successfuil; wvards Vienna. —The Emperor Francis leaves his capiand from the docile habits of the Germans, and the tal.-French enter Vienna on the 13th/ November.-Regood-humour of their French employers, this new view of the French successes in Italy and the Tyrol.species of servitude suited both parties, and vent Schemes of Napoleon to force on a general battle —lie some length to soften the hardships of war. For not succeeds.-Battle of Atsterlitz is fought on the 2d Dethe field of battle itself, with its wounded and dead, cember, and the. combined Anstro-Russian armies comis a more distressing sight to humanity and reflec- pletely defeated-Interview betwixt the Emperor of Austria and Napoleon. —The Emperor Alexander retion, than prison-barracks and hulks, in which reats towards Russia-Trey of Presbnrg signed en hundreds and thousands of prisoners are delivered treats towards Russia.-Treaty of Presburg signed on hundreds and thousands of prisoners are delivered the 27th December-Its conditions.-Fate of the King of up to idleness, and all the evils which idleness is Sweden-and of the Two Sicilies. sure to introduce, and not unfrequently to disease and death. Bonaparte meditated introducing this THE tide of wvar now rolled eastward, having stiralteration into the usages of war upon a great scale, mounted and utterly demolished the formidable and thought of regimenting his prisoners for the barrier which was opposed to it. Napoleon placed purpose of labouring on public works. His jurists himself at the head of his central army. Ney, upon objected to the proposal as contrary to the law of his right, was ready to repel any descent which nations. This scruple might have been avoided, by might be made from the passes of the Tyrol. Murat, employing only volunteers, which would also have onhis left, watched the motions of the Austrians, prevented the appearance of retrograding towards under the Archduke Ferdinand, who, refusing to those barbarous times, when the captive of the join in the unworthy capitulation of Ulm, had cut sword became the slave of his victor. But national character would, in mostinstances, render the * It will be unnecessary again to mention this man's scheme impracticable. Thus, an attempt was after- name, of which our readers are doubtless as much tired wards made to dispose of the Spanish prisoners in a as we ourselves are. He was committed to a state prison, similar way, who in most cases made their escape, in a remote part of the Austrian dominions; and whether and-in some rose upon and destroyed their task- he died in captivity, or rwas set at liberty, we have not masters. A French soldier would, in like manner, learned, nor are we anxious to know. 360 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. their with into Bohemia, and there united them- place himself under the protection of the Russian selves way other forces, either stationed in that forces. kingdom, or who had, like themselves, escaped On the same day, but late in the evening, thither. Lastly, the division of Augerean (who had Count Giulay arrived at Bonaparte's head-quarters, recently advanced fromn France at the head of an then established at Lintz, with a proposal for an army of reserve), occupying part of Suabia, served armistice, previous to a general negotiation for peace. to protect the rear of the French army against any Napoleon refused to listen to the proposal, unless movement from the Vorarlberg; and at the same Venice and the Tyrol were put into his hands. time menaced the Prussians, in case, acting upon These terms were too hard to be accepted. Vienna, the offence given by the violation of their territory, therefore, was left to its fate; and that proud capital they should have crossed the Danube, and engaged of the proud house of Austria remained an unresistin the war. ing prize to the invader. If; however, the weight of Prussia had been On the 13th November the French took possesthrown into the scale with sufficient energy at this sion of Vienna, where they obtained an immense decisive moment, it would not probably have been quantity of military stores, arms, and clothing; a any resistance which Augereau could have offered part of which spoils were bestowed by Napoleon on that could have saved Napoleon from a perilous his ally the Elector of Bavaria, who nlow witnessed situation, since the large armies of the new enemy the humiliation of the Imperial house which had of would have been placed in his rear, and, of course, late conducted itself so haughtily towards him. his communications with France entirely cut off. It General Clarke was appointed Governor of Vienna; was a crisis of the same kind which opened to and by a change as rapid as if it had taken place on Austria in the year 1813; but she was then taught the stage, the new Emperor of France occupied wisdom by experience, and availed herself of the Schbenbrunn, the splendid palace of the long-degolden opportunity which Prussia now suffered to scended Emperor of Austlia. But though such sigescape. Bonaparte had reckoned with accuracy nal successes had crowned the commencement of upon the timid and fluctuating councils of that power. the campaign, it was necessary to defeat the haughty The aggression on their territories of Anspach and Russians, in whose aid the Emperor of' Austria still Bareuth was learned at Berlin; but then the news confided, before the object of the war could be conof the calamity sustained by the Austrians at Ulm sidered as attained. The broken and shattered succeeded these tidings almost instantly, and while remnant of the Austrian forces had rallied firom difthe first article of intelligence seemed to urge instant ferent quarters around the yet untouched army of hostilities, the next was calculated to warn them Alexander; and although the latter retreated fioia agains' espousing a losing cause. Brunn towards Olmutz, it was only with the purTihis trusting to the vacillating and timid policy pose of forming a junction with Buxhowden, before of Prussia, Napoleon, covered on his flank and rear they hazarded a general battle. as we have stated, continued to push forward with In the meantime, the French army following close Iis central forces towards Vienna, menaced repeat- on their back into Moravia, fought one or two paredly in the former wars, but whose fate seemed tial actions, which, though claimed as victories, decided after the disaster of Ulm. It is true, that were so severely disputed as to make Napoleon an army, partly consisting of Russians and partly of aware that he had to do with a more obstinate eneAustrians, had pressed forward to prevent that my than he had of late encountered in the dispirited disgracefil. calamity, and, finding that the capitu- Austrians. He waited, therefore, until the result of lation had taken place, were now retreating step his skilful combinations should have drawn around by step in front of the advancing French; but not him the greatest force he could expect to collect, ere exceeding forty-five thousand men, they were un- venturing upon an engagement, of which, if he failed able to make any effectual stand upon the Inn, the to obtain a decisive victory, the consequences were Traun, the Ens, or in any other position which might likely to be fatal to him. have covered Vienna. They halted, indeed, repeat- At this period, success had smiled on the French edly, made a considerable show of resistance, and in Italy, and in the Tyrol, as well as in Germany. fought some severe though partial actions; but always In the former country, it may be remembered, that ended by continuing their retreat, which was now the Archduke Charles, at the head of seventy-five or directed upon Moravia, where the grand Russian eighty thousand men, exclusive of garrisons, was army had already assembled, under the command of opposed to Massena, whose forces considerably the Emperor Alexander, and were expecting still exceeded that amount. The prince occupied tile left further reinforcements under General Buxhowden. bank of the Adige, with the purpose of maintaining Some attempts were made to place Vienna in a a defensive warfare, until he should hear news of state of defence, and the inhabitants were called the campaign in Germany. Massena, however, upon to rise in mass for that purpose. Bat as the after some fighting, succeeded in forcing the passage fortifications were ancient and in disrepair, an effort of the river at Verona, and in occupying the town of at resistance could only have occasioned the destruc- St Michael. This was on the 20th October. Soon tion of tre city. The Emperor Francis saw himself, afterwards, the account of the surrender at Ulm therefore, under the necessity of endeavouring to reached the Frenchman, and determined him on a provide for the safety of his capital by negotiation, general attack along the whole Austrian line, which and for that of hIis person by leaving it. On was strongly posted near Caldiero. The assault the 7th of November, accordinlgly, lie departecd took place on the 30th October, and was followed from Vienna fur Brunn in Moravia, in older to by a very desperate action, for the Austrians, con LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 361 fident in the presence of their favourite commander, and all those wild and mountainous countries, which fought with the greatest courage. They were, how- have so long supplied the Austrian army with the ever, defeated; and a column of five thousand men, finest light troops in the world. tinder General Hellinger, detached for the purpose It might seem to counterbalance these advantages, of attacking the French in the rear, failed in their that Mass6na had also entered into communications purpose, and, being themselves surrounded, were with the French army of Germany at Clagenfurt, obliged to lay down their arms. The victors were the capital of Carinthia. But having left great part joined by General St Cyr, at the head of twenty-five of his troops in Italy, he had for the timhe ceased to thousanld men, who had evacuated the kingdom of be formidable to the Auistrian princes, who now Naples, upon a treaty of neutrality entered into with meditated advancing on the French grand army, the king, and now came to join their countrymen in which the audacity of its leader had placed in a siLombardy. tuation extremely perilous to any other than French In the midst of his own misfortunes, the Archduke troops acting under the eye of their emperor. Charles received the fatal intelligence of the capita- Nothing, it is true, could be inore admirably conlation of Ulm, and that the French were advancing ceived and satisfactorily accomplished than the sucin fillI march towards Vienna. To cover his brother's cession of grand nlanoeuvres, which, distinguishing capital became a matter of more pressing necessity tile opening of the campaign, had prodlllced the than to attempt to continue the defence of Italy, great, yet cheaply-purchased success of Ulm, and which circumstances rendered almosthopeless. He the capture of Vienna. Nor was the series of conmcommnenced his retreat, therefore, on the night of the bination less wonderfuil, by which, clearing the Vo1st of November, determining to continue it through rarlberg, the Tyrol, and the north of Italy of the the mountain passes of Carinthia, and so on into enemy, Napoleon had placed almost all the suborHungary. If he had marched by the Tyrol, he dinate divisions of his own army at his disposal, would have found Augereau in his front, with Ney ready to assist him in the grand enterprise against and Marmont threatening his flanks, while Mass6na, the Austro-Russian forces. But he has been conbefore whom he was now retreating, pressed on his sidered by military critics as having trusted too rear. great a risk upon the precarious event of battle, The archduke commenced this dispiriting and when he crossed the Danube, and plunged into Modistressing movement, over nearly the same ground ravia, where a defeat, or even a check, mnight have which he had passed while retreating before Bona- been attended with the most fatal consequences. parte himself in 1797. He did not, however, as on The position of the Archdukes Charles and John; that occasion, avail himself of the Tagliamento, or the organization of the Hungarian insurrection, Palmna Nova. His purpose was retreat, not defence; which proceeded rapidly; the success of' the and, though purstied closely by Mass6na, he halted Archduke Ferdinand, in raising a similar general no longer at these strong posts than was necessary levy in Bohemia, threatened alarming operations in to protect his march, and check the vivacity of the the French rear; while Prussia, with the sword French advance. He effected at length his retreat drawn in her hand, and the word wasr upon her lips, upon Laybach, where he received tidings from his watched but the slightest waning of Bonaparte's brother the Archduke John, whose situation on the star, to pronounce the word, and to strike a blosw at Tyrol was not more agreeable-than his own in Italy; the same moment. and who, like Charles himself, was desirous to es- Napoleon accordingly, though lie had dared the cape into the vicinity of Hungary with what forces risk, was perfectly sensible that as he had distinremained to him. guished the earlier part of this campaign by some of The distress of the Archduke John was occasioned the most brilliant manceuvres which military histo'ry by an army of French and Bavarians, commanded records, it was now incumbent upon hinm, without by Ney, who had penetrated into the Tyrol by paths delay, to conclude it by a great and decisive victory deemed impracticable; taken the forts of Schwatz, over a new and formidable enemy. He neglected, Neustadt, and Innspruch itself, and placed the arch- therefore, no art by' which success could be induke's army in the most precarious situation. Adopt- sured. In the first place, it was necessary to detering a determination worthy of his birth, the Austrian mine the allies to immediate battle; for situated in prince resolved at all risks to effect a junction with the heart of an enemy's country, with insurrection his brother, and, though hard pressed by the enemy, spreading wide and wider arounld him, an immediate he acconlplished his purpose. Two considerable action was as desirable on his part, as delay would corps of Austrians, being left in an insulated situa- have been advantageous to his opponents. tion by these movements of the two princes, were Some attempts at negotiation were made by the obliged to surrender. These were the divisions of Jel- Austrians, to aid which Haugwvitz, the Prussian lachich, in the Vorarlberg., and of the Prince of Ro- minister, made his appearance in the Frenlch camp han, in Lombardy. The whole of the north of Italy, with the offer of his master's mediation, biut with with the Tyrol and all its passes, was left to the un- the alternative of declaring war in case it was refusdisturbed and unresisted occupation of the French. ed. To temporize with Prussia was of the last conThe army of the royal brothers had, however, be- sequence, and the French Emperor found a willing come formidable by their junction, and was daily instrument in Hamgwitz. "The French and Austrian growing stronger. They were in communication with outposts," said Napoleou, "are engaged; it is a Hungary, the brave inhabitants of which warlike prelude to the battle which I am about to fightcountry were universally rising in arms. They were Say nothing of your errand to me at present-I wish also joined by volunteers from Croatia, the Tyrol, to remain in ignorance of it. Return to Vienna, and YOL. i. 46 36if2 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. wait the events of war." Haugwitz, to use Napo- the alertness of mind necessary to penetrate into leon's own expression, was no novice, and returned | and oppose the designs of his adversary, and, as is to Vienna without waiting for another hint; and not unusual, obstinate in proportion to the narrowdoubtless -the French Emperor was well pleased to ness of his understanding, and the prejudices of his be rid of his presence. education. Napoleon next sent Savary to the Russian camp, Meanwhile, Bonaparte, possessed of his enemy's under pretence of compliment to the Emperor Alex- plan by tile demonstrations of the preceding day, ander, but in reality as a spy upon that monarch passed the night in making his arrangenments. He and his generals. I-le returned, having discovered, visited the posts in person, and apparently desired or affected to discover, that the Russian sovereign to maintain an incognito which was soon discovered. was surrounded by counsellors, whom their youth As soon as the person of the emperor was recogand rank rendered confident and presumptuous, and nized, the soldiers remembered that next day (2d who, he concluded, might be easily misguided into I December) was the anniversary of his coronation. some fatal act of rashness. Bunches of lighted hay, placed on the end of poles, Bonaparte acted on the hint, and upon the first made an extempore illumination, while thile troops, movement of the Alstro-Russian army in advance, with loud acclamations, protested they would prewithdrew his forces from the position they had oc- sent him on the following day with a bouquet cupied. Prince Dolgorucki, aide-de-camp of the becoming the occasion; and an old grenadier, Emperor Alexander, was dispatched by him to re- approaching his person, swore that the emperor turn the compliments which had been brought him. should only have to combat with his eyes, and that, He too was, doubtless, expected to use his powers without his exposing his person, the whole colours of observation, but they were not so acute as those and artillery of the Russian army should be brought of the old officer of police. Bonaparte, as if the in- to him to celebrate the festiv al of the morrow. terior of his camp displayed scenes which he did In the proclamation which Napoleon, according not desire Dolgortcki to witness, met the prince at to his custom, issued to the army, he promises that the outposts, which the soldiers were in the act of b he will keep his person out of the reach of fire; hastily covering with field-works, like an army which thus showing the full confidence, that the assurance seeks to shelter conscious weakness under en- of his personal safety would be considered as great trenchments. Encouraged by what he thought he an encouragement to the troops, as the usual prosaw of the difficulties in which the French seemed testation of sovereigns and leaders, that they will be to be placed, Dolorucki entered upon politics, and in the front, and share the dangers of the day. This demanded in plain terms the cession of the crown is perhaps the strongest proof possible of the conmof Italy. To this proposal Bonaparte listened with iplete and confidential understanding which subsisted a patience which seemed to be the effect of his pre- between Napoleon and his soldiers. Yet there sent situation. In short, Dolgorucki carried back have not been wanting those, who have thrown the to his Imperial master the hastily-conceived opi- imputation of cowardice on the victor of a hundred nion, that the French Emperor was retreating, and battles, and whose reputation was so well e:stablished felt himself in a precarious posture. On this false amongst those troops who must be the best judges, ground the Russian council of war determined to that his attention to the safety of his person was act. Their plan was to extend their own left wning, requested by them, and granted by him, as a fivour with the purpose of turning the right of thte French to his army. army, and taking them upon the flank and rear. The battle of Austerlitz, fought against an enemy It was upon the 1st December at noon that the of great valour but slender experience, was not of Russians commenced this movement, by which, in I a very complicated character. The Russianls, vwe confidence of success, they abandoned a chain of have seen, were extending their line to surround the heights where they might have received an attack French flank. Marshal Davoust, with a division of with great advantage, descended into ground more infantry, and another of dragoons, was placed behind favourable to tile enemy, andy finally, placed their the convent of Raygern, to oppose the forces desleft wing at too great a distance from the centre. tined for this manceuvre, at the moment when they The French general no sooner witnessed this rash sllould conceive the point carried. Soult commanded manceuvre, than he exclaimed, " Before to-morrow the right wing; Lannes conducted the left, which is over, that army is my own." In the meantime, last rested upon a fortified position called Santon, withdrawing his outposts, and concentrating his defended by twenty pieces of cannon. Bernadotte forces, he continued to intimate a conscious infe- led the centre, where Murat and all the French riority, which was far from existing. cavalry were stationed. Ten battalions of tile ImpeThe two armies seem to have been very nearly of rial Guard, with ten of Otudinot's division,. were kept the same strength. For though the bulletin, to en- in reserve in the rear of the line, under the eye of hance the victory, makes the opposite army amount Napoleon himself, who destined them, with fbrty to 100.000 men, yet there were not actually above field-pieces, to act wherever the fate of battle should 50,000 Russians, and about 25,000 Austrians, in the render their services most necessary. Such were field of battle The French army might be about the the preparations for this decisive battle, where three same force. But they were commanded by Napo- emperors, each at the head of his own army, strove leon, and the Rlssians by Koutousoff; a veteran to decide the destinies of Europe. The sun rose soldier, indeed, fuill of bravery and patriotismn, and ~ with unclouded brillancy; it was that sun of Austeraccustomed to war as it was waged against the' litz which Napoleon upon so many succeeding occaTurks; hut deficient in general talent, as well as in S sions apostrophised, and recalled to the mind of his LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 363 soldiers. As its first beams rose above the horizon, dered it possible, since the sole passage to the rear Bonaparte appeared in front of the army, sur- lay along a causeway, extending between two lakes. rounded by his marshals, to whom he issued his last Thie retreat was, however, accomplished, and the directions, and they departed at full gallop to their emperors escaped without sustaining the loss in the different posts. pursuit which might have been expected. But in The column detached from the left of the Austro- the battle, at least 20,000 men had remained, killed, Russian army was engaged in a false manceuvre, wounded, and prisoners; and forty standards, witth and it was ill executed. T'he intervals between the a great proportion of the hostile artillery, were tihe regilments of which it consisted were suffered to trophies of Napoleon, whose army had thus amply become irregular, and the communications between redeemed their pledge. It was, however, at a higlh this attacking columnl itself and the main body were rate, that they had purchased the promised bouquet. not maintained with sufficient accuracy. VWhen the Their own ranks had lost probably 5000 men, though Russians thought themselves on the point of turning the bulletin diminishes, the numbers to two ithousand the right flank of the French, they found themselves five hundred. suddenly, and at unawares engaged, with Davoust's The Austrian Emperor considered his last hope division, of whose position behind the convent of of successful opposition to Napoleon as extinguished Raygern, they had not been aware. At the same by this defeat, and conceived, therefore, that hle hlad time, Soult, at the head of the French right wing, nothing remaining save to throw himself upon the rushed forward upon the interval between the Austro- discretion of the victor. There were, indeed, some, Russian centre and left, caused by the march of the who accused his councils of; pusillanimity. It was latter upon Raygern, and, completely intersecting said, that the levies of Prince Clharles in Hungary, their line, severed the left wing entirely from the and of Prince Ferdinand in Bohemia, were in great centre. forwardness-that the emperors had still a consiThe Emperor of Russia perceived the danger, and derable army under their own command —and that directed a desperate attempt to be made upon Prussia, already sufficiently disposed for war, would Soult's division by the Russian Guards, for the pur- certainly not permit Austria to be totally overpose of restoring the communication with his left. whelmed. But it ought to be considered, on the The French infantry were staggered by this charge, other hand, that the new levies, however useful in a and one regiment completely routed. But it was partisan war, could not be expected to redeem the in such a crisis that the genius of Bonaparte tri- loss of such a battle as Ansterlitz —that they were umphed. Bessi6res had orders to advance with the watched by French troops, which, though inferior in Itnperial Guard, while the Russians were disordered number, were greatly more formidable in discipline with their own success. The encounter was des- -and that, as for Prussia, it was scarce rational to perate, and the Russians displayed the utmost valour expect that she would interfere by arms, to save, in before they at length gave way to the discipline and the hour of distress, those to whom she had given steadiness of Bonaparte's veterans.'lheir artillery no assistance, when such would probably have been and standards were lost, and Prince Constantine, the decisive of the contest, and that in iuvour of tile emperor's brother, who fought gallantly at their allies. head, was only saved by the speed of his horse. The influence of the victory on the Prussian coaunThe centre of the French army now advanced to cils was indeed soon made evident; for Count complete the victory, and the cavalry of Murat made Haugwitz, who had been dismissed to Vienna till the repeated charges with such success, that the Em- battle should take place, now returned to Bonaperors of Russia and Austria, fiom tile heights of parte's head-quarters, having changed the original Austerlitz, beheld their centre and left completely message of defiance of which he was the bearer, defeated. The fate of the right wing could no longer into a handsome complimnent to Napoleon upon his be protracted, and it was disastrous even beyond victory. The answer of Napoleon intimated his full the usual consequences of defeat. They had been sense of the duplicity of Prussia.-" This," he said, actively pressed during the whole battle by Lannes, "is a compliment designed for others, but Fortune bult now, the troops on their left being routed, they had transferred the address to me." It was, howwere surrounded on all sides, and, unable to make ever, still necessary to conciliate a power, which longer resistance, were forced down into a hollow, had a hundred and fifty thousand men in the field; where they were exposed to the fire of twenty pieces and a private treaty with Haugwitz assigned the of cannon. Many attempted to escape across a lake, Electorate of Hanover to Prussia, in exchange for which was partially frozen; but the ice proving too Anspach, or rather as the price of her neutrality at weak, gave way under them, or was broken by the this important crisis. Thus all hopes of Prussian hostile cannonade. This fatality renewed, according interference being over, the Emperor Francis must to Bonaparte's description, the appearance of the be held justified in yielding to necessity, arid enbattle with the Turks at Aboukir, where so many deavouring to secure the best terms which could be thousand men, flying fiom the battle, perished by yet obtained, by submnitting at discretion. His ally, drowning. It was with the greatest difficulty, that, Alexander, refused indeed to le concerned in a nerallying the renmains of their routed forces around I gotiation, which in the circumstances could not fail therm, and retiring in the best manner they could, to be humiliating. tihe emperors effected their personal retreat. Only A personal interview took place betwixt the Erathle devoted bravery of the Russians, and the loyalty peror of Austria and Napoleon, to - whose camp of thel Austrian cavalry, who charged repeatedly to Francis resorted almost in the guise of a suppliant. pu.tec; the retrograde -movement, could have ren- The defeated prince is represented as having LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. thrown the blame of the war upon tile English. from Bonaparte an armistice-a small part of the "They are a set of merchants," he said,' who price was imposed in the shape of a military contriwould set the Continent on fire, in order to secure bution of a hundred millions of francs, to be raised to themselves the commerce of the world." The in the territories occupied by the French armnies. argumnent was not very logical, but the good prince The cessation of hostilities was to endure while in whose mouth it is placed, is not to be condemned Talleyrand on the one side, and Prince John of for holding at such a moment the language which Lichtenstein on the other, adjusted the. terms, of a might please the victor. When Bonaparte wel- general pacification. Bonaparte failed not to procomed him to his military hlut, and said it was the pitiate the Austrian negotiator by the most extraonly palace he had inhabited for nearly two months, vagant praises in his bulletins, and has represented the Austrian answered with a smile, " You have the Emperor of Austria as asking, " Why, posturned your residence, then, to such good account, sessing men of such distinguished talent, should the that you ought to be content with it." affairs of my cabinet be committed to knaves and The Emperor of Austria, having satisfied himself fools?" Of this question we can only say, that if that he would be admitted to terms of greater or really asked by Francis, which we doubt, he was less severity, next stipulated for that which Alex- himself the only person by whom it could have been ander had disdained to request in his own person answered. -the unmolested retreat of the Russians to their The compliments to the Prince JohlI of Lichten-. own country. stein, were intended to propitiate the public in ifavour "The Russian army is surrounded," said Napo- of the treaty of peace, negotiated by a manl of' such leon; "'not a man can escape me. But I wish to talents. Sonme of his countrymen, on the other oblige their emperor, and will stop the march of' my hand, accused him of selfish precipitation in the columns, if your majesty promises me that these treaty, for the purpose of renioving the scene of war Russians shall evacuate Germany, and the Austrian from the neighbourhood of his own family estates. and Prussian parts of Poland." But what could the wisdom of the ablest negotiator, " It is the purpose of the Emperor Alexander to or the firmness of the most stubborn patriot, have do so." availed, when France was to dictate terms, and The arrangement was communicated by Savary Austria to receive them? The treaties of Campo to the Russian Emperor, who acquiesced in the Formio and Lunville, though granted to Austria by proposal to return with his army to Russia by re- Napoleon in the hour of victory, were highly adgular marches. No other engagement was required vantageous compared to that of Presburg, which of Alexander than his word; and the respectful was signed on the 27th of December, 1805, about manner in which lie is mentioned in the bulletins, three weeks after the battle of Austerlitz. By this indicates Bonaparte's desire to cultivate a good un- negotiation, Francis ceded to Bavaria the oldest derstanding with this powerful and spirited young possession of his house, the mountains of Tyrol and monarch. On the other hand, Napoleon has not of the Vorarlberg, filled with the best, bravest, and failed to place in the czar's mlouith such compli- most attached of his subjects, and which, by their ments to hinmself as the following:-" Tell your geographical situation, had hitherto given Austria master," said he to Savary, "that he did miracles influence at once in Germany and Italy. Venice, yesterday-that this bloody day has augmented my Austria's most recent possession, and which had respect for hin-He is the predestined of Heaven not been very honouralbly obtained, was also yielded -it wvill take a hundred years ere my army equals up and added to the kingdom of Italy. She was that of France." Savary is then stated to have again reduced to the solitary seaport of Trieste, in found Alexander, despite of his reverse of fortune, the Adriatic. a man of heart and head. He entered into details of By the same treaty, the Germanic allies of Bonathe battle. parte were to be remunerated. Wirtenlberg, as "You were inferior to us on the whole," he said well as Bavaria, received large additions at the ex" yet we founid you superior on every point of ac- pense of Austria and of the other Princes of the tion." Empire, and Francis consented that both the elec"That," replied Savary, "arises from warlike tors should be prormoted to the kingly dignity, in experience. the fruit of sixteen years of glory. reward of their adherence to the French cause. This is the fortieth battle which the emperor has Other provisions there were, equally inconsistent fought." with the immunities of the Germanic body, for "He is a great soldier," said Alexander; " I do which scarcely a shadow of respect was retained, not pretend to compare myself with him-this is save by an illusory clause, or species of protest, by the first time I have been under fire. But it is which Austria declared, that all the stiprlations to enough. I came hither to the assistance of the which she consented were utinder reservation of the Emlneror of Austria-he has no farther occasion for rights of the empire. By the treaty of Presburg, my services-I return to my capital." Austria is said to have lost upwards of 20,000 Accordingly, he commenced his march towards square miles of territory, two nmillions and a half of Russia, in pursuance of the terms agreed upon. subjects, and a revenue to the amount of ten mirlThe Russian armns had been unfortunate: but the lions and a half of florins. And this mlonmentous behaviour of their youthful emperor, and the marked surrender was made int conseqlence of one uiifordtl'erence shown towards him by Bonaparte, made tunate campaign, which lasted but six months, and a nlost ravmurable impression upon Europe at large. was distinguished by only one general action. The Austrian monarch, left to his fate, obtained There were two episodes in this war, of little LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 365 consequence in themselves, hut important consider- royal consort had never omitted an opportunity to ed with reference to the alterations they produced resllme arms against France, under the conviction, in two of the ancient kingdoms of Europe, which perhaps, that their ruin would no longer be deferred they proved the proximate cause of re-modeling than whilst political consid(erations induced the according to the new form of government which had French Emperor to permit their possession of their been introduced by Bonaparte, and sanctioned by power. The last interference in their behalf had the example of France. been at the instance of the Emperor Paul. After The King of Sweden had been an ardent and this period we have seen that their Italian dormienthusiastic member of the anti-Gallican league. nions were occupied by French troops, who held le was brave, enterprising, and chivalrous, and Otranto, and other places in Calabria, as pledges ambitious to play the part of his namesake and pro- (so they pretended) for the restoration of Malta. genitor, Gustavus Adolphus, or his predecessor, But upon the breaking out of the war of 1805, it Charles XII.; without, however, considering, that was agreed, by a convention entered into at Paris since the time of these princes, and partly in conse- 21st of September, and ratified by the King of quence of their wars and extensive undertakings, Naples on the 8Sth of October, that the Fricnsh Sweden had sunk into a secondary rank in the great should withdraw their forces from the places which European family; and without reflecting, that when they occupied in the Neapolitan territories, and tile great enterprises are atteml)ted without adequate king should observe a strict neutrality. Neither of means to carry them through, valour becomes quix- the contracting parties was quite sincere. The otic, and generosity ludicrous. He had engaged to French troops, which were commanded by St-Cyr, join in a combined effort for the purpose of freeing were, as wve have seen, withdrawn fronl Naples, for Hanover, and the northern parts of Germany, from the purpose of reinforcing Mass6na, in the beginthe French, by means of an alrmy of English, Riis- ning of the campaign of Austerlitz. Their absence sians, and Swedes. Had Prussia acceded to the would probably have endured no longer than the confederacy, this might have been easily accom- necessity which called them away. But the court plished; especially as Saxony, Hesse, and Bruns- of'Naples was equally insincere; for no sooner had wick, would, under her encouragemneit, }have wil- St-Cyr left the Neapolitan territories to proceed lingly joined in the war. Nay, even without the northward, than the king, animated by the oppor. accession of Prussia, a diversion in the north, ably tunity which his departure afforded, once imore conducted and strongly supported, might have at raised his forces to the war establishment, and releast found Bernadotte sufficient work in Hanover, ceived with open arms an army, consisting of 12,000 and prevented him from materially contributing, by Russian troops from Corfu, and 8000 British tirom his march to the Danube, to the disasters of the Malta, who disembarked in his dominions. Austrian army at Ulm. But by some of those delays Had this armament occupied Venice at the coniand misunderstandings, which are so apt to disap- mencement of the war, they might have materially point the objects of a coalition, and disconcert assisted in the campaign of the Archduke Charles enterprises attempted by troops of ditferent nations, against Mass6na. The sending them in November the forces designed for the north of Europe did not to the extremity of the Italian peninsula, only served assemble until the middle of November, and then to seal the fate of' Ferdinand the Fourth. On reonly in strength sufficient to undertake the siege of ceiving the news of the armistice at Austerlifz, the the Hanoverian fortress of Hamelen, in which Ber- Rtissians and the British re-embarked, and not long nadotte had left a strong garrison. The enterprise, after their departure, a large French army, comtoo tardy in its commencement, was soon broken off manded by Joseph Bonaparte, approached, once by the news of the battle of Austerlitz, and its more to enforce the doom passed against the royal consequences, and, being finally abandoned, the family of Naples, that they should cease to reign. unfortunate King of Sweden returned to his own The king and queen fled from the storm which they dominions, where his subjects received with unwil- had provoked. Their son, the prince royal, in lingness and terror a prince, who on many accounts whose favour they had abdicated, only made use of had incurred the fatal and persevering resentment his temporary authority to surrender Gaeta, Pesof Bonaparte. Machinlations began presently to be cara, and Naples itself, with its castles, to the agitated for removing him from the kingdom, as one French general. In Calabria, however, whose wild with whomn Napoleon could never be reconciled, inhabitants were totally disinclined to the French and averting from Sweden, by such sacrifice, the yoke, Count Roger de Damas and the Duke of Capunishment which must otherwise fall on the coutn- labria attempted to make a stand. But their hasty try, as well as on the king. and undisciplined levies were easily defrated by the While the trifling attempt against Hamelen, joined French under General 1Rgnier, and, nominally at to other circumstances, was thus preparing the least, ahllost the whole Neapolitan kingdom was downfal of the ancient dynasty of Sweden, a de- sulbjected to the power of Joseph Bonaparte. scent made by the Russians and English on the Nea- One single trait of gallantry illuminated the scene politan territories afforded a good apology to Bona- of universal pusillanimity. The Prince of Hesse parte for depriving the King of the Two Sicilies of Philipsthal, who defended the strong fortress of his dominiions, so far as they lay open to the power Gaeta in name of Ferdinand IV., refusedl to surrenof France. Governed entirely by the influence of der it in terms of the capitulation. " Tell your gethe queen, the policy of Naples had been of a fickle neral," said he, in reply to the French summons, and insincere character. Repeatedly saved from " that Gaeta is not Ulm, nor the Prince of Hesse the greatest hazard of dethronement, the king or his General Mack!" The place was defended with a 366G LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. gallantry corresponding to these expressions, nor fixed to them ulder water. The one, we believe, was it surrendered until the 17th July, 1806, after a only furnished the inhabitants of Boulogne with a long siege, in which the brave governor was wound- supply of useful building-stone; the other, from the ed. This heroic young prince only appeared on tile raft on which the machines were conveyed, wis public scene to be withdrawn from it by an untimely mlch ridiculed under the natle ofthe catltnaran death, which has been ascribed to poison. His va- expedition.Ilour, however honourable to himself, was of little Bonaparte, meanwhile, never lost sight of that ulse to the royal family of Naples, whose deposition combination of naval mnauttuvres, through means of was determined on by Bonaparte, in order to place which, by the timne that the subjugation of Austria upon the throne one of his own family. should pernlit the Grand Army to restmlnle its tdestination for England, he hoped to assemble in the CHIAPTER LI. Channel such a sulperior fleet, as might waft his troops in safety to the devoted shores of Britain, Relative situations of France andl England. —ostiliies The unbounded influence wwhich lie exercised over comnenlced with Spain, by the stoppage, by Commodore the court of Spain, seemed likely to facilitate this Moore, of four Spanish galleons, when three of their difficult entelprise. Yet, as from Spain the French escort were taken, and one blew up. —Napoleon's plantreasre, it of invasion stated and die ssed-Johaz Clerk ef Eldins Emperor derived large suj)plies of treasure, it would of invasion stated and discussed. —John Clerk of El din's have been convenient for him, that, fore time at rreat system of breaking the line, explained-Whether have been conrenient for ms, that, for a tile at it could have been advantageously used by France?- least, she should retain the maskof neutrality, while, The lFrench adniral, Villeneuve, formts ajunction with in fact, she was contributing to serve France, and the Spanish fleet under Gravina —Attacked and de- prejudice England, more effectually than if she had feated by Sir Robert Calder, with the loss of two ships been in a state of avowed hostility with the latter of the line.-Nelson appoisnted to the command ifn the power. Mediterranean. —Battle of Trafalgar fought on the 21st The British government determined to bring thisOctober, 1805 - Particulars of the force on. each side, state of things to a decided point, by stopping four and details of the battle-Death of Nelson.-Behaviour galleons, or vessels loaded with treasure, proceedof Napoleon on learning the intelligence of this signal ing under an escort fro ing under an escort from the South Sea, and des. defeat. Villeeue commits sicideAddress of B- tined for Cadiz. The purpose of the English- was; saparte to the Legislative Body.-Staetement of Monste de Catat Legislany thive inBody.rnal moements o - only to detain these ships, as a pledge for the' sinsieur de Champaguy ont the inzternal improvementots of France.-Elevation of Napoleon's brothers, Lotuis and cerity of tle government of Spain, in ob Uerving a Joseph, to the thrones of Holland and Naples.-Principa- more stlict neutrality than hitherto. But unhappilylity of Luecca contferred on Elisa, the eldest sister of Bo- the British force, under Commodore Moore, amouhtazparte, and that of CGuastalla on Pauline, the yotungest. ed only to four frigates. Spanish honour rendered: -Other alliances made by his fanmily. - ReJlectionis.- the admiral unwilling to strike the national flag to Napoleos appoints a new hereditary nobility. - The an equal strength, and an action ensued, in which policy of this measure considered.-Converts from the three of the Spanish vessels were taken, and one old noblesse anxiously sought for and liberally reward- unfortunately blew up; an accident greatly to be ed-.Confederation of the Rhine estabiished, asd Napo- regretted. Mr Southey observes, with his usual leon appointed Protector.-The Emperor Francis lays sound sense and humanity, "Had a stronger sqnarside the Izmperial Crown of Germcnavy, retaining only dron been st (aaint the Spaniard), t deplordron been sent (against the Spaniards), this deplorthe title of Emperor of Atestria.-Vacillating and ian- politicv conduct of Prussia. able catastrophe might have been saved-a catastrophe which excited not more indignation in Spain, THE triumphs of Napoleon had been greater at than it did grief in those who were its unwilling inthis period of his reign, than had ever before been straluents, in tile British people, and in the British recorded in history as achieved by a single man. government." Yet even these, like everything earthly, had th.eir This action took place on the 5th of October, 1804; Zlmit. Fate, while she seemed to assign him coin- and as hostilities were of course immediately coImplete domination over the laud, had v.ested in other unenced betwixt Spain and Britain, Bonaparte, loshands thle empire of the seas; and it fre(:lently ing the advantages he derived fionl the neutra!ity halppened, that when his victorious eagles were flying of the former power, had nlow only to use t'ie naval their highest pitch upon the Continent, some con- and military nieans which she afforded for the adsl:pictous naval disaster warned the nations, that there vancement of his own purposes. The Court of' Spain Nwas another element, where France had a rival and devoted them to his service, with a passive cotmn ssperior. plaisance of which we shall hereafter see the reward. It is true, that the repeated success of England, Nal;oleon persisted to the last in asserting, thiat resembling almost that of the huntsmran over his lie saw clearly the means of utterly destrojit,g thle game, had so nmuch dimiinishedl the French navy, English superiority at sea. This he proposed to aMd rendered so cautious such seamen as France achieve by evading the blockades of the sevelal lhad remnaininig, that the former country, unable to get opportulities of assailing the French vessels, ~ These implements of destruction were afterwards used vas intolice rto have recourse to strange and as it against the British cruizers in America, and were judged formidable. But such desperate courage is necessary to provled, inetffctslal nleatns of carryin ovn hostilities. attach the machine to the destined vessel, and the fate of.Stcch wvas the attenllpt at destroying the harbour of the engineer, if discovered, is so certainly fatal, that, like 3Boulognre, by sinking in the roads ships loadedwith fire-ships, petards, and similar inventions, liable to the stones, andu another scheme to blow up the French same inconvenience, they do not appear likely to get into stimps, by sneans of detonating machines to be af- general use. ZL..- __.. _ - LIFE OF NAPOLEiON BONAIPARTE. 367 ports of France and Spain, which, wb;le wvatler French soldiers, it is evident that Bonaparte, Aheln permitted, were each hiermetically eealc~- by tile talking of ships of the line, was always thinking of presence of a British squadronri, aar:t by aAiy as- battalions. Thus he imagines that the defeat of'the senmbling inll the Channel that overwhlir:,itg force, Nile might have been prevented, had the headmost which, according to his statement, was to reduce vessels of the French line, instead of remaining at England to a dependency onFrance, as complete anchor, slipped their cables, and borne down to as that of the Isle of Olron. But men of the greatest the assistance of those which were first attacked by talents must necessarily be liable to error, when the British. Bnt in urging this, the leading princithey apply the iprinciples of a science with which ple of the mancuvre of breaking the line, had they are wvell acquainted upon one element, to the'totally escaped the French Emperor. It was the operations which are to be carried on by means of boast of the patriotic sage,* who illustrated and another. It is evident that he erred, whencal- recomnmended this most important system of naval culating his maritime combinations, in not sufficiently tactics, that it could serve the purpose of a British considering two niost mnaterial differences betwixt fleet only. The general principle is briefly this: By them, and those which had exalted Ihis glory upon breaking through the line, a certain number of ships land. are separated from the rest, which the remainder In the first place, as a landsman, Napoleon did must either abandon to their fate by sailing away, not make sufficient allowance for the action of con- or endeavour to save by hearing down, or d0oubling, trary winds and waves; as indeed it was perhaps as it were, upon the assailants, and engaging in a his limcit, even in land operations, ahere their infn- close and general engagement. Now, this last alence is less essential, to admit toolittle consequence ternative is what Bonaparte recommnends,-what he to the opposition of the elements. He comlplained, would certainly have practised on land,-and what when at St Hielena, that he could never geta seaman he did practise, in order to extricate his right wing, sulficiently emancipated from the technicality of his at Marengo. But the relative superiority of the profession, to execute or enter into any of his English navy is so great, that, while it is maintained, schemes. "If I proposed," hlie said, "any new idea, a close engagemeat with an enemy in the least apI had Gantlheanme and all. the marine depairtment proaching to equality, is eqaivalent to a victory to contend with —Sir, that is impossible —Sir, the and to recommend a plan of tactics which should winds —tle calns —tthe currents, will not permit it; render such a battle inevitable, would be, in other and thus I was stopped short." We believe little words, advising a French admir'al to lose his whole dread could have been entertained of time result of fleet, instead of sacrificing those ships which the naval combinations, in wthich tile influence (if the English manceuvre had cut off, and crowvding sail tt winds anlld waves was not previously and accurately same s,,ch as were yet unengaged. calculated; and that 1British seamien would have Under this consciousness of int oriolity, the escape desired notihing more ardently, than that their of a Spanish or French squadron, when a gale of enemies should have acted upon a system in which wind forced from the port in whlich they lay the these casualties were neg!ected, even if'that system British blockading vessels, wavs a matter, the ultiIhaI been derived fromi the genius of Napoleon. mate success of vwhich dependled not alone onil the But, secondly, there was this great difference winds and waves, but still more upon tfme chance of betwixt tIhe land and the sea service, to which (the their escaping any part of the hostile na y. witl vehemence of his wvlshes, doubtless, overpowerIng: whom battle, except with the most exorbitant sn|j.his judgment) Bonaparte did not give suifficient: riority on their side, was certain and unavoidable weight. Upon lind, the excellence of the French defeat. Their efforts to comply with the wvi.4hes of troopls, their discipline, and thIe enthlsiasmt arising thle Emperor of France, wacre therefore so partially froim minteriruited success, might be safely reckoned conducted, so insulated, and so inellfectual, thit they upoin as likely to bear down any obstacle which they rather resembled time children's game of hlide and might unexpectedly meet with, in the execution of Seek, than anything like a system of regular conmtile movements iwhich they were commanded to bination. A more hasty and less cauttious comipliance undertake. Tlhesitaation of thIe French seamen was with Napoleon's earniest wishes to assemible a diametrically the contrary. Their only chanice of safety consisted in their being able to eludle a rencon- The late ToAi Clerk of Eldim; a nme iever to be meatre with a British squadron, even of very inferior ionied iny Britons without respect amid veneration, since, force. So raimchav was this tile case at thIe period of nmitil h is systematic Essay mmtpoi Ncavml'Tactics a)ppeared, which we treat, that Linois, their admiral in the the breaking of tihe line (whatever professiomal jeialouisy East Indian seasi, commianding an eighty-four gun- nmay allege to lie contrary) was ine er practised oni decidedt,ship, and at the head ofa considerable squadron of and defined principle. His suavity, nay, simplicity of ships of war, was battled and beaten off in the Straits mnamner, equalled the originality of his gellhis. This triof Mealacca by a squadron of serchant vessels fling tribute is due from one, who, honoured iltlh his regard belongimng to tie Britishm East india ComMIpmny, from boyhood, has stood by his side, while hlie was detailalthough built of course for traffic, and not for war, iag and illustrating tue system wiicli tauglt British seamen tounderstand anti use their onii force. at aln age so amid, as usual in war time, very imperfectly manned. I I t I er a thei iimfm,a ags early, that me can remneonlier having been guilty ofabsitractYet, notwithstanding the great and essential dif- ic rm h abl oeo h itecr oesb h ference which we have pointed out between tile Mr Clerk exemplified is manieuvres; uinchiecked but by French navy and their land forces, and that tile liis good hmounoired raillery, wmxhen lie milssed a supposemd former was even more inferior to that of E. gland limme-ef-attle ship, amia complaimnd that the demomstraiimi than the continental troops in general were to the was crippled by its absence. 368 LIFE OF -NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. predominant naval force, would have only occasioned cotlrse for Cadiz, which they entered in safety. This the total destructioni of the combined fleets at an did not consist with the plans of Bonaparte, who earlier period than when it actually took place. would have hafd the whole naval force united at Upon this desultory principle, and seizing the Brest, to be in readiness to cover the descent upon opportunity of the blockading squadron being driven England. " General terror was spread," lie said, by *weatlher from the vicinity of their harbour, a "''throughout that divided nation, and never was Eiigrsquadron of ten French vessels escaped from land so near to destriiction." Of the general terror, Rtocilefort on tie 1 1th of January, 1805; ant another, few of the British, we believe, remember anything, under Villeneuve, got out of Toulon on the 18th by and of the inmminent dang'/r we were not sensible. a similarly fthvourable opportunity. The former,; [ad the coilbined fleets entered the BritislhChlanafter rendering somle trifling services in the WVest nel, instead of tlhe Mediterranean, they would have Indies, was fortunate enough to regain the port from found the same admiral, the samlle seamlen, nay, in which they had sailed, with the pride of a party who nlany instances, the same ships, to wliich Ville. have sallied firom a besieged town, and returned neuve's retreat into Cadiz gave the trouble of going into it without loss. Villeneuve also regained Tloulon to seek him there. without disaster, and, encouraged by his success, When the certainty was known that the enemy's made a second sortie upon the 18th of March, having fleets were actually in Cadiz, Nelson was put at the on board a large body of troops, designed, it was head of the British naval force in the Mediterranean, suptlosed, for a descenit upon Ireland or Scotland. which was reinforced with an alertness anid secrecy He made, hloweveer, towards Cadiz, and fbrtied a that did the highest honour to the admiralty. Villejunction there with the Splanish fleet underGravina. neuve, in the meantime, had, it is believed, his 1They sailed for the West Indies,'where the joint master's express orders to put to sea; amll if lie had squadrons were able to possess themselves of a rock hseen censured for want of zeal in thme action off Cape called Dialmond, vwhich is scarce to be discovered Finisterre with Calder, he was likely, as a brave on the nap; and with this trophy, which served at man, to determine on running solie risk to prove the least to show they had been actually out of harbour, injustice of his emperor's reproaches. Cadiz also, they returned with all speed to Europe. As for being strictly blockaded by the English, the fleets executinigm manceuvres, and forming combinations, of France and Spain begal to be in walnt of necesas Napoleon's plans -would lead us to infer was the saries. But what principally determuuined the French purpose of their hurried expedition, they attempted admiral on putting to sea, was lis ignorancse of the none, save of that kind which tihe hare executes reinforcements received by the Eiglslsh, which, when the hound is at his heels. Nelson, they were though they left Nelson's fleet still inferior to his aware, was in full purstlit of them, and to have at- own, yet brought theim nearer to i(n equality than;, temapted anything which involved a delay, or gave a had he been avare of it, would have reindered chance of his coiiiiiig upl with them, was to court their meeting at all desirable to Villeneuve. It was destruction. They were so fortunate as to escape another and especial point of ernccilragemuemtt, tl;:t him, though very inarrowly, et did not reach their circumstances led himli to disbelieve the report that harboulrs in safety. Nelson comnmanded the British fleet. Uilder thIm Oii the 22d July, thle combined fleets fell in with inflaence of these united nolties, atld colfiding in a Sir Robert Calder, comlnsanding a British squadron. plan of tactics which hie had fbruleud for resiatilng the The enemy amounted to twenty sail of the line, favourite mode of attack praictised by the Engulish, three fifty-gun ships, and four fiigates, and the British the French atdmiral sailed from Cadiz on tile 19tlh to fitteein sail of the line, and two fitigates only. October, 1805, in an evil hour for hlilllself' and fior Under this disparity of force, nevertheless, thIe En:g- his country. lish acidmiral defeiated the enemny, and took two rThe hostile fleets were not long oflneetilg, aid the ships of the line; yet such was the opinion in both wimnd never impelled alonig the ocean two mlore ealcountries of thle comparative superiority of the lant armiamients. The advantage of nunlmbers wvsas British navy, that the French considered their escape greatly on the side of Villeneiuve. fHe lhad thittyas a kind of trinumphn. Bonaparte alone grunimled three sail of the lie, and seven large filigates; Nelagainst Villeneuve, for not having made use of his son only twenty-seven line-of-battle shlips, and; three advantamges, fbr so it plleased himu to termn an engage- frigates.'Ltle inferiority of tile English in number of meunt in which two ships of the line were lost; whilst men anid guns was yet more considerable. T'he the English unurmutred at the inadequate success of combined fleet had four thlousaind troops on board, Sir Robert Ctalder, against an enemmy of such superior many of wthomn, excellent rifle-men, wvere placed in strength, as itfhell had perfrlImedl something less than the tops. But all oddls were coilupensatedl by tile his duty. A court-martial ratified, to at certain ex- qumality of tihe British sailors, and tIhe talents of tent, the popular opinion; though it nmay be doubted Nelson. whether ilmpartial posterity will concur inl thejustice Villeneuve showed no inclination to shun the of the cenlsure Nwihich was passed upon the gallant eventfiul action. His disposition was si'loular and aduJliral. At any other period of our naval history, ingeniouts. His fleet fornmed a doulble line, each althe actiln of the 22,1 of July would have been rated ternate ship being about a cable's len,;thl to the as a udistinguished victory. windward of her second ahead auitl a-atern, and Tlie conmbiuiled fleets escaped into Vigo, where thus the arrangenment represented the chlequers of a they reftitted: andl, venturinug to sail from that port, draught-board, and seemed to guard against the they proceeded to Fermol, united themselv es with the operation of cutting the line, as usually prlactised by1 twquallron which wvas lyimg there, and continued their the British. But Nelson had determiined to prac__________________________________________________________________________________________._.. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 36| tise the manoeuvre ix a manner as original as the expected every man to do his duty. His first mode of defence adopted by Villeneuve. His order words on entering the action were, "I thank the for sailing was in two lines, and this was also the great Disposer of events for this great opportunity order for battle. An advanced squadron of eight of of doing my duly;" and with his last departing the fastest sailing two-deckers, was to cut off three breath, he was distinctly heard to repeat the same or four of the enemies' line, a-head of their centre; pious and patriotic sentiment,." I thank God I have| the second in command, Admiral Collingwood, was done my duty."* That DUTY was indeed performto break in upon the enemy about the twelfth ship ed, even to the utmost extent of his own comprefrom the rear, and Nelson himself determined to hensive interpretation of the phrase. The good bear down on the centre. The effect of these man- servant of his country slept not before his task was ceulres must of course be a close and general action; fulfilled; for, by the victory in which he fell, the for the rest, Nelson knew he could trust to the de- naval force of the enemy was altogether destroyed, termination of' his officers and seamen. To his ad- and the threat of invasion silenced for ever. mirals and officers he explained in general, that his It is a renmarkable coincidence, that Mack's surobject was a close and decisive engagement; and render having taken place on the 20th October, that if, in the confilsion and smoke of the battle, Napoleon was probably entering Ulm in triumph signals should not be visible, the captain would upon the very day, when the united remains of his never do wrong who laid his ship alongside of the maritime force, and the means on which, according enemy. to his own subsequent account, he relied for the With such dispositions on either side, the two subjugation of England, were flying, striking, and gallant fleets met on the memorable 21st of October. sinking, before the banners of Nelson. Wihat iis Admiral Collingwood, who led the van, went down feelings may have been on learning the news, we on the enemy with all his sails set, and, disdaining have no certain means of ascertaining. The Memoirs to furl them in the usual manner, cut the sheets, and of Fouch6 say, upon the alleged authority of Berlet his canvas fly loose in the wind, as if he needed thier, that his emotion was extreme, and that his first it no longer after it had borne him amidst the thick- exclamation was, "I cannot be everywhere!" imest of the enemy. Nelson run his vessel, the Vic- plying, certainly, that his own presence would haave tory, on board the French Redoutable; the TUm6- changed the scene. The same idea occurs in his raire, a second British ship, fell on board the same conversations with Las Casts. It may be greatly vessel on the other side; another enemy's ship fell doubted, however, whether Napoleon would have on board of the Tm6raire, and the action was desired to have been on board the best ship in the fiercely maintained betwixt these four vessels, French navy on that memorable occasion; and it which lay as close as if they had been moored seems pretty certain, that his being so could have together in some friendly harbour. While the Vic- had no influence whatever on the fate of the day. tory thus engaged the Redoutable on the starboard, T'he unfortunate Villeneuve dared not trust to his she maintained from her larboard guns an incessant master's forgiveness. "He ought," so Bonaparte fire on the Bucentaur and the colossal Santa Tri. states it, "to have been victorious, and he was denidad, a vessel of four decks. The example of the feated." For this, although the mishap which usually admiral was universally followed by the British must attend one out of the two commanders who captains; they broke into the enemy's line on every engage in action, Villeneuve felt there was no aposide, engaged two or three ships at the same time, logy to be accepted, or even offered, and the brave but and maintained the battle at the very muzzles of the unfortunate seaman committed suicide. Bonaparte, cannon. The superiority which we have claimed on all occasions, spoke with disrespect of his mefor our countrymen was soon made manifest. Nine- mory; nor was it a sign of his judgment ir nautical teen ships of tile line were captured, two were matters, that he preferred to this able, but mnoforfirst-rate vessels, none were' under seventy-four tunate admiral, the gasconading braggart, Latoche gutns. Four ships of the line were taken, in a sub- Treville.t sequtent action, by Sir Richard Strachan. Seven out of the vessels which escaped into Cadiz were' See, for these and other particulars of the battle of rendered o nserviceabsls. The whoe combined fleet Trafalgar, Southey's Life of Nelson, a work already rerendered tinserviceable. The whole combined fleet peatedly quoted. It is the history of a hero, in the nar-was almost totally destroyed. rative of which are evinced at once the judgment and fideIt is twenty years and upwards since that glorious lity of the historian, with the imagination of the poet. It day. But the feelings of deep sorrow, mingled with well deserves to be, what already it is, the text book of the those of exultation, with which we first heard the British navy. tidings of the battle of Trafalgar, still agitate our f This admiral commanded at Toulon in 1804, and hay.vbo)soms, as we record, that Nelson, the darling of ing stolen out of harbour with a strong squadron, when Britain, bought with his life this last and decided the main body of the English fleet was out of sight, had triumlih over his country's enemies. A Briton him-. the satisfaction to see three vessels, under Rear-Admiral self in every word and thought, the discharge of a Campbell, retreat before his superior force. This unusual silor's duty, according to his idea, was, a debt circumstance so elated Monsieur Latouche Treville, that he converted the affair into a general pursuit of the whole involving every feat which the most exalted bravery British fleet, and of Nelson himself, who, he pretended could perform, and every risk which the extremity fled before him.. Nelson was so much nettled at his of danger could present. The word to which he effrontery, that he wrote to his brother, 5 You will have attached such an unlimited meaning, was often in seen Latouche's letter, how he chased me and how I run. his mouth; the idea never, we believe, absent from I keep it, and ifI take him, by God, he shall eat it.", La. bia mind. His last signal intimated that England touche escaped this punishment by dying of the fatigue'VOL. ~I. 47 1 370 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. The unfortnnate event of the battle of Trafalgar ration: it only remained to found temples and raise was not permitted to darken the brilliant picture, altars. which the extraordinary campaign of Ulm and Aus- Much of this statement was unquestionably the terlitz enabled the victor to present to the empire exaggeration of flattery, which represented everywhich he governed, and which detailed his successes thing as commenced as soon as it had been resolved in the full-blown pride of conquest. " His armies," upon by the sovereign, everything finished as soon he said, addressing the Legislative Body, the session as it was begun. Other measures there were, which, of which he opened with great pomp on 2d March, like the support afforded to the Bank, merely repair1806, " had never ceased to conquer, until he com- ed injuries which Napoleon himself had inflicted. manded them to cease to combat. His enemies The credit of this commercial establishment had were humbled and confounded-the royal house of been shaken, because in setting off' for the campaign, Naples had ceased to reign for ever-(the term was Napoleon had stripped it of the reserve of specie too comprehensive)-the entire peninsula of Italy laid up to answer demands; and it was restored, now made a part of the Great Empire-his gene- because his return with victory had enabled him to rosity had permitted the return of the defeated Rus- replace what he had borrowed. Considering that sians to their own country, and had re-established there was no small hazard of his being unable to the throne of Austria, after punishing her by the remedy the evil which he had certainly occasioned, privation of a part of her dominions." Trafalgar his conduct on the occasion scarcely deserves the was then touched upon. "A tempest," he said, name of a national benefit. -" had deprived him of some few vessels, after a Some part of this exaggeration might even deceive combat imprudently entered into;"-and thus he Napoleon. It is one of the great disadvantages of glossed over a calamitous and decisive defeat, in despotism, that the sovereign himself is liable to be which so many of his hopes were shipwrecked. imposed upon by false representations of this nature; When a sovereign has not sufficient greatness of as it is said the Empress Catherine was flattered by mind to acknowledge his losses, we may, without the appearance of distantvillages and towns in the *doing him wrong, suspect him of exaggerating his desert places of her empire, which were, in fact, no successes. Those of France, in her external rela- more than painted representations of such objects, tions, were indeed scarcely capable of being over- upon the plan of those that are exhibited oil the estimated. But when Monsieur de Champagny, on stage, or are erected as points of view in some fanthe 5th March following, made a relation of the in- tastic pleasure gardens. It was a part of Bonaternal improvements of France under the govern- parte's character to seize with ready precision upon ment of Bonaparte, he seems to have assumed the general ideas of improvement. Wherever he canme, merit of those which only existed upon paper, and he formed plans of important public works, nimany of others which were barely commenced, as well as of which iever existed but in the bulletin. Having of some that were completed. All was of course issued his general orders, he was apt to hold them ascribed to the inspiring genius of the emperor, to as executed. It was impossible to do all himself, or whose agency France was indebted for all her pros- even to overlook with accuracy those to whom the perity. The credit of the good city of Paris was details were committed. There were, therefore, restored, and her revenue doubled-agriculture was many magnificent schemes commenced, under feelencouraged, by the draining of immense morasses- ings of the moment, which were left unfinished for mendicity was abolished. Beneficial results, appa- want of fiunds, or perhaps because they only regarded rently inconsistent with each other, were produced some points of local interest, and there were ma y by his regulations-the expenses of legal proceed- adopted that were forgotten amid the hurry of afings were abridged, and the appointments of the fairs, or postponed till the moment of peace, which judges were raised. Inmmense and most expensive was never to appear during his reign. improvements, which, in other countries, or rather But with the same frankness with which history tinder other sovereigns, are necessarily reserved for is bound to censure the immeasurable ambition of times of peace, were carried on by Napoleon during this extraordinary man, she is bound also to record the most burdensome wars against entire Europe. that his views towards the improvement of his emForty millions had been expended on public works, pire were broad, clear-sighted, and public-spirited; of which eight great canals were quoted with pecu- and we think it probable, that, had his passion for llar emphasis, as opening all the departments of the war been a less predominant point of his character, empire to the influence of internal navigation. To his care, applied to the objects of peace, would have conclude, the emperor had established three hun- done as much for France, as Augustus did for Rome. dred and seventy schools-had restored the rites of Still it must be added, that, having bereft his cotinreligion-reinforced public credit by supporting the try of her freedom, and proposing to transmit the Bank-reconciled jarring factions-diminished the empire, like his own patrimony, to his heirs, the evil public imposts-and ameliorated the condition of which he had done to France was as permanent as every existing Frenchman. To judge from the rap- his system of government, while the benefits which tarous expressions of Monsieur de Champagny, the he had conferred on her, to whatever extent they emperor was already the subject of deserved ado- might have been realized, must have been deincurred by walking so often up to the signal-post at Sepet, pendent upon his own life, and the character of his to watch for the momentary absence of the blockading successor. squadron, which he pretended dared not face him. This But as such reflections had not prevented Napoman Bonaparte considered as the boast of the French leon from raising the fabric of supreme power, to the bisy. ~ summit of which he had ascended, so they did not LiFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 371 now prevent hinm fronm surrounding and strengthen- Of these establishments, the most princely were itigit with such additional bulwarks as he could find the provinces of Holland, which Napoleon now materials for erecting, at the expense of' the foes converted into a kingdom, and conferred upon Louis whom he subdued. Sensible of the difficulty, or Bonaparte. This transmutation ofa republic, whose rather the impossibility, of retaining all power in his independence was merely nominal, into a kingdom, own hands, he now bent himself so to modify and which was completely and absolutely subordinate, organize the governments of the countries adjacent, was effected by little more than an expression of the that they should always be dependent upon France; French Emperor's will that such an alteration should and to insurerthis point, he determined to vest im- take place. The change was accomplished without mediate relations of his own with the supreme au- attracting much attention; for the Batavian Republic thority in those states, which, under the name of was placed so absolutely at Bonaparte's mercy, as allies, were to pay to France the same homage in to have no power whatever to dispute his pleasure. peace, and render her the same services in war, They had followed the French Revolution through which ancient Rome exacted from the countries all its phases; and under their present constitution, a which she had subdued. Germany, Holland, and Grand Pensionary, who had the sole right of presentItaly, were.each destined to furnish an appanage to ing new laws for adoption, and who was accountable the princes born. of the Imperial blood of Napoleon, to no one for the acts of his administration, coror connected with it by matrimonial alliances. In responded to the first consul of the French consular retutn for these benefits, Bonaparte was disposed to government. This office-bearer was now to assume subject his brothers to the ordinary monarchical re- the name of King, as his prototype had done that of stri-tions, which preclude princes nearly connected Emperor; but the king was to be chosen from the with the throne, from forming marriages according family of Bonaparte. to their own private inclinations, and place them in On the 18th March, 1806, the secretary of the this respect entirely at the devotion of the monarch, Dutch legation at Paris arrived at the Hague, bearanddestined to form such political alliances as may ing a secret commission. The States-general were best.suit his views. They belonged, he said, in the convoked-the Grand Pensionary was consulteddecree creating them, entirely to the country, and and finally, a deputation was sent to Paris, requesttnust therefore lay aside every sentiment of indivi- ing that the Prince Louis Napoleon should be dual feeling, when the public weal required such a created hereditary King of Holland. Bonaparte's sacrifice.. assent was graciously given, and the transaction was Two of Napoleon's brothers resisted this species concluded. of authority. The services which Lucien had ren- It is indeed probable, that though the change was dered him, upon the 18th Brumaire, although with- in every degree contradictory of their habits and out his prompt assistance that daring adventure opinions, the Dutch submitted to it as affording a might have altogether failed, had not saved him prospect of a desirable relief from the disputes and from falling under the Imperial displeasure. It is factions which then divided their government. Louis said that he had disapproved'of the destruction of Bonaparte was of a singularly amiable and gentle the Republic, and that, in remonstrating against disposition. Besides his near relationship to Napothe murder of the Duke d'Enghien, he had dared to leon, he was married to Hortensia, the daughter of tell, his brother, that such conduct would cause the Josephine, step-child of course to the emperor, and people to cast himself and his kindred into the com- who was supposed to share a great proportion of his mou sewer, as they had done the corpse of Marat. favour. The conquered States of Holland, no longer Bat Lucien's principal offence consisted in his re- the High and Mighty, as they had been accustomed fuising to part with his wife, a beautiful and af- to style themselves, hoped, in adopting a monarch fectionate woman, for the purpose of forming an so nearly and intimately connected with Bonaparte, alliance more suited to the views of Napoleon. He and received from his hand, that they might be remained, therefore, long in a private situation, permitted to enjoy the protection of France, and be notwithstanding the talent. and decision which he secured against:the subaltern oppression exercised had evinced on many occasions during the Revolu- over their commerce and their country. The action, and was only restored to his brother's favour ceptance of Louis as their king, they imagined, must andi countenance, when, after his return from Elba, establish for them a powerful protector in the counhis support became again of importance. Jr6ome, cils of that autocrat, at whose disposal they were the youngest brother of the family, incurred also for necessarily plaoed. Louis Bonaparte was therefore a time his brother's displeasure, by having formed a received as King of Holland. How far the prince matrimonial connexion with an American lady of and his subjects experienced fulfilment of the hopes beauty and accomplishments. Complying with the which both naturally entertained, belongs to another commands of Napoleon, he was at a later period page of this history. restored to his favour, but at present he too was in Germany also was doomed to find more than one disgrace. Neither Lucien nor Jerome were there- appanage for the Bonaparte family. The effect of fore mentioned in the species of entail, which, in -the campaign of Ulm and Austerlitz had been aldefault ofNapoleon'sa naming his successor, destined most entirely destructive of the influence which the the French empire to.:4seph and Louis in succes- house of Austria had so long possessed in the southsion; nor were the formner called upon to partake in west districts of Germany. Stripped of her. domithe splendid provisions, which, after the campaign nions in the Vorarlberg and the Tyrol, as she had ofAusterlitz, Napoleon was enabled to make for the formerly been of the larger portion of the Netherother members ofihis fmily. lands, she was flung far back from that portion cf 8372 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Germany bordering on the right of the Rhine, where the Tyrol, at the expense of Austria; and it ceded she had formerly exercised so much authority, and the Grand Duchy of Berg, which, with other lordoften, it must be confessed, with no gentle hand. ships, Napoleon erected into a Grand Duchy, and Defeated and humbled, the Emperor of Austria conferred as an appanage upon Joachim Murat. was no longer able to offer any opposition to the Originally a soldier of fortune, and an undaunted projects of aggrandizement which Napoleon medi- one, Murat had raised himself to eminence in the tated in those confines of the empire which lay adja- Italian campaigns. On the 18th Brumaire, he comcent to the Rhine and to France, of which that river manded the party which drove the Council of Five had been declared the boundary; nor indeed to his Hundred out of their hall. In reward for this service, scheme of entirely new-modeling the empire itself. he obtained the command of the Consular Guard, and Prussia, however, remained a party interested, the hand of Caroline, the sister of Napoleon. Mulrat and too formidable, from her numerous armies and was particularly distinguished as a cavalry officer; high military reputation, to be despised by Napoleon. his handsome person, accomplished horsemanship, He was indeed greatly dissatisfied with her conduct and daring bravery at the head of his squadrons, during the campaign, and by no means inclined procured him the title of le beau sabreur. Out of either to forget or to forgive the menacing attitude the field of battle he was but a weak man, liable to which the Court of Berlin had assumed, although be duped by his own vanity, and the flattery of finally determined by the course of events to abstain those around him. He affected a theatrical foppery from actual hostility. Yet notwithstanding these in dress, which rather evinced a fantastic love of causes of irritation, Napoleon still esteemed it more finery than good taste; and hence he was sometimes politic to purchase Prussia's acquiescence in his called King Franconi, from the celebrated mounteprojects by a large sacrifice to her selfish interests, bank of that name. His wife Caroline was an able than to add her to the number of his avowed enemies. woman, and well versed in political intrigue. It will She was therefore to be largely propitiated at the presently be found that they arose to higher fortunes expense of some other state. than the Grand Duchy of Berg. Meantime, Murat We have already noticed the critical arrival of was invested with the hereditary dignity of Grand Haugwitz, the prime minister of Prussia, at Vienna, Admiral of France; for it was the policy of Bonaparte and how the declaration of war against France, to maintain the attachment of the new princes to the with which he was charged, was exchanged for a Great Nation, were it but by wearing some string fiiendly congratulation to Napoleon by the event of or tassel of his own imperial livery. the battle of Austerlitz. Napoleon was no dupe to The fair territories of Naples and Sicily were the versatility of the Prussian cabinet;but the Arch- conferred upon Joseph, the former in possession, duke Ferdinand had rallied a large army in Bo- the latter in prospect. He was a good man, who hernia-his brother Charles was at the head of a yet often strove to moderate the fits of violence to which larger in Hungary —Alexander, though defeated, his brother gave way. In society, he was accomreflused to enter into any treaty, and retained a me- plished and amiable, fond of letters, and, though not nacing attitude, and, victor as he was, Bonaparte possessed of anything approaching his brother's high could not wish to see the great and highly-esteemed qualifications, had yet good judgment as well as military force of Prussia thrown into the scale against good inclinations. Had he continued King of Naples, him. lie entered, therefore, into a private treaty it is probable he might have been as fortunate as with Haugwitz, by which Prussia was to cede Louis, in conciliating the respect of his subjects; but to France, or rather to place at her disposal, the his transference to Spain was fatal to his reputation. territories of Anspach and Bareuth, and, by way In conformity with the policy which we have noticed, of indemnification, was to have the countenance of the King of Naples was to continue a high feudatory France in occupying Hanover, from which the of the empire, under the title of the Vice-Grand French troops had been withdrawn to join the, Elector. Grand Army. The principality of Lucca had been already conThe conduct of the Prussian minister,-for with ferred on Elisa, the eldest sister of Bonaparte, and him, rather than with his court, the fault lay,-was was now augmented by the districts of Massa-Caat once mean-spirited and unprincipled. He made rara and Gafagnana. She was a woman of a strong his country surrender to France that very territory and masculine character, which did not, however, which the French armies had so recently violated; prevent her giving way to the feminine weakness of and he accepted as an indemnification the provinces encouraging admirers, who, it is said, did not sigh belonging to the King of Britain, with whom Prussia in vain. was so far from having any quarrel, that she had The public opinion was still less favourable to been on the point of making common cause with her younger sister Pauline, who was one of the her against the aggressions of France; and which most beautiful women in France, and perhaps in provinces had been seized by France in violation of Europe. Leclerc, her first husband, died in the the rights of neutrality claimed by the Elector of fatal expedition to St Domingo, and she was afterHanover, as a member of the Germanic Body. Such wards married to the Prince Borghese. Her encongross and complicated violations of national law and ragement of the fine arts was so little limited by the justice have often carried with them their own ordinary ideas of decorum, that the celebrated Capunishment, nor did they fail to do so in the present nova was permitted to model from her person a instance. naked Venus, the most beautiful, it is said, of his These states, Anspach and Bareuth, were united works.* Scandal went the horrible length of ilmto Bavaria; that kingdom was also aggrandized by' It is said, that being asked by a lady how she could LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 373 puting to Pauline an intrigue with her own brother; to another by way of equivalents, and under the which we willingly reject as a crime too hideous pretext of general arrangement. "The wildest to be even mentioned, far less imputed to any one, schemes," he remarked, " that were ever before without the most satisfactory evidence. The gross broached, would not go so far to shake the foundaand guilty enormities practised by the ancient Ro. tions of all established government, as this new man emperors do not belong to the character of Bo- practice. There must be in every nation a certain naparte, though such foul aspersions have been cast attachment of the people to its form of government, upon him by those who were willing to represent without which no government could exist. The himn as in all respects the counterpart of Tiberius system, then, of transferring the subjects of one or CalignuL'. Pauline Borghese received the princi- prince to another, strikes at the foundation of every pality of Guastalla, in the distribution of honours government, and the existence of every nation." among the family of Napoleon. These observations apply generally to violent alAt this period, also, Bonaparte began first to terations upon the European system; but other anld display a desire of engrafting his own family upon more special objections arise to Bonaparte's system the ancient dynasties of Europe, with whom he had of erecting thrones in Holland, in Naples, and all been so long at xvar, and the ruin of most of whom through Europe, for the members of his own family. had contributed to his elevation. The Elector of It was particularly impolitic, as marking toe strongly Bavaria had to repay the patronage which raised his determination to be satisfied with nothing less him to the rank of king, and enlarged his territories than the dominion of the world; for while he gowith the fine country of the Tyrol, by forming an verned France in his own person, the disposing of alliance which should mix his ancient blood with other countries to his brothers and near relations, that of the flamily connexions of the fortunate sol- feudatories of France, and his dependents as well dier. Eug'-ee Beanharnais, Viceroy of Italy, the by blood as by allegiance, what else could be exson of Josephine by her first husband, and now the pected than that the independence of such kingadopted son of Napoleon, was wedded to the eldest doms must be merely nominal, and their monarchs daughter of the King of Bavaria. Eug0ene was de- bound to act in every respect as the agents of Boservedly favoured by his father-in-law, Napoleon. naparte's pleasure? This, indeed, was their most lie was a man of talents, probity, and honour, and sacred duty, according to his own view of the displayed great military skill, particularly during matter, and he dilated upon it to Las Cases while thie Russian campaign of 1812. Stephanie Beau- at St Helena. The following passage contains an harnais, the niece of Josdphine, was married about express avowal of the principles on which he dethe same time to the Hereditary Prince of Baden, sired and expected his brothers to regulate the goson to tile reigning duke, the neutrality of whose vernments intrusted to them:territories had been violated in the seizure of the "At another time the emperor recurred to the Duike d'Enghien. subject of his relations, the little aid he had received These various kingdoms and principalities, erected from them, the embarrassment and mischief which in fievour of i-is nearest relations, imposed on the they had caused him. He dwelt especially on that mind a most impressive image of Bonaparte's unlimit- false idea upon their part, that when once placed at ed authority, who distributed crowns among his kins-; the head of a state, they ought to identify themfolks as ordilnary men give vails to their domestics. selves with it to such an extent, as to prefer its But the sound policy of his conduct may be greatly interests to those of the common country. He dolbted. WVe have elsewhere stated the obvious agreed, that the source of this sentiment might be objections to the transference of cities and king- in some degree honourable, but contended that they dotms from hand to hand, fwith as little ceremony as made a false and hurtful application of it, when, in the circulation of a commercial bill payable to the their whims of absolute independence, they conholdler. Authority is a plant of a slow growth, and sidered themselves as in an isolated posture, not obto obtain the full veneration which renders it most serving tihat they made only parts of a great system, effectual, must have risen by degrees in the place the movements of which it was their business to aid, which it overshadows and protects. Suddenly trans- and not to thwart."m ferred to new regions, it is apt to pine and to perish. This is explaining in few words tile principle on Thle theoretical evils of a long-established govern- which Napoleon established these subsidiary moment are generally mitigated by some practical re- narchies, which was not for the benefit of the people medy, or those who stiffer by them have grown of whom they were respectively composed, but for callous from habit. The reverse is the case with a the service of France; or more properly of himself, newly-established domination, which has no claim the sole moving principle by which France was goto the veneration due to antiquity, and to which the verned. In devolving the crown of Holland on the subjects are not attached by the strong though invi- son of Louis, after the abdication of Louils, he resible chains of long habit. peats the same principle as a frindamerntal coudiFox, in his own nervous language, has left his tion of its tenure. " Never forget," he said, " that in protest against the principle adopted at this fime in the situation to which mry political system, and the Europe, of transferring the subjects of one prince interest of my empire have called you, your first duty is towards mE, your second towards France. silunit to such an exposure of her person, she conceived All your other duties, even those towards the peothat tie qulestiont only related to physical inconvenennce, ple whlom I have called you to govern, rank after alnl answtc.red it lby assuring her friend that the apartment these." was properly aired..Ie;morsial tie Ste-HtIlne, vol. VII, pp. 194-5. for pleferring tle interest of the kingdoms which he su pporting their new titles. It is true, the high had assigned them, instead of sacrificing it to him degree of' talent annexed to some of the individuals and his government, he degrades them into mere thus promoted, the dread inspired by others, and puppets, which might indeed bear regal titles and the fame in war which many had acquired, might attendance, but, entirely dependent on the will of bear them out against the ridicule which was unanother, had no choice save to second the views of sparingly heaped upon them in the saloons frequentan ambition, the most insatiable certainly that ever ed by the ancient noblesse; beut, whatever claims reigned in a human breast. these dignitaries had to the respect of the public,'I'his secret did not remain concealed from the had been long theirs, and received no accession Dutch, from the Neapolitans, or other foreigners, from their new honours and titles. subjected to these pageant monarchs; and as it In this, and on similar occasions, Napoleon overnaturally incensed them against Napoleon's govern- shot his aim, and diminished to a certain extent his ment, so it prevented the authority which he had reputation, by seeming to set a value upon honours, delegated from obtaining either affection or rever- titles, and ceremonies, which, if matters of importence, and disposed the nations who were subjected ance to other courts, were certainly not such as he to it to take the first opportunity of casting the ought to have rested his dignity upon. Ceremonial yoke aside. is the natural element of a long-established court, The erection of these kindred monarchies was and etiquette and title are the idols which are not the only mode by which Napoleon endeavoured worshiped there. But Bonaparte reigned by his to maintain an ascendancy in the countries which talents and his sword. Like Mezentius in the he had conquered, and which he desired to retain AEneid, he ought to have acknowledged no other in dependence upon France, though not nominally source of his authority.* It was imprudent to or directly making parts of the French empire. appear to attach consequence to points, which even Bonaparte had already proposed to his council the his otherwise almost boundless power could not question, whether the creation of Grandees of the attain, since his nobility and his court-ceremonial Empire, a species of nobility whose titles were to must still retain the raw-ness of novelty, and could depend, not on their descent, but on their talents no more possess that value, which, whether real or and services to the state, was to be considered as a imaginary, has been generally attached to ancient violation of the laws of liberty and equality. He institutions and long descent, than the emperor was universally answered in the negative; for, could, by a decree of his complaisant Senate, have having now acquired a hereditary monarch, it seem- given his modern coinage the value which antiquaries ed a natural, if not an indispensable consequence, attach to ancient medals. It was imprudent to dethat France should have peers of the kingdom, and scend to a strife in which he must necessarily be great officers of the crown. Such an establishment, overcome; for where power rests in a great measure according to Bonaparte's view, would at once place on public opinion, it is diminished in proportion to his dignity on the same footing with those of the its failure in objects aimed at, whether of greater or other courts of Europe (an assimilation to which he less consequence. This half-feudal, half-oriental attached a greater degree of consequence than was establishment of grand feudatories, with which Boconsistent with policy), and by blending the new naparte now began to decorate the structure of his nobles of the empire with those of the ancient power, may be compared to the heavy Gothic kingly government, would tend to reconcile the mo- devices with which modern architects sometimes dern state of things with such relics of the old court overlay the front of their buildings, where they as yet existed. always encumber what they cannot ornament, and From respect, perhaps, to the republican opinions sometimes overload what they are designed to which had so long predominated, the titles and support. appanages of these grand feudatories were not The system of the new noblesse was settled by chosen within the bounds of France herself, but an imperial edict of Napoleon himself;, which woas from provinces which had experienced the sword of communicated to the Senate 30th Matrch, 1806, not the ruler. Fifteen dukedoms, grand fiefs, not of for the purpose of deliberation or acceptance, but France, but of the French empire, which extended merely that, like the old Parliament of Paris, they far beyond France itself, were created by the fiat might enter it upon their register. of the emperor. The income attached to each The court of Bonaparte now assumlned a character amounted to the fifteenth part of the revenue of the of the strictest etiquette, in which these important province which gave title to the dignitary. The trifles, called by a writer on the subject tile "Superemperor invested with these endowments those who stitions of Gentlemen Ushers," weres treated as had best served him in war and in state affairs. matters of serious import, and sometimes occupied Princedoms also were erected, and while mar- the thoughts of Napoleon himself, and supplied the shals and ministers were created dukes, the supe- place of meditated conquest, andthe future destrucrior rank of prince was bestowed on Talleyrand, tion or erection of kingdoms. Bernadotte, and Berthier, by the titles of Beneven- The possessors of ancient titles, tempted by retum, Ponte-Corvo, and Neufchltel. r- ival of the respect paid to birth and rank, did not The transformation of republican generals and ancient jacobins into the peerage of a monarchical Dextra miihi deus, et lelum, quote nissile l;bro, go'vrnment, gave a species of incongruity to this Nunc adsintspjlendid masquerade, and more than one of the.Eneidos Lib. X. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 375 fail to mingle with those whose nobility rested on By the new Federation of the Rhine, the courts the new creation. The emperor distinguished these of Wirtemberg and Bavaria, of Hesse Darmstadt, ancient minions of royalty with considerable favour, with some petty princes of the right bank of the as, half-blushing for their own apostacy in doing Rhine, formed among themselves an alliance offenhomage to Bonaparte in the palace of the Bourbons, sive and defensive, and renounced their dependence half-sneering at the maladroit and awkward manners upon the Germanic Body, of which they declared of their new associates, they mingled among the they no longer recognized the constitution. The men of new descent, and paid homage to the mo- reasons assigned for this league had considerable narch of the day, " because," as one of them ex- weight. It was urged that the countries governed pressed himself to Madame de Stael, "one must by these princes were, in every case of war betwixt serve some one or other." Bonaparte encouraged France and Austria, exposed to all tile evils of inthese nobles of the ancient ante-chambers, whose vasion, from which the Ge-rmanic Body had no superior manners seemed to introduce among his longer power to defend them. Therefore, being courtiers some traits of the former court, so inimit- obliged to seek for more effectual protection from so able for grace and for address, and also because he great an evil, they placed themselves directly under liked to rank among his retainers, so far as he could, the guardianship of France. Napoleon, on his part, the inheritors of those superb names which orna- did not hesitate to accept the title of Protector of mented the history of France in former ages. But the Confederation of the Rhine. It is true, that he then he desired to make them exclusively his own; had engaged to his subjects that he would not extend nothing less than complete and uncompromising the limits of his empire beyond that river, which he conversion to his government would give satisfac- acknowledged as the natural boundary of France; tion. A baron of the old noblesse, who had become but this engagement was not held to exclude the sort a counsellor of state, was in 1810 summoned to of seigniorie attached to the new protectorate, in attend the emperor at Fontainebleau. virtue of' which he plunged the German states who " What would you do," said the emperor, " should, composed the confederacy into every war in which you learn that the Count de Lille was this instant at France herself engaged, and at pleasure carried Paris?" their armies against other German states, their "I would inform against him, and have him ar- brethren in language and manners, or transferred rested," said the candidate for favour; "the law them to more distant climates, to' wage wars in commands it." which they had no interest, and to which they "And what Would you do if appointed a judge on had received no provocation. It was also a natural his trial?" demanded the emperor again. consequence, that a number of inferior umembers of "I would condemn him to death," said the un- the empire, who had small tenures under the old hesitating noble; " the law denounces him." constitutions, having no means of defence excepting "With such sentiments you deserve a prefec- their ancient rights, were abolished in their capacity ture," said the emperor; and the catechumen, whose of imperial feudatories, and reduced fron petty respect for the law was thus absolute, was made sovereigns to the condition of private nobles. This, Prefect of Paris. though certainly unjust in the abstract principle, was Such converts were searched for, and, when not in practice an inconvenient result of the great found, were honoured, and rewarded, and trusted. change introduced. For the power of recompensing his soldiers, states- The military contingents, which the Confederamen, and adherents, the conquered countries were tion placed, not perhaps in words, but certainly in again the emperor's resource. National domains fact, at the disposal of their protector, not less than were reserved to a large amount throughout those sixty thousand men, were of a character and ill a countries, and formed fuids, out of which gratifica- state of military organization very superior to those tions and annuities were, at Napoleon's sole plea- which they had formerly furnished to the Germanic sure, assigned to the generals, officers, and soldiers Body. These last, much fewer in number, were of the French army; who might in this way be said seldom in a complete state of equipment, and were to have all Europe for their paymaster. Thus every generally very inferior in discipline. But Napoleon conquest increased his means of rewarding his sol- not only exacted that the contingents furnished diers; and that army, which was the most formid- under this new federation should be complete in numable instrument of his ambition, was encouraged bers, and perfect in discipline and appointments, and maintained at the expense of those states which but, imparting to them, and to their officers, a spark had suffered most from his arms. of his own military ardour, he inspired them with a We have not vet concluded the important changes spirit of bravery and confidence which they had been introduced into Europe by the consequences of the far from exhibiting when in the opposite ranks. No fatal campaign of Austerlitz. The Confederation of troops in his army behaved better than those of the the Rhine, which withdrew from the German er- Confederacy of the Rhine. But the strength which pire so large a portion of its princes, and, transferring the system afforded to Napoleon was only temporary, them from the influence of Austria, placed them and depended on the continuance of the power by directly and avowedly under the protection of which it was created. It was too arbitrary, too France, was an event which tended directly to the aitificial, and too much opposed both to the interests dissolution of the Germanic League, which had sub- and national prejudices of the Germans, not to bear sisted since the year 800, when Charlemagne re- within it the seeds of dissolution. When the tide of ceived the Imperial Crown from Pope Leo the fortune turned against Bonaparte after the battle of Third. Leipsic, Bavaria hastened to join the allies for the 376 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. purpose of completing his destruction, and the ex- Impolicy of the plais of the canpaign.- Detatls. ample lwas followed by all the other princes of the Action fought, and lost by the Prussians, at Saalfeld Rhine. It fared with Napoleon and the German Followed by the decisive defeat of A ueetadt, or Jena, on the 14th October-Particulars of the battle —lDuke of Confederation, as with a necromancer and the demon whom. for. act emBrunswick mortally woutnded-Consequences of this whom for a certain term he has bound to his service, total defeat. —Al the strong places in Prussia glven up and who obeys him with fidelity during the currency without resistance. - Bonaparte takes possession of of the obligation; but, when that is expired, is the Berit ou the 25thl. —Explalation of tae disferent situcn first to tear his employer to pieces. tiozs of Austria and Prussia after their several dejeats. Francis of Austria, seeing the empire, of which -Reflections on thefall of Prussia. his house had been so long the head, going to pieces like a parting wreck, had no other resource than to THE death of William Pitt was accelerated by lay aside the Imperial Crown of Germany, and to the campaign of Ulm and Austerlitz, as his health declare that league dissolved which he now saw no had been previously injured by the defeat of Masufficient means of enforcing. He declared the ties rengo. Great as he was as a statesman, ardent in dissevered which bound the various princes to him patriotism, and comprehensive in his political views, as emperor, to each other as allies; and although he it had been too much the habit of that great minisreserved the Imperial title, it was only as the sove- ter to trust, for some re-establishment of the balance reign of Austria, and his other hereditary states. of power on the Continent, to the exertions of the France became therefore in a great measure the ancient European governments, whose efforts had successor to the influence and dignity of the Holy gradually become fainter and fainter, and their Roman Empire, as that of Germany had been proud- spirits more and more depressed, when opposed to ly styled for a thousand years; and the Empire of the power of Bonaparte, whose blows, like the thunNapoleon gained a still nearer resemblance to that derbolt, seemed to inflict inevitable ruin wherever. of Charlemagne. At least France succeeded to the they burst. But, while resting too much hope on Imperial influence exercised by Austria and her coalitions, placing too much confidence in foreign empire over all the south-western provinces of that armies, and too little considering, perhaps, what powerful district of Europe. In the eastern dis- might have been achieved by our own, had sufficient tricts, Austria, stunned by her misfortunes and her numbers been employed on adequate objects, Pitt defeats, was passive and unresisting. Prussia, in maintained with unabated zeal the great principle of the north of Germany, was halting between two resistance to France, unless France should be disvery opposite sets of counsellors; one of which, posed to show, that, satisfied with the immense with too much confidence in the military resources power which she possessed, her emperor was willof the country, advised war with France, for which ing to leave to the rest of Europe such precarious the favourable opportunity had been permitted to independence, as his victorious arms had not yet escape; while the other recommended, that, like bereft them of. the jackall in the train of the lion, Prussia should The British prime minister was succeeded, upon continue to avail herself of the spoils which Napo- his death, by the statesman to whom, in life, he had leon might permit her to seize upon, without pre- waged the most uniform opposition. Charles Fox, suming to place herself in opposition to his will. In now at the head of the British government, had unieither case, the course recommended was suffi- formly professed to believe it possible to effect a ciently perilous; but to vacillate, as the cabinet of solid and lasting peace with Franfce, and, in the Berlin did, betwixt the one and the other, inferred ardour of debate, had repeatedly thrown on his almost certain ruin. great adversary the blame that such had not been While Napoleon thus reveled in augmented accomplished. When he himself became possessed strength, and increased honours, Providence put it of the supreme power of administration, he was naonce more, and for the last time, in his power, to turally disposed to realize his predictions, if Napoconsolidate his immense empire by a general peace, leon should be found disposed to admit a treaty upon maritime as well as upon the Continent. anything like equal terms. In a visit to Paris during the peace of Amiens, Mr Fox had been received CHAPTER LIt. with great distinction by Napoleon. The private relations betwixt them were therefore of all amiDeath of Pitt-He is succeeded by Fox as prime minister. cable nature, and gave an opening for friendly inter-Circumstances which led to Negotiation with France. course. -The Earl of Lauderdale is sent to Pat-is as the British The time, too, appeared favourable for negotianegotiator.-Negotiation is broken off in coulsequence of tion; for whatever advantages had been derived by the refusal of England to cede Sicily to France, and France from her late triumphant campaign on the Lord Lcderdale leaves Paris.-Resonitgs on the sta- Continent were, so far as Britain was concerned, bility of peace, hadpeace been obtained.-Prussia-her neutralized and oalbalanced by the destruction of temporizing policy-Shie taktes alrm-A attempt made the combined fleets. All possibility of invasion, by her to form a confederacy in opposition to that of which appears before this event to have warmly enthe Rhine, is defeated by the mnachinations of Napoleon. -Strontg and general disposition of the Prussians to grossed the imagination of Napoleon, seemed at an war —Legal murder of Palm, a bookseller, by autho- end and for ever. The delusion which represented rity of Bonaparte, aggravates this feeling.-The Em- a united navy of fifty sail of the line triumphantly! peror Alexander again visits Berlin.-Prussia begins to occupying the British Channel, and escorting an arn in Augt st, 1806, and, after some negotiation, takes overpowering force to the shores of England, was tlhe field in October, under the Duke of Brunswick. — dispelled by the cannon of 21st October. The gay LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 377 dreams, which painted a victorious army marching see it cease on such terms as were dishonourable to to London, reforming the state of England by the the country. destruction of her aristocracy, and reducing her to The French commissioners made several concesher natural condition, as Napoleon termed it, of such sions, and even intimated, in verbal conference with a dependency on France as the island of Oleron or Lord Yarmouth, that they would be content to treat of Corsica, were gone. After the battle of Tra- upon the principle of uti possidetis, that is, of alfalgar, all hopes were extinguished that the fair lowing each party to retain such advantages as she provinces of England could in any possible event had been able to gain by her arms during the war. have been cut up into new fiefs of the French empire. But when the treaty was farther advanced, the It was no longer to be dreamed, that Dotations, French negotiators resisted this rule, and showed as they were termed, might be formed upon the themselves disposed to deny that they had ever asroyal exchange for the payment of annuities by hun- sented to it. dreds of' thousands, and by millions, for rewarding They were indeed willing to resign a long-contestthe soldiers of the Great Nation. To work purses ed point, and consented that the island of Malta, for the French officers, that they might be filled with the Cape of Good Hope, and other possessions with British gold, had of late been a favourite amuse- in the East and West Indies, should remain under ment among the fair ladies of France; but it was the dominion of Great Britain. But then they exactnow evident that they had laboured in vain. All ed the surrender of Sicily and Naples, proposing these hopes and projects were swallowed up in that Ferdinand should be indemnified at the expense the billows which entombed the wrecks of Tra- of Spain by the cession of the Balearic Isles. Bri. falgar. tain could not implicitly consent to this last propoIn a word, if Austria had fallen in the contest of sition, either in policy, or in justice to her unfor1805, Britain stood more pre-eminent than ever; tunate ally. Naples was indeed occupied by the and it might have been rationally expected, that the French, and had received Joseph Bonaparte as her desire of war on the part of Napoleon should have king; but the insular situation of Sicily rendered it ended, when every prospect of bringing that war to easy for Britain to protect that rich island, which the conclusive and triumphant termination which he was still in the possession of its legitimate monarch. meditated, had totally disappeared.'The views of Tile principle of uti possidetis was therefore in fathe British cabinet, also, we have said, were now your of the English, so far as Sicily was concerned, amicable, and an incident occurred for opening a as it was in that of the French in the case of Nanegotiation, under circumstances which seemed pies. The English envoy, for this reason, refused to warrant the good faith of the English minis- an ultimatum, in which the cession of Sicily was ters. made an indispensable article. Lord Lauderdale, A person pretending to be an adherent of the at the same time, demanded his passports, which, Bourbons, but afterwards pretty well understood to however, he did not receive for several days, as if be an agent of the French government, acting upon there had been some hopes of renewing the treaty. the paltry system of espionage which had infected Bonaparte was put to considerable inconvenience both their internal and exterior relations, obtained by the shrewdness and tenacity of the noble negoan audience of Mr Fox, for the purpose, as lie pre- tiator, and had not forgotten them when, in 1815, tended, of communicating to the British minister a he found himself on board the Bellerophon, comproposal for the assassination of Bonaparte. It had manded by a relation of the noble earl. It is indeed happened, that Mlr Fox, in conversation with Napo- probable, that had Mr Fox lived, the negotiation leon, while at Paris, had indignantly repelled a might have been renewed. That eminent statesman, charge of this kind, which the latter brought against then in his last illness, was desirous to accomplish some of the Englisll ministry. "Clear your head of two great objects-peace with France, and the that nonsense," was said to be his answ er, with more abolition of the slave trade. But although Bonaof English bluntness than of' French politeness. parte's deference for Fox might have induced him Perhaps Bonaparte was desirous of knowing whether to concede some of the points in dispute, and his practice would keep pace with his principles, although the British statesman's desire of peace and on this principle had encouraged the spy. Fox, might have made him relinquish others on the part as was to be expected, not only repelled with abhor- of England, still, while the two nations retained their rence the idea suggested by this French agent, but relative power and positions, the deep jealousy and caused it to be commrunicated to the French Empe- mutual animosity which subsisted between them ror; and this gave rise to a negotiation for peace. would probably have rendered any peace which Lord Yarmouth, and afterwards Lord Lauderdale, could have been made, a mnere suspension of arms acted for the British governmlent; Champagny and -a hollow and insincere truce, which was alrnost General Clarke fir the Emperor of'France. Napo- certain to give way on the slightest occasion. leon, who, like most fireigners, had but an inaccurate Britain could never have seen with indifference idea of the internal structure of the British constita. Bonaparte making one stride after another towards tion, had expected to find a French party in the bo- universal dominion; and, Bonaparte could not long sore of England, and was surprised to find that a have borne with patience the neighbourhood of our few miscreants of the lowest rank, whom he had free institutions and our free press; the former of been able to bribe, were the only English who were which must have perpetually reminded the French accessible to foreign influence; and that the party of the liberty they had lost, while the latter was sure which had opposed the war with France in all its to make the emperor, his gove.rnment, and his policy, stages were nevertheless incapable of desiring to the daily subject of the most severe and unsparing VOL, VI. 48 378 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. criticism. Even the war with Prussia and Russia, she held by a very insecure tenure that very elecin which Napoleon was soon afterwards engaged, torate, the price of her neutrality at Austerlitz, and would in all probability have renewed the hostilities which was farther purchased at the expense of war between France and England, supposing them to with England. Her ministers, while pressing France have been terminated for a season by a temporary to confirm the cession of Hanover, had the mortifipeace. Yet Napoleon always spoke of the death cation to discover that Napoleon, far fiom regarding of Fox as one of the fatalities: on which his great' the Prussian right in it as indefeasible, was in fadc designs were shipwrecked; which ihakes it the negotiating for a general peace, upon the condition, more surprising that he did not resume intercourse amongst others, that the electorate should be rewith the administration formed under his auspices, stored to the King of England, its hereditary soand who might have been supposed to be animated vereign. While the disclosure of this double game by his principles even after his decease. That he showed Frederick William upon what insecure did not do so may be fairly received in evidence to footing he held the premium assigned to Prussia by show, that peace, unless on terms which he could the treaty of Vienna, farther discovery of the pro.. dictate, was not desired by him. jects of France seemed to impel him to change the As the conduct of Prussia had been fickle and pacific line of his policy. versatile during the campaign of Ansterlitz, the Hitherto the victories of Napoleon had had for displeasure of Napoleon was excited in proportion their chief consequences the depression of Austria, against her. She had, it is true, wrenched from and the diminution of that power which was the nahim an unwilling acquiescence in her views upon tural and ancient rival of the house of Brandenburg. Hanover. By the treaty which Ilaugwitz had But now, when Austria was thrust back to the eastsigned at Vienna, after the battle of Austerlitz, it ward, and deprived of her influence in the southwas agreed that Prussia should receive the electoral west of Germany, Prussia saw with just alarm that dominions of the King of England, his ally, instead France was assuming that influence herself, and of Anspach, Bareuth, and Ne.ufclltel, which she that, unless opposed, she was likely to become as was to cede to France. The far superior value of powerfil in the north of Germany, as she had renHanover was to be considered as a boon to Prussia, dered herself in the south-western circles. Above in guerdon of her neutrality. But Napoleon did not all, Prussia was alarmed at the Confederacy of the forgive the hostile disposition which Prussia had Rhine, an association which placed under the direct manifested, and it is probable he waited with anxiety influence of' France so large a proportion of what fobr the opportunity of inflicting upon her condign had been lately component parts of the Germanic chastisement. He continued to maintain a large Empire. The dissolution of the Germanic Empire army in Swabia and Franconia, and, by introducing itself was an event no less surprising and eambartroops into Westphalia, intimated, not obscurely, rassing; for, besides all the other important points, an approaching rupture with his ally. Meantime,: in which the position of Prussia was altered by the under the influence of conflicting councils, Prussia annihilation of that ancient confederacy, she lost proceeded in a course of politics which rendered thereby the prospect of her own monarch being, her odious for her rapacity, and contemptible for the upon the decline of Austria, chosen to wear the imshort-sighted views under which she indulged it. perial crown, as the most powerful member of the It was no matter of difficulty for the Prussian fideration. forces to take possession of Hanover, which, when One way remained to balance the new species of evacuated by Bernadotte and his army, lay a prey power which France had acquired by these innovato the first invader, with the exception of the fobrtress tions on the state of Europe. It was possible, by of Hamelen, still occupied by a Frenlch garrison. forming the northern princes of the German empire The electorate, the hereditary dominions of the into a league of the same character with the ConKing of Great Britain, with whom Prussia was at federacy of the Rhine, having Prussia instead of profound peace, was accordingly seized upon, and France for its protector, to create such an equiliher cabinet pretended to justify that usurpation by brium as might render it difficult or dangerous for alleging, that Hanover, having been transferred to Bonaparte to use his means, however greatly enFrance by the rights of war, had been ceded to the larged, to disturb the peace of the north of Europe. Prussian government in exchange for other districts. It was, therefore, determined in the Prussian caAt the same time, an order of the Prussian moalrch binet to form a league on this principle. shut his ports in the Baltic against the admission of This proposed Northern Confederacy, however, British vessels. These measures, taken together, could not well be established without communicawere looked upon by England as intimating deter- tioii with France; and Bonaparte, though ofeiring mined and avowed hostility; and Fox described, in no direct opposition to the formation of a league, the House of Commons, the conduct of Prussia, as a sanctioned by the example of the Riine, starited compound of the most hateful rapacity with the such obstacles to the project in detail, as were likely most contemptible servility. War was accordingly to render its establishment on an effectual ftooting declared against her by Great Britain; and lier flag impossible. It was said by his ninisters, tihat Nabeing banished firom the ocean by the English poleon was to take tie HFatse;tic towns inder hIis -;rllizers, the mouth of the Elbe and the Prussian own imnmedli; lte protectionl; tilt the wvise primce seaports were declared in a state of blockade, and who govened Saxonyv showtvd no' desire to b:cole her trade was subjected to a corresponding degree a nemlber f tile lr oprosd e('o.,li,-l;;lt:d,; ald thit of distress. France wvnuld elll-it. in- p,-uer to hte i)m-c di ini1) leanmitme, it was the fate of Prussia to- findj that such a imleasa.;e. inlly, tlle Lai(ISgrive of -iese-s LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 379 Cassel, who was naturally reckoned upon as an im- The people of Prussia at large were clamorous portant member of the proposed northern league, for war. They, too, were sensible that tile late verwas tampered with to prevail upon him to join the satile conduct of their cabinet had exposed them to Confederacy of the Rhine, instead of that which was the censure, and even the scorn of Europe; and that proposed to be formed under the protectorate of Bonaparte, seeing the crisis ended, in which the Prussia. This prince, afraid to decide which of firmness of Prussia might have preserved the bathese powerful nations he should adhere to, re- lance of Europe, retained no longer any respect for nlained in a state of neutrality, notwithstanding the those whom he had made his dupes, but treated offers of France; and, by doing so, incurred the dis- with total disregard the remonstrances, which, befolre pleasure of Napoleon, from which in the sequel he the advantages obtained at Ulm and Austerlitz, he suffered severely. must have listened to with respect and deference. By this partial interruption and opposition, Napo- Another circumstance of a very exasperating chaleon rend'ered it impossible for Prussia to make any racter took place at this time. One Palln, a bookeffectual eifbrts for combining together those remain- seller at Nuremberg, had exposed to sale a pamphlet, ing firagments of the German empire, over which her containing remarks on the conduct of Napoleon, in military power and geographical position gave her which the emperor and his policy were treated with natural influence. This disappointment, with the considerable severity. The bookseller was seized sense of having been outwitted by the French go- upon for this offence by the French gendarmes, and vernment, excited feelings of chagrin and resent- transferred to Braunau, where he was brought before ment in the Prussian cabinet, which corresponded a military commission, tried for a libel on the Emwith the sentiments expressed by the nation at large. peror of France, found guilty, and shot to death in In the former, the predominant feeling was, despite terms of his sentence. The murder of this poor wan, for disappointed hopes, and a desire of revenge on for such it literally was, whether immediately flowthe sovereign and state by whom they had been ing from Bonaparte's mandate, or the effect of the overreached; in the latter, there prevailed a keen furious zeal of some of his officers, excited deep and and honourable sense that Prussia had lost her general indignation. character through the truckling policy of her admi- The constitution of many of the states in Germany nistratiol. is despotic; but nevertheless, the number of indeWhatever reluctance the cabinet of Berlin had pendent principalities, and the privileges of the fiee shown to enter into hostilities with France, the court towns, have always insured to the nation at large and country never appear to have shared that sen- the blessings of a free press, which, much addicted sation. The former was under the influence of the as they are to literature, the Germans value as it young, beautiful, and high-spirited queen, and of deserves. The cruel effort now made to fetter this Louis of Prussia, a prince who felt with impatience unshackled expression of opinion was, of course, the decaying importance of that kingdom, which the most unfavourable to his authority by whoim it had victories of the Great Frederick had raised to such been commanded. The thousand presses of Gera pitch of glory. These were surrounded by a nu- many continued on every possible opportunity to merous band of noble youths, impatient for war, as dwell on the fate of Palm; and, at the distance of the means of emulating the fame of their fathers; but six or seven years from his death, it might be reckignorant how little likely were even the powerful oned among the leading causes which ultimately and well-disciplined forces of Frederick, unless di- determined the popular opinion against Napoleon. rected by his genius, to succeed in opposition to It had not less effect at the time when the crime troops not inferior to themselves, aud conducted by a was committed; and the eyes of all Germany were leader who had long appeared to chain victory to turned upon Prussia, as the only member of the late his chariot wheels. The sentiments of the young Holy Roman League by whom the progress of the Prussian noblesse were sufficiently indicated, by public enemy of the liberties of Europe could be their going to sharpen their sabres on the threshold arrested in its course. of La Foret, the ambassador of Napoleon, and the Amidst the general ferment of the public mind, wilder frolic of breaking the windows of the minis- Alexander once more appeared in person at the ters supposed to be in the French interest. The court of Berlin, and, more successful than on the queen appeared frequently in the uniform of the former occasion, prevailed on the King of Prussia at regiment which bore her name, and sometimes rode length to unsheathe the sword. The support of the herself at their head, to give enthusiasm to the sol- powerful hosts of Russia was promised; and, dediery. This was soon excited to the highest pitch; feated by the fatal field of Austerlitz in his attempt and lhad the military talents of the Prussian generals to preserve the southeast of' Germany fiom F rench borne any correspondence to the gallantry of the influence, Alexander now stood forth to assist Prusofficers and soldiers, an issue to the campaign might sia as the Champion of the North. An attempt had have been expected far different froml that which indeed been made through means of d'Oubril, a took place. The manner it which the characters of Russian envoy at Paris, to obtain a general peace the queen, the king, and Prince Louis were treated for Europe, in concurrence with that which Lord in the Moniteur, tended still more to exasperate the Lauderdale was endeavouring to negotiate on the quarrel; for Napoleon's studious and cautious ex- part of Britain; but the treaty entirely miscarried. clusion. from the government paper of such Ipolitical While Prussia thus declared herself the enemy of' articles as had not his own previous approbation, France, it seemed to follow as a matter of course,:endered him in reason accountable for all which that she should become once more the friend of:ppeared there. Britain, and, indeed, that power lost no time in 380 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. manifesting an amicable disposition on her part, by jects rather of negotiation than grounds of an absolute recalling the order which blockaded the Prussian declaration of war, and that the fortress of Wesel, ports, and annihilated her commerce. But the ca- and the three abbeys, were scarce of importance binet of Berlin evinced, in the moment when about enough to plunge the whole empire into blood for to commence hostilities, the same selfish insincerity the sake of them. which had dictated all their previous conduct. Prussia, indeed, was less actually aggrieved than Wthile sufficiently desirous of obtaining British she was mortified and offended. She saw she had money to maintain the approaching war, they show- been outwitted by Bonaparte in the negotiation of ed great reluctance to part with Hanover, an acqui- Vienna; that he was juggling with her in the matter sition made in a manner so unworthy; and the of Hanover; that she was in danger of beholding Prussian minister, Lucchesini, did not hesitate to Saxony and Hesse withdrawn fiom her protection, tell the British ambassador, Lord Morpeth, that the to be placed under that of France; and under a ge- fate of the electorate would depend upon the event neral sense of these injuries, though rather appreof arms. hended than really sustained, she hurried to the Little good could be augured from the interposi- field. If negotiations could have been protracted tion of a power, who, pretending to arm in behalf of till the advance of the Russian armies, it might have the rights of nations, refused to part with an acquisi- given a different face to the war; but in the Nwarlike tion which she herself had made, contrary to all the ardour which possessed the Prussi.ans, they were rules of justice and good fisith. Still less was a desirous to secure the advantages which, in military favourable event to be hoped for, when the manage- affairs, belong to the assailants, without weiglling ment of' the war was intrusted to the same incapable the circumstances which, in their situation, rendered or faithless ministers, who had allowed every op- such precipitation fatal. portunity to escape of asserting the rights of Prussia, Besides, such advantages were not easily to be when, perhaps, her assuming a firm attitude might obtained over Bonaparte, who was not a man to be hlave prevented the necessity of war altogether. amused by words when the moment ofaction arrived. But the resolution which had been delayed, when Four days before the delivery of the Prussian note so many favourable occasions wvere suffered to es- to his minister, Bonaparte had left Paris, and was cape unemployed, was at length adopted with an personally in the field collecting his own irlmmense imprudent precipitation, which left Prussia neither forces, and urging the contribution of those contintime to adopt the wisest warlike measures, nor to gents which the Confederate Princes of the Rhine look out for those statesmen and generals by whom were bound to supply. His answer to the hostile such measures could have been most effectually note of the King of Prussia was addiessed, not to executed.. that monarch, but to his own soldiers. "They have About the middle of August, Prussia began to dared to demand," he said, "that we should retreat arm. Perhaps there are few examples of a war de- at the first sight of their army. Fools! could they clared with the almost unanimous consent of a great not reflect how impossible they found it to destroy and warlike people, which was brought to an earlier Paris, a task incomparably more easy than to tarnish and more unhappy termination. On the first of Oc- the honour of the Great Natioin. Let the Prussian tober, Knobelsdorff, the Prussian envoy, was called army expect the same fate which they encountered upon by Talleyrand to explain the cause of the mar- fourteen years ago, since experience has not taught tial attitude assumed by his state. In reply, a them, that while it is easy to acquire additional paper was delivered, containing three propositions, dominions and increase of power, by the friendslup or rathler demands. First, That the French troops of France, her enmity; on the contrary, whicil will which had entered the German territory should in- only be provoked by those who lare totally destitute stantly re-cross the Rhine. Secondly, that France of sense and reason, is more terrible tiian tile ternshould desist fiorn presenting obstacles to the forma- pests of tihe ocean." tion of a league in the northern part of Germany, to The King of Prussia hai again placed at the head comprehend all the states, without exception, which of his armies the Duke of Brunswick. In his youth, had not been included in the Confederation of the this general had gained renown urnder his uncle Rhine. Thirdly, that negotiations should be irnme- Prince Ferdinand. But it had been lost in the rediately commenced, for the purpose of detaching treat from Champagne in 1792, where lhe had sufthe fortress of Wesel from the French em: ire, and fered himself to be out-manutlvred by Dumourier for the restitution of three abbeys, which Murat had and his army of conscripts.? He was seventy-two chosen to seize upon as a part of his Duchy of Berg. years old, and is said to have added the obstinacy of With this manifesto was delivered a long explana- age to others of the infirmities which naturally attory letter, containing severe remarks on the system tend it. He was not communicative, nor accessible of encroachment which France had acted upon. to any of the other generals, excepting Mollendorf; Such a text and commentary, considering their pe- and this generated a disunion of councils in the remptory tone; and the pride and power of him to Prussian camp, and the personal dislike of the army whoirm they were addressed in such unqualified to him by whom it was commanded. terms, must have been understood to amount to a The plan of the campaign, formed by this ill-fated declaration of war. And yet, although Prussia, in prince, seems to have been singularly injudicious, common with all Europe, had just reason to com- and the more so, as it is censurable on exactly the plain of the encroachments of France, and her rapid same groundls as that of Austria in the late war. strides to universal empire, it would appear that the iwo first articles in the king's declaration, were sub- j See p. 90. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 381' Prussia could not expect to have the advantage of was indeed very strong as a defensive one, but the numbers in the contest. It was therefore her obvious means of supporting so large an army were not easily policy to procrastinate and lengthen out negotiation, to be obtained in such a barren country as that until she could have the advantage of the Russian about Weimar; and their magazines and dep6ts of' forces. Instead of this, it was determined to rush provisions were injudiciously placed, not close in the forward towards Franconia, and oppose the Prus- rear of the army, but at Naumbnurg, and other places, sian army alone to the whole force of France, corn- upon their extreme left, and where they were exmanded by their renowned emperor. posed to the risk of being separated from them. It The motive, too, was similar to that which had might be partly owing to the difficulty of obtaining determined Austria to advance as far as the banks forage and subsistence, that the Prussian army was of the Iller. Saxony was in the present campaign, extended upon a line by far too much prolonged to as Bavaria in the former, desirous of remaining admit of mutual support. Indeed, they may be conneuter; and the hasty advance of the Prussian ar- sidered rather as disposed in cantonments than as mies was designed to compel the Elector Augustus occupying a military position; and as they remained to embrace their cause. It succeeded accordingly; strictly on the defensive, an opportunity was graand the Sovereign of Saxony united his forces, though tuitonsly afiorded to Bonaparte to attack their divireluctantly, with the left wing of the Prussians, sions in detail; of which he did not fail to avail him. under Prince Hohenloe. The conduct of the Prus- self with his usual talent. The head-quarters of the sians towards the Saxons bore the same ominous re- Prussians, where were the king and Duke of Brunssemblance to that of the Austrians to the Bavarians. wick, were at Weimar; their left, under Prince Their troops behaved in the country of Saxony more Ilohlenloe, were at Schleitz; and their right extendas if they were in the land of a tributary than an ed as far as Muhlhausen, leaving thus a space of ally, and while the assistance of the good and peace- ninety miles betwixt the extreme flanks of their line. able prince was sternly exacted, no efforts were Bonaparte, in the meantime, commenced the made to conciliate his good-will, or soothe the pride campaign, according to his custom, by a series of of his subjects. In their behaviour to the Saxons in partial actions fought on different points, in which general, the Prussians showed too much of the his usual combinations obtained his usual success; haughty spirit that goes before a fall. the whole tending to straiten tile Prussians in their The united force of the Prussian army, with its position, to interrupt their communications, separate auxiliaries, amounted to one hundred and fifty thou- them from their supplies, and compel them to fight sand men, confident in their own courage, in the a decisive battle from necessity, not choice, in which rigid discipline which continued to distinguish their dispirited troops, under baffled and outwitted geservice, and in the animating recollections of the nerals, were to encounter with soldiers who had victorious career of the Great Frederick. There already obtained a foretaste of victory, and who were many generals and soldiers in their ranks who fought under the most renowned commanders, the had served under him; but, amongst that troop of combined efforts of the whole being directed by the veterans, Blucher alone was destined to do dis- master spirit of the age. tinguished hon3ur to the school. Upon the 8th October, Bonaparte gave vent to Notwithstanding these practical errors, the ad- his resentment in a bulletin, in which le complained dress of the Prussian king to his army was in better of having received, a letter of twenty pages, signed taste than the vaunting proclamation of Bonaparte, by the King of Prussia, being, as he alleged, a sort and concluded with a passage, which, though its of wretched pamphlet, such as England engaged accomplishment was long delayed, nevertheless hireling authors to compose at the rate of five proved at last prophetic: —" We go," said Frede- hundred pounds sterling a-year. ".[ am sorry," he rick William, "to encounter an enemy, who Ihas said, "for my brother, who does not understand vanquished numerous armies, humiliated monarchs, the French language, and has certainly never read destroyed constitutions, and deprived more than that rhapsody." The samne publication contained one state of its independence, and even of its very much in ridicule of the queen and Prince Louis. It name. He has threatened a similar fate to Prussia, bears evident nlarks of' Napoleon's own composiand proposes to reduce us to the dominion of a tion, which was as singular, though not so felicitous, strange people, who would suppress the very name as his mode of fighting; but it was of little use to of Germans. The fate of armies, and of nations, is censure either the style or the reasoning of the lord in the hands of the Almighty; but constant victory, of so many legions. His arms soon made the imand durable prosperity, are never granted save to pression which he desired upon the position of the the cause of justice." enemy. While Bonaparte assembled in Franconia an army The French advanced, in three divisions, upon considerably superior in number to that of the Prus- the dislocated and extended disposition of the large sians, the latter occupied the country in the vicinity but ill-arranged Prussian army. It was a primary of the river Saale, and seemed, in doing so, to re- and irretrievable fault of the Duke of Brunswick, nounce all the advantage of making the attack -on that his magazines, and reserves of artillery and the enemy ere he had collected his forces. Yet to ammunition, were placed at Naumbarg, instead of make such an attack was, and must have been, the being close in the rear of his army, and under the principal motive of their hasty and precipitate ad- protection of his main body. This ill-timed separaVance, especially after they had secured its primary tion rendered it easy for the French to interpose object, the accession of Saxony to the canmpaign. betwixt the'Prussians and their supplies, providing The position which tile Duke of Brunswick occupied they were able to clear the course of the Saale. PrWit tussin leit wing, which was exte nded farther Brunswick, with the Kilying Prussia in person, than prudence permitted; an d, having beaten this marched with greatof the centir army to the recopart of ths under Bernadotte army, to turn their wposition, and ery of Naought to coumbatg. He as little re Daoust, who mlad taken possess t heir m agazines. After some the place, remained at the head of a division of sixprevious skirmishes, a serioung was led bace ad-thiy Authoeresanau men, with whom he was to opat Coburg and Saalfeld,. It was thee Prince Louis of Prussia cormn- pose ned th e number. e march of the mandth d cobiadvaned movemeguard o tohe Prussian left Duke of Brunswick was so slow, as to lose the adwing. vantage of this superiority. He paused on the evenIn the ardor and inexperience ofandth, the brave aving of the thi marchedth o the heights of Auermy to stadt, and prince, instead of being contented with defending gave Davoust timHere Davto reinfust, wore had troops withhich possess themselves of their tagazines. After some he placbridge on the aale, quitted that adremaantageous he occupied the strong defile of Koesen. The next position, to advance wity th usaeqndal forces against morning, Davost, with strong reinforcements, bto opLannes, who ereas marcing upon him frous Graffen- still unequal in numbers to t he Prussians, marched thai. If bravery coulhave toned for imprudence, towardsthe enemy, whose columns werlose already the battle of Saalfeld would not have been lost. in motion. The van-guard of both armies met, Prince Louis speriority.the utmost gallantry in leading ithoutHe pareviously k nowing that they were closely his men when the y a d vanced, and i n rally ing of the approaching each other, so thick lay the mist upon when they fl ied. He was killed fighting hand to the ground. hand with a French subaltern, who required him to The village of Hanumbes to te Prussen, near which the surrend aver, and, receiving asabre-d f or reply, opposite armies wer e first made aware of each plthged his sword into the prince's body. Several other's proximity,became instantly the sengare f both armies meta ofPrince Louis sfell arounwed the utmost gallanfry in leading was taken and retaken repealy his men whedy they advanced, and in rallying them approaching each other, so thick lay the mist upon The victory of Saalfeld opened the course of the edly. The Prussian cavalry, being superior in Saale to the French, who instantly advanced on numbers to that of the French, and long famous for Naumburg. Bonaparte was at Gera, within half a its appointments and discipline, attacked repeatedly, day's journey from the latter city, whence he sent a and was as often resisted by the French squares of letter to the King of Prussia, couched in the lan- infantry, whom they found it impossible to throw guage of a victor (for victorious he already felt him- into disorder, or break upon any point. The French self by his numbers and position), and seasoned having thas repelled the Prussian horse, carried with the irony of a successfiul foe. He regretted his at the point of the bayonet some woods and the vilgood brother had been made to sign the wretched lage of Spilberg, and remained in undisturbed pospamphlet which had borne his name, but which he session of that of Hassen-Hausen. The Prussians protested he did not impute to him as his composi- had by this time maintained the battle from eight tion. Had Prussia asked any practicable favour of in the morning till eleven, and being now engaged him, he said lie would have granted it; but she had on all points, with the exception of two divisions of asked his dishonour, and ought to have known there the reserve, had suffered great loss. The general.. could be but one answer. In consideration of their issimo, Duke of Brunswick, wounded in the face former friendship, Napoleon stated himself to be by a grape-shot, was carried off; so was General ready to restore peace to Prussia and her monarch; Schmettau, and other officers of distinction. The and, advising his good brother to dismiss such coun- want of an experienced chief began to be felt, when, sellers as recommended the present war and that to increase the difficulties of theirsituation, the King of 1792, he bade him heartily farewell. of Prussia received intelligence that General MolBonaparte neither expected nor received any an- lendorf, who commanded his right wing, stationed swer to this missive, which was written under the near Jena, was in the act of being defeated by Boexulting sensations experienced by the angler, when naparte in person. The king took the generous but he feels the fish is hooked, and about to become his perhaps desperate resolution, of trying, whether in secure prey. Naumburg and its magazines were one general charge he could not redeem the fortune consigned to the flantes, which first announced to of the day, by defeating that part of the French with the Prussians that the French army had gotten which he was personally engaged. He ordered completely into their rear, had destroyed their the attack to be made along all the line, and with magazines, and, being now interposed betwixt all the forces which he had in the field; and his comthem and Saxony, left them no alternative save that mands were obeyed with gallantry enough to vindiof battle, which was to be waged at the greatest cate the honour of the troops, but not to lead to suc- i disadvantage with an alert enemy, to whom their cess. They were beaten off, and the French resumsupineness had already given the choice of time and ed the offensive in their turn. place for it. There was also this ominous consi- Still the Prussian monarch, who seems now to deration, that in case of disaster, the Prussians had have taken the command upon himself, endeavourneither principle, nor order, nor line of retreat. The ing to supply the want of professional experience by enemy were betwixt them a-d Magdeburg; which courage, brought up his last reserves, and encou LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. S83 raged his broken troops rather to make a final stand right, which rested on a village and a forest; and for victory, than to retreat in face of a conquering Soult's division, with a part of Ney's, were upon army. This effort also proved in vain. The Prus- the left. sian line was attacked everywhere at once; centre General Mollendorf advanced on his side, and and wings were broken through by the French at both armies, as at Auerstadt, were hid from each the bayonet's point; and the retreat, after so many other by the mist, until suddenly the atmosphere fruitless efforts, in which no division had been left cleared, and showed them to each other within the unengaged, was of the most disorderly character. distance of half cannon-shot. The conflict instantly But the confusion was increased tenfold, when, as commenced. It began on the French right, where the defeated troops reached Weimar, they fell in the Prussians attacked with the purpose of driving with the right wing of their own army, fugitives Augereau from the village on which he rested his like themselves, and who were attempting to re- extreme flank. Lannes was sent to support him, by treat in the same direction. The disorder of two whose succour he was enabled to stand his ground. routed armies meeting in opposing currents, soon The battle then became general; and the Prussians became inextricable. The roads were choked up showed themselves such masters of discipline, that with artillery and baggage waggons; the retreat it was long impossible to gain any advantage over became a hurried flight; and the king himself, who men, who advanced, retired, or moved to either had shown the utmost courage during the battle {of flank, with the regularity of machines. Soult at Auerstadt, was at length, for personal safety, com- length, by the most desperate efforts, dispossessed pelled to leave the high-roads, and escape across the Prussians opposed to him of the woods from the fields, escorted by a small body of cavalry. which they had annoyed the French left; and at the While the left of the Prussian army were in the same conjuncture the division of Ney, and a large act of combating Davoust at Auerstadt, their right, reserve of cavalry, appeared upon the field of battle, as we have hinted, were with equally bad fortune Napoleon, thus strengthened, advanced the centre, engaged at Jena. This second action, though the consisting in a great measure of the Imperial Guard, least important of the two, has always given the who, being fresh and in the highest spirits, comname to the double battle, because it was at Jena pelled the Prussian army to give way. Their retreat that Napoleon was engaged in person. was at first order.ly; but it was a-part of Bonaparte's The French Emperor had arrived at this town, tactics to pour attack after attack upon a worsted which is situated upon the Saale, on the 13th of enemy, as the billows of a tempestuous ocean follow October, and had lost no time in issuing those orders each other in succession, till the last waves totally to his marshals, which produced the demonstra- disperse the fragments of the bulwark which the tions of Davoust, and the victory of Auerstadt. HIis first have breached. Murat, at the head of the attention was not less turned to the position he dragoons and the cavalry of reserve, charged, as one himself occupied, and in which he had the prospect who would merit, as far as bravery could merit, of fighting Mollendorf, and the right of the Prussians, the splendid destinies which seemed now opening on the next morning. With his usual activity, he to him. The Prussian infantry were unable to formed or enlarged, in the course of the night, the support the shock, nor could their cavalry protect roads by which he proposed to bring up his artillery them. The rout became general. Great part of on the succeeding day, and, by hewing the solid the artillery was taken, and the broken troops rock, made a path practicable forguns to the platean, retreated in disorder upon Weimar, where, as we or elevated plain in the front of Jena, where his have already stated, their confilusion became inextricentre was established. The Prussian army lay cable, by their encountering the other tide of fugibefore them, extended on a line of six leagues, tives from their own left, which vsas directed upon while that of Napoleon, extremely concentrated, Weimar also. All leading and following seemed showed a very narrow front, but was well secured now lost in this army, so lately confiding in its both in the flanks and in the rear. Bonaparte, ac- numbers and discipline. There was scarcely a cording to his custom, slept in the bivouac, sur- general left to issue orders, scarcely a soldier disrounded by his guards. In the morning he harangued posed to obey them; and it seems to have been. his soldiers, and recommended to them to stand more by a sort of instinct, than any resolved purfirm against the charges of the Prussian cavalry, pose, that several broken regiments were directed,. which had been represented as very redoutable. As or directed themselves, upon Magdeburg, where before Ulm he had promised his soldiers a repetition Prince Hohenloe endeavoured to rally them. of the battle of Marengo, so now he pointed out to Besides the double battle of Jena and Auerstadt,. his men that the Prussians, separated from their Bernadotte had his share in the conflict, as he magazines, and out off from their country, were in worsted at Apolda, a village betwixt these two the situation ofMack at Ulm. He told them that the points of general action, a large detachment. The enemy no longer fought for honour and victory, but French accounts state that 20,000 Prussians were for the chance of opening a way to retreat; and he killed and taken in' the course of this.fatal day'; that added, that the corps which should permit them to three hundred guns fell into their power, withi escape, would lose their honour. The French replied twenty generals, or lieutenant-generals, and standwith load shouts, and demanded instantly to advance ards and colours to tlhe number of sixty. to the combat. The emperor ordered the columns The mismanagement of the Prussian generals in destined for the attack to descend into the plain. these calamitous battles, and in all the manneuvreHix centre consisted. of the Imperial Guard, and which preceded them, amoanted to infatuation. two divisions of Lannes. Augerean commanded the The troops also, according to Bonaparte's evidenaf, 384- ELIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. scarcely maintained their high character, oppressed zenberg when the surrender took place, and amountprobably by a sense of the disadvantages under ed to about ten thousand men, the relics of the which they combated. But it is unnecessary to battle in which Prince Eugene of Wirtemberg had dwell on the various causes of a defeat, when the engaged near Weimar, and were under the comvanquished seem neither to have formed one com- mand of a general whose name hereafter was desbined and general plan of attack in the action, nor j tined to sound like a war-trumpet-the celebrated lmaintained communication with each other while it I Blucher. endured, nor agreed upon any scheme of retreat In the extremity of his country's distresses, this when the day was lost. The Duke of Brunswick, distinguished soldier showed the same indomitable too, and General Schmettau, being mortally wounded spirit, the same activity in execution, and daringness early in the battle, the several divisions of the of resolve, which afterwards led to such glorious Prussian army fought individually, without receiving results. He was about to leave Bortzenberg on the any general orders, and consequently without re- 29th, in consequence of his orders from Prince Hogular plan or combined manceuvres. The conse- henloe, when he learned that general's disaster at quences of the defeat were more universally cala- Prenzlow. He instantly changed the direction of Ilitons than could have been anticipated, even when his retreat, and, by a rapid march towards Strelitz, we consider, that no mode of retreat having been contrived to unite his forces with about ten thoufixed on, or general rallying-place appointed, the sand men, gleanings of Jena and Auerstadt, which, broken arnly resembled a covey of heath-fowl, which under the Dukes of Weimar and of Brunswick Oels, the sportsman marks down and destroys in detail had taken their route in that direction. Thus reinand at his leisure. forced, Blucher adopted the plan of passing the Next day after the action, a large body of the Elbe at Lauenburg, and reinforcing the Prussian Prussians, who, under the command of Mollendorf, garrisons in Lower Saxony. With this view he had retired to Erfurt, were compelled to surrender fought several sharp actions, and made many rapid to the victors, and the marshal, with the Prince marches, But the odds were too great to be baof Orange Fullda, became prisoners. Other relics lanced by courage and activity. The division of of this most unhappy defeat met with the same Soult, which had crossed the Elbe, cut him off from fate. General Kalkrleuth, at the head of a consi- Lauenburg, that of Murat interposed between him derable division of troops, was overtaken and routed and Stralsund, while Bernadotte pressed upon his in an attenlpt to cross the Hartz mountains. Prince rear. Blucher had no resource but to throw himEungene of Wirtelnberg commanded an untouched self and his diminished and dispirited army into body of sixteen thousand men, whom the Prussian Lubeck. The pursuers came soon up, and found general-in-chief had suffered to remain at Memmin- him like a stag at bay. A battle was fought on the gen, without an attempt to bring them into the field. 6th of November, in the streets of Lubeck, with Instead of retiring when he heard all was lost, the extreme fury oni both sides, in which the Prussians prince was rash enough to advance towards Halle, were overpowered by numbers, and lost many slain, as if to put the only unbroken division of the Prussian besides four thousand prisoners. Blucller fought his army in the way of the far superior and victorious way out of the town, and reached Schwerta. But hosts of France. Ele was accordingly attacked and he had now retreated as far as he had Prussian defeated by Bernadotte. ground to bear him, and to violate the neutrality of The chief point of rallying, however, was Mag- the Danish territory, would only have raised up new debuirg, under thle wvalls of which strong city Prince enemies to his unfortunate master. HIohenloe, though wounded, contrived to assemble On the 7th November, therefore, he gave tip his an army amounting to fifty thousand men, but want- good sword, to be resumed nunder happier auspices, ing everything, and in the last degree of confiusion. and surrendered with the few thousand men which But Magdeburg was no place of rest for them. The remained under his command. But the courage same improvidence, which had marked every step which he had manifested, like the lights of St Elmo of the camipaign, had.exhausted that city of the amid the gloom of the tempest, showed that there immense magazines which it contained, and taken was at least one pupil of the great Frederick worthy them for tlhe supply of the Duke of Brunswick's of his master, and afforded hopes, on which Prussia army. The wrecks of the field of Jena were ex- long dwelt in silence, till the moment of action arposed to famine as well as the sword. It only rived. remained for Prince Hohenloe to make the best The total destruction, for such it might almost be escape he could to the Oder, and, considering the termed, of the Prussian army, was scarcely so wondisastrous circumstances in which lie was placed, derful, as the facility with which the fortresses which he seems to have displayed both courage and skill defend that country, some of them ranking among in his proceedings. After various partial actions, the foremost in Europe, weresurrendered by their however, in all of which he lost men, he finally commandants, without shame, and without resistfound himself, with the advanced guard and centre ance, to the victorious enemy. Strong towns, and of his army, on the heights of Prenzlow, without fortified places, on which the engineer had exhausted plrovisions, forage, or anmmunition. Surrender be- his science, provided too with large garrisons, and came unavoidable; and at Prenzldow and: Passewalk, ample supplies, opened their gates at the sound of a nearly twenty thousand Prussians laid down their French trumpet, or tile explosion of a few bombs. arms. Spandau, Stettin, Custrin, Hamelen, were each quaThe rear of Prince Iohenlloe's army did not im- lified to have arrested the umarch of invaders for i mediately share this calamity. They were at Bort- mouths, yet were all surrendered on little more than | _ _ r s h r. _ _ _ _ _ __ LIFE OF NAPOLE ON BONAPARTE. 385 a summons. In Magdeburg was a garrison of twenty- rienced gambler, who risks his whole fortune on two thousand men, two thousand of them being ar- one desperate cast, and rises from the table totally tillerymen; and nevertheless this celebrated city ruined. That power had for three quarters of a capitulated with Marshal Ney at the first flight of' century ranked among the most important of EllShells. Halmelen was garrisoned by six thousand rope; but never had she exhibited such a formid. troops, amply supplied with provisions, and every able position as almost inmmediately before her dismeans ofmlaintainlig a siege. The place was sur- aster, when, holding in her own hand the balance of rendered to a force scarcely one-third in proportion Enrope, she might, before the day of A usterlitz, to that of the garrison. These incidents wvere too have inclined the scale to which side she would. gross to be ilmpultedl to tlily and cowardice alone. And now she lay at the feet of the antagonist whom The French themselves wondered at theirconquests, she had rashly and in ill time defied, not fallen yet had a shrewd guess at the mlauner in which they merely, but totally prostrate, without the means of were rendered so easy. \When tlle recreant governor making a single effort to arise. It was remembered of Maodleblurg was insulted by the students of lealle thlat Austria, when her armies were defeated, and for treachery as well as cowardice, tile French gal- her capital taken, had still 1flund resources in the rison of the place sympathised, as soldiers, with the courage of her subjects, and that the insurrections youthful enthusiasm of the scholars, and afforded of lHunggary and Bohemia had assumed, even aftel the sordid old coward but little protection against Bonaparte's most eminent successes, a character se their indignation. Fromn a similar generous impulse, formidable, as to aid in procuring peace for the deSchoels, the commandant of 1Hamelen, was nearly feated emperor on moderate terms. Austria, theredestroyed by the troops linder his orders. In sur-, fore, was like a fortress repeatedly besieged, and rendering the place, he had endeavoured to stipulate, as often breached and damaged, hut which conthat in case the Prussian provinces should pass tinuied to be tenable, though diminished in strength, by the fortune of war to soime other power, the offi- and deprived of important outworks. But Prussia cers should retain their pay and rank. The soldiers seemed like the satle foitress swallowed up by an were so much incensed at this stipulation, which earthquake, which leaves nothinig either to inhabit carried desertion in its front, and a proposal to shape or defend, and where the fearfill agency of the dea private fortune to himself amiiid the ruin of his stroyer reduces the strongest bastions and bulwarks country, that Schoels only saved himself by deliver- to crumbled masses of ruins and rubbish. ing up the place to the French before the time sti- The cause of this great distinction between two pulated in the articles of capitulation. countries which have so often contended against It is believed that, on several of these occasions, each other for politicil power, and for influence in the French constructed a golden key to open these Germany, may be easily traced. iron forttresses, without being themselves at the ex- The empire of Austria combines in itself sevreral pense of the precious metal which composed it. large kingdoms, the undisturbed and undisputled Every large garrison has of course a military chest, dominions of a comnmon sovereign, to whose sway with treasure for the regular payment of the sol- they have been long accustomed, and towards wlhomn diery;anmd it is said that more than one commandant they nourish the same sentiments of loyalty which was unable to resist the profer, that, in case of an their fathers entertained to the ancient pllinces of imrnnediate surrender, this deposit should not be the same house. Austria's natural authority thereinquired into by tile captors, but left at the dis- fore rested, and now rests, on this broad and solid posal of the governor, whose accommodating dis- base, the general and rooted attachment of the position hlad saved them the tine and trouble of a people to their prince, and their identification of his siege. interests with their own. While the French army nade this uninterrupted Prussia had also her native provinces, in which progress, the new King of Holland, Louis Bona- her authority was hereditary, and where the aflecparte, with an army partly composed of Dutch and tion, loyalty, and patriotism of the inhabitants were partly of Frenchmen, possessed himself with equal natural qualities, which fathers transmitted to their ease of Westphalia, great part of Hanover, Emden, sons. But a large part of her dominions consist of and East F ieslaeid. late acquisitions, obtained at different times by the To complete thl-e picture of general disorder which alms or policy of the great Frederick; and thus her Prussia now exhibited, it is onJly necessary to add, territories, made up of a numberof small aniid distant that the unfortunate king, whose personal qualities states, want geographical breadth, while their disdeserved a better hite, had been obliged after the proportioned length stretches, according to Volbattle to flS into East LPrussia, where he finally taire's well-known sintile, like a pair of garters sought reftlge in tile city of Konigsberg. L'Es- across the map of Europe. It follows, as a natural tocq, a faithllfl ancl able general,:was still able to consequence, that a long time must intervene betssemnble o:at of the \wreck of the Prussian army a twvixt the formation of such a kingdom, and the few thllosand nen, t;r thie protection of his sove- amnalgamation of its component palts, differing in reign. Bona-ipartee took possession of Berlin on the laws, mannlers, and usages, into one compact and 25th October, eleven days after the battle of Jena. solid monarchy, having respect and affection to their The mode in wihict lie improved his good fortune king, as the common head, and regard to each other we reserve f;)r fiuture consideration. as members of the saume community. It will require The fall of Prussia wvas so sudden anti so total, generations to pass away, ere a kingdom, so artias to excite the ie geral astonishment of Europe. ficially composed, can be cemented into ulnity and Its prince was coumpared to the rash and inexpe- strength; and the tendency to remain disunited, is VOL. vI. l 49 386 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. greatly increased by the disadvantages of its geogra- grasping and unconscientious,-had met in this preplical situation. sent hour of disaster with no more than merited These considerations alone might explain. why, chastisement. The indifference with which the after the fatal battle of Jena, the inhabitants of the Prussian cabinet had viewed the distresses of the various provinces of Prussia contributed no import- house of Austria, which their firm interposition ant personal assistance to repel the invader; and might probably have prevented —the total want of why, although almost all trained to arms, and ac- conscience and decency with which they accepte d customed to serve a certain time in the line, they Hanover from France, at the moment when they did not display any readiness to exert themselves meditated war wvith the power at whose hand they against the common enemy. They felt that they received it-the shameless rapacity with which they belonged to Prussia only by the right of the strong- proposed to detain the electorate fiorn its legal est, and thereforle were indifferent when the same owner, at the very time when they were negotiating right seemed abotit to transfer their allegiance else- an alliance with Britain,-intimrated that contempt where. They saw the approaching ruin of the Prus- of the ordinary principles of justice, which, while sian power, not as children view the danger of a it renders a nation 1lndeserving of success, is fi-efather, which they are bound to prevent at the ha- quently a direct obstacle to their attaining it. Their zard of their lives, but as servants view that of a whole procedure was founded on the principles of a master, which concerns them.no otherwise than as felon, who is willing to betray his accomplice, proleading to a change of their employers. viding he is allowed to retain his own share of' the There were other reasons, tending to paralyse common booty. It was no wonder, men said, that any effort at popular resistance, which affected the a government setting such an example to its subhereditary states of Prussia, as well as her new ac- jects, of greediness and breach of faith in its pubqllisitions. The power of Prussia had appeared to lic transactions, should find among them, in the depend almost entirely upon her standing army, hour of need, many who were capable of preferring established by Frederick, and modeled according their own private interests to that of their country. to his rules. When, therefore, this army was at And if the conduct of this wretched administration once annihilated, no hope of safety was entertained was regarded in a political instead of a moral point by those who had so long regarded it as invincible. of view, the disasters of the kingdom might be conThe Prussian peasant, who would gladly have join, sidered as the consequence of their incapacity, as ed the ranks of his country while they continued to well as the just remuneration of their profligacy. keep the field, knew, or thought he knew, too much The hurried and presuinptuous declaration of wvar, of the art of war, to have any hope in the efforts after every favourable opportunity had been safwhich might be made in a desultory guerilla war- fered to escape, and indeed the whole condullt of fare;-which, however, the courage, devotion, and the campaign, showed a degree of folly not iar pe:tinacity of an invaded people have rendered the short of actual imbecility, and which niust leave most formidable means of opposition even to a vic- arisen either from gross treachery, or sonletling like torious army. infatuation. So far, therefore, as the ministers of The ruin of Prussia, to whatever causes it was to Prussia were concerned, they reaped only the rebe attributed, seemed, in the eyes of astonished ward due to their political want of morality, and Europe, not only universal, but irremediable. The their practical want of judgment. king, driven to the extremity of his dominions, could Very difelrent, indeed, were the feelings with only be considered as a fugitive, whose precarious which the battle of Jena and its consequences were chance of restoration to the crown depended on the regarded, when men considered that great calamity doubtful success of his ally of Russia, who now, as in reference not to the evil counsellors by whom it after the capture of Vienna, had upon his hapds, was prepared, but to the prince and nation who strong as those hands were, not the task of aiding were to pay the penalty. " We are human, and," an ally, who was in the act of resistance to the. according to the sentimient of the poet, oni the excommon enemy, but the far more difficult one of tinction of the state of Venice,v "must mourn even raising from the ground a prince who was totally when the shadow of that which has once been great powerless and prostrate. Tile French crossed the passes away." But the apparent destruction of Oder-Glogau and Breslau were taken. Their de- Prussia was not like the departure of the aged fence was respectable; but it seemed not the less man, whose life is come to the natural close, or the certain that their fall involved almost the last hopes fall of a ruined tower, whose mouldering arches can of Prussia, and that a name, raised so high by the no longer support the incumbent weight. These reign of one wise monarch, was like to be blotted are viewed Nwith awe indeed, and with sympathy, from the map of Europe by the events of a single but they do not excite astonishment or horror. TIlhe day. seeming fate of the Prussian monarchy resembled Men looked upon this astonishing calamity with the agonizing death of him who expires in the flower various sentiments, according as they considered it of manhood. The fall of the house of Brandenburg with relation to the Prussian administration alone, was as ifa castle, with all its trophiu'd turrets strong or as connecteZd with the character of the king and and entire, shonld be at once hurled to the earth by LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 387 extent and suddenness of the catastrophe, were Prussia, of which not merely the renown, but the moved with sympathy for those instantly involved very national existence, seemed in danger of being in the ruin, and struck with terror at the demolition extinguished for ever. of a bulwark, by the destruction of which all found their own safety endangered. The excellent and patriotic character, of Frederick William, on whose CHAPTER LIII. rectitude and honour even the misconduct of his niinisters had not brought any stain; the distress of Ungenerous conduct of Bonaparte to the Dke of Brunrshis inter, h d an butil w at - ick.-The approach of the French troops to Brlunsaick his interesting, hil-.spirited, and beautiful consort; compels the dying prince to cause himself to be carried the general sufferings of a brave and proud people, to Altona, where he expires - Oath of revenge taken accustomed to assume and deserve the name of by his son.-At Potsdam and Berlin, the proceedings of Protectors of the Protestant Faith and of the Liber- Napoleon are equally crucel and vindictive —His cleties of Gelrmany, and whose energies, corresponding mency towards the Prince of Ilatzfeld-His treatment with the talents of their leader, had enabled them of the lesser powers.-Jerome Bonaparte.-Seizure of in former times to withstand the combined force of Hamburg.-Celebrated Berlin Decrees against British France, Austria, and Russia,-excited deep and conterce-Reasoniug as to theirjnstice-Napoleon reFgeneral sympathriaand Russia,-ex.citd deepad jects all application front the continental commercial Stnll aider did that sympathy extend, and more towns to relax or repeal themt.-Commerce, nevertheless, Still wider did that sympathy extend, and more flourishes in spite of them. —Second anticipationl calledfor thrilling became its impulse, when it was rememn- of the conscription for 1807.-The King of Prussia apbered that in Prussia fell the last state of Germany, plies for ant armistice, which is clogged with such harsh who could treat with Napoleon in the style of an terms that he refuses themt. equal; and that to the exorbitant power which France already possessed in the south of Eulrope, THE will of Napoleon seemed now the only law, was now to be added an authority in the north from which the conquered country, that so late almost equally arbitrary and equally extensive. stood forth as the rival of France, was to expect her The prospect was a gloomy one; and they who felt destiny; and circumstances indicated, that, vwith neither for the fallen authority of a prince, nor the more than the fortune of Caesar or Alexander, tlhe destroyed independence of a kingdom, trembled at conqueror would not emulate their generosity or the prospect likely to be entailed on their own clemency. cotuntry by a ruin, which seemed as remediless as it The treatment of the ill-fated Duke of Brunswick was extensive and astounding did little honour to the victor. After receiving a But yet the end was not.- mortal wound on the field of battle, the was transported from thence to Brunswick, his hereditary capital. Prcvidence, which disappoints presumptuous hopes Upon attaining his native dominions, in the governby the event, is often mIlercifully pleased to give aid ment of which his conduct had been always patriotic when human aid seems hopeless. Whatever may and praiseworthy, he wrote to Napoleon, reprebe thought of the doctrine of an intermediate state senting that, although he had fought against him as of stlf'erance and purification in an after stage of a general in the Prulssian service, he nevertheless, as existence, it is evident from history, that in this a Prince of the Emrpire, recommended Ihis hereditary world, kingdoms, as well as individlals, are often principality to the moderation and clemency of the subjected to misfortunes arising from their own victor. This attempt toseparate his two characters, errors, and which prove in the event conducive to or to appeal to the immunities of a league which filture regeneration. Prussia was exposed to a long Napoleon had dissolved, although natural in the and painfidl discipline in the severe school of adver- duke's forlorn situation, formed a plea not likely to sity, by which she profited in such a degree as be attended to by the conqueror. Btut, on other and enabled her to regain her high rank in the republic broader grounds, Bonaparte, if not influenced by of Europe, with nmore honour perhaps to her prince personal animosity against the duke, or desirous to and people, than if she had never been thrust from degrade, in his person, the father-in-law of the Ieir her lofty station. Her government, it may be hoped, of the British crown, might have found reasons for have learned to respect the rights of other nations, treating the defeated general with the respect due froro the sufferings which followed the destruction to his rank and his misfortunes. The Duke of of their own-her people have been taught to un- Brunswick was one of the oldest soldiers in Europe, derstatld the difference between the dominion of and his unquestioned bravery ought to have recomstrangers and the value of independence. Indeed mended him to his junior in arms. He was a the Prussians showed itn the event, by every species reigning prince, andll Bonaparte's own aspirations of sacrifice, how fully they had become aware, that towards confirmation of aristocratical rank should the blessing of freedom from foreign control is not have led him to treat the vanquished with decency. to be secured by the effitrts of a regular army only, Above all, the duke was defenceless, wounded, but must be attained and rendered permanent by dying; a situation to commland the sympathy of the general resolution of the nation, from highest to every military man, who knows on what casual lowest, to dedicate their united exertions to the circumstances the fate of battle depends. The achievement of the public liberty at every risk, and answer of Napoleon was, nevertheless, harsh and by every act of self-devotion. Their improvement insulting in the last degree. He reproached the under the stern lessons which calamity taught them, departing general with his celebrated proclamation we shall record in a brighter page. For the tiie, against France in 1792, with the result of his unthe cloud of misfortune sunk hopelessly dark over happy campaign in that country, with the recent 388 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAIP'A.IT~. summlons by which the French had been required should fly on eagles' wings from a contquered foe. to retreat beyond the Rhine. lie charged hinm as The soldiers, and even the officers, caulght the havirng been the instigator of a war which his example of their emperor, and conceived they met counsels ought to have prevented. He announced the his swishes by behaving more imperiously in qiarright which he had acquired, to leave not one stone ters, and producing more distress to their hosts, standing upon another in the town of Brunswick; than had been their custom in the Austrian camand sumnmed up his ungenerous reply by intimating, paigns. Great aggressions, perhaps, were rarely that though he might treat the subjects of the duke perpetrated, and would have been punished, as like a generous victor, it was his purpose to deprive contrary to military discipline; but a grinding, conthe dying prince and his family of their hereditary stant, and unremitting system of vexation and requisovereignty. sition, was bitterly felt by the Prussians at the As if' to fiulfil these menaces, the French troops time, and afterwards sternly revenged. approached the city of Brunswick, and the wounded It is but justice, however, to record an act of cleveteran, dreading the further resentment of his mency of Napoleon amid these severities. He had ungenerous victor, was compelled to cause himself intercepted a letter containing some private intelli-'to be removed to the neutral town of Altona, where gence respecting the motions of the French, sent by he expired. An application from his son, request- Prince Hatzfeld, late the Prussian governor of Bering permission to lay his father's body in the tomb lin, to Prince Hohenloe, then still at the head of an of his ancestors, was rejected with the same stern- army. Napoleon appointed a military commission ness, which had c.haracterized Bonaparte's answer for the trial of Ilatzfeld; and his doom, for contito the attempt of the duke, when living, to soften his nuing to serve his native prince after his capital had enmity. The successor of the duke vowed, it is been occupied by the enemy, would have been not believed, to requite these insults with mortal hatred, less certain than severe. His wife, however, threw -did much to express it during his life, —and be- herself at Napoleon's feet, who put into her hands queathed to his followers the legacy of revenge, the fatal document which contained evidence of wvlhch the Black Brunswickers had the means of what was called her husband's guilt, with permisamply discharging upon the 18th of June, 1815. sion to throw it into the fire. The French emperor Some have imputed this illiberal conlduct of Bo- is entitled to credit for the degree of mercy he naparte to an ebullition of spleen against the object showed on this occasion; but it nmust be granted at of his personal dislike; others have supposed that the same time, that to have proceeded to sentence his resentment was, in whole or part, affected, in and execuition upon such a charge, would have been order to ground upon it his resolution of confiscating an act of great severity, it not of actual atrocity. If, the state of Brunswick, and uniting it with the king- as has been alleged, the correspondence of Prince dom of Westphalia, which, as we shall presently Hatzfeld was dated before, not after the capitulation see, he proposed to erect as an applanage for his of Berlin, his death would have been an unqualified brother Jor6me. Whether arising from a burst of murder. temperament, or a cold calculatiomi of interested The victor, who had all at his disposal, was now selfishness, his conduct was equally unworthy of a to express his pleasure concerning those satellites monarch and a soldier. of Prussia, which, till her fall, had looked up to her At Potsdam and at Berlin, Napoleonl showed as their natural protector and ally. Of these, himself equally as the sworn and implacable enemy, Saxony and fHesse-Cassel were the principal; and, rather than as the generous conqueror. At Potsdarm in his proceedings towards them, Bonaparte regardbe seized on the sword, belt, and hat of the Great ed the train of his own policy much more than the Frederick, and at Berlin he appropriated and re- merits which the two electors might have respecmoved to Paris the monument of Victory, erected tively pleaded towards France. by the same monarch, in consequence of the defeat Saxony had joined her arms to those of Prussiaof the French at fosbach. The finest paintings and forced, as she said, by the arguments which a works of art in Prussia were seized upon for the powerful neighbour can always apply to a weakerbenefit of the French National Museum. still she had joined her, and finught on her side at The language of the victor corresponded with his the battle of Jena. The apology of compulsion was actions. His bulletins and proclamations. abounded admitted by Bonaparte; the Saxon troops were with the same bitter sarcasms against the king, dismissed upon their parole, and their prilnce raised the queen, and those whom he called the war to the rank of a kingr,, shortly afterwards admitted faction of Prussia. Ascribing the war to the unre- as a member of the Confelderacy of the Rhine, and1 pressed audacity of the young nobility, he said, in treated by Bonaparte with much personal consideraone of those proclamations, he would permit no tionl. The Dukes of Saxe-Weimar and Saxe-Gotha mnore rioting in Berlin, no more breaking of windows; alst were permitted to retain their dominions, on and, in addressing the Count Neale, he threatened, acknowledging a sinmilar vassalage to the Frenlch in plain terms, to reduce the nobles of Prussia to empire. beg their bread. These, and similar expressions of The Landgrave, or Elector, of Hesse-Cassel, irritated spleen, used in the hour of conquest, level might have expected a still imore favourable acceptthe character of the great victor with that of the anoe in the eyes of the victor, for he had refused to vulgar Englishman in the farce, who cannot be sa- join Prussia, and, in spite of threats and persuasions, tisfied with beatinlg his enemy, but must scold him had observed neutrality during tile brief contest. also. Napoleon's constant stluly of the- poetry as- But Napoleonl remembered, to the pre judice of the cribed to Ossian, ummight have taught hinm that wrath landgrave, that lie had resisted all 1previous tenmpta LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 389 ti6ns to enter into the Confederation of the Rhine. last two years to dispose of their stock, call in their Hie imputed his neutrality to falr, not choice. He capital, and wind up their trade; so that the rapacity alleged, that it had not been strictly observed; and, of the French was in a great measure disappointed. treating the inaction of Hesse, whose inclinations- Thile strict searc.h after British property, and the w vere with Prussia, as a greater crim-e than the confiscation which was denounced against it at actual hostilities of Saxonv, lwhose will was with Hamburnlg and elsewhere, were no isolated acts of France, le declared. according to his useal form of plunder and spoliation, but made parts of one great d(ethronement, that the house of' Hesse-Cassel had system for destroying the commerce of England, ceased to reign.'T'he doom was executed even which was shortly after laid before the world by before it was pronounced. Louis Bonaparte, with the celebrated decrees of Berlin. Marshal AMortier, had possessed hinmself of Hesse- It was fiequently remarked of Bonaparte, that he Cassel by tie 1st of Novembler. The army of the studied a sort of theatrical effect in the mode of laddg-rave made no resistance-a part of them issuing his decrees and proclamations, the subject passed under the banners of France, the rest were matter of which formed often a strange contrast (iishanded. with the date; the latter, perhaps, being at the carl'he real cause of seizing the territories of an pital of some subd~ued monarch, while the matter unoffending prince, who was totally helplelss, tnless promulgated respected some minute regulation afin so far as right or justice could afford hinm protec- fecting the municipality of Paris. Bat thele was no tion, was Bonaparte's previous resolution, already such discrepancy in the date and substance of the hinted at, to incorporafe Hesse-Cassel -with the Bellin decrees against British enterprise. It was adjacent territories, for the purpose of forming a when Bonaparte had destroyed the natural bulwark kic:-iotu to be conferred on his youngest brother which protected tile independence of the north of Jromtne. This young person bore a gay and dis- Germany, and had necessarily obtained a corressipated character; and, though such men may at ponding power on the shores of the Baltic, that lie tirmes make considerable sacrifices for the indul- seriously undertook to promulgate his sweeping plan gence of transient passion, they are seldom capable of destroying the commerce of his island foe. of retaining for a length of time a steady affection When slight inconveniencies, according to Bonafor an object, however amiable. Jlrolme Bonaparte parte's expression, plut an end to his hopes of invading had married an American young lady, distinguished Britain, or when, as at other times lie more candidly for iher beauty and hler talents, and had thus lost admitted, the defeat at Trafalgar iniduced hIim " to the countenance of Napoleon, who maintained the throw lielve after hatchet," and resign all hope of principle, that, segregated as his kindred were firom n attaining any success by means of his navy, he bethe nation at large by their connexion with him, his came desirous of sapping and undermining the bulrank, and his fortunes, they were not entitled to wark, which le found it impossible to storma; and enter into alliances according to the dictates of their by directing his efforts to thie destruction of' British own teelings, but were bound to fbo:n such as were comulmerce, he trusted gradually to impair the fobUnmost suitable to his policy. Je6rOnie wvas tempted dations of her national wvealth and prosperity. He by ambititon finally to acquiesce ia this reasoning, erred, perhaps, in thinking, that, even if his object and sacrificed the connexion which his heart had could have been fully attained, thefull consequences cihosen, to beconme the tool of his brother's ever- would lhave followed which his animosity anticiextending schemnes of ambition. The reward was pated. Great Britaiti's prosperity mainly rests on i te kingdoem of WVestphalia, to which was unxited her commnerce, but h-er existence as a nation is not Hesse-Cassel, withi the various provinces which absolutely dependent upon it; as those foreigners Pr ussia had possessed in Franconia; Westphalia are apt to imaigine, who have only seen the nu-!Proiler, and Iowetr Saxony; as also the territories nluerous vessels with which she covers the ocean of the unfortunate I)uke of Brunswick. Security and fills foreign poits, but lhave never witnessed co,ld be scarcely supposed to attend upon a sore- thle extent of her agricultural and domestic resources. reignty, where the mlaterials were acquired by public Bult, entertaining the belief which Napoleon did, in Irapine, and the crown purchased by domestic in- regard to the indispensable connexion betwixt Br13ifidelity. tisli commerce and British power, the policy of his About the middle of Novemlber, Mortier formally war upon the former cannot be denied. It was that re-occupied Hanover in the name of the emperor, of the Ahyssinian hunter, who, dreading to firont the and, marching upon Hamburg, took possession of elephant in his fury, draws his sabre along the anithat ancient free town, so long the emporipm of mal's heel-joint, and waits until the exertions of the coinnierce for the north of Europe. Here, as powerfiul brute burst the injured sinews, and lie formterly at Leipsic, the strictest search was made sinks prostrate under his own weight. for British commnnodities and property, which were The celebrated decrees of Berlin alppeared on tilhe declared the lawfoil sulliject of confiscation. The 21st Novemiuber, 1806, intercldicting all commerce beMoniteur trumpeted fortfh, that these rigorous mea- twixt Great Britain and tlhe Continent; which intersures were accoinpanied xvith losses to British com- diction was declared a fiundamental law of the merce which would shake the credit of the nation. French enpire, until the English should consent to Th'is was not trule.'The citizens o(f Hamburg had certain alterations in the mode of conducting hiostilong foreseen that their neutrality would be no pro- lities by sea, which should render her naval saperitection, and, in spite of tlhe fraudful assulrances of ority less usefill to hersell,. and less detrimental to thle French envoy, designed to trll them into se- the enemyv. This measure was justified upon the Icurity, the merchants had availed themselves of tie fillowvin, grounds:- That t England had either in 30o LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPART. i troduiced new customs into her maritime code, or to Bonaparte's decrees had been real, he might have revived those of a barbarous age-that she seized attained his pretended purpose of softening the soes on merchant vessels, and made their crews plisoners, of war, by proposing some relaxation of the rig}its just as if they had been found on board ships of war of a conqueror by land, in exchange for restrictions I -declared harbours blockaded which were not so to be introduced into the practice of hostilities by i.A reality-and extended the evils of war to the sea. Instead of doing so, he, under the pretext of peaceful and unarmed citizen. exercising the right of reprisals, introduced the folThis induction to the celebrated project, after- lowing decrees, unheard of hitherto anlong belligewards called the Continental System of tile Em;- rent powers, and tending greatly to allgment the peror, was false in the original proposition, and general distress, which must, under all circurnsophistical in those by which it was suplported. It stances, attend a state of war. was positively false that Great Britain had introdu- 1. The British isles were declared in a state of ced into her maritime law, either by new enactment, blockade. 2. All commerce and correspondence or by the revival of obsolete and barbarous customs, with England was forbidden. All Englisil letters any alteration by which the rights of neutrals were were to be seized in the post-houses. 3. Eelry infringed, or the unarmed citizen prejudiced, more Englishman, of whatever rank or quality, found in than necessarily arose out of the usual customs of France, or the countries allied with her, wvas de-;war. The law respecting the blockade of ports, dared a prisoner of war. 4. All mrrch;lndize, or and the capture of vessels at sea, was the same on property of any kind, belonging to Englisll sub.jects, which every nation had acted for three centuries was declared lawfill prize. 5. All articles of Elugpast, France herself not excepted. It is true, that lish manufacture, and articles produced in her cotb,the maritime code seemed at this period to be pe- nies, were in like manner declared contraband nlld culiarly that of England, because no nation save lawful prize. 6. Half of the produce of the ub!,,e herself had the means of enforcing them; but she did confiscations was to be employed in the relief (t' not in this respect possess any greater advantage by those merchants, whose vessels had been captured sea than Napoleon enjoyed by land. by the English cruizers. 7. All vessels corning from The reasoning of the Emperor Napoleon upon the England, or the English colonies, were to be reftlsed inequality and injustice of the maritime mode of ex- admission into any harbour. Four additional articles ercising war, compared with the law of hostilities provided the mode of promulgating and enlforcing by land, was not more accurate than his allegation, the decree, and directed that it should be comirnunithat Britain had innovated upon the former for the cated to the allies of France. purpose of introducing new, or reviving old seve- This was the first link of a long chain of arbifrary rities. This will appear plain from the following decrees and ordinances, by which Napoleon, aimi'ng considerations:- at the destruction of British finance, interrupted tile At an early period of society, the practice of war whole commerce of Europe, and destroyed lbr a was doubtless the same by land or sea; and the season, and as far as lay in his power, that consavage slaughtered or enslaved his enemy whether nexion between distant nations which unites them to lie found him in his hut or in his canoe. But when each other by the most natural and advantageous centuries of civilization began to mitigate the hor- nleans, the supply of the wants of the one contlttry rors of barbarous warfare, the restrictive rules in- by the superfluous produce of the other. The extent troduced into naval hostilities were different from of public inconvenience and distress, which was those adopted in the case of wars by land, as the occasioned by the sudden suppression of comnlercial difference of the services obviously dictated. A land conmmunication with England, may be judged of by army has a precise object, which it can always at- reflecting, how many of the mnost ordinary articles tain if victorious. If a general conquer a town, he of consumption are blrought fromu foreign counitlies, can garrison it; he can levy contribultions; nay, he -in how many instances the use of these alitcles may declare that he will appropriate it to himself has brought them into the list of nlecessaries, —aeid in tight of sovereignty. HIe can afford to spare the hiow, before an ordinary miechlanic or peasant sits property of private individuals, when lie is at liberty down to breakfast, distant climes must be taxed to to seize, if he is so minded, upon all their public raise the coffee and sugar which lie consumes. rights, and new-mould them at his pleasure. The The Fainfuil emrbarrassment of those deprived of seaman, on the other hand, seizes on the merchant their habitual comforts was vet exceeded by the vessel and its cargo, by the same right of superior clamour and despair of the whole coimmnercial world force, in virtue of' which the victorby land has seized on the Continent, who were thus, undmer pretext of' upon castles, provinces, and on the very haven, it relieving them from the vexation of tile English may be, which the vessel belongs to. If tile mari- cruizers, threatened with a totai abrogation of tl:eir time conqueror had no right to do this, lie would profession. Hamburg, Bordeauix, Nantes, and other gain nothing by his superiority except blows, when continental towns, solicited, by petitions arid depiulie met with vessels of force, and would be cut off tations, some relaxation of decrees which inferred firom any share of the spoils of vwar, which form the their general ruin. They pleadled the prospect ofI reward of victory. The innocent and inarnmed citi- universal bankruptcy, which this prohibitory systemi zen, perhapls the neutral stranger, suffers in both must occasion).' Let it be so," answered the eiiicases; but a state of war is of course a state of peror; " the more insolvency on the Continent, tile violence, and its evils, unhappily, cannot be limited greater vill be the distress of the merchants in L)nto those who are actually engaged in hostilities. If don. The fewer tradelss in Hammmburg. tle less wvill be the spirit of philanlthro)y affected in the peroration the temptation to carry on commerce with England. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 391 Britain must be humbled, were it at the expense of dared not deny. The sole purpose of Regnault's throwing civilization back for centuries, and return- eloquence was to express in decent amplification the ing to the original mode of trading by barter." simple phrase, " Napoleon so wills it." But great as was Bonaparte's power, he had A deputation of the Senate, carrying to Napoleon overrated it in supposing that, by a mere expression in person their warm acquiescence in the proposed of his will, he could put an end to an intercorlse, measure, received in guerdon the honourable task in the existence of which the whole world possessed of conveying to Paris the spoils of Potsdam and an interest. The attempt to annihilate commerce Berlin, with three hundred and forty-six stand of resembled that of a child who tries to stop with his colours, the trophies of the wvar against Prussia,hand the stream of an artificial fountain, which es- with the task of announcing the celebrated decrees, capes in a hundred partial jets fiorm under his palln by which the general commerce of Europe and of and between his fingers. The Genius of Commerce, France itself was annihilated, to secure it from thle like a second Proteuts, assumed every variety of' aggressions of the British naval force. The military shape, in order to elude the imperial interdiction, trophies were received-the decrees were recorded; and all manner of evasions was practised for that and no one dared undertake the delicate task of purpose. False papers, false certificates, false balancing the victories of the emperor against lhe bills of lading,'wvere devised, and these fiauds were advantage which his doininions were likely to derive overlooked in the seaports, by the very agents of from them. the police, and custom-house officers, to whom the In the meanwhile, the unfortunate Frederick XWilexecution of the decrees was committed. Doua- liam, whose possession of his late flourishing kingdom niers, nmagistrates, generals, and prefects, nay, some was reduced to such territories as Prussia held ofthe kindred princes of tie house ofNapoleon, were beyond the Oder, sent an embassy to Berlin, Cor well pleased to listen to the small still voice of their the purpose of learning upon what ternis he might interest, rather than to his authoritative commands; be yet admitted to treat for peace with the victor, and tle British commerce, tholght charged with who had hold of his capital and lhe greater part of heavy expenses, continued to flourish in spite of his dominions. The Marquis Lucchesini was emthe continental system. The new, and still more ployed on this mission, a subtle Italian, who, being violent measures, which Napoleon had recourse employed in negotiations at Paris, had been accusto for enfiorcing his prohibitions, will require our tomed to treat with France on a fboting of equality. notice hereafter. Meantime, it is enough to say, that But these times were passed since the battle of Jena; such acts of increasing severity had the natural con- and the only terms to which Prussia could be now sequence of rendering his person and power more admitted, were to be so dearly purchased, that and more unpopullar; so that, while he was sacri- even a mere temporary armistice was to cost the ficing the interests and the comforts of the nations surrender of G raudentz, Dantzic, Colberg,-in short, under his authority to his hope of'destroying England, all the fortresses yet remaining to Prussia, and still he was in fact digging a mine under his own feet, in a state of defence. As this would have been which exploded to his destruction long before the placing himself entirely at tile niercy of Bonaparte, security of England was materially affected. and in as bad circumnstances as lie could be reduced Napoleon had foreseen that, in order to enforce to even by the most unsuccessful military operations, the decrees by which, without possession of any the king refused to acquiesce in such severe terms, naval i)owver, he proposed to annihilate the naval and determined to repose his fate in the chance of war, suplrenemacy of England, it would be necessary to and in the support of the auxiliary arlsiy of Russia, at1gment to a great extent the inmmnense superio- which was now hastily advancing to his assistance. rity of land forces which France already possessedl. It was necessary, he was aware, that to enable hilm to maintain tle prohibitions which lie CHAPTER LIV. had iuiposed nlpon general commerce, as well as to prosecute the stlrggle in which he was about to be Retrospect ef the partition of Polrn.-Napoleon receives engaged with Russia, a large draught should be addresses from Poland, which he evades-He advantces made on the population of France. LHe had, ac- isito Poland, Bennigsen retreating before him. —Cliacordingly, by a requisition addressed to the'Senate, racter of the Russian soldiery. —The Cossacks.-Endated from Barnberg, 7th of October, required( a gagemnent at Pultutsk, on 26th Decenmber, terminating to second anticipation of the conscritl)ionl of 1807, the deisadvanitage of the Fretnch.-Belnnti.gsen contizues amounting to a levy of eighty thousand men. Ais retreat.-The French go into winter quarters.-BenTh'lle measure Xvas supportedl in the Senate by tile n:igsen appoi-nted Comsmander-inuchief in the place of oratory of Regnault de St-Jean d'Aigely, an ancient Kantinskoy, who shows symptoms of' inrsClity-le re. republican. This fiiend of freedoim saw nothing: sissesese operations.-Batte oE ylaz, fought on inconsistent in advocating a measure, which tile ab- 8th February, ltt7-C/amed as a victouy by both pars monarch recomminenided as the umecessary step ties-The loss oni both sidces amtousnts to 50,000men killed, solute mob arch recommended as the necessary step, the greater part Frenchmeu.-Besnigsen retreats'upon to a general peace. The conscripts wl:o had first Ks2nigsberg-n apo/eo7s offers f-scourale teros foran toblached had secul ed victorly; tose vho wel e now o armistice to the Kinig (f l'russia, who refuses to treat, to be put in motion were to meahlize thie prospect of sa ve for a general peace.-Napoleon falls back to the peace, thie principal object of their brethlren's sac- lite of the Vistula.-Daltzic is bes.ieged,and surrenders. cess. The obsequious Senate readily admitted — Russian armny is poorly recruited-the Frenchpowerthese argmuments, as they wo:ld have (loile any vwhich fully.-Actions duering the stunmner.-B-atle oJ feitLshad been urged in support of a rei-quest %sllch they berg, and retreat of the Russians. —Battle of FriedlaslZ 392. LLIFE OF NAL'OLEON BONAPARl'E. on 14th June, and defetat of the lRussiants, after a hard- by the rank they held, and the pleasures they enfonught day.-An armistice takes place on the 23d. joyed at the courts of Berlin, Vienna, and especially St Petersburg, preferred in general the peaceful NAPOLEON was politically jilstified in the harsh enjoyment of their immense estates to the privileges terms which he was desirous to ilmpose on Prussia, of a stormy independence, which raised the most by having now brought his victorious armlies to the insignificant of the numerous aristocracy to a rank neighbourhood of Poland, in which he had a good and importance nearly resembling their own. They right to conceive himself sure to find.numterous fbl- inight, too, with some justice, distrust the views lowers and a friendly reception. of Napoleon, though recommended by the most The plartition of this fine kingdom by its powerful specious promises. The dominion of Russia in neighbours, Russia, Austria, and Prussia, was the particular, fiono similarity ofI manners, and the parfirst open and audacious transgression of the law of ticular attention paid to their persons and interests, nations, which disgraced the annals of civilized Eu- was not so unplopular among the higher branches of rope. It was executed by a conmbination of three of the aristocracy as might have been expected, fronm the most powerful states of Europe, against one too the unjust and arbitrary mlode in which she had unhappy in the nature of its constitution, and too combined to appropriate so large a part of thleir much divided by factions, to offer any effectual re- once independent kingdom. These did not, theresistance. Tlhe kingdom subjected to this aggression fore, so generally embrace the side of France as had appealed in vain to the code of nations for pro- the mninor nobles or gentry had done. As for the tection against an outrag e, to which, after a desultory ordinary mass of the population, beitig almost all in and uncomnbined, and therefore a vain defence, she the estate of serfage, or villanage, which had been saw herself under a necessity of subititting. The general over Europe dtming the pievalence of the Poles retained, too, a secret sense of their fruitless feudal system, they followed their respective lords, attempt to recover freedom in 1791, and an animated without pretending to entertain any opjinion of their recollection of the violence by which it had been own. suppressed by the Russian arms. They waited with While Russia was mnarching her armlies hastily hope and exultation the alpproach of the Frencl ar- forward, not only to support, or rather raise up mies; and candour must allow, that, unlawfully once rmore, her unfortunate ally the King of Prussia, subjected as they had been to a foireign yoke, they but to suppress any ebullition of poplar spir-it in had a right to avail thentselves of the assistance, not Poland,. Bonaparte received addresses f.nm tllat only of Napoleon, but of Mahomet, or of Satan country, which eadeavoured to prevail on him to himself, had he proposed to aid them in regaining aid them in their views of regaining their indelpendthe independence of which they hlad been oppres- ence. Their application was of a nwiture to embarsively and unjustly deprived. rass him considerably. To have declared himself This feeling was general among the middling the patron oft' Polish independence muight have classes of the Polish aristocracy, who recollected indeed, brought large forces to Iis standlarld-mnigIt with mortified pride the diminution of their inde- have consunmmated the disasters of' Prussi, antid penldent privileges, the abrogationl of their Diets, and greatly embarrassed even Russia helself; alnd so the suppression of the Libe2 -sn Veto, by which a far policy recomlmended to Napoleon to encourage private genltlema n might render null the decision of their hopes of her restored independence. But a whole assembly, unless unaninmity should be at- Austria had been a larre sharer in the various rtained, by putting the dissentien!t to death utpon the partitions of Poland, and Austria, humbllled as she:spot.* Bult the higher order of nobility, gratified had been, was still a powerfiul state, whose entity might have proved formidable, if;, by bereaving helr' Most readers must he so far acquainted wit.ll lhe ancient of ler Polish doitinions, or encouraging her subjects form of Polish Diets as to know, that their resolutions were to rebel, Bonaparte had provoked tlel to hostilities not legally valid if there swas one dissenting voice, aid that at the time when he himself and the best part of his in imany cases the most violent means were resorted to, to forces were engaged in the north of Europe. The obtain unanimity. The followving instance was related to our informer, a person of high rank. On sointe occasion, of the stove, like a turtle protruding his uieck furot lis a provincial diet was convened for the purpose of passing shell, and pronounced the fatal veto. Unfortunaelty for a resolution which was generally accepitah!e, but to *whicli himself, instead of instantly withdrawing his head, lihe it was aipprehended one nohle of the district would op- looked round for an inustant wi: h exultation, to remark and pose his cveto. To escape this inlterrutption, it was gene- enjoy the confusion which his sudden applearlane and inrally resolved to meet exactly at thle ho,.r of sumimons, to terruption had excited in the assemtbly. One of the nob:es, proceed to business upion the inlstant, and thus to elude who stood by, unsheathed his sabre, and severed at one the anticipated attenimpt of the individual to4 defeat the pulr- blow the head of the dissentient from his body. Our noble pose of their neeting. They accordingly met at the hour, itiformer, expressingsome doubt ofa story so extraordinary, with mrst accura'e precision, and shut and bolted the was referred for its confirmation to Prince Sobieski, afterdoors of their place of mreeting. But the dissentient arriv- wards King of Poland, who not only bore testimony to the ed a few ifinlutes afterwards, and entrance being refiused, strange scene, as what he had himself witnessed, but d - under tile excuse thlat the diet was already constitutedt, le clared that the head of the die:in rolled over on his o\i 1 climbed upon the roof of tle hall, and, it being summiner foot, almost as soon as lie heard the word veto utteredl. time wheat no fires were ligh ed, descended through the Such a constitution required much amnelioration; but that vent into the stove by which, in winter, the apartmellt formed no apology for the neighbouring states, lwho diswas heated. Here lie lay perdu, until the vose was called, membhered and appropriated to themoselves an indelptienent when, just as it was about to be re-'4,ted as unaitlous kingdom, with the faults or advantages of wlose goveruin favour of the proposed mneasure, lie thrust his lead iout ment they had not the slightest title to interfere. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 8~93 same attempt would have given a very different idolatry. "The Polish nation," said Count Radyicharacter to the war, which Russia at present minski, the Palatine of Gnesna, "presents itself bewaged only in the capacity of the auxiliary of fore your majesty, groaning still under the yoke of Prussia. The safety and integrity of the Russian German nations, and salutes with the purest joy the empire, south of the Volga, depends almost entirely regenerator of their dear country, the legislator of upon the, preservation of those territories which she the universe. Full of submission to your will, they has acquired in Poland; and, if she had engaged in adore you, and repose on you with confidence all the war as a principal, Bonaparte was scarcely yet their hopes, as upon him who has the power of raisprepared to enter upon a contest with the immense ing empires and destroying them, and of humbling power of that empire, which must be waged upon the proud." The address of the President of the the very frontier of the enemy, and as near to their Judicial Council-Chamber of the Regency of Poland resources as he was distant from his own. It might was not less energetic. " Already," he said, " we have been difficult, also, to have stated any con- see our dear country saved; for in your person we sistent grounds, why he, who had carved out so adore the most just and the most profound Solon. many new sovereignties in Europe with the point of We commit our fate and our hopes into your hands, his sword, should reprobate the principle of the and we implore the mighty protection of the most partition of Poland. Influenced by these motives, august Caesar." the modern setter-up and puller-down of kings Not even these eastern hyperboles could extort abstained from re-establishing the only monarchy in anything from Bonaparte more distinctly indicative Europe, which he might have new-modeled to his of his intentions, than the obscure hints we have almind, in the character not of a conqueror, but a ready mentioned. liberator. In the meanwhile, Warsaw was put into a state While Napoleon declined making any precise de- of defence, and the auxiliary forces of Saxony and claration, or binding himself by any express stipu- the new confederates of the Rhine were brought up lations to the Polish delegates, the language he used by forced marches, while strong reinforcemlents to them was cautiously worded, so as to keep up from France repaired the losses of the early part of their zeal, and animate their exertions. Dombrow- the campaign. ski, a Polish exile in the French army, was em- The French army at length advanced in full ployed to raise men for Napoleon's service, and the force, and crossed successively the rivers Vistula enthusiasm of those who entered, as well as the and Bug, forcing a passage wherever it was disputed. expectations of the kingdom at large, were excited But it was not the object of Bennigsen to give battle by such oracular passages as the following, which to forces superior to his own, and he therefore reappeared in the 36th bulletin:-" Is the throne of treated behind the Wkra, and was joined by the Poland to be re-established, and will that great na- large bodies of troops commanded by Generals tion regain her existence and independence?' Will Buxhowden and Kaminskoy. The latter took the she he recalled to life, as if summoned to arise general command. He was a contemporary of Sufrom the tomb?-God only, the great disposer of wariow, and esteemed an excellent officer, but more events, can be the arbiter of this great political pro- skilled in the theory than the practice of war. blem." "Kaminskqy," said Suwarrow, "knows war, but The continuance of war was now to be determin- war does not know himrn-I do not know war, but ed upon; a war to be waged with circumstances of war knows me." It appears also, that daring this more than usual horror, as it involved the sufferings campaign Kaminskoy was afflicted with mental of a winter-campaign in the northern latitudes. alienation. The French, having completely conquered the Prus- On the 23d December, Napoleon arrived in persian estates to the east of the Oder, had formed the son upon the Wkra, and ordered the advance of his sieges of (Ireat Glogau, of Breslau, and of Grau- army in three divisions. Kaminskoy, when he saw dentz, and were at the same time pushing westward the passage of this river forced, determined to reto occupy Poland. The Russian general, Bennigsen, treat behind the Niemen, and sent orders to his had on his side pressed forward for the purpose of lieutenants accordingly. Bennigsen, therefore, fell assisting the Prussians, and had occupied Warsaw. back upon Pultusk, and Prince Galitzin upon GolyBut finding that their unfortunate allies had scarcely min, both pursued by large divisions of the Frenchl the remnant of an army in the field, the Russian army. The Russian generals Buxhowden and d'Angeneral retreated after some skirmishes, and re- rep also retreated in different directions, and appacrossed the Vistula, while the capital of Poland, rently without maintaining a sufficiently accurate thus evacuated, was entered on the 28th November commutication either with Bennigsen, or with Gaby Murat, at the head of the French van-guard. litzin. In their retrograde movements the Russians About the 25tll, Napoleon, leaving Berlin, had sustained some loss, which the bulletins magnified to established himself at Posen, a centrical town of such an extent, as to represent their army as entirely Poland, which country began to manifest an agita- disorganized, their columns wandering at hazard in tion, partly the consequence of French intrigues, unimaginable disorder, and their safety only caused partly arising from the animating prospect of restor- by the shortness of the days, the difficulties of a ed independence. The Poles resumed in many in- country covered with woods and intersected with stances their ancient national dress and manners, ravines, and a thaw which had filled the roads with and sent deputies to urge the decision of Bonaparte mud to the depth of five feet. It was, therefore, in their favour. The language in which they en- predicted, that although the enemy might possibly treated his interposition resembled that of oriental escape from the position in which he had placed L - - 50 l S~~~~~~~~~~~~~ L... 394 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. himself, it must necessarily be effected at.the certain be usually decided. The direction of their guns was loss of his artillery, his carriages, and his baggage. too often intrusted to general officers of the line. These were exaggerations calculated for the w en- The service of cavalry is less natural to the Russian dian of Paris. Napoleon was himself sensible, that than that of the infantry, but their horse regiments he was approaching a conflict of a different kind are nevertheless excellently trained, and have unifrom that which he had maintained with Austria, formly behaved well. and more lately against Prussia. The common sol- But the Cossacks are a species of force belonging dier in both those services was too much leveled to Russia exclusively; and although subsequent into a mere moving piece of machinery, the hundred- I events have probably rendered every reader in some thousandth part of the great machine called an army, degree acquainted with their national character, to have any confidence in himself, or zeal beyond they make too conspicuous a figure in the history of the mere discharge of the task intrusted to him ac- Napoleon, to be passed over without a brief descripcording to the word of command. These troops, tion here. however highly disciplined, wanted that powerful The natives on the banks of the Don and the and individual feeling, which in armies possessing a Volga hold their lands by military service, and enstrong national character (by which the Russians are joy certain immunities and prescriptions, in consepeculiarly distinguished), induces the soldier to resist quence of which each individual is obliged to serve to the last moment, even when resistance can only four years in the Russian armies. They are trained assure him of revenge. They were still the same from early childhood to the use of the lance and Russians, of whom Frederick the Great said, "that sword, and familiarized to the management of a he could kill, but could not defeat them;" —they I horse peculiar to the country; far from handsome in were also strong of constitution, and inured to the appearance, but tractable, hardy, swift, and sureiron climate in which Frenchmen were now making footed, beyond any breed perhaps in the world. At war for the first time;-they were accustomed from home, and with his fanmily and children, the Cossack their earliest life to spare nourishment and hardship;! is kind, gentle, generous, and simple; but when in -in a word, they formed then, as they do now, the arms, and in a foreign country, he resumes the presole instance in Europe of an army, the privates of datory, and sometimes the ferocious habits of his which are semi-barbarians, with the passions, cou- ancestors, the roving Scythians. As the Cossacks rage, love of war, and devotion to their country, receive no pay, plunder is generally their object; which is found in the earlier periods of society, while and as prisoners were esteemed a useless encumthe education received by their superior officers brance, they granted no quarter, until Alexander places them on a level with those of any other nation. promised a ducat for every Frenchman whom they That of the inferior regimental officers is too much brought in alive. In the actual field of battle, their neglected; but they are naturally brave, kind to the mode of attack is singular. Instead of acting in line, common soldier, and united among themselves like a body of Cossacks about to charge, disperse at the a family of brothers,-attributes which go far to word of command, very much in the manner of a fan compensate the want of information. Among the suddenly flung open, and, joining in a loud yell or higher officers, are some of the best-informed men in ltourra, rush, each acting individually, upon the obEurope. ject of attack, whether infantry, cavalry, or artillery, The Russian army was at this period deficient in to all of which they have been in this wild way of its military staff, and thence imperfect in the execu- fighting formidable assailants. But it is as light cation of combined movements; and their generals valry that the Cossacks are perhaps unrivaled. were better accustomed to lead an army in the day They and their horses have been known to marsh of actual battle, than to prepare for victory by a one hundred miles in twenty-four hours without skilful combination of previous manceuvres. But halting. They plunge into woods, swim rivers, thread this disadvantage was balanced by their zealous and passes, cross deep morasses, and penetrate through unhesitating devotion to their emperor and their deserts of snow, without undergoing material loss, country. There scarcely existed a Russian, even or suffering from fatigue. No Russian army, with a of the lowest rank, within the influence of bribery; large body of Cossacks in front can be liable to surand an officer, like the Prussian commandant of prise; nor, on the other hand, can an enemy stirHamelen, who began to speculate upon retaining his rounded by themn ever be confident against it. In rank in another service, when surrendering the covering the retreat of their own army, their velocity, charge intrusted to him by his sovereign, would activity, and courage, render pursuit by the enemy's have been accounted inl Russia a prodigy of unex- cavalry peculiarly dangerous; and in pursuilg a ampled villany. In the mode of disciplining their I flying enemy, these qualities are still more redoubtforces, the Russians proceeded on the system most able. In the campaign of 1806-7, the Cossacks took approved in Europe. Their infantry was confessedly the field in great numbers, under their celebrated excellent, composed of men in the prime of life, and IHettman, or Attaman, Platow, who, himself a carefully selected as best qualified for military ser- Cossack, knew their peculiar capacity for warfare, vice. Their artillery was of the first description, so and raised their fame to a pitch which it had not far as the men, guns, carriages, and appointments attained in fornler European wars. were concerned; but the rank of general of artil- The Russians had also in their service Tartar lery had not the predominant weight in the Russian tribes, who inl irregularity resembled the Cossacks, army, which ought to be possessed by those parti- but were not to be compared with them in discipline cularly dedicated tb the direction of that arm, by! or courage, being, in truth, little better than hordes which, according to Napoleon, modern battles nmust of roving savages. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 395 It remains only to be mentioned, that at this time division of Buxhowden or d'Anrep, of whom the the Russian commissariat was very indifferent, and, former was only eight miles distant, the check might above all, deficient in funds. The funds of the Im- have been converted into a victory, highly influential perial treasury were exhausted, and an aid, amount- on the issue of the campaign. But either the orders ing only to eighty thousand pounds, was obtained of Kaminskoy, or some misunderstanding, prevented from England with difficulty. In consequence of either of these corps from advancing to support the these circumstances, the Russians were repeatedly, efforts of Benuigsen. It became impossible for during the campaign, obliged to fight at disadvan- him, therefore, notwithstanding the advantages he tage for want of provisions.-We return to the pro- had obtained, to retain his position at Pultusk, gress of the war. I where he must have been surrounded. He accordOn the 25th of December, the Russian army of ingly fell back upon Ostrolenka, where he was Bennigsen, closely concentrated, occupied a position joined by Prince Galitzin, who had been engaged behind Pultusk; their left, commanded by Count in action at Golynin upon the day of the battle of OsternMann, resting upon the town, which is situated Pultusk, had like Bennigsen driven back the enemy, on the river Narewv. A corps occupied the bridge, and like him had retreated, foir the purpose of conto prevent any attack from that point. The right, centrating his forces with those of the grand army. under Barclay de Tolly, was strongly posted in a The French evinced a feeling of the'unusual and wood, and the centre was under the orders of Ge- obstinate nature of the contest in which they had neral Sacken. A considerable plain extended be- been engaged at Pultusk and Golylnin. Instead of twueen the town of Pultusk and the wood, which pressing their operations, they retreated into winter formed the right of the Russian position. They had quarters; Napoleon withdrawing his guard as far as stationed a powerful advanced guard, had occupied Warsaw, while the other divisions were cantoned in the plains with their cavalry, and established a strong the towns to the eastward, but without attempting reserve in their rear. On the 26th, the Russian to realize the l'rophecies of the bulletins concerning position was attacked by the French divisions of the alpproachilng fate of the Russian arm ly. Lannes and l)avoust, together witll the French The conduct of Kaminskoy began now to evince guards. After skirmishinu some time in the centre, decided tokens of insanity. He was withdrawrn without making the desired impression, the battle from the supreme command, which, with the general appeared doubtful, when, suddenly assembling a approbation of the soldiers, was confetrred upor great strength on their own left, the French made a Bennigsen. This general was not equal in military decisive effort to overwhelml the Russians, by turn- genius to Suwarrow, but he seems to have been ing their right wing. The attack prevailed to a well fitted to commnnand a Russian army. He was certain extent. Tile accumnulated and superior active, hardy, and enterprising, and showed none weight of tire, determined Barclay de Tolly to re- of that peculiarly fatal hesitation, by which officers treat on his resetrves, which he did without confusion, of other nations opmosed to thie French generals, while the French seized upon the wood, and took and to Bonaparte in particular, seem often to have several Russian guns. But Bennigsen, in spite of been affected, as with a sort of moral palsy, whiclh Kaiminskoy's order to retreat, was determined to disabled them for the combat at the very Itoittment abide the brunt of battle, and to avail himlself of the when it seemed about to commence. On the conrugged intrepidity of the troops which lie command- trary, Bennigsen, finding himself in the supremtle ed. Ordering Barclay de Tolly to continue his re- conlmand of ninety thousand men, was resolved not treat, and thus throwing back his right wing, he to wait for Bonapalte's onset, but determnilled to enticed the French, confident in victory, to pursue anticipate his motions; wisely concluding, that the their stuccess, until the Russian cavalry, which had desire of desisting fronom active operations, which covered the manoeuvre, suddenly withdrawing, they the French Emperor had evinced by cantonin l his found themselves under a murderous and well-di- troops in winter quarters, ought to be a signal to rected fire fiom one hundred and twenty guns, the Russians again to take the field. which, extending along the Russian front, played on The situation of the King of Prussia tended to the French advancing columns with the utmost suc- confirm that determination. This unfortunate mocess. The Russian line at the same time advanced narch-well surely did Frederick Williamu thern in turn, and pushing the enemy before them, reco- deserve that epithet-was cooped up in the towin of vered the ground from which they had been driven. Konigsberg, only covered by a small army of a few The approach of night ended the combat, which had thousand men, and threatened by the gradual apbeen both obstinate and bloody. The French lost proach of the divisions of Ney and Bernadotte; so near eight thousand men, killed and wounded, in- that the king's personal safety appeared to be in cludiig General Lannes and five other general offi- considerable danger. Graudentz, the key of the cers among the latter. The Russian loss amounted Vistula, continued indeed to hold out, but the to five thousaud. The French retreated after night- Prussian garrison was reduced to distress, and the fall with such rapidity, that on the next day the hour of surrender seemed to be approaching. To Cossacks could not find a rear-guard in the vicinity relieve this important fortress, therefore, and at tile of Pultusk. same time protect KXonigsberg, were motives added The action of Pultusk raised the reputation of to the other reasons which determined Bennigsen to I ennigsen, and the character as well as the spirits resume offensive operations. A severe and doubtof' the Russian armny; but its moral effect on the ful skirmish was fought near Mohringen, in which soldiers was its only important conlsequence. Had the French sustained considerable loss. The Cos[3enuigsen been joined during the action by the sacks spread abroad over the country, making nu 396 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. merous prisoners; and the scheme of the Russian pose to concentrate his forces at Preuss-Eylau, which general succeeded so well, as to enable the faithful was pitched on as the field on which he proposed I'Estocq to relieve Graudentz with reinforcements to await Bonaparte. and provisions. In marching through Landsberg to occupy the By these daring operations, Bonaparte saw him- selected ground, the Russian rear-guard was exposself forced into a winter campaign, and issued ge- ed to a serious attack by the French, and was only neral orders for drawing cut his forces, with the saved from great loss by the gallantry of Prince purpose of concentrating them at Willenberg, in the Bagration, who redeemed, by sheer dint of fighting, rear of the Russians (then stationed at Mohringen), the loss sustained by want of conduct in defiling and betwixt them and their own country. He pro- through the streets of a narrow village, while purposed, in short, to force his enemies eastward to- sued by an enterprising enemy. The Russian army wards the Vistula, as at Jena he had compelled the lost 3000 men. On the 7th February, the same Prassians to fight with their rear turned to the gallant prince, with the Russian rear-guard, gained Rhine. Bernadotte had orders to engage the atten- such decided advantages over the French.van as tion of Bennigsen upon the right, and detain him in nearly balanced the loss at Landsberg, and gave his present situation, or rather, if possible, induce time for the whole army to march through the town him to advance eastward towards Thorn, so as to of Preuss-Eylau, and to take up a position behind facilitate the operation he meditated. it. It had been intended to: maintain the town itself The Russian general learned Bonaparte's intention and a body of' troops had been left for that purpose; from an intercepted dispatch, and changed his pur- but in the confusion attending the movement of so pose of advancing on Ney and Bernadotte. Marches large an army, the orders issued had been misunand counter-marches took place, through a country derstood, and the division designed for this service at all times difficult, and now covered with snow. evacuated the place so soon as the rear-guard hadl The experience and dexterity of the French secured passed through it. somne advantages, but these were filly counter- A Russian division was hastily ordered to re-ocbalanced by the daily annoyance and loss which cupy Preuss-Eylau. They found the French already they in turn sustained from Platow and his Cossacks. in possession, and, although they dislodged them, In cases where the French retreated, the Scythian were themselves driven out in turn by another lances were always on their rear; and when the division of French, to whom Bonaparte had proRussians retired in turn, and were pursued by the mised the plunder of the town. A third division of French, with the same venturous spirit which they Russians was ordered to advance; for Bennigsen had displayed against others, the latter seldom was desirous to protract the contest for the town failed to suffer for their presumption. There was until the arrival of his heavy artillery, which joined found in the spearmen of the Don and Volga a him by a different route. When it came ulp, he natural and instinctive turn for military stratagem, would have discontinued the struggle for possession ambuscade, and sudden assault, which compelled of Preuss-Eylau, but it was impossible to control the French light troops to adopt a caution, very the ardour of the Russian columns, who persevered diffkerent from their usual habits of audacity. in advancing with drums beating, rushed into the Bennigsen was aware that it was the interest of town, and, surprising the French in the act of sackRussia to protract the campaign in this manner. He ing it, put many of them to the bayonet, even in was near his reinforcements, the French were the acts of license which they were practising. distant from theirs-every loss, therefore, told more Preuss-Eylau, however, proved no place of shelter. in proportion on the enemy, than on his army. On It was protected by no works. of any kind; and the the other hand, the Russian army, impatient of pro- French, advancing tinder cover of the hillocks and tracted hostilities, became clamorous for battle; for broken ground which skirt the village, threw their the hardships of their situation were such as to give fire upon the streets, by which the Russians sustainthem every desire to bring the war to a crisis. We ed some loss. General BarcLay de Tolly was have noticed the defects of the Russian commissariat. wounded, and his forces again evacuated the town, They were especially manifest during those cam- which was once more and finally occupied by the paigns, when the leader was obliged more than French. Night fell, and the combat ceased, to be once, merely from want of provisions, to peril the renewed with treble fury on the next day. fate of the war upon a general battle, which pru- The position of the two armies may be easily dedence would have induced him to avoid. In those scribed. That of Russia occupied a space of uneven northern latitudes, and in the month of February, ground, about two miles in length and a mile in the troops had no resource but to prowl about, and depth, with the village of Serpallen on their left; in dig for the hoards of provisions concealed by the the front of their army lay the town of Preusspeasants. This labour, added to their military duty, Eylan, situated in a hollow, and in: possession of the left them scarcely time to lie down; and when they French. It was watched by a Russian division; did so, they had no bed buat the snow, no shelter which, to protect the Russian centre from being but the wintry heaven, and no covering but their broken by an attack from that quarter, was strongly rags.* The distresses of the army wvere so extreme,. reinforced, though by doing so the right wing was that it induced General Bennigsen, against his judg- considerably weakened. This was th-ought of the tnent, to give battle at all risks, and for this pur- less consequence, that l'Estocq, withl his division of Prussians, was hourly e xpected to join the Russia ns Sir Robert Wilson's Sketck of the Canspaigns iN Po- onl t'sat point. The French occupied Eylau wiih land, in 1806-7, p. 94. their.elt, while their centre andl right lay pa:railel to 'LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, 897 the Russians, upon a chain of heights which corn- which the Russians had lost, and drove back -ir manded in a great measure the ground possessed by their turn the troops of Davoust and Bernadotte, who the enemy. They also expected to be reinforced had been lately victorious. by the division of Ney, which had not come up, and Ney, in the meanwhile appeared on the field, which was destined to form on the extreme left. - and occupied Schloditten, a village on the road to The space betwixt the hostile armies was open Konigsberg. As this endangered the communicaand flat, and intersected with frozen lakes. They tion of the Russians with that town, it was thought might trace each other's position by the pale glim- necessary to carry it by storm; a gallant resolution, mer of the watch-lights upon the snow. The diffe- which was successfully executed. This was the last rence of numerical force was considerably to the act of that bloody day. It was ten o'clock at night, advantage of the French. Sir Robert Wilson rates and the combat was ended. them at 90,000 men, opposed to 60,000 only; but Fifty thousand men perished in this dreadful the disproportion is probably considerably overrated. battle-the best contested in which Bonaparte had The eventful action commenced with daybreak yet engaged, and by far the most unsuccessfull. He on the 8th of February. Two strong columns of the retired to the heights from which he had advanced French advanced, with the purpose of turning the in the morning, without having gained one point for right, and storming the centre, of the Russians, at which he had strug-gled, and after having suffered a one and the same time. Butthey were driven back loss considerably greater than that which hle had in great disorder by the heavy and sustained fire of inflicted on the enemy. But the condition of the the Russian artillery. An attack on the Russian Russian army was also extremely calamitous. Tlheir left was equally unsuccessful. The Russian infan- generals held a council of war upon the field of battle, try stood like stone ramparts-they repulsed the and without dismounting fioln their horses. The enemy-their cavalry came to their support, pursued general sentiment which prevailed among then was, the retiring assailants, and took standards and a desire to renew the battle on the next day, at all eagles. About mid-day, a heavy storm of snow be- hazards. Tolstoy undertook to move forward on the gan to fall, which the wind drove right in the face. French lines-I'Estocq urged the same counsel. of the Russians, and which added to the obscurity They offered to pledge their lives, that, would caused by the smoke of the burning village of -Ser. Bennigsen advance, Napoleon must necessarily repallen, that rolled along the line. tire; and they urged the moral effect which would Under cover of the darkness, six columns of the be produced, not on their army only, but o(n Germany French advanced with artillery and cavalry, and and on Europe, by such an admission of wea'knessa were close on the Russian position ere they were on the part of him who had never advanced but to opposed. Bennigsen, at the head of his staff, victory. But Bennigsen conceived that the cirbrought up the reserves in person, who, uniting with iumstances of his army did not permit -him to en-,the first line, bore the French back at the point of' counter the hazard of being cut olf from Konigsberg, the bayonet. Their columns, partly broken, were and endangering the person of the King of Prussia; driven again to their own position, where they ral- or that of risking a second general action, with an lied with difficulty. A French regiment of cuiras- army diuminished by at least 20,000 killed and siers, which, during this part of the action, had wounded, short of ammlnition, and totally deprived gained an interval in the Russian army, were of provisions. The Russians accordinly commenced charged by the Cessacks, and found their defensive their retreat on Konigsberg that very night. The armour no protection against the lance. l'hey were division of Count Ostermann did not move till the all slain except eighteen. next morning, when it traversed the field in front At the moment when victory appeared to declare of Preuss-Eytau, without the slightest interruption for the Russians, it was on the point of being wrest- from the French, who still occupied the town. ed from them. Davoust's division had been man- The battle of Preuss-Eylau was claimed as a ceuvring since the beginning of the action to turn the victory by both parties, though it was very far finorn left, and gain the rear, of the Russian line. They being decided in favour of either. 13ennigsen had now made their appearance on the field of battle it to boast, that he had repelled the attacks of Eowith such sudden effect, that Serpallen was lost, the naparte along the whole of his line, and that the Russian left wing, and a part of their centre, were fighting terminated unfavourably to the French. lie thrown into disorder, and forced to retire and change could also exhibit the unusual spectacle of twelve i their firont, so as to form almost at right angles with imperial eagles of' France, taken in one action. F)or the right, and that part of the centre which retained many days after the battle, also, the Cossacks contheir original position. tinued to scour the country, and bringinto Konigsberg! At this crisis, and while the French were gaining great numbers of French prisoners. On the other ground on the rear of the Russiasls, l'Estocq, so hand, the subsequent retreat of' the Russians vas long expected, appeared in his turn suddenly on the interpreted by the French into an acknowledgment field, and, passing the left of the French and the. of weakness, and they appealed to their own posright of the Russians, pushed down in three columns session of the field of' battle, with the dead and to redeem the'battle on the Russian centre and rear. wounded, as the usual testimonials of victory. The Prussians, under that loyal and gallant leader, But there were two remarkable circumstances, regained in this bloody field their ancient military by which Napoleon virtually acknowledged that he l reputation. They never fired till within a few' had received an unusual check. Oa the 13th paces of the enemy, and then used the bayonet with' February, four days after the battle, a message was readiness and courage. Theyredeemedthe ground:dispatched to the King of Prussia by Bonaparte, i _ _ _____ ___ __ 1 398 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. proposing an armistice, on grounds far more favour- against whom it was impossible to gain those overable to the prince than those Frederick William powering and irresistible advantages, which chamight have been disposed to accept, or which Bo- racterized his campaigns in Italy and Germany. naparte would have been inclined to grant, after The bulletins, it is true, announced new successes the battle of Jena. It was even intimated, that in from day to day; but as the geographical advance case of agreeing to make a separate peace, the upon the Polish territory was by no means in proPrussian King might obtain from the French Empe- portion to the advantages claimed, it was plain thaw ror the restoration of his whole dominions. True to Napoleon was as often engaged in parrying as in his ally, the Emperor of Russia, Frederick William, pushing, in repairing losses as in improving victories. even in the extremity of his distress, refused to The Russian generals composed plans with skill, accede to any save a general peace. The proposal and executed them with activity and spirit, for of an armistice was also peremptorily refused, and cutting off separate divisions, and disturbing the the ground on which it was offered was construed to French communications. indicate Bonaparte's conscious weakness. The Russian army had received reinforcements; Another decisive proof of the loss which Napo- but they were deficient in numerical amount, and leon had sustained in the battle of Preuss-Eylau, only made up their strength, at the utmost, to their was his inactivity after the battle. For eight days original computation of 90,000 men. This proved he remained without making any movement, except- unpardonable negligence in the Russian government, ing by means of his cavalry, which were generally considering the ease with which men can there be worsted, and on the 16th February he evacuated levied to any extent by the mere will of the empethe place, and prepared himself to retreat upon the ror, and the vital importance of the war which they Vistula, instead of driving the Russians, as he had were now waging. It is said, however, that the threatened, behind the Pregel. Various actions took poverty of the Russian administration was the cause place during his retreat with different fortunes, but of this failure to recruit their forces; and that the the Russian Cossacks and light troops succeeded in British being applied to, to negotiate a loan of six making numbers of prisoners, and collecting much millions, and advance one million to account, had spoil. declined the transaction, and thereby given great The operations of Napoleon, when he had again offence to the Emperor Alexander. retired to the line of the Vistula, intimated caution, Napoleon, so much more remote from his own and the sense of a difficult task before him. He territories, had already, by exertions unparalleled appeared to feel, that the advance into Poland had in the history of Europe, assembled two hundred been premature, while Dantzic remained in the and eighty thousand men between thile Vistula and hands of the Prussians, from whence the most alarm- Memel, including the garrison of Dantzic. With ing operations might take place in his rear, should such unequal forces the war recommenced. he again advance to the Vistula without subduing it. The Russians were the assailants, making a comThe siege of Dantzic was therefore to be formed bined movement on Ney's division, which was stawithout delay. The place was defended by General tioned at Gutstadt, and in the vicinity. They purKalkreuth to the last extremity. After many un- sued him as far as Deppen, where there was some successful attempts to relieve it, Dantzic finally fighting; but upon the 8th of June, Napoleon adsurrendered in the end of May, 1807, after trenches vanced in person to extricate his marshal, and Benhad been opened before it for fifty-two days. If the nigsen was obliged to retreat in his turn. lie was season of the year had admitted, a British expedi- hardly pressed on the rear by the Grand Army of tion to Dantzic might, if ably conducted, have France. But even in this moment of peril, Platow, operated in the rear of the Emperor Napoleon the with his Cossacks, made a charge, or, in their relief of Prussia, and perhaps effected the liberation phrase, a hourra, upon the French, with such sucof Europe. cess, that they not only dispersed the skirmishers The utmost care was also taken, to supply the of the French van-guard, and the advanced troops loss which Napoleon's armies had sustained in these destined to support them, but compelled the infanhard-fought campaigns. He raised the siege of try to form squares, endangered the personal safety Colberg, drew the greater part of his forces out of of Napoleon, and occupied the attention of the whole Silesia, ordered a new levy in Switzerland, urged French cavalry, who bore down on them at fill the march of bodies of troops from Italy, and, to speed. Musketryand artillery were all turned on complete his means, demanded a new conscription them at once, but to little or no purpose; for, having of the year 1808, which was instantly complied with once gained the purpose of checking the advance, by the Senate as a matter of course. At length, as which was all they aimed at, the clold of Cossacks summer approached, the surrender of Dantzic en- dispersed over the field, like mist before the stn, abled him to unite the besieging division, twenty-five and united behind the battalions whom their dethousand strong, to his main army, and to prepare monstration had protected. to resume offensive operations. A large levy of By this means Platow and his followers had got Poles was made at the same time; and they, with before the retreating division of the Russian army other light toops of the French, were employed in under Bagration, which they were expected to supmaking strong recognizances, with various fortune, port, and had reached first a bridge over the Aller. but never without the exchange of hard blows. It The Cossacks were alarmed by the immense display became evident to all Europe, that, whatever might of force demonstrated against them, and showed a be the end of this bloody conflict, the French Em- disposition to throw themselves confiusedly on the peror was contending with a general and troops, bridge, which must certainly have been attended LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 399 with the most disastrous consequences to the rear- bridge and three pontoons, and arrayed them in guard, who would thus have been impeded in their front of the town of Friedland, to overpower, as he retreat by the very troops appointed to support supposed, the crippled division of the French, to them. The courage and devotion of Platow pre- which alone he believed himself opposed. vented that great misfortune. He threw himself But no sooner had he taken this irretrievable step firnm his horse. " Let the Cossack that is base than the mask was dropped. The French skirmishenough," he exclaimed, "desert his hettnman!" ers advanced in force; heavy columns of infantry The children of the wilderness halted around him, began to show themselves; batteries of cannon were and he disposed them in perfect order to protect got into position; and all circumstances concurred, the retreat of Bagration and the rear-guard, and af- with the report of prisoners, to assure Bennigsen, terwards achieved his own retreat with trifling loss. that he, with his enfeebled forces, was illn presence The Russian army fell back upon Heilsberg, and of the grand French army. His position, a sort of there concentrating their forces, made a most desper- plain, surrounded by woods and broken ground, was ate stand. A very hard-fought action here took place. difficult to defend; with the town and a large river The Russians, overpowered by superior numbers, in his rear, it was dangerous to attempt a retreat, and forced from the level ground, continued to de- and to advance was prevented by the inequality of fend with fury their position on the heights, which his force. Bennigsen now became anxious to mainthe French made equally strenuous efforts to carry tain his communication with, Wehlau, a town on the by assault. The combat was repeatedly renewed, Pregel, which was the original point of retreat, and with cavalry, infantry, and artillery; but without where lie hoped to join with the Prussians under: the fiery valour of the assailants making any effectual General l'Estocq. If the enemy should seize the impression on the iron ranks of the Russians. The bridge at Allerberg, some miles lower down the battle continued, till the approach of midnight, upon Aller than Friedland, this plan would become inlterms of equality; and when the morning dawned, possible, and he found himself therefore obliged to the space of ground between the position of the Rus- diminish his forces, by detaching six thousand men sians and that of the French, was not merely strewed, to defend that point. WTith the remainder of his force but literally sheeted over, with the bodies of the he resolved to maintain his present position till night. dead and wounded. The Russians retired unmo- The French advanced to the attack about ten lested after the battle of Heilsberg, and, crossing o'clock. The broken anld %wooded country which the river Aller, lplaced that barrier betwixt them they occupied, enabled them to maintain and renew and the army of Bonaparte, which, though it had their efforts at pleasure, while the Russians, in their suffered great losses, had, in consequence of the exposed situation, could not make the slightest supericrity of numbers, been less affected by them movement without being observed. Yet they fought than the Russian forces. In the condition of Ben- with such obstinate valour, that about noon the nigrsen's army, it was his obvious policy to protract French seemed sickening of the contest, and about the war, especially as reinforcements, to the num- to retire. But this was only a feint, to repose such ber of thirty thousand men, were approaching the of their forces as had been engaged, and to bring frontier from the interior of the empire. It was pro- up reinforcements. The cannonade.oontinued till bably wsith this view that he kept his army on the about half past four, when Bonaparte brought up right bank of the Aller, with the exception of a few his full force in person, for the purpose of one of bodies of cavalry, for the sake of observation and those desperate and generally irresistible efforts to intelligence. which he was wont to trust the decision of a doubtOn the 14th, the Russian army reached Fried- ful day. Columns of enormous power, and extensive land, a considerable town on the west side of the depth, appeared partially visible among the interAller, communiicating with the eastern, or right batik stices of the vooded country, and seen from the of the river, by a long wooden bridge. It was the town of Friedland, the hapless Russian army looked object of Napoleon to induce the Russian general to as if surrounded by a deep semicircle of glittering pass by this narrow bridge to the left bank, and steel. Tlhe attack upon all the line, with cavalry, then to decoy him into a general action, in a position infantry, and artillery, was general and sienltawhere the difficulty of defiling through the town, neous, the French advancing with shouts of assured and over the bridge, must render retreat almost il- victory; while the Russians, weakened by the loss possible. For this purpose he showed such a pro- of at least twelve thousand killed and wounded, portion only of his forces, as induced General Ben- were obliged to attempt that most dispiriting and nigsen to believe that the French troops on the dangerous of movements-a retreat through enwestern side of the Aller consisted only of Oudinot's cumbered defiles, in front of a superior enemy. division, which had been severely handled in the The principal attack was on the left wing, where battle of Heilsberg, and which he now hoped alto- the Russian position was at length forced. The gether to destroy. Under this deception he ordered troops which composed it streamed into the town, a Russian division to pass the bridge, defile through and crowded the bridge and pontoons; the enenly the town, and march to the assault. The French thundered on their rear, and, without the valour of took care to offer no such resistance as should inti- Alexander's Imperial Guard, the Russians would mate their real strength. Bennigsen was thus led have been utterly destroyed. These brave soldiers to reinforce this division with another-the battle charged with the bayonet the corps of Ney, who thickened, and the Russian general at length trans- led the French van-guard, disordered his column, ported all his army, one division excepted, to th and, though they were overpowered by numbers, left bank of the Aller, by means of the wooden prevented the total ruin of the left wing. - -— e~ ~ ~~ ~~~~~~~ 400 -LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Meanwhile, the bridge and pontoons were set on resolute conduct of Blucher had admirers and inlifire, to prevent the French, who had forced their tators, and the nation seemed to be reviving triom way into the town, fromn taking possession of them, the consternation inflicted by the defeat of Jena. The smoke, rolling over the combatants, increased The celebrated Schill, a partisan of great courage the horror and confusion of the scene; yet a consi- and address, had gained many advantages, and was derable part of the Russian infantty escaped-through not unlikely, in a nation bred to arms, to acquire the a ford close by the town, which was discovered in command of a numerous body of nien. Hesse, the moment of defeat. The Russian centre and Hanover, Brunswick, and the other provinces of' right, who,remained on the west bank of the Aller, Germany, deprived of their ancient princes, and effected a retreat by a circuitous route, leaving on subjected to heavy exactions by the conquerors, the right the town of Friedland, with its burning were:ripe for insurrection. All these dangers were bridges, no longer practicable for friend or foe, and of a nature from which little could be apprehended passing the Aller by a ford. considerably farther while the Grand Army was at a moderate distance; down the river. This also was found out in the but were it to advance into Russia, especially were very moment of extremity,-was deep and dan- it to meet with a check there, these sparks of fire, gelrous,-took the intfantry up to the breast, and left in the rear, might be expected to kindle a dreaddestroyed what ammunition was left in the tnmbrils. ful conflagration. l'hs were the Russians once more united on the Moved by such considerations, Napoleon had fully right bank of the Aller, and enabled to prosecute kept open the door for reconciliation betwixt the their mlarchl towards Wehlau. Amid the calamities czar and himself, abstaining from all those personal of defeat, they had saved all their cannon except reflections against him, which he usually showered seventeen, and preserved their baggage. Indeed, upon those who thwarted his projects, and intimatthe stubborn character of their defence seems to ing more than once, by different modes of comllluhave paralyzed the energies of the victor, who, nication, that a peace, which should enable Russia after carrying the Russian position, showed little of and France to divide the world betwixt thenl, should that activity in inmproving his success, which usually be placed within Alexander's reach so soon as he characterized him upon such occasions. He pushed was disposed to accept it. no troops over the Aller in pursuit of the retreating The time was now arrived when the Emperor of enetny, but suffered Bennigsen to rally his broken Russia was disposed to listen to terms of accommnotrool)s witholt interrulption. Neither, when in pos. dation with France. He had been for soime tinme session of Friedland, did he detach any force down dissatisfied with his allies. Against Frederick WVilthe left bank, to act upon the flank of the Russian liaim, indeed, nothing could be objected, save his centre and right, and cut them off from the river. bad fortune; but what is it that so soon deprives us In short, the battle of Friedland, according to the of our friends as a constant train of' bad luck, renexpression o a French general, was a battle gained, dering us always a burthen more than an aid to buit a victory lost. them?.? The King of Sweden was a feeble ally at Yet the most important consequences resulted best, and. had become so unpopular with his sub-:from the action, thoughl the French success had been jects, that his dethronement was anticipated; and it but partially itmproved. Konigsberg, which had been was probably renmemered, that the Swedish pro-so long the refuge of the King of Prussia, was eva- vince of Finland extended so near to St Peterscuated by his forces, as it became plain his Rutssian burg, as to be a desirable acquisition, whicli, in the auxiliar'ies could no longer maintain the war in Po- coutrse of a treaty with Bonaparte, might be easily land. I3ennigsee retreated to Tilsit, towards the attained. Russian frontiers. But the -moral consequences of'l'he principal ally of the czar had been Britail. the defleat were of far greater consequence than But lie was displeased, as Nwe have already noticed, -could have been either the calpture of guns and pri- with the economy of the English cabinet, who had;: soners, or the acquisition of' territory. It had the declined, in this instance, the loans and subsidies,.effect, evidlently desired by Napoleon, of disposing of which they used to be liberal to allies of far less:the Emperor Alexander to peace. The former could importance. A subsidy of about eighty thousand not but feel that he, was engaged with a more obsti- pounds was all which he had been able to extract nate enemy in Russia, than any he had yet encoun- fromn them. England had, indeed, sent an army into tered. After so imany bloody battles, he was scarce the north to join the Swedes, in forming the siege of arrived on the ftontiers of' an immense empire, Stralsund; but this was too dlistant an operation to boundless in its extent, and almost inexhaustible in produce any effect upon the Polish campaign. Alexresources; while the French, after suffering ex- ander was also affected by the extreme sufferings of tremely itl defeating an army that was merely auxi- his subjects. His army had been to him, as to "most liary, could scarce be supposed capable of under- young sovereigns, a particular object of attention:t taking a scheme of invasion so gigantic, as that of and he was justly proud of his noble reginmetit of plunnging into the vast regions of Muscovy. guards, which, maltreated as they had been in -the Such an enterlrise would have been peculiarly desperate actions of which we have given some aco hazardous in the situation in which the French Em- count, remained scarce the shadow of themselves; peror now stood. The English expedition to the in nunmbers and.appearance. His fame, mloreover, Baltic was daily expected. Gustavus was in Swedish suffered little in withdrawing firom a contest in which Pomerania, at the head of a considerable artmy, he was engaged as an auxiliary only; and A-lexwhich had raised the siege of Stralsutlnd. A spirit ander was no doubt made to comprehend, that he of resistance was awakening in Prussia, wvhere the might do more in behalf of the King of Prussia, his LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, 401 ally, by negotiation than by continuation of the war. sessed also, in an eminent degree, the sort of eloThe influence of Napoleon's name, and the extraor- quence which can make the worse appear the better dinary splendour of his talents and his exploits, reason, and which, turning into ridicule the argumust also have had an effect upon the youthful ments derived from general principles of morality, imagination of the Russian emperor. He might be. or honesty, which he was accustomed to term idioallowed to feel pride (high as his own situation was) syncrasy, makes all reasoning rest upon existing that the destined victor, who had subdued so many circumstances. Thus, all the maxims of truth and princes, was willing to acknowledge an equality in honour might be plausibly parried by those arising his case: and he might not yet be so much aware of out of immediate convenience; and the direct inthe nature of ambition, as to know that it holds the terest, or what seemed the direct interest, of the world as inadequate to maintain two co-ordinate party whom he wished to gain over, was put in sovereigns. immediate opposition to the dictates of moral sentiThe Russian emperor's wish of an armistice was ment, and of princely virtue. In this manner he first hinted at by Bennigsen, on the 21st June, was might plausibly represent, in many points, that the ratified on the 23d of tile same month, and was soon weal of Alexander's empire might require him to alterwards followed, not only by peace with Russia strain some of the maxims of truth and justice, and and Prussia, on a basis which seemed to preclude to do a little wrong in order to attain a great national the possibility of future misunderstanding, but by advantage. the formation of a personal intimacy and. friendship The town of Tilsit was now declared neutral. between Napoleon and the only sovereign in Europe Entertainments of every kind followed each other who had the power necessary to treat with him on in close succession, and the French and Russian, an equal footing. nay, even the Prussian officers, seemed so delighted The negotiation for this important pacification with each other's society, that it was difficult to was not conducted in the usual style of diplomacy, conceive that men, so courteous and amiable, had but in that which Napoleon had repeatedly shown been for so many months drenching trampled snows a desire to substitute for the conferences of inferior and muddy wastes with each other's blood. The agents, by the intervention, namely, of the high- two emperors were constantly together in public and contracting parties in person. in private, and on those occasions their intimacy The armistice was no sooner agreed upon, than approached to the character of that of two young preparations were made for a personal interview men of rank, who are comrades in sport or frolie, betwixt the two emperors. It took place upon a raft as well as accustomed to be associates in affairs, prepared for the purpose, and moored in the midst and upon occasions, of graver moment. They are of the river Niemen, which bore an immense tent or well known to have hlad private and confidential pavilion. At half past nine, 25th June, 1807, the meetings, where gaiety and even gallantry seemred to two emperors, in the midst of thousands of spec- be the sole purpose, but vwhere Folitics were not tators, embarked at the same moment from the entirely forgotten. opposite banks of the river. Bonaparte was attended Upon the more public occasions, there were guests by Murat, Berthier, Bessieres, Duroc, and Caulain- at the imperial festivities, for which they contained court; Alexander, by his brother the Archduke small mirth. On the 28th, the unfortunate King of Conlstantine, Generals Bennigsen and Ouwarow, Prussia arrived at Tilsit, and was presented to his with the Count de Lieven, one of his aides-de-camp. formidable victor. Bonaparte did not admit him to Ari-Aiving at the raft, they disembarked and em- the footing ofequality on which he treated the Em-;braced amid the shouts and acclamations of both peror Alexander, and miade an early intimation, that atmllies, and, entering the pavilion which had been it would only be for the purpose of obliging his prepared, held a private conference of two hourls. brother of' the North, that he might consent to relax Their officers, who remained at a distance during his grasp on the Prussian territories. Those in the the interview, were then reciprocally introduced, king's own possession were reduced to the petty and the iullest good understanding seemed to be territory of Memel, with the fortresses of Colberg established between the sovereigns, who had at their and Graudentz. It was soon plair, that the terms dis)osal so great a portion of the universe. It is not on which he was to be restored to a part of his doto be doubted, that on this momentous occasion minions would deprive Prussia of almost all the acNapoleon exerted all those personal powers of at- cessions which had been made since 1;73; under the traction, which, exercised on the part of one other- system and by the talents of the Great Frederick, wise so distinguished, rarely tai!ed to acquire the and reduce her at once froni a first-rate power in good-will of all with whom he had intercourse, Europe to one of the second class,. when he was disposed to employ tlhemn.' He pos- The beautiful and unfortunate queen, whose high spirit had hastened the war, was anxious, if iossible, -The impression which Bonaparte's, presence and conersatin, aided by the precoeive ideas of is talents, to interfere with such weight as female intercession: versation, aided by the preconceived ideas ofe is talents, made on all who approached his person, was of the nmost might use, to diminsh the cala ~strikingl kin. The captain of a British man-of.war, who was but on the first day of the foregoing A-pil, was present at his occupying the island of Elba, disturbed that when, meeting the Emperor Alexander at Koe on that occasion tile solemnity and gravity of a levee, at nigsberg, and feeling the full difference betwixt that. which several British functionaries attended, by bearing a interview, and those at Berlin which, preceded. the homely,' but certainly a striking testimony to his powers'war,. Alexander and Frederick William had remain* ofattraction, while he exclaimed, that "Boney was a d-d ed locked for a time in each other's arms; the former good fellow, after all l' shedding tears of comupassion, the latter ofgrief On VOL...V. 402' LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. the same occasion, the queen, as she saluted the and Warsaw. Thus ended the hope of the Poles to emperor, could only utter amidst her tears the words, be restored to the condition of an independent na"Dear cousin!" intimating at once the depth of tion. They merely exchanged the dominion of one their distress, and their affectionate confidence in German master fobr another-Prussia for Saxony, the magnanimity of their ally. This scene was me- Frederick William for Augustus-the only differlancholy, but that which succeeded it at Tilsit was ence being, that the latter was descended fiom the more so, for it was embittered by degradation. The ancient kings of Poland. They were, however, queen, who arrived at the place of treaty some days subjected to a milder and more easy yoke than that after her husband, was now not only to support the. which they had hitherto borne; nor does it appear presence of Napoleon, in whose official prints she that the king (as he had been created) of Saxony was personally abused, and who was the author of derived any real addition of authority and conseall the misfortunes which had befallen her country; quence from the Grand Duchy of Warsaw. It seems but if she would in any degree repair these misfor- indeed probable, that the erection of this sovereignty tunes, it could only be by exciting his compassion, was the effect of a composition between the emnand propitiating his favour. "Forgive us," she said, perors; Napoleon, on the one hand, renouncing all "this fatal war-the memory of the Great Frederick attempts at the liberation of Poland, which he could deceived us-we thought ourselves his equals be- not have persevered in without continuing the war cause we are his descendants-alas, we have not with Russia, and perhaps with Austria also; and proved such!" With a zeal for the welfare of Alexander consenting that Prussia should bedeprivPrussia, which must have cost her own feelings ex- of her Polish dominions, under the stipulation that quisite pain, she used towards Napoleon those arts they were to be transferred to Saxony, from whose of insinuation, by which women possessed of high vicinity his empire could apprehend little danger. rank, great beauty, wit, and grace, frequently exer- The constitution arranged for the Grand Duchy, cise an important influence. Desirous to pay his also, was such as was not liable to lead to disturbcourt, Napoleon on one occasion offered her a rose ances among those provinces of Poland which were of uncommon beauty. The queen at first seemed to united with Austria and Russia. Slavery was abodecline receiving the courtesy-then accepted it, lished, and the equality of legal rights arnong all adding the stipulation-" At least with Magdeburg." ranks of citizens was acknowledged. The Grand Bonaparte, as he boasted to Josephine, was proof Duke held the executive power. A Senate, or Upper against these lady-like artifices, as wax-cloth is House, of eighteen members, and a Lower Ilouse against rain. " Your majesty will be pleased to re- ot'Nuncios, or Deputies, amounting to a hundred, member," he said, "that it is I who offer, and that passed into laws, or rejected at their pleasure, such your majesty has only the task of accepting." propositions as the duke laid before them. But the It was discourteous to remind the unfortunate Diets, the Pospolite, the Iiberucm Veto, and all princess how absolutely she was at the mercy of the the other turbulent privileges of the Polish nobles, victor, and unchivalrous to dispute that a lady, ac- continued abolished, as they had been under the cepting a courtesy, has a right to conceive herself Prussian government. as conferring an obligation, and is therefore entitled Bonaparte made it his boast that he had returned tl ie to annex a condition. But it is true,'on the other Prussian territories not to the house of Brandenburg, hand, as Napoleon himself urged, that it would have but to Alexander; so that if Frederick WVilliam vet been playing the gallant at a high price, if he had reigned, it was only, he said, by the. fiiendship of exchanged towns and provinces in return for civi- Alexander,-" a term," he added, "which he himlities. It is not believed that the Queen of Prussia selfdid not recognize in the vocabulary of sovereigns, succeeded to any extent in obtaining a modification under the head of state affairs." Alexander, however, of the terms to which her husband was subjected; was not altogether so disinterested, as Bonaparte, and it is certain, that she felt so deeply the distress with something like a sneer, thus seemed to insinuate. into which her country was plunged, that her sense There was excepted from the Grand Duchy of xWVarof it brought her to an untimely grave. The death saw, and added to the territory of Russia at the exof this interesting and beautiful queen, not only pense ofPrussia, the province of Bialystock, serving powerfully affected the mind of her husband and materially to improve the frontier ofthe empire, Thus family, but the Prussian nation at large; who regard- the czar, in some degree, profited by the distress of — ing her as having- died a victim to her patriotic his ally. The apologyforhisconductmustrest,-first, sorrow for the national misfortunes, recorded her on the strength of the temptation to stretch his emfate as one of the many injuries, for which they were pire towards theVistula, as a great natural boundary; to call France and Napoleon to a severe accompting. secondly, on the plea, that if he had declined the acThe terms imposed on Prussia by the treaty of quisition from a point of delicacy, Saxony, not PrusTilsit were briefly these:- sia, would have profited by his self-denial, as the That portion of Poland acquired by Prussia in the territory of Bialystock would in that event have gone partition of I772 was disunited from that kingdom, to augment the Duchy of Warsaw. Russia ceded and erected into a separate territory, to be called the the lordship of lever to Holland, as an ostensible Great Duchy of Warsaw. It was to be held by the compensation for her new acquisition. King of Saxony, under the character of Grand Duke; Dantzic, with a certain surrounding territory, was and it was stipulated that he was to have direct cornm- by the treaty of Tilsit recognized as a free city, under munnication with this new acquisition by means of a the protection of Prussia and Saxony. There can military road across Silesia, a privilege likely to oc- be little doubt, that the further provision, that casion constant jealousy betwixt the courts of Berlin France should occupy the town until the conclusion LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 403 of a maritime peace, was intended to secure for the war with Britain, or any other stipulations which it use of Napoleon a place of arms, so important in might be intended to impose upon her. But as there case of a new breach betwixt him and Russia. is no country of Europe to which the commerce of It followed, as a matter of course, that the Emperor England is so beneficial as Russia, whose gross Alexander, and the King of Prussia, ratified all the produce she purchases almost exclusively, it was changes which Napoleon had wrought op Europe, necessary to observe strict secrecy upon these furacknowledged the thrones which he had erected, and ther objects. The ostensible proposal of mediation recognized the leagues which he had formed. On the was therefore resorted to, less in the hope, perhaps, other hand, out of deference to the emperor, Bona- of establishing peace betwixt France and England, parte consented that the Dukes of Saxe-Coburg, than in the expectation of affording a pretext, which Oldenburg, and Mecklenburg-Schwerin, German might justify in the eye of the Russian nation a rupprinces connected with Alexander, should remain in ture with the latter power. But in spite of every possession of their territories, the French, however, precaution which could be adopted, the address of continuing to occupy the seaports of the two countries the British ambassador obtained possession of the last named, until a final peace betwixt France and secret article which France and Russia deemed it England. so important to conceal; and Lord Gower was able WVhile these important negotiations were pro- to transmit to his court an exact account of this ceeding, a radical change took place in the councils secret article, and particularly of the two emperors o1 tile British nation; what was called the Fox and having resolved to employ the Danish fleet in the'Grenville administration being dissolved, and their destruction of the maritime rights of Britain, which pIlace supplied by one formed under the auspices of had been so lately put upon a footing, that, to Alextihe Duke of Portland, and comprehending Lords ander at least, had, till his recent fraternization with Liverpool, Castlereagh, Mr Canning, and other Bonaparte, seemed entirely satisfactory. sta-tesmen, professing the principles of the late There were, no doubt, other secret articles named W\illamr Pitt. It was an anxious object with the in the treaty of Tilsit, by which it seems to have nw calinet to reconcile the czar to the alliance of been the object of these two great emperors, as EJgland, and atone for the neglect with which he they loved to term themselves, of the North and of c0,1sidered himself as having been treated by their'the South, to divide the civilized world between predecessors. With this purpose, Lord Leveson them. It may be regarded as certain, that BoGlower (now Lord Visconnt Granville) was dis- naparte opened to Alexander the course of unprinp;itched with power to make such offers of concili- cipled policy which he intended to pursue respectation as might maintain or renew an amicable ing the kingdom of Spain, and procured his acquiesintercourse between Britain and Russia. But the cence in that daring usurpation. And it has been Etmperor Alexander had taken his part, at least for affirmed, that he also stipulated for the aid of Russia the present; and, being predetermined to embrace to take Gibraltar, to recover Malta and Egypt, and the course recorrmmended by his new ally, Bona- to banish the British fag from the Mediterranean. parte, he avoided giving audience to the British All these enterprises were more or less directly iambassador, and took his measures at Tilsit, without calculated to the depression, or rather the destruclistening to the offers of accommodation which Lord tion of Great Britain, the only fobrmidable enemy Cower wvas empowered to propose. who still maintained the strife against France, and By the treaty of Tilsit, so far as made public, so far the promised co-operation of Russia must Russia offered her mediation betwixt Britain and have been in the highest degree grateful to NapoFrance, on condition that the first-named kingdom leol. But Alexander, however much he might be should accept the proffer of her interference within Bonaparte's personal admirer, did not follow hil a month. So far, therefore, the czar appeared to a father's simplicity in becoming his absolute dupe, certain extent careful of the interests of his late but took care, in return for his compliance with the ally. But it is now perfectly well understood, that distant, and in some degree visionary projects of among other private articles of this memorable Bonaparte's ambition, to exact his countenance and treaty, there existed one, by which the emperor co-operation in gaining certain acquisitions of the bound himself, in case of Britain's rejecting the highest importance to Russia, and which were found proposed mediation, to recognize and enforce at a fiuture period to have added powerfully to hler what Bonaparte called the continental system, by means of defence, when she once more matched her shutting his ports against British vessels, and en- strength with that of France. To explain this, we gaging the northern courts in a new coalition, having must look back to the ancient policy of France and for its object the destruction of English maritime of Europe, when, by supporting the weaker states, superiority. In a word, the armed Northern and maintaining their independence, it was the obNeutrality, originally formed under the auspices of ject to prevent the growth of any gigantic and overCatherine, and in an evil hour adopted by tile tin- bearing power, who might derange the balance of fortunate Paul, was again to be established under the civilized world. the authority of Alexander. Denmark, smarting The growing strength of Russia used in former under the recollections of the battle of Copenhagen, times to be the natural subject of jealousy to the only waited, it was thought, the signal tojoin such a French government, and they endeavonred to councoalition, and would willingly consent to lend her terbalance these apprehensions by extending the still powerful navy to its support; and Sweden was protection of France to the two weaker neighbours in too weak and distracted a state to resist tle of Russia, the Porte and the kingdom of Sweden, united will of France and Russia, either regarding with which powers it had always been the policy of 404 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. France to connect herself, and which connexion was of this policy we shall afterwards advert to. Meannot only honourable to that kingdom, but useful to while, the two most ancient allies ot France, and Europe. But at the treaty of Tilsit, and in Bona- who were of the greatest political importance to her parte's subsequent conduct relating to these powers, in case of a second war with Russia, were mlost he lost sight of this national policy, or'rather sacri- unwisely abandoned to the mercy of that power, who ficed it to his own personal objects. failed not to despoil Sweden of Finland, and, but One of the most important private articles of the for intervening causes, would probably have seized treaty of Tilsit seems to have provided, that Sweden upon Constantinople with the sanme ease. should be despoiled of her provinces of Finland in If the reader should wonder how Bonaparte, able favour of the czar, and be thus, with the consent of and astucious as he was, came to be overreached in Bonaparte, deprived of all effectual means of annoy- the treaty of Tilsit, we believe the secret may be ing Russia. A single glance at the map will show, found in a piece of private history; Even at that how completely the possession of Finland put a early period, Napoleon nourished the idea of fixing, Swedish army, or the army of France as an ally of as lie supposed, the fate of his own family, or dySweden, within a short march of St Petersburg; nasty, by connecting it by marriage with the blood and how, by consenting to Sweden's being stripped of one of the established monarchies of Europe. He of that important province, Napoleon relinquished had hopes, even then, that he might obtain the hand the grand advantage to be derived from it, in case of one of the Archduchesses of Russia, nor did the of his ever being again obliged to contend with emperor throw any obstacle in the way of the Russia upon Russian ground. Yet there can be no scheme. It is well known that his suit was afterdoubt, that at the treaty of Tilsit he became privy to wards disappointed by the Empress Mother, who the war which Russia shortly after waged against pleaded the difference of religion; but at the time of Sweden, in which Alexander deprived that ancient the treaty of Tilsit, Napoleon was actually enconkingdom of her frontier province of Finland, and raged, or deceived himself into an idea that he rethereby obtained a covering territory of the last and ceived encouragement, to form a perpetual familymost important consequence to his own capital. connexion with Russia. This induced him to deal The Porte was no less made a sacrifice to the easily with Alexander in the matters which they inordinate anxiety, which, at tile treaty of Tilsit, had to discuss together, and to act the generous, Bonaparte seems to have entertained, for acquiring almost the prodigal friend. And this also seems to at any price the accession of Russia to his extrava- have been the reason why Napoleon frequently coingant desire of destroying England. By the public plained of Alexander's insincerity, and often termed treaty, indeed, somhe care seems to have been taken him The Greek, according to the Italian sense of of the interests of Turkey, since it provides that the name, which signifies a trickster, or deceiver. Turkey was to have the benefit of peace under the But we nmust return'from the secret articles of the mediation of France, and that Russia was to eva- Tilsit treaty, which opened such long vistas in futucuate Moldavia and Wallachia, for:the acquisition rity, to the indisputable and direct consequences of' of which she was then waging an unprovoked war. that remarkable measure. But by the secret agreement of the two emperors, The treaty betwixt Russia and France was signed it was unquestionably understood, that Turkey in upon the 7th-that betwixt France and Prussia on Europe was to be placed at the mercy of Alexan- the 9th July. Frederick William published upon der, as forming naturally a part of the Russian em- the 24th of the same month one of the most dignipire, as Spain, Portugal, and perhaps Great Britain, flied, and at the same time the most affecting prowere, from local position, destined to become pro- clamations, that ever expressed the grief of an unvinces of France. At the subsequent congress be- fortunate sovereign. twixt the emperors at Erfurt, their measures against " Dear inhabitants of faithful provinces, districts, the Porte were more fully adjusted. and towns," said this most interesting document, It may seem strange, that the shrewd and jealous " my arms have been unfortunate. T'he efforts of the Napoleon should have suffered himself to be so relics of my army have been of no avail. Driven to tle much overreached in his treaty with Alexander, extreme boundaries of my empire, and having seen since the benefits stipulated for France, in the my powerful ally conclude an armistice, and sign a treaty of'l'ilsit, were in a great measure vague, and peace, no choice remained for me save to follow his subjects of hope rather than certainty. The British example. That peace was necessarily purchased naval force was not easily to be subdued-Gibraltar upon terms corresponding to imperious circtmand Malta are as strong fortresses as thelworld can stances. It has imposed on me, and on my oullse exhibit-the conquest of Spain was at least a doubt- -it has imposed upon the whole country, the most ful undertaking, if the last war of -the Succession painful sacrifices. The bonds of treaties, the reciwas carefully considered. But the Russian objects procalities of love and duty, the work of ages, have were nearer, and were within her grasp.'Finland been broken asunder. My efforts have proved in was seized on with little difficulty,' nor did the con- vain. Fate ordains it, and a father parts fiorn his; quest even of Constantinople possess anything very children. I release you completely from your alledifficult to a Russian army, if unopposed save by giance to myself and to my louse. My most ardent the undisciplined forces of the Turkish empire. prayers for your welfare will always attend you in. Thus it is evident, that Napoleon erchanged. for your relations to your newsovereign. Be to him vwhat distant and contingent prospects, his; acquiescence you have everbeen to me. Neither force nor fate shall in the Rulssian objects, which were near, essential, ever efface the remembrance of you from my heart." and, in comparison, of easy attainment. The effect To trace -the- triumphant return of the victor is a: LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 405 | singular contrast to those melancholy effusions of the friendship, conceived they should be struggling vanquished monarch. The treaty of Tilsit had end- against the decrees of Providence, did they longer ed all appearance of opposition to France upon the continue to resist their predestined master. AusContinent. The British armament, which had been terlitz had shaken their constancy; Tilsit destroyed sent to Pomerania too late in the campaign, was it: and with few and silent exceptions, the vows, re-embarked, and the King of Sweden, evacuat- hopes, and wishes of France, seemed turned on ing Stralsund, retired to the dominions which he. Napoleon as her heir by destiny. Perhaps he himwas not very long destined to call his own. After self;, only, could finally have disappointed their having remained together fbr twenty days, dur-. expectations. But he was like the adventurous ing which they daily maintained the most fiiendly clinber on the Alps, to whom the surmounting the intercourse, and held together long and secret con- most tremendous precipices, and ascending to the fereuces, the two emperors at last separated, with most towering peaks, only shows yet dizzier heights demonstrations of the highest personal esteem, and and higher points of elevation. each heaping upon the other all the honours which it was in his power to bestow. The congress broke CH up on the 9th July and on his return to France, N apoleon visited Saxony, and was there met at Baut. British expedition to Calabria, under Sir John Stuartzen (doomed lfir a very different reason to be re- Character of the people-Opposed by General Regnier nowned in his history) by King Augustus, who -Battle of Aaida, 4th Jzly, 1800-DeJeat of the French. received him with the honours due to one who had, -Calabria euacuated by the British-Erroneous cor in outwvalrd appearance at least, augmented tlhe nmercial views, and military plans, of the British mipower which he mig- t have overthrown. otistry.- Unsuccessful attack on Buenos Ayres-General power wWich'lie mig,,t have overthitelocke-is cashiered.-Expedition against Turkey, On 29th July, Napoleon, restored to his palace at I tside- cdshiered.-ExAeilnc agkiost Tsrreu, andc its depenideltcies.-AdmiralDteckwortlt's squadron St-Cloud, received the homage of the Senate and t-ld, receve the omage o t e sent against Constantinople-Passes and repasses the other official and constitutional bodies. The cele- Dardanelles, without accomplishing anything-Expebrated naturalist, Lac,6pede, as the organ of the dition against Alexandria-It is occupied by General former body, made a pompous enumeration of the Fraser.-Rosetta attacked —British troops defeatedr miracles of the campaign; and avowed that the and withdrawn from Egypt, September, 1807. - Czaccomplishment of such wonderful actions as would raqoa anld Cape of Good Hope taken by Elngland.seemingly have required ages was but to Napoleon Assultption of more energetic measures one thepart of the work of a few months; while at the same time the British gover-nmet. -Expedition agninst Copenhis ruling g~enius gave motion to all the domestic hagen - its causes and objects-its citadel, forts, and administration of his vast empire, and, although fleet, surrendered to the British-Effects of this proceed. four hundred leagues distant from the capital, was ing 2upOn Faunsrce-and Rurssia.-Coatition of France, RIZessia, Autstria, and Prussia, tegailst British cormpresent with and observant of the most complicated erce. as well as extensive details. "We cannot," coneludes the orator, "offer to your majesty praises TiE treaty of Tilsit is an important point in the worthy of you. Your glory is too much raised above history of Napoleon. At no time did his power us. It will be the task of posterity, removed at a seem more steadfastly rooted, more feebly assailed. distance from your presence, to estimate with The canker-worm by which it was ultimately to be greater trutlh its real degree of elevation. Enjoy, destroyed was, like that of the forest-tree, entrenchsire, the recompense the most worthy of the greatest ed and hidden in the. bosom of him whom it was of monarchs, the happiness of being beloved by the destined to sap and consume. It is a fitting time, greatest of nations, and mlay our great-grandchildren therefore, to take a general survey of the internal be long happy under your majesty's reign.' character of his government, when tile arrangements So spoke the President of the French Senate; and seemed to be at his own choice, and ere misfortune, who, that wished to retain the nanme of a rational hitherto a stranger, dictated his course of proceedbeing, dared have said, that, within the period of ing, which had before experienced no control save seven years, the same Senate would be carrying to his own will. We propose, therefore, in the next the downfallen and dejected King of Prussia their chapter, to take a brief review of the character of congraiulations on his share in the overthrow of the Bonaparte's government during this the most flouvery man, whom they were now adoring as a de- rishing period of his power. migod! But, ere doing so, we must shortly notice some The fortunes and fame of Napoleon were, indeed, circumstances, civil and military, which, though they such as to excite in the highest degree the vener- hod but slight immediate effect upon the general ation with which men look upon talents and suc- current ofevents, yet serve to illustrate the character cess. All opposition seemed to sink before him, of the parties concerned, and to explain ftuture inand Fortune appeared only to have looked doubt- cidents which were followed by more important fillly upon him during a part of the last campaign, consequlences. These we have hitherto omitted, in in order to render still brighter the auspicious as- order to present, in a continuous and uninterrupted pect under which she closed it. Many of his most form, the history of the momentous warfare, in the confirmed enemies, who, from their proved attach- course of which Prussia was for the time subjugated, mlent to the house of Bourbon, had secretly dis- and Russia so far tamed by the eventful struggle, owned the authority of Bonwparte, and doubted the as to be willing to enrbrace the relation of an ally to continuance of his success, when they saw Prussia the conqueror, whose course she had proposed to lying at his feet, and lltussia claspling his hand in stem and to repel. 406 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Among these comparatively minor incidents, must tural consent, when at the distance of about one be reckoned the attempt made by the British go- hundred yards, the opposed corps threw in two or verlmnent to rescue the Calabrian dominions of the three close fires reciprocally, and then rushed on to Neapolitan Bourbons from the intrusive government charge each other with the bayonet. The British of Joseph Bonaparte. The character of the inhabit- commanding-officer, perceiving that his men were ants of that mountainous country is well-known. embarrassed by the blankets which they carried at Bigots in their religion, and detesting a foreign yoke, their backs, halted the line that they might throw as is usual with natives of a wild and almost lawless them down. The French saw the pause, and taking region; sudden in their passions, and readily having it for the hesitation of fear, advanced with a quickrecourse to the sword, in revenge whether of public ened pace and loud acclamations. An officer, our or private injury; enticed also by the prospect of informer, seeing their veteran appearance, mousoccasional booty, and retaining a wild species of at- tached countenances, and regularity of order, could tachment to Ferdinand, whose manners and habits not forbear a feeling of anxiety as he glanced his were popular with the Italians, and especially with eye along the British line, which consisted in a great those of the inferior order, the Calabrians were rea- measure of young and beardless recruits. Brrt disdily excited to take arms by the agents sent over to embarrassed of their load, and receiving the order practise anlong them by the Sicilian court. Lawless to advance, they cheered, and in their turn hastened at the same time, cruel in their mode of conducting towards the enemry with a rapid pace and leveled war, and incapable of being subjected to discipline, bayonets. The French officers were now seen enthe bands which they formed amongst themselves, couraging their men, whose courage began to fhlter acted rather in the manner, and upon the motives, when they found they were to be the assailed party: of banditti, than of patriots. They occasionally, and not the assailants. Tileir line halted; they could individually, showed much courage, and even a sort not be brought to advance by the utmost efforts of of instinctive skill, which taught them how to chuse their officers, and when the British were within their ambushes, defend their passes, and thus main- bayonet's length, they broke and ran; but too l;te tain a sort of predatory war, in which the French for safety, for they were subjected to the mo,,st sustained considerable losses. Yet if their efforts dreadful slaughter. An attempt made by RBg'll>ni remained unassisted by some regular force, it was to redeem the day with his cavalry was totally rinevident that these insurrectionary troops must be successful. He was beaten on all points, and in si,ch destroyed in detail by the disciplined and calculated a manner as left it indisputable, that the British sol. exertions of the French soldiers. To prevent this, dier, man to man, has a superiority over his enerr, and to gratify, at the same time. the.anxious wishes simil'r to that which the British sea;:an poss- sses of the court of Palermo, Sir John Stuart, who com- upon his peculiar element. manded the British troops which had been sent to It would be in vain to inquire whether this supedefend Sicily, undertook an expedition to the neigh- riority, which we do not hesitate to say has been bouring shore ofItaly, and disembarked in the Gulph made manifest, with very few exceptions, wherever of St Euphemia, near the frontier of Lower Calabria, the British have met foreign troops upon equal terllls, in the beginning of July, 1806, with something short arises from a stronger confornation of body, or a of five thousand men. more determined trimrn of mind; but it seems certain The disembarkation was scarce made, ere the that the British soldier, inferior to the Frenchman British commander learned that General Rdgrlier, in general intelligence, and in individual acquaintwho commanded for Joseph Bonaparte in Calabria, ance with the trade of war, has a decided advantage had assembled a force nearly equal to his own, and in the bloody shock of actual conflict, and especially had advanced to Maida, a town about ten miles when maintained by the bayonet, body to body. It distant from St Euphemia, with the purpose of is remarkable, also, that the charm is not peclliargiving him battle. Sir John Stuart lost no time in to any one of the three united nations, but is cornmoving to meet him, and R6gnier. confident in the mon to the natives of all, different as they are in numbers of his cavalry, the quality of ibis troops, habits and education. The Gruards, supplied by and his own skill in tactics, abandoned a strong the city of London, may be contrasted with a regiposition on the further bank of the river Amata, and ment of' Irish recruited among their rich meadows, on the 4th July came down to meet the British in the or a body of Scotch fromn their native wildernesses; open plain. Of all Bonaparte's generals, an English- and while it may be difficult to assign the palm to man would have desired, in especial, to be opposed either over the other two, all are found to exhibit to this leader, who had published a book on the that species of dogged and desperate courage, whical, evacuation of Egypt, in which he denied every withoutstaying to measure fqrce or calculate chances, claim, on the part of the British, to skill or courage, rushes on the enemy as the bull-dog upon tile bear. and imputed the loss of the province exclusively to I This great moral encouragement was the chrief;1dthe incapacity of Menor, under whomn R6gnier, the vantage derived frorm the battle of Maida; for surrh author, had served as second in command. He was was the tumultuous, sanguinary, and unrmanageable now to try his own fate witih the enemy, for whom character of the Calabrian insurgents, that it wvas he had expressed so much contempt. judged impossible to continue the war with sulch At nine in the morning, the two lines were oppo- assistants. The malaria was also foun.d to atlert site to each other, when the British light infantry the British troops; and Sir John Stuart, re-emrnbarkbrigade, formlring the right of the advanced line, and ing his little army, returned to Sicily, and the etfotls the ler I,6g'er on the French left, a favourite regi- of the British were confined to the preservation rof lmert, hJund thlersrisves confronted. As if by mu- that island. But the battle of 1Maida was valulable LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 4f7 as a corollary to that of Alexandria. We have not having seen much service, marched against Buenos learned whether General R1gnier ever thought it Ayres. This person proved both fool and coward. equally worthy of a commentary. He pushed his columns of attack into the streets The eyes of the best informed men in Britain of Buenos Ayres, knowing that the flat roofs and were now open to the disadvantageous and timid terraces were manned by excellent though irregular policy, of conducting this momentous war by petty marksmen; and, that the British might have no expeditions and experimental armaments, too in- means of retaliation, they were not permitted to load adequate to the service to be productive of anything their muskets,-as if stone walls could have been but disappointment. The paltry idea of snaking carried by the bayonet. One of tile columns was war for British objects, as it was called, that is, obliged to surrender; and although another had, in withholding from the general cause those efforts spite of desperate opposition, possessed themselves which might have saved our allies, and going in of a strong position, and that a few shells might search of some petty object in which Britain might have probably ended the sort of defence which had see an individual interest, was now universally been maintained, Whitelocke thought it best to conacknowledged; although it became more difficult elude a treaty with the enemy for recovery of the than ever to select points of attack where our li- British prisoners, and so to renounce all further atmited means might command success. It was also tempts on the colony. For this misconduct he was pretty distinctly seen, that the plan of opening a cashiered by the sentence of a court-martial. market for British manufactures, by conquering An expedition against Turkey, and its dependistant and unhealthy provinces, was as idle as im- dencies, was as little creditable to the councils of' moral. In the latter quality, it somewhat resembled Britain, and eventually to her arms, as were her the proceedings of the surgeon mentioned in Le attempts on South America. It arose out of a war Sage's satirical novel, who converted passengers betwixt England and the Porte, her late ally against into patients by a stroke of his poniard, and then France; for, so singular had been the turns of hastened, in his medical capacity,to cure tile wounds chance in this extraordinary conflict, that allies he had inflicted. In point of profit, we had fie- became enemies, and enemies returned to a state of quently to regret, that the colonists, whom we pro- close alliance, almost before war or peace could be posed to convert by force of arms into customers proclaimed between them. The time was long past for British goods, were too rude to want, and too when the sublime Ottoman Porte could regard the poor to pay fior them. Nothing deceives itself so quarrels and wars of christian powers, with the willingly as the love of gain. Our principal mer- contemptuous indifference with which men look on chants and manufacturers, among other commercial the strife of the meanest and most unclean aniinals.? visions, had imagined to themselves an unlimited She was now in such close contact with them, as market for British commodities, in the immense to feel a thrilling interest in their various revolutions. plains surrounding Buenos Ayres, which are in fact The invasion of Egypt excited the Porte against peopled by a sort of christian savages called Gua- France, and disposed thern to a close alliance witll chos, whose principal furniture is the sculls of dead Russia and England, until Bonaparte's assumption horses, whose only food is raw beef and water, of the Imperial dignity; on which occasion the whose sole employment is to catch wild cattle, by Turks, overawed by the pitch of power to which hampering them with a Guacho's noose, and whose he had ascended, sent an embassy to congratulate chief amusement is to ride wild horses to death.* his succession, and expressed a desire to cultivate Unfortunately, they were found to prefer their na- his friendship. tional independence to cottons and muslins. Napoleon, whose eyes were sometimes almost Two several attempts were made on this miser- involuntarily turned to the east, and who besides able country, and neither redounded to tIhe honour desired, at that period, to break off the good unor advantage of the British nation. Buenos Ayres derstanding betwixt the Porte and the cabinet of was taken possession of by a handful of British St Petersburg, dispatched S&bastiani as his envoy troops on the 27th June, 1806, who were attacked to Constantinople; a man well known for his skill by the inhabitants and by a few Spanish troops, in oriental intrigues, as was displayed in the celeand, surrounded in the market-place of the town, brated report which had so much influence in breakunder a general and galling fire, were compelled to ing through the peace of Amiens. lay down their arms, and surrender prisoners of The effect of this ambassador's promises, threats, wvar. A small remnant of the invading forces re- and intrigues, was soon apparent. The Turks had tained possession of a town on the coast, called come under an engagement that they would not Maldonado. In October, 1806, an expedition was change the Hospodars, or governors, of Moldavia sent out to reinforce this small body, and make and Wallachia. Sebastiani easily alarmed Turkish some more material impression upon the continent pride on the subject of this stipulation, and induced of South America, which the nation were uinder the them to break through it. The two Hospodars were delusion of considering as a measure extremely to removed, in defiance of the agreement made to the the advantage of British trade. Monte Video was the advantage of British trade. Monte Video was In the timle of Louis the XIV., when the French envoy taken, and a large body of troops, under comna and at the court of Constantinople came, in a great hurry, to of General Whitelocke, a man of factitious reputa- intinmate, as important intelligence, some victory of his tion, and who had risen high in the army without master over the Prussians, " Can you suppose it of cones. quence to his serene highness," said the grland vizier, with ~ See the very extraordinary account of the Palnpas, infinite (onltempt, " hlether the dog bites the hog, or the published by Captain Head of tle Engineers. hog bhie.s the dog 7" 400o LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. contrary; and althoughl the Turks became aware of bria, Buenos Ayres. Alexandria, and elsewhere, had the risk to which they had exposed themselves, and been united with the forces sent to Stralsund, and offered to replace the governors whom they had thrown into the rear of the French army before the dismissed, Russia, with precipitate resentment, de- fatal battle of Friedland, Europe might, in all proba. clared war, and invaded the two provinces in bility, have escaped that severe, and, for a time, ntuestion. They overran and occupied them, but to decisive blow. their own cost; as an army of fifty thousand men, The evil of this error, which had pervaded our thus rashly engaged against the Turks, might have continental efforts from the beginning of the original been of the last consequence in the fields of Eylau, war with France dowvn to the period of which we Heilsberg, or Friedland. are treating, began now to be felt fiom experience. In the meanwhile, Great Britain sent a squadron, Britain gained nothing whatever by her partial efunder Sir Thomas Duckworthl, to compel the Porte forts, not even settlements or sugar-islands. The to dismiss the French ambassador, and return, to enemy maintained against her revenues and comthe line of politics which S6bastiani had induced merce a constant and never-ceasing war-her resistthem to abandon. Admiral Duckworth passed the ance was equally stubborn, and it was evident that Dardanelles, in spite of the immense cannon by the strife on both sides was to be mortal. Ministers which they are guarded, and which hurled from were, therefore, called upon for bolder risks, the theii enormous muzzles massive firagments of mar- nation for greater sacrifices, than had yet been deble instead of ordinary bullets. But if ever it was manded; and it became evident to every one, that intended to act against tile Turks by any other England's hope of safety lay in her own exertions, means than intimidation, the opporttnity was suf- not for petty or selfish objects, but such as might fered to escape; and an intercourse by message and have a decided influence on the general events of the billet was permitted to continue until the Turks had war. The urgent pressure of the moment was felt completed a line of formidable fortifications, awhile by the new administration, whose principles being in the state of the weather was too unfavourable to favour of the continuance of the watr their efforts to allow even an effort at the destruction of Constan- conduct it with energy began now to be manifest. tinople, which had been the alternative submitted The first symptoms of this change of measures to the Turks by the English admiral. The English were exhibited in the celebrated expedition to Corepassed the Dardanelles in no very creditable penhagen, which manifested an energy and determimanner, hated for the threats which they had ut- nation not of late visible in the military operations of tered, and despised for not having attempted to Britain on the Continent. Itcan hardly be made make their menaces good. matter of serious doubt, that one grand object by Neither was a subsequent expedition to Alex- which Bonaparte meant to enforce the continental andria more favourable in its results. Five thousand system, and thus reduce the power of England withmen, under General Fraser, were disembarked, out battle or invasion, was the re-establishment of and occupied tile town with much ease. But a the great alliance of the Northern Powers, for the dedivision, dispatched against Rosetta, was the cause struction of Britain's maritime superiority. This had of renewing in a different part of the world the ca- been threatened towards the conclusion of the Amerilamity of Buenos Ayres. The detachment was, can war, and had been again acted upon in 1801, incautiously and unskilfillly on our part, decoyed when the unnatural compact was dissolved by the into tile streets of an oriental town, where the cannon ofNelson. and the death of the Emperor Paul. enemy, who had manned the terraces and the flat The treaty of Tilsit, according to the information roofs of their houses, slaughtered the assailants which the British ambassador had procured, certainwith much ease and little danger to themselves. ly contained an article to this purpose, and ministers Some subsequent ill-combined attempts were made received from other quarters the most positive inforfor reducing the same place, and after sustaining a mation of what was intended. Indeed, the Emperor loss of more than a fifth of their number, by climlate Alexander had shown, by many indications, that in and combat, the Blitish troops were withdrawn the new friendship which he had formed with the Emfi-om Egypt on the 23d of September, 1807. peror of the West, he was to embrace his resentment, It was no great comfort, under these repeated fail- and further his plans, against England. The unforures, that the British were able to secure the Dutch tunate Gustavus of Sweden could scarce be expectisland of Curacoa. But the capture of the Cape of ed voluntarily to embrace the proposed northern Good Hope was an object of deep importance; and alliance, and his ruin was probably resolved upon. the more so, as it was taken at a small expense oflives. But the accession of Denmark was of the utmost Its consequence to our Indian trade is so great, that consequence. That country still possessed a fleet, we may well hope it will be at no future time given and the local situation of the island of' Zealand gave up to the enemny. Upon the whole, the general po- her the key of the Baltic. Her confessed weakness licy of England was, at this period, of an irresolute could not have permitted her for an instant to resist and ill-combined character. Her ministers showed the joint influence of Russia and France, even if a great desire to do something, but as great a her angry recollection of the destruction of her fleet doubt what that somnethimng was to he. Thus, by Nelson, had not induced her inclinations to lean they either mnistook the importance of the objects in that direction. It was evident that Denmark which they. aimed at, or, undertaking them without would only be permitted to retain her neutrality, till a suflicient force, failed to carry them into execu- it suited the purposes of the mnore powerful parties tirn. If the wealth and means, more especially the to compel her to thlrow it off In this case, and brave troops, frittered away in the attempts at Cala- finding the French troops approaching Holstein, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTlE. 409 SJtland, and Funen, the British government, acting Prince. There wasL something disgraceful in deon the information which they had received of the livering up the fleet of the nation under a menace purpose of their enemiee, conceived themselves en- that violence would otherwise be employed; and titled to require from Denmark a pledge as to the although, for the sake of his people and his capital, line of conduct which She proposed to adopt on the he ought, in prudence, to have forborne an ineffecapproach of hostilities, and some rational security tual resistance, yet it was impossible to blame a that such a pledge, when given, should be redeemed. high-minded and honourable man for making the A formidable expedition was now fitted out, best defence in his power. humanely, as well as politically, calculated on a So soon as the object of the Danes was found to scale of such magnitude, as, it might be expected, be delay and evasion, while they made a hasty prewould render impossible the resistance which the paration for defence, the soldiers were disembarked, Danes, as a high-spirited people, might offer to such batteries erected, and a bombardment commenced a harsh species of expostulation. Twenty-seven which occasioned a dreadful conflagration. Some sail of the line, and twenty thousand men, under the forces which had been collected in the interior of command of Lord Cathcart, were sent to the Baltic, the island were dispersed by the troops under Sir to support a negotiation with Denmark, which it was Arthur Wellesley, a name already famnous in India, still hoped might terminate without hostilities. The but now for the first time heard in European warfleet was conducted with great ability through the fare. The unavailing defence was at last disconintricate passages called the Belts, and was dis- tinued, and upon the 8th September the citadel and posed in such a Xmanner, that ninety pendants flying forts of Copenhagen were surrendered to the British round Zealand, entirely blockaded the shores of that general. The Danish ships were fitted out for sea island. with all possible dispatch, together with the naval Under these auspices the negotiation was com- stores, to a very large amount; which, had they menced. The British envoy, Mr Jackson, had the fallen into the hands of the French, must have delicate task of stating to the Crown Prince, in per- afforded them considerable facility in fitting out a sorl, the expectation of England that his royal high- fleet, ness should explain unequivocally his sentiments, As the nature and character of the attack upon and declare the part which he meant to take between Copenhagen were attended by circumst-av ces which her and France. The unpleasant condition was were very capable of being misrepresentedl, France annexed, that, to secure any protestation which -who, through the whole war, had berself showed might be made of friendship or neutrality, it was the most total disregard for the rights of neutral required that the fleet and naval stores of the Danes nations, with her leader Napoleon, the invader of should be delivered into the hands of Great Britain, Egypt, when in profound peace with the Porte; of not in right of property, but to be restored so soon Hanover, when in amity with the German empire; as the state of affairs, which induced her to require and who was at this very moment meditating the possession of them, should he altered for more appropriation of Spain and Portugal-France was peaceful times. The closest alliance, and every filled with extreme horror at the violence practised species of protection which Britain could afford, was on the Danish capital. Russia was also offended, proffered, to obtain compliance with these proposals. and to a degree which showed that a feeling of Finally, the Crown Prince was given to understand, disappointed schemes mingled with her affectation that so great a force was sent in order to afford him of zeal for the rights of neutrality. But the daring an apology to France, should he chuse to urge it, and energetic spirit with which England had formed as having been compelled to submit to the English and accomplished her plan, struck a wholesome demands; but at the same time it was intimated, terror into other nations, and showed neutrals, that that the forces would be actually employed to if, while assuming that character, they lent their compel the demands, if they should be refused. secret countenance to the enemies of Great Britain, In the ordinary intercourse betwixt nations, these they were not to expect that it was to be done with requisitions, on the part of Britain, would have been, impunity. This was indeed no small hardship upon with respect to Denmark, severe and unjustifiable. the lesser powers, many of whom would no doubt The apology arose out of the peculiar circumstances have been well contented to have observed a strict of the times. The condition of England was that of neutrality, but for the threats' and influence of an individual, who, threatened by the approach of a France, against whom they had no means of defence; superior force of mortal enemies, sees close beside but the furious conflict of such two nations as France him, and with arms in his hand, one, of whom he and England is like the struggle of giants, in which had a right to be suspicious, as having co-operated the smaller and more feeble, who have the misforagainst him on two fbrmer occasions, and nwho, he tune to be in the neighbourhood, are sure to he has the best reason to believe, is at the very moment borne down and trodden upon by one or both engaged in a similar alliance to his prejudice. The parties. individual, in the case supposed, would certainly be The extreme resentment expressed by Bonaparte, warranted in requiring to know this third party's when he received intelligence of this critical and intention, nay, ill disarmlling him, if he had strength decisive measure, might serve to argue the depth of to (lo so, and retaining his weapons, as the best his disappointment at such an unexpected anticipapledge of his neutrality. tion of his purposes. He had only left to him the However this reasoning may be admitted to justify comfort of railing against Britain in the Moniteur; the British demands, we cannot wonder that it failed and the breach of peace, and of the law of nations, to cnforce compliance on the part of the Crown was gravely imputed to England as an inexpiable voL. vs. ~ 52 410 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.. crime, by one, who never suffered his regard either Austria and Prussia found themselves under the for his own word, or the general -g,.d.aith observed necessity of following the example of Russia, and amongst nations, to interfere with any wish or in- declaring war against British commerce; so that terest he had ever entertained. Bonaparte had now made arn immense stride towards The conduct of Russia was more singular. An his principal object, of destroying every species English officer of literary celebrity was employed of intercourse which could unite England with the by Alexander, or those who were supposed to share Continent. his most secret councils, to convey to the British ministry the emperor's expressions of the secret satisfaction which his Imlperial Majesty felt, at the CHAPTER LVI. skill and dexterity whlich Britain had displayed in skill and dexterity which Britain had displayed in View of the internal government of Napoleon at the peanticipating and preventing the purposes ot' France, io of he peace of Tilsit.The Tribunate abolished.by her attack upon Cotpenhiagen. He' ministers Council of State.-Prefectures-'Their nature and obwere invited to communicate treely with the czar, jects described.-The Code Napolion-Its provisionsas with a prince, who, though obliged to give way Its nerits and defects-Coenparison betwixt that code to circumstances, was, neverltheless, as lmuch at- and the jurisprudence of England.-Laudable efforts of tached as ever to the cause of Elropean independ- Napoleon to carry it into effect. once. Thus invited, tile British cabinet entered into an explanation of their viewvs for establishing a AT this period of Bonaparte's elevation, when his counterbalance to the exorbitant power of France, power seemed best established, and most permaby a northern confederacy of' an offensive and de- nent, it seems proper to take a hasty view, not indeed fensive character. It was supposed that Sweden of the details of his internal government, which is a would enter with pleasure into such an alliance, and subject that would exhaust volumes; but at least that Denmark would not decline it if encouraged by of its general character, of the means by which his the example of Russia, who was proposed as the empire was maintained, and the nature of the relahead and soul of' the coalition. tions which it established betwixt the sovereign and Such a coronmunication was accordingly made to his subjects. the Russiml ministers, but was received with the The ruling, allnost the sole principle on which the utmost coldtleess. It is impossible now to deter- government of Bonaparte rested, was the simple mire, whetler there had been some over-confi- proposition upon which despotism of every kind tas dence int thie agenrt; %whether the conmmunication founded itself in every species of society; namely, had been fou:ded on some hasty and filgitive idea that the individual who is to exercise the authority of a breach with France, which the emperor had and power of the state shall, on the one hand, dediafterwards abandoned; or finally, whether, as is cate himlself and his talents exclusively to the pubmore probable, it originated in a wish to fathom the Iic service of the empire, while, on the other, the extent of' Great Britain's resources, and the pur- nation subjected to his rule shall requite this self deposes to whicll she meant to devote them. It is votion on his part by the most implicit obedience to enough to observe, that the countenance with which his will. Some despots have rested this claim to Russia received the British cotnmunication, was so universal submission upon family descent, and upon dillerent from that with which she had invited the their right, according to Filmer's doctrine, of repreconfidence of her ministers, that the negotiation seiting tile original father of the tribe, and becolnproved totally abortive. ing the legitimate inheritors of a patriarchal power. Alexander's ultimate purpose was given to the Others have strained Scripture and abused cowm!mon world, so soon as Britain had declined the offered sense, to establish in their own favour a righdt mediation of' Russia in her disputes with France. through the especial decree of Providence. To tle In a proclamriation. or malilfesto, senit forth by the hereditary title Bonaparte could of course assert no emperor, lhe expr:ssed his repentance for having claim' but he founded not a little on the secoud entered into agreenlents with England. which lie principle, often holding himself out to othlIers, talid had folund l)ireJidic:ial to tile Russian trade; he coIn- no doubt occasionally considering hlimself, in his plained (with justice) of the maemier in which Britain own timindl, as an individual destined by Hleaxn t t had conducted the war l)y petty expeditions, con- the high station which he held, and one;ho couid ducive only to Ier own selfish enlds; and the attack not therefore be opposed in his career, witlout alt upon Denimai-L wvas treated as a violation of tile express struggle being maintaitned against Desli%,y rights of nations. fle theret;ore annulled every con- who, lealing him by the hand, and at the saute tielie vention enterltd into between Russia and Britain, protecting him with her shield, had guided himn by and especially that of' 18Ol; atnd he avowed the pathis as strange as perilous, to the post of eminerce princi.les of the arneidl lelitrality which lie termed which he now occupied. No one had been his a monument of the -wisdoum of tile G:eat Catherine. tutor in the lessons which led the way to his preferIn November, 1806, a ukase, or imperial decree, ment —no one had been his guide in the dangerlous was issued, imnposing an emtihargo on British vessels ascent to power-scarce any one had been of so and ptroperty. But, by tile thvour of the Russianl mulch consequence to his promotion, as to clailt even nation, atnd evenl of the tfficers employed by go- the merit of an ally, however humble. It seemied as vernment, the ship-masters \were niade aware of if Napoleon had been wafted on to this stupendous the impending arrest; and not less than eighty pitch of grandeur by a power more effectual tihan vessels, setting sail with a favourable wind, reach- that of any human assistance, nay, which surpassed ed Britain with their cargoes in safety. what could have been exyected from his ownl great LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPABTE. -411 talents, unassisted by the especial interposition of gradually and ingeniously substituted for another, Destiny in his favour. Yet.it was not to this prin- and the object of the public devotion was changed, ciple alone that the general acquiescence in the un- while the worship was continued. France had been limited power which he asserted is to be imputed. formerly governed by political maxims-she was t Bonaparte understood the character of the French now ruled by the name of an individual. Formerly nation so well, that he could offer them an accept- the Republic was everything-La Fa5ette, D)uable indemnification for servitude, first, in the mourier, or Pichegru, were nothing. Now, the height to which he proposed to raise their national name of a successful general was of more influence preeminence; secondly, in the municipal establish- than the whole code of the Rights of Man. France ments, by means of which he administered their go- had submitted to murder, spoliation, revolutionary vernment; and which, though miserably defective tribunals, and every species of cruelty and oppresin all which would have been demanded by a na- sion, while they were gilded by the then talismanic tion accustomed to the administration of equal and expressions, " Liberty and equality-Fraternizationr just laws, afforded a protection to life and property -the public welfare, and the happiness of the that was naturally most welcome to those who had people." She was now found equally compliant, been so long, under the republican system, made when the watchword was, " The honour of his irlthe victims of cruelty, rapacity, and the most extra- perial and royal majesty-the interests of' the Great. vagant and unlimited tyranny, rendered yet more Empire-the splendours of the imperial throne." It odious as xercised under the pretext of liberty. must be owned that the sacrifices under the last To the first of these arts of government we have form were less enormous; they were limited to often adverted; and it must be always recalled to taxes at the imperial pleasure, and a perpetual antimind whenever the sources of Bonaparte's power cipation of the conscription. Tile republican tyrants over the public mind in France come to be treated claimed both life and property; the emperor was of. He himself gave the solution in a few words, satisfied with a tithe of the latter, and the unlimited when censuring the imbecility of the Directors, to disposal of that portion of the family who could best whose power he succeeded. "These men,"hesaid, support the burden of arms, for augmenting the " know not how to work upon the imagination of'the conquests of France. Such were the terms on French nation." This idea, which, in phraseology, which this long-distracted country attained once is rather Italian than French, expresses the chief more, after its Revolution, the advantage of a steady secret of Napoleon's authority. He held himself and effective government. out as the individual upon whom the fate of France The character of that government, its means and depended-of whose hundred decisive victories principles of action, must now be briefly traced. France enjoyed the glory. It was he whose sword, It cannot be forgotten that Bonaparte, the heir of hewing down obstacles which her bravest monarchs the Revolution, appropriated to himself the bforms had accounted insurmountable, had cut the way to and modifications of the directorial government, her now undeniable supremacy over Europe. He altered in some degree by the ingenuity of Si6yes; alone could justly claim to be absolute monarch of but they subsisted as forms only, and were carefully France, who, raising that nation from a perilous divested of all effectual impulse on the governmen-t. condition, had healed her discords, reconciled her The Senate and legislative bodies became merely factions, turned her defeats into victory, and, from a passive and pensioned creatures of the emperor's disunited people, about to become the prey to civil will, whom he used as a medium bfor promulgating and external war, had elevated her to the situation the laws which he was determined to establish. of Queen of Europe. This had been all accom- The Tribunate had been instituted for the plotection plished upon one condition; and, as we have stated of the people against all acts of arbitrary power, elsewhere, it was that which the Tempter offered whether by imprisonment, exile, assaults on tile in the wilderness, after his ostentatious display of liberty of the press, or otherwise; but after having the kingdoms of the earth-" All these will I give gradually undermined the rights and authority of thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." this body, after having rendered its meetings partial Napoleon had completed the boastful promise, and secret, and having deprived it of its boldest and it flattered a people more desirous of glory than members, Bonaparte suppressed it entirely, on acof liberty; and so much more pleased with hearing count, as he alleged, of the expense which it occaof national conquests in foreign countries, than of sioned to the government. It had indeed become enjoying the freedom of their own individual thoughts totally useless; but this was because its character and actions, that they unreluctantly surrendered the had been altered, and because, originating from the latter in order that their vanity might be flattered Senate, and not from popular election, the Tribunate by the former. never consisted of that class of persons, wtho are Thus did Napoleon avail himself of, or, to trans- willing to encounter the firown of power when called late his phrase more literally, play upon the ima- upon to impeach its aggressions. Yet, as the very gination of the French people. lie gave them public name of this body, while it subsisted, recalled some festivals, victories, and extended dominion; and, in ideas of republican freedom, the emperor thought return, claimted the right of carrying their children fit altogether to abolish it. in successive swarms to yet more distant and yet The deliberative council of the emperor existed in more extended conquests, and of governing, accord- his own personal Council of State, of whose conisulting to his own pleasure, the bulk of the nation which ationls, in which lie himself presided, he made fieremained behind. qunent u"e during the course of his reign. Its functions l'o attain this purpose, one species ofidolatry was were of an anomalous character comprehending 41'2 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. political legislation, or judicial business, according kilg's step in the gallery. There were occasions to the order of the day. It was, in short, Bona- accordingly, when, not satisfied with calling their rrrte's rm source, when he wanted the advice, or attention to the distant murmurs of the imperial opinion, or infirmation, of others in aid of his own; thunder, Napoleon launched its bolts in the midst of and he often took the assistance of the Council of his trembling counsellors. Such a scene was that of State, in order to form those resolutions which lie Portalis. This statesman, a Inan of talent and virtue, afterwards executed by means of his ministers. had been eminently usefull, as we have seen, in Monsieur de Las Cases, himself a meinber of it, bringing about the Concordat, aid had been created, lias dwelt with complaisance upon the freedom in recompense, minister of religious affairs, and which Bonaparte permitted to their debates, aid counsellor of state. In the subsequent disputes bethe good humour with which lie submitted to con- twixt the pope and Bonaparte, a relation of the nmitradiction, even when expressed with obstinacy or nister had been accused of circulating tile hulls, or vivacity, and would have us consider the councilas spiritual admonitions of the pope; and Portalis had an important barrier afforded to the citizens against tidiled to intimate the circumstance to the emperor. the arbitrary will of the sovereign. What lie has On this account, Napoleon, in fill council, attacked said,, however, only amounts to tiis,-that Bona- him in the severest terms, as guilty of having broken parte, desirous to have the advice of his counsellors, his oath as a counsellor and minister of state, detolerated their freedom of speech, and even of re- prived him of both offices, and expelled hilm from monstraiice. Mahumloid, or Amurath, seated in the assembly, as one who had betraye4 his sovetheir divan, oust have done the same, and yet would ein.e It' any of the memberls of' the Council of not have remained the less absolutely masters of the State had ventured, when tlis sentence rung in tiieir lives of those who stood around theiii. WVe have no ears, to come betwixt the dragon and his wrath, for doubt that Bonaparte, on certain occasions, per- the purpose of stating that a hasty charge ought not nitted his counsellors to take considerable firee- instantly to be followed with immediate censure and doms, and that he sometimes yielded up his opinion pu ishlmsent; that it was possible M. Portalis might to theirs without being convinced - in such cases, at have been irisled by false inforniation, or by a naleast, where his own passions or interest were no tiral desire to screen the offence of his cousin; or, way concerned.+ But we fuirther read of the em- finally, that his conduct might have been influenced peror's using, to extremely stubborn persons, such by views of religion, which, if erroneous, were yet language as plainly intimated that lie would not sincere and conscientious,-we should then have suffer contradiction beyond a certain pOiiit. "You abelieved that the Council of State of Bonaparte are very obstinate," lie said to such a disputant; formed a body, in which the accused citizen might " what if I were to be as muclh so as you? You are receive sonle protection against the despotism of the wrong to push the powerfll to extrelnity-you government. But when, or in what country, could should consider the weakness of llhumanity." To tle freedom of the nation be intrusted to the keeping another he said, after a scene of argumentative of the immediate counsellors of the throne? It can violence, " Pray, pay some attention to accomn- only be safely lodged in some body, the authority of modate yourself a little more to my humour. Yes- which emanates directly from the nation, and whom terday, you carried it so far as to oblige me to scratch the nation therefore will protect and support, in my temple. That is a great sign with rme-take care the existence of their right of opposition or rein feuture not to drive me to such an extremity." nonstrance. Such limits to the fireedom of debate in tile Impe- TIle deliberations of the Council of State, or such rial Council of State, correspond with those laid resolutions as Bonaparte chose to adopt without comrndown in the festive entertainments of Sans-Souci, munication xwith tthem (for it may be easily supposed where the Great Frederick professed to support and that they were not admitted to share his nmore secret encourage every species of familiar raillery, but, political discussions), were, as in other countries, when it attained a point that was too personal, ulsed adjusted with and executed by the ostensible mito hint to the facetious guests, that he heard the nisters. But that part of the organization of the Imperial Sdgurt gives examnple of a rase in which Bonaparte governmlent, upon which Bonaparte most piqued deferred his oiwn opiuion to that of thie Council. A femnale himself, was time establishment of the prefectures of Amsterdam, tried for a capital crime, hadl been twice which certainly gave facilities for the most effectual acquitted by the Imnperial Courts, and the Court Of Appeal agency of despotisn. that was ever exercised. There claimed the right to try her a third time. Bonaparte alone is no mistaking the olbject and tendency of' this arcontended against the whole Council of State, and claimed rangement, since Bonaparte himself, and his most for the poor womlan the immunity which, ill justice, she bitter opponents, hold tip the saime picture, one to ought to have obtained, considering the prejudices that tie adlniation, the otllel to the cemsure, of the must have been excited against hler. He yielded, at length, vorld. These prefects, it must be understood, to the mnajority, but protesting he was silenced an note governor of a departent, convinced. To accounit for his complaisance, it nmay be answering to the old lieutenants and governors of remarked, first, that Bonaparte was no way personally in andwer rig to the old ietenants ad governors of terested in the decision of the question; and, se co unties, andly representing tie Iriperial pe rsin within it concerned him at all, the fate of the feumale was il his the limits of the several prefectures.'I'he individals hands, since he had only to grant her a pardon if she was condemned by the Court of Appeal.; It was the son of the Portalis, above alluded to, who t The same fact is rmentioned in Count Las (Oases's thus incurred the displleasure of Napoleon; that minister! Mnmorial de Ste-Hlhlne. baing dead at the time of this occurrence. Ed. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 413 were carefully selected, as persons whose attachment those who were called to execute public duty would was either to be secured or rewarded. They received have considered their doing so as its own reward."' large and in some cases exorbitant salaries, some The freedom of France was therefore postponed amounting to fifteen, twenty, and even thirty thou- till the return of a Golden Age, when personal sand francs. This heavy expense Napoleon stated aggrandisement and personal wealth should cease to to be the consequence of the depraved state of moral have any influence upon regenerated humanity. In feeling in France, which made it necessary to attach the meanwhile, she had the dictatorship and the men by their interests rather than their duties; but prefects. it was termed by his enemies one of the leading prin- The impzulse, as Napoleon terms it, by which ciples of his government, which treated the public the crown put in action these subordinate agents in good as a chiniera, and erected private and personal the departments, was usually given by means of a interest into the paramount motive upon which alone circular letter or proclamation, communicating the the state was to be served by efficient functionaries. particular measure which government desired to beThe prefects were chosen in the general case, as enforced.'Ihis was subscribed by the minister to men whose birth and condition were totally uncon- whose department the afftir belonged, and connected with that of the department in which each cluded with an injunction upon the prefect, to be was to preside; les depayser, to place them in a active in forwarding the matter enjoined, as he country to which they were strangers, being an valued the favour of the emperor, or wished to show especial point of Napoleon's policy. They were himself' devoted to the interests of the crown. Thus entirely dependent on the will of the emperor, who conjured, the prefect transmitted the order to the removed or cashiered them at pleasure. The ad- sub-prefect and mayors of the communities within his ministration of the departments was intrusted to department, who, stimulated by the same motives these important officers. that had actuated their principal, endearvoured each "With the authority and local resources placed to distinguish himself by his active compliance with at their disposal," said -Bonaparte, " the prefects the will of the emperor, and thus nmerit a favourable were themselves enperors on a limited scale; and report, as the active and unhesitating agent of his as they had no force excepting through the inmpulse pleasure. iWhich they received from the thrlone, as they owed It was the fuirther duty of the prefects, to see that their whole power to their immediate commnission, all honour wais duly pertboried towards the head of and as they had no authority of a personal character, tle state, upon the days appointed for public rethey were of as much use to the clrown as the former joicings, and to remind the municipal authorities of high agents of government, without any of the incon- the necessity of occasional addresses to the governveniences which attached to their predecessors." * Inent,:declaring their admiration of the talents, and It was by means of the prefects, that an impulse, devotion to the person, of' the emperor. T'Ihese given'from the centre of the government, was com- efflsions were duly published in the iloniteur, and, Inunicated without delay to the extremities of the if examined closely, would afford some of the ilmost kingdom, and that the influence of the crown, and the extraordinary specimens of composition wvhich the execution of its commands, were transmitted, as if annals of' flattery can produce. It is sufficient to by magic, though a population- of forty millions. It say, that a niayor, we believe of Amiens, affirmed, appears that Napoleon, while describing with self- in his ecstasy of loyal adoration, that the Deity, after complacency this terrible engine of unlimited power, making Bonaparte, rtmust have reposed, as after the felt that it might not be entirely in unison with the creation of the universe. This, and similar flights opinions of those favourers of' liberal institutions, of rhetoric, may appear both impious and ridiculous, whose sympathy at the close of life he tholtight and it might have been thought that a person of worthy of soliciting. "'My creating that power," he Napoleon's sense and taste would have softened or said, " was on my part a case of necessity. It was suppressed them. But he well knew the influence a dictator, called to that office by force of circum- produced on the public mind, by ringing the chlanges stances. There was a necessity that the filaments to different time on the same unvaried subject. The of the government which extended over the state, ideas which are often repeated in all variety of lanshould be in complete harmony with the key-note guage and expression, will at length produce an which was to influence then. The organization effect on the public nmind, especially if no contradicwhich I had extended over the empire required to tion is permitted to reach it. A uniformll which Irmay be maintained at a high degree of tension, and to look ridiculous on a single individual, has an impospossess a prodigious force of elasticity, to enable it ing effect when worn by a large body of men; and to resist the terrible blows directed against it without the empiric, whose extravagant advertisements twe cessation." t His defence amounts to this. " T.he ridicule upon the first Ferusal, often persuades us, men of my time were extravagantly fond of power, by sheer dint of repeating his own praises, to mnake exuberantly attached to place and wealth. I therefore trial of his medicine. Those who practise caluminy bribed them to become my agents by force of places know, according to the vulgar expression, that if and pensions. But I was educating the succeeding they do but throw dirt sufficient, some parlt of it will race to be influenced by better motives. My son adhere; and acting on the same principle, for a coin, would have been surrounded by youths sensible to trary purpose, Bonaparte was well aware, that the the influence of justice, honour, and virtue.; and repetition of his praises in these adulatory addresses was calculated finally to make ami impression on the ~ Mdsmorial de Ste-Hilbie, vol. VII, p. 29. ination at large, and to obtain a degree of credit as t Ibid. vol. VII, pp. 229-30. an expression of public opinion. 414 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Faber, an author too impassioned to obtain unli- was never seriously adopted or entered upon mited credit, has given several instances ofignorance When, however, the whole system of provinces, amongst the prefects; many of whom, being old ge- districts, and feudal jurisdictions, great and small, nerals, were void of the information necessary for had fallen at the word of the Abb6 Sidyes, like an the exercise of a civil office, and all of whom, hay- enchanted castle at the dissolution of a spell, and ing been, upon principle, nominated to a sphere of ac- their various laws, whether written or consuetudition with the local circumstances of which they were nary, were buried in the ruins, all France, now previously unacquainted, were sufficiently liable united into one single and integral nation, lay open to error. But the same author may be fiully trusted, to receive any legislative code which the National when he'allows that the prefects could not be ac- Assembly might dictate. But the revolutionary,cused of depredation or rapine, and that such of spirit was more fitted to destroy than to establisii, them as improved their fortune during the date of and was more bent upon the pursuit of political obtheir office, did so by econormising upon their legi- jects, than upon affording the nation the protection timate allowances. of just and equal laws. Under the Directory, two Such was the outline of Napoleon's provincial or three attempts towards classification of the laws -administration, and of the agency by which it was had been made in the Council of Five Hundred, but -carried on, without check or hesitation, in every never had gone farther than a preliminary and geprovince of France at the same moment. The ma- neral report. Cambacdres, all excellent lawyer and chinery has been in a great measure retained by the enlightened statesman, was one of the first to solicit royal government, to whom it appeared preferable, the attention of the state to this great and indisdoubtless, to the violent alterations which an at- penrsable duty.'I'he various successive authorities tempt to restore the old appointments, or create had been content with passing such laws as affected others of a different kind, must necessarily have popular subjects of the day, and which (like that occasioned which licensed universal divorce) partook of the exBut a far more important change, introduced by travagance that gave them origin. The project of the emperor, though not originating with him, was Cambacdres, on the contrary, embraced a general the total alteration of the laws of the kingdom of classification of jurisprudence through all its branchFrance, and the introduction of that celebrated code es, although too much tainted, it is said, with the to which Napoleon assigned his name, and oni the prevailing revolutionary opinions of the period, to execution of which his admirers have rested his admit its being taken for a basis, when Bonaparte, c!aim to be considered as a great benefactor to the after his elevation, determined to supersede the country which he governed. Bacon has indeed ill- republican by monarchical forms of government. fbrmned us, that when laws have been heaped upon After the revolution of the 18th Brumaire, Nalaws, in such a state of confusion as to render it ne- poleon saw no way more certain of assuring the cessary to revise them, and collect their spirit into popularity of that event, and connecting his own ana new and intelligible system, those who accom- tflority with the public interests of France, than to plish such an heroic task have a good right to be resume a task which former rulers of the Republic named amongst the legislators and benefactors of had thought too heavy to be undertaken, and thus, mankind. It had been the reproach of France before at once, show a becoming confidence in the stability the Revolution, and it was one of' the great evils of his own power, and a laudable desire of exerciswhich tended to produce that immense and violent ing it for the permanent advantage of the nation. change, that the various provinces, towns, and sub- An order of the consuls, dated 24th Thermnidor, in ordinate divisions of the kingdom, having been the year V1II., directed the minister of justice, united in different periods to the general body of with a committee of lawyers of eminence, to examine the country, had retained in such union the exercise the several projects, four in number, which hlad of their own particular laws and usages; to the been made towards compiling the civil code of naastonishment, as well as to the great annoyance of tional law, to give their opinion on the plan most the traveler, who, in journeying through France, desirable for acconmplishing its formation, and to found that, in many important particulars, the systemn discuss the bases upon which legislation in:ivil and character of the laws to which he was sutb- matters ought to be rested. jected, were altered almost as often as lie changed The preliminary discourse upon the first project his post-horses. It followed from this discrepancy of the civil code is remarkable for the tmanner in of laws and subdivision of jurisdiction, that the which the reporters consider and confute the general greatest hardships were sustained by the subjects, and illllsory views entertained by the uninlbrrled I more especially when, the district being of small part of the public, upon the nature of the task to extent, those authwoities who acted there were likely which they had been called. It is the commlnonl arnd neither to have experience, nor character sufficient v ulgar idea, that the system of legislation may be for exercise of the trust reposed in them. reduced and simplified into a few general mnaxims The evils attending such a state of things had of equity, sufficient to lead any judge of understandbeen long felt, andl, at various periods before the ing and integrity, to a just decision of all questions Revolution, it had been proposed repeatedly to which canpossibly occurbetwixtmanand man. It institute a uniform system of legislation for the whole follows, as a corollary to this proposition, that the kingdom. But so many different interests were various multiplications of authorities, exceptions, compromised, and such were, besides, the press- particular cases, and. especial provisions, which ing occupations of the successive administrations of have been introduced.'hmong civilized nations, by Louis XVL, and his grandfather that the project the address of those of the legal profession, are just LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 4115 so many expedients to embarrass the simple course The French legislative commissioners, with these of justice with arbitrary modifications and refine- views, wisely judged it their duty to produce their ments, in order to procure wealth and consequence civil code, upon such a system as might afford, as to those educated to the law, whose assistance far as possible, protection to the various kinds of must be used as its interpreters, and who became rights known and acknowledged in the existing state rich by serving litigants as guides through the of society. Less than this they could not do; nor, labyrinth of obscurity which had been raised by in our opinion, is their code as yet adequate to atthemselves and their predecessors. tain that principal object. By the implied social Such were the ideas of the law and its professors, contract, an individual surrenders to the community which occurred to the Parliament of Praise-God his right of protecting and avenging himself, under Barebones, when they proposed to Cromwell to the reserved and indispensable condition that the abrogate the whole common law of England, and public law shall defend him, or punish those by dismiss the lawyers, as drones who did but en- whom he has sustained injury. As revenge has beein cumber the national hive. Such was also the opi- said by Bacon to be a species of wild justice, so the nion of many of the French statesmen, who, as rash individual pursuit of justice is often a modified and in judging of jurisprudence as in politics, imagined legitimate pursuit of revenge, which ought, indeed, that a system of maxims, modified on the plan of to be qualified by the moral and religious sentiments the twelve tables of the ancient Romans, might of the party, but to which law is bound to give free serve all the pulrposes of a civil code in modern way, in requital for the bridle which she imposes on. France. They who fiought in this manner had the indulgence of man's natural passions. The course entirely forgotten, how soon the laws of these twelve of litigation, therefore, cannot be stopt; it can only tables became totally insufficient for Rome herself be diminished, by providing before-hand as many -how, in the gradual change of manners, some regulations as will embrace the greater nunmber of laws became obsolete, some inapplicable-how it cases likely to occur, and trusting to the authority of became necessary to provide for emerging cases, the judges acting upon the spirit of the law, for the successively by the decrees of the senate, the or- settlement of such as cannot be decided according dinauces of the people, the edicts of the consuls, to its letter. the regulations of the praetors, the answers or opi- The organization of this great national work was nions of learned jurisconstlts, and finally, by the proceeded in with the caution and deliberation rescripts, edicts, and novels of the emperors, until which the importance of the subject eminently desunch a mass of legislative matter was assembled, as served. Dividing the subjects of legislation accordscarcely the eiborts of''heodosius or Justinian were ing to the usual distinctions of jurisconsults, the adequate to-bring into order, or reduce to principle. commissioners commenced by the publication and -But this, it mnay be said, was the very subject application of the laws in general; passed from that conimplained of. The silmplicitv of the old laws, it preliminary subject to the consideration of personal may be urlged, was gradually corrupted; and hence, rights under all their various relations; then to rights by the tf;l ts of interested men, not by the natural respecting property; and, lastly, to those legal forms progress (iof society, arose the complicated system, of procedure, by which the rights of citizens, whewhich is the obiect of' sch general complaint. ther arising out of personal circumstances, or as'The answer to, this is obvions. So opn,g as society connected wvith prperty, are to be followed forth, remains in a simuple state, men have occasion fbr exllicated, and ascertained. Thus adopting the difew and simple laws. But when that society begins vision, and in some degree the forms, of the Instito be subdivided into ranks; lwhen duties are in- tutes of Justinian, the commission proceeded, accordcurred, and obligations contracted, of' a kind un- ing to the samne model, to consider each subdivision known in a ruder or earlier period, these new con- of this general arrangement, and adopt respecting ditions, new dtities, and new obligations, must be each such maxims or brocards of genleral law, as regulated by new rules and ordlinances, which ac- were to form the future basis of French jurisprucordingly are introduced as fast as they are wanted, deuce. Their general principles being carefully either by the course of long custom, or by precise connected and fixed, tile ingenuity of the cornroislegislative enactment. There is no doubt one species sioners was exerted in deducing from them such a of society in which legislation may be ntichl simrnli- number of corollaries and subordinate nmaxims, as fied; and that is, %where the wvhole law of the might provide, so far as hanuan ingenuity could, for country, with the power of enforcing it, is allowed the infinite number of questions that were likely to reside in the bosom of' the king, or of the judge to emerge on the practical applicafis n of the general who is to administer justice. Such is the system principles to the varied and intricate transactions of of T'urkey, where the cadi is bolund by no laws humlan life. It may be easily'supposed, that a task nor former precedents, save what his conscience so difficult gave rise to much d;scussion among the may discover from perusing the Koran. But so apt commissioners; and as their report, when filly are mankind to abuse unlimited power, and indeed weighed among themselves, was again subjected to so utterly unfit is human nature to possess it, that the Council of State, before it was proposed to the in all countries where the judge is possessed of such Legislative Body. it mulst be allowed, that every arbitrary jurisdiction, he is found accessible to means which could be devised were employed in bribes, or liable to be moved by threats. He has maturely considering and revising the great body of no distinct course prescribed, no beacon on which national law, which finally, under the name of the to direct his vessel, and trims, therefore, his sails Code Napoleon, was adopted by France, and conti- i to the pursuit of his own profit. nues, under the title of the Civil Code, to be the law 416 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. by which her subjects still possess and enforce their gone the same operation of comnpress.ion, and abridgcivil iights. ment, and condensation, to which that of France It would be doing much injustice to Napoleon, to was necessarily subjected, spreads through a multisuppress the great personal interest which, amid so plicity of' volumes, embraces an immense collection many calls up6n his time, lie nevertheless took in of precedents, and, to the eye of inexperience, the labours of tile commission. He frequently at- seems, in comparison of the compact size and regittended their mIeetings, or those of the Council of lar form of the French code, a labyrinth to which State, in which their labours underwent revision; no clue is afforded. It is of the greater importance and, though lie rmust be supposed entirely ignorant to give this subject some consideration, because it of the complicated system of jurisprudence as a has of late been fashionable to draw conlparisons science, yet his acute, calculating, and argument- between the jurisprudence of England and that of' ative mind enabled him, by the broad views of go. France, and even to urge the necessity of new-monius and good sense, often to get rid of those subtle- deling the former upon such a concise and systemties by which professional persons are occasionally atic plan as the latter exhibits. enmbarrassed; and to treat as cobwebs difficulties of In arguing this point, we suppose it will be granted, a technical or metaplysical character, which, to that that code of institutions is the most perfect, the jurisconsults, had the appearance of bonds and which Ymost effectually provides for every difficult fetters. case as it emerges, and therefore averts as far as posThere were times, however, on the other hand, sible the occurrence of doubt, and, of course, of when Napoleon was led, by the obvious and vulgar litigation, by giving the most accurate and certain views of a question, to propose alterations which interpretation to the general rule, when applied to would have been fatal to the administration of jus- cases as they arise. Now, in this point, which tice, and tile gradual enlargement and improvement comprehends the very essence and end of all jurisof municipal law. Such was his idea, that advo- prudence,-the protection, namely, of the rights of cates and solicitors ought only to be paid in the the individual,-the English law is preferable to the event of the cause being decided in favour of their French in an incalculable degree; because each client; a regulation which, had he ever adopted it, principle of English law has been the subject of' would have gone far to close the gates of justice; illustration for many ages, by the most learned and since, what practitioner would have forfeited at wise judges, acting upon pleadings conducted by once one large portion of the means of Ihis exis- the most acute and ingenious men of'each successive fence, and consented to rest the other upon the age. This current of legal judgments has been uncertainty of' a gambling transaction? A lawyer flowing for centuries, deciding, as they occurred, is no inmore answerable for not gaining his cause, every question of doubt which could arise upon the than a horse-jockey for not winning the race. Nei- application of general principlles to particular cirther can foretel with any certainty the event of the cumstances; and each individual case. so decided, struggle, and each, in justice, can only be held tills up some point which was previously disputable, liable for the utmost exertion of his skill and abili- and, becoming a rule for similar questions, tends to ties. Napoleon was not aware, that litigation is not that extent to diminish the debateable ground of to be checked by preventing law-suits from coming doubt and argument with which the law must be into court, but by a systematic and sage course of surrounded, like an unknown territory, when it is trying and deciding points of importance, which, first partially discovered. being once settled betwixt two litigants, cannot, in It is not the fault of the French jurisconsults, tllat the sanie shape, or under the same circumstances, they did not possess the mass of legal authority be again the subject of dispute among others. arising out of a regular course of decisions by a long The Civil Code of Naipoleon is accompanied by a succession of judges coinpetent to the task, and code of procedure in civil cases, and a code relating proceeding, not upon hypothetical cases supposed to conmmnercial affairs, which may be regarded as by themselves, and sbltject only to the investigation supplemental to the main body of municipal law. of their own minds, but upon such as then actually There is, besides, a Penal Code, and a code re- occurred in practice, and had been fully canvassed specting the procedl e against persons accused uinder and argued in open court. The Freuch lawyers had it. The whole brons a grand system of jurispru- not the advantage lof referring to such a traiil of dedence, drawn up by the most enlightened men of cisions; each settling some new point, or ascertainthe age, having access to all the materials which ing and confirming sonicme one which had been consithe past and the present tiiimes afford; and it is not dered as questionable. By the Revolutiton the ancient surprising that it should have been received as a French courlts had been destroyed, together with their great hoon by a nation, who, in sonie sense, may I records; their proceedings only served as matter of he said, previous to its establishment, to have been history or tradition, but couldi not he quioted in supwNithliumt ally fixed or certain municipal law since the port or explanation of a code which had no existence date of the Revolution. until after their destruction. The comnnmissioners But, while we admit the full merit of the Civil endeavoured, we have seen, to supply this defect Code of France, Nwe are tnder the necessity of oh- ii their system, by drawing: from their general rules serving, that the very symmetry and theoretical such a number of corollary spropositions, as might consistency, which form at first view its principal so far as possible serve for their application to spe- i beauty, render it, when examined closely, less fit cial and particular cases. But rules, founded in foi the actual purposes of jurisprudence, than a imaginary cases, can never have the same weight system of nationtal law, which, having never under- with precedents emerging in actual practice, where LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 417 the previous exertions of the lawyers have put the an immense store of comnnodities, which those accase in every possible light, and where the judge quainted with its recesses seldom fail to be able to comes to the decision, not as the theorist, whose produce to such as have occasion for them. The opinion relates only to an ideal hypothesis of his practiques, or adjudged cases, in fact form a breakown mind, but as the solemn arbiter of justice be- water, as it were, to protect the more formal bultwixt man and man, after having attended to, and wark of the statute law; and although they cannot profited by, the collision and conflict of opposite be regularly jointed or dovetailed togetherl; each inopinions, urged by those best qualified to state and dependent decision fills its space on the mound, anld to illustrate them. The value of such discussion is offers a degree of resistance to innovation, and prowell known to all who have experience of courts of tection to the law, in proportion to its own weight justice, where it is never thought surprising to hear and importance. the wisest judge confess that he came into court The certainty of the English jurisprudence (for, with a view of the case at issue wholly different in spite of the ordinary opinion to the contrary, it from that which he was induced to form after having has acquired a comparative degree of certainty) given the requisite attention to the debate before him; rests upon the multitude of its decisions. The views But this is an advantage which can never be gained, which a man is disposed to entertain of his own unless in the discussion of a real case; and there- rights, under the general provisions of the law, are fore the opinion of a judge, given totc re cognita, usually controled by some previous decision on the must always be a snore valuable precedent, than case; and a reference to precedents, furnished by that which the same learned individual could form a person of skill, saves, in most instances, the exupon an abstract and hypothetical question. pense and trouble of a law-suit, which is thus stifled It is, besides, to be considered, that the most in its very birth. If we are rightly informed, the fertile ingenuity with which any legislator can be number of actions at common law, tried in England endued is limite(l within certain bounds; and that yearly, does not exceed betwixt five-and-twenty when he has racked his brain to provide for all the and thirty, on an average, from each county; an inideal cases which his prolific imagination can supply, credibly small number, when the wealth of the it will be found that he has not anticipated or pro- kingdom is considered, as well as the various and vided for the hundredth part of the questions which complicated transactions incident to the advanced are sure to occur iln actual practice. To make a and artificial state of society in which we live. practical application of' what we have stated, to the But we regard the multitude, of precedents in relative jurisprudence of France and England, it English law as eminently favourable, not only to may be remarked, that the Title V. of the 1st Book the certainty of the law, but to the liberty of the of the Civil Code, upon the subject of marriage, subject; and especially as a check upon any judge, contains only one hundred and sixty-one proposi- who might be disposed to innovate either upon the tions respecting the rights of parties, arising in dif- rights or liberties of the lieges. If a general theoferent circumstances out of that contract, the most retical maxim of law be presented to an. unconimportant known in civilized society. If we deduce scientious or partial judge, he may feel himself at from this gross amount the great number of rules liberty, by exerting his ingenuity, to warp the right which are not doctrinal, but have only reference to cause the wrong way. But if he is bound down by the forms of procedure, the result will be greatly the decisions of his wise and learned predecessors, diminished. Tile English law, on the other hand, that judge would be venturous indeed, who should besides its legislative enactments, is guarded, as attempt to tread a different aad more devious path, appears from Roper's Index, by no less than a thou- than that which is marked by the venerable traces sand decided cases, or precedents, each of' which of their footsteps; especially, as he well knows that affords ground to rule any other case in similar cir- the professional persons around him, who might be cumstances. In this view, the certainty of the law blinded by the glare of his ingenuity in merely of' England, compared to that of France, bears the theoretical argument, are perfectly capable of obhproportion of ten to one. serving and condemning every departure from preIt is, therefore, a vulgar, though a natural and cedent.* In such a case he becomes sensible, that, pleasing error, to prefer the simplicity of an inge- fettered as he is by pr vious decisions, the law is in nious and philosophic code of jurisprudence, to a his hands, to be administered indeed, but not to be system which has grown tp with a nation, aug- altered or tampered with; and that if the evidence mented with its wants, extended according to its be read in the court, there are and must be many civilization, and only become cumbrous and com- present, who know as well as himself, what must, plicated, because the state of society to wvhici jm according to precedent, be the verdict, or the deciapplies has itself given rise to a complication of re- sion. These are considerations which never can lative situations, to all of which the law is under restrain or fetter a judge, who is only called upon the necessity of adapting itself. In this point of to give his own explanation of the general principle view, the Code of' France may be compared to a briefly expressed in a short code, and susceptible warehouse built with much attention to architec- therefore of a variety of interpretations, from which tural uniformity, showy in the exterior, and pleas- he may at pleasure select that which may be most ing from the simplicity of its plan, but too small to * The intelligent reader will easily be aware, that we hold the quantity of goods necessary to supply the mean not to say that every decision of their predecessors public demand; while the Common Law of Eng- is necessarily binding on the judges of the day. Laws land resembles the vaults of some huge Gothic build- themselves become obsolete, and so do the decisions whiob ing, dark indeed, and ill arranged, but containing have maintained and enforced them. vOL. vI. _ 418 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. favourable to his unconscientious or partial pur- greatest difference with respect to its laws, and poses. that a system may work well in France, and.answer It follows, also, from the paucity of laws afforded all the purposes of jurisprudence, which in England by a code constructed not by the growth of time, would be thought very-inadequate to the purpose. but suggested by the ingenuity of theorists suddenly The humane institution which allows the accused called to the task, and, considering its immense im- the benefit of counsel, is a privilege which the Engportance, executing it in haste, that many provi- lish law does not permit to the accused, and may sions, most important for the exercise of justice, have its own weight in counterbalancing some oltlhe must, of course, be neglected in the French code. inconveniences to which he is subjected in France. For example, the whole law of evidence, the very It seems also probable, that the deficiencies in the key and corner-stone of justice between man and code, arising from its recent origin and compressed man, has been strangely overlooked in the French form, must be gradually remedied as in England, by jurisprudence. It is plain, that litigation may pro- the course of decisions pronounced by intelligent ceed for ever, unless there be some previous adjust- and learned judges; and. that what we now state as ment (called technically an issue) betwixt the par- an objection to the system will gradually disappear ties, at the sight of the judge, tending to ascertain under the influence of time. their averments in point of fact, as also the re- Considered as a production of human science, levancy of those averments to the determination of and a manual of legislative sagacity, tile code may the cause. In England, chiefly during the course challenge general admiration for the clear and wise of last century, the law of evidence has grown up manner in which the axioms are drawn up and exto a degree of perfection, which has tended, perhaps pressed. There are but few peculiarities making a more than any other cause, at once to prevent and difference betwixt its principles and those of the to shorten litigation. If we pass from the civil to Roman law, which has in most contracts claimed to the penal mode of procedure in France, the British be considered as the mother of judicial regulation. lawyer is yet'more shocked by a course, which The most remarkable occurs, perhaps, in the articles seems in his view totally to invert and confound regulating what is called tile Family Council; a every idea which he has received upon the law of subject which does not seem of importance sufficient evidence. Our law, it is well known, is in nothing to claim much attention. so scrupulous as in any conduct towards the prisoner, The Civil Code being thus ascertained, provision which may have the most indirect tendency to was made for its regular administration by suitable entrap him into bearing evidence against himself. courts; the judges of which did not, as before the Law sympathizes in such a case with the frailties Revolution, depend for their emoluments upon fees of humanity, and, aware of the consequence which payable by the litigants, but were compensated by judicial inquiries must always have on the mind of suitable salaries at the expense of the public. As the timid and ignorant, never pushes the examina- France does not supply that class of persons w:ho tion of a suspected person farther than he himself, form what is called in England the unpaid magisin the natural hope of giving such an account of tracy, the French justices of peace received a small himself as may procure his liberty, shall chuse to salary of from 800 to 1800 francs. Above them in reply to it. rank came judges in the first instance, whose salaries In France, on the contrary, the whole trial some- amounted to 3000 firancs at the utmost. The judges times resolves into a continued examination and of the supreme tribunals enjoyed about ftur or five cross-examination of the prisoner, who is not only thousand francs; and those of the High Court of under the necessity of giving his original statement of Cassatidn had not more than ten thousand francs, the circumstances on which he founds his defence, but which scarcely enabled them to live and keep some is confronted repeatedly with the witnesses, and re- rank in the metiropolis. But, though thus underpaid, peatedly required to reconcile his own statement of the situation of the French judges was honourable the case with that which these have averred. With Iin the eyes of the country, and they maintained its respect to the character of evidence, the same loose- character by activity and impartiality in their judiness of practice exists. No distinction seems to be cial functions. made between that which is hearsay and that which The system of juries had been introduced in is direct; that which is spontaneously given, and that criminal cases, by the acclamation of the Assembly. which is extracted, or perhaps suggested, by lead- Bonaparte found them, however, scrupulously resing questions. All this is contrary to what we are tive and troublesome. There may be some truth in taught to consider as the essence of justice towards the charge, that they were averse from conviction, the accused. The use of the rack is, indeed, no i where a loophole remained for acquitting the crilonger admitted to extort the confession, but the! minal; and that many audacious crimes remained mode of judicial examination seems to us a species unpunished, from the punctilious view which the of moral torture, under which a timid and ignorant, juries took of their duty. But it was from other though innocent man, is very likely to be involved motives than those of the public weal that Napoleon in such contradictions and inextricable confusion, 1 made an early use of his power, for the purpose of that he may be under the necessity of throwing forming special tribunals, invested with a half-miliaway his life by not knowing how to frame his tary character, to try all such crimes as assumed a defence. | political complexion, with power to condemn withWe shall not protract thece remarks on the Code out the suffrage of a jury. We have already alluded Napoleon; the rather that we must frankly confess, to this infringement of the mlost valuable political that the manners and customs of a country make the rights of the subject, in giving some account of the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 419 trials of Georges, Pichegra, and Moreau. No jury with the extensive and beneficial contracts for the would ever have brought in a verdict against the equipment and supply of Napoleotn-r large armies, latter, whose sole crime was his communication with with all the numerous and influential persons upon Pichegru; a point of suspicion certainly, but no whom any part of the gathering in or expenditure of proof' whatever of positive guilt. Political causes the public money devolved, were necessari~, debeing out of the field, the trial by jury was retained voted to a government, under which, in spite of the in the French code, so far as regarded criminal emperor's vigilance, immense profits were often dequestions; and the general administration of justice sived, even after those by whom they were made seems to have been very well calculated ftr pro- had rendered to the ministers, or perhaps the tecting the right, and punishing that which is wrong. generals, by whom they were protected, a due porThe fiscal operations of Bonaparte were those tion of the spoil. Economist and calculator as lihe of which the subjects complained tile most, as in- was, to a most superior degree of excellence, Napodeed these are generally the grievance to which the leon seems to have been utterly unable, if he really people in every country are the most sensible. - High sincerely desired, to put an end to the peculations of taxes were imposed on the French people, rendered those whom he trusted with powver. Ife frequently, necessary by the expenses of the gove-rnment, during his conversations at St Helena, alludes to the which, with all its accompaniments, were very con- venality and coriuption of such as he employed in siderable; and although Bonaparte did all in his the highest offices, but whose sordid practices seem power to throw the charge of the eternal wars which never to have occurred to him in the way of objeclie waged upon the countries which he overran or tion to his making use of their talents. Fouch6, subdued, yet so far does the waste of war exceed Talleyrand, and others, are thus stigmatized; and any emolument which the armed hand can wrest as we' well know how long, and upon how many from the sufferers, so imperfect a proportion do different occasions, he employed those statesmen, the gains of the victor bear to the losses of the van- we cannot but suppose that whatever may have quished, that after all the revenue which was de- been his sentiments as to the men, he was perfectly rived from foreign countries, the continual campaigns willing to compound with their peculation, in order of the emperor proved a constant and severe drain to have the advantage of their abilities. Even when upon the produce of French industry. So rich, practices of this kind were too gross to be passed however, is the soil of France, such is the extent of over, Napoleon's mode of censuring and repressing her resources, such the patience and activity of her them was not adapted to show a pure sense of morinhabitants, that she is qualified, if not to produce ality on his own part, or any desire to use extraorat once the large capitals which England can raise dinary rigour in preventing them in fixture. This upon her national credit, yet to support the payment conclusion we form from the following anecdote, of a train of heavy annual imposts for a much longer which he communicated to Las Cases:period, and with less practical inconvenience. The Speaking of generals, and praising the disinteagriculture of France had been extremely improved restedness of some, he adds, Mass6na, Augereau, since the breaking up of the great estates into Brune, and others, were undaunted depredators. smaller portions, and the abrogation of those feudal Upon one occasion, the rapacity of the first of these burdens which had pressed upon the cultivators; generals had exceeded the patience of the emperor. and it might be considered as flourishing, in spite His mode of punishing him was peculiar. He did of war taxes, and, what was worse, the conscription not dispossess him of the command, of which he had itself. Under a fixed and secure, though a severe rendered himselfunworthy by such an unsoldier-like and despotic government property was protected, vice-he did not strip the depredator by judicial and agriculture received the best encouragement, sentence of his ill-won gains, and restore them to namely, the certainty conferred on the cultivator of those from whom they were plundered —but, in reaping the crop which he had sowed. order to make the general sensible that he had proIt was far otherwise with commerce, which the ceeded too far, Bonaparte drew a bill upon the mlaritime war, carried on so long and with such un- banker of the delinquent, for the sum of two or mitigated severity, had very much injured, and the three million of francs, to be placed to Mass6na's utter destruction of whichwas in a manner perfected debit and the credit of the drawer. Great was the by Bonaparte's adherence to the continental sys- embarrassment of the banker, who dared not refuse tenal. This, indeed, was the instrument by which in the Imperial order, while he humbly hesitated, thlat them long run he. hoped to ruin the commerce of his he could not safely honour it without the authority rival, but the whole weight of which fell in the first of his principal. " Pay the money," was the emi!hstance on that of France, whose seaports showed peror's reply, " and let Mass6na refuse to give you no other shipping save coasters and fishing-vessels; credit at his peril." The money was paid accordwhile the trade of Marseilles, Bordeaux, Nantes, ingly, and placed to that general's debit, without and other great commercial towns, had in a great his venturing to start any objections. This was not measure ceased to exist. The government of the punishing peculation, but partaking in its gains; and emperor was proportionally unpopular in those the spirit of the transaction approached nearly to cities; and although men kept silence, because that described by Le Sage, where the Spanish misurrounded by the spies of a jealous and watchful nister of state insists on sharing the bribes given to despotism, their dislike to the existing state of his secretary. things could not entirely be concealed. Junot, in like manner, who, upon his return from On the rother hand, capitalists, who had sums in- Portugal, gave general scandal by the display of vested in the public funds, or who were concerned diamonds, and other wealth, which he had acquired 420 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. in that oppressed country, received from Bonaparte of its productions by such substitutes as France a friendly hint to be more cautions in such exhibi- could furnish. Hence, the factitious encouragement tions. But his acknowledged rapacity was never given to the French manufactures, not by tile natural thought of as a reason disqualifying him for being demand of the country, but by the bounties atld propresently afterwards sent to the government of hibitions by which they were guarded. IHence, the Illyria. desperate efforts made to produce a species of sugar We are informed in another of the emperor's from various substances, especially fiom the beetcommunications, that his Council of State was of root. To this unnatural and unthrifty experiment, admirable use to him in the severe inquisition Bonaparte used to attach so much consequence, which he was desirous of making into the public that a piece of the new composition, which, swith accounts. The proceedings of this Star Chamber, much time and trouble, had been made to approxiand the fear of being transmitted to the cognition of mate the quality of ordinary loaf-sugar, was prethe grand judge, usually brought the culprits to cor- served in a glass-case over the Imperial lmantelposition; and when they had disgorged one, two, or piece; and a pound or two of beet-sugar, highly three millions,' the government was enriched, or, refined, was sent to foreign courts to illustrate the according to Bonaparte's ideas, the laws were sa- means by which Napoleon consoled his subjects for tisfied. The truth seems to be, that Bonaparte, the evils incumbent on the continental system. No though he contenned wealth in his own person, was way of flattering or gratifying the emperor was so aware that avarice, which, after all, is but a se- certain, as to appear eager in supporting these views; condary and sordid species of ambition, is the most and it is said, that one of his generals, when tottering powerful motive to mean and vulgar minds; and he in the Imperial good graces, regained the favour of willingly advanced gold to those who chose to prey his master, by planting the whole of a considerable upon it, so long as their efforts facilitated his pos- estate with beet-root. In these, and on similar ocsessing and retaining the unlimited authority to casions, Napoleon, in his eager desire to produce which he had reached. In a country where distress the commodity desiderated, became regardless of and disaster of every kind, public and private, had those considerations which a manufacturer first asenabled many to raise large fortunes by brokerage certains- when about to commence his operations, and agiotage, a monied interest ofa peculiar charac- namely, the expense at which the article can be ter was soon fobrmed, whose hopes were of course produced, the price at which it can be disposed of, rested on the wonderfill ruler, by whose gigantic and its fitness for the market which it is intended ambition new schemes of speculation were opened to supply. The various encouragements given to in constant succession, and whose unrivaled talents the cotton manufacturers, and others, in France, by seemed to have found the art of crowning the most which it was designed to supply the want of British difficult undertakings with success. goods, proceeded upon a system equally illiberal and It might be thought that the manufacturing interest impolitic. Still, however, the expensive bounties, must have perished in France, from the same rea- and forced sales, which the influence of government sons which so strongly and unfavourably afflicted afforded, enabled these manufacturers to proceed, the commerce of that country. In ceasing to import, and furnished employment to a certain number of there must indeed have been a corresponding dimi- men, who were naturally grateful for the protection nation of the demand for goods to be exported, which they received fiomn the emperor.' In the whether these were the growth of the soil, or the same manner, although no artificial jet-d'eau, upon productions of French labour. Accordingly, this the grandest scale of expense, can so much refresh result had in a great degree taken place, and there the face of nature, as the gentle and general inflawas a decrease to a large amount in those goods ence of a natural shower, tihe former will neverthewhich the French were accustomed to export in less have the effect of feeding and nourishing such exchange for the various commodities supplied to vegetable productions as are within the reach of its them by British trade. But through the real and le- limited influence. It was thus, that the efforts of gitimate stimulus to manufactures had thus ceased, Napoleon, at encouraging arts and manufactures, Napoleon had substituted an artificial one, which though proceeding on mistaken principles, produchad, to a certain extent, supplied the place of the ed, in the first instance, results apparently henlenatural trade. We must remark, that Napoleon, ficial. practically and personally frugal, was totally a WVe have already' had occasion to observe stranger to the science of political economy. Hie the immense public works which were uncdernever received or acted upon the idea, that a liberal taken at the expense of Bonaparte's government. system of commerce operates most widely in dif- Teniples, bridges, and aqueducts, are, indeed, the fusing the productions which are usually the sub- coin with which arbitrary princes, in all ages, jects of exchange, and in affording to every country have endeavoured to compensate for the liberty the greatest share of the bounties of nature, or the of which the people are deprived. Such monuproduce of industry at the easiest rates. On the ments are popular with the citizens, because contrary, he had proceeded to act against the cotn- the enjoyment of them is common to all, and the merce of England, as, in a military capacity, he monarch is partial to a style of expenditure promis. would have done in regard to the water which sup- ing more plausibly than any other, to extend thle plied a besieged city. He strove to cut it off, and memory of his, p-resent greatness far into the bosom altogether to destroy it, and to supply the absence of futurity. Bonaparte was not, and could not be, insensible to either of these motives. His mind was Mdmorialde Ste-Hdlene, vol. II, p. 351. too much enlarged to seek enjoyment in any-of the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 421 ordinary objects of exclusive gratification; and i this profuse expense went to the mere purposes of undoubtedly, he who had done so much to dis- vain-glory; for more mischief would have been done tinguish himself during his life above ordinary to British commerce, which Bonaparte knew wvell mortals, must have naturally desired that his public was the assailable point, by six privateers from works should preserve his flame to future ages. Dunkirk, than by all the ships of the line which he Accordingly, le undertook and executed some of could build at the new and most expensive dockthe most splendid labours of modern times. The yard of Antwerp, with Brest and Toulon to boot. road over the Simplon, and the basins at Antwerp, In such cases as these, Napoleon did, in a most may benalways appealed to as gigantic specimens of efficient manner, that which he ridiculed the Dihis public spirit. rectory for being unable to do-he wrought on the ()r the other hand, as we have before hinted, inmagination of the French nation, which indeed had Napoleon sometimes aimed at producing immediate been alleady so dazzled by the extraordinary things effect, by proposals and plans hastily adopted, as he had accomplished, that, had he promised them hastily decreed, and given in full form to the govern- still greater prodigies than were implied in the nlagiment journal; blt nhich were either abandoned nificent works which he directed to be founded, irnmmediately after having been commenced, or per- they might still have been justified in expecting the haps never advanced farther than the plan announced performance of his predictions. And it must be in the Moniteur. Bonaparte's habits of activity, his admitted, looking around the city of Paris, and powers of deciding with a single glance upon most traveling through the provinces of France, that points of either military or civil engineering, were Bonaparte has, in the works of peaceful grandeur, liberally drawn upon to strike his subjects with left a stamp of magnificence, not unworthy of the wonder and admiration. During the few peaceful soaring and at the same time profound spirit, which intervals of his reign, his impatience of inaction found accomplished so many wonders in warfare. amusement in traversing, with great rapidity, and The personal and family life of Napoleon was often on the shortest notice, the various departments skilfully adapted to his pre-eminent station. If he in France. Traveling with incredible celerity, had foibles connected with pleasure and passion, though usually accompanied by the Empress Jos6- they were so carefully veiled as to remain unknown phine, he had no sooner visited any town of conse- to the world-at least, they were not manifested by quence, than he threw himself on horseback, and, any of those weaknesses which might serve to lower followed only by his aide-de-camp and his Malne- the emperor to the stamp of co)mnion men. His conluke Roustan, who with difficulty kept him in view, he duct towards the Empress Jos6phine was regular took a flying survey of the place, its capacities of and exemplary. From their accession to grandeur improvement, or the inconveniences which attached till the fatal divorce, as Napoleon once termed it, to it. With this local knowledge, thus rapidly ac- they shared the privacy of the same apartment, and quired, he gave audience to the municipal authorities, for many years partook the same bed. Josdphine is and overwhelmed them very often with liberal and said, indeed, to have given her husband, upon long details concerning the place round which he whom she had many claims, some annoyance by her had galloped for the first time, but in which they jealousy, to which he patiently submitted, and eshad spent their days. Amazement at the extent and caped the reproach thrown on so many heroes and facility of the emlperor's powers of observation was men of genius, that, proof to everything else, they thus universally excited, and his hints were record- are not so against the allurements of' femlale seduc-. ed in the Mloniteur, for the admiration of France. tion. VWhat amours he had were of a passing chaSome public work, solicited by the municipality, or racter. No woman, excepting Josephine and her suggested by the enlightened benevolence of the successor, who exercised their lawfuil and rightful empleror himself, was then projected, but which, influence, was ever known to possess any power in many, if not most cases, remained unexecuted; over him. the imperial funds not being in all circumstances ade- The dignity of his throne was splendidly and magquate to the splendour of Napoleon's undertakings, nificently maintained, but the expense was still or, which was the more frequent case, sonue new limited by that love of order which arose out of absorbing war, or project of ambition, occasioning Bonaparte's powers of arithmetical calculation haevery other object of expenditure to be postponed. bitually and constantly employed, and the trusting Even if some of Bonaparte's niost magnificent to which, contributed, it may be, to that external works of public splendour had beets completed, regularity and decorumii which he always supported. there is room to doubt whether they would have In speaking of his own peculiar taste, Bonaparte said been attended with real advantage to his power, that his l:avourite work was a book of logarithns, bearing the least proportion to the. influence which and his choicest amusement was working out the their grandeur necessarily produces upon the ima- problems. The individual to whom the emperor gination.'Ve look with admiration, and even with j made this singular avowal mentioned it with sur-prise astonishment, on the splendid dock-yards of the to an officer near his person, who assured him, that Scheldt; but had they been accomplished, what not only did Napoleon amuse himself with arithnieavailed the building of first-rates, which France tical ciphers, and'the theory of computation, but could' hardly find sailors to man; which, being that lie fiequently brought it to hear on his domestic manned, dared not venture out of the river; or, expenses, and diverted himself with comparing the hazarding themselves l)uponl the ocean, were sure to price at which particular articles were charged to become the prizes of the first British men-of-war him, wvithl thle rate which they ought to have cost at with whom they chanced to cicounter? Almost all the fair ilarket price, but which, for reasons unne 42 4X LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. cessary to state, was in general greatly exceeded. occasions. It was, indeed, a subject of complaint Las Cases mentions his detecting such an overcharge amongst the servants of the crown, that though in the gold fringe which adorned one of his state Bonaparte was in many respects attentive to their apartulents. A still more curious anecdote respects interests, gave them opp)ortunities of acquiring a watch which the most eminent artist in Paris had wealth, invested them with large dotations and enorders to finish with his utmost skill, in a style which dowments, and frequently assisted thenl with an mnight become a gift from the Emperor of France to influence not easily withstood in the accomplishmlent his brother the King of Spain. Before the watch of advantageous marliages; yet still the great exwas out of the artist's hands, Napoleon received penditure at which they were required to support news of the battle of Vittoria. " All is now over their appearance at the imperial court, prevented with Joseph," were almost his first words after re- their realizing any fortune which could provide ceiving the intelligence. " Send to countermand the effectually for their family. This expense Bonaparte order for the watch." * loved to represent, as a tax which he made his courProperly considered, this anecdote indicates no tiers pay to support the manufactures of France; indifference as to his brother's fate, nor anxiety about but it was extended so far as to show plainly, that, saving a petty sum; it was the rigid calculation of a determined as he was to establish his nobility on professed accountant, whose habits of accuracy in- such a scale as to grace his court, it was far firom duced him to bring every loss to a distinct balance, being his purpose to permit them to assume any real however trivial the off-set may be. But although the power, or to form an existing and influential barrier emperor's economy descended to minute trifles, we between the crlown. and the people. The same inare not to suppose that among such was its natural ference is to be drawn from the law of France consphere. On the contrary, in the first year of the cerning succession in landed property, which is in consulate, he discovered and rectified an error in ordinary cases eqlally divided amongst the children the statement of the revenue, to the amount of no of the deceased; a circumstance which must effecless than two millions of fiancs, to the prejudice of tually prevent the rise of great hereditary influence. the state. In another instance, with the skill which And although, for the support of dignities granted only a natural taste for calculation brought to ex- by the c'own, and in some other cases. an entail of cellence by constant practice could have attained, a portion of the ftavoured person's estate, called a he discovered an enormous overcharge of more than majorat, is permitted to follow the title, yet the sixty thousand francs in the pay-accounts of the proportion is so small as to give no considerable garrison of Paris. Two such discoveries, by the;weight to those upon whoum it devolves. head magistrate, must have gone far to secure regu- The composition of Bonaparte's court was singular. larity in the departments in which they were made, Amid his military dukes and marshals were einin future. gled many descendants of the old noblesse, who had Attending to this remarkable peculiarity throws been struck out of the lists of emigration. On these' much light on the character of Bonaparte. It was Bonaparte spread the cruel reproach, "I offered by dint of his rapid and powerful combinations that them rank in my army-they declined the service; he succeeded as a general; and the same laws of -I opened my ante-chambers to them —they rushed calculation can be traced through much of his public in and filled them." In this tile emlperor did' not do and private life. justice to the ancient noblesse of France. A great The palace charges, and ordinary expenses of the many resunmed their natural situation in the military emperor, were completely and accurately regulated ranks of their country, and a still greater number by his imperial majesty's own calculation. He boast- declined, in any capacity, to bend the knee to him, ed to have so simplified the expenditure of the an- whom they could only consider as a successful cient kings of France, that his hunting-establishment, usurper. though maintained in the utmost splendour, cost a The ceremonial of the Tuileries was upon the most considerable sum less than that of the BIourbons. splendid scale, the public festivals were held with But it must be recollected, first, that Napoleon was the utmost magnificence, and the etiquette was of free from the obligation which subjected the Bour- the most strict and indefeasible character. To all bons to the extravagant expenses which attended this Bonaparte himself attached consequence, as the high appointments of their household; secondly, ceremonies characterizing the spirit and dignity of that under the imperial government, the whole esta- his government; and he hafd drilled even his own blishment of falconry was abolished; a sport which mind into a veneration for all those outward forms is, in the opinion of many, more strikingly picturesque connected with royalty, as accurately as if they had and interesting than any other variety of the chase; been during his whole life the special subject of his and which, as it infers a royal expense, belongs pro- attention. There is a curious example given by perly to sovereign princes. Monsieur Las Cases. Bonaparte, in good-hlluloured The imperial court was distinguished not only by trifling, had given his follower the titles of your a severe etiquette, but the grandees, by whom its highness, your lordship, and so forth, amidst which principal duties were discharged, were given to it occurred to him, in a fit of abstraction, to use the understand, that the utmost magnificence of dress phrase, "Yolr Majesty." The instant that the worl, and equipage was require(d firom them upon public sacred to his own ears, had escaped him, the hulmour of frolic was enided, and he resumed a serious + The watch, half conmpleted, remained in fthe hands tone, with the air of o1.e who feels that he has let of the artist, anlld is now the property of the D])ke of gWel- his pleasantry trespass upon an unbecoming and lilgton. almost hlalloNed sublject, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 423 There were many of Bonaparte's friends and fol- in the article of expense led to an incident which lowers, bred, like himself, under the influence of reminds us of an anecdote in the history of somete the Revolution, who doubted the policy of his en- oriental sultan. A creditor of the empress, become tering into such a strain of inmitation of the ancient desperate from delay, stopped the Imperial caleche, courts of Europe, and of his appearing anxious to in which the emperor was leaving St-Cloud, with emulate them in the only points in which he must Josephine by his side, and presented his account, necessarily fail, antiquity and long observance giving with a request of payment. Bonaparte did as Salato ancient usages an effect upon the imagination, din would have done in similar circumstances-he which could not possibly attach to the same cere- forgave the man's boldness, in consideration of the mnonial introduced into a court of yesterday. These justice of his claim, and caused the debt to be irnwould willingly have seen the dignity of their mas- mediately settled. In fact, while blaming the exter's court rested upon its real and pre-eminent im- pense and irregularity which occasioned such deportance, and would have desired, that though re- mands, his sense of justice, and his family affection, publican principles were abandoned, something of equally inclined him to satisfy the creditor. the severe and manly simplicity of republican man- The same love of order, as a ruling principle of ners should have continued to characterize a throne his government, must have rendered Bonaparte a whose site rested upon the Revolution.' The cour- severe censor of all public breaches of the decencies tiers who held such opinions were at liberty to draw of society. Public morals are in themselves the acconsolation from the personal appearance and habits complishment and fulfilment of all laws; they alone of Napoleon. Amid the gleam of embroidery, of constitute a national code. Accordingly, the manorders, decorations, and all that the etiquette of a ners of the imperial court were under such regulation court demands to render ceremonial at once accurate as to escape public scandal, if they were not beyond and splendid, the person of the emperor was to be secret suspicion.? In the same manner, ganmbliDg, distinguished by his extreme simplicity of dress and the natural and favourite vice of a court, was not deportment. A plain uniform, with a hat having no practised in that of Bonaparte, who discountenanced other ornament than a small three-coloured cockade, high play by every means'in his power. But lie sufwas the dress of him' who bestowed all these gor- fered it to be licensed to an immense and frightful geous decorations, and in honour of whoin these extent, by the minister of his police; nor can we give costly robes of ceremonial had been exhibited. Per- him the least credit when he affirms, that the gamhaps Napoleon might be of opinion, that a person bling-houses, which paid such immense rents to under the common size, and in his latter days some- Fouch6, existed without his knowledge. Napoleon's what corpulent, was unfit for the display of rich own assertion cannot make us believe that he was dresses; or it is more likely he desired to intimate, ignorant of the principal source of revenue which that although he exacted from others the strict ob- supported his police. He compounded, on this as on servance of etiquette, he held that the Imperial other occasions, with a good-will, in consideration dignity placed him above any reciprocal obligation of the personal advantage which he derived from it. towards them. In the public amusements of a more general kind, Perhaps, also, in limiting his personal expenses, Bonaparte took a deep interest. He often attended and avoiding that of a splendid royal wardrobe, Bo- the theatre, though commonly in private, and withnaparte might indulge that love of calculation and out eclat. His own taste, as well as political cirorder, which we have noticed as a leading point of cumrstances, led him to encourage the amusements his character. But his utmost efforts could not carry of the stage; and the celebrated Talma, whose a similar spirit of economy among the female part of decided talents placed him at the head of the French his Imperial family; and it may be a consolation to performers, received, as well in personal notice from persons of less consequence to know, that in this the emperor, as through the more substantial medium respect the emperor of half the world was nearly as of a pension, an assurance, that the kindness whlich powerless as they may feel themselves to be. Jose- he had shown in early youth to the little Corsican plhine, with all her amiable qualities, was profuse, student had not been forgotten. The strictest care after the general custom of Creoles, and Pauline de was taken that nothing should be admitted on the Borghese was no less so. The efforts of Napoleon stage which could awaken feelings or recollections to limit their expenses sometimes gave rise to sin- unfavourable to the imperial government. When gular scenes. Upon one occasion, the emperor the acute wit of the Parisian audience seized on found in company of Josephine a certain milliner of some expression or iilcident which had any analogy high reputation and equal expense, with whom he had to public aflairs, the greatest pains were taken, not discharged his wife to have any dealings. Incensed only to prevent the circumstance from reculring, but at this breach of his orders, he directed the mar- even to hinder it from getting into general circulachande de modes to be conducted to Bicetre; but tion. This secrecy respecting what occurred in pubthe number of carriages which brought the wives of lie, cotild not be attained in a firee country, but was his principal courtiers to consult her in. captivity, easily accomplished in one where the public papers, convinced him that the popularity of the milliner was the general organs of intelligence, were undem the too powerful even for his imperial authority; so lie strict arid unremitted vigilimace of the government. wisely dropped a contention which must have see med We atain repeat, that we totally disbelieve the gross ludicrous to the public, and the artist was set at inrauuies imllu)n ed to Napoleon wvithin his own falily, alliberty, to charm and pillage the gay world otf Paris t lought sanctied by the esidence of the 3lemoir, et at her own pleasure. 1 -ouchrt. Neitber1 Bonaparte's propensities nor his laults On another occasion, the irregl;larity of Josbpbine w aerei those t;f a oillptl ary. 424 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. There were periods, when Bonaparte, in order to gain the approbation and sympathy of those who claim the exclusive title of lovers of liberty, was not unwilling to be thought the friend of liberal opinions, System.af education introduced into France by Napo. and was heard to express himself in favour of the leon. —National lTnirersity-its natiure and objectsliberty of the. press, and other checks upon the Lyceums.-Proposed establishment at Meudon. executive authority. To reconcile his opinions (or rather what he'threw out as his opinions) with a THE reputation of Bonaparte as a soldier was the practice diametrically opposite, was no easy matter, means which raised him to the Imperial dignity; yet he sometimes attempted it. On observing one or and, unfortunately for himself, his ideas were so two persons, who had been his silent and surprised constantly associated witih war and victory, that auditors on such an occasion, unable to suppress peaceful regulations of every kind were postponed, some appearance of incredulity, he immediately as of inferior importance; and thus war, which in entered upon his defence. "I am," he said, "at the eye of reason ought always, even when most bottom, and naturally, for a fixed and limited go- necessary and justifiable, to be regarded as an exvernment. You seem not to believe me, perhaps traordinary state into which a nation is plunged by because you conceive my opinions and practice are compulsion, was certainly regarded by Napoleon as at variance. But you do not consider the necessity almost the natural and ordinary condition of humaarising out of persons and circumstances. Were I nity. He had been bred on the battle-field, from to relax the reins for an instant, you would see a which his glory first arose. " T'he earthquake voice general confusion. Neither you nor I, probably, of victory," according to the expression oft' Britain's would spend another night in the Tuileries." noble and lost bard, "was to him the breath of life." Such declarations have often been found ini the And although his powerful mind was capable of months of those, who have seized upon an unlawful applying itself to all the various relations of' hu;llill degree of authority over their species. Cromwell affairs, it was with war and desolation that lie was was forced to dissolve the parliament, though he most familiar, and the tendency of his government besought the Lord rather to slay him. State neces- accordingly bore an aspect decidedly military. sity is the usual plea of tyrants, by which they seek The instruction of the youth of France lhad been to impose on themselves and others; and, by resort- the subject of several projects during the Republic; ing to such an apology, they pay that tribute to truth which was the more necessary, as the Revolutiiot in their language, to which their practice is in the had entirely destroyed all the colleges and selinis. most decided opposition. But if there are'any to ries of public instruction, most of which were morewhom such an excuse may appear valid, what can or less connected with the church, and had left the be, or must be, their sentiments of the French revoL nation almost destitute of any public means of edelution, which, instead of leading to national liberty, cation. These schemes were of course mnarked with equality, and general happiness, brought the country the wild sophistry of the period. In many cases into such a condition, that a victorious soldier was they failed in execution fiom want of public encouobliged, contrary to the conviction of his own con- ragement; in others, from want of funds. SJill, science, to assume the despotic power, and subject however, though no fixed scheme of edtlcation had the whole empire to the same arbitrary rules which been adopted, and though the increasing vice amnd directed the followers of his camp? ignorance of the rising generation was sulfficiently The press, at no time, and in no civilized coun- shocking, there existed in France two or three try, was ever so completely enchained and fettered classes of schools for different purposes; as indeed as at this period it was in France. The public it is not to be supposed that so great and civilized a journals were prohibited from inserting any article nation could, under any circumstances, tolerate a of public news which had not first appeared in the total want of the means of educating their youth. Moniltezr, the organ of governoment; and this, on The schemes to which we allude had agreed in all momentous occasions, was personally examined arranging, that each commune (answering, perhaps, by Bonaparte himself. Nor were the inferior papers to our parish) should provide aschool and teacher, permitted to publish a word, whether in the way of for the purpose of comnunicating the primary and explanation, criticism, or otherwise, which did not most indispensable principles of education. This accurately correspond with the tone observed in the plan had in a great measure failed, owing to the poleading journal. They might, with the best graces verty of the communes on wlhomr the expense was of their eloquence, enhance the praise, or deepen thrown. In some cases, however, the communes the censure, which characterized the leading para- had found funds for this necessary purpose; and, in graph; but seizure of their paper, confiscation, im- others, thile expense bad been divided betwixt the prisornment, and sometimes exile, were the unfailing public body and the pupils who received the benefit reward of any attempt to correct what was erro- of the establishment. So that these primary schools neons in point of fact, or sophistical in point of rea- existed in malny instances, though certainly in a pre8oning. The Alonite2cr, therefore, was the sole carious and languishing state. guide of public opitnion;u and by his constant atten-. The secondary schools were such as qualified tion to its contents, it is plain that Napoleon relied persons, or those who held themselves out as such, as much on its influence to direct the general miind had established upon speculation, or by the aid of of the people of France, as lie did upon the power private contribu;tionls, for teachlug the learned and of his arms, military reputation, and extensive re- modern languages, geography, and mathematics. sources, to overawe the other nations of Europe. There was besides evinced on the part of the ca LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 425 tho!ic clergy, so soon as the Concordat had restored parents or relations of the lad supplied a portion of them to some rank and influence, a desire to resume the charge. From these Lyceums. two hulndred and the task of public education, which, before the Re- fifty of the most selected youth were yearly drlaughtvolution, had been chiefly vested in their hands. ed into the more professional and special military Their seminaries had been supported by the public schools maintained by the emperor; and to be inwith considerable liberality, and being under the eluded in this chosen number was the prime object control of the bishop, and destined chiefly to bring of every student. Thus, everything induced the up young persons intended for the church, they had young men brought up at these Lyceums, to look obtained the name of Ecclesiastical Schools. upon a military life as the most natural and enviable Matters were upon this footing when Bonaparte course they had to pursue; and thus Bonapatte brought forward his grand project of a National accomplished that alteration on the existing generaUniversity, composed of a grand master, a chan- tion, which lie intimated, when he said, " The clergy cellor, a treasurer, ten counsellors for life, twenty regard this world as a mere diligence which is to counsellors in ordinary, and thirty inspectors ge- convey us to the next-it must be my business to fill neral; the whole forming a sort of imperial council, the public carriage with good recruits for my army." whose supremacy was to be absolute on matters re- Of the whole range of national education, that. spectingeducation. All teachers, and all seminaries which was conducted at the Lyceums, or central of education, were subjected to the supreme au- schools, was alone supported by the state; and the thority of the National University, nor could any courses there taught were generally limited to Latin school be opened without a brevet or diploma from and mathematics, the usual accomplishments of a the grand master, upon which a considerable tax military academy. Undoubtedly Brienne was in was imposed. It was indeed the policy of the go- Napoleon's recollection; nor might he perhaps think vernment to diminish as far as possible the numnber a better, or a more enlarged course of education of Secondary and of Ecclesiastical Schools, in order necessary for the subjects of France, than that that the public education might be conducted at the which had advanced their sovereign to the supreme public seminaries, called Lyceums, or Academies. government. But there was a deeper reason in the In these Lyceums the discipline was partly mi- limitation. Those who, under another system of litary, partly monastic. The masters, censors, and education, might have advanced themselves to that teachers, in the Lyceums and Colleges, were bound degree of knowledge which becomes influential to celibacy; the professors might marry, but in that upon the mind of the public, or the fortunes of a case were not permitted to reside within the pre- state, by other means than those of violence, were cincts. The youth were entirely separated from disqualified for the task by that which they received their families, and allowed to correspond with no in the Lyceums; and the gentle, studious, and one save their parents, and then only through the peaceful youth, was formed, like all the rest of the medium, and under the inspection, of the censors, generation, to the trade of war, to which he was The whole system was subjected to the strict and probably soon to be called by the conscription. If frequent investigation of the University. The grand -the father chose to place his son at one of the semraster might dismiss any person he pleased, and condary schools, where a larger sphere of instruction such a sentence-of dismission disqualified the party was opened, it was still at the risk of seeing the receiving it firom holding any civil employment. youth withdrawn from thence and transferred to the In the general case, it is the object of' a place of nearest Lyceum, if the Directors of the Academy learning to remove from the eyes of youth that pomp should judge it necessary for the encouragement of and parade of war, by which at an early age they the schools which appertained more properly to are so easily withdrawn firom severe attention to government. their studies. The Lyceums of' Bonaparte were Yet, Napoleon appears to have been blind to tile conducted on a contrary principle; everything was errors of this system, or rather to have been delighlltdone by beat of drum; all the interior arrangements ed with themr, as tending directly to aid his despotic of the boys were upon a military footing. Ata pe- views. "My university," lie was accustomed to riod when the soldier's profession held out the most say to the very last, "was a master-piece of comnsplendid prospects of suiccessful ambition, it was bination, and would have produced the most mnnateno wonder that young men soon learned to look rial effect on the public mind." And lie was wont forward to it as the only line worthy of a man of on such occasions to throw the blame of its failure spirit to pursue. The devotion of the young students on Monsieur de Fontanes, the grand masters, who, to the emperor, carefully infused into them by their he said, afterwards took merit with the Bourbons teachers, was farther excited by the recollection, for having encumbered its operation in some of its that he was their benefactor for all the means of in- most material particulars. struction afforded them; and thus they learned Bonaparte, it must be added, at a later period, from every circumstance around them, that the first resolved to complete his system of national educaobject of their lives was devotion to his service, tion. by a species of Corinthian capital. He proand that the service required of them was of a mi- posed the establishment of an institution at Meudon, litary character. for the education of his son, the King of Rome, There were in each Lyceum one hundred and where he was to be trained to the arts becoming a fifty exhibitions, or scholarships, of which twenty ruler, in the society of other young princes of the were of value sufficient to cover the student's full Imperial family, or the descendants of the allies of expenses, while the rest, of smaller armount, were Napoleon. This would have been reversing the called half or three quarter bursaries, in which the plan of tuition imposed on Cyrus, and on Henry IV., -OL. VI.. 4 4P6 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. wfho were bred up among the common children of who applied the system to the conduct of distarn the peasants, that their future grandeur might not offensive wars, no otherwise necessary than for the too much or too early obscure the real views of ha- satisfaction of his own ambition, stands liable to the mall nature and character. But it is unnecessary to heavy charge of having drained the very life-blood speculate on a system which never was doomed to of the people intrusted to his charge, not for the I be brought to experiment; only, we may presume defence of' their own country, but to extend the it was intended to teach the young Napoleon more ravages of war to distant and uunoflending regions. respect to the right of property which his princely The French conscription was yet more severely companions held in their toys and playthings, than felt by the extreme rigour of its conditions. No htis father evinced towards the crowns and sceptres distinction was made betwixt the married man of his brothers and allies. whose absence might be the rain of his family, and the single member of a numerous lineage, who could be easily spared. The son of the widow, the CHAPTER LVIII. child of the decrepid and helpless, had no right to claim an exemption. Three sons mlight be carried Military details.-Plan of the cotscription-I-s nature of in three successive years frol the same desolated -and efuc7tr the general citharacter of the French so- paents; there was no allowance made for having jlctrnce upon the general character of the French sot- already supplied a recruit. Those unable to serve diery.-New mode of conductinrg hostilities introduced bJy the Revolttiont.-Costiitetion of the French armies were mulcted in a charge proportioned to the quota -Forced marches.-La maraude-Its?natucre-and ef- of taxes which they or their parents contributed to fects-on the eneniy's country, and on the Freunch sol- the state, and which might vary firom fifty to twelve diers themselves.-Policy of Napoleon, in his personal hundred francs. Substitutes might indeed be offered, conduct to his officers and soldiers.-Altered character but then it was both difficult and expensive to procure of the French soldiery during, and after, the Revole. them, as the law required that such substitutes tion-Explaidied. should not only have the usual personal qualifications for a military life, but should be dom:nesticated within WE have shown that the course of education the same district as their plrincipal, or come within practised in France was so directed, as to turn the the conscription of the year. Suitable persons were thoughts and hopes of the youth to a military life, sure to know their own value, and had learned so and prepare them to obey the call of the conscrip- well to profit by it, that they were not to be bribed tion. This means of recruiting the military force, to serve without excessive bounties. The substithe most formidable ever established in a civilized tutes also had the practice of deserting upon the nation, was originally presented to the Council of road, and thus cheating the principal, who remained Five Hundred in 1798. It comprehended a series answerable for them till they joined their colours. of lists, containing the names of the whole youth of On the whole, the difficulty of obtaining exemption the kingdom, from the age of twenty to twenty- by substitution was so great, that very many young five, and empowering government to call them out men, well educated, and of respectable families, successively, in such numbers as the exigencies of were torn from all their more propitious prospects, the state should require. The classes were five in to bear the life, discharge the duties, and die the number. The first contained those who were aged death of common soldiers in a marching regiment. twenty years complete, before the commencement There was no part of Napoleon's government of' the year relative to which the conscription was enforced with such extreme rigour as tile levy of the demanded, and the same rule applied to the other conscriptiois. The mayor, upon whom the duty four classes of men, who had attained the twenty- devolved of seeing the number called for selected first, twenty-second, twenty-third, twenty-fourth, by lot from the class to -whoim they belonged, was and twenty-fifth years successively, before the same compelled,'under the most severe penalties, to avoid period. In practice, however, the second class of con. showing the slightest indulgence,-the brand, the scripts were not called out until the first were actually pillory, or the galleys, awaited the magistrate himin service, nor as it usual to demand more than the sell; if he'was found to have favoured any individual first class in ainy one year. But as the first class on whom the law of conscription had claims. The anmounted to 60 or 80,000, so forcible and general a same laws held out the utmost extent of their terlevy presented inmuense facilities to the government, rors against refiactory conscripts, and the public and was proportionally burdensome to the people. fiunctionaries were everywhere in search of them.'his lav, undoubtedly, has its general principle When arrested, they were treated like convicts of in the duty which every one owes to his country. the most infamous description. Clothed in a dress Nothing can be miore true, than that all men ca- of infimy, loaded with chains, and dragging weights pable of bearing arus are liable to be emlployed in which were attached to them, they were condenmnthe defence of the state; and nothing call be more ed like galley slaves to work upon the public filrtifipolitic, than that the obligatiomn which is incumbent cations. Their relations did not escape, but were upoun ail should be, in the first instance, imposed often rendered liable for fines and penalties. upon the youth, who are best qualified for nilitary Blut perhaps the most horrible part of the fate of service lby the freshness of their age, and whose the conscript was, that it was determined for life. nbsence ftromn the ordinary businuess of the countrly'rvo or three, even four or five years spent in mniliwvill occasion the least inconvemnience. But it is tary service, might have formed a more enduirable, obvious, tlhat such a measure can only be vindicated though certainly a severe tax upon human life, with i ut1,ltsie wavr. andl that the conduct of Bonaparte, its natural plospects and purposes. But the con LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTF 4277 scription effectually and for ever changed the cha- general of brigade. A corps d'armie might vary in racter of its victims. The youth, when he left his number from fifty to eighty thousand men, and upfather's hearth, was aware that he was bidding it wards; and the general of such a body exercised adieu, in all mortal apprehension, for ever; and the the fuill military authority over it, without the conparents who had parted with him, young, virtuous, trol of anlly one except the emperor himself. Therel and ingenuous, and with a tendency, perhaps, to were very few ilstances of the emperor's putting tile acquire the advantages of education, could only ex- officers who were capable of this high charge under pect to see him again (should so unlikely an event command of each other; indeed so very fetw, as ever. take place) with the habits, thoughts, manners, might almnost imply some doubt on his part, of his and morals, of a private soldier. commands to this effect being obeyed, had they been But whatever distress was inflicted on the coun- issued. This system of dividing his collected forces try by this mode of compulsory levy, it was a weapon into separate and nearly independent armies, the particularly qualified to serve Bonaparte's purposes. generals of which were each intrusted with and reHe succeeded to the power which it gave the go- sponsible for his execution of some separate portion vernment, amongst other spoils of the Revolution, of an immense combined plan, gave great celerity and he used it to the greatest possible extent. and efficacy to the French movements; and superinThe conscription, of course, comprehended re- tended as it was by the master spirit which planned cruits of every kind, good, bad, and indifferent; but the campaign, often contributed to the most brilliant chosen as they were from the mass of the people, results. But wheneverit became necessary to cornmwithout distinction, they were, upon the whole, bine two corps d'arm6e in one operation, it requiredc much superior to that description of persons among the personal presence of Napoleon himself. whom volunteers for the army are usually levied in Thus organized, the French army was poured other countries, which comprehends chiefly the des- into some foreign country by forced marches, withperate, the reckless, the profligate, and those whose out any previous arrangement of stores or magazines unsettled or vicious habits render them unlit for for their maintenance, and with the purpose of nmainpeaceful life. The number of young men of somie taining them solely at the expense of the inhabit6ants. education who were compelled to serve in the Bonaparte was exercised in this systetn; and the ranks, gave a tone and feeling to the French army combination of great masses, by means of such ot a very superior character, and explains why a forced marches, was one great principle of his tacgood deal of intellect and power of observation was tics. This species of war was carried on at the least often f.ound alongst the private sentinels. The ha- possible expense of money to his treasury; but it hits of tile nation also being strongly turned towards was necessarily at the greatest possible expenditure war, the Frenchi frmned, upon the whole, the most of human life, and the incalculable increase of huorderly, most obedient, most easily commanded and man misery. Napoleon's usual object was to surbest regulated troops, that ever took the field in any prise the enemy by the rapidity of his marches, age or country. In the long and protracted struggle defeat him in some great battle, and then seize upon of battle, their fiery courage might sometimes be his capital, levy contributions, make a peace iwith exhausted before that of the determined British; such advantages as he could obtain, and finally rebut in all that respects the science, practice, and turn to Paris. usages of war, the French are generally allowed to In these dazzling campaigns, the army usually have excelled their more stubborn, but less ingenious began their march with provisions, that is, bread or rivals. They excelled especially in the art of shift- biscuit, for a certain number of days, on tihe soldiers' ing for themselves; and it was one in which the backs. Cattle also were for a time driven alonlg wars of Napoleon required them to be peculiarly with them, and slaughtered as wanted. These aradroit. tides were usually provided from sorme large town The French Revolution first introduced into Eu- or populous district, in which the troops nlight hlave& rope a mode of conducting hostilities, which trans- been cantoned. The horses of the cavalry were ferred almost the whole bulthen of the war to the likewise loaded with forage, for the consunlption a country which had the ill-fortune to be the seat of of two or three days. rThus provided, the army set its operations, and rendered it a resource rather forward on its expedition by forced;marclles. In a than a drain to the successful belligerent. This we very short time the soldiers became impatient of shall presently explain. their burdens, and either wasted them by prodigal At the commencement of a campaign, nothing consumption, or actually threw them away. It was could be so complete as the arrangement of a French then that the officers, who soon entertained just aparmy. It was formed into large bodies called corps prehensions of the tloops suffering scarcity befolre d'arnmbes, each commanded by a king, viceroy, another regular issue of plovisions, gave authority to marshal, or general officer of high pretensions, secure supplies by what was called la mnaraude, in founded oin former services. Each corps d'arm6e other words, by plunder. To insure that these forced ftrmned a complete army within itself, and had its supplies should be collected and distributed sysallotted pro, ortion of cavalry, infantry, artillery, and tematically, a certain number of soldiers floom each troops of every description. The corps d'arlm6e company were dispatched to obtain provisions at consisted of from six to ten divisions, each conl- the villages and farm-houses in the neighbourhood manded by a general of division. The divisions, of the march, or of the ground upon which the army again, were subdivided into brigades, of which each, was encampled. These soldiers were authorized to comprehending two or three regiments (consisting of compel the inhabitants to deliver their provisions two or more battalions), was commanded by a without receipt or l.ay!lent; and such being their 4428 LIFE OF NAPOLEON EGTNAPARTE. regular duty, it may be well supposed that they (lid Bonaparte observed, with respect to his army, all wnot confine themselves to provisions, but exacted adroit Species of policy. His marshals, his gemoney and articles of value, and committed many nerals, his officers of lligil rank, were liberally ha- I other similar abuses. noured and rewvartled by hlim; btt lie never treated It must be owned, that the intellectual character I them witl personal Iatm;l;iar'ity.'I'he forms of etiof the;French, and'the good-nature which is the qlette were, uplon all occiasiOtis, strictly maintained. real ground of their. national character, rendered Perhiaps hie was,f opiniia that the original equality their conduct more endurable under the evils of this in whici they had st(ijd with regard to enac other, system than could have been expected, provided would have beenl too strotngly recalled by a' Inore always that provisions were plenty, and the country fanlliliar ilode of intercourse. Blut to tile common populous. A sort of order was then observed, even soldier, wvlo collld nlt Ilisconstrue or intriude upon taken to divide regularly the provisions thus irregi- of conduct. tle perllitted liaimself to be addrlessed larly obtained. The general temper of the soldiery, by tileii on all suitalble occasions, and paid strict when unprovoked by resistance, made them not attenltion to their petitions, complaints, and even wholly barbarous; and their original good discipline, their remonstrances. WVtat they comllplained of; the education which many had received, with the was, in all instances, iquiredl into and refobrned, if habits of' docility which all had acquired, prevented the collpl;diuts were just. After it battle, he was them from breaking tp into bands of absolute banditti, accustonmed tO, consult the egitments which had disand destroying themselv es by their own irregularities. tinguiished tlhetnselves, concerning the imerits of' No treops except the Frenc h could have subsisted those who had deserved thie Legion of I-onour, or in the same manner; fbr no other army is sufficiently otlier Imilitary distinction. In these moments of under the command of its officers. conscious imiportance, the sufflerings of tile whole But the most hideous features of this system were campaign were fbrgotten; antid Napoleon seetned, shown witen the army marched through a thinly- to tthe soldiery who surrounded hliml, not as the peopled country, or when the national character, ambitious man who had dragged thlent from their and perhaps local facilities, encouraged the natives homes, to waste ttheir valour in fbreign fields, and and peasants to offter resistance. Then the soldiers had purchased victory at thle expense of' subjecting became animated alike by the scarcity of provi- them to every privation, but as tihe fathier of' the sions, and irritated at the danger which they some- war, to whom his soldiers were as children, and to times incurred in collecting them. As their hard- whomn the honour of' the meanest private was as dear ships increased, their temper became relentless and as his own. reckless, and, besides indulging in every other spe- Every attention was paid, to do justice to the cies ot' violence, they increased their own distresses claims of the soldier, and provide for his l)refertlent by destroying wvhat they could not use. Famine as it was merited. But with all this encourageatnd sickness;were not long of visiting an army, which ment, it was the remark of Bonaparte himsell; tlat traversed by forced umarchles a country exhausted the army no longer produced, tinder the ellipire, of' provisions. These stern attendants tbflonved the such distinguished soldiers as Picheglru, K6lber, French columns as they struggled on. Without Moreau, Massena, Desaix, Hoche, anid lie himirsell' hospitals, and without magazines, every straggler above all, who, starting from the ranks of obscuwho co;ld not regain his ranks fell a victiml to hunger, rity, like runners to a race, had astomnished the world to weather, to weariness, to the vengeance of an by their progress.'These men of the highest genius incensed peasantry. In this manner, the French had been produced, as Bonaparte thought, iil and armty suffered woes, which, till these tremendous by the fervour of the Revolution; and lie appears wars, Ihad never been the lot of troops in hostilities to have been of opinion, that, since tlings lintd -ecarried onl between civilized nations. Still Bona- turned more and more into the ordinalry and reparte's object was gained; he attained, anmid these stricted bonunds of civil society, nmen of the satme high losses and sacrifices, and at the expense of thenm, the class were no longer created. There is, however, point which lie had desired; displayed his masses some fallacy in this statement. T'lirnes ofrevolution to the terrified eyes of a surprised enemy; reaped do not create great nmen, but revolutionis usually the re ward of his dispatch in a general victr-y, uand take place in periods of society when great princifurnishedt new subjects of triumitphi t to the Moniteur. ples have been iunder discussion, and the viewvs of So much did he rely upon the celerity of mnovemenrt, the young and of the old have been turned, by tihe that if' an officer asked time to execute any of his complexion of the times, towards umatters of grand cominmands, it w'as tiequmenltly his remllalrkable answer, and serious conisideration, which elevate the charac-"Ask me fblr anything excejpt timlle." That ce, ter anti raise the anmIbition. When the collision of lerity depended on the tuncompliromtrisini systemn of' munitual violence, the explosion of the revolnutionl obicel mnarcheis, without estahlisihed magazmines, and itself actually breaks ouit, it neither does nor can we have described how wasteful it must have been create talent of any kind. But it brings forlh (and to humnan life. But wvlhen the battle was over, the in general destroys), in the course olf its progress, dead were at rest, and could not complain; the all the talent whicht the predisposition to discussion living were victois, amnd soon forg-ot their suiffer- of public affairs had already encouraged and fosings; and the loss of' the recruits who had been tered; and when that talent has perished, it cannlot wasted in the campaign, was supplied by another be replaced from a race educated amnmidst the furies draught iupon the youth of Franlce, in the usual of civil war. Tl'le abilities of the Long Parliamnent formmas otf the conscritption. ceased to be seen inlder the Commonwealth, aid LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 49i the salne is true of the French Convention, anld the were expressed at a very late period, in language empire which succeeded it. Revolution is like a which is perfectly intelligible. Speaking of'France conflagration, which throws temporary light upon and England, he said, " We have done each other the ornaments and architecture of the house to infinite harm-we might have rendered each other which it attaches, but always ends by destroying infinite service by mutual good understandin. If, them. the school of Fox had succeeded, we would have It is said also, probably with less authority, that understood each other-there would only have been Napoleon, even when surrounded by those Imperial in Europe one army and one fleet-we would hlave Guards, whose discipline had been so sedulously governed the world —we would have fixed repose carried to the highest pitch, sometimes regretted and prosperity everywhere, either by force or by perthe want of the old revolutionary soldiers, whose suasion. Yes-I repeat how much good we niiht war-cry, Vive la RMpublique! identified each in- have done-how umuch evil we have actlally done dividual with the cause which he maintained. Na- to each other." poleon, however, had no cause to regret any cir- Nov the fundanlental principle of such a pacificumlstance which referred to his military power. It cation, which Bonaparte seems to the very last to was already far too great, and had destroyed the have considered as the mutual basis of conmmon inproper scale of government in France, by diving the terest, was such as could not, ought not, nay, dared military a decided superiority over all men of civil not, have been adopted by any ministry which Engprofessions, while he himself, with the habits and land could have chosen, so long as she possessed a reasoning of a despotic general, had assumed an free l)arliament. Her principle of jpacification must almost unlimited authority over the fairest part of have been one that ascertained the independence of Europe, Over foreign countries, thle military renown other powers, not which permitted her own aggresof France streamed like a comet, inspiring universal sions, and gave way to those of France. Her wealth, dread and distrust; and, whilst it rendered indis- strength, and happiness, do, and must always, conpensable similar preparations for resistance, it seem- sist in the national independence of the states upom ed as if peace had departed from the earth for ever, the Continent. She could not, either with conscience and that its destinies were hereafter to be disposed or safety, make peace with a usurping conqueror, of according to the laws of brutal force alone. on the footing that she herself was to become a usurper in her turn. She has no desire or interest to blot out other nations from the map of Europe, in CHAPTER LIX. order that no names may remain save those of Britain and France; nor is she interested in depriving Effects of the peace of Tilsit.-Napoleon's views of a state other states of their fleets, or of their armies. Her of peace-Contrasted with those of England.-SThe Con- statesmen must disclaim the idea of governing the tineltal Systemn-Its nlature-and ef gcts.-Berlin cand world, or a moiety of the world, and of making other Milail JDecrees.-B:ritish Orders in Coucil.-Spain- nations either happy or unhappy by force of armns. Retrospect of the relations of that coluntry vith France The conduct of England in 1814 and 1815, evinced since the Revolution.-GColoy-His influence-Character this honest and honourable policy; since, yielding -and political views.-Ferdinand, Prince of Astrrias, much to others, she cotild not be accused of being applies to Napoleon for aid.-Affairs of Portugal.- herself influenced by any views to extend her own Treaty of Fontainebleau. -Departure of the Prince Regent Jor Brazil.-Entrance of Junot into Lisbon- dominion, in the general conf usion and blending tHis unbounded rapacity.-Disturbances at.ladrid. — which arose out of the downfal of the external Ferdinand defected in a plot against his father, and ei- power of France. That, however; is a subject for prisoned.-King Charles applies to Napoleon.-Wily another place. policy of Bonaparte-Orders the French army to enter In the meanwhile, France, who, with Russia, lad I Spain. arranged a treaty of pacification on a very diillerent basis, was now busied in gathering in the advattages THE peace of Tilsit had been of that character, which she expected to derive fi-om it. In doing so, which, while it settled the points of dispute between it seems to have been Bonaparte's principal object two rival monarchies, who had found themselves so to consolidate and enforce what he called his hardly matched in tile conflict to which it put a Continental System, as ultimately to root out and period, left both at liberty to use towards the nations destroy the remaining precarious communications, more immediately under the influence of either, which England, by her external commerce, conuslch a degree of discretion as their power enabled tinned to maintain with the nations of the Conftnent. them to exercise. Such was Napoleon's idea of pa- To attain this grand object, the treaty of'Tilsit and cification, which amounted to this: —" I will work its consequences had given himn great facilities. my own pleasure with the countries over which my France was his own-Holland was lunder the domipower gives me not indeed the right, but the autho- nion, nominally, of his brother Louis, but in a great rity and power; and you, my ally, shall, in recom- measure at his devotion. His brother Jor6nme was pense, do what suits you in the territories of other established in the kingdom of Westphalia. It folstates adjoining to you, but over which I have no lowed, therefore, in the course of his brother's such immediate influence." policy, that he was to form ah alliance worthy of his This was the explanation which he put upon the new rank. It has been already noticed that he had treaty of Amiens, and this was the species of peace abandoned, by his brother's command, Elizabeth which long afterwards he regretted had not been Paterson, daughter of a respectable gentleman of concluded with England. His regrets on that point Baltimore, whom he hhad married in 1803. He was 430 ILIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, now married at the Tuileries to Frederica Catherine, papers, false entries, false registers, were every~daughter of the King of Wirtemberg. Iwhere produced; and such were the profits attendPrussia, and all the once firee ports of the Han- ing the trade, that the most trusty and trusted agelts seatic League, were closed against English com- of Bonaparte, men of the highest rank in his empire, mnerce, so far as absolute military power could were found willing to wink at this contraband colneffect that purpose. Russia was not so tractable in nmerce, and obtained great sums for doing so. All that important matter as the terms of the treaty of along the sea-coast of Europe, this struggle was T'ilsit, and Napoleon's secret engagements with tile keenly maintained betwixt the most powerfil indiczar, had led him to hope. But Alexander was too vidual the world ever saw, and the wants and powerful to be absolutely dictated to in the enforce- wishes of the society which he controled-wants and mnent of this anti-commercial system; and, indeed, wishes not the less eagerly entertained, that they the peculiar state of the Russian nation might have were directed towards luxuries and superfluities. rendered it perilous to the czar to enforce the non- But it was chiefly the Spanish peninsula, in which intercourse to the extent which Napoleon would the dominion of its ancient and natural princes still have wished. The large, bulky, and heavy com- nominally survived, which gave an extended vent modities of Russia,-hemnp and iron, and timber and to the objects of British conimerce. Bonaparte, inwax, and pitch and naval stores-that produce upon deed, had a large share of its profits, since Portugal, which the Boyards of the empire chiefly depended in particular, paid him great sums to connive at her for their revenue, would not bear the expense of trade with England. But at last the weakness of transportation by land; and England, in full and Portugal, and the total disunion of the royal family exclusive command of the sea, was her only, and at in Spain, suggested to Napoleon the thoughts of the same time her willing customer. Under various appropriating to his own family, or rather to himself, elusory devices, therefore, England continued to that noble portion of the continent of Europe. Hence purchase Russian commodities, and pay for them in arose the Spanish contest, of which he afterwards her own manufactures, in spite of the decrees of the said in bitterness, "'That wretched war was my French Emperor, and in defiance of the ukases of ruin-It divided my forces-multiplied the necesthe czar himself; and to this Bonaparte was corm- sity of my efforts, and injured my character for mopelled to seem blind, as what his Russian ally could rality." But could he expect better results friom a not, or would not, put an end to. usurpation, executed under circumstances oftreachThe strangest struggle ever witnessed in the ci- ery perfectly unexampl)ed in the history of Europe? vilized world began now to be maintained, betwixt Before entering, however, upon this new and most Britain and those countries who felt the importation important era of Napoleon's history, it is necessary of British goods as a subject not only of convenience, hastily to resume some account of the previous rebut of vital importance, on the one hand, and France lations between France and the Peninsula since the on the other; whose ruler was determined that on Revolution. no account should Britain either maintain intercourse Manuel de Godoy, a favourite. of Charles IV. and with the Continent, or derive the inherent advan- the paramour of his profligate queen, was at this tages of a free trade. The decrees of Berlin were tine tie uncontroled minister of Spain. He bore reinfi)rced by others of the French Emperor, yet the title of Prince of the Peace, or of' Peace, as it more peremptory and more vexatious. By these, was termed for brevity's sake, on account of his and particularly by one promulgated at Milan, having corlipleted lie pacification of Basle, which 17th December, 1807, Napoleon declared Bri- closed the revoliutionary war betwixt Spain and tain in A' state of blockade-all nations whatever France. By thte subsequent treaty of Saint Ildewere prohibited not only to trade with her, bhut phonso, lie had established an alliance, otlensive to deal in any articles of British manufactures. and defensive, betwixt the two countries, in conAgents were named in every seaport and trading sequence of which Spain had taken fi-om time to town on the part of Bonaparte. There was an to time, withotut hesitation, every step which B11onaordinance that no ship should be admitted into parte's iiterested policy recommended. Bift notany of the ports of the Continent without cer- withstanding this subservience to the pleasure of the tificates, as they were called of origin; the pturpose French ruler, Godoy seems in secret to have no11of which was to show that no part of their cargo rished hopes of getting free of the French yoke; and was of British produce. These regulations were at the very period when the PIrussian war broke metty others on the part of Britain, called the Orders out, without any necessity which could be discoin Council. They permitted all neutrals to trade vered, he suddenly called the Spanish forces to with countries at peace with Great Britain, providing arms, addressing to them a proclamation of a boastthey touched at a British port antd paid tile British fuil, and, at the same time, a mysterious character, duties. Neutrals were thus placed in a Imost nude- indicating that the country was in danger, and that sirable predicament betwixt the two great contend- some great exertion was expected from the Spanish ing powers. If they neglected the British Orders armies in her behalf. Bonaparte received this proin Council, they were captured by the cruizers of clarnation on the field of battle at Jena, and is said Englanud, with which the sea was covered. If they to have sworn vengeance against Spain. The news paid duties at British ports, they were confiscated, of that great victory soon altered Godoy's military if the fact could be discovered, on arrival at anly attitude, and the minister could find no better excuse port under French influence. This led to every for it, than to pretend that he had armed against an species of deception by which the real character of apprehended invasion of the Moors. Napoleon perthe mercantile transaction could be disguised. False reitted the circumrstance to remain unexplained. It LIFE OF.NAPO LEO4)N R rO NAPAll'TE.. 43 l had made him aware of Gindoy's private sentiments existence, tinder the name of an independent kilig. in respect to himself and to IFrance, ifl he bla tefore doin, rested in hler power of'purchasing the clelmeic y doubted them: and, though passed omer without of Franlce, and some belief that Spain wotlid nltt farther notice, this hasty armrasnent of 180i3 % as as- permlit her own territories to be violatfe for thell suredly not dismissed from his thouglts. sake of annihilating an unoffending neighbiour aid t In the state of abasement under which they felt ally. their government and royal family to have falleln, Shortly after the treaty of Tilsit, the Prince Rethe hopes and affections of the Spaniards were na- gent of PortgRal was required, by France and Spain turally turned on the heir-apparent, whose succes- jointly, to shut his ports against the English, to consion to the crown they looked forward to as a signal fiscate the property of Britain, and to arrest the for better things, and who was well understood to persons of her subjects wherever they could be be at open variance with the all-powerfill Giodov. found within, his dominions. Tile priince relactantly The Prince of the Asturias, however, does nit seeml icceded to the first part of this proposal; the last to have possessed any portion of that old heroic pride, he Iperelmptorily refused, as calling upon hinm at once and love of independence, which ought to htrve to violate tle fhith of treaties and tile rights of hosmarked the future King of Spaint. He was nott r- pitality, and the British merchants received involted at the sway which Bonaparte held int Ellope timation, that it would be wisdom to close their and in Spain, and, far from desiring to get rid of the cotmerci;tl concerns, and retire froml a country French influence, he endeavoured to seciure Bona- I which had no longer the nmeans of protecting them. parte's favour for his own partial views, by tan olil In the tmeantimle, a singular treaty was signed to connect his own interests in an indissoluble imain- iat Fontainebleau, for thle partition of the allcient ner with those of Napoleon and his dynasty. As- kingdom of Portugal. By this agreement, a regular sisted by some of the grandees, who wi ere mmost l1,n w;as laid for invading Portugal with French especiallytired of Godoy andt his adlinistratit) the andl Spanish armies, accomplishing the conquest of p'ince wrote Bonaparte a secret letter, expressilng tile coullttry, and dividing it into three parts. The tlle highest esteem for his person; inltillmating the northielrn provinces were to form a small principality condition to which his father, whose too great g,,od- 1f,r thme King of Etruria (who was to cede his Italian ness of disposition had been misguided ty nwicked I lo:lillions to Napoleon); another portion was to be, counsellors, had redtlced the floulishinig kingdom of given in sovereignty to Godoy, with the title of King Spain; reqliesting tile counsels aind sipport of tile of thle Algarves; and a third was to remain in seEmperor Napoleon, to detect the schelle s of those qtlestratiomn till the end of the war. By tIle treaty iperfidious men; and entreating, that, as a pledge of Fontainebleau, Napoleon obtained two important of the paternal protection which hie solicited, tle adlvant:ges; the first, that Portugal should be conernperor would grant him tile lhonour of allj ig hill quered; the second, that a great part of the Spatnish with one of his relations. troops should be emnployed on the expedition, and iin this umanner the heir-apparent of Spa;in threw their native' country thus deprived of their assistancer hiimmself into the arms, or, mmmore proewrly, at tiue feet It is impossible to believe tlhat he ever intended ofd N;plelon; tbult lie did not meet the receptionl lie Godoy, or the King of Etruria, should gain anv- had htopeld for. nBomaparte was at tiis tiltme e,)ga[ edl thing by the stipulations in their behalf. in negotiation with Charles IV., and with that very Jumuot, one of the most grasping, extravagant, and] Godoy wholm it was the object of the primnce to re- profligate of the French generals, a man whom B3- molve or ruin; and as they could sectond his views naparte hinmself has stigmatized as a monster of withi all the remaining forces of Spain, w1ile Priince rapacity, was appointed to march ulpon Lisbon, and Ferdinand was in possession of no actual power or intrulsted withl tie charge of reconciling to tihe yoke aulthority, thie former were for the time preferab e of thle invaders a nation who had neither provoked allies.'lle prinlce's offer, as what tmighit the useful war nor attempted resistance. omn some fi'tuie occasion, was for the presenmt neither Two additional armies, cotnsisting partly of French acceptf.ed nor refulsed. Napoleomn was altogetht-r anid partly of Spaniards, supported the attack of silenit. The fate of the royal tahmily wats thuir in tIle Juimot. A French army, aimounting to 40,000 men, haIlls of the stranger. Their fate wavs probably al- was formned mat Balyonne, in terms of the treaty of ready determnined. But, before expelliing the Boitr- Fontaineblean, destined, it uwas pretended, to act as boms froumi Spain, Napoleon judged it mumost politic an army of reserve, in case the English shoult l and to luse their forces in sulbdiing Portugal. troops for the defence of Portugal, bhut which, it The flower of the Spanish arnmy, consisting of had been stipulated, was on no account to enter sixteeni thousand men, tinder the Marquis de la Ro- Spain, unless such a crisis should demand their mana, had been marched into the north of Europe, presence. It will presently appear what was tle under the character of auxiliaries of France. An- true pumrpose of this army of reserve, and unlder other detachment had been sent to Tuscany, cornl- what circumstances it was really intended to enter manded by O'Farrel. So far the kingdom was the Spanish territory. weakened by the absence of her own best troops; Meantime Junot advanced upon Lishion with such the conqulest of Portlgal was'to be made a pretext extraordinary forced marches, as very much disfor introducing the French army to dictate to the located and exhausted his army. But this was of whole Peniilsula. the less consequence, because, aware that he could Portugal was tinder a singularly weak government. not make an effectual resistance, thile Prince Regent Her army was ruined; the soul and spirit of her no- had determined that he would ilot, by an in effectual bility was lost; her sole hope for continuing in show of defence, give the invaders a pretext to treat 432 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Portugal like a conquered country. He resolved as were the actors asnd spectators of this affecting at this late houir to comply even with the last and scene; and the finness of the Prince Regent was harshest oftthe terms dictated by France and Spain, applauded by the nation which he was leaving, by putting the restraint of a register on British aware that his longer presence might have exposed saubjects and British property; but he had purposely himself to insult, but could have had no effect ill delayed compliance, till little was left that could be ameliorating their own fate. affected by the measure. The British Factory, so Jllnot, within a day's march of Lisbon, was allong domiciliated at Lisbon, had left the Tagus on most frantic with rage when he heard this news. the 18th of' October, amid the universal regret of He well knew how much the escape of the prince, the inhabitants. The British resident minister, Lord and the resolution he had formed, would diminish Strungford, although feeling compassion for the force the lustre of' his own success in the eyes of his mastnder which the Prince Regent acted, was, never- ter. Once possessed of the Prince Regent's person, theless, under the necessity of considering these Bonaparte had hoped to get him to cede possession unfriendly steps as a declaration against England. of the Brazils; and transmarine acquisitions had for fie took down the British arms, departed fions Napoleon all the merit of novelty. The empire of Lisbon accordingly, and went on board Sir Sydney the house of Braganza in the new world was now Smluith's squadron, then lying off the Tagus. Tile effectually beyond his reach; and his general, thus I Marquis of Marialva was then sent as an ambas- far unsuccessful, might have some reason to dread sador extraordinary, to state to the courts of France the excess of' his master's disappointment. and Spain, that the Prince Regent had complied Upon the first of December, exhausted with their with the whole of' their demands, and to request forced marches, and sufficiently miserable in equipthat the march of their forces upon Lisbon should ment and appearance, tile French van-guard ap- be countermanded. proached the city, and their general might see ttie' Junot and his army had by this time crossed the retreating sails of the vessels which deprived him of frontiers of' Portugal, entering, he said, as the so fair a portion of his prize. Junot, however, was friends, allies, and protectors of the Portuguese, soon led to resume confidence in his owvn merits. fie comie to save Lisbon from the fate of Colpenhagen, had been connected with Bonaparte ever since the and relieve the inhabitants from the yoke of the commencement of his fortunes, which he had faithnmaritime tyrants of Europe. He promised the ut- fully followed. Such qualifications, and his having most good discipline on the part of his troops, while, married a lady named Comnene, who affirlmed herat the same time, the constant plunder and exac- self to be descended from the blood of' the Greek tions of the French were embittered by wanton emperors, was sufficient, he thought, to entitle hinm scorn and acts of sacrilege, which, to a religions to expect the vacant throne of Lisbon fioni the hand people, seemed peculiarly horrible. Nothing, how- of his master. In the meantime, lie acted as it' ever, retarded the celerity of his march; for he was already in possession of supreme power. Hie took well aware that it was his master's most anxious possession of the house belonging to the richest wish to seize the persons of the Portuguese royal merchant in the city, and although he received family, and especially that of the Prince Regent. twelve hundred cruzadoes a month fobr his table, he But the prince, alth;ough his general disposition compelled his landlord to be at the whole expense was gentle and compromising, had, on this occasion, of his establishment,: which was placed on the most ilmpressiona not unworthy of the heir of Braganza. extravagant scale of splendour. His inferior officers He had determined that he would not kiss the dust took the hint, nor were the soldiers slow in fbllowat the feet of' the invader, or be made captive to ing the example. The extortions and rapacity pracenhance hls triumph. The kingdom of' Portugal had tised in Lisbon seemed to leave all former excesses spacious realms beyond the Atlantic, in which its of the French army far behind. This led to qlarrels royal family might seek refilge. The British am- betwixt the French and the natives; blood nvas bassador offered every facility which the squadron shed; public executions took place, and tile incould afford, and, as is now.known, granted the vaders, proceeding to reduce and disband the reanguarantee of Great Britain, that she would acknow- nant of the Portuguese armyl, showed their posit;-Ve ledge no government which the invaders might es- intention to retain the kingdom under their own tablish in Portugal, to tile prejudice of the house of exclusive authority. IBraganza. Tile Prince Regent. with the whole This purpose was at last intimated by an official royal family, embarked on board the Portuguese document or proclamation, issued by Jtnot, under vessels of the line, hastily rigged out as they were, Bonaparte's orders. It declared, that, l)y leasing I and indilferently prepared for sea; and thus afforded his kingdom, the Prince of Brazil had in fact abdimodern Europe, for the first time, an example of cated the sovereignty, and that Portugal, having beI that species of' emigration, frequent in ancient days, come a part of the dominions of Napoleon, should, I rhen kings and princes, expelled froms their native for the present, be governed by the French generalseats by the strong alrm of violence, went to seek in-chief, in name of the emperor. The French flag nev establishments in dlistant countries. The royal was accordingly displayed, the arms of Portugal family emlharked*amid the tears, cries, and blessings everywhere removed. The property of the Prince of the people, flnom the very spot whence Vasco de Regent, and of all who had followed him, was seGanma loosened his sails, to discover for Portugal questrated, with a reserve in favour of those who uew realms in tile East. The weather was as gloomy should return before the 15th day of February, the proclamation being published upon the first day of 2* Zth November, 187. that mouth. The next demand upon the unhappy LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 433 country, was for a contribution of forty millions of either party an effectual victory over the other. HIe cruzadoes, or fbur millions and a half sterling,; caused his ambassador, Beauharnais, to intercede whicbh, laid upon a population of something less than in favour of the Prince of Asturias. Charles IV. three millions, came to about thirty shillings a-head, and his mninister were alarmed and troubled at while the share of tile immense numbers who could finding his powerful ally take interest, even to pay nothing, fell upon the upper and middling ranks, this extent, in behalf of his disobedient son. They who had still some property remaining. There was permitted themselves to allude to the private letter not specie enough in the country to answer the from the Prince of Asturias to Napoleon, and to demand; but plate, valuables, British goods, and express a hope that the Great Emperor would not colonial produce, were received instead of' money. permit a rebellious son to shelter himself by an Some of the French oflicers turned jobbers in these alliance with his Imperial family. The touching last articles, sending them off to Paris, where they this chord was what Bonaparte desired. It gave were sold to advantage. Some becatme tmoney-brok- him a lpretext to assumne a lhaughty, distant, and ers, and boughlt up paper-monoey at a discount. So oflended aspect towards tl-e reigning king, who had little does the profession of arms retain of its dis- dared to suspect him of bad faith, and had mentioned interested and gallant character, when its professors with less thlan dlue consideration the name of a lady become habituated' and accustomed depredators. of the Imperial house. The proclamation of 2d February, sesting the Godov was terrified at the interpretation put upon government of Portugal in General Junot, as the the remonstrances made by himself and his master, representative of the French empire, seemed en- by the awful arbiter of their destiny. lzquierdo, tirely to abrogate the treaty of Fontainebleau, and in the Spanish ambassador, was directed to renew his flict really did so, except as to such articles in applications to the emperor, for the especial p1rfavour of Napoleon, as lie himself chose should pose of assuring hini that a match with his fain ly remain in force. As for tile imnaginary princedom of would be in the highest degree acceptable to to(, Algarves, wvith which Godoy was to have been King of Spailn. Charles wrote with his own hao6d' invested, no more wpss ever said or thought about to thie sameie puripose. But it was Napoleon's policy. it; nor was he in ary,ondition to assert his claim to to appear haughty, distant, indifferent, and offlended; it, however formal the stipulation. and to teach tile contending father and son, \iwr While the French were taking possession of Por- both looked to hlim as their judge, the painful feelttgal, one of those scandalous scenes took place ings of mutual suspense. In the meantime, a new in the royal flmaiily at Madrid, which are often levy of the conscripltion put into his hands a i resi found to precede the fall of a shaken throne. army; aind forty thiou.arnd unen were stationedI at We have already mentioned the discontent oftlle Bayoinne, to add weight to his mediaiorn in thbe Prince of Asturias rvith his father, or rather his affairs of Spain. father's minister. We have mentioned that he lid About tills period, lie did not hesitate to avow' to desired to ally himselfwitlh the family of Bonaparte, the ablest of liis counsellors, Talieyrand and FI:in order to secure his protection, but that thle Era- che, tile resolution he lad tforired, that the Sirluish peror of France had given no direct encouragement race of the house of Bourbon should cease to tii':,. to his suit. Still, a considerable party, headed by His plan % as op)pcsed by these sagaci us str t — t tihe Duke del Infaimtado, and the Canon Escoiquiz, men, anid the opposition or tile part of'l'alley o;ili who had been the prince's tutor, relying upon the is represented to irse been oLstinate. At a later general popllarity of Ferdinand, seem to have period, Niapoleon ft;,nd it ilore advantageoi.s io undertaken somei cabal, having for its object pro- load Tl'alleyrand with the charge of being his anlvis r bably the deposition of the old king and the removal in the wvar with Spain, as well as in tlre tragedy of of Godoy. The plot was discovered; the person of the DuLke d'Enghien. In Foruchl's Memoirs, thleie tle prince was secured, and Charles made a cla- is an interestirlg account of his conversation svitih morous appeal to the justice of Napoleon, and to the emperor on that occasion, of swhich we see the opinion of the vwoirl. Ile stated that the l)nr- room fully to credit the authenticity. It places pose of the conspirators had been aimed at his life, bifore ius, ill a striking point of view, arguiienkuts and that of his ftithfial minister; and Iroduced, in for and against this extraordinary and decisise suplrport of this unnatural charge, two letters from measure. "Let Portugal take her fate," Sai(t Ferdifiand, addressed to his parents, in which he Fouch6l, " she is, in fact, little else than an Englishl acknowledges (in general terms) hiaving failed colony. But that King of Spain has given you nm, in dity to hlis father and sovereign, and says, reason to comllplain of himn; Ire has been tile hum- I that lie habs denounced his adv.isers, professes re- blest of your prefects. Besides, take heedyou are pentance, and craves pardon. The reality of this not deceived in the disposition of the Spaniards. affair is not easily penetrated. That there had been You have a party amongst them now, because they a conspiracy, is mnore than probable; the intended look on you as a great and powerful potentate,, a. parricide was probably an aggravation, of which so prince, and an ally. But you ought to be aware weak a man as Charles IV. might be easily convinced that the Spanish people possess no part of the Ger — by the arts of Irhis wife and her paramour. man phlegm. They are attached to their laws. So standing matters int that distracted house, both their government, their ancient customs. It. woald father and son alppealed to Bonaparte, as the august be an error to judge of the national character by friend and ally of Spain, and the natural umpire of that of the higher classes, which are there,.as els. the dispnutes in its royal family. But Napoleon where, corrupted, and indifferent to their country. no.rished views which could not be served by givinr Once more, take heed you do not convert, by uchn OL., VI. h 434 LIFE OF NAPOLEO(N BONAPARTE. an act of aggression, a submissive and useful tribu- Prince of Asturias and one of his kinswomen; and tory kingdom, into a second Vend6e." having thus maintained to tile last the appearances Bonaparte answered these prophetic remarks, by of friendship, he gave orders to the French army observations on the contemptible character of the lying at Bayonne to enter Spain on different points, Spanish government, the imbecility of the king, and and to posses. themselves of the strong fortresses tile worthless character of the minister; the, common by which the frontier ~(' that kingdom is defended. people, who might be influenced to oppose him by the monks, would be dispersed, he said, by one volley of cannon. "Tlse stake I play for is immense-I will continue in my own dynasty the fa- Pampeltmoa, Barcelona, Miontjouy, and St Sebastian's, mily system of the Bourbons, and unite Spain for are frtaudulently seized by the French.-King Charles ever to the destinies of France Remember that proposes to sail for South Amnerica-Insurrection at the sun never sets on the immense empire of Aranjiez in consequence.-Charles resigns tAe crown in Charles V." favoiur of Ferdinand.-3Murat enters 3Iadrid.-Charles Fouch6 urged another doubt; whether, if the disavows his resignation.-General Savary arrives at flames of opposition should grow violent in Spain, netrid.-Napoleon's letter to Mlusrat, touching the in. vasion of Spain. —Ferdinand is instigated to set out to Russia igh t not be encouraged to resume her con- nteet Napoleon —Halts at Vittoria, and learns too late nexion with England, and thus place the empire of Napoleon's designs against him —Joins Bonaparte at Napoleon betwixt two fires? This suspicion Bona- Bayonne.-Napoleon opens his designs to Escoiquiz anid parte ridiculed as that of a minister of police, whose Cevallos, both of whom he finds intractable-He sends habits taught him to doubt tile very existence of for Charles, his queen, and Godoy, to Bayonne.-Shocksincerity. The Emperor of Russia, he said, was ing scene with Ferdinand, who is induced to abdicate completely won over, and sincerely attached to the crown infavour of his father, who resigns it next him. Thus, warned in vain of the wrath and evil day to Napoleon.- This transfer is reluctantly conto come, Napoleon persisted in his purpose. firmed by Ferdinand, who, with his brothers, is sent But, ere yet he pounced upon the tempting prey, to splendid imprisonnment at Valencey. -Joseph Boin which form Spain presented herself to his eyes, naparte is appointed to the throne of Spain, andjoins Napoleon at Bayonne. - Assembly of _Notables conNapoleon miade a hurried expedition to Italy. This Napoleon at Bayonne. - Assebly of Notables conjourney had several motives. One was, to interrupt his communications with the royal family of Spain, NOT a word was spoken, or a motion made, to in order to avoid being pressed to explain the pre- oppose the entrance of this large French army into cise nature of his pretensions, until he was pre- the free territories of a friendly power. Neither the pared to support them by open force. Another was, king, Godoy, nor any other, dared to complain of to secure the utmost personal advantage which the gross breach of the treaty of' Fontainebleau, could be extracted from tile treaty of Fontaineblean, which, in stipulating the formation of the army of before he threw that document aside like waste reserve at Bayonne, positively provided that it paper; it being his purpose that it should remain should not cross the frontiers, unless with consent such, in so far as its stipulations were in behalf of of the Spanish government. Received into the ally others than himself. Under pretext of this cities as fiiends and allies, it was the first object of treaty, he expelled fi'om Tuscany, or Etruria, as it the invaders to possess themselves, by a mixture of was now called, the widowed queen of that terri- force and fraud, oftlhe fortresses and citadels which tory. She now, for the first time, learned, that were the keys of Spain on the French friontier. The by an agreement to which she was no party, she details are curious. was to be dispossessed of her own original domi- At Pampeluna, a body of French troops, who nions, as well as of those which Napoleon himself apparently were amusing thenlselves with casting had guaranteed to her, and ewas informed that she snowballs at each other on the esplanade of the was to receive a compensation in Portugal. This citadel, continued their sport till they had an opincreased her affliction. " She did not desire," she portunity of throwing themselves upon the drawsaid, " to share the spoils of any one, much more of bridge, possessing the gate, and admitting a body a sister and a friend." Upon arriving in Spain, and of their comrades, who had been kept il readiness; having recourse to her parent, the King of Spain, and the capture was thus effectel. for redress and explanation, she had the additional Duhesme, who conmmanded the French troops information, that the treaty of Fontainebleau was to detached upon Barcelona, had obtained perlnission be recognized as valid, in so far as it deprived her froum the Spanish governor to nmount guards of of her territories, but was not to be of' any efftct in French along with those maintained by the native as far as it provided her with indemnification. At soldiers. He then gave out that his troops were another time, or in another history, this would have about to march; and, as if previous to their nlou ing, been dwelt upon as an aggravated system of violence had them drawn up in front of the citadel of the and tyranny over the unprotected. But the far place. A French general rode up under pretence more important affairs of Spain threw those of Etru- of reviewing these men, then passed forward to the ria into the shade. gate of the citadel, as if to speak to the French After so much preparation behind the scenes, portion of the guard. A body of Italian light troops Bonaparte now proposed to open the first grand act rushed in close after the French officer and his sulite; of the impending drama. He wrote from Italy to and the citadel of Barcelona was in the hands of the King of Spain, that he consented to the proposal tie French. Momntjouy, the citadel, as it may be which he had made for the marriage betwixt the termed, of Barcelona. shared the same fate. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 425 St Seh;astian's was overpowered by a body of On the 17th of March, the walls of the palace were French, who had been admitted as patients into the covered with a royal proc.lamation, professing his hI ospital. majesty's intentions to remain with and share the Thus the first fruits of tile French invasion were fate of his subjects. Great crowds assembled joythe unresisted possession of these four fortresses, fully beneath the balcony, on which the royal family each of' which might have detained armies for years appeared and received the thanks of their people, under its walls. for their determination to abide amongst them. But, Nothing could exceed the consternation of the in the course of that same evening, the movements Spanish nation when they saw their frontier invad- among the guards, and the accumulation of carriages ed,.and four of the most impregnable forts in the and baggage, seemed plainly to indicate immediate world thus easily lost and won. There was in- intentions to set forth. While the minds of the dignation as well as sorrow in every countenance; spectators were agitated by appearances so contraand even at this late hour, had Charles and his son dictory of the royal proclamation, an accidental attempted an appeal to the spirit of the people, it quarrel took place betwixt one of the king's bodywould have been vigorously answered. But Godoy, guard and a bystander, when the former fired a mho was the object of national hatred, and was pistol. The literal flash of the weapon could not aware that he would instantly become the victim of more effectually have ignited a powder-mlagazine, any general patriotic movement, took care to re- than its discharge gave animation at once to the gecommend only such measures of safety as he himself neral feelings of the crowd. The few household might have a personal share in. He had at once troops who remained steady could not check the comprehended Napoleon's intentions of seizing upon enraged multitude; a regiment was brought up, conlSpain; and could discern no better course for the manded by Godoy's brother, but the men made a royal family, than that they should follow the ex- prisoner of their commanding-officer, and joined the ample to which their own invasion of Portugal had multitude.'A great scene of riot ensued, the cry given rise, and transport themselves, like the house was universal to destroy Godoy, and some, it is said, of Braganza, to their South American provinces. demanded the abdication or deposition of the king. But what in the Prince of Brazil, surrounded by Godoy's house was plundered in the course of the such superior forces, was a justifiable, nay, a mag- night, and outrages committed on all vWho were nanimous effort to avoid personal captivity, would judged his friends and counsellors. have been in the King of Spain the pusillanimous In the morning the tumult was appeased by the desertion of a post, which he had yet many means news that the king had dismissed his minister. But of defending. the crowd continued strictly to search for him, and Nevertheless, upon Godoy's suggestion, the at length discovered him. He was beaten, wounded, voyage for America was determined on, and troops and it was with some difficulty that Ferdinand salved were hastily collected at Madrid for the sake of se- him from instant death, on a promise that he should curing the retreat of the royal family to Cadiz, where be reserved for punishment by the course of justice. they were to embark. The terror and confusion of The people were delighted with their success thus the king's mind was artfully increased by a letter far, wheen, to complete their satisfaction, the old, from Napoleon, expressing deep resentment at the weak, and unpopular king, on the 20th March, recoldness which Charles, as he alleged, had exhi- signed his crown to Ferdinand, the favourite'of his bited on the subject of the proposed match with his subjects, professing an unconstrained wish to retire house. The intimidated king returned for answer, from the seat of government, and spend his life in, that he desired nothing so ardently as the instant peace and quiet in somrne remote province. This conclusion of the marriage, but at the same time resolution was unquestionably hurried forward by redoubled his preparations for departure. This ef- the insurrection at Aranjuez; nor does the attitude fect was probably exactly what Napoleon intended of a son, who grasps at his father's falling diadem, to produce. If the king went off to America, his appear good or graceful. Yet it is probable that name might be used to curb the party of the Prince Charles, in making this abdication, executed a resoofAsturias; and the chance of influencing the coun- lution on which he hadl long meditated, and from tries where the precious metals are produced, would which he had chiefly been withheld by the interbe nmuch increased, should they fall under the do- cession of the queen and Godoy, who saw in the minlion of the weak Charles and the profligate Godoy. continuation of the old man's reign the only means Meantime, the resolution of the king to depart to prolong their own power. The abdication was from the royal residence of Aranjuez to Cadiz, with formally intimated to Napoleon, by a letter fiom the the purpose of going from thence to New Spain, king himself. began to get abroad among the people of all ranks. While the members of the royal family were disTile Council of Castile remonstrated against the in- tracted by these dissensions, the army of France tentions of the sovereign. T'fe Prince of Asturias was fast approaching Madrid, under the comm and'and his brother joined in a strong protest against of Joachim Murat, the brother-in-law of Bonaparte. t4ie measure. The populace, partaking the senti- He was at Aranda de Duero upon the day of the meats of the heir-apparent and council, treated the insurrection at Aranjuez, and his approach to Madeparture of the king as arising out of some scheme drid required decisive measures on the part of the of the detested Godoy, and threatened to prevent it government. Ferdinand had formed an administraby force. The unfortunate and perplexed monarch tion of those statesmen whom the public voice pointchanged his opinions, or his language at least, with ed out as the best patriots, and, what was thought syevery new counsellor and every new alarm. nonylrfs, the keenest opponents of Godoy. There 436 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. was no time, had there been sufficient spirit in the mother. The queen, equally attached to her paracouncils of the new prince, to request this military mour, and filled witil inanatural hatred to her son, as intruder to stay uponahis road; he was a guest who Godoy's enemy, breathed nothing but vengeance would have known but too well how to make force against Ferdinand and his advisers; and the king at supply the want.of welcome. But this alarming once avowed that his resignation was not the act of visitor was, they next learned, to be followed hard his voluntary will, but extorted by compulsion, in upon the heel by one still more formidable. Napo- consequence of the insurrection of Aranjuez, and its leon, who had hurried back to Paris from Italy, consequences. Thus, the agents of Bonaparte obwas now setting out for Bayonne, with the purpose tained and transmitted to him documents, which, if of proceeding to Madrid, and witnessing in person Ferdinand should prove intractable, might afford the settlement of the Spanish peninsula. ground for setting his right aside, and transacting To render the approach of the Emperor of France with his father as still the legitimate possessor of the yet more appalling to the young king and his infant throne of Spain. government, Beauharnais, the French ambassador, A new actor soon appeared on this busy stage. made no recognition of Ferdinand's authority, but This was Savary, who was often intrusted with observed a mysterious and ominous silence, when Bonaparte's most delicate negotiations. He came, all the other representatives of foreign powers at it was stated, to inquire particularly into the chaMadrid, made their addresses of congratulation to racter of the insurrection at Aranjuez, and of the the new sovereign. Murat next appeared, in all the old king's abdication. He affected to believe that pomp of war; brought tell thousand men within the the explanations which Ferdinand afforded on these walls of Madrid, where they were received with subjects would be as satisfactory to his sovereign as ancient hospitality, and quartered more than thrice to himself; and having thus opened the young king's that number in the vicinity. This commander also heart, by perfectly approving of his cause and conwore a doubtful and clouded brow, and while he duct, he assumed the language of a friendly adviser, expressed friendship for Ferdinand, and good-will and urged and entreated, by every species of arga - to his cause, declined any definite acknowledgment ment, that Ferdinand should meet Bonaparte on the of his title as king. He was lodged in the palace road to Madrid; and the young sovereign, beset of Godoy, supported in the most splendid style, and with difficulties, saw no resource but in. compliance. his every wish watched that it might be attended The capital was surrounded by an army of forty to. But nothing more could be extracted from him thousand foreigners. The communications of Murat than a reference to Napoleon's determination, which with France were kept open by thirty thousand he advised Ferdinand to wait for and be guided by. more; while, exclusive of the Spanish troops, whomn In the idle hope (suggested by French councils) the French had withdrawn to distant reahns in the that a compliment might sooth either the sultan or character of auxiliaries, the rest of the native forces the satrap, the sword of Francis I., long preserved dispersed over the whole realm, and in many cases in memory of his captivity after the battle of Pavia, observed and mastered by the French, did not perwas presented to Murat with great ceremony,; in a haps exceed thirty thousand men. If Ferdinand rich casket, to be by his honoured hands trans- remained in Madrid, therefore, he was as much mitted to those of the Emperor of France. The under the mastery of the French as he would have hope to mitigate Bonaparte's severe resolves by been when advancing northward on the journey to such an act of adulation, was like that of him who meet Bonaparte; while, to leave his capital, and should hope to cool red-hot iron by a drop of liquid raise his standard against France in a distant properfilme. vince, seemed anl idea which desperation only could But though Murat and Beauharnais were very have prompted. chary of saying anything which could commit their Murat, whose views of personal ambition were principal, they were liberal of their private advice interested in the complete accomplishment of the to Ferdinand as his professed friends, and joined in subjugation of Spain, seems to have seen no objecrecommending that he should send his second bro- tion remaining when military resistance was placed ther, the Infant Don Carlos, to greet Napoleon upon out of the question. But the penetration of Napohis entrance into Spain., as at once a mark of re- leon went far deeper; and, Judging from a letter spect, and as a means of propitiating his favour. written to Murat on the 29th March, it seems.u to Ferdinand consented to this, as what he dared not have induced him to pause, while he surveyed all well decline. But when it was proposed that lIe the probable chances which might attend the prosehimself should leave his capital, and go to meet cution of his plan. The resignation of Charles IV. Bonaparte in the north of Spain, already completely had, he observed, greatly complicated the affairs of occupied by French troops, lie demurred, and by the Spain; and thrown him into maucI perplexity. "Do advice of Cevallos, one of the wisest of his counsel- not," he continued, " conceive that you are attacking lors, declined the-measure proposed, until, at least, a disarmed nation, and have only to make a demonhe should receive express information of Napoleon's stration of your troops to subject Spain. The rehaving crossed the frontier. To meet the French volution of the 20th March, when Charles resigned Emperor in Spain might be courtesy, but to advance the tlirone, serves to show there is energy among into France would be meanness, as well as impru- the Spanish people. You have to do with a nesr dence, people, who will display all the enthusiasm proper Meantime, Murat, under pretence of hearing all to men whose political feelings have not been worn parties in the family quarrel, opened, unknown to out by frequent exercise. The grandees and clergy Ferdinand, a correspndence with his father and are masters of Spain. If they once entertain fear LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 437 for their privileges andl political existence, they may long course of his ambition drove him upon the very raise levies against us en masse, which will render perils which his political wisdom had foreseen and the war eternal. I have at present partisans; but if delineated. The immense object of adding Spain to I show myself in the character of a conqueror, I his empire seemed worthy of being pursued, even at cannot retain one of them. l'he Prince of the Peace the risk of stirring to arms her hardy population, is detested, because they accuse him of having be- and exciting a national war, which he himself foretrayed Spain to France. The Prince of the Asturias told might prove perpetual. has none of the qualities requisite for a monarch, but Meantime, to assist the intrigues of Murat, there that will not prevent their ilaking him out a hero, was carried on a sort of' under plot, the object of pros iding he stands forth in opposition to us. I will which was to disguise Napoleon's real intentions, have no violence offered to the persons of that fa- and induce the counsellors of Ferdinand to conmily-it is needless to render ourselves unneces- clude, that lie did not mean to use his power over sarily odious." Spain, save for the attainment of some limited adNapoleon, in this remarkable document, touches vantages, far short of engrossing the supreme autho-' again on the hazard of a popular war in Spain, and rity, and destroying the independence of the kingon the dangers arising fromt the interference of the dom. With this view, some illusory terms held out English; and then proceeds to consider what covurse had been communicated by Duroc to the Spanish his own politics demand. " Shall I go to Madrid, ambassador, Izquierdo, and of which Ferdinand's and there exercise the power of a grand protector of council had received information. These seemed the realm of Spain, by deciding between the father to intimate, that Napoleon's exactions from Slain and son?-WTere I to replace Charles and his mi- might be gratified by the cession of Navarre, and nister, they are so unpopular that they could not some part of her frontier on the north, in exchange sustain themselves three months. On the other hand, for the whole of Portugal, which, according to Ferdinand is the enemy of France; and to set him Izqtierdo's information, Napoleon was not unwilon the throne would be to gratify those parties in ling to cede to Spain. Such an exchange, however the state who have long desired the destruction of objectionable on the ground of policy and morality, her authority. A matrimonial alliance would be but would have been regarded as a comparatively easy a feeble tie of union betwixt us. ransom, considering the disastrous state of Spain, " I do not approve of your highness having so and the character of him who had coiled around the hastily possessed yourself of the capital. You ought defenceless kingdom the folds of his power. to have kept the army at ten leagues distant from Under all the influences of hope and ftar, conMadrid. You could not be sure whether the people scions helplessness, and sup)reme dread of Napoand the magistracy would have recognized the young leon, Ferdinand took his determination, and anking. Your arrival has powerfully served him, by nounced to his Council of State his purpose of going giving the alarnm to the Spaniards. I have com- as fhr as Burgos, to meet his faithiful friend aid aounded Savary to open a communication with the nlighty ally the emperor. His absence, he said, new king, and he will inform you of what passes. would amount to a fesv days, and he created his In the meantime, I prescribe to you the following uncle, Don Antonio, President, during that time, of line of conduct:- the High Council of Government. An elfbrt was "You will take care not to engage me to hold made by Ferdinand, previous to his departure, to any interview with Ferdinand ailhlin Spain, nn- open a more friendly communication wvith his fi.ther; less you judge the situation of things such, that I but the answer only bore that the king was retiring has e no alternative save acknowledging him as king. to rest, and could not be troubled. You will use all manner of civility towards the old On the 11th April, in an evil day, and an hour of king, the queen, and Godoy, and will require that woe, to use the language of the Spanish romancers, the same honours be rendered to them as hereto- Ferdinand set out on his journey, accompanied by fore. You will so manage, that the Spaniards may Savary, who eagerly solicited that honour, assuring not suspect the course I intend to pursue. This him that they would meet Bonaparte at Burgos. wsill not be difficult, for I have not fixed upon it But at Burgos there were no tidings of the French myself:" He then recommends, that such insinua- Emperor, and it was orgy when he had proceeded tions be made to all classes, as may best induce as far as Vittoria, that flerdinand learned Napoleon them to expect advantages firom a more close union had but then reached Bordeaux, and was on his swith'France; exhorts Murat to trust his interests way to Bayonne. He halted, therefore, at Vittoria, exclusively to his care; hints that Portugal will re- where Savary left hinm, and went on to France, to main at his disposal; and enjoins the strictest disci- render an account to his master to what extent his pline on the part of the French soldiery. Lastly, mission bad succeeded. he enjoins Murat to avoid all explanation wvith the Afraid to advance or to retire, yet feeling ridiSpanish generals, and all interference with their culous in the situation where hlie was, Ferdinand's order of march. " There must not," he says in one unpleasant moments spent at Vittoria, were not much place, " be a single match burnt;" and in another, cheered by private intelligence brought him by Don lie uses the almost prophetic expression,-" If war Maiano Urquiijo. This was a Spanish nobleman of once break out, all is lost." considerable talent, who had penetrated the scheme This letter has a high degree of interest, as it of Napoleon, and cause to inform the young king tends to show, that not one of the circumstances and his counsellors, that the intention of' Napoleon which attended the Spanish insurrection escaped was to possess himself of the royal person, dethe prescient eye cf Napoleon, although the head- |pose the dynasty of the B1urlbons, and name a L - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - 4 438 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. menber of his own family to reign in their stead. Bonaparte explained himself at length to tl e Another Spaniard, Don Joseph Hervas, the Canon Escoiquiz, as thie person most likely to rebrother-in-law of General Duroc, and the intimate concile Ferdinand to the lot, which he was deterfriend of Savary, had acquired such strong suspi- mined should be inevitable. The Bourbons, he cions of the plot, that his information corroborated said, were the mortal enemies of him and of his that of Urquijo. The astounded sovereign, and his house; his policy could not permit them to reign in perplexed advisers, could but allege the unlikeli- Spain. They were incapable of wise government; hoodl, that a hero like Napoleon could meditate and he was determined that Spain should be wisely such treachery. "Men of' extraordinary talents," governed in future, her grievances redressed, and replied Urquijo, "commit great crimes to attain the alliance betwixt her and France placed on an great objects, and are not the less entitled heroes." unalterable footing. " King Charles," lie said, "is Iie offered to go to Bayonne as Ferdinand's am- ready to co-operate in such a revolution, by transbassador; and advised him even yet to make his ferring to me his own rights. Let Ferdinand follow escape, and retire to some part of his dominions, his father's wise example, and he shall have the where, free at least, if not powerful, he might treat crown of Etruria, and my niece in marriage. Otherwith Napoleon on more equal terms. wise, I will treat with King Charles exclusively, Ferdinand thought it too late to follow this wise and all Ferdinand can expect is permission to return t-unsel; and, instead of attempting an escape, he to Spain, when hostilities Inust ensue between us." wrote a letter to Napoleon, appealing to all that he Escoiquiz justified the insurrection at Aranjuez, had done to show himself the devoted friend and and pleaded hard the cause of his former pupil. ally of France, and endeavouring to propitiate his By protecting Ferdinand, lie said, Napoleon might favour. An answer was instantly returned, con- merit and gain the esteem and the affection of Spain;. taining much that was alarming and ominous. In this but by an attempt to subject the nation to a foreign the emperor treated Ferdinand as Prince of Astu- yoke, he would lose their affections fobr ever. Bonarias, not King of Spain-censured his earliest mea- parte set these arguments at defiance. The nobles sure of writing to himself without his father's know- and higher classes would, he said, submit for secoledge, and, with what seemed a jealous apprehension rity of their property; a few severe chastisenlents for the rights of sovereigns, blamed him fobr availing would keep the populace in order. But he declared himriself of the arm of the people to shake his father's he was determined on the execution of his plan, throne. He intimated, that he had taken the Prince of should it involve the lives of two hundred thouthe Peace under his own protection; hinted thatthe sand men. " The new dynasty," replied Escoiquiz, prince ought not to rip up the follies of his mother " will in that case be placed on a volcano-an army -nay, did not forbear the highly offensive insi- of two hundred thousand men will be indispensable nuation, that, by exposing her faults, Ferdinand to command a country of discontented slaves." The might occasion his own legitimacy to be called in canon was interrupted by Bonaparte, who observed queestion. Still he assured the prince of his continued that they could not agree upon their principles, and friendship, declared himself anxious to have some said he would on the morrow make known his irrepersonal communication with him on the subject of vocable determination. the revolution of Aranjuez, and intimated, that if To do Napoleon justice, he at no time throrugh the resignation of Charles should appear to have this extraordinary discussion made the least attenipt been voluntary, he would no longer scruple to ac- even to colour his selfish policy. " I am desirols," knowledge King Ferdinand. Ihe said, "' that the Bourbons should cease to reign, Cevallos, before-mentioned as one of Ferdinand's and that my own family should succeed them on tlhe wisest counsellors, would fain have prevailed on him throne of Spain." He declared, that this vwas best to turn back from Vittoria on receiving a letter of both for Spain and France-above all, that lie lhad such doubtful tenor. Even the people of the town the power as well as the wvill to accomplish his opposed themselves to the prosecution of his rash purpose. There was never a more runpalliated case journey, and went so far as to cut the traces of his of violent and arbitrary spoliation. lie argued also mnles. Ferdinand however proceeded, entered with Escoiquiz with the most perfect good humolr, France, and reached Bayonpne; placing himself thus and pulled him familiarly by the ear as he disprut d in that state of absolute dependence upon the plea- with him. " So then, canon," he said, " you, will srure of the French autocrat, which, as Napoleon not enter into my views?"-" On the contrary-," had foretold to Mur1at, could not have had an exist- said Escoiqiz, "' I wish I could induce your maence at any spot within the Spanish territory. Fer- jesty to adopt mine, though it were at tihe expense dinand was now a hostage at least, perhaps a pri- of my ears," which Napoleon was at the momrlllnt soner. handling somewhat rudely. Bonaparte received the anxious prince with flat- With Cevallos the emperor entered into a more tering distinction, invited him to dinner, and treated violent discussion, for Bonaparte was as clioleric Iay him with tlhe usual deference exchanged between temperament, as he was upon reflection anid by sovereigns when they meet. But that very evening policy calmn and mroderate. Upon hearinlg Cevallos, he sent Savary, by whose encouragement Ferdinand in a discussion wilih hiis mrrinister Chainpsigrly, insist had been deluded to undertake this journey, to ac- in a high tone upon ltie character of tile Spaniards, quaint him that the Bourbon dynasty was to cease and tie feelings they were likely to entertain on tlie to reign ir Spain, and that the prince mrrust prepare manner in whlich Ferdinand had been receiver, -' I to relinquish to Napoleon all right over the territories gave loose to hris native violence of d;spnsitiiu, ot'f his ancestors. j accused Cevallos of being a traitor, because,. iam irng LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 439 served the old king, he was now a counsellor of his they were both permitted to return to AMadrid, and son, and at length concluded with the characteristic sumlon the Cortes, or body of national representadeclaration,-" I have a system of policy of my own tives, he was ready to execute, in their presence, a -You ought to adopt more liberal ideas-to be less renunciation of the rights vested in him by his fasusceptible on the point of honour, and to beware ther's abdication. how you sacrifice the interest of Spain to a fantastic In his answer, Charles declared that he had sou[ght loyalty for the Bourbons." the camp of his powerfll ally, not as a king in regal Cevallos being found as intractable as Escoiquiz, splendour, but as an unhappy old man, whose royal the conduct of the negotiation, if it could be called office had been taken fiom him, and even his lifiii so, on the part of Ferdinand, wvas intrusted to Don endangered by the criminal ambition of Ihis own sol,. Pedro de Labrador. Labrador, however, insisted on He treated the convocation of the cortes with conknowing, as an indispensable preliminary, whether tempt. " Everything," he said, " ought to be dolne King Ferdinand were at liberty; and if so, why lhe by sovereigns for the people; but the p)eol)le ought was not restored to his own country? Champagny not to be suffered to carve for themllselves." F'inally, replied, that such return could scarce be permitted, he assured his son that the Emlperor of France could till the emperor and he came to an understanding. alone be the saviour of Spain, anld tllt Napoleon Labrador, in his turn, presented a note, expressing \was determlined that Ferdinand should levelr ell oy on what terms Ferdinand had put himself in the the crown of that kingdom. In diflferent parts of tiis power of Bonaparte, and declaring his master's in- paternal admonition, Charles accused his son of thle tention of immniediate departure. As a practical crime which existing circumstances rendered iliost answer to this intimation, the guards on the king dangerous-of being indisposed towards the inlterests and his brother were doubled, and began to exer- of France. cise somie restraint over their persons. One of tile Ferdinand replied to this manifesto iti firl'n u\il Infants was ietn forcibly stopped by a gendarme. respectfol terms, and appealed, too justly, to t1e.siThe ilan was punished; but the resentment and tuation lihe at present stood in, as a jlrn of' tlov \1despair, shown by the Spaniards of the king's re- bounded had been his confidence inl France. lie tinne, might have convinced Napoleon, how inti- concluded, that since the conditionis lie hail anneelll niately they coniiected thle honour of their country to his offer of resigning back the crown to his ilitlier with the respect due to their royal family. had given displeasure, he was content to ahdiciale Bonaparte found, by all these experiments, that unconditionally; only stipulating thait /.ley should Ferdinand and his counsellors were likely to be less both be permitted to return to their own cotitr>(l. 11t tractable thian hlie had expected; and that it would leave a place where no deed which either emld! be necessary, however unpopular King Charles, and perform would be received by the world;is (lo\x ilI0 still more. his wife and minister, were in Spain, to from free-will. bring theum once more forward on this singular stage. The day after this letter was written, the 11 1,,,'He therefore sent to Murat to cause the old king, tunate Ferdinand was summoned to tile )pret setc:e, iI with tire queen and Godoy, to be transported to his parents, where lie also foiund Naloleon hisriset.i: Bayonne without delay. The arrival of Charles The conclave received him sitting; iind \wlil tie excited rnich interest in the French assembled at king overwhelmed him with. the ilost ouitrageous retBayonne, who flocked to see him, and to trace in his proaches, the queen (the statement applears scarce person and mlanners the descendant of Louis XIV. credible)in the height of her fury, lost sight of s;ielll In external qualities, indeed, there was nothing and womanhood so f:ar as to tell Ferdinanulld, ill Ii-, wanting. HI-e possessed the regal port and dignified husband's presence, that lie wvas the soni of aultlher, man1lners of his ancestors; and, though speaking man. Bonaparte expressed hinisell'greatly shockedl French with difficulty, the expatriated monarch, at this scene, in which he compilred thie qllcr'.:' on nmeeting Nwith Napoleon, showed the easy manners language and deportment to that of a filUry oi tile and noble rniein oft'oie long accustomed to command Grecian stage.'I'he prince's situation, lie owndtl, all around hili. But in spirit and intellect there was moved himn to pity; but the enmotion wais inot strong' a;wofuil deficiency. Napoleon found Charles, his enougth to produce any interposition i hIis fitiotirl. wife, aiud rminister, the willing tools of his policy; Confused with a scene so dreadful, and -.t tiie for Godoy accounted Ferdinand his personal enemy; same time so disgusting, Ferdinand at lengthl exethe miiotlier htted him as wicked women have been cuted the Irenunciation whvich tilnd ben denu(rellllir(de known to Ihate their children when they are con- in such inltemplerate termrs.'Th'lis occurred oni tle scions of Ihaving forfeited their esteem; and tile 6th of May, 1808. But the 1marster of tile (dirtall kiing,, whose oNwn feelings resented the insurrection had not waited till this tiune to coriimmence his opeof Aranjuez, was readily exasperated to an uncon- rations. trolable fit of rage agailnst his son. Two days before Ferdinand's abdication. thart is, Up'on his filst arr ival at Bayonne, Charles loudly upon the 4th, Iris father, Charles, acting ill tile d(maprotested that his abdication of the 20th March was racter of king, vwhich he had laid aside at Aranjiez, the operation of force alone; and demanded that his had named Joachimi Murrat lieutenant.gelneral or'f is son shlloldll repossess him in thle crown, of which he kingdom, and lpresident of the goverrmirents. A bad violently deprived hlll. proclamation was at tlre same tinle Iirblishlred, ill T'le reply of Ferdinand alleged that the resigna- which the Spaniards were particular-ly nirir( ni.xioudsly tion of his father hIad been unqurestionably voluntary cautioned against listenilng to. treachlerous iten. at tlre tinre, and Ire quoted thie old king's repeated agents of England, who nighrt stir thelm ui) agauiust declaratioins t t tat e/ffect. tBut lie declared, that if France. anld assuring them that Spain hiad nlo well 440 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. founded hope of safety, excepting in the friendship deportment, during the tremendous conflict which of the Great Emperor. was continued in the name of Ferdinand for four On the same day, and without waiting for such years and upwards, ever give Napoleon any excuse additional right as he might have derived from his for close restraint, or food for ulterior suspicions. son's renunciation, Charles resigned all claims on The Spanish royal fahmily thus consigned to an Spain, with its kingdoms and territories, in favour of unresisted fate, it only followed to supply the vacant his friend and faithful ally, the Emperor of the throne by a new dynasty, as Napoleon called it; French. To preserve some appearance of attention but, in fact, by some individual closely connected to external forms, it was stipulated that the cession with himself, and absolutely dependent upon him; — only took place under the express conditions that much in the manner in which the inferior partners of the integrity and independence of the kingdom a commercial establishment are connected with, and should be preserved, and that the catholic religion subject to, the management of the head of the house. should be the only one practised in Spain. Finally, For this purpose, he had cast his eyes on Lucien, all decrees of confiscation or of penal consequences, who was, after Napoleon, the ablest of the Bonawhich had been issued since the revolution of Aran- parte family, and whose presence of nlind had so jnez, were declared null and void. Charles having critically assisted his brother at the expulsion of the thus secured, as it was termed, the prosperity, inte- Council of Five Hundred from Saint-Cloud, in a grity, and independence of' his kingdon, by these moment when, in the eyes of the by-standers, that articles, stipulates, by seven which follow, for the of Napoleon seemed rather to waver. suitable maintenance of himself and his queen, his It has been mentioned before, that Lucien had minister the Prince of the Peace, and of' others their offended Napoleon by forming a marriage of personal followers. Rank, income, appanages, were heaped attachment; and it is supposed, that on his part,, he on them. accordingly, with no niggard hand; for the saw with displeasure the whole institutions and liprodigality of the king's gift called for some ade- berties of his native country sacrificed to the granI quate requital. deur of one man, though that man was his brother. Still the resignation of Ferdinand in Napoleon's He had been heard to say of Napoleon, " that every favorur was necessary to give him some more colour- word and action of his were dictated by his political able right, than could be derived from the alienation, system," and " that the character of his politics by the father, of a crown which he had previously rested entirely on egotism." Even the proffer of" abdicated. Much urgency was used with Ferdinand the kingdom of Spain, therefore, did not tempt Luon the occasion, and for some time firmly resisted. cien fiom the enjoyments of a private station, where But he found himself completely in Napoleon's he employed a large income in collecting pictures power; and the tragedy of the Duke d'Enghien and objects of art, and amused his own leisure with might have taught him, that the emperor stood on literary composition. Receiving this repulse fiomn little clenrony with those who were interruptions Lucien, Bonaparte resolved to transfer his eldest in his path. His counsellors also assured hini, that brother Joseph from the throne of Naples, where, no resignation which he could execute in his present as an Italian, acquainted with the language and state of' captivity could be binding upon himself or manners of the country, he enjoyed some degree of upon the Spanish nation. Yielding, then, to the cir- popularity, and bestow on him a kingdom far more cutrstances ill which he was placed, Ferdinand also difficult to master and to govern. Joachim Mtlrat, entemred into a treaty of resignation; but he no longer Grand Duke, as lie was called, of Berg, at present obtained the kingdom of Etruria, or the marriage in command of the army which occupied Madrid, with Bonaparte's niece, or any of the other advan-. was destined to succeed Joseph in the throne which tages held out in the beginning of the negotiation. he was about to vacate. It was said, that the subThese were forfeited by his temporary hesitation to ordinate parties were alike' disappointed fwith the oblige the emperor. A safe and pleasant place of parts assigned them in this masque of sovereigns. residellce, which was not to be absolutely a prison, Murat thought his military talents leserved the and an honourable pension, were all that was al- throne of Spain, and the less ambitious Joseph, lowed to Ferdinand, in exchange for his natural preferring quiet to extent of territory, wvould have birthright, the mighty kingdom of Spain. The In- willingly remained contented with the less important fants, his brothers, who adhered to the same acces- royalty of Naples. But Napoleon did not permit the sion which stripped Ferdinand of'his ileritage, were will of others to interfere with what lie had prein like manner recompensed by similar provisions viously determined, and Joseph was sumnmoned to for their holding in future the kind of life which that meet him at Bayonne, and prepared, by instructions resignation condemned them to. The palace of communicated to him on the road, to perforimi without Navarre and its dependencies had been assigned to remonstrance his part in the pageant. The purposes Ferdinand as his residence; but he and his brothlers, of Napoleon were now fully announced to the world. the Infanlts, were afterwards conducted to that of An Assembly of Notables fiom all parts of Spain Valencey, a superb mansion belonging to the cele- were convoked, to recognize the new moiiarch, andl brated Talleyrand, who was punished, it was said, by adjust the constitution under which Spain should be this allocation, for having differed in opinion from his in fuiture administered. master, on the mode on which hlie should conduct The place of meeting was at Bayonne; the duke himself towards Spain. The royal captives observed of convocation was the 15th of June; and the object such rules of conduct as were recommended to them, announced for considerationof the Notables was the withoaut dreamiing apparently either of escape or of regeneration of' Spain, to be effected under the atsresistance to tile will of the victor; nor did their pices of Napoleon. I mAst o i md wi h sor cnu T pa o etn ra Hyne l ae LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 441 But events had already occurred in that kingdom, were superior to the bigotry which the ecclesiastics tending to show that the prize, of which Bonaparte endeavoured to inspire them willl; but, mistaking disposed so freely, was not, and might perhaps the reverse of wrong for the right, many of these never be, within his possession. He had indeed classes had been hurried into absolute scepticism, obtained, by a course ofthe most audacious treachery, having renounced altogether the ideas of religion, all those advantages which, after the more honour- which better instruction would have taught them to able success obtained in great battles, had prostrated separate from superstition, and having adopted in powerful nations at his feet. He had secured the their extravagance many of the doctrines which capital with an army of forty thousand men. The were so popular in France at the commnencement of frontier fortresses were in his possession, and en- the Revolution. abled him to maintain his communications with Ma- The lower classes of Spain, and especially those drid; the troops of the Spanish monarchy were who resided in the country, possessed nearly the either following his own banner in remote climates, same character which their ancestors exhibited or broken up and scattered in small bodies through uinder the reign of Charles V. They were little Spain itself. These advantages he.had obtained interested by the imperfections of the government, over Austria after Austerlitz, and over Prussia after for the system, though execrable, did not immediJena; and in both cases these monarchies were ately affect their comforts. They lay too low for placedat thevictor'sdiscretion. But inneither case personal oppression, and as the expenses of the had he, as now at Bayonne, the persons of the royal state were supplied from the puoduce of the Amefamily at his own disposal, or had he reduced them rican provinces, the Spanish peasants were stranto the necessity of becoming his mouth-piece, or gers, in a great measure, to the actions of the taxorgan, in announcing to the people the will of the gatherer. Born in a delicious climate, where the conqueror. So that, in this very important particu- soil, on the slightest labour, returned far more lar, the advantages which he possessed over Spain than was necessary for the support of the labourer, were greater than those which Napoleon had ob- extreme poverty was as rare as bard toil.'The tained over any other country. But then Spain con- sobriety and moderation of the Spaniard continued tained within herself principles of opposition, which to be one of his striking characteristics; he prewere nowhere else found to exist in the same extent. ferred his personal ease to increasing the sphere of his enjoyments, and would rather-enjoy his leisure upon dry bread and onions, than toil more severely CHAPTER LXI. to gain better fare. His indolence was, however, often exchanged for the nmost active excitation, and State of morals and manners in Spain. —The nobility- though slow in the labours of the field, the Spaniard the middle classes-the lower ranks.-The indignation was inexhaustible in his powers of traveling through of the people strongly excited against the French.-In- his plains and sierras, and at the end of a toilsome surrection at Madrid on the 2d May, in which many, seemed more often desirous of drivin thie Frenht tlroops fell.-icurat proclaims an amsesty, away his fatigue by the dancd, than of recruiting noiritbstanding v'hich, upwards of 200 Spanishprisoners are pult to death.-K'i'ng Charles appoints Murat Lieu- himself by repose. There lvele many classes of tenant.greeeral of t/re kingdom, and Ferdinand's re- peasantry,-shepherds, naleteers, traders between signalionl of' the throne is announced.-Murat unfolds distant provinces, —wllo led a wande-ing life by the plan of govern.ment to the Council of Castile, and profession, and, from the insecure state of the roads, addresses of submission are sent to Bonaparte from were in the habit of carrying arms. Blt even the various qularters. — Notables appointed to meet at general habits of the cultivators of the soil led thenm Bayo,nne on 15th June -Theflame of resistance becomes to part with the advantages of civilized society upon universal throughout Spain. more easy terms than the peasantry of a less pli mitive country. The few and simple rights of tile THE government of Spain, a worn-out despotism, Spaniard were under the protection of the alcalde, lodged in the hands of a family of the lowest degree or judge of his village, in whose nomination lie had of intellect, was one of the worst in Europe; and usually a vote, and whose judgmlent was usually the state of the nobility, speaking in general (for satisfactory. Itf, however', an individual experienced there, were noble exceptions), seemed scarce less oppression, he took his cloak, sword, and llmusket, degraded. The incestuous practice of m'rrying and after or without avenging the real or supposed within the near degrees of propinquity had long inljury, plunged into the deserts in which the Penlexisted, with its usuatl consequences, the dwarfing insula abounds, joined one of thle numerous bands of of the bod-, and degeneracy of the understanding. contraband traders and outlaws by which they Awere The edtlcation of the nobility swas committed to the haunted, and did all this without experiencing any priests, who took care to give them no lights beyond violent change, either of sentiment or manlner of life. catholic bigotry. The custom of the country intro. As the habits of the Spaniard rendered him a duced thenm to premature indulgences, and they ready soldier, his disposition and feelings made him ceased to be children, without arriving either at a willing one. He retained, with other traits of his the strength or the intellect of youth. ancestry, much of that Castilian pride, which mixed The middling classes, inhabitants of towns, and both with the virtues and defects of- is nation. The those who followed the, learned professions, had not hours of his indolence were often bestowed on studybeen so generally subjected to the same withering ing the glories of his fathers. He was well acquaintinlfluence of superstition and luxury. In many in- ed with their struggles uagainst the Moors, their stances, they hlad acquired good educations, and splendid conquests in the New World, their long voL. Vy.! LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. wars with France; and when the modern Castilian evening, in the highest degree gloomy and disconcontrasted his own times wvith those which had tented. On the next day (first of May) the Gate of passed away, he felt assurances in his bosom. that, the Sun, and the vicinity of the Post-office were if Spain had descended from the high pre-eminence crowded with men, whose looks menaced violence, she formerly enjoyed in Europe, it was not the fault and: whose capas, or long cloaks, were said to conof the Spanish people. The present crisis gave an ceal arms. The French garrison got under arms, additional stimulus to their natural courage and but this day also passed off without bloodshed. their patriotism, because the yoke with whicli they- On the 2od of May, the streets presented the sariie were threatened was that of France, a people to gloomy and menacing appearance. The crowds whom their own national character stands in such which filled theum were agitated by reports that the opposition, as to excite mutual hatred and contempt. whole remaining members of the royal family were Nothing, indeed, can be so opposite as the stately, to be removed, and they saw the Queen of Et:ruria grave, romantic Spaniard, with his dislike of labour, and her children put into their carriages, together and his rigid rectitude of thinking, to the lively, bus- with Don Francisco, the youngest brother of Fertling, sarcastic Frenchmlan, indefatigable in prosecu- dinand, a youth of fourteen, who appeared to feel tion of whatever he undertakes, and calculating fie- his fate, for he wept bitterly. The general fiury quiently his means of accomplishing his purpose, broke out at this spectacle, and at once and on all with much more ingenuity than integrity. The bi- sides, the populace of Madrid assailed the French gotry of the Spaniar'ds was no less strikingly can- troops with the most bitter animosity. The number trasted with the scoffing, and, at the scane time, of French who fell was very considerable, the sweaproselytizing scepticism, which had been long a pons of the assailants being chiefly their long knives, distinction of modern France. which the Spaniards use with such fatal dexterity. To conclude, the Spaniards, easily awakened to Murat poured troops into the city to suppress the anger by national aggression, and peculiarly sensible consequences of an explosion, which had been lonlg to such on the part of a rival nation, were yet more expected. The streets were cleared with volleys irresistibly excited to resistance and to revenge, by of grape-shot and with charges of cavally, but it the insidious and fraudulent manner in which they required near three or four hours' hald fighting to had seen their country stript of her d.efenders, de- convince the citizens of Madr;d, that they were enprived of her frontier fortresses, her capital seized, gaged in an attempt entirely hopeless. About the and her royal family kidnapped, by an ally who had imiddle of the day, some members of the Spanish not alleged even a shadow of pretext for such enorm- government, joining themselves to tile more humane ous violence. part of the French generals, and partic ularly General Suich being the character of the Spaniards, and Harispe, interfered to separate the combatants, ~such the provocation they had received, it was im- when there at length ensued a cessation of these possible that much time should elapse ere their in- strange hostilities, maintained so lung and with sllch dignation became manifest. The citizens of Madrid filry by men almost totally unarnled, against the had looked on with gloomy suspiciol at the course flower of the French army. of public events which followed Ferdinand's impru- A general amnesty was proclaimed, in defiance of dent journey to Bayonne. By degrees almost all the which Murat caused seize upon and execute several rest of the royal family were withdrawn thither, and large bands of Spaniards, made prisoners in the Godoy, upon whose head, as a great public criminal, scuffle. They were shot in parties of forty or fifty the people ardently desired to see vengeance inflict- at a time; and as the inhabitants were compelled to ed, was also transferred to the same place. The illuminate their houses during that dreadful night, interest excited in the fate of the poor relies of the the dead and dying might be seen lying on tihe royal fanily remaining at Madrid, which consisted pavement as clearly as at noon-day. These military only of the Queen of Etruria and her children, the executions were renewed on the two or three folInfant Don Antonio, brother of the old king, and lowing days, probably With more attention to the Don Francisco, youngest brother of Ferdinand, grew selection of Nictims, for the insulgents were now deeper and deeper among the populace. condemned by French military courts. The numrber On the last day of April, Murat produced an of citizens thus murdered is said to have amounted order to Don Antonio, who still held a orominal to two or three hundred at least. On the 5th May, power of regency, demanding that the Queen of Murat published a proclamation, relaxing in h;is Etruria and her children should be sent to Bayonne. severity. This occasioned some discussion, and the news This crisis had been extremely violent, much more getting abroad, the public seemed generally deter- so, perhaps, than the French had ever experienced mined that they would not permit tlre last remains in a similar situation; bhut it had been encountered of their royal family to travel that road, on which, with such celerity, and put down with such rigour, as on that which led to the lion's den in the iable, that Murat may well have thought that the severity they could discern the trace of no returning footsteps. was sufficient to prevent the recurrence of similar The tidings from thence had become gradually more scenes. The citizens of Madrid did not again, and more unfavourable to tie partisans of Ferdinand, indeed, undertake the task of firuitless opposition; and the courier, who used to arrive every night friom bhut, like a bull stupified by the first blow of tile Bayonne, was anxiously expected on the evening of axe, suffered their conquerors to follow forth their April the 30th, as likely to bring decisive news of tfatal purpose, without resistance, but also without Napoleon's intentions towards his royal visito,. No submission. courier arrived, and the popl;la:e retired for t:e News camse now with sufficient speed, and their LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 443 tenor was such as to impress obedience on those resistance usually began amnong the lower class of ranks, who had rank and title to lose. Don Antonio the inhabitants. But in such instances as their set off fior Bayonne; and on the 7th of May arrived natural leaders and superiors declared themselves and was promulgated at Madrid, a declaration by frankly for the same cause, the insurgents arranged the ol11 King Charles, nominating Murat lieutenant- themselves qllietly in the ranks of subordinDation general of the kingdom. The abdication of the son, Datural to them, and the measures which ilhe time less expected and more mortifying, was next made rendered necessary were adopted with vigotlr and ptlblic, and a proclamation in his name and those unanimity. In other instances, when the persons of the Infants, Don Carlos and Don Antonio, recom- in possession of the authority opposed themselves to mended the laying aside all spirit of resistance, and an the wishes of the people, or gave theml reason, by implicit obedience tothe irresistible power of France. tergiversation and afTectation of delay, to believe'rhe destined plan of government was then un- they were inot sincere in the cause of the country, folded by Murat to the Council of Castile, who first, the fury of the people broke out, and they indulged by an adulatory address, and then by a deputation their vindictive temper by the most bloody excesses. of their body dispatched personally to Bayonne, At Valencia in particular, before the insurrectioli hailed the expected resuscitation of the Spanish could be organized, a wretched priest, called Calvo, monarchy as a certain and infallible consequence of had headed the rabble in the massacre of upwards the throne being possessed by a relation of the great of two hundred French residing within the city, Napoleon. Other bodies of consequence Nwere pre- who were guiltless of any offence, except their vailed upon to send similaraddresses; atnd one in the being of that country. T'he governor of Cadiz, name of the city of Madrid, its streets still slippery Solano, fallingr under popular snspicion, wvas, in with the blood of its citizens, was dispatched to like mlanner, putto death; and similar bloody scenes express the congratulations of the capital. The signalized the breaking out of the insurrectioii in summons of Murat, as lieutenant-general of Kin' different parts of the Peninsula. Charles, ald afterwards one fromn Bonaparte, as Yet, among these bursts of popular flury, there possessed of the sovereign power by the cession of were mixed great signs of calmness and national sathat feeble monarch, convoked the proposed meet- gacity. Tihe arrangemlents made for organizirg their in!, of the Notables at Bayonne on 15th June; and defetnce, were wisely adopted. Tlle supreme power the members so summoned began to depart from of each district was vested in a Junta, oi Select such places as were under the immediate influence Cotntiittee, who were chosen by the people, and of the French armies, in order to give their attend- in general the selection was judiciously iiade. These ance upon the proposed convocation. bodies were necessarily independent in their reTile news of the insurrection of Madrid, on tIe spective governments, but a friendly colrmmnllicattioa 2d May, had in the meantime comrmunicated itself was actively maintained amiong them, and by cornwith the speed of electricity to thIe most remote I mon consent a deference was paid to the J unta of provinces of the kingdom; and everywhere, like an Seville, the largest and richest town in Spail, after alarmn-signal, had inspired the most impassioned Mliadrid, and whose temporary governors chanices, spirit of opposition to the invaders. The kingdoml, generally speaking, to be men of integrity and talents. fiom all its provinces, cried out with one voice for war T'lhese provisional Juntas proceeded to act with and vengeance; and the movement was so universal much vigour. The rich were called upon fobr paand simultaneous, that the general will seemed in a triotic contributions. The clergy were requested to great measure to overcomne or despise every disad- send the church plate to the lint. The poor were vantage, which could arise fronm the suddenness enjoined to enter tihe ranks of the defenders of the of the event, and the unprepared state of the countr'y. country, or to labour on the fortifications which tIle The occupation of Madrid might have been of defences Yendered necessary. All these calls were, more importance to check and derange tile move- willingly obeyed. The Spanisi soldiery, wherever ments of the Spanish nation at large, if that capital situated, turned invariably to the side of the courltry, Ihad borne exactly the same relation to the kingdom and the insurlrection had not broken out many days, which other metropolises of Europe usually occupy when the whole nation assumed a formidable aspect to theirs, anrd which Paris, in particular, bears of general and permanent resistance. Let us, in towards France. But Spain consists of several the meantime, advert to the conduct of Napoleon. separate provinces, formerly distinct sovereignties, That crisis, of which Bonaparte had explessed vwhich having been united under the same sovereign so muich apprehension in his prophetic letter to by the various modes of inheritance, treaty, or con- Murat-the coimmencement of that war, which was quest, still retain their separate laws; and though to be so lonlg in arriving at a close —had taken place agreeing in the general features of the national in the streets of Madrid on the second of May; and character, have shades of distinction which dis- the slaughter of the inhabitants, with the subsequent tingiiish them froln each other. Biscay, Galicia, executions by the orders of M urat, had given tle siCatalonia, Andalusia, Valencia, anld other lesser gnal for the popular fermentation throughout Stpain, domnirionis of Spain, each had their capitals, their which soon attained the extent we have just deinternal government, and the means of providing scribed. themselves for resistance, though Madrid was lost. The news arrived at Bayonne on the 4th May, the The patriotic spirit broke out in all parts of Spain very day on wvhich the weak old king surrendered at once, excepting where the French actually pos- his regal rights to Napoleon, and the know l.edge sessed large garrisons, and even there the spirit of that blood had been spilled became an additiolal the people was suliciently manifest. The call for reason for urging Ferdinand to authenticate thLat 447 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPAR rE. cession. To force forward the transaction -without Tile brothers then parted, and Joseph prepsared a moment's delay; to acquire a right such as he to accomplish the destinies shaped out for him by cotld instantly make-use of as a pretext to employ his his brother, while Napolenn returned to the capital slupeiior foice and discililled army, became now a of his augmented emnpire. The former did nrot traenatter of the last importance; and Cevallos avers, vel fast or far, although the Moniteurs announced shat, inl order to overcome Ferdinand's repugnance, nothing save thle general joy testified by the Spaniards Napoleon used langutiage of the most violent kind, at his reception, and the serenades pertirmed by cournandliinghis captive to chuse betwixt death anld the natives on their guitars from night till morning acquiescence in his pleasure. The French Emperor i under tile windows of tieir new sovereign. The succeeded in this point, as we have already shown, sounds by which lie was in reality surrounded wvere anld lie now proceeded to the execution of his ul-! of a sterner and more warlike character. The timate purpose, withlout condescending to notice tidings of insurrection, imperfectly heard and rethat the people of Spain were a party czoncerned in luctantly listened to, on the isorthern side of thle this change of rulers, and that they were in arms in I Pyrenees, were renewed with astonnding arid overall her provinces for the purpose of opposing it. powering reiteration, as the intrusive king approaclled To the French public, the insurrection of Madrid the scene of his proposed usurpation. He was in was described as a mere popular explosion, although, [ the condition of tlre huntsman, who, expecting that perhaps for the purpose of striking terror, the hnum- the tiger is at his niercy, and secured in the toils, hers of the Spanish who fell were exaggerated from has the unpleasing surprise of finding him free, and a few ilhundreds to "some thousands of the worst irritated to firenzy. It was judged proper, as Joseph disposed wretches of the capital," whose destrac- i possessed no talents of a niilitary order, that he tion was stated to be matter of' joy and congratula- should renrain at Vittoria until the measures adopted tion toall good citizens. Onthe yet more formidable by hiis brother's generals might secure him a free insurrections through Spain in general, the Moniteeur arid safe road to the capital. It is singular, that the observed an absolute silence. It appeared as if the frontier town which thus saw his early hesitation at French troops had been everywhere received by entering upon his undertaking., was also witness to the Spanlish people as liberators; and as if tie I its final arid disgracefll conclusion, by the final deproud nation, which possessed so many ages of i feat which he received there in 1813. fitme, was wvaitinlg her doom from the pleasure of the No doubts or forebodings attended the return of French Enmperor, with the same passive spirit exhi- Nalpoleon to Paris. Tile eyes of the French were bited by the haumbled republics of Venice or Genoa. too much dazzled by tihe splendid acquisition to the Bonaparte proceeded on the same plan of disgulise, Great Empire, which was supposed to have been aril seenled himrrself not to notice those signs of ge- secured by the measures taken at Bayonne, to pernleral r-sistance which he took care to conceal from nmit them to examlinme the basis of violence and inthe public. WVe have already mentioned the pro- justice on which it was to be founded. The union ceedings of the Assembly of Notables, whom Ire of France alnd Spain, under kindred monarchs. had affected to consider as the representatives of tile been long accounted the masterpiece of LouisXV.'s Sparish nation, though summoned by a fobreign policy; and the French now saw it, to outward upprince, meeting within a foreign land, and possessing pearance, on the lpoint of accomplishment, at the nlo powers of delegation enabling them, under any simple wish of the wonderfil man who had erected legal formn, to dispose of the rights of the meanest France into the iMlistress of the WVorld, and whose hamlnlet in Spain. Joseph, who arrived at Bayonne vigour in forming plans for her yet augmnlenting granon the fifth of'June, was recognized by these obse- deir was only equalled by the celerity with which quious personages; received their homlage; agreed they w-ere carried into execution. to guarantee their new constitution, and p1romnised Bonaparte had indeed availed himself to the uthappiness to Spain, while he only alluded to the most of that art of seducing and acting upon thle existence of discontents in that kingdom, by express- imagination of the French people, in which he acing his intention to remain ignorant of the particulars cuased the Directory of being deficient. He had of such ephemreral disturbances. strung the popular feelilg in such a manner, that it At length Napoleon, who had convoked this corn- was sure to respond to almnost every note which he pliant body, thought proper to give them audience chose to strike upon it. The love of national glory, before their return to their own country. It is said in itself a praisewortthly attribute, becomes a vice he was tired of a farce to which few were disposed when it rests on success accomplished by meatis to give any weight or consequence. At least he inconsistent with honour and integrity. These runwvas so much emnbarrassed by a consciousness of the favourable parts of the pictutre lhe kept in srhade, wide distinction between tle real condition in which while, as an artful picture-dealer, ihe threw tire hie was placed, amid that which he was desirous of full lights on those which announced the augmenrri ted being thought to hold, flthat he lost, on this occasion, grandeur anid happiness of France. The nation, his usinal presence of mind; was embarrassed in his always willing listeners to their own praises, were mnanner; repeated from time to tine phrases which contented to see with the eyes of their ruler; and had neither meaning nor propriety; and took a brief at no period in his life did Bonaparte appear to be adieu of his astonished audience, who were suir- in such a genuine degree the pride and adllmiration of prised to see how much thle consciouisness of the France as when retlurning fronl Bayonne, after havevil part hie was acting had confulsed his usual ing, in his attempt to seize upon the crown of SIpair, aulacity of assertion, and checked the fluency of perpetrated a very great crime, and at the samne tiune his general style of elocutionl. conmitted an egregious folly. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 445 The appearance of brilliant success, however, had outset, and touch generally u-pon its moxe importaat its usual eflect upon the multitude. In his return incidents. through Pau, Toulouse,' Montauhan, arnd tile other The Spanish Juntas had wisely recornmmendd to towns in that district, the emperor was received their countrymen to avoid general engageilents,with the honours due to a denli-god. Their antique to avail themselves of the difficulties of various and gloomy streets were arched over with laurels, kinds which their country presents to an armny of and strewed with flowers; tile external walls of invaders,-to operate upon the flanks, tile rear, and their houses were covered with tapestry, rich hang- the commnrrnications of the French, —and to engage ings, and splendid paintings; the population crowd- the enemy in a war of posts, in which coura ge and ed to meet the emperor, and the mayors, or prefects, natural instinct bring the native sharp-shooter more could scarce find language enough to exaggerate upon a level with the trained and practised soldier, what was the actual prevailing tone of adnilration than the professors of military tactics are at all towards Napoleon's person. Bordeaux alone ex- times willing to admit. Bat although this plan was hibited a melancholy and silent appearance. But excellently laid down, and in part adhered to, irs Nantes and La Vend6e, so distinguished as faithful which case it seldom failed to prove successful, yet to the Bourbon cause, seemed to join in the general on nmany occasions it became impossible for the feeling of the period; and tile population of these Spanish leaders to avoid more general actions, inl corutries rushed to congratulate him, who had which defeat and loss were usually inevitable. Thle svith a strong hand plucked fiom the thlrone the character of tile insurrectionmary armnies, or rather of last reigning branch of that illstrious house' T'he the masses of armed citizens so called, led to irany gods, says a heathen poet, frequently punish the fatal errors of this kind. They were confident in tolly of mortals by granting their own ill-chosen their own numbers and courage, in proportion to wishes. In tihe present case, they who rejoiced in their ignorance of the superiority which discithe seeming acquisition of Spaill to tile French pline, tile Plossession of cavalry and artillery, and empire, could not foresee that it was to cost the the power of executing combined and united nlolives of a million of Frenchmen; and he who re- vements, must always bestow upon regular forces, ceived their congratulations was totally unaware, They were also impatient of the miseries necessarily that he had been digging under his own feet the broulght upon the country by a protracted and sysminre by which he was finally to be destroyed. tematic war of mere defence, and not less unwilling to bear the continued privations to wlich they themselves were exposed. On some occasions, CHAPTER LXII. opposition on the lart of their officers to their demand of being led against the eneriry, to purt an end, Plans of defence of the Spanishl Jutrras-de.feated by the as they hoped, to the war, by orne brave blow, was ardour of the insurrectionrary armies.-Crueety of the conlstrued into cowardice or treachery; and falling French troops, and inveteracy of the Spaniards.-Sc- under tile suspicion of either, was a virtual sentence cesses of the invaders -Defeat of Rio Secco —Exult- of death to the suslpected person. Sometimes, also, aiou of Napoleon-Joseph entoeirs Madrid-His recep- thlese insurrectionary bodies were forced to a genetion.-Duhesme compelled to retreat to Barcelona, and ral action, whicr they would willingly have avoid1Iolrcey front before Valencia.-Defeat of Dupont by Castaslos at Baylen-H-is armry suorrenders prisoeners ed, either by want of plovisions, itlh whrici.f roar.-fects of this rictory and capiltlatlior.- they were indifferently supplied at all times, or by - Unreasonable expectations of the British public.-Jo- the. superior nlanceuvres of a skilful enemy. In seph leaves Madrid, and retires to Vittoria. —Defence most of' tlhe actions whichl took place from these ol' Zaragossa. various causes, tile French discipline effectrally prevailed over the undisciplined courage of' the inSURROUNDED by insurrection, as we have stated surgents, and the patriots were defeated with severe them to be, tl:e French generals who had entered loss. Spain entertained no fear but that the experience of On these occasions, the cruelty of thie contheir superiority in military skill and discipline qulerors too freqnently srllied their victory, arrd would soon teach the Spaniards thle folly of their lmaterially injured the cause in whicll it was gained. unavailing resistance. The invading armies were Affecting to consider tire Spaniards, who appeared no longer commanded by Murat, who had returned in arms to oppose a foreign yoke and an iltrulsise to France, to proceed from thence to take posses- king, as rebels taken in tile fact, the prisoners who sion of the throne of Naples, vacant by the promo- fell into the Ihands of the French were subjected to tion of Joseph, as in earlier life hle mlight have at- military execution; and thle villages where they tained a higher step of military rank, in consequence had met with opposition were delivered tip to the of regimental succession. Savary, who had, as we licentious fury of the soldier, who spared neither have seen, a principal share in directing Ferdi- sex nor age. The French perhaps renenbered, nand's mind towards the fatal journey to Bayonne, that some such inrstances of' sanguilrary severity, remained in command at Madrid, and endeavoured, in the commencement of the Italian camnpaigns, had by a general system of vigorous effort in variorls di- compelled the insurgents of Lombardy to lay down rections, to put an end to the insurrection, which their arms, and secured tile advantages which Nahad now becomle general wherever the French did poleon had gained by the defeat of the Austrian not possess such preponderating armed force, as forces. But in Spain the result was extremely difrendered oppositionimpossible. We can but hint at ferent. Every atrocity of this kind was a new 4he character which the war assumed even at the iljury to be avenged, and was resented as such by 446 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. a nation at no time remarkable for forgiveness of confidence of the army, but whose military talents wrongs. The sick, the wounded, the numerous were not of the first order, succeeded Filangiern in stragglers of the French army, were, when they fell his dangerous command, and having led his Gnliinto the hands of the Spaniards, which fiequently cian levies to form a junction with Cuesta, they now happened, treated with the utmost barbarity; and proceeded together towards Burgos. The two this retaliation hardening the heart, and inflaming generals differed materially in opinion. Cuesta, the passions of either party, as they suffered by it though he had previously suffered a defeat from the in turn, the war assumed a savage, bloody, and French near Cabezon, was for hazarding the event atrocious character, which seemed to have for its of a battle, moved probably by tile difficulty of object not tile subjection, but the extermination of keeping together and maintaining their disorderly the vanquished. forces; while Blake, dreading the superiority of the The character of the country, very unfavoutable French discipline, deprecated the risk of a general to the French mode of supporting their troops at action. Bessidres left tllem no choice on the subthe expense of the districts through which they ject. He came upon them, when posted near Memarched, added to the inveteracy of' the struggle. dina del Rio Secco, where, on the 14th July, tile Some parts of Spain are no doubt extremely fertile, combined armies of Galicia and Castile received but there are also immense tracts of barren plains, the most calamitous defeat which the Spaniards had or unproductive mountains, which affordbuta scanty yet sustained. The patriots fought most bravely, support to the inhabitants themselves, and are to- and it was said more than twenty thousand slaini tally inadequate to supply the additional wants of were buried on the field of battle. an invading army. In such districts the marauders, Napoleon received the news of this victory with to be successful in their task of collecting provi- exultation. " It is," he said, " the battle of Villa sions, had to sweep a large tract of country on each Viciosa. Bessidres has put the crown on Joseph's aide of the line of march,-an operation the more head. The Spaniards," he added, " have now difficult and dangerous, that though the principal perhaps fifteen thousand men left, with some old high-roads through Spain are remarkably good, yet blockhead at their head;-the resistance of the the lateral communications connecting them with Peninsula is ended." In factthe victoryof Medina the countries which they traverse are of the worst del Rio Secco made the way open for Joseph to possible description, and equally susceptible of being advance from Vittoria to Madrid, where he arrived defended by posts, protected by ambuscades, or without molestation. He entered the capital in altogether broken up, and rendered impervious state, but without receiving any popular greetings, to an invader. Hence it was long since said by save what the municipal authorities found thermHenry IV., that if a general invaded Spain with selves compelled to offer. The money which was a small army, he must be defeated -if with a scattered amongst the populace was picked up by large one, he must be starved; and the gigantic the French alone, and by the French alone were tile undertaking of Bonaparte appeared by no means theatres filled which had been thrown open to the unlikely to fail, either from the one or the other public in honour of their new prince. reason. In the meantime, however, the advantages obAt the first movement of the French columns tained by Bessidres in Castile seemed fast in the into the provinces which were in insurrection, vic- course of being outbalanced by the losses which the tory seemed everywhere to follow the invaders. French sustained in the other provinces. Duhleslme Lefebvre Desnotlettes defeated the Spaniards in with those troops which had so treacilerou!sly peasArragon on the 9th of June; General Bessieres beat sessed themselves of Barcelona and Fiueras, the insurgents in many partial actions in the same seems, at the outset, to have entertained little dolubt month, kept Navarre and Biscay in subjection, and of being able, not only to maintain himself in C;t.aoverawed the insargents in Old Castile. These, lotia, but even to send troops to assist in the subjahowever, were but petty advantages, compared to gation of Valencia and Arragon. But the Catalonians that which he obtained, in a pitched battle, over are, and have always been, a warlike people, adtwvo united armies of' the Spaniards, consisting of dicted to the ulse of the gun, and naturally disposed, the forces of' Castile and Leon, joined to those of like the Tyrolese, to act as sharp-shooters. UndisGalicia. mayed by several partial losses, they made good The first of these armies was commanded by the strong mounttain-pass of Bruch and other defiles, Cuesta, described, by Southey, as a brave old man, and, after various actions, compelled the French energetic, hasty, and headstrong, in whose resolute, general to retreat towards Barcelona, with a loss untractable, and decided temper, the elements of both of men and character. the Spanish character were strongly marked. His An expedition undertaken by Marshal Moncey army was full oft' zeal, but in other respects in such against Valencia was marked with deeper disaster. a state of insubordination, that they had recently He obtained successes, indeed, over the insurgents murdered one of the general officers against whom as le advanced towards the city; but when he they harboared some rashly adopted suspicions of ventured an attack on the place itself, in hopes of treachery. The Galician army was in the same dis- carrying it by a sudden effort, he was opposed aby orderly condition; and they also had publicly torn all the energy of a general popular defence. The to pieces their general, Filangieri, upon no further citizens rushed to man the walls,-the rnonks, with apparent cause of suspicion than that lie had turned a sword in one hand and a crucifix in the other, enhis thoughts rather to defensive tlsan offensive oper- couraged them to fight, in the name of God and ations. Blake, a good soldier, who enjoyed the their king,-the very women mingled in the combat, -— I —— f —- - LIFE OF NAPOLE ON BONAPARTE. 447 bringing ammunition and- refreshments to the corn- was, as we shall hereafter see, in no situation to batants. Every attempt to penetrate into the city spare Dupont the succours he desired. Butt two was found unavailing; and Moncey, disappointed of brioades, under Generals Vedel and Gobert, joined meeting with the reinforcements which Duhesme Dupont from Castile, after experiencing some loss was to have dispatched him from Barcelona, was of rather an ominous character, for it could neither obliged to abandon his enterprise, and to retreat, be returned nor avenged, from the armed peasantry not without being severely harassed, towards the of the Sierra. main French army, which occupied Old and New These reinforcements augmented Dupont's divi. Castile. sion to twenty thousand men, a force which was It was not common in Napoleon's wars for his thought adequate to strike a decisive blow in Andatroops and generals to be thus disconcerted, foiled, lasia, providing Castanos could be broug'ht to hazard and obliged to abandon a purpose which they had a general action. Dupont accordingly put himself adopted. But a worse and more decisive fate was in motion, occupied Baylen and La Carolina in Anto attend the division of Dupont, than the disap- dalusia, and took by storm the old Moorish town of pointments and losses which Duhesme had expe. Jaen. The sagacious old Spanish general had in the rienced in Catalonia, and Moncey before Valencia. meantime been bringing his new levies into order, So early as Murat's first occupation of Madrid, and the French, after they had possessed themselves he had dispatched Dupont, an officer of high repl- ofJaen, were surprised to find themselves attacked tation, towards Cadiz, of which he named him go- there with great vigour and by superior forces, which vernor. This attempt to secure that important city, compelled them, after a terrible resistance, to evaand protect the French fleet which lay in its har- cuate the place and retire to Baylen. From thence, bours, seems to have been judged by Napoleon pre- Dupont wrote dispatches to Savary at Madrid, statmature, probably because he was desirous to leave ing the difficulties of his situation. I-Iis men, he the passage open for Charles IV. to have made his said, had no supplies of bread, save fiom the corn escape from Cadiz to South America, in case he which they reaped, grinded, and baked with their should so determine. Dupont's march, therefore, own hands-the peasants, who were wont to per*w5as countermanded, and he remained stationary at form the country labour, had left their harvest-work Toledo, until the disposition of the Andalusians, and to take up arms-the insurgents were becoming of the inhabitants of Cadiz, showing itself utterly daily more audacious-they were assuming the off'eninimical to the French, he once more received or- sive, and strong reinforcements were necessary to ders to advance at ll risk, and secure that important enable hint either to maintain his ground, or do anyseaport, with the French squadron which was lying thing considerable to annoy the enemy. These disthere. The French general moved forward accord- patches fell into the hands of Castanos, who acted ingly, traversed the chain of wild mountains called upon the information they afforded. Sierra Morena, which the tale of Cervantes has ren- On the 16th July, two large divisions of the Spadared classical, forced the passage of the river niards attacked the French on different points, and, Guadalquiver at the bridge of Arcolea, advanced to, dislodging them from Baylen, drove them back on and subdued the ancient town of Cordova. Menjibar; while Castanos, at the head of a large Dupont had thus reached the frontiers of Anda- force, overawed Dupont, and prevented his moving Ilusia; but the fate of Cadiz was already decided. to the assistance of his generals of brigade, one of That rich commercial city had embraced the pa- whom, Gobert, was killed in the action. On the triotic cause, and the French squadron was in the night of the 18th, another battle commenced, by an hands of the Spaniards; Seville was in complete attempt on the part of the French to recover Bavlen. insurrection, and its Junta, the most active in the The troops on both sides fought desperately, bat the kingdom of Spain, were organizing large forces, Spaniards, conscioils that succolrs wvee at togreat and adding them daily to a regular body often thou- distance, made gotd their defence of the village. sand men, under General Castanos, which had oc- The action continued the greater 1part of' the dav, cupied the camp of St Roque, near Gibraltar. when, after an honourable attempt to redeem tlhe If Dupont had ventured onward in the state in victory, by a desperate charge at the head of' all his which matters were, he would have rushed on too forces, Dupont found himself defeated on all points, unequal odds. On the other hand, his situation at *and so inclosed by the superior force of the SpaCordova, and in the neighbourhood, was precarious. niards, as rendered his retreat impossible. lie had He was divided from the main French army by the llo resource except capitulation. He was conmpelled Sierra Morena, the passes of which were infested, to surrender himself; and the troops under his inoand might almost be said to be occupied, by the in- mediate command, prisoners of war. But, for the surgent mountaineers; and he was exposed to be division of Vedel, which had not been engaged, and attacked by the Andalusian army, so soon as their was less hard pressed than the other, it was stipugeneral might think them adequate to the task. Du- lated, that they should be sent back to France in pontsolicited reinforcements, therefore, aswell from Spanish vessels. This part of the convention of Portugal as from the French army in the Castiles; Baylen was afterwards broken by the Spaniards, such reinforcements being absolutely necessary, not and the whole of the French army were detained merely to his advancing into Andalusia, but to his close prisoners. They were led to this act of bad keeping his ground, or even effecting a safe retreat, faith, partly by an opinion that the French generals Junot, who commanded in Portugal, occupied at had been too cunning for Castanos in the conditions once by the insurrection of the natives of that coun. they obtained,-partly from the false idea, that the,try, and by the threatened descent of the English, perfidy with which they had acted towards Sipain 448 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. dispensed with the obligations of keeping terms witl ence and skill, when to follow it might harie seemed them,-and partly at the instigation of Morla, the to entertain a doubt of the fortunes of Spain, it ensuccessor of the unhappy Solano, who scrupled not couraged also the most unreasonable expectations to recommend to his countrymen that sacrifice of in the other countries of Europe, and especially in honour to interest, which he himself afterwards prac- Great Britain, where men's wis-les in a favourite tised, in abandoring the cause of his country for that cause are so easily converted into hopes. Without of the intrusive king. observing the various concurrences of circumstances The battle and subsequent capitulation of Baylen which had contributed to the victory of Baylen, they was in itself a very great disaster, the most im- considered it as a scene which mnight easily be reportant which had befallen the French arms since peated elsewhere, whenever the Spaniards should the star of' Bonaparte arose,-thefzurcce Cazudinae, display the same energy; and thus, because the as lie himself called it, of his military history. More patriots had achieved one great and difficult task, than three thousand Frenchmen had been lost in the they expected from them on all occasions, not mira-.actionu, — seventeen thousand had surrendered them- cles only, but sometimes even impossibilities. When selves,-Andalusia, the richest part of Spain, was these unreasonable expectations were found groundfreed from the French arnlies, —and the wealthy less, the politicians who had entertained them were cities of Seville and Cadiz had leisure to employ a so much chagrined and disappointed, that, hurrying numerous force of trained population, and their trea- into the opposite extreme, they became doubtful sures, in support of the national cause. Accordingly either of the zeal of the Spanish nation in the cause the tidings which Napoleon received while at Bor- for which they were fighting, or their power of deaux, filled him with an agitation similar to that maintaining an effectual resistance. And thus, to of the Roman Emperor, when he demanded Irom use the scriptural phrase, the love of many waxed Varus his lost legions. But the grief and anxiety of cold, and men of a desponding spirit were inclined Bonaparte was better founded than that ofAugustus. to wish the aid of Britain withdrawn from a contest The latter lost only soldiers, whose loss might be which they regarded as hopeless, and that those supplied; but the battle of Baylen dissolved that supplies should be discontinued, on which its mainidea of invincibility attached to Napoleon and his tenance in a great measure depended. fortunes, which, like a talisman, had so often pal- The event of Baylen was not known at Madrid sied the councils and disabled the exertions of his till eight or ten days after it had taken place; but enemies, who felt, in opposing him, as if they were when it arrived, Joseph Bonaparte, the intrusive predestined victims, struggling against the dark cur- king, plainly saw that the capital was no longer a rent of destiny itself. The whole mystery, too, and safe residence for him, and prepared for his retreat. obscurity, in which Bonaparte had involved the af- He generously gave leave to the individuals comfairs of Spain, concealing the nature of the interest posing his administration, either to follow his forwhich he held in that kingdomn, and his gigantic tunes, or to take the national side, if they pireferred plan of annexing it to his empire, were at once dis- it; and, leaving Madrid, again retired to Vittoria, pelled. The tidings of Dupont's surrender operated where, secured by a French garrison, and at no great like a whirlwind on the folds of' a torpid mlist, and distance from the frontier, he mright in safety abide showed to all Europe, what Napoleon most desired the events of the war. to conceal,-that. he was engaged in a national con- Another memorable achievement of the Spanish flict of a kind so doubtful, that it had commenced by conflict, which served perhaps better than even the a very great loss on the side of France; and that lie victory of Baylen to evince the character of the rewas thus engaged purely by his own unprincipled sistance offered to the French, was thle immortal ambition. That his armies could be defeated, and defence of Zaragossa, the capital of'Arragn. This brought to the necessity of surrendering, was now ancient city was defenceless, excepting for the old evident to Spain and to Europe. The formrer ga- Gothic, or lRom)an, or Moorish wall, of ten feet thered courage to persist in an undertaking so hope- high, by which it is sulrrounlded, and which is in fully begun, while nations, now under the Frenlch most pIlaces a rmrere curtain, without flatlkers or domination, caught hope for themselves while they retlrning angles of any kind. Its garrison consisted watched the struggle; and the spell being broken chiefly of the citizens of the place; and its governor, which had rendered them submissive to their fate, a yonung nobleman, called Don Joseph Palafox, who they cherished the prospect of speedilyelmulating the was chosen captain-general because lie happened contest, which they at present only witnessed. to be in the vicinity, had hitherto been only dis. Yet were these inspiriting consequlellces of the tinglished by the share hie had taken in the frivolous victory of Castanos attended with sorie counter- gaieties of the court. The city tlllls possessing no balancing inconveniences, both as the event affected important advantages of defence, and the French the Spaniards themselves, and the other nations of general in Arragon, Lef6bvre Desnouettes, having Europe. It fostered in the ranks of Spain their na- defeated such of the insurgents as had shown themtional vice, an excess of presumption and confidence selves in the field, he conceived he had only to in their own valour; useful, perhaps, so far as it gives advance in security of occupying the capital of the animation in the moment ofbattle, buat most hazardous province. But there never was on earth a defence when it occasions inattention to the previous precau- in which the patriotic courage of the defenders tions which are always necessary to secure victory, sustained so long, and baffled so effectually, the and which were so often neglected in the Spanish assaults of an enemy provided with all those rliliarmies. In short, while the success at Baylen in- tary advantages, of which they themselves were duced the Spaniards to reject the advice of experi- totally destitute. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTl'E. 449 JOn the 15th of June, the French.tttempted to carry tle place by a coop de-mnin, in which they CHAP'ER LXIII. J'iled vitil great loss. On the 27th, reinlbrced and Zeal of Britain iwith regard to the Spanish stri ggle.- It is supplied with a train of' mortars, they vsmade a more resolved to send an expedition to Portugal.-Reltrospect legular elol~t, rnd stlcce~eded in getti,g n ossession of of what hand passed int that couuntry,-Portuguese Asa suburb called tole Terrero. They then began to seoibly of Notables stnniolted to Bayorue —l eir asi invest the plce pl ore closely, shoered bonmbs onl gidar audience od' Bnuctparte.-Eyicts of' the Sptaniask its devoted ediflies, and amlnid the conflagration, success on Portugal.-Sir Arthur Wellesley — is chixoccasioned by these missiles of destruction, attempt- racter as a general - Dispatched at the eadl f' t]he ed to tbrce thie gates of the city at different points. expedition to Portugcal-Attacks and d,feats the F'reaech All the Zaragossians rushed to tman their defences at Roleia.-T2'e insurrection becomes,wide anid gene-contlition, age, even sex, made no differece; ral. —Battle and ictory of Vimeir —Sir Harry Bierthe lionks, blighit abreast with the laity, and several rrd Neate assttees the comirA thal, elsel Jilst ates tie ivnenshowed nore tltan niasciline corange. results proposed by Sir Arthur Wtel/esley Jrofi thre batt' women siorwed more than mascultine couriage. in-.Sir Harry B1Irrardel is superseded by Sir Hew DalLefeb.r. e wxas.. censed by a def.nce of a place rym7ple; so that the British arrmy has three generais Which, according to;ll conimon rules, was unten- within twenty-Jour.Lours.-Conlvention of' Cintra-lIs able. He fbrgot the rules of war in his turn, and u. popularily int Entgland —A Court of' Inquircy is held. expose]d his troops to imnlense loss by repeatedly attempting to carl-ry the place at the bayonet's l)oint. THERE is nothing more praisemorthy itl the British, Meanwhlile aamnsniititon ran scarce —bnt the citizens or rather in the English character,-for it is they contlived to manutfacture gunpowder in corsiderable who in this respect give tone to tile general feelitigs quantities. Faniine camne-its pressure was sub- of the other two British nations,-thlan the noble uitted to. Sickness tihinned the ranks of the de- candour with which, la-ng aside all petty and ftecfesiders-those who survived willingly performed tioeis considerations, they have at all tirrmes united the duty of the absent. It was in vain that the in the saute spring-tide.of setntiment, when the oblarge convent of Santa Enlgracia, falling iuto the ject in question was in itself heart-stirring and gehands of the besiegers, enabled thenm to puslh their nerous. At no time was this unison of sentiml-entt posts illto the town itself. T'he French' general an- niore universally felt and expressed, than when the nounced thiis succefs in a celebrated sutinlons:- news became general through Britain that -Ile Spa"Santa Etlgracia-Capitulation." Zairtagossa- nish nation, the victim of an unparalleled p-scess of wvar to the kniife's blarde," was the equially laconic treachery, had resolved to break through the toils answer. The threat was made good-the citizens by which they were inclosed, and vindicate their fiughit fromr street to street, from house to house, national independence at the hazard of their lives. frostl cihamlsber to chamber-the contending parties "The war," says the elegant historiati,' to whose often occiupied different apartments of the same labours we are so much indebted in this part of our house-the passages which connected them were subject, "assumed a higher and holier character, ciloked wvith dead. After this horrid contest had and men looked to the issue with faith as well as costisled obr several weeks, the gallant defence of hope." Both these were the brighter that they Zaragossa excited at once the courage and sym- seemed to have arisen out of the midnight of sceppaithiy of those who shared the sentiments of its ticism, concerning the existence of public spirit in heroic grllrison and citizens, and a considerable Spain. reinfbrcetmlest was thrown into the place in the be- It became the universal wish of Britain, to afford ginnimg ofh Algitst. After this the citizens began to the Spaniards every possible assistance in their g:irt grounld in all their skirmishes with the invaders; honourable struggle. Sheridan declared, that the the news of Duipont's surrender became publicly period had arrived for striking a decisive blow for kniown, aind Lefiebvre, on the 13th of August, judg- the liberation of Europe; and another distinguishled edl it mlost prtudent to evacuate the quarter of the member of opposition, having expressed himselft city wliclch he possessed. He blewv up the church with more reserve on the subject, found: it necesof Santa Engtracia, and set fire to several of the sary to explain, that in doing so he disclaimed the hOltuses which he had gained, and finally retreated thoughts of abandoning the heroic Spaniards to their ftrolt the city which had so valiantly resisted his fate. But it was with particular interest that all arms. lovers of their country listened to the manly declaThe spirit of indomitable courage which the ration of Mr Canning, in' which, disclaiming the Spaniards manifested on this occasion has perhaps false.and petty policy which made an especial object no equal in history, excepting the defence of Nu- of what were called peculiarly British interests, lie mantium by their ancestors. It served, even'more pledged himself, and the administration to which he than the victory of Baylen, to extend' hope and belonged, for pursuing such measures as might inconfidence in the patriotic cause; and the country sure Spanish success, becasse- it was that which, which had produced such menl as Palafox and his- considering:the cause in which he was embarked; followers was, with much show of probability,: de- comprehended the essential initerest not of England clared unconquierable. only, but ofthle world. The resolution to support It is now necessary to trace the effects wbich' Spaiinthrough: the strugglefoulnded as it was on this this important revolution produced, as well in Eng- broad and.enerous basis, met the universal approland, as in the Portuguese part of the Peninsulla. bation of the country. It renmainted only to inquire in what shape the Southiey's llistory osfthe Peninsular War, vol. I, p. 34. VOL.'x,: 57 450 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPART'E. succours of Britain should be invested, in order to depend on the events in Spain. And then, are you render them most advantageous to the cause of Spa- of conseqltence sufficient to constitute a separate nish independence. Most Spaniards seemed to people?-have you enough of size to do so? Your concur with the deputies, who had been hastily dis- prince has let himself be carried off to the Brazils -patched to England by the Junta cf the Asturias, in by the English-he has committed a great piece of declining the assistance of an auxiliary army; "of folly, and he will rinot be long in repenting of it. A men," they said, "Spain had more than enough." prince," he added, turning gaily to the Abbe de Arms, ammunition, and clothing, were sent, there- Pradt, " is like a bishop-he ought to reside within fobre, with a liberal and unsparing profusion; and his charge."-Then again speaking to the Count de military officers of skill and experience were dis- Lirna, he asked what was the population of Portapatched, to assist where their services could be gal, answering, at the same time, his own question, useful to the insurgents. The war with Spain was "Two millions, is it?" declared at an end, and the Spanish prisoners, freed "More than three, sire," replied the count. from confinement, clothed, and regaled at the ex- "Ah-I did not know that-And Lisbon-Are pense of the English, were returned to their coun- there one hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants?" try in a sort of triumph. " More than double that numnber, sire." The conduct of the Spaniards in declining the aid " Ah-I was not aware of that." of British troops, partly perhaps arose out of that Proceeding through several questions regarding overweening confidence which has been elsewhere matters in which his information did not seemn more noted as their great national foible, and might be accurate, he at length approached the prime subject partly justified by the difficulty of combining the of the conference.. " What do you wish to be, you operations of a body of native insurgents with regu- Portuguese?" he said. "Do you desire to become lar forces, consisting of foreigners, professing a dif- Spaniards?" This question, even firom Napoleon, ferent religion, and speaking another language. These roused the whole pride of the Portuguese; for it is objections, however, did not apply with the same well known with what ill-will and jealousy they force to Portugal, where the subjected state of the regard the sister-country of the Peninsula, against country did not permit their national pride, though whom they have so long preserved their indenot inferior to that of' the Spaniards, to assume so pendence. The Count de Lima drew up his per'son high a tone; and where, from long alliance, the to its filll height, laid his hand on his sword, end English, in despite of' their being foreigners and answered the insulting demand by a loud No, whic ii heretics, were ever regarded with favour. It was, resounded through the whole apartment. Bonaparte therefore, resolved to send an expedition, consisting was not offended, but rather anmused by this trait (;f of a considerable body of troops, to assist in the national character. He broke tip the meeting sirIlhemancipation of Portugal, an operation for which out entering farther on the business for which it was the progress of the Spanish insurrection rendered summoned together, and afterwards told those abotit the time favourable. his person, that the Count of Lihla had treated liiml We left Portugal under the provisional command with a superb No. lie even showed some personal of General Junot, described by Napoleon himself favour to that high-spirited nobleman, but p)roceedlas one whose vanity was only equalled by his rapa- ed no farther in his correspondence with tie Portucity, and who conducted himself like a tyrant over guese deputies. The whole scene is curious, as the unresisting natives, from whom he levied the serving to show how familiar the transference of most intolerable exactions. allegiance, and alienation of sovereignty, was beThere is no access to know in what manner Na- come to his mind, since, in the case of a kingdom poleon intended to dispose of this ancient kingdom. like Portugal; of some importance, were even its The partition treaty executed at Fontainebleau, ancient renown alone regarded, he could advance which had been made the pretext of occupying Por- to the consideration of its future state with such tugal, had never been in reality designed to regulate imperfect knowledge of its circumstances, and so its destinies, and was neglected on all sides, as much levity both of manner and of purplose. Kingmuch as if it never had existed. Bonaparte subse- donis had become the cards, which le shuffled and quently seems to have entertained some idea of new- dealt at his pleasure, wvith all the indifference of a modeling the kingdom, which caused him to summon practised gamester. The occasion he had for the together at Bayonne a Diet, or Assembly of Porta- services of the Portuguese Assembly of Notables guese Notables, in order to give an ostensible au- passed away, and the deputies of whom it had conthority to the change which he was about to in- sisted were sent to Bordeaux, where they resided troduce. in neglect and poverty until the general peace perThey met him there, according to the summons; mitted them to return to Portugal. and, although their proceedings had no material Some hints in Bonaparte's letter to Murat, formerconsequences, yet, as narrated by the Abbe de ly quoted, might induce one to believe that the Pradt, who was present on the occasion, they form crown of the house of Braganza was meant to be too curious an illustration of Bonaparte's mind and transferred to his brows; but he obtained that of I manner to be omitted in this place. Having heard Naples, and the fate of Portugal continued undeterwith indifference an address pronounced by the mined, when the consequences of the Spanish revoCount de Lima, an ancient Portuguese noble, who lution seemed about to put it beyond the influence was president of the deputation, Napoleon opened of Napoleon. the business in this light and desultory way-:-" I A movement so general as the revolution effected hardly know what to make of you, gentlemen-it must in Spain through all her provinces, could not fail to LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 451 have a sympathetic effect on the sister kingdom of In India, Sir Arthur Wellesley had seen and conPortuagal, on whom the French yoke pressed so ducted war upon a large and extended scale, of mriu-h imore severely; not mlerely wounding the which no general officer in the European army of;pride, and destroying the independence of the coun- England had much comprehension, at least much try, but leading to the llunder of its resources, and experience. He was well acquainted with the best the mlaltreatrnt;t of the inhabitants. The spirit mode of supplying armies while in the field. His whvich animated the Spaniards soon showed itself thoughts had been familiarly exercised in the task of almong the Portuguese. Oporto, the second city in combining grand general movements over extended the kingdom, after a first attempt at insurrection, regions, and his natural genius, deducing the prinvwhich the French, by aid of the timid local authori- ciples of war from the service which he had seen in ties, found themselves able to suppress, made a the East, qualified him to apply them to other counsecond effort witl- better success, expelled the tries, and to an enemy of a different description. Freichti fiom the city and the adjacent country, and Formidable in his preparations for battle, and stcplaced themselves under the command of a provi- cessful in the action itself, he was even more distinsional junta, at the head of whomt was the Bishop of guished by the alertness and sagacity which never Oporlto. The kindling fire flew right and left in rested satisfied-with a useless victory, but improved et ery direction; and at length, wherever the French to the uttermost the advantages which he had atdid not possess a strong and predominating armed tained, by his own masterly dispositions, and the folrce, the country was in insurrection against them. valour of his troops. His mind was never entirely This did not pIass witholt much bloodshed. The engrossed by the passing event, how absorbing soFrench, under command of Loison, marched from ever its importance; the past and the future were the fiontier fortress of Almeida, to suppress the in- alike before him; and the deductions derived from a surrection at Oporto; but General Silveyra, a Por- consideration of the whole were combined, in all tuogese nobleman, who had put himself at the head their bearings, with a truth and simplicity, which of the armed population, managed so to harass the seemed the work of intuition, rather than the exerenemy's march, that he was compelled to abandon cise of judgment. In fact, the mind of this singular his intention, and return to Almeida, though his and distinguished man seemed inaccessible to those force amounted to four thousand men. At Beja, false and delusive views which mislead ordinary Leiria, Evora, and other places, the discipline of thinkers, his strength of judgment rejected them, as the French overcame the opposition of the citizens some soils will not produce noxious weeds; and it and peasantry; and, in order to strike terror, the might be said of him, that on subjects to which he bloody hand of military execution was extended gave his attention, the opinions which he formed against the unfortunate towns and districts. But approached, perhaps, as near the perfection of huthe inhumanity of the victors only served to increase man reason as the fallibility of our nature will the numbers and the ferocity of their enemies. Men permit. who had seen their houses burned, their vineyards To this prescience of intellect, in itself so rare a torn up, their females violated, had no farther use of quality, was added a decision, which, when his resolife save for revenge; and when either numbers, lution was once formed, enabled Sir Arthur Wellesposition, or other advantages, gave the Portuguese Iey to look to the event with a firmness, inaccessible an opportunity, it was exercised with premeditated to all the doubts and vacillations to which minds of and relentless cruelty. the highest resolution have been found accessible in i-ad Junot been able to employ his full force arduous circunistances, but which are sure to impair against tile insurgents, it is likely that in so narrow the energy, and exhaust the spirits of others. A a country this miserable war might have been frame fitted to endure every species of fatigue and ended by the despotic efforts of irresistible military privation, and capable of supplying the want of force. But the French general had apprehensions regular repose by hasty and brief slumbers, snatched tromt another quarter, which obliged him to concen- as occasion permitted, together with a power of vitrate a considerable part of his army, that might sion uncommonly acute, may be mentioned as tending otherwise have been disposable for the total sub- to complete the qualities of Sir Arthur WVellesley joigation of Portugal. Britain, long excluded from for the extraordinary part to which Providence had the Continent, had assumed, with regard to it, the destined him. It may be added, that in precision attitude of the Grecian hero, who, vith his lance of thought, sagacity of judgment, promptness of depointed towards his enemy, surveys his armour of cision, and firmness of resolution, there was a conproof fiom head to foot, in hopes of' discovering siderable resemblance betwixt Napoleon and the some rent or flaw, through which to deal a wound. English general, destined to be his great rival; and Junot justly argued, that the condition of the Penin- that the characters of both serve to show that the slla, more especially of Portugal, was such as to greatest actions are performed, and the greatest invite a descent on the part of the English. In fact, objects attained, not by men who are gifted with an expedition of ten thousand men had already sailed any rare and singular peculiarities of talent, but from Cork, and, what was of more importance than by those in whom the properties of judgment, firmif' the force had been trebled, it was placed under ness, power of calculation, and rapidity in execution, the ccmmand of Sir Arthur Wellesley, a younger son which ordinary men possess in an ordinary degree, of the Earl of Mornington, onie of those gifted indi- are carried to the highest and most uncommon degree viduils, upon whom the fate of the world seems to of perfection. turn like a gate upon its hinges, or as a vessel is Sir Arthur Wellesley's qualities were well known managed by its rudder. in India, where in the brilliant campaign of Assaye, 452 LIFE OF, NATPOLEON BONAPARTE. lie defeated the whole force of the Mahrattas, and forced immediately with fifteen thousand mien an;t ended triumphantly a long and doubtful war. The that Sir Hew Dalrymple was to command in chie t following expressions, on his leaving India, occur in This officer was governor of Gibraltar, and, (luring the familiar letter of an excellent judge of human the Spanish insurrection, had acted both with Vi6sI character, and who, it is to be hoped, lives to take dom and energy in assisting, advising. and encuoa natural and just pride in the event of his own raging the patriots; but it is doing him no injury to prophecy:-" You seem," he wrote to his European say, that he does not appear to have ihad( the tincorrespondent, "' to be at a loss for generals in Eng- common combination of talents, both mrilitw-y and land. There is one now returning from India, who, political, which, in the present crisis, the sitat.ion if you can overcome the objections of precedence of commander-in-chief in Portugal peremptorily le-. and length of service, and place him at once at the manded. head of the British army, is capable of saving Eng- Assured of these succours, Sir Arthur W~ellesley land at least, if not Europe, from. the dangers which disembarked his army in Mondego Bay, anld adseeln thickening around yon."-Most fortunately for vanced towards Leiria by the sea-coast, for the sake England, and for Europe, the objections which of communicating with the fleet, from which they might have obstructed the rise of another officer in received their provisions. The French ganeials like circumstances, did not operate against.Sir Ar- Laborde and Thorni&res, were detached fi oml L slhon tilur WVellesley in the same degree. His brother, to check the progress of the in]vaders, allod Loison, the Marqvis Wellesley, distinguished by the talents moving from the Alentejo, was in readiness to i;,r which had governed and extended our empire in a junction with his counitrymen. In thile le;ntime, India, had already much interest in our domestic a tumultuary Portuguese army of'isurgents, colncouncils, in which, some months afterwards, he held manded by General Freire, an unrt.asonahbte anll. an eminent:place. capricious mran (who afterwvards lost his life under lie was selected at this imnportant crisis to. go as strong suspicions of treachery to the patriot cause), ambassador plenipotentiary to Spain, as one on first inconlmoded the British general by extrasagant whose wisdom and experience the utmost reliance pretensions, and finally altogether declined to cocould be reposed. The rnarq!lis was of course well operate with him. A general of an ordinary ciaacquainted with Sir Arthur's ta!ents; and, conscious racter might not unreasonably have been so far that in urging his brother's pretensions to. high em- disgusted with the conduct of those whom li he had ployment in his profession, he was preparing for the colme to) assist, as to feel diminished zeal in a cause arims of Great Britain every chance of the most which seemed to be indifferent to its natural dedistinguished success, he requested his assistance as fenders. But Sir Arthur WVellesley, distinguished the hand to execute the counsels, which were, in as much by his knowledge of mankind as his milia great measure, to emanate from himself as the tary talents, knew how to make allowance for the head. caprice of an individual called suddenly to a comrnThe army and.the public had become acquainted mand, for which perhaps his former life had not with Sir Arthur's merits during the brief campaign fitted him, and for the ebb and flow of national of Copenhagen, —his name already inspired hope spirit in the ranks of an insurgent population. He and confidence into the country,-and when the knew that victory over the French was necessary brother of the Marquis Wellesley received the com- to obtain the confidence of the Portuguese; and, amand of the expedition destined for the Peninsula, with an alertness and activity which had prevented none hinted that the selection had been made from the junction of Loison.with Laborde, lie pushed on undue partiality; and subsequent events soon taught to attack (17th August) the latter French general, the nation, not only that the confidence, so far as, where he waited the approach of his colleague in a reposed in Sir Arthur VWVellesley, was perfectly strong position near the townn of Roleia. Attacking just, but that it ought, in wisdom, to have been much at once in front and upon the flank, he dirove theta niore absolute. from their ground, and his victory formied the first Under these auspices the expedition set sail for permanent and available success obtained by the the Peninsula, and, touching at Corunna, received British army in the eventful Peninsular struggle. such news as determined Sir Arthur mWellesley to Laborde retreated upon Torres Vedras, on which select Portugal as the scene of his operations, being Loison had also directed his course. the psoint upon which success seemed most, likely to The Portuguese insurrection became wide and influence the general cause. He opened a comma- general on flank and rear, and Junot sayV little nication with Oporto, and soon learned the important chance of extinguishing the conflagration, unless he news of the defeat of Dupont, and the flight of the should be able to defeat the English general in a intrusive king from Madrid. These tidings were of pitched battle. For this purpose lie withdrew all I particular iniportance, because the consequences the French garrisons except from Lisbon itself, were likely to find full occupation in Spain for the Elvas, Almeida, and Peniche; and, collecting his victorious army of Bessieres, which, if left disen- whole forces at Vinleira, near Torres Vedras, detergaged, might have entered Portugal, and co-operat- mined there to abide the shock of war. ed with Junot. At the same time, a body of British In the meanwhile, Sir Arthur Wellesley had been troops, which had been destined to support Casta- joined by a part of the promised succours; who, nos, was left disposable by the surrender of Baylen, disembarking with difficulty on the dangerous coast, and, having emlbarked for Portugal, now joined Sir formed a junction with the main body as they Arthur Wellesley. Lastly, came the important in- marched towards the enemy. It was not an equally telligence, thuat Sir Arthur-s army was to be rein-'fortunate circumstance, that Sir Harry Burrard LiFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 453 Neale, an officer of superior rank, also appeared on the dense array of the enemy, made more than one the coast, and communicated with Sir Arthur Wel- victim, and where the close discharge of grape-shot lesley. The latter explained his plan of engaging was still more fatal. This heavy and destructive the French army, and throwing it back on Lisbon, fire was immediately seconded by a charge with the where an insurrection would instantly have taken bayonet, by which the column, unable to form or to place in their rear, and thus Portugal might have deploy, received on their defenceless flank, and lieen delivered by a single blow. But Sir Harry among their shattered ranks, the attack of the handBurrard, though a brave officer, does not appear to ful of men whom they had expected at once to have had that confidence inr the British soldiery sweep from their course. The effect was instanwhlich they so well deserve at the hands of their taneous and irresistible; and the French, who had leaders He recommended a detensive system until hitherto behaved with the utmost steadiness, broke the arrival of the rest of the succours fiom England; their ranks and ran, leaving near three-fourths of neither seeing how much, in war, depends upon a their number in killed, wounded, and prisoners.* sudden and powerful effort, nor considering that the The same sort of close combat was general over the French of all rren can best employ, to their own field. The brigade of General Fergasson, on the atdvantage, whatever leisure may be allowed them right, was attacked by General Loison with an iriby the tinmidity or indecision of their enemy. petuosity and vigour not inferior to that of Laborde. At this timre, however, thle difficulties of Junotis A mutual charge of bayonets took place; and here, situation had detertrined him on the hazard of a as at Maida, the French advanced, indeed, bravely general action; and the armies being alleady very to the shock, but lost heart at the moment of the near each other, the only change occasioned in the fatal encounter. To what else can we ascribe the course of events by the interposition of the lately undeniable:fact, that their whole fiont rank, amountarrived British general, was, that Sir Arthur Wel- ing to three hundred grenadiers, lay stretched on lesley, instead of being the assailant, as lihe had pro- the ground almost in a single instant? posed, was, on the meniorable 21st August, himself The French were now in full retreat on all sides. attacked by Junot near the town of Vimneira. The They had abandoned their artillery,-they were British army amounted to about 16,000 men, but of flying in confusion, —the battle was won,-the victor these not above one half were engaged; the French had only to stretch forth his hand to grasp the full consisted of about 14,000, all of'whomn were broughlrt fi'uits of conquest. Sir Arthur WVellesley had deinto action. The French attacked in two divisions; ternmined to move one part of hlis army on Torres that on the left, commanded by Iaborde, about five Vedras, so as to get between the French and the thousand men, and tliat on the right, under Loison, nearest road to Lisbon, while with another division considerably stronger. The centr-e, or reserve, was he followed the chase of the beaten army, to whom comimanded by Kellermann, occupied the space thus no retreat on Lisbon would remain, but by a between thle attacking divisions, and served to con- circuitous route thlrough a country in a state ofinsur. nect them with each otirer. The battle was inter- rectior. Unhappily, Sir Arthur Wellesley's period esting to military men, as forming a remarkable of colrmiand was for the present ended. Sir Harry examlple of that peculiar mode of tactics by which Btirrard had landed during the action, and had with tlhe French troops had so often broken through and due liberality declined taking any comlrmand until the disconcerted the finest troops of the Continent, and battle seemled to be over; wlien it-ullhappily occurred also of' tle manner in which their impetuous valour to Iritn, in opposition to the rermonstrances of Sir mnright be foiledl and rendered unavailing, by a steady, Arthur WVellesley, General Fergusson, and other active, anld resolute enemy. general officers, to interpose Iris authority fobr the The favourite mode of attack by the French:was, purpose of prohibiting farther pursuit. Hie accorunted we have often noticed, by formationi into massive such a measure incautious whiere thle enemy Nwas colullnis, the centre and rear of wvlich give tle head superior in cavalry, and perhlaps entertained too no opportunity to pause, but thrust the leading files sensitive a feeling of the superiority ofFrench tactics. leadlong forward on thle thin line of enemies op- Thus Viln.ira, in its direct consequences, seelued posed to themr, which are necessarily broken through, to be only another example of a victory gained by as unequal to sustain the weight of the charging thle English without any corresponding results; one body. In this manner, and in f;ill confidence of of those numerous instances, in whiclh the soldiers success, Geineral Laborde in petson, heading a gain the battle Ironl confidence in their own hearts column of better than two thousand men, rushed on and arms, arnd the general fails to improve it, perlaps tihe British advanced guard, conssting of the 50th froro an equally just ditfidence of Iis own skill and regirment, twith sollne field-pieces, and a single com- talents. pany of sharp-shooters.'The regiment, aboiut 400 Meanwhile Sir ew- Dallyympl,, arriving from tmelt in number, drawn utp in line on thle brow of a Gibraltarina fiigate, superseded Sir Hlarr-y BIlrard, hill, presented an obstacle so little fornmidable to as Sir Harry had superseded Sir Arthur; and thus, tihe heavy columni which came against them, that it within twenty-four hours, tile English arllly lid secured tire very noise of their approach should successively three commanders-in-clhief. The tirlie have driven them fiorn the grollnd. But Colonel of prosecuting tile victory was passed away belore TWalker, suddenly altering the forrmation of his re- * After the capitulation of Cintra, General Loison ude. girlent, so as to place its line obliquely on the flank sired to be introduced to Colonel Walker, arid c ngraltl. of tile advrancirlg columirn, irnstead of' eremaiiing pa- lated that officer on the steadiness and talent v-i.ll \hilch rallel to) it, opened ait terrible, well-surstained, and he had rendered the defence in line so decidletliy sutlle:i,r irresistible fiie, s vhere every bail passing through to Napoleon's favourite measure, the attack in colunIlu. 454 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Sir Hew Dalrymple came ashore,-for the French a mistake in judgment, the frio'.t of too much caution. had been able to gain the position of Torres Vedras, But the fierce and loudly expitssed resentment on from which it had been Sir Arthur Wellesley's chief the part of the public produced very important conobject to exclude them. That general then knew sequences; and though there occurred exceptions, well, as he afterwards shoawed to the world, what it became comparatively difficult or dangerous, from advantage might be taken of that position for the that period, to propose any one as commander of an defence of Lisbon. expedition whose talents had not pretensions to But Junot had suffered too severely in the battle merit the confidence of the people. of Virneira, and had too many difficulties to contend with, to admit of his meditating an obstinate defence. The victorious British army was in his front,-the CHAPTER LXIV. insurgents, encouraged by the event of the battle, bwere on his flanks,-the English fleet might operate Duplicity of Bonaparte on his return to Paris.-Oficial were on his flanks, —the English fleet might operate slalennents in the Mo-niteur-poor and humiliating.in his rear,-and the populous town of Lisbon itself Two reports issued by Chani pagny, minister of' the I was not to be kept down without a great military foreign department-Difference betwixt them; —the sefobrce. Then if the successes in Andalusia were to cond demandibng another conscription of 80.000 menbe followed by similar events, the Spanish armies ~Agreed to by the Senate.. —R eview of'the Frelch relation.s nigilt invade Portugal, and co-operate with the with the different powers of Eutrope. —rrUiversal spirit English. Moved by these circumstances, the French of resistance throughout Germanly-Rutssiac.-Napoleon general wvas induced to propose that evacuation of and Alexander nmeet at Erfsrt on 27th Septeimber, ancd Portugal, its cities, and fortresses, which was after- separate in apparentfriendship on 14th October-Actual \ walds concluded by the treaty of Cintra. The feelings of the autocrats-Theirjoint letter to the King French, by the articles of that convention, were to of Great Britain, proposing a general peace on the be transported to their own country, with their arms, principle of uti possialetis- Why rejected.-Procedne whic las are in Spain. —Catalonira.-Retrn of La Ronosita to Spain. artillecry, ofand property,-hunder ofwhc. hy o Armies of Blake, Castanos, aiod'alelfox.-ExSpelitisot they carried off much of the plunder of which they of Generl Moore-His espoding vies oe Sis had stripped the Portuguese. A Russian fleet in cause-His plans.-Defeat of Blake —and Castanos.the Tagus, commanded by Admiral Siniavin, was Treachery of Morla.-Sir John lMoore retreats to Codelivered up to* the English, in deposit, as it was runna-Disasters on the march. — Battle of Coruaa, termed; so unwilling were we to use towards Rus- and death of Sir John Moore. sia the language or practice of war, although the countries were in a state of avowed hostilities. In DURING no part of his history did Bonaparte up. a military point of view, all the British generals pear before the public in a meaner anid miole colnconcurred in approving of the convention. Sir Al- temptible slght, than immediately after the cointhur Wellesley, who saw better, it may be supposed, mencement of the Spanish revolution. In the deeper than the others, how long the war might be pro- disasters of his life, the courage with N'which lie tracted, after the favourable moment of victory had struggled against misfortune, gave to his f:ailing ef'been permitted to pass without being improved, forts the dignity of sinking greatness; bhlt, oni tile considered the liberation of Portugal, with its sea- present occasion, he appeared before France and coast, its ports, and its fortresses, besides the east- before Europe, in the humiliating condition of one ern line of frontier, which offered an easy cominri- who had been tempted by selfish greed to comllmlit nication with Spain, as an advantage of the highest a great crime, from which he had derived the fll11 importance, and cheaply purchased by the articles harvest of ignominy, without an iota of the expected granted to Junot. profit. On the contrary, blinded by the unconscienBut the light in which the people of England saw tious desire of acquisition, he had shown himself as the Convention of Cintra was extremely different. It short-sighted concerning results, as he was indifistheirnatureto nurse extravaganthopes, and theyare ferent respecting means. In this, as in other memorproportionally incensed when such are disappointed. able instances, iniquity liad brought with it all the The public were never more generally united in the consequences of folly. reprobation of any measure; and although much of For some time after his triumphal return to Paris, their resentment was founded in ignorance and pre- Bonaparte preserved a total silence on the afthirs of judice, yet there were circumstances in the transac- the Peninsula, excepting general assulances that all tion which justified in some measure the general in- was well; and that the few partial commotiolls dignation. The succession of the three generals was which had been excited by the agents of England, compared to the playing of trump-cards at a game had been everywhere suppressed by the wvisdom of of whist,; and, whether it was designed or fortuitous, the Grand Council, and the ready concurrence of had an air of indecision that was almost ludicrous. the good citizens, who saw no safety for Spain save Then it was obvious, that the younger and inferior in the renewal of the family compact of the Boirofficer of the three had been prevented from fol- bons, in the more fortunate dynasty of Napoleon. lowing up the victory he had gained, and that this To accredit this state of things, many pieces of news interference had rendered necessary the convention, were circulated in the provinces which lay nearest which England seemed determined to consider as to Spain, tending to depress the spirit and hopes of injurious to Portugal, and dishonourable to herself. the insurgents. Thus, Monsieur de Champagny A Court of Inquiry put the proceedings in a more was made to write to the prefect of the department just point of view for the two superior ofticers, of La Gironde, that George III. of England was whose error appeared in no degree to have exceeded dead; that George IV., on succeeding, had made LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 455 an instant and total change of ministry; and that a plish his purpose, he did not doubt that the advantage general pacification might be instantly expected. and honour which France would derive from the lThe same article, with similar legends, was inserted subjugation of Spain, would sufficiently plead his officially in the Madrid Gazette. cause with the Great Nation. But when his first But a system of fiction and imposition resembles efforts had failed, and further exertions were bound an untempered sword-blade, which is not only inevitably necessary, it became of consequence to subject to break at the utmost need of him who render the enterprise popular, by showing that tile wields it, but apt to wound him with the firagments measures which led to it were founded on policy at as they spring asunder.'The truth began to become least, if not upon moral justice. too glaring to be concealed. It could not be dis- To say the truth, the document is contented with guised that the kingdom of Portugal had been re- arguing the first point. Something is hinted of the s ored to independence-that Jtnot and his army Spanish administration having been supposed to had been driven from Lisbon-that Dupont had nourish hostile purposes towards France, and Gosurrendered in the south of Spain-that King Joseph doy's manifesto at the time of the Prussian war is lad been expelled from Madrid —and that in almost alluded to; but the principle mainly rested upon, all the harbours of the Peninsula, which, in the and avowed by Monsieur Champaguny, is, in plain month of March, had been as it were hermetically language, a gross and indecent sophism.' That sealed against the British shipping and commerce, which policy renders necessary," says the statesthe Englislh were now received as friends and allies. man, "justice must of course authorize;" thus Nor was it possible to conceal, that these blots on openly placing interest in diametrical opposition to the French arms had all taken place in consequence that which is honourable or honest; or, in other of' the unprincipled anmbition, which, not satisfied words, nmaking the excess of the temptation a justiwith disposing of the produce and power of Spain, fication for the immorality of the action. This is tile by using the nanme of her native princes, had same principle which sends the robber on the high prompted Napoleon to exasperate the feelings of road, and upon which almost every species of' vilthe people by openly usurping the supreme power, lany is committed, excepting those rare enormities and had thus converted a submissive and cotn- which are practised without any visible motive on plaisant ally into a furious and inexorable enemy. the part of the perpetrators. To apply his reasoning It was no easy matter, even for the talents and to the case, Chatnpagny sets forth the various adaudacity of Napoleon, to venture before the French vantages which France must derive firom the more nation with an official account of these errors and intimate union with Spain-the facilities which such their consequences, however palliated and modified. a union afforded for enforcing the continental system Accordingly, we must needs say, that not the con- against Great Britain-the necessity that Spain fession of a felon, when, compelled to avow his should be governed by a prince, on whose faithfull general guilt, he seeks to disguise some of its more attachment France could repose unlimited confiatrocious circumstances, and apologize for others, dence-and the propriety of recommencing the sounds to us more poor and humiliating, than the work which had been the leading object of the uncandid, inconsistent, and unmanly exposition policy of Louis the Fourteenth. Having thus shown which Napoleon was at length compelled to mumble that the seizing upon the crown and liberties of forth in his official document, when the truth could Spain would be highly advantageous to France, the no longer be concealed, and was likely indeed to be reporter holds his task accomplished, and resumes circulated even with exaggerations. his proposition in these remarkable Nwords:-" PoSuddenly, on the 4th of September, there appeared licy demands a grand measure friom your majestyin the lMonzteztr, which previously had been chiefly Justice authorizes it-the troubles of Spain render occupied by scientific details, lyrical poetry, or it indispensably necessary." theatrical criticism, a minute and garbled account The second report of Monsieur de Champapgny of the insurrection in Spain. The sanguinary con- held a different and more ominous tone. It was duct of the insurgents was dwelt upon; the successes dated Paris, 1st September, and damklv indicated obtained by the French armies were magnified; the that the gold and machinations of the English hlad losses which they had sustained were extenuated or fomented popular intrigues in Spain, svhich had glossed over. Dupont was represented as having frustrated the attempt of his Imperial Majesty to behaved like a fool or a traitor. The sufferings of render that country happy. The reporter then, in Zaragossa, daring the siege, were dwelt upon with the tone with which a priest addresses the object of' emnphtasis; but on its result the official account re- hsis worship, reverentially expostimlates with Napormained silent. Tihe most was made of the victory leon, for perlnitting anarchy to spread over great of Medina del Rio Secco, aind the retreat of King part of Spain, and for leaving Britain at liberty to Joseph from Madrid was ascribed to his health's say, that her flag, driven firom the shores of the disagreeing with the air of that capital. There we re Baltic anti of the Levant, floats triumphantly, nevertwo reports on the subject of Spanish affairs, both theless, on tile coasts of the kingdonm which is the fioro Champagny, minister of the foreign departnment, nearest neighbour to France. Having thus indirectand both addressed to the emperor. The first was ly communicated the general fact, that Spain was in designed to justify tile attemp)t of Napoleon -on insurrection, and that the English fleet rode triumSpain. It was dated at Bayonne, as far back as the phant on her coasts, tihe reporter resumes a noble 14th of April, a period when Bonaparte was very confidence ill the power and authority which he little inclined to enter into any reasoning on his was invoking. "No, never, sire, shall it be thus. right, since, believing he had the power to accomi- Two immillions of brat e nmeun are ready, if necessary, 456 LIFE OF NAPOL-EON BONAPAIITE. to cross the Pyrenees, and chase the English from organized soldiers, of whom thirty thousand were the Peninsula; if the French -would combat for the cavalry, constituted the formidable reserve of this liberty of the seas, they must begin by rescuing warlike nation. Everything seemed to announce Spain fiom the influence of England." war, although the answers of the court to the reMuch mort there is to the same purpose, serving monstrances of France were of the most pacific to inform the French people by implication, if not tendency. in direct terms, that the emperor's plans upon Spain Yet it was not alone the hostile preparations of had been disconcerted; that he had found unanimous Austria which seemed to trouble the aspect of Gerresistance where he had expected unconditional many. Napoleon had defeated her efforts and defied submission; and that the utmost sacrifices would be her armies, when her force was still more imposing. necessary on the part of France, to enable her ruler But there was gradually awakening and extending to perfect the mreasures which he bad so rashly un- through Germnany, and especially its northern prodertaken. But besides the pressure of Spanish af- vinces, a strain of opinion incompatible with the dofairs, those of Austria were also hinted at, as mination of France, or of any other foreign power requiring France to increase her armies, and stand vithin the ancient empire. upon her guard, as that power had been of late sedu- The disappearance of various petty states, which lously employed in increasing her military strength. had been abolished in the convulsion of the French The ultimate conclusion founded on these reasonings usurpation, together with the general system of opwas the necessity of anticipating another conscrip- pression under which the whole country suffered, tion of eighty thousand men. though in different degrees, had broken down the The senate, to whom these reports were sent divisions which separated the nations of Germany down, together with a message from the emperor, fronm each other, and, like relations who renew an failed not to authorize this new draught on the interrupted intimacy under the pressure of a coinFrench population, or, it may be said, on her very mon calamity, the mass of the people forgot that they flesh and life-blood. Like the judge in the drama, were Hanoverians, Hessians, Saxons, or Prussians, without regret or expostulation, they enforced the to remember that they were all Germans, and had demand of the unrelenting creditor. " The court one common cause in which to struggle, one general allowed it, and the law did give it." "The will of injury to revenge. Less fiery than the Spaniards, France," said these subservient senators, "is the but not less accessible to deep and impassioned feelsame with the will of her emperor. The war with ing, the youth of Germany, especially such as were Spain is politic, just, and necessary." engaged in the liberal studies, cherished in secret, Thus armed with all the powers which his mighty and with caution, a deep hatred to the French inempire could give, Napoleon girded himself per- vaders, and a stern resolution to avail theimselves sonally to the task of putting down by force the of the first opportunity to achieve the national IiSpanish insurrection, and driving from the Peninsula berty. the British auxiliaries. But while preparations were The thousand presses of Germany could not be making on an immense scale for an enterprise of altogether silenced, though the police of Napoleon which experience had now taught him the difficulty, was unceasingly active in suppressing plolitical pubit was necessary for him, in the first place, to ascer- lications, wherever they could exercise influence. tain how his relations with the few powers in Europe But the kind of feeling which now prevailed among who had some claim to independence, had been the German youth did not require the support of affected by the miscarriage of his Spanish scheme. exhortations or reasoning, directly and in express Since the treaty of Presburg, by which she lost terms adapted to the subject. While a book existed, such a proportion of her power, Austria had lain from the HIoly Scriptures down to the nlost idle like a prostrated combatant, whom want, not of will, romance; while a line of poetry could be recited but of strength, prevents from resuming the contest. from the works of Schiller or Goethe, down to the In 1806, her friendship became of consequence to most ordinary stall ballad, —inuendos, at once secret Napoleon, then engaged in his contest with Prussia and stimulating, might be drawn from them, to serve and Russia. The cession of Branant, and some ter- as watch-words, or as war-cries. The prevailing ritories about the mouth of the Cattaro, were granted opinions, as they spread wider and wider, began to to Austria by France, as in guerdon ofher neutrality. give rise to mysterious associations, the object of But in 1807 and 1808, the government of that coun- which was the liberation of Germany. That most try, more vexed and humlliliated by the territory and generally known was called the Band, or Alinfluence which she had lost, than thankful for the liance for Virtue and Justice. The young acadeniil importance she had been permitted to retain, began cians entered with great zeal into these fraternities, to show the utnmost activity in the war department. the rather that they had been previously prepared Abalses were reformed; more perfect discipline was for them by the Burchenschafts, or associations ofstui introduced; old soldiers were called to muster; new dents, and that the idea of secret councils, tribunals, levies were. made on a large scale; armies of re- or machinations, is familiar to the reader of German serve were forlmed, through the Austrian dominions, history, and deeply interesting to a people whose Elf the Lanclwehlr and National Guards, and they temper is easily impressed by the mysterious and were slubjected to service by conscription, like the the terrible. The professors of the universities, in militia (A' Egdland. The Austrian armies of the line most cases, gave way to or guided these patriotic were increased to great magnitude. The Hungarian impressions, and in teaching their students the Diet ltl0d voted twelve thousand recruits for 1807, sciences or liberal arts, failed not to impress on and( eighllty thousand for 183)8; vlwhile eighty thousand them the duty of devoting thenlselves to the libera LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 457 tion of Germany, or, as it was now called, Teu- of Turkey. lie promised, also, to take an ally's share tonia. with Bonaparte, if the quarrel with Austria should The French, whose genius is in direct opposition come to arms. To this indeed he was bound by to that of the Germans, saw all this with contempt and treaties; nor was there ally way of ridding himself ridicule. They laughed at the mummery of boys from their obligation. The conferences of Erfurt affecting a new sort of national free-masonry, and ended on the 14th of October; and, as they had they gave the principle of patriotic devotion to the begun, amid the most splendid festivities. Among independence of Germany tile name of Ideology; these was an entertainment given to the emperor on by which nick-name the French ruler used to dis- the battle-ground of Jena, where Prussia, the haptinguish every species of theory, which, resting in less ally of Alexander, received such a dreadful no respect upon the practical basis of self-interest, blow. could, he thought, prevail with none save hot- It is probable, however, notwithstanding all the brained boys and crazed enthusiasts. show of cordiality betwixt the emperors, that AlexNapoleon, however, saw and estimated the in- ander did not require the recollections which this creasing influence of these popular opinions, more battle-field was sure to inspire, to infuse into his justly than might have been inferred from his lan- mind some tacit jealousy of his powerful ally. He guage. He knew that a government might be even already saw the possibility of a quarrel emergcrushed, an army defeated, an inimical administra- ing between them, and was deeply desirous that tion changed, by violence; but that the rooted prin- Austria should not waste her national strength, by ciple of resistance to oppression diffuses itself the rushing into a contest, in which he would be under'wider, the more martyrs are made on its behalf. the reluctant necessity of acting against her. Nei-' The Heir of the Revolution spoke on such subjects ther did Napoleon return from Erfurt with the same the language of the most legitimate of monarchs, undoubting confidence in his imperial ally. The and exclaimed against the system of the Tugend- subject of a match between the Emperor of France bund, as containing principles capable of disorga- and one of the Russian Archduchesses had been nizing the whole system of social society. resumned, and had been evaded, on account, as it The menacing appearance of Austria, and the was alleged, of the difference in their religions. The extension of anti-Gallican principles and feelings' objections of the empress mother, as well as of the through Germany, made it more especially neces- reigning empress, were said to be the real reasons, sary for Bonaparte to secure his hold upon the Em- — objections founded on the character of Napoleon, peror of Russia. Trusting little in so important a and the nature of his right to the greatness which he case to his ministers, Napoleon desired personally enjoyed. Such a proposal could not be brought forto assure himself by a direct communication with ward, and rejected, or evaded, with how mtch dethe Emperor Alexander, which was willingly ac- licacy soever, without injury to the personal feelings ceded to. We have elsewhere* assigned some rea- of Napoleon; and as he must have been conscious, sons, why such direct conference, or correspondence that more than the alleged reason of religion entered betwixt sovereigns, tendsto degrade their character, into the cause of declining his proposal, he must without adding any additional security to the faith have felt in proportion offended, if not affronted. of their treaties. It is unbecoming their rank to Still, however, if their cordiality was in any degree take upon themselves the, task of advancing, reced- diminished, the ties of mutual interest, which bound ing, renouncing, resurming, insisting, and evading, together these two great autocrats, were as yet sufwhich must occur more or less in all political nego- ficient to assure Napoleon of the present assistance tiations. At the same. time, they are, flattering to of Russia. To confirm this union still farther, and princes, as if inferring that they are able to act per- to make their present friendship manifest to the sonally, and free of m;nisterial control; and in so world, the two emperors joined in a letter to the far have their chatrms. King of Great Britain, proposing a general peace; Bonaparte and Alexander met at Erfurt on 27th and it was intimated that they would admit the September, with the same appearance of cordiality basis of uti possidetis, which would leave all the with which they had parted-their friendship seem- contracting powers in possession of what they had ed uninjured by a shadow of suspicion. The most gained during the war. Tile proposal, as must have splendid festivities celebrated their meeting, and been foreseen, went off, on Britain demanding that the theatres of Paris sent their choicest performers the Spanish government and the King of Sweden to enliven the ev-eningn. should be admitted as parties to the treaty. Alnid all these gaieties politics were not neglect- But the letter of the emperors had served its ed, andl Bonapcarte found hbis great ally as tractable turn, when it showed that the ties between France as at Tilsit. Alexander not only ratified the trans- and Russia were of the most intimate nature; and, actions of Spain, but also the subsequent act, by confident in this, Napo!eon felt himself at liberty to which Napoleon appropriated to himself the king- employ the gigantic force which he had already put in dom of Etruria, which, according to the first draught preparation, to the subjugation of Spain, and to chasof the Spanish scheme exhibited at Tilsit, was to ing away the " hideous leopards,"+ as he was pleased Ihate been assigned to the disinherited Fercditland. hae been assigned to the disinherited Ferdinand. * It was one of the minute and childish particulars in The czar stipulated, however, on his own part, that which Bonaparte shuwed a spleen against the Bricish Bonamparte ehould not in any shape interfere to pre- nation, that he would not bear the heraldic achievement, vet, Russia from aggrandizing herself at the expense which the English flag had displayed for five hundred years. to be termed Lions, but always called them Leopards. The Stee pp. 287, 354, ets. spirit which this ebullition of spite manifested, could onby VOL.'VI... 458 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. to term the English banners, from the Peninsula. troops and their country," said that experienced In the meantime, the Spaniards had not been warrior, "that they would never allow that they unfaithful to the cause they had undertaken. They were in want of men, ammunition, guns, or the other had vested the supreme management of the af- necessaries of war, until the moment of emergency fairs of their distracted kingdom in a Central or came, when they were too apt to be found unproSupreme Junta, which, composed of delegates from vided in all with which they had represented themall the provincial Jllntas, fixed their residence at the selves as being -well supplied." recovered capital of Madrid, and endeavoured, to The same unhappy spirit of over-confidence and the best of their power, to provide for resistance miscalculation now greatly injured the patriotic against the invaders. But their efforts, though nei- cause. Levies and supplies, which it had been detler in themselves unwise nor mistitmed, were se- termined to raise, were too often considered as riously impeded by two great causes, arising both completed, when the vote which granted them had from the same source. been passed, and it was deemed unworthy and unThe division of Spain, as already observed, into patriotic to doubt the existence of what the national several disunited and almost unconnected provinces or provincial council had represented as indispens-. and kingdoms, though it bad contributed much to able. In this manner the Spaniards misled both the original success of the insurrection, while each themselves and their allies the British, upon the province, regardless of the fate of others, or of the actual state of their resources; and it followed of capital itself, provided the means of individual re- course, that British officers, deceived by their resistance, rendered them, when the war assumed a presentations in such instances, were disposed to more general character, unapt to obey the dictates doubt of the reality of their zeal, and to hesitate which emanated from the Supreme Junta. General trusting their future representations. Cuesta, whose devoted and sincere patriotism was Notwithstanding these unhappy errors, the Spafrustrated by the haughtiness, self-importance, and nish force, assembled for the defence of the kirginsubordination of his character, was the first to set dom, was perhaps not inadequate to the task, had an unhappy example of disobedience to what had they been commanded by a general whose superior been chosen as the residence of the supreme autho- energies could have gained him undisputed authority. He imprisoned two members of the Supreme rity, and who could have conducted the campaign Junta, because he thought the choice which had with due attention to the species of warfare which been made of them was derogatory to his own al- the time and the character of the invading army thority, as Captain-general of Castile and Leon, and demanded. But, unhappily, no Robert Bruce, no thus set a perilous example of disunion among the Washington, arose in Spain at this period; and the patriots, for which his real energy and love of his national defence was committed to men whose mili. country wvere scarce afterwards sufficient to atone. tary knowledge was of a bounded character, though But besides this and other instances of personal their courage and zeal admitted of no dispute. Yet disregard to the injunctions of the Junta, there was iavourable incidents occurred to balance these great another deep and widely-operating error which inconveniences, and for a time the want of unity flowed from the same source. Each province, ac- amongst themselves, and of military talent in the cording to the high sense which the inhabitants en- generals, seemed to a certain extent compensated tertained of their individual importance, deemed by the courage of the Spanish leaders, and the itself adequate to the protection of its own peculiar energy of their followers. territory, and did not, or would not, see the neces- The warlike population of Catalonia are, like the sity of contributing an adequate proportion of the Tyrolese, natural marksmen, who take the field in provincial force to the defence of the nation in ge- irregular bodies, called Somatenes, or Miquelets. neral. Those who had shown themselves manfully The inhabitants of this country arose in arms almost eager, and often successful, in the defence of their universally; and, supported by a small body of four own houses and altars, were more deaf than pru- tlousand men from Andalusia, contrived, -without dence warranted to the summons which called them magazines, military chest, or any of the usual mato the friontier, to act in defence of the kingdom terials necessary to military manceavres, to'raise the as a whole. They had accustomed themselves, siege of Gerona, which had been formed by General unhappily, too much to undervalue the immense Duhesmne, and to gain so many advantages over the power by which they were about to be invaded, enemy, that, probably, an auxiliary force of English, and did not sufficiently see, that to secure the more under such a general as the Earl of Peterborough, distant districts, it was necessary that the war adventurous at once and skilful, might, like that should be maintained by the united force of the gallant leader, have wrested Barcelona, with Montrealm. WVhat added to this miscalculation, was a jouy, from the hands of the French, and left the point in the national character, of which Wil- invaders no footing in that important district. The liam Ill. of England, when commanding an allied troops might have been supplied from Sicily, where army to which Spain furnished a contingent, had a a great British force was stationed, and there was century before bitterly complainled. " The Spanish no want of good and experienced officers, competent generals were so proud of the reputation of' their to the ordinary duties of a general. But that genius, which, freeing itself firom the pedantry of profesbe compared to that exhibited by the poor citizen, when sional education, can judge exactly how far insutrhe revenged himself, as he thought, upon the cognizance rectionary allies are to be trusted; that inventive ot tMe Earl of Oxford, by calling the noblemran's Swan a talent, which finds resources where the ordinary aids Goose. and appliances are scarce, or altogether wanting, is LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 459 a gift of very rare occurrence; and, unfortunately, When the two Emperors of France and Russia there are no means of distinguishing the officers by met at Erfurt, it had been resolved, as we have said, whom it is possessed, unless chance puts them into to offer peace to Great Britain, either in some hope a situation to display their qualifications. that it might have been made upon terms consistent Another circumstance favourable for the Spanish with Bonaparte's pretensions to universal dominion, cause, was the return of General La Romana to and Alexander's views upon'lTurkey, or in order to Spain, to co-operate in the defence of' his country. assume to themselves the credit of a disposition to'This nobleman, one of the best soldiers whom Spain pacific measures. A letter was accordingly dishad at the time, and a man, besides, of patriotic patched to the King of England, signed by both virtue, and excellent talents, commanded that auxi- emperors, expressive of their wish for a general liary body of ten thousand Spanish troops which peace. The official note in which the British admiBonaparte had prevailed on Godoy to unite'with nistration replied to this overture, declared that the the French army in the north of Europe, in order to King of England was willing to treat tor peace in secure their absence when he should put his schemes conjunction with his allies, the King of Sweden, of invasion into execution against their country. and those now possessing the supreme power in These forces, or a large proportion of them, were Spain, and exercising it in the name of Ferdinand VII. secluded in the isle of Funen, in the Baltic, with a The admission of any claim in favour of' either of view to conceal from them all that it did not suit these powers, would have interfered with the plans Bonaparte should be. known of the events which both of France and Russia. The latter had for her were agitating Spain. Nevertheless, a dexterous object the possession of Finland, and the former and daring agent, a catholic priest of Scotch ex- judged that peace with England was chiefly desirtraction, named Robertson, going ashore in disguise, able for gaining time to overcome all resistance in succeeded in opening a communication between the Spain; but must become useless if the independSpanish general and the British admiral Keates, in ence of that country was to be stipulated in the consequence of whichj and by using bold and skilfiul treaty. The negotiation, therefore, broke off on combinations, La Romana was able to extricate the these terms, while Britain, by her share in it, showed greater part of his troops fiom the precarious situa- a manfill resolution to identify her cause with that tion in which they were placed, and finally to embark of the Spanish patriots. them for Spain. It was the intention of' this judicious The actions of England bore a part with her proofficer to have made this little force of nine or ten fessions. It was determined, as we have already thousand men the foundation of a regular army, by seen, to reinforce the Portuguese army with an adforming every regiment into a triple battalion. This ditional force of ten thousand men, and the whole he was unable to accomplish, but still his body of' was placed under the command of General Moore, veterans inspired the Spaniards with hope and a darling name in the British army, and the only trust. one (excepting the victor of Vimeira, had his rank Three armies had been formed in Spain, designed in the service permitted the choice), to whom the.to co-operate with each other; the sum of their public would have looked with confidence for the numbers was calculated at 130;000 men, but they discharge of a trust so unusually weighty. But certainly did not exceed 100,000 at the very utmost. although the requisite degree of vigour was shown Their commissariat was in a wretched state, and by the English government, yet they were not yet even before the war commenced, the hardships of sufficiently accustomed to the necessity of acting scarcity were felt in their camps. Three generals, with rapidity in executing their resolutions. each with independent authority (an evil of the The arrival of General Moore's army had been country and time), commanded the Spanish armies. expected so early as the 21st August, by those havyBlake, on the western frontier, extended his line ing best access to know the purposes of governfirom Bur-gos to Bilboa, disputing the possession of, ment; yet Sir John Moore and his army were not in and finally maintaining himself in, that capital of motion, to take part in the Spanish cause, till the Biscay. The head-quarters of the central army, beginning of October; and every day which was under Castanos, were as far back as Soria; whlle thus lost in unreadiness and indecision was of the the eastern army, under Palafox, extended between most precious import to the cause of Spain.'his Zaragossa and Sanguesa. So that the wings of the procrastination could not be inlmputed to the general, armny were advanced towards the frontier; and the nor even to the administration. It was the consecentre being drawn back, the whole position had quence of want of alertness in the different departthe form of a crescent, with the concave side op- rents, which had been little accustomed to hurry posed to the enemy. Strongly posted within the and exertion, and also of the hesitation apt to inposition of Northern Spain, which they retained, the fluence those who venture for the first time on a Fr-ench armies, about sixty thousand men strong, lay great and decisive measure. Even when the expeprotected by the fortresses which they occupied, dition arrived, there was uncertainty and delay. and awaited the approach of Napoleon, with such a Sir John Moore also, in all other respects one of: predonlinating force as should enable them to resume the most eminent military characters, had embraced the offensive. The co-operation of a British auxi- an unfavourable idea of the event of the Spanislh liary force became now an object of the first conse- struggle. He saw the faults and imperfections of quence; and the conduct of Britain had given every their system, and they were of a kind which apreason to expect that she would make in the Spa- peared most peculiarly perilous. Independent genish cause exertionls to which she had been yet nerals,-an unpaid and ill-fed soldiery,-a Supreme a stranger. Junta which could not obtain obedience,-were fi-t. 460 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. tares which argued a speedy and disastrous con- day, he set off for the frontiers of Spain. Here he clusion to the contest, when opposed to the disci- had prepared in ample extent, all the means of conplined army of France, with which General Moore quest; obr, though trusting, or affecting to trust, a was so well acquainted, and to whose merits he great deal to the influence of his fortune and hit could give the testimony of experience. star, it was his wise and uniform policy to leave His fears, therefore, predominating over his hopes, nothing to chance, but always to provide means yet his wishes alike, and his duty, prompting him to adequate to the purpose which he meditated. do something for the support of the Slarish cause, he Nearly a hundred thousand men had been grawas anxious so to direct his efforts, that he might dually pouring into the position which the French letreat, in case of need, without suffering any con- occupied upon the Ebro. The head-quarters at Vitsiderable loss. For this purpose it would have been toria, honoured with the residence of the intrusive his desire to have carried round the British army to king, was soon more illustrious by the arrival of Cadiz, to assist in the defence of Andalusia, where Bonaparte himself, a week before the British army the sea, in case of disaster, would always be open had commenced its march from Portugal or Colbr their retreat. But the English ministers had runnia. formed a bolder and more decisive plan of the canm- To destroy the army of Blake, which lay opposed paign,-a plan which might have been decisive of to the right flank of the French, before the Spanish the fate even of Bonaparte himself; at least of his general could be supported by Sir John Moore's Spanisdh projects of ambition, if either the Spaniards forces, became for Bonaparte a matter of instant had acted with the skill which distinguished the vic- and peremptory importance. After some previous tors of Baylen, or the enthusiasm which animated fighting, a French division, under'Marshal Victor, the defendecrs of Zaragossa, or if the British troops brought the Spanish general to action at the position had been able to enter into communication with their of Espinosa. The battle continued for three hours armies before they were broken and overwhelmed in the evening, and was renewed the next day, when by the Emperor of the French. This plan directed, the French turned the Spanish position, and Blake, that the British forces should proceed atonce to the totally defeated, withdrew from the field, with the north of' Spain, where the principal scene of action purpose of making a stand at Reynosa, where he was necessarily laid, and thus co-operate with had his supplies and magazines. Blake, and tile other Spanish armies, which were Meantime the activity of Bonaparte had struck destined to cover the capital, and withstand the first another fatal blow on a different part of the Spanish effort of' the invaders. It was left to the judgment defensive line. An army designed to cover Burgos, of the commander, either to advance into Spain by and support the right flank of Blake's army, had land from the frontiers of Portugal, or to transport been formed under the command of the Count de his troops by sea to Cortnna, with the purpose of Belvidere, a young nobleman of courage, but without mlarching through the province of Galicia, and enter- experience. He had under his command some reming in that manner upon the scene of action. nants of the old:Spanish army of the line, with the To accomplish the purpose of government, Sir Walloons and Spanish guards, and a battalion of John Moore deemed it niost convenient to divide students, volunteers from:Salamanca and Leon. his forces. He sent ten thousand men, under Sir Here also the French were successful. The youths, David Baird, by sea to Corunna, and determined to whom patriotism had brought to the field, could not mnarch himself at the head of the rest of the army, be frightened fiomn it by danger. They fell in their about sixteen thousand, to the north of Spain, from ranks, and their deaths spread mourning through the frontiers of Portugal. The general science of many a respectable family in Spain. wvar, upon the most extended scale, seems to have Burgos was taken, in consequence of Count Belvibeen so little understood or practised by the English dere's defeat; arid it awas by the same calamity rengenerals at this tinie, that, instead of the country dered easy for the Duke of Dalmatia to.co-operate being carefully reconnoitred by officers of skill, the with the French generals, who were operating against march of the army was arranged by such hasty and the unfortunate Blake, with a view to drive hilm fioro inaccurate information as could be collected from his place of refige atlReynosa. Surroundedon every the peasants. By their report, General Moore was side, the Spanish general saw no safety for the renlinduuced to divide his army into five divisions, which nart of his forces, excepting in a retreat to Saint were directed to move upon Salamanca, where, or Andero, accomplished under such circumllstances of' at Valladolid, they were to form a junction with the haste and confusion, that his army might be conforces of Sir David Baird, expected from Corutnna. sidered as totally disorganized and dispersed. The The advance commenced about the 7th of Novem- disasters of Blake were the more to be lamented, ber; but, unhappily, ere these auxiliaries appeared that they involved the destruction of that fine body on the field, the armies of the Spaniards, whom of soldiers whom La Romana had led from the Balthey were destined to support, were defeated, dis- tic, and who, injudiciously brought into action by persed, and almost annihilated. single battalions, perished ingloriously among the There was no hesitation, no mark of indecision, no cliffs at Espinosa. loss of precious time, on the part of Napoleon. He The whole left wing of the Spanish army of detraversed the earth as a comet does the sky, work- fence, which so lately stretched froml Bilboa to Baring changes wherever he came. The convention at gos, and in support of which the British forces were Erfurt broke up on the 14th October; on the 25thm of advancing, was now totally annihilated, and the the same month he-opened, in pers-mn, the session of central army, under Castanos, whose left flank was tile Legislative Body; and on the second following now completely uncovered, was exposed to ini LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 462 minent danger. The veteran would fain have re- General Moore was extremely embarrassing, and served his forces for a more fortunate time, by falling gave him cause for the deepest anxiety. lie knew back and avoiding a battle. But he had been joined the strength and character of the French armies, by Palafox, who had under his independent autho- and was unwilling to repose too much confidence in rity the army of Arragon; and the Supreme Junta, the Spaniards, whose wisdom, he contended, was acting in that particular according to the custom of not a wisdom of action or exertion. On thie other the French Convention, had dispatched a commis- hand, he well knew the enthusiasm of the English sioner to his camp, to see that that general performed for the Spanish cause, and the high expectations his duty. This official person, with Palafox and which were founded on his own talents, and on the other generals, joined in overpowering Castanos's gallantry of one of the finest armies which ever left reasoning, and, by the imputations of cowardice and Britain; and he felt that something was to be attreachery, compelled him to venture an action. tempted worthy of the character of bhth. The The battle took place at Tudela, on the 22d No- general voice of the officers and soldiers was also vember, with all the results which Castanos had clamorous for being employed. But the defeat of dreaded. A great number of Spaniards were killed; Castanos at Tudela seems to have extinguished the guns and baggage were taken; and, for the first last hope in Sir John Moore's mind, and he at one time, a considerable number of prisoners fell into time determined upon commencing his retreat to the hands of the French. Castanos, with the routed Portugal. troops of his proportion of the army, escaped to Ca- Before finally adopting this measure, he thought latayud, while Palafox retreated again on the heroic proper, however, to consult Mr Frere, the British city of Zaragossa, which was destined to suffer fur- minister, whether he thought any good would result ther distresses, and acquire additional renown. The from the daring measure of marching on Madrid, road of the invader was now open to Madrid, instead of retreating to Portugal. The correspondents unless in so far as it might be defended by some differed, as might have been expected, from their forces stationed at the pass of Somosierra, a moun- difference of temperament and habits. Mr Frere, a tainous defile about ten miles from the city, or as scholar and a poet, well known in the world of his entrance into the capital might be opposed by letters, being attached with enthusiasm to the cause the desperate resolution of the citzens themselves. of Spain, was a willing believer in the miracles A part of the population placed their hopes on the that might be wrought by the higher and nobler defence afforded by this defile, not aware how easily, qualities, which found a cbhord in unison in his own in modern warfare, such passes are either stormed bosom. IHe advised, as a Spartan would have done, or turned. But most of the citizens assumed the that General Moore should throw all upon the cast, fierce and louring appearance, which, in the Spa- and advance to the succour of Madrid. The general, niard, announces an approaching burst of furious'upon whom the responsibility devolved, viewed the violence. Many thousands of peasants arrived from measure in a different light, and his military habits the neighbouring country, to assist, they said, in the did not permit him to place much confidence in a defence of the capital; and, animated by the success defence to be maintained by irregular forces against of the Zaragossians, menaced war to the knife's point. the disciplined armies of France. Yet, urged by There were about eight thousand troops of the line his own feelings, and the impolrtunity of the Spanish in Madrid; resistance was undoubtedly possible, government, he resolved to try, by an effort against.and the people seemed determined upon it. A sum- the north-western part of the French army, to anmons from the Supreme Junta called the inhabitants swer the double purpose of preventing them from to arms, and the commencement of the preparations -possing on La Romana, who, with indefatigable for defence was begun with unanimous vigour. For zeal, was collecting the scattered remains of the this purpose the pavement of the streets wvas taken Galician army, which had been destroyed under up and converted into barricadoes; the houses were Cuesta, and also of hindering the French from adsecured, and loopholed for musketry; and the whole vancing southward to complete the subjugation of body of the population toiled at erecting batteries, the Peninsula. not only in the day-time but by torch-light. But while General Moore determined to hazard Had Palafox commanded in Madrid, the experi- this bold measure, he saw painfully the danger of ment of resistance would, at all risks, have been drawing upon himself, by adopting it, a predominant attempted. But the governor was Don Thomas force of the enemy, before whom his retreat might Molla, the same who succeeded Solano at Cadiz. be difficult and perilous. Yet he finally ordered His subsequent conduct seems to show, that, de- Sir David Baird, whose retreat to Corunna was spairing of the cause of his country, he already already commenced, again to occupy Astorga, and meditated an intended change to tile side of the expressed his intention of hazarding an advance, at usurper; so that the citizens of Madrid, at the whatever risk. But he added these ominous words; momnout when they had recourse to his skill and'" I mean to proceed bridle in hand, for if the bubble authority, received neither encouragement nor in- bursts, and Madrid falls, we shall have a run for it." structions, nor means of defence. We shall present- The fate of Madrid was soon decided; but, as is ly see in what manner the generous intentions of the generally believed, not without great treachery on people were cheated and baffled. the part of those who had been most apparently Amidst the accumulation of disasters which over- zealous for its defence. The passes of Guadarama whelmed the Spanish cause, Sir John Moore arrived and Somosierra had fallen into the possession of the at Salamanca, and Sir David Baird at Astorga, French. The latter, on which the:people of Madrid where the latter general halted. The situation of had fixed their eyes as on a second Thermopylke or I462 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Roncesvalles, was cleared of its defenders by a lected those which Galicia itself afforded; and the charge of Polish lancers! These melancholy troops, retiring gradually from position to position, tidings, as they were in correspondence with Ge- and maintained flom their own resources, would'ieral Moore's expectations, did not prevent his have escaped the loss and dishonour of a retreat intended movement on the French lines of corn- which resemnbled a flight in every particular, exminnication. By this means he might co-operate cepting the terror which accompanies it. with General La Romana and his army, and if Besides these great deficiencies, a disadvantage pressed by superior numbers of the French, the of the most distressing kind occurred, from the retreat lay through Galicia to Corunna, where the natural and constitutional aversion of the British * transports were attending for the reception of the army to retrograde movements. Fall of hope and troops. confidence when he advances, the English soldier General Moore left Salamanca on the 12th De- wants the pliability, lightness, and elasticity of cember, and proceeded towards Mayorga, where, character, which enables the Frenchman to dison the 20th, he formed a junction with Sir David tinguish himself during a retreat, by his intelligence, Baird. Advancing upon Sahagun, the troops re- discipline, and dexterity. Chafed, sullen, and disceived encouragement from a gallant action main- contented, the soldiers next became mutinous and tained by the 15th hussars, five hundred of whom insubordinate; and, incensed against the Spaniards, took, cut down, and dispersed, nearly double their by whose want of zeal they thought they had been own number of French cavalry. All now imagined betrayed, they committed the most unjustifiable exthey were to attack Soult, who had concentrated his cesses on the unlesisting inhabitants. Despite the forces behind the river Carrion to receive the assault. repeated orders of the commander-in-chief, endeaTihe British army was in the highest possible spirits, vouring to restrain the passions, and soothe the when news were suddenly received that Soult had irritation of the soldiers, these disgraceful outrages been considerably reinforced; that Bonaparte was were continued. It is matter of some consolation, marching from Madrid, at the head of ten thousand that, losing their character for discipline, they reof his guards; and that the French armies, who had tained that for courage. The French, who had been marching to the south of Spain, had halted and pressed on the British rear, near to Benavente, and assumed a direction to the north-west, as if to en- thrown across the river a large body of the Imperial close and destroy the British army. This was cavallry, were driven back and defeated on the exactly the danger which Moore had never ceased 29th December; and, leaving General Lefelvre to apprehend, even when executing the movement Desnouettes a prisoner, in future were contented that led to it. A retreat into, if not through Galicia, with observing, without pressing upon the English was the only mode of avoiding the perils by which retreat. the British were surrounded. The plan of defending At Astorga, 30th December, the commander-intlis strong and mountainous province, or at least of chief found about 5000 Spaniards under La Romana, effecting a retreat through it with order and deliber- the relics of the Galician army. These troops ation, had been in view for several weeks; Sir wanted clothing, accoutrements, arms, ammunition, David Baird's division of the army passed through and pay-they wanted, in short, everything exceptit inl their advance to Astorga; yet so imperfect at ing that conraage-and devotion to the cause of their that time was the British general staff, that no accu- country, which would have had a better fate, had rate knowledge seemed to have been possessed of fortune favoured desert. the roads through the country, of the many strong The Spanish general still proposed to make'a military positions which it presents, or of the par- stand at this rallying point; btut whatever might be ticular military advantages which it affords for La Romana's own skill, and the bravelry of his foldefensive war. Another deficiency, incidental to lowers, his forces twere not of a quality such as to our service at that period, was the great deficiency induce Sir John Moore to halt his retreat, which he of the comnmissariat department, which had been now directed avowedly upon Corunna. pointed out so forcibly by Sir Arthur WVellesley, The scarcity of provisions required forced marchbut which had not yet been remedied. * es, and conibined, with want of general knowledge Sutifcient exertions in this department might lhave of the country in a military sense, to hurry forwardl brought forward supplies fromn Corunna, and col- the soldiers, who too readily took advantage of these irregular movenments to straggle and plunder, ~ Sir Arthur Wellesley, while exculpaling from'atme inflicting on the friendly natives, and receiving from the individuals composing the commissariat of the Ior- them in return, the mutual evils which are given tuguese expedition, added these words:-"T'he fact is, that and received by invaders in an enemy's country. I wished to draw the attention of the government to this The weather dark and rainy-the roads blockaded important branch of the public service, which is but lif te by half-melted snow-the forls become almost imunderstood in this country. Tie evits of a'htch I corn- passable —augmented the difficulties of a retreat, plained are probably owing to the nature of our political resembling that by which a defeated army is forced situation, which prevents us from undertaking great military operations, in which the subsistence of armies be- into a country totally unknown to them, and through comesa subject of serious consideration antl difficulty; and which the fugitives must find their way as they can. these evils consisted in the inexperience of alrost every The baggage of the army, and its ammunition, were individual, of the mode of procuring, conveying, and dis- abandoned and destroyed. The sick, the wounded, trihuting supplies.' He requested that this explanation were left to the mercy of the pursuers; and the might stand in the minutes.-Southey's History of the numbers who in that hour of despair gave way to _ rau _ n, vl. I,~ p.~ 5 xthe national vice of intoxication, added large l-,o._.. LIFIE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 433 tlhe ineffective and tile helpless. The very trea- war,-on the same desperate cast by which the s.l-e c;i ts of tile army vwere thrown away and natives were compelled to abide. The disasters of;iltbanlll d. There was never so complete an the retreat appear to rest on want of knowledge of exanspke of a disastrous retreat. the ground they were to traverse, and on the defiClne sawing circullstance, already mentioned, cieney of the commissariat, which, though the army tende-d to qualify the bad behaviour of the troops; must be entirely dependent on it, was not at that u timely, that wvthen a report arose that a battle was time sufficiently under the control of the commanderic, be expected, the courlage, nay, the discipline of in-chief: We owe it to his memory to say, that, at.; e sldliers, seene(ld to revive.'This was especially the close of his own valuable life, he amply redeemt'.,,Se on the 6thl January, when the French ven- ed in his last act the character of the army which tucl ed:Gil attack upon our rear-guard near Lugo. So he commanded. Qon) as a prospect of action wvas presented, stragglers hI;stened to join their ranks —the disobedient CHAPTER LXV.,.Calte at once surbordinate, as if on the parade; tall it was mlade man\ifest that the call to battle, far General Belliard occupies Madrid on 4th December, 1808. n'r, haviing thie natural effect of intimidating to utter -Napoleon returns to France.-Siingular conlversation disiersion troops alrelady so much disordered, was at Valladolid, betwixt hin and the AbbU de Pradt.-, to ice Egl;sh army the Ineans of restoring discipline, Cause Of his hurried return. - i of the circunsisteadiness, alnd ct;ltfidenlce. stances leading to a rupture with Auestria.-Feelzgys (f he French t having declined the proffered engage- Russia upon this occasion. —Secret intrigues of Talleyrand to preserve peace.-Immense exertions tmade ment, Sir John Moore continued his retreat under by Austria-Distribution of her armies.-Coutnter eftlre sanle disadvantageolus circumstances, until he forts of Bonaparte. —The Austrian army entters BayaI rrived at Corunna, the original object of his desti- ria, 9th April, 1809.-Napoleon hastens to nleet them.nation. He was preparing to embark his forces - Austrians defeated at Abensberg on, the 20th-ancld at in the transports, which lay prepared for their Eckmuhl onthe22d, with great loss.-They are drivens out reception, when his pursuer, Soult, now pressing of Ratisbon on the 23d.-The Archduke Charles retreats boldly fborward., made it evident that this could not into Bohenia.-Napoleon pushes forward to Vienna, be accomplished unless either by a convention with uwhich, after a brief defence, is occupied by the Fsretch oln hint, or by the event of a battle, which might dis- the 12th of May. -Retrospect of the events of the war ina quialify him from opposing the embarkation. Sir Poland, Italy, the North of Germany, and the Tyrol. John Moore, with the dignity becoming his character, -Enterprises of Sc&ill-of the Duke of Brutlswick Oeis. chose the latter alternative; and occupied a position -Moeentes in the Tyrol- Character aod tanners of the Tyrolese. —Retreat of the Archdstke.tohn into of no great strength in front of the town, to protect hustgary. the emnbarkation. The attack was made by the French on the 16th January, in heavy columns, and HAVING thus completed the episode of Sir John with their usual vivacity; but it was sustained and Moore's expedition, we resume the progress of Na. repelled on all hands. The gallant general was mort- poleon, to whom the successive victories of Espially wounded in the action, just as he called on the nosa, Burgos, and Tudela, had offered a triumphaint 42d Highland regiment to " remember Egypt," and path to Madrid. On the 1st of December, his reminded the same brave mountaineer, that though heatd-quarters being at the village of Saint Angusammunition was scarce,' they had their bayonets." tino, he was within sight of that capital, and almost Thus died on the field of victory, which atoned within hearing of the bells, whose hollow arid colnfor previous misfortunes, one of the brat est and best tinned toll announced general insurrection, and the officers of the British army. His body was wrapped most desperate resistance. Nor was the zeal of the in his militaty cloak, instead of the usual vestments people of Madrid inadequate to the occasion, had of the tomb; it was deposited in a grave hastily it been properly directed and encoturaged. They dug on the ramparts of the citadel of Corunna; and seized on the French officer who brought a suclcthe army completing its embarkation upon the sub- nions of surrender, and were with difficulty presequent day, their late general wvas "left alone vented from tearing him to pieces. On the 3d, the,vith his glory." French attacked Buen Retire, a palace which ltad Tihus ended, in the acquisition of barren laurels, been fortified as a kind of citadel. A thousand plentifully blended with cypress, the campaign, Spaniards died in the defence of this strong-hold. On wvhich had been undertaken by so beautiftil and ef- the 4th, Morla opened a capitulation with Napoleon. fic(ient an army, ulider so approved a commander. He and Yriarte, another noble Spaniard, of whom The delay in sending it to the scene of action was better things had been hoped, came to testify their one great cause of its failure, and for that the gal- repentance for the rash part they had undertaken, lant general, or his memory, cannot be held respon- and to express their sense that the city could in no sible. Such a force at Salamanca, -while the French wise be defended; but, at the same time to state were unequal in numbers to the Spanish armies, that the populace and volunteers were resolute in uight have had the most important consequences. its defence, and that some delay would be necesAt a later period, when the patriotic armies were sary, to let their zeal cool, and their fears come to everywhere defeated, we confess that General work in their turn. Moore, with the ideas which he entertained of the Bonaparte admitted these deputies to his own Spaniards, does not seem to us to have been called presence, and with the audacity which sometimes upon to place the fate of the British army,-auxi- sharacterized his language, he read them a lecture haries, it must be observed, not principals in the on their bad faith, in not observing the treaty oia 464 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Baylen-on their bad faith, in suffering Frenchmen full retreat, and was observed scarcely ever to have to be assassinated-on their bad faith, in seizing seemed so gay and joyous as during the pursuit, upon the French squadron at Cadiz. This rebuke which the French officers termed the race of Benawas gravely urged by the individual, who had kid- vente. But he had also the less pleasing spectacle napped the royal family of Spain while they courted: of the skirmish, in which the general commanding his protection as his devoted vassals,-who hadl the cavalry of his Imperial Guard was defeated, and seized the fortresses into which his troops had been his favourite General Lef6bvre., made prisoner. He received as friends and allies,-who had floated the halted with his guards at Astorga, left Ney with streets of Madrid with the blood of its population, 18,000 men, to keep the country in subjection, and -and, finally, who had taken it: upon him to as- assigned to Soult the glorious task of pursuing the sume the supreme authority, and dispose of the English, and completing their destruction. We crown of Spain, under no better pretext than that have already seen how far he proved able to accornhe had the will and the power to do so. Had a Spa- plish his commission. niard been at liberty to reply to the Lord of Legions, Meanwhile, the emperor himself returned to Valand reckon with him injury for injury, falsehood for ladolid, and from thence set off Ibr France with the falsehood, drop of blood for drop of.blood, what an most precipitate haste. His last act was to declare awful balance must have been struck against him! his brother Joseph generalissimo over the French arIn the meantimle, those citizens of Madrid who mies; yet, notwithstanding this mark of trust and conhad determilned on resistance, began to see that fidence, there is reason to believe that Bonaparte rethey were deserted by such as should have headed pented already his liberality, in assigning to another, them in the task, and their zeal became cooled though his own brother, an appanage so splendid, under the feelings of dismay and distrust. A mili- and which was likely to cost so much blood and tary convention was finally concluded, in virtue of treasure. Something to this purpose broke out in which General Belliard took possession of the city his proclamation to the people of Madrid; and he on the 4th of December. The terms were so favour- was more explicit when speaking confidentially to able, as to show that Bonaparte, while pretending the Abbe de Pradt, whom, in retlrning from Benato despise the sort of resistance which the popula- vente, the emperor met at Valladolid. tion might have effected, was well pleased, never- They were alone; it was a stormy night; and Botheless, not to drive them to extremity. He then naparte, opening the window from time to time, to published a proclarnatioi, setting forth his desire to ascertain the possibility of traveling, only turned be the regenerator of the Spanish empire. But in fraom it to overwhelm Monsieur de Pradt with quescase his mild and healing mediation should be again tions on the state of the capital which he had just refused, he declared he would treat them as a con- left. The abb6 did not disguise their disaffection; quered people, and place his brother on another and when Napoleon endeavoured to show the injusthrone. "I will, in that case, set the crown of tice of their complaints, by insisting on the blessings Spain on my own head, and I shall know how to he had conferred on Spain, by the diminution of make it respected; for God," concluded this ex- tithes, abolishing feudal servitudes, and correcting traordinary document, " has given me the power and other abuses of the old government, De Pradt anthe will to surmount all difficulties." swered by saying, that the Spaniards did not thank There were now two operations which nearly Napoleon for relief from evils to which they wereI concerned Bonaparte. The first was the dispersion insensible; and that the country was in the situation of the remaining troops of Castanos, which had of the wife of'Sganarelle ill the farce, who quarreled escaped the fatal battle of Tudela, and such other with a stranger for interfering with her husband armed bodies as continued to occupy the south of when he was beating her. Bonaparte laughed, and Spain. In this the French had for some time an continued in these remarkable words:-" I did not easy task; for the Spanish soldiers, surprised and know what Spain was.'It is a finer country than I incensed at their own disasters, were, in many in- was aware, and I have made Joseph a more valuable stances, the assassins of their generals, and the gene- present than I dreamed of. But you will see, that rals had lost all confidence in their mutinous follow- by and by the Spaniards w~il commit some folly, ers. But before pursuing his successes in the south, which will place their country once more at my disit was Bonaparte's first resolution to detach a part posal. I will then take care to keep it to myself, of the French army upon Portugal, by the way of and divide it into five great viceroyships." Talavera, and by occupying Lisbon, intercept the:VWhile the favourite of fortune nourished these retreat of Sir John Moore and his English army. plans of engrossing and expanding ambition, the T'le advance of the English general to Salamanca eagerness of his mind seems to have communicated interfered with this last design. It seemed to Na- itself to his bodily frame; for, when the weather poleon, that lbe did not yet possess forces sufficient permitted him to mount on horseback, he is said at at the same timne to confront and turn back Sir John once, and withoqt halting save to change horses, to Moore, and, on the other hand, to enter Portugal and have performed the journey from Valladolid to Burpossess himself of Lisbon. The latter part of the gos; being thirty-five Spanish leagues, or about pian rwas postponed. Placing himself at the heed seventy English miles and upwards, in the space of ct hls guards, Napoleon, as we have seen, directed five hours and a half. his march towards Valladolid, and witnessed the re- The incredible rapidity with which Napoleon treat of Sir Joln Moore. He had the pleasure of pressed his return to France, without again visiting benniding with: his own eyes the people whom he Madrid, or pausing to hear the fate of the English hated. most, and certainly did not fear the least, in army, surprised those around-him. Some conjectur ed ---— J~~~~~~~ LIFE OF NAPO EON BONAPARTE. 40,' that a conspiracy had been discovered against his pretation for one, who, aiming at universal monarchy, authority at Paris; others, that a band of Spaniards desired that there should be as little interference as had devoted themselves to assassinate hini; a third possible with the various steps by which he was to class assigned different causes; but it was soon found achieve that great plan; bat it is entirely contradicthat the dispatch which he used had its cause in the tory of the interpretation put upon treaties by the approaching rupture with Austria. jurists; and were the jurists of a contrary opinion, it This breach of friendship appears certainly to is in diametrical opposition to the feelings of human.have been soiught by Austria, without any of those nature, by which the policy of states, and the conplausible reasons of complaint, on which nations duct of individuals, are alike dictated. Bonaparte generally are desirous to bottom their quarrels. She being, as his conduct showed him, engaged in a did not allege that, with respect to herself or her constant train of innovation upon the liberties of do.rinions, France had, by any recent aggression, Europe, it followed, that the states whoms he had given her cause of'offence. The Abb6 de Pradt re- not been able entirely to deprive of independence marks upon the occasion, with his usual shrewdness, should, without fatlther, or more particularly national that if Napoleon was no religious observer of the cause of war, be perpetually on the watch for thith of treaties, it could not be maintained that opportunities to destroy or diminish his terrible other states acted much more scrupulously in re- authority. In this point of view, the question for ference to him. Bonaparte himself has alleged, Austria to consider was, not the justice of the war, what, in one sense of the word, was true, that many but its expediency; not her right of resisting the of his wvars were, in respect to the immediate causes common enemy of the fieedom of Eurlope, but, of quarrel, merely defensive on his side. But this practically, whether she had the means of effectual was a natural consequence of the style and structure opposition. The event served to show that Austria of his government, which, aiming directly at uni- had over-estimated her own resources. versal empire, caused him to be looked upon by all It is true, that an opportunity now presented nations as a common enemy, the legitimate object of itself, which seemed in the highest degree tempting. attack whenever he could be attacked with ad- Bonaparte was absent in Spain, engaged in a distant vantage, because he himself neglected no opportunity conquest, in which, besides the general unpopularity to advance his pretensions against the independence of his cause, obstacles had arisen which were strat.. of Europe. gers to any previous part of his history, and resistThe singularsitnation ofGmeatBritain, unassailable ance had been offered of a nature so serious, as to by his arms, enabled her to avow this doctrine, and shake the opinion hitherto entertained of his invinto refuse making peace with Napoleon, on terms cibility. On the other hand, Austria had instituted how favourable soever for England, unless she were in her states organic laws, by which she secured at the same time recognized as having authority to herself the power of being able to call out to arms guarantee the security of such states as she had a her immense and military population; and her chief chance of protecting, if she remained at war. Thus, error seems to have been, in not postponing the fatal she refused peace when offered uinder the condition struggle until these new levies had acquired a better that Prance should have Sicily; and at the period disciplined and more consolidated form. Of this of which we treat, she had again recently declined the Emperor of Russia was fully sensible, and, as the terms of pacification proposed by the overture we have already noticed, he saw with great apprefroin Erfurt, which inferred the abandonment of the hension Austria's purpose of opposing herself singly Spanish cause. to the arms of France; since, however close the This principle of constant war with Bonaparte, or intimacy which, for the present, subsisted betwixt rather with the progress of his ambition, guided Alexander and Napoleon, it was impossible for the and influenced every state in Europe, which had former to be indifferent to the vast risk which yet any claim for their independence. Their military Europe must incur, should France finally annihilate disasters, indeed, often prevented their being able the independence of Austria. A series of intrigues, to keep the flag of defiance flying; but the cessions of a very singular nature, was accordingly underwhich they were compelled to make at the moment taken at Paris, in the hope of preserving peace. of defeat, only exasperated their feelings of re- Talleyrand, who, perhaps on Napoleon's own acsentment, and made them watch more eagerly for count as well as that of France, was unwilling that the period, when their own increasing strength, or another great continental war should arise, was the weakness of the common enemy, might enable active in endeavouring to discover means by. which them to resume the struggle. Napoleon's idea of a peace might be preserved. In the evening, it, was peace was, as we have elsewhere seen, that the his custom to meet the Counts Metterlio and party with whom he treated should derive no more Romanzow at the assemblies of the Prince of Tour from the articles agreed upon, than the special and Taxis, and there, totally unknownw to Bouaprovisions expressed in his favour. So long, for parte, to agitate the means of preventing war;-so instance, as lie himself observed all points of the certain it is, that even the ablest and most absolute treaty of Presburg, the last which he had dictated of sovereigns was liable, like an ordinary prince, to.to Austria, that power, according to his view of the be deceived by the statesmen around him. But the transaction, had no farther right either of reinon- ingenuity of these distinguished politicians could strance or intervention, and was bound to view find no means of reconciling the interests of Austria, wisth indifference whatever changes the French -seeing, as she thought; an-opportunity of forcing Emperor might please to work on the general state fromn Napoleon in his hour of weakness, what sIe of Europe.''This was no doubt ma convenient inter- had been compelled, to surrendtr to him in his-ltour ~OL-. v _. 466 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. of strength,-and those of Bonaparte, who knew pelled by circumstances to serve in the opposite that so soon as he should make a single sacrifice to ranks. Whatever effects might have been produced compulsion, he would be held as having degraded by such an address, supposing it to have had time that high military reputation which was the fbunda- to operate, the result was disconcerted by the tion of his power. It may reasonably be supposed, promptitude, which with Bonaparte was almost that, with the undecided war of Spain on his hands, always the harbinger of success..he would willingly have adjourned the contest; but While the Austrian army moved slow, and with with him, the sound of the trumpet was a summons to frequent halts, encumbered as they were with their be complied with, in the most complicated state of baggage and supplies, Napoleon had no sooner general embarrassment. learned by the telegraph the actual invasion of The exertions made by Austria on this important Bavaria, than he left Paris on the instant, and occasion were gigantic, and her forces were supe- hurried to Frankfort, without guards, without equiprior to those which she had been able to summon age, almost without a companion, save the faithful out at any former period of her history. Including Jos6phine, who accompanied him as far as Strasthe army of reserve, they were computed as high as burg, and there remained for some time watching five hundred and fifty thousand men, which the the progress of the campaign, the event of which Archduke Charles once more commanded in the was destined to have such a melancholy influence character of generalissimo. It is said that this gal- on her own happiness. lant prince did not heartily approve of the war, at The Archduke Charles's plan was to act upon least of the period chosen to commence it, but the offensive. His talents were undoubted, his readily sacrificed his own opinion to the desire of army greatly superior in numbers to the French, contributing, his utmost abilities to the service of his and favourably disposed, whether for attack or debrother and of his country. fence; yet, by a series of combinations, the most Six corps d'arm6e, each about thirty thousand beautiful and striking, perhaps, which occur in the strong, were destined, under the archduke's imme- life of one so famed for his power of forming such, diate command, to maintain the main weight of the Bonaparte was enabled, in the short space of five war in Germany; a seventh, under the Archduke days, totally to defeat the formidable masses which Ferdinand, was stationed in Gallicia, and judged were opposed to him. sufficient to oppose themselves to what forces Rus- Napoleon found his own force unfavourably dissia, in compliance with her engagements to Napo- posed, on a long line, extending between the towns leon, might find herself obliged to detach in that of Augsburg and Ratisbon, and presenting, through direction; and two divisions, under the Archduke the incapacity it is said of Berthier, an alarming John, were destined to awaken hostilities in the vacancy in the centre,:by operating on which the north of Italy, into which they were to penetrate by enemy might have separated the French army into the passes of Carinthia and Carniola. two parts, and exposed each to a flank attack. Bonaparte had not sufficient numbers to oppose Sensible of the full, and perhaps fatal consequences, these formidable masses; but he had recourse to which might attend this error, Napoleon determined his old policy, and trusted to make up for deficiency on the daring attempt to concentrate his army by a of general numerical force, by such rapidity of lateral march, to be accomplished by the twvo wings movement as should insure a local superiority on simultaneously. With this view he posted himself the spot in which the contest might:take place.:He in the centre, where the danger was principally apsummoned out the auxiliary forces of the Confede- prehended, commanding Mass6na to advance by a ration of the'Rhine, and of the King of Saxony. flank movement from Augsburg to Pfaflenhofen, He remanded many troops who were on their march and Davoust to approach the centre by a similar for Spain, and by doing so virtually adjourned, and, manceuvre from Ratisbon to Neustadt. These as it proved, for ever, the subjugation of that marches must necessarily be forced, that of Davoust country. lie had already in Germany the corps of being eight,;that of Massena betwixt twelve and Davoust, and of General Oudinot. The garrisons thirteen leagues. The order for this daring operawhich France had established in Prussia, and in tion was sent to Massena on thie night of the 17th, the northern parts of Germany, were drained for and concluded with an earnest recommendation of the purpose of reinforcing his ranks;:but the total speed and intelligence. When the time for executamount of his assembled forces was still greatly in- ing these movements had been allowed, Bonaparte, ferior to those of the Archduke Charles. at the head of the centre of his forces, made a On the 9th of April, 1809, the Archduke crossed sudden and desperate assault upon two Austrian the Inn; and thus a second time Austria cor- divisions, commanded by the Archduke Louis and menced her combat with France, by the invasion of General Hiller. So judiciously was this tinled, that Gernmany. Some confidence was placed in the ge- the appearance of Davoust on the one flank kept in neral discontent which prevailed among the Ger- check those other Austrian corps d'arime, by wauora mans, and especially those of the Confederation of the divisions attacked ought to have been supportthe Rhine, and their hatred of a system which ed; while the yet more formidable operations of made them on every occasion the instruments of Massmna, in the rear of the Archduke Louis, achievFrench policy. The Archduke averred in his ma- ed the dlefeat of the enemy. This victory, gained nifesto, that the cause of his brother was that of at Abensberg upon the 20th April, broke the line general independence, not individual aggrandise- of the Austrians, and exposed them to farther miswent; and he addressed himself particularly to fortunes. The emperor attacked the figitive* the tose his brothers of Germany, who were now cor- next day at Landshut, where the Austrians lost LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 467 _ -.,. A _. thli,(ty pieces of cannon, nine thousand prisoners, ginal aspect of the war was entirely changed; and and much ammunition and baggage. Austria, who had engaged in it with the pkoud hope On the 22d April, after this fortunate commence- of reviving her original influence in Europe, was ment of the campaign, Bonaparte directed his whole now to continue the struggle for the doubtful chance for,-, scientifically arranged into different divisions, of securing her existence. At no period in his moand moving by different routes, on the principal mentous career, did the genius of Napoleon appear army of the Archduke Charles, which, during these more completely to prostrate all opposition; at no; isfortunes, he had concentrated at Eckmihl. The time did the talents of a single individual exercise battle is said to have been one of the most splendid such an influence on the fate of the universe. The which the art of war could display. A hundred forces which he had in the field had been not only thousand men and upwards were dispossessed of all unequal to those of the enemy, but they were, in a i their positions by the combined attack of their military point of view, ill-placed and imperfectly scientific enemy, the divisions appearing on the field, combined. Napoleon arrived alone, found himself each in its due place and order, as regularly as the under all these disadvantages, and, we repeat, by movements of the various pieces in a game of chess. his almost unassisted genius, came, in the course of All the Austrian wounded, great part of their artil- five days, in complete triumph out of a struggle lery, fifteen stand of colours, and -twenty thousand which bore a character so unpromising. It was no prisoners, remained in the power of the French. wonder that others, nay, that he himself, should The retreat was attended with corresponding loss; have annexed to his person the degree of superstiand Austria, again baffled in her hopes of re-acquir- tious influence claimed for the chosen instruments of ing her influence in Germany, was once more re- desti:ny, whose path must not be crossed, and whose duced to combat for her existence amongst nations. arms cannot be arrested. On the subsequent day, the Austrians made some While the relics of the Archduke Charles's army attempt to protect the retreat of their army, by de- were on full retreat to Bohemia, Napoleon employed fending Ratisbon. A partial breach in the ancient the 23d and 24th of April, to review his troops, and walls was hastily effected, but for some time the distributed with a liberal hand honouls and reFrench who advanced to the storm, were destroyed wards. It was in this sphere that he was seen to by the musketry of the defenders. There was at greatest advantage; for, although too much of a length difficulty in finding volunteers to renew the soldier among sovereigns, no one could claim with attack, when the impetuous Lannes, by whom they better right to be a sovereign among soldiers. It were commanded, seized a ladder, and rushed for- was on this occasion, that, striking a soldier famiward to fix it himself against the walls.' "'I will liarly on the cheek, as he said "I create you a show you," lie exclaimed, " that your general is still knight," he asked the honoured party his name. a grenadier." The example prevailed, the wall was' You ought to know it well," answered the solsurmounted, and the combat was continued or re- dier; "since I am the man, who, in the deserts of newed in the streets of the town, which was spee- Syria, when you were in extremity, relieved you dily on file. A body of French, rushing to charge from my flask." a body of Austrians, which still occupied one end of Napoleon instantly recollected the individual and a burning street, were interrupted by some waggons the circumstance. "I make you," he said, "a belonging to the eneniy's train. "'They are tumbrils knight, with an annuity of twelve hundred francs of powder," cried the Austrian commanding, to the -what will you do with so much money?" French; " if the flames reach them, both sides pe- Drink with my comrades to the health of him rish." The combat ceased, and the two parties that is so necessary to us." joined in averting a calamity which must have been The generals had their share in the imperial I fatal to both, and, finally, saved the-ammunition from bounty, particularly Davoust, to whose brilliant exethe flames. At length the Austrians were driven cution of the manoeuvres commanded by Napoleon, out of Ratisbon, leaving much caution, baggage, and the victory was directly to be attributed. He was prisoners, in the hands of the enemy. created Prince of Eckmuhl. It was a part of NaIn the middle of this last me-le, Bonaparte, who poleon's policy, by connecting the names of fields of wvas speaking with his adjutant, Duroc, observing victory with the titles of those who contributed to the affair at some distance, was struck on-the foot acquire it, to ally the recollections of their merits by a spent mulsket-ball, which occasioned a severe with his own grateful acknowledgment of them. contusion. "That must have been a Tyrolese," Thus -the title of every ennobled marshal was a fresh said the emperor, coolly, "' who has aimed at me from incentive to sac.h officers as were ambitious of dissuch a distance. These fellows fire with wonderful tinction. pricision." Those around remonstrated with him After the fatal battle of Eckmuhl, the Archduke for exposing his person; to which he answered, Charles effected, as we have seen, his retreat into "W hat can I do? I must needs see how matters the nmountainous country of Bohemia, full of defiles, go on." The soldiers crowded about him in alarm and:highly capable of defence, where he could reat the report of his wound; but he would hardly al- model his broken army, receive reinforcements of low it to be dressed, so eager was he to get on-horse- every kind, and make a protracted defence, should back and put an end to the solicitude of his army, Napoleon press upon him in that direction. But by showing himself publicly among the troops. the victories of these memorable five days had Thus within five days,-the space, and almost the placed the French Emperor in full possession of the very days of the month, which Bonaparte had as- right bank 6f-the:Danube, and of the high-road to signed for settling the affairs of Germany,-the ori- the city of Vienna, which is situated on the same 1468 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. side of the river. True to his principle of striking munication between the Archduke and Hiller,directly at the heart of his antagonist, Napoleon attempted and succeeded in the desperate resolin determined to march on the metropolis of Austria, tion of disposting the Austrian general by main instead of pursuing the archduke into the mountains force. of Bohemia. By the latter course, the war might General Hiller retreated to St Polteil, then crosshave been long protracted, a contingency which it ed the Danube by the bridge at Muntern, which he was always Napoleon's policy to avoid; and, alarmed destroyed after his passage, and, marching to form for the preponderance which France was about to his junction with the Archduke Charles, left the acquire, Russia herself, now acting tardily and un- right side of the Danube, and consequently the highwillingly as the ally of Napoleon, might have as- road to Vienna, open to the French. Napoleon sumed a right of mediating, which she had strength moved forward with a steady yet rapid pace, calenough to enforce if it should be declined. culating upon gaining the advance necessary to On the other hand, the Austrian General Hiller, arrive at the Austrian capital before the archduke, defeated at Landshut, and cut off from communica- yet at the same time marching without precipitation, tion with the archduke, had been able to unite and taking the necessary measures for protecting himself with a considerable reserve, and assumed his communications. the mien of defending the high-road to the capital. The city of Vienna, properly so called, is surBonaparte had thus an enemy of some consequence rounded by the ancient fortifications which within front, while the army of Charles might operate stood the siege of the Turks in 1683. The subilrbs, from Bohemia upon the communications in his rear; which are of great extent, are surrounded by some and a universal national insurrection of the Tyro- slighter defences, bhut which could only be nmade lese threatened not only entirely to expel the French good by a large army. Had the archduke, with his and Bavarians from their mountains, but even to forces, been able to throw himself into Vienna bealarm Bavaria herself. Insurrections were also be- fore Bonaparte's arrival under its walls, no doubt a ginning to take place all through Germany, of a formidable defence might have been made. The character which showed, that, had the tide of war inclination of the citizens was highly patriotic. They turned, against France, almost all the north of Ger- fired from the ramparts on the advance of the French, many would have been in arms against her. These and rejected the summons of surrender. The Archdangers, which would have staggered a man of less duke Maximilian was governor of the place, at the determination, only confirmed Napoleon in his pur- head of ten battalions of troops of the line, and as pose of compelling Austria to make peace, by de- many of landwehr, or militia. scending the Danube, and effecting a second occu- A shower of bombs first made the inhabitants pation of her capital. sensible of the horrors to which they must necesAll was shortly in motion for the intended enter- sarily be exposed by defensive war. The palace of prise. General Hiller, too weak to attempt the the Emperor of Austria was in the direct front of defence of the Inn, retreated to Ebersberg, a village this terrible fire. The emperor himself, and the with a castle upon the river Traun, which was in greater part of his family, had retired to the city of most places unfordable, and had elevated rocky Buda in Hungary; but one was left behind, conbanks, scarped by the hand of Nature. One bridge fined by indisposition, and this was Maria Louisa, communicating with the town was the only mode the young archduchess, who shortly afterwards of approaching the position, which, viewed in front, became Empress of Fr ance. On intimation to this seemed almost impregnable. It was occupied by purpose being made to Bonaparte, the palace was Hiller with more than thirty thousand men, and a respected, and the storm of these terrible, missiles formidable train of artillery. He trusted to be able directed to other quarters. The intention of defendto maintain himself in this strong line of defence, ing the capital was speedily given up. The Archuntil he should renew his communications with the duke Maximilian, with the troops of the line, evaArchduke Charles, and obtain that prince's co-ope- cuated the city; and, on the 12th, General O'Reilly, ration in the task of covering Vienna, by defending commanding some battalions of landwehr, signed the the course of the Danulbe. capitulation with the French. Upon the 3d of May the position of Ebersberg Napoleon did not himself enter Vienna; he fixed was attacked by Massama, and stormed after a most his head-quarters at Schoenbrunn, a palace of the desperate resistance, which probably cost the victors emperor's in the vicinity of the capital. as many men as the vanquished. The hardiness of In the meanwhile, the Archduke Charles, unable this attack has been censured by some military cri- to prevent the fall of Vienna, was advancing to tics, who pretend, that if Massena had confined his avenge it. In the march which he made through front attack to a feint, the Austrian general would Bohemia, he had greatly increased his army; and have been as effectually dislodged, and at a much the events in the north of Germany and the Tyrol cheaper rate, by a corresponding movement upon had been so dangerous to French influence, that it his flank, to be executed by General Lannes, who required all the terrors of the battle of Eckmuhl to passed the river Traun at Wels for that purpose. keep the unwilling vassals of the conqueror in a But Massena, either from the dictates of his own state of subjection. Before, therefore, we trace the impetuous disposition, or because he had understood course of remarkable events which were about to the emperor's commands as positively enjoining an take place on the Danube, the reader is requested attack, or that he feared Lannes might be too late to take a brief view of the war on the Polish friontier, in arriving, when every moment was precious, in Italy, in the north of Germany, and in the Tyrol; because every moment might re-establish tIhe con- for no smaller portion of the civilized world was LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 469 actually the scene of hostilities during this mo- speed and dexterity in his military manoeuvre, and mentous period. soon assembled a small army of 5000 or 6000 men, In Poland, the Archduke Ferdinand threw himself sufficient to take possession of various towns, and of into the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, as the part of the little fortress of Domitz. Poland which formerly belonged to Prussia; ob- Katt, another insurgent, placed himself at the tained possession of Warsaw itself, and pressed head of an insurrection in Cassel; and a yet more northward with such vivacity, that, while Prince formidable leader, distinguished alike by his birth, Poniatowski was hardly able to assemble a small his bravery, and his misfortunes, appeared in the defensive army between the Narew and the Vistula, field. This was the Duke of Brunswick Oels, son the archduke approached Thorn, and was in a sitl- of him who was mortally wounded at Jena. The ation to summon Prussia to arms. The call would young prince had ever since before his eyes the doubtless have been readily obeyed, had the Arch- remembrance of his father, to whom Bonaparte's duke Charles obtained any shadow of success in enmity would not permit even the leisure of an hour the commencement of the campaign. But the French to die in his own palace. The breaking out of the had possession of all the most important Prussian for- war betwixt France and Austria seemed to promise tresses, which rendered it imprudent, indeed almost him the road to revenge. The duke contracted with impossible, for that power to offer any effectual Austria to levy a body of men, and he was furnished means of resistance, until the arms of Austria should by England with the means to equip and maintain assume that decided preponderance, which they them. His name, his misfortunes, his character, and were not on this occasion doomed to attain. his purpose, tended soon to fill his ranks; the exThe feeling of indignation against the foreign yoke ternal appearance of which indicated deep sorrow, had, however, penetrated deeply into the bosom of and a determined purpose of vengeance. His unithe Prussians. The doctrines of the Tugend-bund form was black, in memory of his father's death; had been generally received among the higher and the lace of the cavalry was disposed like the ribs of middling classes-the lower listened to the counsels a skeleton; the helmets and caps bore a death's head only of their own patriotism and courage. The on their front. freedom of Europe-the independence of Germany The brave young soldier was too late in appearing -the delivery of Prussia from a foreign bondage- in the field. If he could have united his forces with the obtaining security for what was most dear those of Schill, Doernberg, Katt, and the other inand valuable to mankind, determined Schill, a surgents, he might have effected a general rising in Prussian major of hussars, to attempt, even without the north; but the event of Eckmuhl, and the taking the commands of his king, the liberation of his of Vienna, had already checked the awakening spicountry. rit of Germany, and subsequent misfortunes tended During the former unhappy war, Schill, like to subdue, at least for the time, the tendency to Blucher. conducted himself with the most patriotic universal resistance which would otherwise certainly aevotion, and had, when courage and conduct were have been manifested. It was about the middle of rare, been distinguished by both in his service as a May when the Duke of Brunswick advanced from partisan officer. On the present occasion, his at- Bohemia into Lusatia, and by that time the corps of tempt may be likened to a rocket shot up into the Schill and others were existing only as separate firmament, which, by its descent upon a magazine, bands of partisans, surrounded or pursued by the may give rise to the most appalling results; or adherents of France, to whom the successes of Bowhich, bursting in empty space, is only remembered naparte had given fresh courage. by its brief and brilliant career. Chance allotted to General Thielmann opposed himself to the duke, Schill the latter and more unfavourable conclusion; at the head of some Saxon troops, and was strong but his name must be enrolled in the list of those enough to prevent his forcing his way into the middle heroes who have ventured their lives to redress the of Germany, where his presence might have occaw,ongs of their country, and the remembrance of sioned great events. Still, however, though the whose courage often forms the strongest impulse to plans of the insurgents had been thus far disappointothers to reassume the heroic undertaking, for which ed or checked, their forces remained on foot, and they themselves have struggled in vain. formidable, and the general disposition of the nation The movement which this daring soldier had in their favour iendered them more so. projected, was connected with a plan of general While the insurrectional spirit which animated insurrection,' but was detected by a premature the Germans smouldered in some places like subterdiscovery. Colonel Doernberg, an officer of the ranean fire, and partially showed itself' by eruptions WVestphalian guard, was engaged in the conspiracy, in others, the mountains of the Tyrol were in one and had undertaken to secure the person of J6rome general blaze through their deepest recesses. Those Bonaparte. His scheme was discovered; and wild regions, which had been one of the oldest inamong his papers were found some which implicated heritances of Austria, had been torn firom her by the Schill in these insurrectionary measures. J6rome, treaty of Presburg, and conferred on the new kingof course, made his complaint to the King of Prussia, dom of Bavaria. The inclination of the inhabitants who was in no capacity to refuise to deliver up the had not been consulted in this change. The Ausaccused officer. Obliged thus to precipitate his trians had always governed them with a singular plan of insurrection, Schill put himself at the head mildness and respect for their customs; and had of his regiment, which was animated by his own thus gained the affection of their Tyrolese subjects, spirit, and marched out of Berlin to proclaim the in- who could not therefore understand how an alledyependence of his country. He showed the utmost giance resemblilg that ofchildren to aparent, houly 470 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. have been transferred without their consent to a But the disasters of tile Archduke Charles, as stranger sovereign, with whom they had no tie of they.neutralized the insurrections in Germany, aind mutual feeling. The nation was the more sensible rendered of no comparative avail the victories of the of these natural sentiments, because the condition of Tyrolese, so they also checked the train of success the people is one of the most primitive in Europe. which had attended the movements of the Archduke The extremes of rank and wealth are unknown in John in Italy, at the commencement of the war. those pastoral districts; they have almost no distinc- We have already said, that the safety and honour tion among their inhabitants; neither nobles nor of Austria being, as it was thought, sufficiently proserfs, neither office bearers nor dependents; in one vided for by the strength of the main army, this sense, neither rich nor poor. As great a degree of young prince had been dispatched into Italy, as the equality as is perhaps consistent with the existence Archduke Ferdinand into Poland, to resuscitate the of society, is to be found in the Tyrol. In temper interest of their house in their ancient dominions. they are a gay, animated people, fond of exertion Eugene, the son-in-law of Bonaparte, and his viceand excitation, lovers of the wine-flask and the dance, roy in Italy, was defeated at Sacile upon the 15th of extempore poets, and frequently good musicians. April, by the Archduke John, and compelled to With these are united the more hardy qualities of retire to Caldiero on the Adige. But ere the Austhe mountaineer, accustomed to the life of a shepherd trian prince could improve his advantages, he reand huntsman, and, amidst the Alpine precipices, ceived the news of the defeat at Eckmuhl, and the often placed in danger of life, while exercising one peril in which Vienna was placed. He was, thereor other of the occupations. As marksmen, the fore, under the necessity of retreating, to gain, if Tyrolese are accounted the finest in Europe; and possible, the kingdom of Hungary, where the prethe readiness with which they obeyed the repeated sence of his army miguht be of the most essential summons of Austria, during former wars, showed consequence. He was in his turn pursued by Prince that their rustic employments had in no respect di- Eugene, to whom the Austrian retreat gave the minished their ancient love of military enterprise. means of uniting himself with the French force in Their magistrates in peace, and leaders in war, were Dalmatia, from which he had been separated, and no otherwise distinguished from the rest of the na- thus enabled him to assume the offensive withl foi-ces tion than by their sagacity and general intelligence; much augmented. and as these qualities were ordinarily found among Thus the mighty contest was continued with vainnkeepers, who, in a country like the Tyrol, have rious events, from the shores of the Baltic to those the most general opportunities of obtaining informa- of tie Adriatic, and from the eastern provinces of tion, many of that class were leaders in the memor- Germany to those of Hungary. But the eyes of all able war of 1809. These men sometimes could not men, averted from the more remote and subordinate even read or write, yet, in general, exhibited so scenes of the struggle, were now turned towards the mI ch comnmon sense and presence of mind, such a expected combat betwixt Bonaparte and the Archready knowledge of the capacity of the troops they duke Charles, which it was easily predicted mlist coimanded, and of the advantages of the country ake place under the walls of Vienna, and doin which they served, that they became formidable cide, it was then apprehended for ever, the fhture to the best generals and the most disciplined sol- fate, perhaps the very existence, of the empire of diers.* Austria, In the beginning of April these ready warriors commenced their insurrection, and in four days, excepting in the small fortress of Kufstein, which con- CHAPTER LXVI. tinued to hold out, there was not a Frenchman or Bavarian in the Tyrol, save those who were pri- Positions of the French and Austrian armies after the soners. The history of that heroic war belongs to battle of Eckmuhl.-Napoleon crosses the Danube on another page of history. It is enough here to say, 20th May.-Great conflict at Asperne on the 21st and that, scarcely supported by the Austrians, who had 22d, whenL victory was claimed by both parties.-Both too much to do at home, the Tyrolese made against armies are strongly reinfrced.-Battle of Wayranm every odds the most magnanimous and obstinate de- fought on the 6th July, in which the Austrians are coamfence. It was in vain that a French army, led by pletely defeated, with the loss of 210,000 prisoners.-Arefibvre, marched into the country, and occupied mnistice concluded at Znaim.-Close of the career of Schill and the Duke of Brunswick Oels.-Defence of'the Innspruck, the capital. The French were a second Tyrol-Itsfinaunfortznatereszut.-Growingresistance time compelled by these valiant mountaineers to re- becomes manifest throughcut Germany- Its effects onf treat with immense loss; and if Austria could have Bonaparte-He publishes a singular manifesto in the maintained her own share of the contest, her faith- Moniteur —This manifesto examined. ful provinces of Tyrol and the Vbrarlberg must on their side have tome off victors. WE: left Napoleon concentrating his army near * The Austrians censured the want of tactics of the Vienna, and disposing it so as to preserve his comTyrolese. Some poetical sharp-shooter defended his munications with France, though distant and precountrymen by an epigram, of which the following is a carions. He occupied the city of Vienna and the trislslation:- right bank of the Danube. The Archduke Charles It is but chance, our learn'd tacticians say, now approached the left bank of the same river, Which without science gains the hattle-day; which, swollen by the spring rains, and the melting Yet would I rather win the field by chance, of snow on the mountains, divided the two hostile Than study tactics, and be beat by France. armies as if by an impassable barrier. In the year LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE., 71 1805, when Napoleon first obtained possession of purpose of passing the river, in order to have the Vienna, the bridges over the Danube were pre- advantage of attacking him when only a part of his.served, which had enabled him to press his march army had crossed, and of compelling him to fight upon Koutousoff and the Russians. This time he with the Danube in his rear, which, in case of dishad not been so fortunate. No bridge had been left, aster, could only be re-passed by a succession of unbroken on the Danube, whether above or below frail and ill-constructed bridges, exposed to a thouVienna, by which he might push his forces across sand accidents. It is doing the archduke no dis. the river, and end the war by again defeating the credit to suppose he acted on such a resolution, for Austrian Archduke. At the same time. the hours we shall presently see he actually gained the adlost in indecision were all ulfavourable to the vantages we have pointed out, and which, could French Emperor. Charles expected to be joined they have been prosecuted to the uttermost, would by his brothers, and, being in his own country, have involved the ruin of Bonaparte and his army. could subsist with ease; while Napoleon, in that of The materials having been brought together fiom an enemy, could expect no recruits, and might have every quarter, Napoleon, on the 19th May, visited difficulty in obtaining supplies. Besides, so long as the Isle of Lobau, and directed that the completion an Austrian army was in the field, the hopes of of the bridge should be pressed with all possible Germany remained unextinguished. The policy, dispatch. So well were his orders obeyed, that, on therefore, of Bonaparte determined him to pursue the next day, the troops were able to commence the most vigorous measures, by constructing a their passage, although the bridge was still far from bridge over the Danube, and crossing it at the head being complete. They were received by skirmishers of his army, with the purpose of giving battle to the on the left bank; but as these fell back without any Archduke on the left bank. obstinacy of resistance, it became still more obvious The place originally selected for this bold enter- that the archduke did not mean to dispute tile pas. prise was at Nussdorf, about halfa league above sage, more especially as he had not availed himself Vienna, where the principal stream passes in a full of the important means of doing so which the locality but narrow channel under the right bank, which is presented. there so high as to command the opposite verge of At the point where the extremity of the last the river, and affords, therefore, the means of pro- bridge of the chain (for there were five in number, tecting the passage. But about five hundred men corresponding to the five streams), touched the left having been pushed across, with the view of re-esta- bank of the Danube, the French troops, as they blishing the old bridge which had existed at Nuss- passed over, entered upon a little plain, extending dorf in 1805, were attacked and cut off by the between the two villages of Asperne and Essling. Austrians, and this point of passage was in conse- Asperne lies farthest to the left, a thousand toises quence abandoned. distant from the bridge; Essling is at the other Napoleon then turned his thoughts to establish- extremity of the plain, about one thousand five ing his intended bridge at a village called Ebersdorf, hundred toises firom the same point. The villages on the right bank, opposite to which the channel of being built of mason-work, with gardens, terraces, the Danube is divided into five branches, finding andecourt-yards, formed each a little fortified place, their course amongst islands, one of which, called of which the churchyard of Asperne, and a large the Island of Lobau, is extremely large. Two of granary at Essling, might be termed the citadels. these branches are very broad. The islands are A high-road, bordered by a deep ditch, extended irregular in their shape, and have an alluvial charac- between these two strong posts, which it connected ter. They exhibit a broken and diversified surface, as a curtain connects two bastions. This position, partly covered with woods, partly marshy, and at - if occupied, might indeed be turned on either flank, times overflowed with water. Here Napoleon at but the character of the ground would render the length determined to establish his bridge, and he operation difficult. collected for that purpose as many boats and small Still farther to the right, lay another village, called craft as he could muster, and such other materials Entzersdorf. It is a thousand toises from Asperne as he could obtain. The diligence of the engineer to Essling, and somewhat less from Essling to Entofficer, Aubry, was distinguished on this occasion. zersdorf. Before these villages arose an almost The French were obliged to use fishers' boats, imperceptible ascent, which extended to two ham.and caissons filled with bullets instead of anchors, lets called Raschdorf and Breitenlee, and on the and to make many other substitutions for the accom- left lay the wooded heights of Bisamberg, bounding plishmnent of their objects. They laboured without the landscape in that direction. Having passed interruption; for the Austrians, though they made over near thirty thousand infantry, with about six various demonstrations upon Krems and Linz, as if thousand horse, Napoleon directed aredoubt to be they themselves meant to cross the Danube above constructed to cover the extremity of the bridge on Vienna, yet did nothing to disturb Napoleon's pre- the left side. Meantime, his troops occupied the paration for a passage at Ebersdorf, although troops two villages of Asperne and Essling, and the lile might have been easily thrown into the Island of which connected them. Lobau, to dispute the occupation, or to interrupt the The reports brought in during the night were ~'orkmen. It is impossible to suppose the Arch- contradictory, nor could the signs visible on the d,,ke ChJalrles ignorant of the character of the ground horizon induce the generals to agree concerning the in the neighbourhood of his brother's capital; we numbers and probable plans of tile Austrians. On must therefore conjecture, that the Austrian general the distant heights of Bisamberg many lights were had determined to let Bonaparte accoinplisli Lis seen, which induced Lannes and others to conceive 472 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. the enemy to be there concentrated. But much character. The feeling of the Austrians wasexultnearer the French, and in their front, the horizon ation; that of the French not certainly discouragealso exhibited a pale streak of about a league in ment, but unpleasant surprise. length, the reflected light of numerous watchfires, On the 22d, the work of carnage recommenced. which the situation of the ground prevented being Both armies had received reinforcements durling the themselves seen. night-Napoleon from the left bank, the archduke From these indications, while Lannes was of from reserves in his rear. The French had at first opinion they had before them only a strong rear- the advantage-they recovered the church of Asguard, Massena, with more judgmenf, maintained perne, and made a number of Austrians prisoners they were in presence of the whole Austrian army. in the village. But the attacks on it were presently Napoleon was on horseback by break of day on renewed with the same fury as on the preceding day. the 21st, to decide by his own observation; but all Napoleon here formed a resolution worthy of his the ground in front was so thickly masked and military fame. He observed that the enemy, while covered by the Austrian light cavalry, as to render pressing on the, village of Asperne, which was the it vain to attempt to reconnoitre. On a sudden, left-hand point of' support of the French position, this living veil of skirmishers was withdrawn, and kept back, or, in military language, refilsed, the the Austrians were seen advancing with their whole right and centre of his line, which he was therefore force, divided into five columns of attack, headed by led to suppose were weakened for the purpose of their best generals, their numbers more than double supporting the assault upon Asperne. He deterthose of the French, and possessing two hundred mined, for this reason, to advance the whole French and twenty pieces of artillery. The combat com- right and centre, to assail the Austrian position on menced by a furious attack on the village of As- this enfeebled point. This movement was executed perne, which seemed only taken that it might be in echelon advancing from the French right. Heavy retaken, only retaken that it might be again lost. masses of infantry, with a numerous artillery, now The carnage was dreadful; the obstinacy of the advanced with fury. The Austrian line was forced Austrians in attacking could not, however, over- back, and in some danger of being broken. Regicome that of the French in their defence. Essling ments and brigades began to be separated from each was also assaulted by the Austrians, though not other, and there was a danger that the whole centre with the same pertinacity; yet many brave men fell might be cut off from the right wing. The Archin its attack and defence. duke Charles hastened to the spot, and in this criThe battle began about four afternoon; and, when tical moment discharged at once the duty of a genethe evening approached, nothing decisive had been ral and of a common soldier. He brought up reserves, done. The archduke brought his reserves, and replaced the gaps which had been made in his line poured them in successive bodies upon the disputed. by the fury of the French, and, seizing a standard, village of Asperne. Every garden, terrace, and himself led the grenadiers to the charge. farm-yard, was a scene of the most obstinate struggle. At this interesting point, the national accounts of Waggons, carts, harrows, ploughs, were employed the action differ considerably. The French disto construct barricades. As the different parties patches assert, that, notwithstanding the personal succeeded on different points, those who were vic- gallantry of their general, the Austrians were upon torious in front were often attacked in the rear by the point of a total defeat. Those of the archduke, such of the other party as had prevailed in the next on the contrary, affirm that the resistance of the street. At the close of the day, Massena remained Austrians was completely successful, and that the partially master of the place, on fire as it was with French were driven back on all points. All agree, bombs, and choked with the slain. The Austrians, that just at this crisis of the combat, the bridge however, had gained possession of the church and which Bonaparte had established over the Danube churchyard, and claimed the superiority on the left was swept away by the flood. accordingly. This opportune incident is said, by the Austrian Essling was the object, during the last part of this accounts, to have been occasioned by fire-ships sent bloody day, of three general attacks; against all down the river. The French have denied the which the French made decisive head. At one existence of the fire-ships, and, always unwilling to time, Lannes, who defended the post, was so hard allow much effect to the result of their adversaries' pressed, that he must have given way, had not Na- exertions, ascribe the destruction of the floating poleon relieved him and obtained him breathing time, bridge to the trunks of trees and vessels borne down by a well-timed though audacious charge of cavally. by a sudden swell of the Danube. General Pellet, Night separated the combatants. indeed, admits, with some reluctance, that timber The French could not in any sense be said to have frames of one or more windmills, filled with burning been beaten; but it was an unusual thing for them, combustibles, descended the river. But whether fighting under Napoleon's eye, to be less than com- the Austrians had executed the very natural plan of pletely victorious. The Austrians could aslittle be launching such fire-works and drift-wood on the called victors; but even the circumstance of possess- stream, or whether, as the ancient heathen might ing themselves of the most important part of As- have said, the aged and haughty river shook from perne, showed that the advantage had been with, his shoulders by his own exertions the yoke which rather than against them; and both armies were af- the strangers had imposed on him, the bridge was fected with the results of the day, rather as they certainly broken, and Bonaparte's army was exappeared when compared with those of their late tremely endangered. encounters, than as considered in their own proper He saw himself compelled to retire, if he meant LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 473 to secure, or rather to restore, his communication some time or other fail in one of those hardy menwith the right bank of the Danube. The French sures, and that by penetrating into the depth of his movement in retreat was the signal for the Aus- enemy's country, in order to strike a blow at his trians' advance. They recovered Asperne; and had capital, he might engage himself beyond his means not the French fought with most extraordinary con- of recovery, and thus become the victim of his own duct and valour, they must have sustained the rashness. But the time was not yet arrived which greatest loss. General Lannes, whose behaviour fate had assigned for the fulfilment of this prophecy. had been the subject of admiration during the whole More activity on the part of the Austrian prince, and day, was mortally wounded by a ball, which shat- a less vigorous development of resources and energy tered both his legs. Massena sustained himself in on that of Napoleon, might have produced a diffethis crisis with much readiness and presence of rent result; but, unhappily, the forlnmer proved less mind; and the preservation of' the army was chiefly capable of improving his advantage, than the latter attributed to him. It is said, but perhaps falsely, of remedying his disasters. that Napoleon himself showed on this occasion less On the morning of the 23d, the day after the bloody alertness and readiness than was his custom. battle of Asperne, Bonaparte, with his wounded, At length, the retreat of the French was protected and the remnant of his forces, was cooped up in thie by the cannon of Essling, which was again and again marshy island of Lobau, and another nearer to the furiously assaulted by the Austrians. Had they suc- left bank, called Entzersdof, from the village of that ceeded on this second point, the French army could name. This last island, which served as an outwork hardly have escaped, for it was Essling alone which to the larger, is separated from the left bank, which protected their retreat. Fortunately for Bonaparte, was occupied by the Austrians, only by a small that end of the bridge which connected the great channel of twenty toises in breadth. The destrucIsle of Lobau with the left bank on which they were tion of the bridges had altogether divided Bonaparte fighting still remained uninjured, and was protected from the right bank, and from his rear, under Daby fortifications. By this means he was enabled to voust, which still remained there. The nature of the draw back his shattered army during night into the ground, on the left side of the Danube, opposite to great island, evacuating the whole position which the isle of Entzersdorf, admitted cannon being he had held on the right bank. The loss of both placed to command the passage, and it is said that armies was dreadful, and computed to exceed General Hiller ardently pressed the plan of passing twenty thousand men on each side, killed and the stream by open force at that point, and attacking wounded. General St-Hilaire, one of the best successively the islands of Entzersdof and Loban, French generals, was killed in the field, and Lannes, and offered to answer with his head for its success. mortally wounded, was brought back into the island. The extreme loss sustained by the Austrian army He was much lamented by Bonaparte, who con- on the two preceding days appears to have been the sidered him as his own work. "I found him," he cause that his proposal was rejected. It has been said, " a mere swordsman, I brought him up to the also judged possible for Prince Charles to have highest point of talent. I found himn a dwarf, I passed the Danube, either at Presburg or higher up, raised him up into a giant." The death of this gene- and thus placed himself on the right bank, for the ral, called the Roland of the army, had something purpose of attacking and destroying the reserves in it inexpressibly shocking. With both his legs which Bonaparte had left at Ebersdorf under Dashot to pieces, he refused to die, and insisted that vonst, and from which he was separated by the inunthe surgeons should be hanged who were unable to dation. Yet neither did the archduke adopt this cure a marshal and Duke de Montebello. While plan, but, resuming the defensive, from which le had he thus clung to life, lie called on the emperor, only departed for a few hours, and concluding that with the instinctive hope that Napoleon at least Napoleon would, on his part, adopt the same plan could defer the dreaded hour, and repeated his which he had formerly pursued, the Austrian enname to the last, with the wild interest with which gineers were chiefly engaged in fortifying the ground an Indian prays to the object of his superstition. between Asperne and Essling, while the army quietly Bonaparte showed much and creditable emotion at awaited till it should suit Napoleon to renew his atbeholding his faithfll follower in such a condition. tempt to cross the Danube. The news of this terrible action flew far and With unexampled activity, Bonaparte had aswide, and was represented by the Austrians as a sembled materials, and accomplished the re-estabglorious and complete victory. It might have well lishment of his communications with the right bank, proved so, if both the villages of Asperne and Ess- by the morning of the second day after the battle. ling could have been carried. As it was, it cannot Thus was all chance destroyed of the Austrians properly be termed more than a repulse, by which making any farther profit of the interruption of his the French Enmperor's attempt to advance had been communications. With equal speed, incessant ladefeated, and he himself driven back into an island, botir converted the Isle of Lobau into an immense and cut off by an inundation from the opposite bank, camp, protected by battering cannon, and secured on which his supplies were stationed; and so far, either from surprise or storm from the Austrian side certainly, placed in a very precarious condition. of the river; so that Hiller's plan became equally The hopes and wishes of all Europe were opposed impracticable. The smaller islands were fortified to the domination of Bonaparte; and Hope, it is well in the like manner; and, on the 1st of July, Bonaknown, can build fair fabrics on slighter foundations parte pitched his head-quarters in the Isle of Lobau, than this severe check afforded. It had been re- the name of which was changed to Napoleon Island, peatedly prophesied, that Napoleon's fortune would as in an immense citadel, from which he had pro - vo — -V.. 60 1474 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. vided tihe means of sallying at pleasure upon the ene- army on thile left bank of the Danube, after having my. Boats, small craft, and means to construct, on a turned all the fortifications which he had formed better plan than formerly, three floating bridges, were for the purpose of opposing their passage, and which prepared and putiti order in an incredibly short space were thus rendered totally useless. The villages of time. The former bridge, repaired so strongly as of Essling and Entzersdorf had been carried, and to have little to fear from the fiury of tile Danube, the French line of battle was formed upon the exlagain connected the islands occupied by the French tremity of the archduke's left wing, menacing him, with the left-hand bank of that;iver; and so imr- of course, both in flarnk and rear. The. Archduke perfect were the Austrian means of observation, Charles endeavoured to remedy the consequences though the campaign was fouglt within their own of this surprise by out-flankirg the French right, country, whose fate depended upon its issue, that while the French made a push to break the centre they appear to have been ignorant of the possibility of the Austrian line, the key of which position was of Napoleon's using any other means of passage the village of WVagram. Wagram was taken and than this identical original bridge, which debouched retaken, and only one ho use remained, vwhichl was betwixt Asperne and Essling; and they lost their occupied by the Arclhduke Charles, when night time in erecting fortifications under tlat false in- closed the battle, which had been bloody and inpression. Yet certainly a very little inquiry might decisive. Courier after courier were dispatched to have discovered that the French Emperor was the Archduke John, to hasten his advance. constructing three bridges, instead of trusting to On the next day, being the 6th July, was fought one. the dreadfill battle of, Wagranl, in which, it is said, For several weeks, each army was receiving that the Archduke Charles committed the great mireinforcements. The Austrian and Hungarian litary error of extending his lines, and weakening nobles exerted themselves to bring to the field his centre. His enemy was too alert not to turn their vassals and tenantry; while Bonaparte, such an error to profit. Latriston, with a hundred througlh every part of Germany which was subject pieces of cannon, and Macdonald, pt the head of a to his direct or indirect influence, levied additional chosen division, charged the Austrians in the centre, forces, for enabling him to destroy the last hope and broke through it. Napoleon himself showed all of their country's independence. his courage and talents, and was ever in the hottest More powerfll and numerous auxiliary armies of the action, though the appearance of his r tinue also, approached the scene of action from the north- drew on him showers of grape, by which lie was eastern frontier of Italy, from which the Archduke repeatedly endangered. John, as we have alleady mentioned, was retiring, At length the Austrian army seems to have fallin order, by throwing his army into Hungary, to en into disorder; the left wing, in particular, coInhave an opportunity of co-operating with his brother, ducted itself ill; cries of alarm were heard, and the the Archduke Charles. He came, but not unpursted example of precipitate flight was set by those who or unmolested. Prince Eugfne Beauharnais, at the should have been the last to follow it, when given head of the army which was intended to sustain the by others.'Ihe French took twenty thousand p:'i. Archduke John's attack in Italy, joined to such soners; and so complete was the discomfiture, that, fobrces as the French had in Dalmatia, followed the though the Archduke John came up with a part of narch of the Austrians, brought them to action his army before the affair was quite over, so little repeatedly, gained advantages over them, and chance was there of redeeming the day, that he was finally arrived on the frontiers of Hulngary as soon glad to retire from the field unnoticed by the enemy. as they did. Here the town of Raab ought to have All hope of farther resistance was now abandonmade some protracted defence, in order to enable ed by the Austrian princes and government; and the Archduke John to co-operate with his younger they concluded an armistice with Bonaparte at brother Regnier, another of this warlike family, Znaimn, by which they agreed to evacuate the'lyrol, who was organizing the Hungarian insurrection. and put the citadels of Brunn and Gratz into the But the sanme fattality vwhich influenced everything hands of Napoleon, as pledges for their sincerity in else in this campaign, occasioned the fall of Raab desiring a peace. in eighlt days after the Austrian prince had been With this armistice sunk all the hopes of thle worsted in a fight under its walls. The Italian army gallant Tyrolese, and of the German insurgents, of Eug6ne now formed its junction with the French; who had soulght by force of arms to recover tl-e inand the Archduke John, crossing the Danube at dependence of their country. But the appearance Presburg, advanced eastward, for the purpose of of these patriots on the stage, though productive of joining the Archduke Charles. But it was not the no immediate result of importance, is worthy of parpurpose.of Napoleon to permit this union of forces. ticular notice, as indicative of a recovery of national Onl the 5th of July, at ten o'clock at night, the spirit, and of an awakening tionm that cold and pasFrench began to cross friom the islands in the Danube sive slavery of mind, which makes men as patient to the left-hand bank. Gun-boats, prepared for the tinder a change of masters, as the dull animnal who purllose, silenced some of the Austrian batteries; follows with indifference any person who has the ead others were avoided, by passing the river omit of of his halter in his hand. We, therefore, referring to reach of their fil-e, which the French were enabled whlat we have said of the revival of public feeling to do by the new and additional bridges they had in Germany, have briefly to notice the termination secretly prepared. of tile expeditions of Schill and the D)uke of BrunW - At day-light on the next molrning, the arcllduke wick, together with the insurrection of tl;e Tyh liad the unpleasing surprise to find the whole French rolese. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 475 Tile career of the gallant Scbill had long since temporarily, Dresden, Leipsic, Lindenau —comclosed. After traversing many parts of Germany, pelled the intrusive King of Westphalia to retreat, he had failed in augmenting his little force of and at the date of the armistice of Znaim, was masabout five thousand men, against whom J6r6ome ter of a considerable part of Franconia. There, of Bonaparte had assembled a large army from all course, terminated the princely adventurer's career points. In his marches and skirmishes, Schill dis- ofl'success, as he was, in consequence of the terms of played great readiness, courage, and talent; but so that convention, entirely abandoned by the Austlian great were the odds against him, that men looked armies. Being then at Schleitz, a town in Upper on, wondered, and praised his courage, without Saxony, the Duke of Brunswick, instead of listening daring to espouse his cause. Closely pursued, and to the timid counsellors who advised him to capitulate often nearly surrounded, by bodies of Dutch, of with some one of the generals commanding the nuW~estphalians, and of Danes, Schill at length saw merous enemies that surrounded him, resolved to cut himself obliged to throw himself into some defensive his way through them, or die in the attempt, rather position, where he might wait the assistance of than tamely lay down the arms he had assumed for Great Britain, either to prosecute his adventure, or the purpose of avenging his tather's death and the to effect his escape from the Continent. Tlhe town oppression of his country. of Stralsund p'esented facilities for this purpose; Deserted by many of his officers, the brave prince and, suddenly appearing before it on the 25th of persevered in his purpose, dispersed some bodies of May, he took possession of the place; repaired, as cavallry that lay in his way, and marched upon well as he could, its ruined fortifications, and there Halberstadt, which he found in possession of some resolved to make a stand.. Westphalian infantry, who had halted there for the But the French saw the necessity of treading out purpose of forming a junction with the French gethis spark, which might so easily have excited a neral Reubel. Determined to attack this body beconflagration. A large foirce of Dutch and Danish fore they could accomplish their purpose, the duke troops advanced to Stralsund on the 31st May, and stormed the gates of the place, routed the Westin their turn forced their way into the place. Schill, phalians, and made prisoners upwards of sixteen with his brave companions, drew up in the market- hundred men; while the citizens welcomed him place, and made a most desperate defence, which with shouts of " Long live the Duke of Brunswick! might even have been a successful one, had not -Success to the Sable Yagers!" Schill himself fallen, relieved by death from the From Halberstadt he proceeded to Wolfenbuttel, yoke of the oppressor. The King of Prussia had and thence to Brunswick, the capital of his thther's fiom the beginning disavowed Schill's enterprise; states, and of his own patrimony. The hopeless and when the capture of Vienna rendered the Aus- state in which they saw their young duke arrive did trian cause more hopeless, he issued a proclamation not prevent the citizens from offering their respect against him and his followers, as outlaws. Availing and their services, though certain that in doing so themselves of this disavowal aiid denunciation, the they were incurring the heavy hatred of those, nwaho victorious French and their vassals proceeded to would be again in possession of the government inflict on the officers of Schill the doom due to un- within a very short period. authorized robbers and pirates-a doom which, The duke left his heleditary dominions the next since the days of Wallace and Llewellyn, has been day, amid the regrets of the inhabitants, openly frequently inflicted by oppressors on those by whom testified by gestures, good wishes, and tears; and, their tyranny has been resisted. forcing his way to the shores of the Baltic, through Schill's career was nearly ended ere that of the many dangers, had at length the good fortune to Duke of Brunswick began. Had it been possible embark his Black Legion for Britain, undishonoured for them to have formed a junction, the result of by submission to the despot who had destroyed his either enterprise might have been more fortunate. father's house. His life, rescued probably flora the The young druke, while he entered into alliance with scaffold, was reserved to be laid down in paving Austria, and enaged to put himself at the head (f the way for that great victory, in which the arms of a small flying armly, declined to take rank in the im- Germany and of Brunswick were fullly avenged. perial service, or appear in the capacity of one of The defence of the. Tyrol, which fills a passage their generals. He assumned the more dignified cha- in history as heroic as that which records the exracter of a son, bent to revenge his father's death; ploits of William Tell, was also virtually decided of a Prince of the Empire, determined to recover by by the armistice of Znaim. Not that this gallant the sword the inheritance of which he had been people abandoned their cause, because the Ausforcibly deprived by the invasion of strangers. Nei- trians, in whose behalf they had taken arms, had ther hllis talents nor his actions were unequal to the withdrawn their forces, and yielded them lup to part which lie assumed. lie defeated the Saxons their fate. In the mnlnth of July, an army of forty repeatedly, and showed much gallantry and activity. thousand French and Bavarians attacked the Tyrol But, either from the character of the Austrian ge- from the German side; while fiom Italy, General neral, Ani EndS, who should have co-operated with Rusca, with eighteen thousand men, entered fior the duke, or from some secret jealousy of an ally who Klagenfurt, on the southern side of the Tyrolese aspired to Derlonal independence, the assistance Alps. Undismayed by this double and formidable Wlhich the auke should have received from the Aus- invasion, they assailed the invad.rs as they penet'ians was always given tardily, and somnetimes al- trated into their fastnesses, defeated, and destroyed together withheld at the moment of utmost need. them. The fate of a division of 10,000men, belotiil iNevertheless, the Duke of Brunswick occupied, ing to the French and Bavarian army, which e.un 476 LIFE OF NAPOLEON IBONAPARTE. tered the Upper linthal, or Valley of the Inn, will commencing in Spain, exhibited itself in the underexlplain in part the means by which these victories takings of Schill and the Duke of Brunswick, andt were obtained. blazed forth in the defence of the Tyrol. He well The invading troops advanced in a long column knew the character of these insurrections to be awful up a road bordered on the one side by the river indications, that in future wars he would not only Inn, there a deep and rapid torrent, where cliffs of have the enmity of the governments to encounter, imumense height overhang both road and river. The but the hatred of the people; not merely tile efforts van-guard was permitted to advance unopposed as of the mercenary soldier, whose power may be great, far as Prutz, the object of their expedition. The yet can always be calculated, but the resistance of rest of the army were therefore induced to trust the population at large, which cannot be made subthemselves still deeper in this tremendous pass, ject to any exact means of computation, and which, where the precipices, becoming more and more amid disorder, and even flight, often finds a road to narrow as they advanced, seemed about to close safety and to revenge. above their heads. No sound but of the screaming It was Napoleon's policy, of course, to place in of the eagles disturbed from their eyries, and the an odious and false point of view every call which ~oar of the river, reached the ears of the soldier, the sovereigns of Europe made on thile people of that and on the precipices, partly enveloped in a lazy Continent, exciting them to risein their own defence, mist, no human forms showed themselves. At and stop the French plan of extended and universal length the voice of a man was heard calling across dominion. Every summons of this kind he aftected the ravine, " Shall we begin?"-" No," was re- to regard with horror, as including jacobinical and turned in an authoritative tone of voice, by one antisocial principles, and tending to bring back all who, like the first speaker, seemed the inhabitant the worst horrors of the French Revolution.'There of some upper region. The Bavarian detachment is a very curious paper in the Moniteur, uijon the halted, and sent to the general for orders; when promises of liberty, and exhortations to national presently was heard the terrible signal, "' In the union and national vengeance, which were circulated name of the Holy Trinity, cut all loose!" Huge at this period in Germany. These were compared rocks, and trunks of trees, long prepared and laid with the cries of liberty and equality, with which in heaps for the purpose, began now to descend the French republicans, in the early days of the rapidly in every direction, while the deadly fire of Revolution, sapped the defences and seduced t'ie the Tyrolese, who never throw away a shot, opened feelings of the nations whom they afterwards attackfrom every bush, crag, or corner of rock, which ed, having made their democratic doctrines the princould affobrd the shooter cover. As this dreadful cipal means to pave the way for the success of their attack was made on the whole line at once, two- arms. The Monitetr, therefore, treats such atternmts thirds of the enemy were instantly destroyed; while to bring the people forward in the national defence, the Tyrolese, rushing firom their shelter, with as similar to the use of poisoned weapons, or other swords, spears, axes, scythes, clubs, and all other resources inconsistent with the laws of civilized war. rustic instruments which could be converted into General Pellet, also, the natural admirer of tihe soweapons, beat down and routed the shattered re- vereign whose victories he had shared, has the same mainder. As the van-guard, which had reached sacred horror at invoking thle assistance of a nation Prntz, was obliged to surrender, very few of the at large to defend its independence. [le inveighs ten thousand invaders are computed to have extri- vehemently against the inexpedience and the iincated themselves from the fatal pass. policy, nay, the ingratitude, of lawfil princes emrBut not all the courage of the Tyrolese, not all the ploying revolutionary movements against Napoleon, strength of theircountry, could possibly enable them I by whom the French Revolution, with all the evils to defend themselves, when the peace with Austria which its duration boded to existing monarchies, had had permitted Bonaparte to engage his whole im- been finally ended. i-e asks, what would have mense means for the acquisition of these mountains. been the state of the world, had Napoleon in his Austria too-Austria herself, in whose cause they turn inflamed the popular feelings, and excited tihe had incurred all the dangers of war, instead of se- common people, by democratical rieasoning, against curing their indemnity by some stipulations in the the existing governments? a sort of reprisals which treaty, sent them a cold exhortation to lay down lie is stated to have held in conscientious horror. their arms. Resistance, therefobre, was abandoned And the cause of civilization and good order is inas firuitless; Hoffer, ( hief commander of the Tyro- voked, as endangered by a summons to a population lese, resigned his command, and the Bavarians re- to atrm themselves against foreign in asion. gained the possession of a country which they could These observations, which are echoes of expres never have won back by their own efforts. Hoffer, sions used by Napoleon himself, belong closely to and about thirty chiefs of these valiant defenders of our subject, and require some examination. their country, were put to death, in poor revenge for In thile first place, we totally deny that an invitthe loss their bravery had occasioned. But their ation to the Spanish, the Tyrolese, or the Germans, fame, as their immortal spirit, was beyond the power or any other people, whom a victorious enemy has of the judge alike and executioner; and the place placed under a foreign yoke, has anything whatever where their blood was saied becomes sacred to the in common with the demrnocratic doctrines which thoughts of freedom, as the precincts of a temple to instigated the lower classes, during thile French Rethose of religion. volution, to plunder the rich, banish the distinBonaparte was particularly aw:are of the danger guished, and murder the loyal and virtuous. around him from that display of national spirit, which, Next, we nmast point out the extreme inco'sist LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 477 ency betwixt the praise assigned to Napoleon as After reading this exhortation, it will surely not the destroyer of revolutionary practices, the friend be believed, that he by whom it was made felt any and supporter of tottering thrones, and that which scruple at exciting to insurrection the subjects of is at the same time claimed for him by himself and an established government. If the precise language his advocates, as the actual Messias of the princi- of republican France be not made use of, it must be ples of the said Revolution, whose name was to be considered, first, that no one would have believed distinguished by posterity, as being connected With him, had he, the destroyer of the French republic, it. Where could he the sense, or propriety, or professed, in distinct terms, his purpose to erect consistency, of such a rant as the following, in the commonwealths elsewhere; secondly, that the remouth of one, who, provoked by the example of' the publican language might have excited recollections allies to appeal to revolutionary principles, yet con- in his own army, and among his own forces, whick, sidered them as too criminal and too dangerous to it would have been highly imprudent to have re. be actually resorted to in retaliation:-" The great called to their mind. principles of our Revolution, these great and beauti- The praise so gratuitously assumed for his having ful truths, must abide for ever; so much have we refilsed to appeal to the government against the interwoven them with glory, with monuments, with governors is, therefore, in the first place, founded on prodigies. Issued from the bosom of the French tri- an inaccurate statement of the facts; and next, so far bane; decorated with the laurels of victory; greeted as it is real, Napoleon's forbearance has no claim to with the acclamations of the people, etc., etc., etc. be imputed to a respect for the rights of govet nment, they must ever govern. They wvill be the faith, the or a regard for the established order of society, any religion, the morality, of all nations in the universe. more than the noble spirit of patriotism and desire of And that memorable era, whatever can be said to national independence, which distinguished Schill, the contrary, will ally itself with me; for it was I Hoffer, and their followers, ought to be confounded who held aloft the torch, and consecrated the prin- with the anti-social doctrines of those stern demaciples of that epoch, and whom persecution now gogues, whose object was rapine, and their sufficing renders its victim." Surely these pretensions, which argument the guillotine. are the expressions of Napoleon himself, are not to be reconciled with his alleged regard to the preservation of the ancient governments of Europe, and CHAPTER LXVII. the forbearance for which he claims credit, in hav- Conduct of Russia and England during te war with ing refused to employ against these tottering thrones Austria.-Mleditated expedition of British Troops to the the great lever of the Revolution. Conlinent-Considerations respecting it-Sent to WalBut the truth is, that no such forbearance existed; cheren-Ilts calamitous details rand resuit.-. Proceedings for Bonaparte, like more scrupulous conquerors, Of Napoleon with regard to the pope-iujud;#icious and failed not to make an advantage to himself of what- inconsistent-Explained and accounted fur.- General ever civil dissensions existed in the nations with Miol/is enters Rome. -Napoleon publishes a decree, whom he wvas at war, and was uniforlmly ready to'uniting the States of the Church to the Fresnch empire-Is support or excite insurrections in his enemy's excommunicated.-Pius VII. ibanished from Rome, country. His communications with the disaffected and sent to Grenoble —afterwards brought back to in Ireland, and in Poland, are sufficiently public; SavoNa-Rlectiodb s aspoa fVis pe oceldore.-Bonaparte ~~hisinrgusinSai hdthi bss n xitn is attacked bc! an assassin-Views and obj ect of the crihis intrigues in Spain had their basis in exciting the mrinal.-Definitive treaty of' peace signed at Schaenpeople against their feudal lords and royal family; brunn,-Its provisions.-Napoleon returrns to France on and, to go no farther than this very war, during the 14th November, 1809. which it was pretended he had abstained from all revolutionary practices against the Austrians, he TRE particular conditions of the peace with Auisplublished the following address to the people of tria were not adjusted until the 14th October, 1809, Hungary: —" Hungarians, the moment is come to although the armistice was signed nearly three revive your independence. I offer youi peace, the months before. We avail ourselves of the interval integrity of your territory, the inviolability of your to notice other remarkable events, which happened constitutions, whetherof such as are in actual exist- during this eventful summer; and first, we must etce, or of those which the spirit of the time may briefly revert to the conduct of Russia and England require. I ask nothing from youl; I only desire to during the war. see your nation free and independent. Your union Notwithstanding the personal friendship betwixt with Austria has made your misfortune; your blood the Emperors Alexander and Napoleon-notwithhas flowed for her in distant regions; and your standing their engageinents entered into at'ilsit, dearest interests have always been sacrificed to and so lately revived at Erfurt, it seems to have those of the Austrian hereditary estates. You form been impossible to engage Russia heartily as an allv the finest part of the empire of Austria, yet you are of Napoleon, in a war which had- for its object the treated as a province. You have national manners, absolute humiliation of Austria. lThe court of St a national language, you boast an ancient and illus- Petersburg had, it is true, lost no time in securing trious origin. Reassume then your existence as a the advantages which had been stipulated for Russia nation. Have a king of your own choice, who will in the conferences alluded to. Finland had been reside amongst you, and reign for you alone..... conquered, torn from Sweden, to which the province Unite yourselves in a national Diet in the fields of had so long belonged, and united with Russia, to Racos, after the manner of your ancestors, and make whom it filnished a most important frontier and me acquainted with your determination." barrier. Russia was also, with connivance of France, J478~ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPAR-TE. making war onl the Porte, in order to elllarge her do- It is no wonder that the voice of what is in reality minions by the addition of Moldavia and Wallachia. selfishness is listened to in national councils with But though the court of St Petersburg had gained! more respect than it deserves, since in that case it one of these advantages, and was in a way of obtain- wears the mask and speaks the language of a species ing the other, the Russian ministers saw with anx- of patriotislm, against which it can only be urged iety the impending fate of Austria, the rather that that it is too exclusive in its zeal. Its effects, ihowvthey themselves were bound by treaty to lend their ever, are not the less to be regretted, as disabling aid for her destruction. We have seen that ltussia strong minds, and misleading wise men; of wI ich had interposed to prevent the war. She was now the history of' Britain atfords but too isany inunwillingly compelled to take part in it; yet when stances. Prince Galitzin marched into Gallicia at the head of Besides tile forces already in the Peninsula, 30,000 Russians, the manifesto which he published Britain had the rmeans of disposing of; and the will could be hardly termed that of a hostile nation.'l'he to send to tle Continent, forty thousand imen, wvith a emperor, it is stated, had done all in his power to I fleet of thilty-five ships of the line, and twenty fv - prevent things from coming to this extremlity; but gates, to assist on any point where their services now, the war having actually broken out, he was could nsave been usefull. Such an armtament on tile bound by the faith of treaties to send the stipulated coast of Spain aight have brought to a speedy decinumber of auxiliaries. Tile motions of this body of sion the long and bloody contest in that country, Russians were slow, and their conduct in the Aus- saved much British blood, which the protlac.ted svar trian dominions rather that of allies than enemies wasted, and struck a blow, the effects of' which, as Some of the Russian officers of rank avowed their that of Trafalgar, Bonaparte'rnig.ht have felt onl the politics to be in direct opposition to those of the em- banks of the Danube. SuIch an armamlent, if sent.to peror, and declaredthat three-fourths of the generals the north of:Germany ere the destriction of' Schill comnmanding territorial divisions in Russia were of and tile defeat of the Duke of Brunswick's entertheir opinion. These expressions, with the unusual prise, might have been the means of placing allthe slowness and lenity just alluded:to, were for the pre- northern provireces in active opposition to France, sent passed over without remark, but were recorded by an effort for which the state of the public mimnd and remenmbered as matter of high offence, when "as already prepared. A successful action would Napoleon thought.that the tirme was come to exact even have given spirits to Prussia, and induced that from Russia a severe account for everything in which depressed kingdom to resume the struggle for her she had disappointed his expectations. independence. In a word, Britain mlight have had The exertions of England, at the same period, the honour of kindliing the same flame, which, being were of a nature and upon a scale to surprise the excited by Russia in 1813, was the means of destroyworld. It seelmed as if her flag literally overshadowed ing the Frernch influence in Gernmaliy, and breaking the whole seas on the coasts of Italy, Spain, the up the Confed-.ration of the Rhine. Ionian Islands, the Baltic Sea. WVhelever there Unhappily, neither of' these important objects was the least show of resistamtce to the yoke of Bo- seemed to tile planners of this enterprise t.: be connaparte, the assistance of the English was appealed nected in a miianner sufficiently direct, with objects to, and was readily afforded. In Spain, particularly, exclusively interesting to Britain. It was therefiole the British troops, led by a general whose name agreed, that the expedition should be sent agaiinst began soon to be weighed againlst those of the best the strong fortresses, swamlpy isles, and dangerous French commanders, displayed their usual gallantry coasts of the Netherlands, in order to seek tor dockunder auisl)ices which no longer lermnitted it to eva- yards to be destroyed, and ships to be carried oil: porate in actions of mere eclat. Antwerp was particularly aimletl at. Bt, although Yet the British admninistration, while they had Napoleon attached great iniportance to the immnense thus embraced a broader and more adventurous, but naval yards and docks which he had f'orned in thle at the same tinie a far wiser system of conduicting Scheldt, yet, weigihed with tile danger and d(ificuilty the war, showed, inl one most important instance, of an attack upon tlierl. the obtject of destroying that they, or a part of them, were not entirely free them seemits to have been very inadequate. Adfirom the ancient prejudices, which had so long ren- mitting that Bonaparte light succeed iil building dered vain the efforts of Britain in favoulr f' the slips in the Schleldt, or elsewhere, there wsas no liberties otf the world. The general principle was possibility, in tile existinmg state of the world, that lihe indeed adopted, that the expeditions of Britain couhl have been able to get sailors to nian thiem; should be directedl where they could (lo the cause unless, at least, modern seamen could have been oi' Eurol)e the most benefit, and the interests of Na- bred oin dry land, like the crews.of the R.o;nan galpeJlcon tile greatest harm; but still there remained a leys during tile war withi Carthage. If even tile harking wish that they could be so directed, as, at slhips could have been manuned, it would have be"l the same time, to acq uire some peculiar and separate long ere Napoleon, with iis utmost exertions, could advantage to England, and to secure the accom- have brought out of the gcheldt such a fleet as plishment of what was called a British object. would not have been defeated by half' their owsn Some of the English ministers might thuss be said to numbers of British ships. The dangers arisin!g to resemble the ancient converts from juidaism, who, Britain fron the naval.establishiments in the Scheldt in embracing the christian faith, still heldithemselves were remote, nor was the advantage of destroying bound by-the ritual arnd fettered by thme prejuidices them, should such destruction be found possible, of the Jewish people, separated as they iwere from commenseurate with the expense and hazard of the the rest of mankind. enterprise which was directed against them. Be LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 47.; sides, before Antwerp could be attacked, the islands accept the charge; but having at length done so, he of Beveland and Walcheren were to be taken pos- availed himself of the time alforded by the English session of, and a long amphibious course of hostilities to put the place in a complete state of defence, and was to be maintained, to enable the expedition to assembled within, and under its wvalls, above thirty reach the point where alone great results were thousand men. The country was inundated by openexpected. ing the sluices; strong batteries were erected on The commander-in-chief was the Earl of Chatham, both sides of the Scheldt, and the ascending that who, inheriting the family talents of his father, the river became almost impossible. great minister, was remarkable for a spirit of in- The British naval and military officers also disactivity and procrastination, the consequences of agreed among themselves, as often happens where which had bgen felt in all the public offices which difficulties multiply, and there appears no presiding he held, and which, therefore, were likely to be spirit to combat and control them. The final obpeculiarly fatal in an expedition requiring the utmost jects of the expedition were therefore abandoned; celerity and promptitude of action. It is remark- the navy returned to the English ports, and the able, that though these points in Lord Chatham's British forces were concentrated,-for whatlreason, character were generally known, the public voice or with what expectation, it is difficult to see,-in at the time, in deference to the talents which dis- that fatal conquest, the isle of Walcheren. Among tinguished his house, did not censure the nomina- the marshes, stagnant canals, and unwholesome tion. trenches of this island, there broods continually, a Upon the 30th of July, the English disembarked fever of a kind deeply pestilential and malignant, on the islands of South Beveland and Walcheren; and which, like most maladies of the same descripon the 1st of August,they attacked Flushing, the tion, is more destructive to strangers than to the principal place in the neighbourhood, by land and natives, whose constitutions become by habit proof sea. On the 15th of August, the place surrendered, against its ravages. This dreadful disease broke and its garrison, four or five thousand men strong, out among our troops with the force of a pestilence, was sent prisoners of war to England. But here the and besides the numerous victims who died on the success of the British ended. The French, who sipot, shattered, in many cases for ever, the constituhad at first been very much alarmed, had time to tions of the survivors. Tlhe joy with which Napoleon iecover from their consternation. Fouch6, then at saw the army of his enemy thus consigned to an obthe head of the police, and it may be said, of the scure and disgraceful death, broke out even in his government (for he exercised for the time the power bulletins, as if the pestilence under which they fell of minister of the interior), showed the utmost readi- had been caused by his own policy, and was not ness in getting under arms about 40,000 national the consequence of the climate, and of the illguards, to replace the regular soldiers, of which the advised delay which prevented our soldiers being Lows Countries had been drained. In awakening withdrawn from it. " We are rejoiced," he said, in the military'ardour of the citizens of France, in a letter to the minister at war, " to see that the which he succeeded to an unusual degree, Fouch6 English have packed themselves in the niorasses of made use of these expressions:-" Let Europe see, Zealand. Let them be only kept in check, and the that if the genius of Napoleon gives glory to France, bad air and f'evers peculiar to the country will soon still his presence is not necessary to enable her to destroy their army." At length, after the loss of repel her enemies from her soil." This phrase ex- more lives than would have been wasted in three pressed more independence than was agreeable to genleral battles, the fortifications ot Flllshing were Napoleon, and was set down as intimating a self- blown up, and the British forces returned to their sufriciency, which counterbalanced the services of own country. the nkinister.:The evil consequences of this expedition did not Neither did Fouch6's selection of a military chief end even here. The mode in lwhlich it had been tto command the new levies prove more acceptable. directed and conducted introduced dissensions into Bernadotte, whom Nwe have noticed as a general of' the British cabinet, which occasioned the telmporary republican fame, had been, at the time of Bona- secession of one of the most able and roost eJoquent parte's elevation, opposed to his interests, and of its mrenmbers, Mr George Canning, who was thus attached to those of the Directory. Any species of withdrawn from public affairs when, his talents could rivalry, or pretence of dispute betwixt them, was be least spared by the country. On the other hand long since ended; yet still Bernadotte was scarce the appointment of Marquis \Vellesley to the sitluaaccounted an attached friend of the emperor, though tion of secretary at war gave, in the estimation cf he was in some sort connected with the house of the plmblic, a strong pledge that the efficient measlures Napoleon, having married a sister-in-lawv of Joseph, suggested by the talents of that noble statesman file intrusive King of Spain. In the campaign of would be supported and carried through by his Vienna, which we have detailed, Bernadotte (created brother Sir' Arthur, to whom alone, as a general, Prince of Ponte Corvo), commanded a division of tthe army and the people began to look with hope Saxons. and had incurred Bonaparte's censure nore and confidence. than once, and particularly at the battle of Wagram, While England was thus exerting herself, Bonafor the slowness of his movements. The Prince of parte, from the Castle of Schoenbrunnunder the Ponte-Corvo came, therefore, to Paris in a sort of walls of Vienna, was deciding the fate of thile Condisgrace, where Fouch6, in conjunction with Clarke, tinent on every point where British influence had no the minister at war, invited him to take on himself rreans of thwarting him. One of' the revolutions the defence of Antwerp. Bernadotte hesitated to which cost him little effort to accomplish, yet which 450 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. struck Europe with surprise, by the numerous recol- higher than the desire to gratify the emperor. Thus lections which it excited, was his seizure of the city a suppressed and unavowed, but perpetual struggle of Rome, and the territories of the church, and took place, and was carried on betwixt the emperor depriving tile pope of his character of a temporal and the pope; the formner desirous to extend and prince. consolidate his recent authority, the latter to defend It must be allowed, by the greatest admirers of what reniained of the ancient privileges of the Napoleon, that his policy, depending less upon church. Xlrinciple than upon existing circumstances, was too It is probable, however, that, had there-been only apt to be suddenly changed, as opportunity or emer- spiritual matters in discussion between them, Napogency seemed to give occasion. There could, for leon would have avoided an open rupture with the example, be scarce a measure of his reign adopted holy father, to which he was conscioutl much scandal on more deep and profound consideration than that would attach. But in the present situation of Italy, of the Concordat, by which he re-established the the temporal states of the pope furnished a strong national religion of France, and once more united temptation for his ambition.'These extend, as is that country to the Catholic Church. In reward for well known, betwixt the kingdom of Naples, then this great service, Pope Pins VII., as we have seen, governed by Joachim Murat, and the northern Itahad the unusual complaisance to cross the Alps, lian provinces, all of which, by the late appropriaand visit Paris, for the sake of adding religious so- tion of Tuscany, were now amalgamated into one lemnity, and the blessing of St Peter's successor, to state, and had become, under the name of the Kingthe ceremony of Napoleon's coronation. It might dom of Italy, a part of the dominions of Bonaparte. have been thought that a friendship thus cemented, Thus the patrimony of the church was the only and which, altogether essential to the safety of the portion of the Italian peninsula which was not either pope, was far from indifferent to the interests of directly, or indirectly, under the empire of France; Bonaparte, ought to have subsisted undisturbed at and, as it divided the Neapolitan dominions firom least for some years. But the emperor and pontiff those of Napoleon, it afforded facilities for descents stood in a suspicious attitude with respect to each of British troops, either from Siciiy or Sardinia, and, other. Pins VII. felt that he had made, in his charac- what Bonaparte was not less anxious to prlevent, ter of chief of the church, very great concessions to great opportunlities for the importation of English Napoleon, and such as he could hardly reconcile to commodities. The war with Austria in 1809, and the tenderness of his own conscience. He therefore the large army which the Arcllduke John then led expected gratitude in proportion to the scruples into Italy, and with which, but for the defeat at Eckwhich he had surmounted, while Bonaparte was far muhl, he might have accomplished great changes, frioml rating the services of his holiness so high, or rendered the independence of the Ronian States the sympathizing with his conscientious scruples. subject of still greater dislike and suspicion to Besides, the pope, in surrendering the rights of Bonaparte. the church in so many instances, must have felt that His ambassador, therefore, had instructions to he was acting under motives of constraint, and in press on the pope the necessity of shutting his ports the character of a prisoner; for he had sacrificed against British commerce, and adhering to the conmore than had been yielded by any prelate who had tinental system; together with the further decisive held the See of Rome, since the days of Constantine. measure, of acceding to the confederacy formed beHe may therefore have considered himself not only tween the kingdom of Italy and that of Naples, or, as doubly bound to secure what remained of the au- in other words, beconing a party to tile war against thority of his predecessors, but even at liberty, Austria and England. Pius VII. reluctantly subshould opportunity offer, to reclaim some part of that mitted to shut his ports, but he positively refused wvhich he had unwillingly yielded tup. Thus circum- to become a party to the war. He was, he -said, stanced in respect to each other, Pius VII. felt that the father of all christian nations; he could not, he had done more in complaisance to Bonaparte consistently with that character, become the enemy than lie could justify to his conscience; while Napo- of any. leon, who considered the reunion of France to Romrre, Upon receiving this refusal, Bonaparte would no in its spiritual relations, as entirely his own work, longer keep terms with him; and, in order, as he thought it of such consequence as to deserve greater said, to protect himself against the inconveniences concessions than his holiness had yet granted. which he apprehended from the pertinacity of the Tie polpe, on his first return to Italy, showed holy father, he caused the th)wns of Ancona and favourable preprossessions for Napoleon, whom lie Civita Vecchia to be occupied by French troops, commuelnmnortecl in his address to the College of Car- which were necessarily admitted when there were dinils, as that mighty Emperor of France, whose no means of resistance. manie extended to the most remote regions of the This act of aggression, to which the pope might ea; tht;- v whrin iHeaen had used as the means of have seen it prudent to submit without remonrevixinu' religion in France, when it was at the strance, as to what he could not avoid, would prolowest ebb; and nhose courtesies toward his own bably have sufficiently answered all the immediate person. and omnlpliance wvith his requests, merited puriposes of Bonaparte; nor would le, it nmay be his hi'h',st r-eg -Cld;irnd requital. Yet Napoleon com- supposed, have incurred the further scandal of a ti'lertil that, s.nbsequent to this period, Pius VII. direct and irreconcilable breach with Pins VII.,'e;.:in b y dencees to receive counsel from the ene- but for recollections, that Rome had been the seat infls of Frlllice, n1 that lie listened to advisers, of empire over the christian world, and that the n[o elcouriei'Ii o itl the riChts of the church luniversal sovereignty to which he aspired would LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 481 hardly be thought to exist in the full extent of ma- the estates of the church were reunited to the French jesty which he desired to attach to it, unless the empire. A few articles followed for the preservaancient capital of the world inade a part of his do- tion of the classical monuments, for assigning to the minions. Napoleon was himself an Italian, and pope a free income of two millions offirancs, and showed his sense of his origin by the particular care for declaring that the property and palace belonging which he always took of that nation, where, what- to the see were free of all burdens or right of inever benefits his administration conferred on the spection. Lastly, the decree provided for the inpeople, reached them both more profusely and more terior government of Rome by a Consultumn, or directly than in any other part of his empire. committee of administrators, to whom was deleThat swelling spirit entertained the proud, and, gated the power of bringing the city under the Italiaw could it have been accomplished consistently with constitution. A proclamation of the Consulturn is-.justice, the noble idea, of uniting the beautiful pen- sued upon the 10th June, in consequence of the insula of Italy into one kingdom, of which Rome Imperial rescript, declared that the temporal doshould once more be the capital. He also nourish- minion of Rome had passed to Napoleon, but she ed the hope of clearing out tile Eternal City from would still continue to be the residence of the vithe ruins in which she was buried, of preserving her sible Head of the Catholic Church. ancient monuments, and of restoring what was pos- It had doubtless been thought possible to persible of her ancient splendour. Stch ideas as these, suade the pope to acquiesce in the annihilation of dearer to Napoleon, because involving a sort of fame his secular power, as the Spanish Bourbons were which no conquest elsewhere could be attended compelled to ratify the usurpation of the Spanish with, must have had charms for a mind which con- crown, their inheritance. But Pius VII. had a mind ptu-nt success had palled to the ordinary enjoyment of a firmer tenor. In the very night when tile proof victory; and no doubt the recollection that the clamation of the new functionaries finally divested existence of the pope as a temporal prince was to- him of his temporal principality, the head of the tally inconsistent with this fair dream of the restor- church assumned his spiritual weapons, and in the ation of Rome and Italy, determined his resolution name of God, from whom he claimed authority, by to pult an end to his power missives drawn up by himself, and sealed vith the On the 2d February, 1809, General Miollis, with seal of the Fisherman, declared Napoleon, Emperor a body of French troops, took possession of Rome of the French, with his adherents, favourers, and itself, disarmed and disbanded the pope's guard of counsellors, to have incurred the solemn doom of gentlemen, and sent his other soldiers to the north excommunication, which he proceeded to launch of Italy, promising them as a boon that they should against them accordingly. Tothe honour of Pils VII. be no longer under the command of a priest. The it must be added, that, different from thile bulls which French cardinals, or those born in countries occupied his predecessors used to send forth on similar occaby, or subjected to the French, were ordered to sions, the present sentence of excommunication was retire to the various lands of their birth, in order to pronounced exclusively as a spiritual punishment, prevent the holy father from finding support in the and contained a clause prohibiting all and any one councils of the conclave. T'he proposal of his join- from so construing its import, as to hold it authority ing the Italian league, offensive and defensive, was for any attack on the person either of Napoleon or then again pressed on the pope as the only means of any of his adherents. reconciliation. He was also urged to cede some The emperor was highly incensed at the pertinaportion of the estates of the church, as the price of city and courage of the pontiff in adopting so bold a securing the rest. On both points, Pius VII. was measure, and determined on punishing him. In the resolute; he would neither enter into an alliance night betwixt the 5th and 6th of July, the Quirinal which he conceived injurious to his conscience, nor Palace, in which his holiness resided, was forcibly consent to spoil the see of any part of its territories. entered by soldiers, and General Rodet, presenting This excellent'man knew, that though the temporal himself before the holy father, demanded that he strength of the popedom appeared to be gone, every- should instantly execute a renunciation of the temn, thing depended on the courage to be manifested by poral estates belonging to the See of Rome. the pope personally. "I ought not-I will not-I cannot make such a At length, on the 17th May, Napoleon published cession," said Pius VII. "I have sworn to God to a decree, in wshich, assuming the character of suc- preserve inviolate the possessions of the Holy Church cessor of Charlemagne, he set forth, 1st, That his -I will not violate my oath." august predecessor Irtd granted Rome and certain The general then informed his holiness he must other territories in feof to the bishops of that city, prepare to quit Rome. but without parting with the sovereignty thereof. " This, then, is the gratitude of your emperor," 2d, That the union of the religious and civil authority exclaimed the aged pontiff, "for my great condehad proved the source of constant discord, of which scension towards the Gallican Church, and towards many of the pontiffs had availed themselves to ex. himself? Perhaps in that particular my conduct tend their secular dominion, under pretext of main- has been blame-worthy in the eyes of God; and he taining their religious authority. 3d, That the tem- is now desirous to punish me. I humbly stoop to poral pretensions of the pope were irreconcilable his divine pleasure." with the tranquillity and well-being of the nations At three o'clock in the morning, the pope was, whom Nat oleon governed; and that all proposals placed in a carriage, which one cardinal alone was which lie had made on the subject had been reject- permitted to share with him, and thus forcibly cared. Therefore it was declared by the decree, that ried from his capital. As they arrived at the gate VOL. yI. 6 482 LI-FE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. cdel Popolo, the general observed it was yet time for Regarded politically, never was any measure e.. his holiness to acquiesce in the transference of his vised to which the interest of France and the emsecular estates, The pontiffreturned a strong nega- peror was more diametrically opposed. Napoleon tive, and the carriage proceeded. nominally gained the city of Rome, which, without At Florence, Pins was separated from Cardinal this step, it was in his power to occupy at any time; Pacca, the only person' of his court who had been but he lost the support, and incurred the mortal hitherto permitted to attend him; and the attend- hatred of the catholic clergy, and of all whom they ance of General Rodet was replaced by that of an could influence. He unraveled his own web, and officer of gendarmes. After a toilsome journey, destroyed by this unjust and rash usurpation, all the partly performed in a litter, and sometimes by torch- merit which he had obtained by the re-establishment light; the aged pontiff was embarked for Alexandria, of the Gallican Church. Before this period he had and transferred from thence to Mondovi, and then said of the French clergy, and certainly had some across the Alps to Grenoble. right to use the language, " I have re-established But the strange sight of the fHead of the Catholic them, I maintain them-they will surely conktinue Church traveling under a guard of gendarmes, with attached to me." But in innovating upon their relithe secrecy and the vigilance used in transporting a gious creed, in despoiling the church, and maltreatstate criminal, began to interest the people in the ing its visible head, he had cut the sinews of the south of France. Crowds assembled to beseech the league which he had formed betwixt the church and holy father's benediction, perhaps with more since- his own government. It is easy to see the mistaken rity than when, as the guest of Bonaparte, he was grounds on which he reckoned. Himself an egotist, received there with all the splendour the Imperial Napoleon supposed that when he had ascertained orders could command. and secured to any man, or body of' nen, their own At the end of ten days, Grenoble no longer seem- direct advantage in the systetn which he desired ed a fitting place for his holiness's residence, pro- should be adopted, the parties interested were debably because he excited too much interest, and barred from objecting to any innovations which he was again transported to the Italian side of the he might afterwards introduce into that sy tern, Alps, and quartered at Savona. Here, it is said, he providing their own interest was not affected. The was treated with considerable harshness, and for a priests and sincere catholics of France, on the other time at least confined to his apartment. The prefect hand, thought, and in conscience could not think of Savoy, Monsieur de Chabrol, presented his holi- otherwise, that the Concordat engaged the emperor ness with a letter from Napoleon, upbraiding him to the preservation of the Catholic Church, as, on in strong terms for his wilful obstinacy, and threat- the other hand, it engaged them to fealty towards ening to convoke at Paris a council of bishops, with Napoleon. When, therefore, by his unprovoked a view to his deposition. "I will lay his threats," aggression against the head of the church, he had said Pius VII., with the firmness which sustained incurred the spiritual cer;sire of excommunication, him through his sufferings, "at the foot of the crn- they held, by consequence, that all their engagecifix, and I leave with God the care of avenging my ments to him were dissolved by his own act. cause, since it has become his own." The natural feelings of mankind acted also against The feelings of the catholics were doubtless en- the emperor. The pope, residing at Rome in the hanced on this extraordinary occasion, by their possession of tenmporal power and worldly splendour, belief in the sacred, and, it may be said, divine was a far less interesting object to a devout imagicharacter, indissolubly united with the head of the nation, than an old man hurried a prisoner from his church. But the world, papist and protestant, were capital, transported fiom place to place like a crl-ialike sensible to the outrageous indecency with minal, and at length detained in an obscure Italian which an old man, a priest and a sovereign, so lately town, under the control of the French police and the friend and guest of Bonaparte, was treated, for their instrtlments. no other reason that could he alleged, than to com- The consequences of this false step were almost pel him to despoil himself of the territories of the as injurious as those, which resulted from the unchurch, which he had sworn to transmit inviolate to his scesorsUonrefecionNpoeonsem individual." Of this denial and this apology vre shall only ohis successors. Upon reflection, Napoleon seems say that the first seems very apocryphal, and the second to have become ashamed of the t'ransaction, which would justify any crime which Machiavel or Aclhitophel he endeavoured to shift from his own shoulders, could invent or recommend. Murat is the person whom while in the same breath he apologized for it, as the the favourers of Napoleon are desirous to load with the act of the politician, not the individual.* violence comiitted on the pope. But if Murat had dared to take so muaiupon himself, would it not have been as *See.Aflmorialde Ste-Hilhne, vol. II, pp. 46-7. He avovwed King of Naples? and by what warrant could he have transthat he himself would have refused, as a man and an officer, ferred the pontiff from place to place in the north of Italy, to mount guard on the pope, "whose transportation into and even in France itself, the emperor's dominions, and France, he added "was done without my authority." Ob- not his own? Besides, if Napoleon was, as has been stated, serving the surprise of Las Cases, he added, "that what surprised, shocked, and incensed at the captivity of the he said was very true, together with other things which he pope, why did he not instantly restore him to his-liberty, would learn by and by. Besides," he proceeded, "you are with suitable apologies, and indemnification? His not to distinguish the deeds of a sovereign, who acts collec- doing so plainly shows, that if Murat and Rodet had not. tively, as different from those of an individual, who is re- express orders for what they did. they at least knew well strained by no consideration that prevents him from follow- it would be agreeable to the emperor when done, and his ing his own sentiments. Policy often permits, nay orders, acquiescence in their violence is a sufficient proof that they a prince to do that which would be unpardonable in an argued justly. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 483 principled invasion of Spain. To place that kingdom "'What evil have I done you?" asked Napoleon. ander his more immediate control, Napoleon con- "To me personally, none; but you are the opverted a whole nation of docile allies inlto irrecon- pressor of my country, the oppressor of the world, cilable enemies; and, for the vanity of adding to the and to have put you to death would have been the empire of France the ancient capital of the world, he most glorious act a man of honour could do. " created a revolt in the opinion of the catholics, which Stabbs, for that was his name, was justly conwas in the long-run of the utmost prejudice to his an- demned to die; for no cause can justify assassinathority. The bulls of the )ope, in spite of the attention tion. His death was marked by the same fanatical of the police, and of the numerous arrests and severe firmness which had accompanied his crime; and punishments inflicted on those who dispersed them, the adventure remained a warning, though a fruitless obtained a general circulation; and, by affording a one, to Bonaparte, that any man who is indifferent to religious motive, enhanced and extended tile disaf- his own life may endanger that of the most absolute fection to Napoleon, which, unavowed and obscure, sovereign upon earth, even when at the head of his began generally to arise against his persotn and go- military force. vernmeut even in France, from the repeated draughts The negotiations for peace with Austria contiup)on the conscription, the annihilation of commerce, nued, notwithstandixg the feeble state of the latter and the other distressing consequences arising out power, to be unusually protracted. The reason, at of the measures of a government, which seemed that time- secret, became soon after publicly known. only to exist in war. Bonaparte's first intentions had been to dismemWhile Bonaparte, at Schoenbrunn, was thus dis- ber the empire, which he had found so obstinate and posing of Rome and its territories, and weighing in irreconcilable in its enmity, and, separating from the his bosom the alternative of dismembering Austria, dominions of Austria either the kingdom of Hulngary, or converting her into a friend, his life was exposed or that of Bohemia, or both, to reduce the house of to one of those chances, to which despotic princes Hapsburg to the rank of a second-rate power in are peculiarly liable. It had often been predicted, Europe. Napoleon himself atfirmed, when in St that the dagger of some political or religious enthu- Helena, that he was encouraged by one of the royal siast, who might be willing to deposit his own life in family (the Archduke Charles is indicated) to persist gage for the success of his undertaking, was likely in his purpose, as the only means of avoiding future to put a period to Napoleon's extended plans of am- wars with Austria; and that the same prince was bition. Fortunately, men like Felton or Sand are willing to have worn one of thie crowns, thus to be rarely met with, for the powerful instinct of self- torn from the brows of his brother Francis. We preservation is, in the common case, possessed of' can only say, that the avowals of Napoleon when influence even over positive lunatics, as well as men in exile, like his bulletins when in power, seem so of that melancholy and atrabilious temperament, generally dictated by that which he wished to be whose dark determination partakes of insanity. In- believed, rather than by a frank adherence to truth, dividuals, however, occur from time to time, who that we cannot hold his unsupported and inexplicit are: willing to sacrifice their own existence, to ac- testimony as sufficient to impose the least stain on complish the death of a private or public enemy. the noble, devoted, and patriotic character of the Tile life of Bonaparte at Schoenbrunn was retired archduke, whose sword and talents had so often and obscure. He scarcely ever visited thie city of served his brother's cause, and whose life exhibits Vienna; and spent his time as if in the Tuileries, no indication of that meanness, which would be imamid his generals, and a part of his ministers, who plied in a wish to share the spoils of his country, or were obliged to attend him during his military expe- accept at the hands of the conqueror a tributary ditions. His most frequent appearance in public kingdom, reft from the dominions of his king and was when reviewing his troops. On one of these brother. Bonaparte himself paid the courage and occasions, while a body.of the French Guard was devotion of the Austrian prince a flattering complipassing in review, a young man, well dressed, and ment, when, in sending to him a decoration of the of the middle rank, rushed suddenly forward, and Legion of Honour, hIe chose that which was worn by attempted to plunge a long sharp knife, or poniard, the common soldier, as better suited to the deterin Napoleon's bosom. Berthier threw himself be- rination and frankness of his character, than one of twixt his master and the assassin, and Rapp made those richly ornamented, which were assigned to tile latter prisoner. On his examination, the youth men of rank, who had perhaps never known, or only evinced the coolness of a fanatic. He was a native seen at some distance, the toils and dangers of battle. of Erfurt, son of a Lutheran clergyman, well edtl- The crisis, however, approached, which was to cated, and of a decent condition in-life. He avowed determine the fate of Austria. Bonaparte's fahis purpose to have killed Napoleon, as called to vourite minister, Champagny, Duke of Cadore, had the task by God, for the liberation of his country. been for some time at Presburg, arranging with No intrigue or correspondence with any party ap- Metternich the extent of cession of territory by peared to have prompted his unjustifiable purpose, which Austria was to pay for her unfortunate asnor did his behaviour or pulse testify any sign of in- sumption of hostilities. The definitive treaty of peace, sanity or mental alienation. He told Bonaparte, when at length published, was found to'contain the that he had so much respect for his talents, that if he following articles:-1. Austria ceded, in favour of could have obtained an audience of him, lhe would the Princes offthe Confederation of the Rhine, Saltz — have commenced the conference by an exhortation burg, Berchtolsgaden, and a part of Upper Austria. to him to make peace; but if he could not succeed, 2. To France directly, she ceded her only seaport he was determined to take his life. of Trieste, the districts of Carniola, Friuli, the I 484 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Circle of Villach, and some part of Croatia and upon a monument which should be dedicated by the Dalmatia. These dominions tended to strengthen gratitude of the French people, "To the Greatest of andienlarge the French province of Illyria, and to Heroes, who never achieved victory but for tae exclude Austria from the Adriatic, and the pos- happiness of the world." sibility of communication with Great Britain. A small lordship, called Razons, lying within the territories of the Grison League, was also relinquished. 3. To the King of Saxony, in that cha- Change which took place in Napoleon's dometic life, after racter, Austria ceded some small part of Bohemia, the Peace of Vienna-Causes which led to it —lis alx. and, in the capacity of Duke of Warsaw, she gave iety for an heir-A son of his brother LoEis is fixed up to him the city of Cracow, and the whole of Utpon, but dies in childhood. —Character and inflitence of Western Gallicia. 4. Russia had a share, though a Josephine-Strong mutual attachment betsvixt her and moderate one, in the spoils of Austria. She was to Napoleon.-Fonci opens to Josephite the plan of a receive, in reward of her aid, though tardily and divore-her extreme distress-On 5th December, Ncspounwillingly tendered, a portion of Eastern Gallicia, leon annonences her fate to Josiphine-On 15th they care containing a population of four hundred thousand formally separated before the Imperial Conscil-Jos-. >..containing a population of four hundred tho rphine retaining the rank of empress for life.-Espousals souls. But from this cession the town ofBrody, a cornm- of Bonaparte and Maria Loeuisa of Austria take place mercial place of consequence, was specially excep- at Vienna, 11th March, 1810.-Comparison, anld conted; and it has been said that this exception made an trast, betwixt Josephine and her successor.;-The results unfavourable impression on the Emperor Alexander, of this union different from what was expected —Forewhich was not overbalanced by the satisfaction he seen by the Emperor Alexander. received from the portion of spoil transferred to him. In his correspondence with the Russian court, THERE is perhaps no part of the varied life of the Napoleon expressed himself as having, from de- wonderful person of whom we treat, more deeply ference to Alexander's wishes, given Austria a interesting, than the change which took place in his more favourable peace than she had any reason to domestic establishment, shortly after the peace of expect. Indeed, Europe in general was surprised Vienna. The main causes of that change are strongly at the moderation of the terms; for though Austria, rooted in human nature, but there were others which by her cessions on different points, yielded up a arose out of Napoleon's peculiar situation. The desurface of forty-five thousand square miles, and a sire of posterity-of being represented long after our population of between three and four millions, yet own earthly career is over, by those who derive their the extremity in which she was placed seemed to life and condition in society from us, is deeply rooted render this a cheap ransom, as she still retained in our species. In all ages and countries, children 180,000 square miles, and upwards, of territory, are accounted a blessing, barrenness a misfortune which, with a population of twenty-one millions, at least, if not a curse. This desire of maintaining rendered her, after France and Russia, even yet a posthumous connexion with the world, through the the most formidable power on the Continent. But medium of our descendants, is increased, when her good angel had not slept. The house ofRodolph there is property or rank to be inherited; and, howof Hlapsburg had arisen, from small beginnings, to ever vain the thought, there are few to which men its immense power and magnitude, chiefly by ma- cling with such sincere fondness, as the prospect of trimonial alliances,* and it was determined that, bequeathing to their children's children the fortunes by another intermarriage of that Imperial house, they have inherited from their fathers, or acquired with the most successful conqueror whom the world by their own industry. There is kindness as well as had ever seen, she should escape with comparative some vanity in the feeling; for the attachment which ease from the greatest extremity in which she had we bear to the children whom we see and love, ever been placed. There is no doubt, also, that, naturally flows downward to theirlineage whom we by secret articles of treaty, Napoleon, according to may never see. The love of distant posterity is in his maxim of making the conquered party sustain some degree the metaphysics of natural affection. the expense of the war, exacted for that purpose It was impossible that the founder of so vast an heavy contributions from the Austrian government. empire as that of Napoleon could be insensible to a He left Schcenbrunn on the 16th October, two feeling which is so deeply grafted in our nature, as days after the definitive treaty of peace, which to influence the most petty proprietor of a house and takes its name from that palace, had been signed a few acres-it is of a character to be felt in prothere; and it is remarkable that no military caution portion to the extent of the inheritance; and so was relaxed in the evacuation of the Austrian do- viewed, there never existed in the world before, minions by the French troops. They retreated by and, it is devoutly to be hoped, will never be again 6chelon, so as to be always in a position of mutual permitted by Providence to arise, a power so exsupport, as if they had still been manoeuvring in an tensise, so formidable as Napoleon's. Immense as enemy's country. it was, it had been, moreover, the work of his own On the 14th November, Napoleon received at talents; and, therefore, he must have anticipated, Paris the. gratulations of the Senate, who too fondly with the greater pain, that the system perfected by complimented him on having acquired, by his tri- so much labour and blood, should fall to pieces on umphs, the palm of peace. That emblem, they the death of him by whom it had been erected, or said, should ". placed high above his other laurels, that the reins of empire should be grasped after that + The verses are well known, event' hby some unlineal hand," Bellagerant alii, tq, klix Austria, nube, etc. No son of his succeeding. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 485 The drop of gall, which the poet describes so natu- without intrusion, and remonstrate without offence. rally as embittering the cup of the usurper of Scot- To maintain this influence over her husband, Joland, infused, there is no doubt, its full bitterness sephine mnde not only unreluctantly, but eagerly, into that of Napoleon. the greatest personal sacrifices. In all the rapid The sterility of the Empress Josephine was now journeys which he performed, she was his comparendered, by the course of nature, an irremediable nion. No obstacle of road or weather was permitted evil, over which she mourned in hopeless distress; to interfere with her departure. However sudden and conscious on what precarious circumstances the the call, the empress was ever ready; however uncontinuance of their union seemed now to depend, timely the hour, her carriage was in instant attendshe gave way occasionally to fits of jealousy, less ance. The influence which she maintained by the excited, according to Napoleon, by personal attach- sacrifice of her personal comforts was used for the ment, than by suspicion that her influence over her advancement of her husband's best interests,-the husband's mind might he diminished, in case of his relief of those who were in distress, and the averting having offspring by some paramour. the consequences of hasty resolutions, tbormed in a She turned her thoughts to seek a remedy, and moment of violence or irritation. exerted her influence over her husband, to induce him Besides her considerable talents, and her real beto declare some one his successor, according to the neficence of disposition, Josephine was possessed of unlintited powers vested in him by the Imperial other ties over the mind ofher husband. The mutual constitution. In the selection, she naturally en- passion which had subsisted between them for many deavoured to direct his choice towards his step-son, years, if its warmth had subsided, seems to have Eugene Beauharnais, her own son by her first mar- left behind affectionate remembrances and mutual riage; but this did not meet Bonaparte's approba- esteem. The grace and dignity with which Josetion. A child, the son of his brother Louis, by phine played her part in the imperial pageant was Hortense Beauharnais, appeared, during its brief calculated to gratify the pride of Napoleon, which existence, more likely to become the destined heir might have been shocked at seeing the character of of this immense inheritance. Napoleon seemed at- empress discharged with less ease and adroitness; tached to the boy; and when he manifested any for her temper and manners enabled her, as one spark of childish spirit, rejoiced in the sound of the early accustomed to the society of persons of podrum, or showed pleasure in looking upon arms and litical influence, to conduct herself with singular the image of war, he is said to have exclaimed, dexterity in the intrigues of the splendid and busy -" There is a child fit to succeed, perhaps to sur- court, where she filled so important a character. pass me." Lastly, it is certain that Bonaparte, who, like many'[he fixing his choice on an heir so intimately con- of those that affiect to despise superstition, had a renected with herself, would have secured the in- serve of itinhis own bosom, believed that his fortunes fluence of Jos6phine, as much as it could receive were indissolubly connected with those of Josephine; assurance from anything save bearing her husband and loving her as she deserved to be beloved, he issue herself; but she was not long permitted to en- held his union with her the more intimate, that there joy this prospect. The son of Louis and Hortense was attached to it, he thought, a spell affecting his died of a disorder incident to childhood; and thus own destinies, which had ever seemed most predowas broken, while yet a twig, the shoot, that, grow- minant when they had received the recent influence ing to maturity, might have been reckoned on as the of Josephine's presence. stay of an empire. Napoleon showed the deepest Notwithstanding all these mutual ties, it was evigrief, but Jos6phine sorrowed as one who had no dent to the politicians of the Tuileries, that whatever hope. attachment and veneration for the empress NapoY et, setting aside her having the misfortune to bear leon might profess and feel, it was likely in the longhim no issue, the claims of Josdphine on her husband's run to give way to the eager desire of a lineal sacaffections were as numllerous as could be possessed cession, to which he might bequeath his splendid by a wife. She had shared his more lowly fortunes, inheritance. As age advanced, everyyear weakened, and, by her management and address during his ab- though in an imperceptible degree, the influence of sence in Egypt, had paved the way for the splendid the empress, and must have rendered more eager success which he had attained on his return. She the desire of her husband to form a new alliance, had also done much to render his government popular, while he was yet at a period of life enabling him to by softening the sudden and fierce bursts of passion hope lie night live to train to maturity the expected to which his temperament induced him to give way. heir. No one could understand, like Josephine, the pecu- Fotchb, the minister of police, the boldest politiliarities of her husband's temper,-no one dared, cal intriguer of his time, discovered speedily to what like her, to encounter his displeasure, rather than point the emperor must ultimately arrive, and seems not advise him for his better interest,-no one could to have meditated the insuring his own power and possess such opportunities of watching the fit season continuance in favour, by taking the initiative in a for intercession,-and no one, it is allowed on all measure, in which, perhaps, Napoleon might be hands, made a more prudent, or a more beneficent ashamed to break the ice in person. Sounding artuse of the opportunities she enjoyed. The character fully his master's disposition, Fouch6 was able to of Bonaparte, vehement by temper, a soldier by discover that the emperor was struggling betwixt education, and invested by Fortune with the most the supposed political advantages to be derived from despotic power, required peculiarly the moderatiog a new matrimonial union on the one hand, and, on influence of such a mind, which could interfere the other, love for his present consort, habits ofi [486 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. society which particularly attached him to Jos6phine, must have been managed with the greatest secrecy and the species of superstition which we have already imaginable, it seems probable that the idea' of subnoticed. Having been ableto conjecture the state of stituting an archduchess of Austria for her whose the emperor's inclinations, the crafty counsellor de- hand was refused him, was started in the course of termined to make Jos6phine herself the medium of the treaty of Schoenbrunn, and had its effects in suggesting to Bonaparte the measure of her own providing lenient terms for the weaker party. Napodivorce, and his second marriage, as a sacrifice ne- leon himself' says, that he renounced his purpose of oessary to consolidate the empire, and complete the dismembering Austria when his marriage was fixed happiness of the emperor. upon. But the conditions of peace were signed on One morning at Fontainebleau, as the empress the 14th of October, and therefore the motive which was returning from mass, Fouche detained her in influenced Napoleon in granting them must have the embrasure of a window in the gallery, while, had existence previous to that period. with an audacity almost incomprehensible, he ex- Yet the contrary is boldly asserted. Tile idea of plained, with all the alleviating qualifications his the match is said to have been suggested by the ingenuity could suggest, the necessity of a sacrifice, Austrian government at a later period, upon underwhich he represented as equally sublime and in- standing that difficulties had occurred in Napoleon's evitable. The tears gathered in Jos6phine's eyes- negotiation for a matrimonial alliance in the family her colour came and went-her lips swelled-and of Alexander. Fouch6 ascribes the whole to the the least which the counsellor had to fear, was his address of his own agent, the Count deNarbonne, a advice having brought on a severe nervous affec- Frenchman of the old school, witty, pliant, gay, tion. She commanded her emotions, however, well-mannered andinsinuating, who was ambassador sufficiently to ask Fouch6, with a faltering voice, at Vienna in the month of Janualy, 1810. whether he had any commission to hold such language But whether the successor of Jos6phine awsere or to her. He replied in the negative, and said that he wire not already determined upon, the measures had only ventured on such an insinuation from his for separating this amiable and interesting worman having predicted with certainty what must necessa- from him whose fortunes she had assisted to raise, rily come to pass; and from his desire to turn her and to whose person she was so much attached, attention to what so nearly concerned her glory and were in full and public operation soon after Iler happiness. husband's return from the campaign of' WVagralm. In consequence of this interview, an impassioned Upon'the 9d of December, Bonaparte attended the and interesting scene is said to have taken place solemn service of Te Deum for his victories. lie was betwixt Bonaparte and his consort, in which he clad with unusual magnificence, wearing the Spanish naturally and truly disavowed the communication of costume, and displaying in his hat an enormous Fouch6, and attempted by every means in his power plume of feathers. The Kings of Saxony and WV;rto dispel her apprehensions. But he refused to temberg, who attended as his satellites on this dismiss Fouch6, when she demanded it as the occasion, were placed beside him in fill uniflbrm, punishment due to that minister's audacity, in tam- and remained uncovered during the ceremony. pering with her feelings; and this refulsal alone might From the cathedral, Napoleon passed to the have convinced Josephine, that though ancient ha- opening of the Legislative Body, and boasted, in bitual affection might for a time maintain its influence the oration he addressed to them, of the victories in the nuptial chamber, it must at length give way which he had achieved, and the trophies which lihe before the suggestions of political interest, which had acquired; nay, lie vaunted of his having rewere sure to predominate in the cabinet. In fact, united Tuscany to the empire,-as if the spoiling when the idea had once been started, the chief the inoffensive andt unresisting widow and orphan objection was removed, and Bonaparte, being spared could ever be a legitimate subject of triumph. the pain of directly communicating the unkind and From the existing affairs of Spain, no direct reason nngrateful proposal to Josephine, had now only to for gratulation could be derived; but when Naafford her time to familiarize herself with the idea of poleon could no longer claim praise fiorom thinos as a divorce, as that which political combinations they presently stood, lie was profuse in his promtises rendered inevitable. of a rapid change to the better, and spoke as a proThe communication of Fouch6 was made before plhet when lie ceased to be the reporter of agreeable Napoleon undertook his operations in Spain; and by facts. the time of the meeting at Erfurt, the divorce seemls " When I," he said, " show nmyself on the other to have been a matter determined, since the subject side of the Pyrenees, the terrified Leopard shall of a match betwixt Bonaparte and one of the arch- plunge into the ocean, to avoid shame, defeat, and duchesses, the possibility of which had been an- destruction. The triumph of my arms shall be that ticipated as far back as the treaty of Tilsit, was of the Genius of Good over the Genius of Evil, of moresumed, seriously treated of, and if not received deration, order, and morals, over civil svar, anarchy, with cordiality by the Imperial family of Russia, and the malevolent passions. " With such fair colour.was equally far from being finally rejected. Tile ing will ambition and injustice attempt to screen their reigning empress and the empress mother, were, purposes. A poetical reply fiom Monsieur de Fonhowever, opposed to it. The ostensible motive tanes assured the emperor, that whatever was conwas as we have elsewhere said, the difterence nected with him must arise to grandeur, whatever of religion; but these high-minded princesses reject- was subjected to any other influence was threatened ed thealliance chiefly on account of the per- with a speedy fall. " It was therefore necessary," lihe bonal character of the suitor. And although it continued, " to submit to your ascendancy, whose LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 487 councils are at once recommended by heroism and claimed a sacrifice, for which the eternal love of the by policy." To this speech Bonaparte made a French people could alone console his heart. rejoinder, in which, resuming the well-worn themes The union of Napoleon and Josephine being thus of his own praises, he alluded to the obstacles abrogated by the supreme civil power, it only rewhich lie had surmounted, and concluded; "I and mained to procure the intervention of the spiritual my family will always know how to sacrifice our authorities. The arch-chancellor, duly authorized most tender affections to the interests and welfare by the imperial pair, presented a request for this of the Great Nation." These concluding words, purpose to the Diocesan of the Officiality, or ecclethe meaning of which was already guessed by all siastical court of Paris, who did not hesitate to who belonged to the court, were soon no riddle to declare the marriage dissolved, assigning, however, the public in general. no reason for such their doom. They announced it, Two days afterwards, Napoleon made Jos6phine indeed, as conforming to the decrees of councils, acquainted with the cruel certainty, that the sepa- and the usages of the Gallican Church-a proposiration was ultimately determined upon. But not tion which would have cost the learned and reverend the many months which had passed since the sub- officials much trouble, if they had been required to ject was first touched upon by Foucllh-not the make it good either by argument or authority. conviction which she must have long since received When this sentence had finally dissolved their from various quarters, that the measure was tunalter- union, the emperor retired to St-Cloud, where he ably resolved upon, could strengthen her to hear lived in seclusion for some days. Jos6phine, on her the tongue of her beloved husband announce what part, took up her residence in the beautiful villa of was in fact, though not in name, a sentence of re- Malmaison, near St-Germain. Iele she principally pudiation. She fell into a long and profound swoon. dwelt for the remaining years of her life, which Napoleon was much affected, but his resolution was were just prolonged to see the first fall of her hustaken, and could not be altered. The preparations band; an event which might have been averted had for the separation went on without delay. lihe been content to listen more fiequently to her On the 15th December, just ten days after the lessons of moderation. Her life was clliefly spent official communication of her fate had been given to in cultivating the fine arts, of which she collected the emlpress, Napoleon and Jos6phine appeared in some beautiful specimens, and in pursuing the presence of the arch-chancellor, the family of Na- science of botany; bhut especially in the almost poleon, the principal officers of state,-in a word, daily practice of acts of benevolence and charity, the full Imperial Council. In this assembly, Napo- of which the English d&tenats, of whom there leon stated the deep national interest which requir- were several at St-Germain, frequently shared the ed that he should have successors of his own body, benefit. Napoleon visited her very fiequently, and the heirs of his love for his people, to occupy the always treated her with the respect to which she throne on which Providence had placed him. He was entitled. He added also to her dowry a third informed them, that he had for several years re- million of francs, that she might feel no inconvenounced the hope of having children by his well- nience fiom the habits of expense to which it was beloved empress Jos6phine; and that therefore he her foible to be addicted. had resolved to subject the feelings of his heart to This important state measure was no sooner comthe good of the state, and desire the dissolution of pleted, than the Great Council was - summoned, on their marriage. He was, he said, but forty years the 1st February, to assist the emperor in the seold, and might well hope to live to train up such lection of a new spouse. They were given to unchildren as Providence might send him, in his own derstand, that a match with a Grand Duchess of sentiments and arts of government. Again he dwelt Russia had been proposed, but was likely to be on the truth and tenderness of his beloved spouse, embarrassed by disputes concerning religion. A his partner during fifteen years of happy union. daughter of the King of Saxony was also mentioned, Crowned as she had been by his own hand, he de- but it was easily indicated to the council that their sired she should retain the rank of empress during choice ought to fall upon a princess of the house of her life. Austria. At the conclusion of the meeting, EuJos6phine arose, and with a faltering voice, and gene, the son of the repudiated Jos6phine, was eyes suffused with tears, expressed in few words commissioned by the council to propose to the sentiments similar to those of her husband. The im. Austrian ambassador a match between Napoleon and perial pair then demanded from the arch-chancellor the Archduchess Maria Louisa. Prince Schwartza written instrumnent in evidence of their mutual enberg had his instructions on the subject; so that desire of separation; and it was granted accdrdingly, the match was proposed, discussed, and decided in in all due form, with the authority of the council. the council, and alterwards adjusted between pleThe Senate were next assembled; and on the nipotentiaries on either side, in the space of twcenty16th December, pronounced a consultum, or decree, four hours. The espousals of Napoleon and Maria authorizing the separation of the eniperor and em- Louisa were celebrated at Vienna, 11th lMarch, press, and assuring to Josephine a dowry of two 1810. The person of Bonaparte was represented millions offrancs, and the rank of empress during by his favourite Berthier, while the Archdutlei her life. Addresses were voted to both the imperial Charles assisted at the ceremony in the name of the parties, in which all possible changes were rung on Emperor Francis. A few days afterwards, the the duty of subjecting our dearest affections to the youthful bride, accompanied by the Queen of Naples, public good; and the conduct of Bonaparte. in ex- proceeded towards France. i changing his old consort for a young one, was pro- With good taste, Napoleon dispensed with the [488 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. ceremonies used in the reception of Marie Antoi- tion,-if, in short, he did not find her in the attitude nette, whose marriage with Louis XVI., though of waiting for the signal to take her place at table. never named or alluded to, was in other respects Perhaps a sense of his inferior birth made Napoleon the model of the present solemnity. Near Soissons, more tenacious of this species of form, as what he a single horseman, no way distinguished by dress, could not afford to relinquish. On the other hand, rode past the carriage in which the young empress Maria Louisa is said to have expressed her surprise was seated, and had the boldness to return, as if to at her husband's dispensing with the use of arms reconnoitre more closely. The carriage stopped, and attendance of guards, and at his, moving about the door was opened, and Napoleon, breaking with the freedom of an individual; although this through all tile tediousness of ceremony, introduced could be no great novelty to a member of the imhimself to his bride, and came with her to Soissons. perial family of Austria, most of whom, and espe-'The marriage ceremony was performed at Paris by cially the Emperor Francis, are in the habit of Bonaparte's uncle, the Cardinal Fesch. The most mixing familiarly with the people of Vienna, at splendid rejoicings, illuminations, concerts, festivals, public places, and in the public walks. took place upon this important occasion. But a As it influenced his political fate, Bonaparte has great calamity occurred, which threw a shade over registered his complaint, that the Austrian match these demonstrations of joy. Prince Schwartzen- was a precipice covered with flowers, which he was berg had given a distinguished ball on the occasion, rashly induced to approach by the hopes of domestic when unhappily the dancing-room, which was tem- happiness. But if this proved so, it was the fault porary, and erected in the garden, caught fire. No of Napoleon himself; his subjects and his allies efibrts could stop the progress of the flames, in augured very differently of its consequences, and to which several persons perished, and particularly himself alone it was owing that these auguries were the sister of Prince Schwartzenberg himself. This disappointed. It was to have been expected, that a tragic circumstance struck a damp on the public connexion formed with the most ancient Imperial mind, and was considered as a bad omen, espe- family in Christendom, might have induced Bona-! cially when it was remembered that the marriage of parte to adopt some of those sentiments of moderaLouis XVI. with a former princess of Austria had tion which regard rather the stability than the inbeen signalized by a similar disaster. crease of power. It constituted a point at which he As a domestic occurrence, nothing could more might pause. It might have been thought that, sacontribute to Bonaparte's happiness than his union tiated with success, and wearied with enterprise, he with Maria Louisa. He was wont to compare her would have busied himself more in consolidating the with Joseplhine, by giving the latter all the advan- power which he desired to transmit to his expected tages of art and grace; the former the charms of posterity, than in aiming at rendering his grandeur simple modesty and innocence. His former empress more invidious and more precarious, by further used every art to support or enhance her personal schemes of ambition. Even the charms which this charms; but with so much prudence and mystery, union added to his domestic life, might, it was that the secret cares of her toilet could never be hoped,. bring on a taste for repose, which, could it traced —her,successor trusted, for the power of have influenced that fiery imagination and friame of pleasing, to youth and nature. Jos6phine misma- iron, might have been of such essential advantage naged her revenue, and incurred debt without to Europe. scruple. Maria Louisa lived within her income, or Napoleon knew what was expected, and enif she desired any indulgence beyond it, which was deavoured to vindicate himself beforehand for the rarely the case, she asked it as a favour of Napo- disappointment which he foresaw was about to leon. Jos6phine, accustonied to political intrigue, ensue. loved to manage, to influence, and to guide her " The good citizens rejoice sincerely at my marhusband; Maria Louisa desired only to please and riage, monsieur?" lie said to Decres, his minister. to obey him. Both were excellent women, of great "Very much, sire." sweetness of temper, and fondly attached to Napo- "I understand they think the Lion will go to leon. In the difference between these distinguished slumber, ha?" persons, we can easily discriminate the leading "To speak the truth, sire, they entertain some features of the Parisian, and of the simple German hopes of that nature." beauty; but it is certainly singular that the artificial Napoleon paused an instant, and then replied, character should have belonged to the daughter of "' They are mistaken; yet it is not the fault of the the WVest Indian planter; that marked by nature Lion; slumber would be as agreeable to him as to and simplicity, to a princess of the proudest court others. But see you not that while I have the air of in Europe. being constantly the attacking party, I am, in fact, Bonaparte, whose domestic conduct was gener- acting only on the defensive?" ally praiseworthy, behaved with the utmost kind- This sophism, by which Napoleon endeavoured ness to his princely bride. He observed, however, to persuade all men, that his constant wars arose, the strictest etiquette, and required it from the not fronm choice, but out of the necessity of his situaempress. If it happened, for example, as was tion, will be best discussed hereafter. often the case, that he was prevented from attend- In the meantime, we may only notice, that the ing at the hour when dinner was placed on the Emperor Alexander jutdged most accurately of the table, he was displeased if, in the interim of his consequences of the Austrian match, when he said, absence, which was often prolonged, she either on receiving the news, "'Then the next task will be, took a book, or had recourse to any female occupa- to drive me back to my forests;" so certain he was LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 489 that Napoleon would make his intimate alliance with late Sir John Moore, and their return to England, the Emperor Francis, the means of an attack upon which their disastrous condition rendered indispensRussia; and so acute Nvas he in seeing the germs able, left Soult in seeming possession of Galicia, of future and more desperate wars, in a union from FerroI and Corunna having both surrendered to him. which more short-sighted politicians were looking But the strength of the Spanish cause did not lie in for the blessings of peace. walls and ramparts, but in the indomitable courage of the gallant patriots. The Galicians continued to CHAPTER LIXIX. distinguish themselves by a war of posts, in which the invaders could claim small advantages; and Alnost all the foreign French settlements fall into the when Soult determined to enter Portugal, he was hands of the British.-French squadron, destroyed at the obliged to leave Ney, with considerable forces, to Isle of Aix, by Lord Cochraine-and in the bay of Rosas, secure his communication with Spain. by Lord Collingwood.-Return to tihe proceedings in Soult's expedition began prosperously, though it Spain..-Soult takes Oporto-Attacked and defeated by was doomed to termiuate very differently. He de- Sir Arthur Wellesley, and compelled to a disastrous r o l retreat.-Ferrol and Corunna retaken by the patriots. — eated General Battle of Talavera, gained by Sir Arthur Wellesley- retreat to Sanabria. The fiontler town of Cilanes i who, nevertheless, in consequence of the obstinacy and was taken by Soult, after some resistance, and he bigotry of Cuesta, is compelled to retreat upon Portugal forced his way towards Oporto. But no sooner had -Created Lord Wellington. —The French armies take the main body of Soult's army left Chaves, than, in many towns and strongplaces.-Slupreme Junta retreat spite of the efforts of the garrison, the place was reto Cadiz.-UtJnsubdted spirit of the Spanish people.- lieved by an insurrectionary army of Portuguese, The Guerilla system.-A-futual cruelties of the Guerillas under General Silveyra. The invader, neglecting and the French troops.-Growing disappointment of Bo- these operations in his rear, continued to advance naparte.-His immense exertions.-A large arny raised, upon Oporto, carried that fine city by storm, after under the name of the army of Portugal, commanded a desultory defence of three days, and suffered his by Massna.-Lord Wellington compelled to remanimni - I troops to commit the greatest cruelties, both on the active, from his inferiority of force.-Battle of Busaco, soldiers and unarted citizens. in which the French are defeated with great loss.-Lord soldiers and armed citizens. Weltington's famou7s retreat on Torres Vedras. ]Btt when Marshal Soult had succeeded thus far, his situation became embarrassing. The Galicians, NOTWITHSTANDING the credit which Napoleon recovering their full energy, had retaken Vigo and had acquired, by dictating to the house of Austria other places; and Silveyra, advancing from Chaves the triumphant treaty of Schcenbrunn, and also by to the bridge of Amarante, interposed betwixt the allying himself with that ancient Imperial house, French general and Galicia, and placed himself in which had, on different occasions, shown towards communication with the Spaniards. him the signs of persevering enmity, this period of While Soult was thus cooped up in Oporto, the his history did not pass without his experiencing se- English ministry, undaunted by the failure of their veral reverses of fortune. The few foreign settle- late expedition, resolved to continue the defence of ments, which hitherto remained united to Franoe, the Portuguese, and to enter into still closer alliance wvere now successively taken by the British. Cay- with the Supreme Junta of Spain. Consulting their enne, Martinique, Senegal, and Saint Domingo, own opinion and the public voice, all consideration were conquered and occupied in the West Indies; of rank and long service was laid aside, in order to while Lord Collingwood, with troops filrnished from confer the command of the troops which were to be Sicily, occupied the islands of Cephalonia, Zante, sent to the Continent on Sir Arthur Wellesley, Ithaca, and Cerigo. whose conduct in the battle of Vimeira, and the A French squadron of men of war being blockaded subsequent explanations which he afiflrded at the in the roadstead of the Isle of Aix, the determined Court of Inquiry, had taught all Britain to believe, valour of Lord Cochrane was employed for their that if Portugal could be defended at all, it must be destruction. Fire-ships were sent against the French by the victor of that day. He was scarce landed at vessels, and though the execution was less complete Lisbon, ere he fully justified the good opinion of his than had been expected, owing to some misunder- countrymen. He crossed the Douro at different standing between Lord Cochrane and Admiral Gam- points, with a celerity for which the French were bier, who commanded in chief, yet the greater part unprepared, and, after a brillant action under the of the French ships were burnt, or driven ashore walls of Oporto, compelled Soult to evacuate that and destroyed. Lord Collingwood also destroyed city, and commence a retreat, so disastrous as to an important French convoy, with the armed vessels resemble that of Sir John Moore. In this retrograde who protected it, in the bay of Rosas. Everything movement, the French left behind them cannon, announced that England retained the full command equipments, baggage-all that can strengthen an of what has been termled her native element; while arnmy, and enable it to act as such; and, after all the transactions in Spain showed, that, under a ge- these sacrifices, their leader could hardly make his neral who understood at once how to gain victories, escape into Galicia, with scarce three-fourths of his and profit by them when obtained, the land forces of arrmy remaining, where he found great difficulty in Britain were no less formidable than her navy. This remodeling his forces. Ney, whom he had left as subject draws our attention to the affairs of the governor of that province, was hard pressed by tile Peninsula, where it might be truly said "the land patriots, who defeated the French in several battles, was burning." and eventually retook the towns of Ferrol and CoThe evacuation of Corunna by the army of the runna. VOL. VI. 62 490 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Sir Arthur Wellesley was prevented from cornm- greatest compliment to the victor of Talavera, by pleting Soult's defeat by pursuing him into Galicia, the splenetic resentment with which he was filled because, after the Spaniards had sustained the:by the news. He had received the tidings by his severe defeat of Tudela, the French had penetrated private intelligence, before the officer arrived with into Andalusia in great strength, where they were the regular dispatches. He was extremely ill reonly opposed by an ill-equiFped and dispirited army ceived by the emperor; and, as if the messengers of 40,000 men, under the rash and ill-starred Ge- had been responsible for the tidings they brought, a neral Cuesta. It, was evident, that Marshal Victor, second officer, with a duplicate of the same intelliwho commanded in Andalusia, had it in his power gence, was treated still more harshly, and for a to save detached a considerable part of his force on time put under arrest. This explosion of passion Lisbou, supposing that city had been uncovered by could not be occasioned by the consequences of the Sir Arthur Wellesley's carrying his forces in pur- action, for the experienced eye of Napoleon must suit of Soult. This was to be prevented, if possible. have discriminated the circumstances by which the The English general formed the magnificent plan, effects of victory were in a great measure lost to for which Napoleon's departure to the Austrian the allied armies; but lie saw in the battle of Talacampaign afforded a favourable opportunity, of vera, an assurance given to both English and Spanish marching into Andalusia, uniting the British forces soldiers, that, duly resisted, the French would fly with those of Cuesta, and acting against the invaders from them. He foresaw, also, that the British with such vigour, as might at once check their government would be tempted to imaintaini the conprogress in the South, and endanger their occupation test on the Continent, and that the Spaniards would of Madrid. Unlhappily, an ill-timed jealousy seems be encouraged to persevere in resistance. lie foreto have taken possession of Cuesta, which manifested saw, in short, that war of six desperate and bloody itself in every possible shape, in which frowardness, campaigns, which did not terminate till the battle and m petty obstinacy of spirit, could be exhibited. of Toulouse, in 1814. To no one of the combined plans, submitted to hin But it needed no anticipation to fill Napoleon's by the English general, would he give assent or mind with anxiety on the subject of Spain. It is effectual concurrence; and when a favourable op- true, fortune seemed everywhere to smile on ihis portunity arrived of attacking Victor, before he was arms. Zaragossa, once more besieged, mnaintained united with the forces which Joseph Bonaparte and its former name, but without the former brilliant Subastiani were bringing from Madrid to his sup- result. After a defence as distinguished as in the port, Cuesta alleged he would not give battle on a first siege, the brave garrison and citizens, deprived Sunday. of'means of defence, and desperate of all hope of The golden opportunity was thus lost; and when relief, had been compelled to surrender some months the allies were obliged to receive battle instead of before. giving it, on the 28th July, 1809, it was without the Gerona, Tarragona, Tortosa, though still vigorousadvantages which the former occasion held out. ly defended, were so powerfully invested, that it Yet the famous battle of Talavera de la Reyna, in seemed as if Catalonia, the most warlike of the Spawhich the French were completely defeated, was, nish departments, was effectually subdued; and, under these unfavourable circumstances, achieved accordingly, these fortresses also were afterwards by Sir Arthur Wellesley. The event of this action, obliged to capitulate. in which the British forces had been able to defend Andalusia,' the richest province which sustained themselves against double their own number, with the patriot cause, certainly was conquered, in but little assistance from the Spanish army, became, consequence of a total defeat encountered by the owing to the continued wilfulness of Cuesta, very Spanish grand army, under Areizaga, at Ocana, different fi-om what such a victory ought to have November, 1809, after the English troops had reproduced. The French troops, assembling from tieated to the-Portuguese firontier. Joseph Bnaevery point, left Sir Arthur no other mode of parte, whose road was cleared by this last success, assuring the safety of his army, than by a retreat on entered Cordova ill triumph upon the 17th of JaPortugal; and for want of means of transport, which nuary, 1810, and proud Seville itself' upon the 1st the Spanish general ought to have furnished, more of February following. Yet the chief prize of victhan fifteen hundred of the wounded were left to the tory had not yet been gained. T'he Supreme Julnta amercy of'the French. They were treated as became had effected their retreat to Cadiz, which city, sia courteous enemy, yet the incident afforded a fine tuated in an island, and cut off from the nmainland, pretext to contest the victory, which the French had on one side by a canal, and on tile other three by resigned by flying from the field,. the ocean, was capable of the most strenuous de- { The assertions of the bulletins in the Moniteur, fence. could not deceive men on the true state of affairs. Cadiz contained a garrison of twenty thousand The Spanish Junta were sensible of the services men, English, Spanish, and Portuguese, under the rendered by the English general, and. somewhat of command of General Graham, a distinguished officer, the latest, removed Cuesta from the command, to whose merits, like those of Bonaparte, had been first manifest their disapprobation of his unaccountable distinguished at the siege of Toulon.? Marshal conduct. At home, Sir Arthur Wellesley was pro- Soult, as first in coninand in Spain, disposed himmeted to the peerage, by the title of Lord Wel- self' to formn the siege of this city, the capture of lington, who was destined to ascend, with the which would have been almost the death-knell to the universal applause of the nation, as high as our cause of the patriots. constitution will permit. But Bonaparte paid the + See p. 171.,. ] LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 491 But although these important successes read well annoy tilhe knight-errant far more than the gigantic in the Moniteur, yet such was the indomitable cha- force of his first adversary. The qualities of a parracter of the Spaniards, which Napoleon had con- tisan, or irregular soldier, are inherent in the natrived fully to awaken, that misfortunes, which tional character of the Spaniard. Calm, temperate, would have crushed all hope in ally other people, capable of much fatigue, and veiling under a cold seemed to them only an incentive to further and demeanour an ardent and fiery character, they are more desperate resistance. W-hen they talked of qualified to wait for opportunities of advantage, and the state of their country, they expressed no dismay are not easily discouraged by difficulty or defeat. at their present adverse circumstances. It had cost Good marksmen in general, and handling the lance, their ancestors, they said, two centuries to rid them- sword, and dagger with address, they are foirmidselves of the Moors; they had no doubt that in a able in an ambush, and not less so in a close mbl16e, shorter time they should free themselves of the yoke where men fight hand to hand, more as nature dicof France; but they must reckon on time and op- tates than according to the rules of war. The obportunity, as well as valour. The events of the war stinacy of the Castilian character, also, had its adin mlany respects gave credit to their hopes. The vantages in this peculiar state of warfare. Neither Spaniards, often found weak where they thought promises nor threats made any impression on thenm, themselves strongest, proved sometimes most power- and the severities executed in fulfilment of menaces ful, where, to all human appearance, they seemed only inflamed the spirit of hostility by that of private weakest. While they lost Andalusia, believed to revenge, to which the Spaniard is far more accesbe so defensible, the mountainous province of Ga- sible than either to the voice of caution or persuasion, licia, through which the French had s) lately maroh- Neither were the officers less qualified for the ed triumphantly in pursuit of the British, taking in task than the men. The command of a guerilla was their progress the important maritime towns of Co- of a character not to be desired by any who did not runna and Ferrol, was wrenched from the con- find himself equal to, and in some measure called querors by the exertions of La Romana, assisted by upon to accept, the dangerous pre-eminence. There the warlike natives of the country, and at the head were few Spanish officers possessed of the scientific of an undisciplined and ill-equipped army. knowledge of war, and of course few adequate to In Catalonia, too, the French had hardly time to lead armies into the field; but the properties necesaccomplish the conquest of towns and fortresses to sary for a guerilla leader are imprinted in the human which we have alluded, when they found themselves mind, and ready for exercise whenever they are checked, baffled, and sometimes defeated, by the required. These leaders were, as it chanced, some Catalans, under Lacy, O'Donnell, and d'Eroles, who of them men of high birth and military education; maintained the patriotic cause at the head of those some had been smugglers or peasants, or had pracenergetic marksmen, the Somatenes, or Miquelets. tised other professions, as was discovered from their Nay, while the French were extending their seem- noms-de-guerre, as the Curate, the Doctor, the ing conquests to the Mediterranean Sea, and thun- Shepherd, and so forth. Many of their names will dering at the gates of Cadiz, so little were they in be long associated with recollection of their gallant peaceful possession of Navarre, and the other pro- actions; and those of others, as of Mina and the vinces adjoining to France, that not all officer with Empecinado, will, at the same time, remind us of dispatches could pass from Burgos to Bayonne with- the gross ingratitude with which their heroic efforts out a powerful escort, and bands of Spaniards even have been rewarded. showed themselves on the French frontier, and These daring men possessed the most perfect passed it for the purpose of skirmishing and raising knowledge of the passes, strengths, woods, monuncontributions. Such being the case onil the frontiers tains, and wildernesses, of the provinces in which nearest to France, it may be well supposed, that the they warred; and the exact intelligence which they midland provinces were not more subordinate. In obtained from the peasantry made them intimately fact, through the whole Peninsula, the French held acquainted with the motions of the enemy. Was too no influence whatsoever that was not inspired by weak a French detachment moved, it ran the risk of the force of the bayonet and sabre; and where these being cut off: was the garrison too feeble at the. place could not operate, the country was in universal in- which it left, the fort was taken. The slightest as surrection. well as the most important objects met the attention The basis of this extensive and persevering resist- of the guerillas; a courier could not move without ance was laid in the general system of Guerilla, or a large escort, nor could the intrusive king take the partisan warfare, to which the genius of the Spanish amusemellt of hunting, however near to his capital, people, and the character of their country, are pecu- unless, like Earl Percy in the ballad, attended by a liarly fitted, and which offered a resistance to the guard of fifteen hundred men. The Juramentados, invaders more formidable by far than that of regular those Spaniards, that is, who had sworn allegiance to armies, because less tangible, and less susceptible King Joseph, were of course closely watched by the of being crushed in general actions. It was with the guerillas, and if they rendered themselves incondefenders of Spain, as with the guardian of the en- veniently or obnoxiously active in the cause they chanted castle in the Italian romance. An armed had espoused, were often kidnapped and punished warrior first encountered the chamnpion who attempt- as traitors; examples which rendered submission to,. AI the adventure, and when he had fallen under the or active co-operation with the French, at least as sword of the assailant, the post which he lhad cccu- imnprdent as boldly opposing the invaders. pied appeared mann)ed by a lody of' pirmies smnall T'he numbers of the guerillas varied at different in site, but so nuamelrous and So enlerplrioug., Ps to itime.,s, as the chiefs rose or declined in reputation, 492 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. and as they possessed the means of maintaining their if gratified, have removed the perplexity which was followers. Some led small flying armies of two annexed to the affairs of the Peninsula. thousand and upwards. Others, or the same chiefs Bonaparte, in the spirit of calculation which was under a reverse of fortune, had only ten or twenty one of his great attributes, had reckoned that Spain, followers. The French often attempted to surprise when in his hands, would retain the same channels and destroy the parties by which they suffered most, of wealth which she had possessed firom her South and for that purpose detached moveable columns American provinces. Had he been able to carry from different points, to assemble on the rendezvous into execution his whole plan-had the old king of the guerilla. But, notwithstanding all their ac-:really embarked for Peru or Mexico, it might have tivity and dexterity oar such expeditious, they rarely happened that Napoleon's influence over Charles, succeeded in catching their enemy at unawares; or, his queen, and her favourite Godoy, could have if it so happened, the individuals composing the been used to realize these expectations. But in band broke up, and dispersed by ways only known consequence of the rupture which had taken place, to themselves; and when the French officers ac- the Spanish colonies, at first taking part with the counted them totally annihilated, they were again patriots of the mother country, made large remlitassembled on another point, exercising a partisan tances to Cadiz for the support of the war against war on the rear, and upon the communications of the French; and when afterwards, adopting another those who lately expected to have them at their view of the subject, the opportunity appeared to mercy. Thus invisible when they were sought for, them favourable for effecting their own indlependthe guerillas seemed everywhere present when da- ence, the golden tide which annually carried tribt.te mage could be done to the invaders. To chase to Old Spain was entirely dried up. them was to pursue the wind, and to circumvent This Bonaparte had not reckoned upon, and he them was to detain water with a sieve. had now to regret an improvident avidity, similar to Soult had recourse to severity to intimidate these that of ~Asop's boy, who killed the bird which laid desultory but most anno'i;ng enemies, by publishing eggs of gold. The disappointment was as great as a proclamation, threatening to treat the members unexpected. Napoleon had, from his private treaof the guerillas, not as regular soldiers, but as ban- sure, and the means he possessed in France, disditti taken in the fact, and thus execute such of charged the whole expense of the two large armies, them as chanced to be made prisoners. The chiefs, by whomi the territory of Spain was first occupied; in reply to this proclamation, published a royal de- and it was natural for him to suppose, that in this, cree, as they termed it, declaring that each Spa- as in so many other cases, the French troops should, niard was, by the necessity of the times, a soldier, after this first expedition, be paid and maintained at and that he was entitled to all military privileges the expense of the provinces in which they were when taken with arms in his hands. They therefore quartered. This was the rather to be expected, announced, that having ample means of retaliation when Andalusia, Grenada, Valencia, fertile and rich in their power, they would not scruple to make use provinces, were added to the districts overrun by of them, by executing two Frenchmen for everyone the invading army. But so general was the disinof their followers who should suffer in consequence clination to the French, so universal the disappearof Soult's unjust and inhuman proclamation. These ance of specie, so unintermitting the disturbances threats were fulfilled on both sides. It is said, a excited by the guerillas, that both King Joseph, his horrid example of cruelty was given by a French court, and the French army, were obliged to have general, who in a manner crucified, by nailing to constant recourse to Napoleon for the means of sluptrees, eight prisoners, whom he had taken from the porting themselves; and such large remittances guerillas of the Empecinado. The daring Spaniard's were made for these purposes, that in all the connpassions were wound up too high to listen either to tries occupied by the French, the Spanish coin grapity or fear; he retaliated the cruelty by nailing the dually disappeared firon the circulation, and wras same number of Frenchmen to the same trees, and replaced by that of France. The being obliged, leaving them to fill the forest of Guadarama with therefore, to send supplies to the kingdom from their groans. But these excesses became rare on which he had expected to receive them, was a subeither side, for the mutual interest of both parties ject of great mortification to Napoleon, which wvas soon led them to recur to the ordinary rules of war. not, however, the only one connected with the We have given a slight sketch of the peculiar governmelnt he had established there. character of this singular warfare, which constitutes In accepting the crown of Spain at the hands of a curious and interesting chapter in the history of Napoleon, Joseph, who was a man of sense and mankind, and serves to show how difficult it is to penetration, m.ust have been sufficiently aware that subject, by the most formidable military means, a it was an emblem of borrowed and dependent sovepeople, who are determined not to submit to the reignty, gleaming but with such reflected light as his yoke. The probability of the case had not escaped brother's imperial diadem might shed upon it. He the acute eye of Bonaparte himself, who, though could not but know, that in making him King of prescient of the consequences, had not been able to Spain, Napoleon retained over him all his rights as resit the temptation of seizing upon this splendid a subject of France, to whose emperor, in his regal movereignty, and who was still determined, as lie is as well as personal capacity, lie still, though a nomisaid to have expressed himself, to reign at least nal monarch, was accounted to owe all vassalage. over Spain, if he could not reign over the Spanish For this he must have been frilly prepared. But people. Bat even this stern wvish, adopted in ven- Joseph, who had a share of the fanmily pride. exI geance rather than in soberness of mind, could not, pected to possess with all others, save Bonaparte, t _- _ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 493 the external appearance at least of sovereignty, and loss which must be encountered to overcome them. was much dissatisfied with the proceedings of the In the meantime, Bonaparte, with respect to the marshals and generals sent by his brother to his as- Peninsula, convulsed as it was by civil war in every sistance. Each of these, accustomed to command province,-half-subdued and haltfemancipated,his own separate corps d'armde, with no subordina- causing him an immense expense, as well as endless tion save that to the emperor only, proceeded to act contradiction and mortification,-stood much in the on his own authority, and his own responsibility, condition, to use a popular simile, of oe, wvlo, having levied contributions at pleasure, and regarded the hold of a wolf, feels it equally difficult to overpower authority of King Joseph as that of a useless and the furious animal, and dangerous to let him go. ineffective civilian, who followed the march along His power over the general mind, however, tested with the impediments and baggage of' the camp, and a great deal on the opinion commonly received, that to whom little honour was reckoned due, and ao he was destined to succeed in whatever enterprise obedience. In a word, so complicated became tie he undertook. He himself entertained some such state of the war and of the government, so embar- ideas concerning the force of his own destiny; and, rassing the rival pretensions set up by the several as it was no part either of his temper or his policy to French generals, against Joseph and against each abandon what he had once undertaken, he deterother, that when Joseph came to Paris to assist at mined to make a gigar tic effort to drive the Leopards the marriage of Napoleon and Maria Louisa, he and their Sepoy general, as the French papers called made an express demand that all the French troops the British and Lord Wellington, out of Portugal; in Spain should be placed under his own command, to possess himself of Lisbon; and to shut that avenue or rather that of his major-general; and in case this against foreign forces again attempting to enter the was declined, he proposed to abdicate the crown, Peninsula. or, what was equivalent, that the French auxiliaries In obedience to the emperor's commands, an army, should be withdrawn from Spain. Bonaparte had to be termed that of Portugal, was assembled, on a on a former occasion named his brother generalis- scale which the Peninsula had scarcely yet seen. simo of the troops within his pretended dominions; It was called by the French themselves one he now agreed that the French generals serving in hundred and ten thousand men, but certainly rather Spain should be subjected, without exception, to exceeded than fell short of the number of eighty the control of Marshal Jourdan, as major-general of thousand. This large force was put under the comKing Joseph. But as these commanders were re- mand of Mass6na, Prince of Essling, the greatest moved from Bonaparte's immediate eye, and were name in the French army, after that of Napoleon, obliged to render an account of their proceedings and so favoured by fortune, that his master was both to the intrusive king and to Napoleon, it was wont to call him the Spoilt Child of Victory. not difficult for thein to contrive to play off the one Lord Wellington's British troops did not exceed against the other, and in fact to conduct themselves twenty-five thousand in number, and there were as if independent of both. among them so many invalids, that his motions were These very embarrassing circumstances were in- necessarily entirely limited to the defensive. lHe creased by the presence of the English army, which, had, however, a subsidiary force under his coimhaving twice driven the French firom Portugal, show- mand, consisting of thirty thousand Portugese, in ed ilo intention of returlning to their ships, but lay on whon other generals might have rested little conthe friontiers of the latter kingdom, ready to encou- fidence; but they were receiving British pay and rage and assist the continue(d resistance of Spain. British allowances, were disciplined in tle British It was not the fault of the commander-in-chief that manner, and commanded by British officers; and their duties were for the present in a great measure Lord Wellington, who had seen the unwarlike limited to those of an army of observation. If the Hindu behave himself in similar circumstances like troops which assisted in the ill-advised Walcheren a companion not unworthy of the English soldier, expedition had been united to those under the had little doubt of being able to awaken the dorcommand of Lord Wellington, they would, at a loss mant an*: sppressed, but natural ardour of the nainfinitely less, and yet greatly more honourably in- tives of Portugal. This force had been in a great curred, have driven the French beyond the Ebro, or measure trainied under the auspices of Marshal more probably, have compelled them to evacuate Beresford, an officer who has eternal claims on the Spain. But oitr cabinet, though adopting new and gratitude of his country, for the generous manner in niore bold, as well as more just ideas of the force of which he devoted himself to a labour, which had at the country, could not be expected perhaps all at first little that was flattering or promising; and for once, and amid the clamour of an opposition who the very great perfection to which, by dint of skill, saw nothing but reckless desperation in whatever good temper, and knowledge of human nature, lihe measures were calculated to resist France, to hazard was able to bring his task to completion at such an so much of the national force upon one single ad- important crisis. venture, although bearing in their own eyes a pro- It was, however, of the utmost importance to mnising aspect. Statesmen, and even those of no avoid trusting too much to the Portuguese troops, mean character, are apt to forget, that where a large which were so recently levied and trained, until supply of men and money is necessary to insure the they had acquired something of the practice, as object aimed at, it is miserable policy to attempt to well as the theory, of the military profession. economize either; and that such ill-timed thrift must Thus, between the weak state of the British, and render the difficulties attending the expedition either the imperfect discipline of the Portuguese, Lord altogether insurmountable, or greatly add to the Wellington r as reduced to temporary inactivity, i494 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. and had the mortification to see the frontier places in his official dispatch, "in the same ranks with of Ciudad Rodrigo and Almeida taken almost in British troops;" and they felt their own confidence the presence of his army. The fears of the British rise as their merits became acknowledged. nation were as usual excited in an unreasonable The French army, declining any farther attack on degree by these two sinister events; but they had the Sierra, proceeded to turn its extremity, and both come within the calculations of Lord Wel- move upon Lisbon by the way of Coimbra. Here lington, whose advance to the frontier was without Massnta established a strong rear-guard with his the intention of incurring any risk for the preserva- hospitals and wounded; hut the inspiration oction of those places, but merely, by inducing the casioned by the victory of Busaco had not yet subgarrisons to hold out, to protract as long as possible sided among the Portuguese. Colonel Trant, a Bria defence, the duration of which must be equally tish officer, who commanded a body of Portuguese advantageous to the allies, and wasteful to the militia, rushed gallantly into Coimbra, and carried French. the place by a sudden attack. About five thousand The position on which he ameant to maintain the men, many of course wounded, with all the French defence of Portugal had been long since fixed hospital stores, fell into the hands of the Portuguese; upon, and the fortifications had been as long in pro- and Mass6na, who could not recover the place, sufgress. It was that of Torres Vedras, where, as fered all the loss of stores and provisions which that appears from his own evidence before the Cintra city afforded as a d6p6t, and which the fertile disCourt of Inquiry, he had expected Junot to make a trict in the neighbourhood might have enabled him defence, after the battle of Vimeira. All Lord to collect. Wellington's previous movements were adjusted Great was the surprise of both armies, when the carefully, for the purpose of drawing the enemy retreat of the British, and advance of tile French, fron his supplies and communications to that point, suddenly terminated. The former entered a regular beyond which he proposed the invader should pass position, which, by the utmost exertion of skill and no farther. labour, had been rendered almost impregnable, beAdmirably as Lord Wellington's premises were ing most formidably protected by field-works aind connected with the conclusion he aimed at, chance, heavy guns. They found that the Tagus and port of or rather the presumption of the French general, Lisbon afforded them assurance of subsistence, even favoured him with an unexpected opportunity of in plenty, and that their inferiority in numbers w\as adding glory to a retreat, which was dictated by completely made up to them by the strength of prudence. Mass6na, if he did justice to British their position. courage, thought himself entitled to set the military The French, on the contrary, who had fondly exskill of their general at utter defiance. He saw, pected to enter Lisbon as conquerors, found themindeed, their retrograde movements, from the banks selves in a country wasted by the hands of its culof the Coa towards Lisbon, conducted with all the tivators; without hospitals or magazines in their deliberate and guarded caution of a game at chess; rear; in front a foe, of whom they had lately felt the but still these movements were retrograde, nor strength; and around, a hostile population, for the could he resist the temptation, by a bold and sudden greater part in arms. If, in such a situation, Massena attack, to attempt to precipitate the retreat of the could be said to besiege Lisbon, he was, nevertheBritish, and drive them, if not into the sea, at least less, in the utmost danger of suffering those extreinto their ships, to which he doubted not they were mities of famine which usually fall to tile lot of the ultimately bound. beleaguered party. He seemed, by some strange This led to the battle of Busaco, which was transmutation, to have changed lots with the natives fought on the 27th of September, 1810. of Lisbon, and to suffer all the evils which he exUpon that memorable day the British army was pected to inflict. assembled on the Sierra, or ridge of the hills called The war now paulsed on both sides. Lord WelBusaco. Mass6na, by turning the extremity of the lington had reacthed the point of his defence. Masridge, might have compelled the English general to snna seemed at a loss where to commence his attack. recommence his retreat; but he meditated a direct'lhe deer was turned to hay, but the dogs sprung not. attack onthe position. It was made by five strong The eyes of all Europe rested upon the Tagus, on divisions of the French. Two attacked on the right, whose banks were to be decided the pretensions to one of which, fbrcinlg its way to the top of tile rilge, superiority asserted by two great generals in the was bayoneted and driven headlong down; the other, name of two mighty nations. But that event was suffering great loss from the fire, gave wayi before suspended for several months, during which it is reaching the top. Three divisions attacke'd on the fitting that we should resume the narrative of other left, with nearly the same fate. Defeated upon such matters. unfavounrable ground, the enemy lost, it was computed, at least two thousand men slain, besides very many wounded. The moral effect of the battle of CHAPTER LX. Busaco was immense. It assured both tile English themselves, and the people of Portugal, that the re- Change in Napoleows principles of goveramelt-rauses treat of Lord Wellington's army was not the effect leatding to this.-Becomes suspicious of Talleyrand and of fear, but of a deliberate choice. It * evinced, also, Fouche-Remonstrates with the latter, who satiftes him of fear, but of a delibnerate choice. It evrinced, also, for the tinme. - F'ouchg- endeavours, without the know.. what degree of trust might be securely reposed in ledge of Napcleon, to ascertain the views of England the Portuguese levies. " They had shown them- wt-ith respect to peace-His plan is defeated by a sinselves worthy of' contending," said Lord Wellington, gular collision with a similar one of Napoleon, brougls I..~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 49; forward withoett the knowledge of his minister —and having been proposed, should be critically weighed, Fouchd is sent away as Governor general of Rome- and canvassed by men of too much experience tco Nis moral and political character-His dismissal re- be deceived by appearances, and too much courage gretted. - Murmuerings of the people against the Atus- to be prevented from speaking their mind. The trian alliance, and its supposed effects.-Continental advice of such men as Talleyrand and Fooch' system-Its object.-Ignorance of Napoleon of the ac-operated as a restraint upon schemes hastily tual politicalfeelings of Great Britain.-License system orated or -Its nature and effects. - Louis. Bonaparte-Endea- o r opinionatively maintained; and their vours in vain to defend Holland from.the effects of the influence, though unseei and unheard, save in the continental system-He abdicates the throne, and retires Imperial cabinet, might yet be compared to the to Gratz in Styria.-Holland is annexed to the French keel of a vessel, which, though invisible, serves to empire-This step renders Napoleon extremely unpo- steady her among the waves, and regulate the force pular. by which she is propelled by her swelling canvas; or to the pendulum of a time-piece, which checks, SINCE Bonaparte obtained, in 1804, the absolute and controls the main-spring of the machinery; Yet. rule of the French Republic, a change had been though Bonaparte must have been sensible of thesegradually taking place in his principles ofgovernment, advantages, he was still more accessible to the and in the character of the statesmen whom he feelings of jealousy, which made him suspect, that employed as his ministers and advisers. For the these statesmen were disposed rather to establish first two years, and more, he had governed on the separate interests for themselves in the government principle of a limited monarch, who avails himself and nation, than to hold themselves completely deof the best talents he can find among his subjects, pendent on the Imperial authority. and shows a deference to those who are distinguished, The character of both Talleyrand and Fouche, either for the political part which they have per- indeed, authorized some such suspicion. They had formed, or the share they possess in the good opi- been distinguished in the French Revolution before nion of the public. Among his advisers at this Napoleon's name had been heard of, were intimateperiod, we find many of the leading men of the Re- ly acquainted with all the springs which had moved volution; persons who, though they had been induced it, and retained, as Bonaparte might suspect, the from various motives to see the rise of Napoleon inclination, and even the power, to interfere at with equanimity, and even to aid him, then their some possible state crisis more effectually than acequal, in his attempt to climb to supreme power, corded with his views of policy. He had gorged yet still remembered in what relation he and they them indeed with wealth; but if he consulted his had originally stood to each other. In counseling an own bosom, he might learn that wealth io but an emperor, these statesmen did it with the more indifferent compensation for the loss of political freedom.that they remembered a period when they power. In a word, he suspected that the great were on a level with him, nay, perhaps, when they services which Talleyrand rendered him with regard stood a good deal higher. to foreign relations, and, Fouch6 as minister of poThis period of his reign, during which Napoleon lice, were calculated to raise them into necessary suffered the wild and powerfill flights of his own and indispensable agents, who might thus become, ambition to be in some degree restrained and directed to a certain degree, independent of his authority. by thejudgumentofothers, formed the niost laudable He doubted, moreover, that they still kept up relaand useful certainly, if not the most brilliant part of tions with a political society called Philadelphes, his career. But gradually as his power became consisting of old republicans and others, of differein auig!nented and consolidated, the emperor began to political creeds, but who were united in their viewvs prefer that class of complaisant ministers, wvho of obtaining some degree of freedom, either b) availwould rather reflect his own opinions, prefaced with ing themselves of such slender means of restraint additional recommendations and arguineits, than as the constitution, so carefully purged of every less courteously attemllt to criticise and refute them. means of opposing the imperial will, might yet at. The history of Napoleon justifies, or at least ford, or by waiting for some disaster beftlling Noaexcuses him, for falling into this natural error. He poleon which might render their voice potential. felt, and justly, that he was the sole projector of his The suspicions with which Bonaparte regarded } gigantic plans, and also, in a great measure, the his ministers did not rest.on vague conjecture. While agent who carried them through; and he was led to he was in Spain, he received information, appearing believe, that, because he did so much, he might as to indicate that a party was flrming itself in the well do the whole. The schemes which he had Legislative Assenibly, the bond connecting which himself originally formed were executed by his own was opposition to the imperial will. That body Imilitary genius; and thus it seemed as if the advice voted, it must be remembered, by ballot; and great of counsellors, so indispensable to other princes, was the surprise and alarm of the assemDly, when might be unnecessary to a sovereign who had shown black balls, disapproving a measure suggested to limself all-sufficient alike in the cabinet and in the their consideration by government, were counted' field. Yet this, though a plausible, was a delusive to the number of a hundred and twenty-five, being argument, even though it appeared to be borne out a full third of the members present. i oy the actual fact. It may be true, that in Bona- An official note, dated from Valladolid, 4th Departe's councils, few measures of consequence were cember, instantly recalled the presumptuous dissuggested by his ministers, and that he himself ge- sentients to a sense that the power of rejecting the inerally took the lead in affairs of importance. But laws laid before them in the emperor's name, which still it was of great consequence that such plans, they had attempted thus boldly to exercise, was 495 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Only entrusted to them for show, but was meant to This courtly answer saved the minister for the contain no really effectual power of control. The moment; but Napoleon did not the less continue to words of Napoleon, the friend, as has been pre- see in Fouch6 an object of suspicion and apprehentended, of liberal institutions, are rwell worthy of sion, whose power, owing to his having been so remark. " Our evils," he said, " have arisen in part long at the head of the police, was imrense; whose fornom an exaggeration of ideas, which has tempted duplicity was un:athomable, and w'ho evinced many the Legislative Body to consider itself as repre- indications of desiring to secure some separate indisentilng the nation; an idea which is chimerical and vidual authority, either by being too necessary to be even criminal, since implying a claim of represent- dismissed, or too formidable to be ofiended. ation which is vested in the emperor alone. The Fouch6 himself has, indeed, admitted that he Legislative Body ought to be called the Legislative endeavoured to regulate the duties of his office, so Council-it does not possess the right of making laws, as to secure as much power to himself as possible, since it has not the right of propounding them. In and was desirous, out of a desire of popularity, as the constitutional hierarchy, the emperor, and the well as from respect for the virtue which he did not ministers his organs, are the first representatives of himself possess, to execute those duties with the the nation. If any other pretensions, pretending to least possible harm to individuals. His mode of be constitutional, should pervert the principles of our transacting business with the emperor was thus monarchical constitution, everything is undone." characteristically described by himself: A person This is all very intelligible, and shows that in of rank, one of the datenus, desirous of escaping principle, if not in practice, the monarchical con from the durance in which he was confined, had stitution of France rested upon the same basis of been fortunate enough to engage the interest of Foudespotism which supports the monarchical consti- ch6 in his behalf. lie had received mnare than one tation of Constantinople, where the Ulemas, or men intimation fiom this statesman that his passport of law, have an ostensible title to resist the Grand would certainly be granted, but still it never reSeignor's edicts, and are only exposed to the penalty ceived the imperial signature; and Fouch6, who of heing pounded to death in a mortar, should they began to fear that his own sincerity might be called prestlme to exercise it. Yet, a member of the French in question, commenced one morning, in the presence Legislative Body might have been pardoned for of our informer, and of one of the distinguished gebeing inquisitive on two subjects: 1Ist, he might wish nerals of the empire, the following oblique explanato know, if that body, chosen by the people, though tion of the cause of his failure. indeed not directly, did not represent their electors, " You no doubt think yourself a brave man?" said whom was it that they did represent? 2dly, what he, addressing the general. was their real authority in the state, since they were "Bah!" replied the other, entelin g into the same not to enjoy the power of rejecting the overtures vein of raillery,-" Brave! brave as a'hundred which the constitution contended should be laid be- lions." fore them, before they were passed into laws? " But I," continued the statesman, " am much Bonaparte entertained strong suspicion that this braver than you. Look you, I desire some favour, recalcitrating humour, so suddenly testified by so the liberation of a friend or the like; I watch the complaisant an assembly, must have had the coun- happy moment of access, select the moment of pertenance of Talleyrand and of Fouch6. So soon as suasion, am insinnating,-eloquent,-at length, by he returned to Paris, therefore, he sounded the argument or importunity, I am successful. Next latter minister on the revolt in the Legislative Body, day, the paper which should ratify the boon which and desired his opinion on the sort of measures by I had requested, is rejected when offered, torn which lie had repressed it. Fouch6 had been too perhaps, or flung beneath a heap of petitions and long a spy upon the private thoughts of others, to be supplications. Now, herein is displayed my coicapable of the weakness of betraying his own. He rage, which consists in daring again and again to expatiated, in a tone of panegyric, on the decisive recommence the unacceptable sauit, anid what is tone of the official note, affirmed that this was the perhaps the last verge of audacity, to claim it as a only way to govern a kingdom, and added, that if promise, which, being once pled;:ed, can only be any constitutional body arrogated the right of na- redeened by specific performnalce." tional representation, thle sovereign had no choice In this confession we read the account of a minislbut instantly to dissolve it. "If Louis XVI. had ter, still possessing influence, but declining in ftvour, acted thus," said the minister, "he mlight have been and alleady become the object of his sovereign's alive, and King of France at this day." Astonished jealousy; to whose personal request a faxvour cannot at tile zeal and promptitude of this reply, Bonaparte be decently refused, although a mI,rolise, reluctantly looked for an instaiit with wonder at his niinister, conceded to iniportunity, is Nwilliigly forgotten, or who thus avouched sentiments so different from at length tardily and disobligingly granted. those which had governed the earlier part of his Standing on these terms with a master at once political life. " And yet, Duke of Otranto," said watchfull and jealous, we cannot but be surprised the emperor to the ex-jacobin, " methinks you a'ere at the audacity of Fouch6, who feared not to affect yoniurself one of those wihose voices sent Louis XVI. a sort of independence, by anticii)ating the desires to the'scaffold?" of Napoleon in the public service, and even in the " I was," answered the supple statesman, with- imperial family. A striking iilstance of the last out confusion or hesitation: "and it was the first occurred in his intrigue with Jos6ephine on the subject' service which I had the honour to render to your of the divorce; and perhaps it was his escape out!majesty." of that former involvement, without loss of power LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 497 or credit, which urged him to a second;nterferen,'e I as well as to Fouche; and the sovereign, on his of a more public and national character, by which part, unsuccessful as he had been on two occasions lie endeavoured to sound the possibility of accom- in his attempt to open a personal correspondence plishing a peace with England. with the King of England, had followed the steps o! We may discover more than one motive for his minister, in making Monsieur Labouchere, a Fouch6's proceeding in this'most important business commercial person, agent of a great Dutch nmr. without either the knowledge or consent of Napo- cantile establishment, the medium of' communication leon. He was aware that his master might have with the British government. The consequence rendered it, in his way of treating, impossible, even was, that Ouvrard, and the agent of the emperor, at starting, to discover on what terms Great Britain neither of whom knew of the other's mission, entered would conclude peace, by stating as preliminaries about the same time into correspondence with the certain concessions which it was probable would not Marquis Wellesley, who, returned from his Spanish be granted, but from which, once stated, Napoleon mission, was now secretary at war. The British could not himself recede. If, therefore, Fouch. statesman, surprised at this double application, could find some secret mode of ascertaining upon became naturally suspicious of some intended dewhat terms a treaty with England might really be ception, and broke off all correspondence both obtained, lie was doing a service to France, to with Ouvrard and his competitor for the office of Britain, to Napoleon himself, and to the world. It negotiator. is not the Duke of Otranto, however, in particular, Napoleon must naturally have been so highly inwhom we would expect to incur disgrace, and even censed with Fouch6 for tampering without his conpersonal hazard, on mere public grounds. But, be- sent in a matter of such vital consequence, that one sides the pleasure which those who have long is almost surprised to find him limiting the effects of engaged in political intrigues find in carrying them his resentment to disgracing the minister. He sent on, until the habit becomes as inveterate as that of for Fouche, and having extorted from him an avowal the gambler, we can see that Fouch6e ight reason- of his secret negotiation, he remarked, " So, then, ably propose to himself an important accession of you make peace or war without my leave?' " The influence by the success of such a negotiation. If consequence was, that the Duke of'Otranto was he could once acquire a knowledge of the price at deprived of his office of minister of police, in which which Napoleon might obtain that peace for which he was succeeded by Savary; and he was shortly the world sighed in vain, he would become possessed after sent into a species of honourable exile, in the of an influence over public opinion, both at home character of Governor-general of Rome. It cost and abroad,which couldnot but render him a person Bonaparte no little trouble to redeem from the: of extreme importance; and if he was able to be- clutches of his late minister the confidential notes come the agent in turning such knowledge to advan- which he had himself written to him upon aflhirs of tage, and negotiating such an important treaty, he police. For a long time Fouchi pretended that he might fix himself even on Napoleon, as one of those had consigned these important documents to the ministers frequently met with in history, whom their flames; and it was not until he had before his eyes sovereign may have disliked, but could not find the alternative of submission or a dungeon, that ie means to dismiss. at length delivered up the Imperial warrants, conActing upon such motives, or on others which we taining, no doubt, much that would have been precan less easily penetrate, Fouch6 anxiously looked cious to history. Dismissed at present from the around, to consider what concessions FPrance might stage, we shall again meet with this bold statesman afford to make, to soothe the jealousy of England; at other periods of our history, when, as is observed trusting it would be possible to come to sorne under- of some kinds of sea-fowl, his appearance seldom standing with the British ministry, wveakened by the failed to announce danger and tempest. loss of Mr Canning, and disheartened by the defeats The character of Fouch6, in point of principle or sustained by the Spanish patriots, and the sinister morality, could scarcely be accounted' even tolerevent of the Walcleren expedition. The terms able;but lie had high talets, and'in many points the which lie would have been willing to have granted, soundness of his judgment led himrt to pursue and comprehended an assurance of the independence of recommend moderate and beneficent' measuries,. out the two kingdoms of Holland and Spain (as if such of policy, if not from a, higher motive. On other a guarantee could have availed anything, while accounts, also, many of'the French had- some parthese kingdoms had for sovereigns the brothers of tiality to him; especially those who cast their eyes Napoleon, men reigning as Ihis prefects, and, we backward uponi their national'history, and regretted shall presently see, subject to removal at his plea- the total loss of'that fieedbm, so eagerly longed for, s-;re),,.ogether with the acknowledgment of the so briefly possessed; and which they could never be SiciliaL monarchy in the present king, and that of properly saidfto have enjoyed:; and to the recovery Portugal in the house of Braganza. Monsieur of'which, in part at: least; Fouch&was understood Onvrard, a gentleman who had been permitted to, to be favourable asftar as-he could;or dared. The go to London on commercial business, was em- remnant of'the sterner republicans,' might despise ployed by Fouchle to open this delicate and furtive him as a time-server, yet they. respected him, at the negotiation with the Marquis of WXellesley. But same time, as a relic of the Revolution, and on difthe negotiation was disconcerted by a singular cir ferent occasions- exrperieneed his protection. To the cumstance. royalists also he had' been courteous, and so deThe idea of endeavouring to know on what terms cidedly so, as encourage&d one of the boldest agents peace could be obtained, had occurredl to Napoleon of the Bourbons toi penetrate to his presence, and VOL. vi. 63 A_ J~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 498 - LIFE OP NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. endeavour to bring him over to the cause of the culated, nevertheless, and were even accredited in exiled family. Fouch6 dismissed him, indeed, with political society. There was indeed this argument a peremptory refusal to listen to his proposal; but in their favour, that no other motive could be ashe did not deliver him to the police, and he allowed signed for Bonaparte's sparing Austria when she him twenty four hours to leave the kingdom. These was lying at his mercy, and chusing a partner out of various feelings occasioned to many alarm and her royal family,than the desire ofallying himself with regret at the dismissal of the Duke of Otranto. the house of Hapsburg, and of gaining such access The disgrace of this able minister seemed the as could he attained by such an alliance to a share more portentous, that shortly before it occurred, in the rights and privileges of the most ancient here. the terrible charge of which he was about to be ditary dynasty of Europe. But in approaching t, deprived had received an alarming extension of that fraternal alliance with legitimate royalty, Najurisdiction. The number of state prisons was ex- poleon proportionally abandoned those revolutionary tended from one, being the old tower of Vincennes, principles and associates, by whose means he had to no less than six, situated in different parts of first climbed to power; and by this change, rather of France. * These Bastilles, chiefly old Gothic the basis of his authority than of the authority itself; castles, were destined to be the abode of captives, he offended many of the republicans, without effecwhom the government described as persons who tually gaining the aristocrats, to whom his new concould not be convicted of any crime perpetrated, nexion might have seemed a recommendation. Inbut whom, as entertaining dangerous thoughts and deed, when his right to sovereignty was considerled principles, it was not safe to permit to remain at without reference to his possession, and his power to large. The lettre de cachet, by authority of which maintain it, Napoleon was in some measure censured these victims of political suspicion were to be like the bat in the fable. The democrats urged against secluded from liberty, was to consist in a decree of him his matrimonial alliance with a house of the anthe Privy Council, which might have been as well cient regime; while the aristocrats held him dlsquatermed the pleasure of the emperor. This measure lified, on account of the origin of his power under was adopted on the 3d of March, 1810, upon a re- the revolutionary system. port made to the Council of State in the name of But although such objections existed among the Fouchb, and agreed to by them; but it was well zealots of both political factions, the great body of understood, that, in this and similar instances, the the French people would have cared little to what individual at the head of any department was obliged principle Napoleon had ascribed his title to the Irnto father the obloquy of such measures as Napoleon perial crown, providing he had but been contented desired to introduce into it. The minister of police to allow the subject and himself the advantage of a was therefore held guiltless of recommending an short repose from wars and conquests. This tranextension of the government's encroachments upon quillity, however, was becoming every day less propublic liberty; which, in fact, were the exclusive bable, for new incidents seemed to dictate new acdevice of Napoleon and his Privy Council. quisitions to the empire; and, unhappily for his own It was another unfortunate circumstance for Na- and other countries, the opportunity of aggrandizepoleon, that the observers of the times ascribed the ment was with Bonaparte all that it wanted to redismissal of the old republican counsellors, and the commend it, and the pressure of the occasion was more rigorous measures adopted against political always a complete justification of any measure which malcontents, to the influence of the Austrian alliance. the time rendered expedient. With many persons in France, Bonaparte, as the That which now chiefly occupied him, since the Heir of the Revolution, might, like Danton, Robes- overtures for peace with England had been rendered pierre, and others, have exercised the most despotic abortive by the collision of his own confidential authority, providing lie claimed his right to do so by emissary with that of Fouch6, was the destruction and through the Revolution. But they could not of the strength, and the sapping of the resources of endure to see the Emperor Napoleon, while exer- that country, by dint of enforcing and extending cising the same authority with a thousand times what he called the European Continental System; more lenity, attempt to improve his right to the which consisted of the abolition of all commerce, submission of his subjects'by an alliance with one and the reducing each nation, as in tile days of of the ancient houses of Europe, against whom primitive barbarismi, to remain satisfied with its the principles of the Revolution had declared eternal own productions, however inadequate to the real or war. Every class of politicians has its fanatics, and artificial wants to which its progress in society had in that of the ancient jacobins were many who gradually given rise. would rather have perishe~d by the short, sharp XLike most foreigners, Napoleon understood little terrors of the republican guillotine, than survived to or nothing of the constitutional opinions, or influenlinger in a dungeon during the pleasure of a son-in- tial principles, belonging to England. lie was well law of the Emperor of Germany. Such ideas, in-acquainted with human character, as modified by consistent as they were in themselves, and utterly the governments and customu of rance and Italy; irreconcilable with the quiet, gentle, and irre- but this experience no more qualified him to judge pmoachable character of Maria Louisa, who could of the English character, than the most perfect acnever be justly accused of even attemnpting to in- quaintance with the rise and fall of the Mediterrafitence her husband upon any political subject, cir- nean, amounting to five or six inches in height, would prepare a navigator to buffet with the powerful' Saumur, Ham, Landskaone, Pierre-ChAtel, and F6nes- tides which burst and foam on the shores of the trllec. British islands. The informatlon which he received t ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 499 fiom that hostile country, Bonaparte construed ac- partly to necessity, partly to the desire of accuslucorlding to his wishes; and when it Nwas supplied by lating treasure. private intelligencers, they were of course desirous The license system was a'relaxation of the conof enhancing the value of what they told, by exag- tinental blockade, of which England had set the gerating its importance. It was, indeed, no difficult example by giving protections to such neutral vessels task to impose on a statesman, ignorant enough of as, clearing out from a British port, had a certain the present state of North Britain to believe, that proportion of their cargo mlade up of British goods he could, even at this time of day, have disturbed or colonial produce. This was what, in mercantile the security of the reigning family, by landing in language, is termed a real transaction-the British Scotland some candidate, having pretensions to the merchandise was purchased by such as designed to crown through the house of Stuart. With the same make a profit, by selling it again upon any part of' inaccuracy, he concluded every warm speech in the Continent to which they might be able to introParliament a summons to revolt-every temporary- duce it. Bonaparte, in like manner, granted lmriot or testimony of popular displeasure, from what- perial licenses, purchased for large sums of money, ever cause, a commencement of open rebellion. by which trading vessels were permitted to import tie could not be convinced, that from the peculia- a certain quantity of colonial produce, on condition rity of the English constitution, and the temper of of exporting an equal proportion of French manufacher people, such disturbances and such violent tures. This system differed fromn that of England, debates must frequently exist; and although, like in this important respect, that the demand fbr artieruptions on the human body, they are both unplea- cles (of the French manufactures was entirely simnsant and unseemly, they are yet the price at which lated. The goods were not wanted in Britain, could sound internal health is preserved. not be re-sold there without paynment of heavy Actuated by such erroneous views as we have duties, and were often thrown into the sea in prestated, Napoleon conceived that in 1810 he saw in ference to discharging the English duties,upon them. England the important results of his continental Editions of books, a commodity thus exported, and system, or interdiction of British commerce with the thus disposed of, were wittily said to be ad usum Continent. Delpkhili. The prime cost at which these French The associations of the Luddites, as they were goods had been purchased, in compliance with Bocalled, were at this time giving great disturbance in naparte's regulations, was of course laid upon the the manufacturing districts of' England. These, it colonial goods, which were the only actual subjec.t is well known, were framed to prevent the intro- of trade. Thus, if the French manufacturers derived duction of looms wrought by machinery, or power- any profit from the transaction, it was raised, not looms, to tile superseding the ordinary looms wrought by their goods being exported and sold in foreign by hand. The cause would have equally existed, countries, in the usual course of trade, but by the and the discontent also, if the continental system had prime cost being inlposed as a tax upon the colonial never been heard of; for such discontent must and produce imported; and the price was paid, of course, i ill exist in every trade where a number of men are not by the foreign market, which the goods seldom suddenly thrown out ofemployment by theintroduc- reached, but by the French consumers of sugar, tion of abbreviated means of labour. Yet Napoleon rum, and cotffee. never doubted that these heart-burnings, and the The real temptation for continuing this attempt to violence of the parliamentary debates, arose entirely force a trade was, as we have seen, the impossibifrom the new mode he blad found of striking at Great lity of dispensing with colonial produce entirely, and Britain by the destruction of her commerce. He, the large revenue accruing to the French government therefore, as we shall presently see, examined all from these licenses, who, in this manner, exercising Europe, with the intention of' shutting every creek a complete monopoly in a trade which they interand fishing-port, through which cargoes of muslins dieted to all others, made immense additions to the or cotton goods could by possibility penetrate; and treasure which almost choked the vaults of the pathe absolute authority which he could exercise over vilion Marsan, in the Tuileries. the whole Continent, with the exception of Russia, The language held by the minister of Napoleon, and of the " still-vexed" Peninsula, entitles us to to the powers thus affected, amounted therefore to comnpare him to the heedful governor of a jail, who the following proposition:-" You shall shut your traverses his gloomy dominions at stated hours, ports against British commodities; for, without your striking with his hanmmer every bar to ascertain that doing so, it will be impossible for the Emperor Nait rings sound, and proving every lock, to see that poleon to humble tile Mistress of the Seas. But lno secret means of communication exist with the while you are thus deprived ofall commerce, whether free part of humanity. Thus commerce, the silken passive or active, Napoleon reserves to himself, by tie which binds nations to each other, whose influence the system of license, the privilege of purchasing and is so salutary to all states, so essential to the very dealing in the commodities of Britain and her coloexistence of many, was in danger of' being totally nies, which, reaching your country by any other mode abrogated, unless in as far as it was carried on by than through his permission, will be subject to cona system of licenses. fiscation, nay, to destruction." The adoption of this system, which went in a At a later period' Bonaparte greatly regretted great measure to counteract the effects of that very that he had suffered the ertolunment derived from continental system which he made it such an espe- the license-trade, to seduce him into relaxing his cial point to press and enforce upon all netutral continental system. He seems to lament having powers, was a singular sacrifice made by Napoleon, relinquished his supposed advantage, as a vindictive 500 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. freebooter might regret his having been reduced to country was distinctly pointed at as the consequence let go his hold on his enemy's throat, by the tempting of his obstinacy. It was intimated, in a report by opportunity of plunging his hand into the pocket of Champagny, the Duke de Cadore, that the situation a bystander. The injustice which thus imposed on of Louis on the throne of Holland was. rendered neutrals the necessity of' abstaining from a lucrative critical, by his feelings being divided betwixt the commerce, which France, the belligerent power, imprescriptible duties which he owed to France, reserved to herself the privilege of carrying on in and to his family, and the interest which it was nasuch degree as she might find convenient, was of so tural he should take in the welfare of' Dutch conscrying a description, that, at any other time than merce. To terminate this strife in his brother's during the irresistible ascendancy of Napoleon, the mind, the report informed the public that Napoleon very mention of it would have revolted all Europe. meant to recal the prince of his blood whomlle he lad And even as times stood, the non-compliance with placed on the Dutch throne, since the first duty of a terms so harsh and unjust, cost the fall of two Enro- French prince, having a place in the succession to pean thrones, ere it became the means of undermin- that monarchy, was to France exclusively; and it ing that of Napoleon himself. was intimated, that Hollanld, divested of her king, The first of the royal sufferers was the brother of and her nominal independence, would be reduced Napoleon, Louis Bonaparte, who had been created to the condition of a province of France, occupied King of Holland. By every account which wehave by French troops, and French officers of the rebeen able to collect, Louis was an amiable, well- venue; and thus deprived of the means of thwarting intentioned, and upright man, of a romantic disposi- the continental system, so necessary ftr the subtion, and a melancholic complexion, which he had jugation of Britain, by the obstinate continuance of' increased by studying the sentimental philosophy of' commercial intercourse with a nation under tile bana Rousseau. But he was, in his brother's language, of the empire. an ideologist; that is, one who is disposed to do This report is peculiarly interesting, as explanathat which is right according to principle, rather tory of Bon.aparte's views respecting the rights and than that which circumstances render expedient. regal authority of the sovereigns whom he created He was embarrassed by some family dispuites, and and displaced at pleasure, as the interest of'France, lived on indifferent terms with his wife, who was a or rather as his own, required, or seemed to requile. greater favourite with Napoleon than wsas Louis Either, however, Napoleon became, for the moment, himself. Since he had been under the necessity of ashamed to acknowledge this fact so broadly; or he accepting the crown of Holland, he had endeavour- thought that such a contradiction of his repeated ed to afford that country all the protection which declarations might have a bad effect upon the could be derived from his near relationship to Na- Westphalian subjects of Jrelme, and upon the poleon; and if he could not save his subjects en- Spaniards, whom li he desired to become those of tirely from the evils of a conquered and dependent Joseph; or, perhaps, the remonstrances of Louis state, he endeavoured to diminish these as much as produced some temporary effect upo4n his mind; his means permitted. The Dutch, a calm and deli- for he stopped short in his filll purpose, and on berate people, gave Louis full credit for his efforts, the 16th March concluded a treaty with Louis, and, in general, regarded him as their friend and the terms'of which were calculated, it was said, to protector. But at the period we treat of, the evils arrange disputed points betwixt the sovereigns, and which approached their state were far beyond render the independence of Holland consistent Lonlis's power to avert or even to modify. Other with the necessary conformity to the continental countries nlay have more or less of a commercial system. character, but Holland exists by commerce entirely. By this treaty, Zealand, Dutch Brabant, and the It was the influence of commerce which gained her whole course of the Rhine, as well the right as the amphibious territory from the waves, and, were that left bank, were transferred from Holland to France. influence withdrawn, her fair towns must again be- French officers of the customs were to be placed in come fishing-villages; her rich pastures must return all tie Dutch harbours; eighteen thousand troops to their original state of salt-water marshes, shal- were to be maintained by the kingdom of Holland, lows, and sand-banks. The French exactions al- of whom six thousand were to be French; a fleet.ready paid, to the amount of one hundred millions was to be fitted out by the same kingdom for the of francs, had purchased, as the natives of Holland service of France; English manufactures were to fondly inmagined, some right to exert the small be prohibited by the Dutch government; and other means of commerce which remained to them, and restrictions were subscribed to by Louis, in hopes which, under King Louis's sanction, were almost his brother's stern resolution might be so far softenentirely engaged in traffic with England, now de- ed as to leave the remaining portions of the terriclared contraband. tories of Holland in a state of nominal independence. Napoleon used thrertds and commands to induce But he was soon made sensible that this was no part Louis to bring his subjects to a more'rigorous ob- of Napoleon's intentions. Instead of six thousand servance of the continental system, while Louis em- French troops, twenty thousand were assembled at ployed expostulation and entreaty in behalf of the Utrecht, with the purpose of being poured into nation over whom he had been called to rule. Each Holland. Instead of this foreign soldiery being brother grew more obstinate in his opinion, and at stationed on the coasts, where alone their presence length, as the emperor began to see that neither fear could be requisite to prevent the contraband trade, nor favour could induce Louis to become the agent -which was tile sole pretext of introducing them at of oppression in Holland, his removal from that all, Louis was informed, that they were to take mi LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. ~0G1 litary possession of the whole country; and that the forget, that whatever position you may be required head-quarters of this army, which was totally in- to occupy, in order to conftorm to n;y line of politics, dependent of his authority, were to be established and the interest of my empire, your first duty must at Amsterdam, his capital. always regard ME, your second must have reference Seeing himself thus deprived by his brother of all to France. All your other duties, even those topower in the kingdom which was still called his, wards the countries which I commit to your chaige, Louis generously refused to play the pageant partof are secondary to these primary obligations." a monarch, who could neither exert his rights nor Thus was the leading principle clearly announced, protect his subjects. upon which the nominal independence of kingdoms On the 1st of July he executed a deed of abdica- allied to France was in future to be understood as tion in favour of his son, then a minor, expressing resting. The monarchs, to whom crowns were asan affectionate hope, that though he himself had signed, were but to be regarded as the lieutenants been so unhappy as to offend his brother the em- of the kingdoms in which they ruled; and whatever peror, he would not, nevertheless, visit with his part the interest of their dominions might call upon displeasure his innocent and unoffending family. themr to act, they were still subject, in the first inIn a letter fiorn Haarlem, dated the 1st July, Louis stance, to the summons and control of their liege enlarged on the causes of his abdication, in a lord the emperor, and compelled to prefer what manner honourable to his head and his heart, and his pleasure should term the weal of France, to with a moderation, when he spoke of his brother, every other call of duty whatsoever. which gave weight to his just complaints. "He The fate of Holland was not long undecided. could not," he said, " consent to retain the mere Indeed it had probably been determined on as far title of king, separated from all real authority in back as Champagny's first report, in which it had his kingdom, his capital, or even his palace. He been intimated, thatHolland, with all its provinces, should be in such a case the witness of all that was to become an integral part of France. This passed, without the power of influencing the current was contrary to the pledge given by Napoleon to of events for the good of his people, yet remaining the Senate, that the Rhine should be considered as responsible for evils which he could neither remedy the natural boundary of France; nor was it less nor prevent. He, had long foreseen the extremity inconsistent with his pretended determination, that to which lie was now reduced, but could not avoid the independence of Holland should be respected and it without sacrificing his most sacred duties, without maintained. Bet both these engagements yielded ceasing to bear at heart the happiness of his people, to the force of the reasoning used by his mouthand to connect his own fate with that of the country. piece Champagny, in recommending the union of This," lie said, " was impossible. Perhaps," he Holland with the French empire, and with France continued, " I am the only obstacle to the reconci- itself. They are worth quoting, were it only to show liation of Holland with France. Should that prove how little men of sense are ashamed to produce the the case, I may find some consolation in dragging weakest and most inconsistent arguments, when out the reinainder of a wandering and languishing they speak as having both the power and the settled life, at a distance from my famrily, my country, and purpose to do wrong. the good people of Holland, so lately my subjects." "Holland," said the minister, whose very efHaving finished his vindication, and adjusted frontery renders his arguments interesting, " is in a means for making it public, which he could only do manner an emanation f'orm the territory of France, by transmitting it to England, the Ex-King of Hol- and is necessary to the lull complement of the emland entertained a chosen party of friends at his pire. To possess the entire Rhine (which had been palace at Haarlem until near midnight, and then, proposed as the natural boundary of France), your throwing himself into a plain carriage which was in majesty must extend the frontier to the Zuyderattendance, left behind himl the kingly name and Zee. Thus the course of all the rivers which arise in the kingly revenue, rather than hold them without France, or which bathe her fiontier, will belong to the power of discharging the corresponding duties her as far as the sea. To leave in the hands of' of a sovereign. Louis retired to Gratz, in Styria, strangers the months of our rivers, would be, sire, to where he lived in a private manner, upon a mo- confine your power to an ill bounded monarchy, inderate pension, amusing his leisure with literature. stead of extending its dominions to the natural limits His more ambitious consort, with a much more befitting an imperial throne." ample revenue, settled herself at Paris, where her On such preciotus reasoning (much on a par with wit and talents, independent of her connexion with the claim which Napoleon set tip to Great Britain Napoleon, attracted around her the world of fashion, as the natural appendage of France, alone with the of which she was a distinguished ornament. Isle of Ol6ron), Holland wlas, 9th July, 1810, deBonaparte, as was to have been expected, paid clared an integral part of the French empire. no regard to the claim of Louis's son, in whose But the usurpation was not unavenged. It cost fs; our his father had abdicated. He created that Bonaparte a greater declension in public opinion young person Grand Duke of Berg, and, although than had arisen even fioom his unprincipled attempts he was yet a child, lie took ap opportunity to make on Spain. It is true, none of the bloody and extenhim a speech, which we have elsewhere adverted to, sively miserable consequences hadl occurred in Ilolin which, after inculpating the conduct of his brother, land, which had been occasioned by the tran)sactions the tenor of which lie stated collli be accounted at Bayonne. But the seizure of Holland brought for by malady alone, he explained in few words the Bonaparte's worst fault, his ambition, before the duties incurred by his satellite sovereigns. "' Never public, in a more broad and decidled point of ijew. 502 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. There were people who could endure his robbing peace, brokeny off by Bonaparte's unreasonable destrangers, who were yet shocked that he, so fond of mands. his kindred, and in general so liberal to them, should not have hesitated to dethrone his own brother, IN the destruction of the kingdom of Holland, a merely for entertaining sentiments becoming the new sceptre, and that of' Napoleon's own forming, rank to which he had been raised by himself; to was broken, as he wrenched it out of the hands of disinherit his nephew; to go nigh taxing so near a his brother. In the case of Sweden, and in hopes relation with mental imbecility; and all on so slight of insuring the patronage of the French Emperor, a provocation;-for the only real point of difference, or averting his etrnity, a diadem was placed on the that, viz. respecting the English commerce, had brows of one who, like Napoleon himself, had combeen yielded by Louis in the treaty which Napoleon menced his career as a soldier of fortune. had signed, but only, it seemed, for the purpose of WVe have repeatedly observed, that the high spirit breaking it. It was observed, too, that in the manly and intrepid enterprise of Gustavus IV., unsupportbut respectful opposition, made by Louis to his bro- ed as they were either by distinguished military ther's wishes, there appeared nothing to provoke abilities, or by effectual power, seemed as if he the displeasure of Napoleon, though one of the most aped the parts of Gustavus Adolphus or CharlesXII., irritable of men on subjects with which his ambition without considering the declined condition of the was implicated. It seemed a species of gratuitous country he governed, or the inferiority of his own violence, acted as if to show that no circumstance talents. -Sweden had suffered great losses by the of relationship, family feeling, or compassion (to daring manner in which this prince maintained the make no mention of justice or moderation), could ancient principles of aristocracy against the overinterfere with or check the progress of Napoleon's whelming power of France. ambition; and whilst the more sanguine prophesied, Pomerania, being the only dominion belonging to that he who ran so rashly might one day run himself Sweden on the south side of the Baltic, had been to a close, all agreed that his empire, composed of taken possession of by France in the war of 1806-7; such heterogeneous parts, could not, in all probabi- and Russia, who had been a party to that war, and lity, survive the mortal date of the founder, supposing who had encouraged Gustavus to maintain it, had, it to last so long. In the meantime it was evident since changing her politics at the treaty of Tilsit, that the condition of no state, however solemnly herself declared war against Sweden, for the sole guaranteed by Bonaparte himself, could be con- and undisguised purpose of possessing herself of sidered as secure or free from change while it was Finland, which she had succeeded in appropriating. subject to his influence. To conclude the whole, Sweden had therefore lost, under this ill-fated the Dutch were informed by the emperor with bitter monarch, above one-third of her territories, andt the composure, that " bhe had hoped to unite them to inhabitants became anxious to secure, even were France as allies, by giving them a prince of his own it by desperate measures, the independence of that blood as a ruler; that his hopes, however, had been which remained. There were fears lest Russia deceived; and that he had shown more forbearance should aspire to the conquestof the rest of the anthan consisted with his character, or than his rights cient kingdom-fears that France might reward the required;" —thus intimating some farther and unex- adhesion and the sufferings of Denmark, by uniting pressed severity, which he might have felt himself the crown of Sweden with that of Denmark and justified in adding to the virtual exile of his brother; Norway, and aiding the subjugation of the country and the confiscation of his late do:ninions; and insi- with an auxilialy army. While these calamities ilnuating, that the Dutch had escaped cheaply with pended over their ancient state, the Swedes felt conthe loss of their separate national existence. fident that Gustavus was too rash to avert the storm by submission, too weak, and perhaps too unlucky, to resist its violence. This conviction led CHAPTER LSXI. to a conspiracy, perhaps one of the most unirersal known in history. Gustavus IV. of Sweden is dethroned and succeede(! Ty unfortunate king ras seized yupon an lade his uncle.-The Crown Prince killed by afalifrom his prisonerin March, 1809, without any other resistance horse.-Candidates proposed for the succession.-The than his own unassisted sword could maintain; and Swvedes, thinking to conciliate Napoleon, meditatefixing so little were the conspirators afriaid of his being on Bernadotte, Prince of Ponte-Corvo. —Reasons for able to find a party in the state desirous of replacing supposing that the choice was not altogether agreeable him in the government, that they were content he to Bonaparte —who reluctantly acquiesces in the choice. should have his liberty and a suitable pension, ol -Parting interview between Bernaelotte and Napoleon. his agreeing to consider himself as an exile from -Subsequlent atltempts of thme latter to bind Sweden to Sweden; in which sentence of banishment, with the policy of Franced-The Crozcn Prince uslzseillisngly little pretence to justice, his wnife, sister of the Eniaccedes to the continental system.-Napoleon makes a tour ihrough Flanders an o -returns to press of Russia, and his children, comprehending tour through 17landers and Rlolland —returns to Paris, andtakes measures for extending the continental system. the heir of his crown, Awere also included. -Seizure of the Valais.-Coast along the German Ocean Tile Duke of Sudermania, uncle of the dethronm d annexed to France.-Protest by the czar against the prince, was called to the throne, and tile succession appropriation of Olrdenburg.-Russia allows the import4 of the kingdom was destined to Christian of A lgusationt, at certain seaports, of various articles of tenberg, a prince of the house of Holstein. Peace British commerce.- Negotiations for exchange of pri. was made by the new king with Rllussia, at the exsorers between France and England andfor a general pense of ceding Finland and the Isle of Alaudt to LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 503 that power. Soon afterwards a treaty was signed at it might at another period have been to a people Paris, by which Charles XIII. promised to adhere to proud of their ancient renown, to chuse for their the continental system, and to shut his ports against master a foreign soldier, differing from them mX birth all British commerce, with certain indulgences on and religions faith, such an election yet promised to the articles of salt and colonial produce. In requital, place at the head of the nation a person admirably Napoleon restored to Sweden her continental pro- qualified to comprehend and encounter the difficulvince of Pomerania, with the Isle of Rugen, re- ties of the time; and it was a choice, sure, as they serving, however, such dotations or pensions as he thought, to be agreeable to him upon whose nod the had assigned to his soldiers, or followers, upon world seemed to depend. those territories. But though the politics of Sweden Yet, there is the best reason to doubt, whether, were thus entirely changed, its revolution was des- in preferring Bernadotte to their vacant throne, the tined to proceed. Swedes did a thing Which was gratifying to NapoThe king being aged, the eyes of the people were leon. The name of the Crown Prince of Sweden much fixed on the successor, or Crown Prince, who elect had been known in the wars of the Revolution, took upon himself the chief labour of the govern- before that of Bonaparte had been heard of. Berment, and appears to have given satisfaction to the nadotte had been the older, therefore, though cernation. But his government was of short duration. tainly not the better soldier. On the 18th Brumailre, On the 28th of May, 1810, while reviewing some he was so far from joining Bonaparte in his enterprise troops, he suddenly fell from his horse, and expired against the Council of Five Hundred, notwithstandon the spot, leaving Sweden again without any head ing all advances made to him, that he was on the excepting the old king. This event agitated the spot at St-Cloud armed and prepared, had circumwhole nation, and various candidates were proposed stances permitted, to place himself at the head of for the succession of the kingdom. any part of the military, who might be brought to Among these was the King of Denmark, who, declare for the Directory. And although, like every after the sacrifices hle had made fobi Bonaparte, had one else, Bernadotte submitted to the consular some right to expect his support. The son of the system, and held the government of Holland under late unfortunate monarch, rightful heir of the crown, Bonaparte, yet then, as well as under the empire, and named like him Gustavus, was also proposed he was always understood to belong to a class of as a candidate. The Duke of Oldenburg, brother- officers, whom Napoleon employed indeed, and in-law of the Emperor of Russia, had partisans. To rewarded, but without loving them, or perhaps each of these candidates there lay practical objec- relying on them more than he was compelled t dlo, tions. To have followed the line of lawfil succes- although their character was in most itlstances a sion, and called Gustavus to the throne (which warrant for their fidelity. could not be forfeited by his father's infirmity, so These officers formed a comparatively small class, far as he was concerned), would have been to place yet comprehending some of the most distinguished a child at the head of the state, and must have in- names in the French army, who, in seeing the ferred, amid this most arduous crisis, all the doubts visionary Republic glide from their grasp, had been, and difficulties of chusing a regent. Such choice nevertheless, unable to forget the promises held out might, too, be the means, at a fiuture time, of re- to them by the earlier dawn of the Revolution. Reviving his father's claim to the crown. The countries conciled by necessity to a state of' servitude which of Denmark and Sweden had been too long rivals, they could not avoid, this party considered them for the Swedes to subject themselves to the yoke of selves as the soldiers of France, not of Napoleon, the King of Denmark; and to chuse the Duke of' 01- and followed the banner of their country rather than denburg would have been, in effect, to submit them- the fortunes of the emperor. Without being perselves to Russia, of whose last behaviour towards sonally Napoleon's enemies, they were not the her Sweden had considerable reason tb complain. friends of his despotic power; and it was to be In this embarrassment they were thought to start expected, should any opportunity occur, that men a happy idea, who proposed to conciliate Napoleon so thinking would make a stand, for the purpose of by bestowing the ancient crown of the Goths upon introducing some modifications into the arbitrary one of his own marshals, and a high noble of his system which the emperor had established. empire, namely John Julian Baptiste Bernadotte, Napoleon, always deeply politic, unless -lIlen Prince of Ponte-Corvo. This distinguished officer carried off by sudden bursts of temperament, took, was married to a sister of Joseph Bonaparte's wife as alleady mentioned, great care in his distribution (daughter of a wealthy and respectable individual, of duties and honours, at once to conceal from the named Clary), through whom he had the advantage public the existence of a difference in opinion among of an alliance with the imperial family of Napoleon, his general officers, and also to arm the interests of and he had acquired a high reputation in the north those patriots themselves against their own speculof Europe, both when governor of Hanover, and lative opinions, by rendering the present state of administrator of Swedish Pomerania. On the latter things too beneficial to them for their being easily occasion, Bernadotte was said to have shown himself induced to attempt any change. Still it may neverin a particular manner the friend and protector of theless be conceived, that it was not out of this class the Swedish nation; and it was even insinuated that of lukewarm adherents- le would have voluntarily lie would not be averse to exchange the errors of selected a candidate for a kingdon, -which, being popery for the refrmed tenets of Luther. The removed at some distance from the influence of Swedish nation fell very generally into the line of France, he would more willingly have seen conpolicy which prompted this choice. Humiliating as ferred on some one, whose devotion to the wvill of 504 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. his emperor was not likely to be disturbed by any! Corvo his permission to be a candi,, le, and should intrusion of conscientious patriotism. be well pleased if he proved a successful one. Such But, besides the suspicion entertained by Napo- is Napoleon's account of the transaction. We have. leon of Bernadotte's political opinions, subjects of' however, been favoured with some manuscript obpositive discord had recently arisen between them. servations, in which a very different colour is given Bernadotte had been blamed by the emperor for to Napoleon's proceedings, and which prove digpermitting the escape of La Romana and the Spa- tinctly, that while Napoleon treated the Crown niards, as already mentioned. At a later period, Prince Elect of Sweden with fair language, he enlie was commander of the Saxon troops in the deavotred by underhand intrigues to prevent the campaign of Wagram; and, notwithstanding a set accomplishment of his hopes.* of very scientific manoeuvres, by which he detained The Swedes, however, remained fixed in their General Bellegarde on the frontiers of Bohemia, choice, notwithstanding the insinuations of DMsauwhen his presence might have been essentially giers, the French envoy, whom Napoleon afterwards usefill to the Archduke Charles, he was censured affected to disown and recal, for supporting, in the by Napoleon as tardy in his movements. diet of Orebro, the interest of the King of Denmark, The landing of the English at Walcheren induced instead of that of Bernadotte. Fouch6, as has been already said, with the concur- Napoleon's cold assent, or rather an assurance rence of Clarke, then minister at war, to intrust that he would not dissent, being thus wrung relucBernadotte with the charge of the defence of Flati- tautly from him, Bernadotte, owing to his excellent ders and Holland. But neither in this service had character among the Swedes, and their opinion of he the good fortune to please the emperor. Fouch6, his interest with Napoleon, was chosen Crown at whose instance he had accepted the situation, Prince of Sweden by the States of' that kingdomn, was already tottering in office; and the ill-selected 21st August, 1810. Napoleon, as-he himself acknowexpression, "' that however necessary Napoleon was ledges, was enabled to resist, though with difficulty, to the glory of France, yet his presence was not in- a strong temptation to retract his consent, and defeat dispensable to repel invasion," was interpreted into the intended election. Perhaps this unfriendly disa magnifying of themselves at the expense of the position might be in some degree overcome by the emperor. Napoleon made his displeasure manifest expectation, that by their present choice the Emby depriving Bernadotte of the command in Bel- peror of France would secure the accession of gium, and sending him back to the north of Ger- Sweden to the anti-commercial system; whereas, many; and it is said that the general, on his part, by attempting a game which lie was not equally sure was so little inclined to make a secret of his resent- of winning, he qmight, indeed, have disappointed a mlent, that he was remarked as a fiery Gascon, who, man whom he loved not, but by doing so must run if he should ever have an opportunity, would be the risk of throwing the States of Sweden, who were likely to do mischief. not likely to be equally unanimous in behalf of any But while such were the bad terms betwixt the other French candidate, into the arms of England, emperor and his general, the Swedes, unsuspicious his avowed foe; or of Russia, who, since the treaty of the true state of' the case, imagined, that in chus- of Schoenbrunn, and Napoleonls union Awith the ing Bernadotte for successor to their throne, they house of Austria, could only be termed a doubtful were paying to Bonaparte the most acceptable tri- and cloudy friend. bute. And, notwithstanding that Napoleon was But he endeavoured to obtain fiom Bernadotte actually at variance with Bernadotte, and although, some guarantee of his dependence upon France and in a political view, he would much rather have its emperor. He took the opportunity of mnaking the given his aid to the pretensions of the King of Den- attempt when Bernadotte applied to him for letters mark, he was under the necessity of reflecting, that ofemancipation fronm his allegiance to France, which Sweden retained a certain degree of independence; could not decently be withheld from the Prince that the sea separated her shores from his armies; Royal of another country. "The expediting of the and that, however willing to conciliate him, the letters patent," said Napoleon, "has been retardled Swedes were not in a condition absolutely to. be by a proposal made by the council, that Bernadotte compelled to receive laws at his hand. It was ne- should previously bind himself never to bear armns cessary to acquiesce in their choice, since he could against Napoleon." Bernadotte exclaimed against a not dictate to them; and by doing so he might at proposal which must have left him in the rank of' a the same time exhibit another splendid example'of French general. The emperor was ashamed to perthe height to which his service conducted his gene- sist in a demand so unreasonable, and dismissed himn rals, of his own desire to assist their promotion, and with the allnost prophetic words,-" Go-our desof that which might be much more doubtful than tinies must be accomplished." He promised the the two first propositions,-of his willingness to pay Prince Royal two millions of francs as an indemnity deference to the claims of a people in electing their for the principality of Ponte-Corvo, and other poschief magistrate. When, therefore, Berrnadotte, sessions which had been assigned to him in Holland, protesting that he would be exclusively guided by and which le restored on ceasing to be a subject of Napoleon's wishes in pursuing or relinquishing this France. It is singular enough that Napoleon, while impnlortant object, besought him for his countenance at St Helena, permitted himself to assert that lie with the States of Sweden, who were to elect the had made a present of this money (of which only Crown Prince, Bonaparte answvered, that lie would n6t interfere in the election by ally solicitations or ~ See Appendix, No. 6 — Reflections on the conduct of arguments, but that he gave the Prince of Ponte- Napoleon towards the Prince Roval of Sweden. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 5 - one million was ever paid), to enable Bernadotte to system, and to declare war against England. The take possession of his new dignity with becoming British government were fully sensible of the consplendour. straint under which Sweden acted, and, so far fiom To bring the affairs of Sweden to a close for the acting hostilely towards that kingdom, did not seem present, we may here add, that, though that nation to make any perceptible change in the relations were desirous to escape the renewal of the desper- which had before subsisted between the countries. ate and hopeless struggle with France, they were In the meantime, Bernadotte and Napoleon, for most unwilling, nevertheless, to lose the advantages a time, veiled under the usual forms of courtesy of their commerce with England. The conduct of their mutual dislike and resentment. But the Crown tide national business soon devolved entirely upon Prince could not forgive the emperor for an atthe Crown Prince, the age and infirmities of the king tempt to lord it over him like a superior over a not permitting him to conduct them any longer. It vassal, and compelling him, notwithstanding his enbecame Bernadotte's, or, as he was now named, treaties, to distress his subjects, and to render his Charles John's difficult and delicate task, to endea- government unpopular, by sacrificing a lucrative vour at once to propitiate France, and to find ex- trade. Napoleon, on the other hand, was incensed cuses which might dispose Bonaparte to grant some that Bernadotte, whose greatness he considered as relaxation on the subject of the continental system. existing only by his own permission, should affect But as it was impossible for the Prince of Sweden to differ in opinion from him, or hesitate betwixt to disguise his motive for evading a cordial co-opera- obliging France and injuring Sweden. tion iu Napoleon's favourite measure, so the latter, On other occasional differences betwixt the soveabout three months after the accession of his former reigns, it appeared that there was no eager desire companion in arms to supreme power, grew impa- on the part of the Crown Prince of Sweden to tient enough to overwhelm the Swedish minister, oblige the Emperor of France. Repeated denmands Baron Lagerbjelke, with a tirade similar to his for sailors and soldiers to be engaged in the French celebrated attack on Lord Whitworth. He dis- service, were made by Napoleon. These Bernacoursed with the utmost volubility for an hour and dotte always contrived to evade, by referring to the a quarter, leaving the astonished ambassador scarce laws of Sweden, as a limited monarchy, which did an opening to thrust in a word by way of observation, not permit him, like the absolute Majesty of Dendefence, or answer. "'Do they believe in Sweden mark, to dispose of her sailors at pleasure; and by that I am to be so easily duped? Do they think.I enlarging on the nature of the Swedes, who, bold will be satisfied with this half state of things? Give and wVilling soldiers at home, were too much atme no sentiments! it is from facts we form our opi- tached to their own climate and manners, to endure nions. You signed the peace with me in the be- those of any other country. In these, and such like ginning of the year, and engaged yourself then to excuses, no one could read, more readily than Nabreak off all communication with Britain; yet you poleon, a fixed resolution on the part of his old retained an English agent till late in the summer, companion in arms, not to yield to the influence of and kept the communication open by way of Got- France in any point in which he could avoid it. tenburg. Your small islands are so many smuggling And though an outward show of friendship was magazines; your vessels meet the English and ex- maintained between the countries, and even bechange freights. I have not slept an hour to-night tween the sovereigns, yet it was of that insincere on account of your affairs; yet you ought to suffer kind which was sure to be broken off on the slightme to take repose, I have need of it. You have est collision of their mutual interests. It remained, vessels in every port in England. You talk of the however, undisturbed till the eventful year.of 1812. necessity of buying salt, forsooth. Is it for salt you -We return to the affairs of France. go into the Thames?-You talk of suffering, by su- The emperor undertook a tour through the properseding the trade. Do you not believe that I vinces of Flanders and Holland, with his young suffer? That Germany, Bordeaux, Holland, and empress, with the view of enforcing his views and France suiffer? But it must all be ended. You purposes in church and state. In the course of this must fire on the English, and you must confiscate journey, one or two remarkable circumstances took their merchandise, or you must have war with place. The first was his fiurioi:s reproaches to the France. Open war, or constant friendship-this is clergy of Brabant, who, more migorous papists than my last word, my ultimate determination. Could in some other catholic countries, had circulated they think in Sweden that I would modify my sys- among their congregations the ball of excommunicatem, because I love and esteem the Prince Royal? tion fulminated by the pope against Napoleon. The Did I not love and esteem the King of Holland? He provocation was certainly considerable, but the is my brotherl, yet I have broken with him: I have mode of resenting it was indecently violent. He silenced the voice of nature to give ear to that of was especially angry that they appeared without the general interest" These, and many violent ex- theircanonical dresses."You call yourselves priests," pressions to the same purpose, Bonaparte poured he said; "where are your vestments? Are you out in an elevation of voice that might be keard in attorneys, notaries, or peasants? You begin by the adjoining apartments. forgetting the respect due to me; whereas, the prinThe emperor's remonstrances, transmitted by the cipl'e of the christian church, as these gentlemen ambassador, were seconded at the court of Stock- (turning to the protestant deputies) can teach you, helm by the arguments of Denmark and Russia; is, as they have just professed, to render unto C esar and the Crown Prince was at last obliged to give the the things which are Caesar's. BElt yonl-yoll will national adherence of Sweden to the continental not pray for your sovereign, because a Rolnish nor,. vt. _i. I - -- -- I __ -~ So)6. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. priest excommunicated me. But who gave him such deed it is of inordinate ambition in general-thbaS a right? Perhaps it is your wish to bring back whatever additions were made to his empire extended tortures and scaffolds, but I will take care to baffle his wish of acquisition. ltolland, whose traders you. I bear the temporal sword, and know how to were princes, and she herself the Queen of Comuse it. I am a monarch of God's creation, and you merce, had been alleady devoured, with her ample reptiles of the earth dare not oppose me. I render sea-coast and far-f:med harbours. But other cities, an account of my government to none save God and less wealthy and famed, yet still venerable from Jesus Christ. Do you think I am one formed to kiss their ancient imlportance, must become a part of the pope's slipper? Had you the power, you would France, ere Bonaparte thought his blockade against shave my head, clap a cowl on me, and plunge me British commerce complete and impervious. in a cloister. B3t if' you preach not the Gospel as l'he seizure of the poor regions called the Valais, the Apostles did, I will banish you fiom the empire, which had hitherto been suffered to exist as a fiee and disperse you like so many Jews.-And, A1on- republic, gave France the absolute command of the sieur le Prflet, see that these men swear to the road over the Simplon; the property, and perhaps Concordat; and take care that the orthodox Gospel the command of which passage, it being the great be taught in the ecclesiastical seminaries, that they means of communication betwixt France and Italy, may send out men of sense, and not idiots like Napoleon did not incline should remain with a petty these." Thus closed this edifying admonition. republic. It was a sufficient reason, at this unhappy The Dutch were under the necessity of assuming period, for depriving any country of its independthe appearance of' great rejoicing; yet even the ence, that France was to be benefited by the change. danger of indulging their blunt humour could not al- It was not in this case a bloodless one. The poor together restrain these downright merchants. When mountaineers drew to arms, and it required some the emperor made a stir about establishing a Cham- fighting before they were compelled to submission, her of Commerce at Amsterdam, one of the burgo- and their barren mountains were annexed to France. masters gravely observed, there was no need of a But it was of much greater importance, in Napochamber, since a closet would hold all the com- leon's eye, to prevent the commerce which he had merce left them. In like manner, when Napoleon expelled from Holland from shifting its residence to was vaunting that he would soon have a fleet of two the trading towns of the north of Germany, comhundred sail; "and when you have got them," said posing what was called the Hanseatic League. A a plain-spoken citizen, "the English will have new appropriation of territory, therefole, united to double the number." France the whole sea-coasts along the German But, more formidable than blunt truths and indif- Ocean, comprehending the mouths of the Scheldt, ferent jests, there appeared, while Bonaparte was the Meuse, and the Rhine; the Emns, the Weser, in Holland, one of those stern invocations exciting and the Elbe. And it was the emperor's proposal the people against foreign tyranny, which have often to unite these maritime territories to France by a occasioned the downfal of unjust power, and always canal, which was to join the Baltic Ocean to the rendered those who possess it unhappy and in- Seine. A considerable proportion of the kingdom of secure. " People of Holland," said this singular Westphalia, and of the Grand Duchy of Berg, both paper (which may be compared to the tract called principalities of Napoleon's own creation, fell uinder Killing no Murder, which drove sleep from Crom- this appropriation, and formed another example, well's pillow), " why do you fear your oppressor?- had not that of Holland been sufficient, to show how he is one, you are many. Appeal to his very sol- little respect Napoleon was disposed to pay even to diers; their desertions in Spain show how they hate those rights which emanated from himself, when him; and even his generals would abandon him, they interfered with fresher plans and wider proscould they secure their own rank and grandeur in- pects of ambition. dependent of his. But above all, arise to the'task of Had Prussia retained her ancient influence as your own redemption; rise in the filness of national protector of the North, Hamburgr, Bremen, and strength. A general revolt of the Continent will Lubeck, would not have been thus unceremoniously ensue; the oppressor will fall, and your triumph melted down and confounded with the French ernwill be a warning to tyrants, and an example to the pire. But while these venerable and wvell known world.'" free cities sunk without protection or resistance This address produced no perceptible effect at under a despotism which threatened to become unithe time, but, with other papers of the kind, it made versal, a petty state of f:ar less consequence, scarce a profound impression on the public mind. known as having an independent existence by any On his return to Paris, Napoleon set himself still who was not intimate with the divisions of the north farther to impose the extension of the continental of Germany, found a patron, and a powerful one. system, which he was induced to attempt by the This was Oldenbturg, a dukedom, the present prince appropriation of Holland, and the revolution in of which was related to the Emperor of Russia, as Sweden. Holding his plan as much more decisive both were descended of tile house of Holstein Gotthan it could have been even if his power and his torp, and wvas, moreover, Alexander's brother-in-law. spleen had been adequate to effect his purpose, he This state of Oldenburg had been studiously exceptcast his eyes in every direction, to close every aper- ed fi-om the changes made in the north of Germany, ttre, however small,' through which British con- after the treaty of Tilsit, which made the present merce, the victim he hoped entirely to smother, confiscation of its territory an act of monre marked might draw ever so slight a gasp of breath. slight towards the court of Russia. A tormsal exposIt was a feature of Bonaparte's ambition-as in- tulation wbilg transmlitted to Napoleon, lie propoucel LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 507 to repair the injury of the Duke of Oldenburg, by had been effected on either side, and of course that assigning to him the town and territory of Erfiirt, those unhappy persons whom chance had thrown with the lordship of Blankenheim. But the duke into the power of the enemy, had no visible alterfelt himseif too strongly supported to be under the native but to linger out their lives in a distant ancd necessity of surrendering his dominions, and re- hostile country, or at least remain captives till the ceiving others in exchange. The offer of indemnity conclusion of hostilities, to which no one could prewas haughtily rejected; France persevered in her sume to assign a date. The original impediment to purpose of usurping Oldenburg; and the Emperor such an exchange, which has in all civilized coonAlexander, in a protest, gravely but temperately tries been considered as a debt indispensably due to worded, a copy of which was delivered to every soften the rigours of war, and lessen the sufferings of member of the diplomatic body, intimated that he its victims, was a demand of Napoleon, that the did not acquiesce in the injury done to a prince of persons possessing no military character, whom he his family, although he continued to adhere to that had made prisoners contrary to the law of nations great line of political interest which had occasioned at the commencement of hostilities, should be exthe alliance between France and Russia. changed against French sailors and soldiers. The The real truth was, that Napoleon, secure of the British ministers for a long time resisted so unusual friendship of Austria by the late alliance, had not, an application, to which policy, indeed, forbade, it would seem, regarded Russia as any longer them to accede. At length, however, the suffelrings worthy of the same observance which lie had ori- of individuals, and of their families, induced the ginally found it politic to pay to the Emperor British government to allow the French Emperor the Alexander. The czar himself felt this; and the advantage of his oppressive act in detaining these very large proportion of his subjects composing the unfortunate persons, and agree that they should be party of Old Russians, as they termed themselves, included in the proposed cartel. But when the who were favourable to the English alliance, and commissioners met at Morlaix, Mr Mackenzie found detested the connexion with France, improved the himself as far from approaching an agreement as opportunity by pointing out the evils which all ever. The number of French prisoners in Britain classes in the country endured, from the czar's was mnore by many thousands than that of' the Brihaving, in complaisance to the plans of Napoleon, tish in France; and Bonaparte, who seldon made decreed the abolition of English commerce. They a bargain in which he did not secure the advantage showed that this compliance with the views of to himself, insisted that the surplus of French pri. France had been attended with great detrimerrt to soners should be exchanged for Germans, Spaniards, his own subjects, who could neither sell their corn- Portuguese, or others who should be captive in ln! dities, and the produce of their estates, for which France. Britain always offered a market, nor acquire the co- This was readily agreed to, so far as regarddcd lonial produce and British manufactured goods, foreign troops in British pay, but it was equally which the consumption of Russia almost peremptorily unreasonable and contrary to usage to require that demanded. we should restore to France her native subjects, An ukase was issued on the 31st of December, whose services she might use to augment her mili1810, which was drawn up with considerable art; tary force, while we received in exchange foreigners, for while in words it seemed to affirm the ex- unconnected with us by service or allegiance, and clusion of British manufactures from the empire in ge- who, perhaps, when set at liberty, might be as apt neral, it permitted importations to be made at Arch- to join the French ranks, as those of the nation in angel, St-Petersburg, Riga, Revel, and five or six whose name they had obtained fieedom. other seaports, where various articles of merchan- After much wrangling and dispute, IMr Mackendize, and, in particular, colonial produce, unless zie, to show the sincere desire which the British proved to belong to Britain, might be freely im- government entertained of releasing the prisoners ported. So that, while appearing to quote and on both sides, made a proposal that the exchange respect the continental system, Napoleon could not should conlmence by liberating as many French plibut be sensible that Russia virtually renounced it. soners as could be balanced by British captives in Buit as Alexander had not ventured to avail himself the French prisons; that after this, captives of every of the seizure of Oldenburg as a reason for breaking nation should be exchanged indifferently on both off his alliance with France, so Napoleon, on his sides; and whatever number of prisoners might repart, though the changed tone of Russian policy main on either side, alter the general balance had could not escape him, paused, nevertheless, in been struck, should also be set at liberty, upon an coming to a final rupture with an enemy so power- engagement not to serve till regularly exchanged. fiul, upon the subject of the ukase of December, To this proposal-a more liberal one could hardly 1810. be made-the French only answered by starting Meantime the French Emperor became probably new demands, and making new objections. Among sensible that peace with England was the surest these, perhaps, it will scarcely be believed, thzt ground upon which he could secule his-throne. In Molstier, the French colnmiqsioner, had the n:othe month of April, 1810, some attempt at obtain- destyto propose that Lord Wellington and h;s army, ing terms of pacification had been made during the lying in the lines at Torres Vedras, shouicd be reck. mission of Mr Mackenzie, who was sent to Morlaix oned as French prisoners in the proposed cartel! as agent on the part of the British government.'It Mr Mackenzie answered with becoming spirit, that had been not the least cruel peculiarity of this inve- he would neither be the mediunm thlrough whichl lhii terate war, that no cartel for exchange of prisoners government should be insulted by such a prposal3, MMtS LIFE OF NAPOLEON PBONAPARTE. nor would he proceed in the negotiation until this sides.-Battles of Fuentesd'Onorofought by Lord Welimpertinence were atoned for. lington —on the south Jrotier of Portugal, by Lord BeIt is needless to proceed farther in the elusory resford-cf Barossa, by General Grahan-1nr all of detail of a treaty, which Napoleon had previously which Ite Enylish are victorious.-Eaterprise of Arroyodetermined should be brought to no useful issue. jolures.-Spaniards defeated uelder Blake-Y alendci ie had calculated which country could best support soers of ptred by the F rench gene de prsthe absence of their prisoners, or rather to whom Josepr writes to Naponeon, wtsAlg to abdicate the their services were of most consequence. He felt throse of Sptain that he himself, -by the conscription, as well as by the auxiliary troops which he could summon at plea- Tim natural consequences of an overgrown empire sure from his neighbours or dependents, could al- were already sapping that of Napoleon; for extent ways command a sufficiency of men even for his of territory doies not constitute lower, any more gigantic undertakingrs; while to Britain, whose sol- than corpulence in t'he hilnan firame constitutes diers could only be obtained by a high bounty, the strength or health; and Napoleon's real authority deliverance of her prisoners was proportionally more was in truth greater some years before, than now valuable. Whatever was his view in establishing when his dominion was so much enlarged. The war the negotiation, which was probably only to satisfy in Spain, maintained at such an expense of blood the French army, by evincing a seeming interest in and treasure, was a wasting and consuming sore. the unfortunate portion of their brethren in arms who The kingdom of Holland had afforded him supplies were imirmred in English prisons, they gave way to more readily, and had more the means of doing so, the consideration, that while things remained as when under the dominion of his brother Louis, than they were, Britain suffered more in proportion than the Dutch now either showed or possessed, when France. ranked as a constituent part of the French empire. Some proposals for a general peace had been made The same might be said of the states and free towns during the conferences at Morlaix; and the British in the north of Germany, where, in many instances, government had stated three different principles, strong bands of s'nmugglers, dressed, and armed as any of which they expressed themselves willing to guerilla parties, maintained a desultory war with the admit as a basis. These were, first, the state of pos- officers of the French customs; and, moved equally session before the awar; or, secondly, the present by national hatred and the love of gain, won by state of possession; or, thirdly, a plan of reciprocal desperate risks, made in some districts a kind of compensations. But none of these principles suited petty civil war. Yet though suchl canker-worms the French government to act upon; so that the gnawed the root of the tree, the branches and fotreaty for a general peace, and that for restoring, liage, to all outward appearance, extended a broader taking into calculation the prisoners on both sides, shade than ever. It was especially when a formal upwards of a hundred thousand human beings to annunciation, both in France and Austria, called liberty, their country, and their home, proved both the good subjects of both realms to rejoice in the of them altogether nugatory. prospect that Maria Louisa would soon give an heir The note of defiance was therefore resumed, so to Napoleon, that men who opened the map of soon as it had been ascertained that Britain would'Europe saw with fear and wonder the tremendous reject any terms of peace which were not founded inheritance to which the expected infant was likely on equal and liberal principles. An oration of to succeed. CountS6monville demonstrated that it was all owing The actual donminions of France, governed by to the persevering ambition of England that Bona- Napoleon in his own proper right as Emperor of the parte had been obliged to possess himself' of the French, had gradually attained the following extrasea-coast of Europe-that all his encroachments on vagantdimensions. They extended, from north-east the land were the necessary consequences of her to south-west, from T'ravenlunde, on the Baltic empire of the seas. He then demanded, in pro- Ocean, to the foot of the Pyrenees; and from northphetic fury, to know what in future would be the west to south-east, from the port of Brest to Terrabounds of possibility., " It is the part of England," cina, on the confines of the Neapolitan territories. he said " to reply. Let her turn her eyes on the A population of forty two millions of people, fitted past, and learn to judge firom thence the events of the in various ways to secure the prosperity of a state, future. France and Napoleon will never change." and inhabiting, for wealth, richness of soil, and felicity of climate, by far the -finest portion of the civilized earth, formed the immediate liege subjects CHAPTER LXXII. of this magnificent empire. Yet to stop here were greatly to undervalue the View of Napoleon's gigantic power at the present pe-od. extent of Napoleon's power. We have to add to -The Empress Maria Louzisa delivered of a son-Criti- his personal empire, Carniola and the Illyrian procism on the title Ovnen himn, of King of Roaue-Specu- vinces, and also the fine kingdom of Italy. Then, in lations, in regard to the advantages or disadvantages of Mediator of the Helvetian, atriszstg front tzis eves nefrospect. — Ex- zeeal cOf~Ihis character of Mediator of the Helvetian Repulblic, arising from this evet.-iRetrospect.-Ex-Queen of Etruria-Her severe and unjustifiable treatfnent by the emperor exercised an almost absolute authority NVappleon.-Lucien Bonaparte is invited to England, ill Switzerland, which furnished him, though unIwthere he writes epic poetry.-Attempt to deliver Fer- willingly, with several file regiments of auxiliaries. dinand, defeated.-His pusillanimity.- Operations in l'he German Confederation of the Rhine, thoughl Portugal.-Retreat of Massina-View of his conduct numbering kings among their league, were at the as a maxn and as a general-Skill displayed on both slightest hint bound to supply him each with his LIFE OF NAPOLEON BOTN APARTE. prescribed quota of forces, with a readiness and an Austria, besides the terrible losses which the affectation of zeal very different from the slack and last war had brought upon her, was now fettered to reluctant manner in which they formerly supplied Napoleon by a link which gave the proud house of their paltry contingents to the Emperor of Germany. Hapsburg an apology for the submission, or at least Murat, with his kingdom of Naples, was at his the observance, which she paid to the son-in-law of brother-in-law's disposal; and if, as Bonaparte's her emperor. hopes whispered, the Peninsula should ultimately Turkey, though she would have. fad *her turn, prove unable to resist the war he waged, then Spain had the tide of fortune continued to keep the course and Portugal would be added to his immense em- in which it had so long flowed, was not yet in the pire, being now in the state of sturdy and contursa- way of being comprehended in Napoleon's plan of cious rebels, whose resistance seemed in the speedy politics. prospect of being finally subdued. Thus an empire Russia was waging with the Porte an inipolitic of 800,000 square miles, and containing a popula- war of acquisition, to realize some of the selfish tion of 85 millions, in territory one fifth part, and in plans of aggrandizement which Napoleon had asthe number of inhabitants one half of united Europe, sented to, or perhaps suggested, at'Tilsit and Erfurt. was either in quiet subjection to Napoleon's sceptre, But he now witnessed them'without wishing thens or on the point, as was supposed, of becoming so. success, and listened to the complaints of Austria, Of those who shared amongst them the residue of who unwillingly saw the. ambitious views of Russia Europe, and still maintained some claim to indepen- in these provinces. Of all the continental states, dence, Britain might make the proud boast, that she therefore, assuming even the iemlblance of indepentwas diametrically in opposition to this ruler of the ence, Russia seemed alone to possess it in reality; world; that, in the long-continued strife, she had and from late acts of estrangement, such as the dealt him injuries as deep as she had ever received, protest on the subject of the Duchy of Oldenburg, and had disdained, under any circumstances, to treat and the reception of British ships and merchandise with him on less terms than those of equality. Not into her ports, it certainly appeared that a diffeLent to that fair land be the praise, though she supported spirit was in the councils of this great empire than many burdens and endured great losses; but to had ruled them during the meetings at Tilsit and Providence, who favoured her efforts and strength- Erflrt. Yet there were but few who thought that ened her resolutions; who gave her power to Russia, in opposition to the whole continent of Euuphold her own good cause, which, in truth, was rope, would dare confrontNapoleon; and still fewer, that of European independence, and courage to trust even of the most sanguine politicians, had any in the justice of Heaven, when the odds mustered deep-grounded hope that her opposition would be against her seemed, in earthly calculation, so dread- effectual. Out of such a Cimmlrerian midnight, to ful as to deprive the wise of the head to counsel, all huInan views, was the day-spring of Europeams the brave of the heart to resist! liberty destined to arise. Denmark, sopowerful was the voice which France America, happy in the Atlantic which severed had in her councils, might almost be accounted her fiom Europe, now an almost universal scene humbled to one of the federative principalities. of war or slavery, looked on in conscious security, Sweden had but a moderate and second-rate de- and, by reviving at this crisis disputed claims upon' gree of power. She felt, as other German nations, Britain, seemed to listen mo'e to the recollection of the withering blight of the continental or anli-sociili recent ennmity, than of Ilutual languvage, maniners, system; but, circumstanced as she was, with the pos- and descent. session of Swedish Pomerania dependent ont French Within a year after her marriage with Napoleon, pleasure, she had no other remedy than to wait her the young empress was announced to have beets opportunity. taken with the pains of labour.'rlThe case was a difd Still more was this the case with Prussia, through ficult and distressing one; and the professional per. all her provinces the mortal enemiy of the French son employed lost courage, and was af{aid to do whlat name, but whom the large garrisons which France was necessary. Napoleon appeared in the aparthad planted in her dominions, and the numerous mrient, and commanded him to proceed as if' the Ipaforces which she maintained there, cou mpelled for tient were the wife of an ordinary buirgess. Sihe the timie to be as subimissive as a handmaiden. That was at length successfully and safely deliveled of a the court were, as noiselessly as possible, endea- fine boy, which Bonaparte, with feelings, doubtless, vouring to revive their military establishment; that as highly strung as after a battle gained, carried they were dismissing the villains who had sold and into the next apartment, and exhibited in trillillph to betrayed their country, and replacing them by age the great officers and courtiers, by whorl he was which had been tried, or youth which had witness- unaniniously hailed King of Rome, the dignity which ed the agony of their country, and been trained up had been destined to the heir of' the French Rein thinking that to avenge her was their dearest public. duty, was true. True it was, also, that the people The title did not, indeed, pass uncriticised. Some in Prussia, and many other parts of Germany, waited, said, that taking the regal designation from a city as for the day dawning, for the hope of winning back where the very name of king had been accounted their freedom; but outward appearances indicated unlucky, had an ominous presage. Catholics obnothing of these smothered hopes, wishes, and pre- jected to it, as it necessarily carried with it the reparations; and the general eye saw in Prussia only collection of the sacrilegious violence which had i a nation resigned to her bondage, without, apparent- stripped the pope of his temporal possessions. And!y, any hope of redemption. lastly, it was asked what chance there ever awas of Atd0 LTIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. dhe execltim of that part of the Italian constitu- surmised, being cut short of this fair prospect, would tion, which, after Napoleon's death, guaranteed the no longer have the same motives for serving the succession in the kingdom of Italy to some one dif- living Napoleon, whose inheritance at his death was ferent from the Emperor of France, when the title now to descend, like the patrimonly of a peasant or of King of Rome was assumed as that of the heir of burgess, in the regular and lawful line of inheritance. the French empire?+ But the politicians who argued thus did not sufSuch ominous remarks, however, only circulated ficiently regard the pitch of superiority which Naamong the disaffected, or passed with anti-imperial poleon had attained over those around him; his habit jests, satires, and calembourgs, through such saloons of absolute command, theirs of implicit obedience; of the Faubourg St Germain, as were still tenant- and the small likelihood there was of any one who ed by the ancient and faithfil adherents of the served under him venturing to incur his displeasure, house of Bourbon. The city of Paris made as ge- and the risk of losing the rank and fortune which ineral a show of rejoicing as they ever testified when most had actually obtained, by showing any marks an heir swas born to one of their most beloved sore- of coldness or dissatisfaction, on account of the reigns; deputations with addresses came from public disappointment of distant and visionary hopes. bodies of every description; and, that flattery might There were others who augured different conse7 sound the very base string of humility, the fashion- quences, from the effect of the same event on the,able colour of dress for the season bore a name al- feelings of Bonaparte's enemies, both open and luding to the young King of Rome, which delicacy, unavowed. It had been a general belief, and cerif not pride, ought to have rejected. But, perhlaps, tainly was founded on probability, that the immense the strangest circumstance of the whole was, that but ill-constructed empire which Napoleon had the old dethroned King of Spain, and his consort, erected would fall to pieces, so soon as it was undertook a journey, for the purpose of carrying not kept steady and compact by the fear and admitheir personal congratulations on the birth of an ration of his personal talents. Hence the damp cast heir, to one who had deposed, and was detaining by persons affecting a wise caution, upon the genein plison their own lineage, and had laid Spain, ral desire to shake off the yoke of France. They their native dominions, in blood, from the Pyrenees enlarged upon the invincible talent, upon the inevitto the Pillars of Hercules. able destinies of Napoleon personally; but they Napoleon, and his more devoted admirers, rejoiced consoled the more impatient patriots, by counseling in this happy incident, as that which was most likely, them to await his death, before making a daring in their eyes, to sustain the empire of France, when attempt to vindicate their freedom. Such counsels fate should remove him by whom it was founded. were favourably listened to, because men are, in The protection of the house of Austria, and the spite of themselves, always willing to listen to prucharm flung around the child by the high fame of the dent argurrents, when they tend to postpone despef ther, could not, it was thought, but insure a peac - rate risks. But this species of argument was ended, fhl accession to the throne, and an undisturbed se vlhen the inheritance of despotism seemed ready to carity in possessing it. His life, too, was insimed ble transmitted from father to son in direct descent. infiuture againstsuch fanaticsasthatofSchoenbrunn; Th'lere was no termination seen to themelancholy for Mwhat purpose would it serve to cut off the em- prospect, nor was it easy for the most Ilukewarm of peror, when the empire was to survive, and descend patriots to assign any longer a reason for putting off' in all its strength upon his son and heir? till Napoleon's death tile resistance which to-day Others there were, who pretendi d that the ad- demanded. Under these various lights was the vantages arising from the birth of the King of Rorne birth of the King of Rome considered; and it may were balanced by corresponding inconveniences. afterall remain a inatter of doubt, whether the blessThese asserted, that several of the French great ing of a son and heir-, acceptable as it must necesgenerals had followed the fortunes of Napoleon, in sarily have been to his domnestic feelings, was polihopes that, upon his death in battle, or upon his tically of that advantage to him which the Emperor natural decease, they, or some of them, might, like the of France unquestionably expected. successors of Alexander the Great, share ainongst And now, bebfore we begin to trace the growing them the ample succession of kingdoms and princi- diflfeences betwixt France and Russin, which speepalities which were likely to become the property of dily led to such important consequences, we lllay the strongest and bravest, in the lottery which might briefly notice some circumstances connected with be expected to take place on the death of the great Spail and with Spanish affairs, though the two infavourite of Fortune. These great soldiers, it was cidents which we ace to mention first, are rather of a detached and insulated nature:' Jests, as well as serious observations, were made on The first of these refers to the Ex-Queen of Etluthis occasion.,Have you any commands for France? nria, a daughter, it will be remenmbered, of Charles, said a F lenchman at Naples to an English friend; I shall King of Spain, and a sister of Ferdinand. Upon be here in two ay "In ttrance? off for swered his frid, this princess and her son Bonaparte had settled the "I thought you were sattiog off for Rome." "True; but ome, by a decree of the emperor, is o indissoluby kingdom of Etruria, or Tuscany. Preparatory to united to France." 1 have no newvs to burthen you withl ti e Bayonne intrigue, he had corcibly deprived her said his friend; "but can I do anything for you in Eng- of this dignity, in order to offer it as an imndemnificalta.? I shall be there in half an horr.' "In England?" tion to Ferdinand for the cession, which he proposed said the Frenchman, "and in half an hour!" "Yes," said to that unhappy prince, of the inheritance of Spain his friend,,within that time I shall be at sea, and the sea }laving contrived to obtain that cession witllhout alny l has been indissolhuly united to the British empire.s colpensation, Bonaparte reserved EtlUria to hiill p _ _ _ _ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 51 self, and retained the late queen as a hostage. For distinguished a part in the great revolitionauy game, some time she was permitted to reside with her was found able to amuse himself with the cornmpoparents at Compiegne; but afterwards, under pre- sition of an epic poem on the subject of (Charletext of conducting her to Parma, she was escorted magne;-somewhat more harmlessly than did his to Nice, and there subjected to the severe vigilance brother Napoleon, in endeavouring again to rebuild of the police. The princess appears to have been and consolidate the vast empire of the son of Pepin. quicker in her feelings than the greater part of her Another intrigue of a singular character, and family, which does not, indeed, argue any violent which terminated in an unexpected manner, origidegree of sensibility. Terrified, however, and nated in an attemptofthe English ministry to achieve alarmed at the situation in which she found herself, the liberty of Ferdinand, the lawful king of Spain. A she endeavoured to effect an escape into England. royal and a popular party had begun to show themTwo gentlemen of her retinue were sent to Holland, selves in that distracted country, and to divert the for the purpose of arranging her flight, but her pro- attention of the patriots from uniting their efforts to ject was discovered. On the 16th April, 1811, accomplish the object of most engrossing importance, officers of police and gendarmes broke into the the recovery, namely, of their country, forom the residence of the queen at Nice, seized her person intruding monarch and the French armies. The and papers, and, after detaining her in custody for English government were naturally persuaded that two months, and threatening to try her by a military Ferdinand, to whose name his subjects were so tribunal, they at length intimated to her a sentence, strongly attached, would be desirous and capable condemning her, with her daughter (her son had of placing himself, were he at liberty, at their head, been left very much indisposed at Compiegne), to be putting an end to their disputes by his authority, detained close prisoners in a monastery at Rome, to and giving their efforts an impulse, which could be which she was compelled to repair within twenty- communicated by no one bhut the King of Spain, to four hours after the notice of her doom. Her two the Spanish nation. It is no doubt true, that had agents, who had been previously made prisoners, the government of England known the real character were sent to Paris. They were condemned to death of this prince, a wish for his deliverance from by a military commission, and were brought out for France, or his presence in Spain, would have been that purpose to the plain of Grenelle. One was shot the last which they would have formed. Thls. mison the spot, and pardon was extended to his compa- apprehension, however, was natural, and was acted nion when he was about to stiffer the same punish- upon. ment. The mental agony of the poor man had, A Piedmontese, of Irish extraction, called the however, affected the sources of life, and he died Baron Kolli (or Kelly), the selected agent of' tihe within a few days after the reprieve. The severity British government, was furnished with some diaof this conduct towards a priucess,-a queen indeed, monds and valuable articles, under pretext of dis-wiho had placed her person in Napoleon's hands, posing of which he was to obtain admission to the under the expectation that her liberty at least should prince, then a prisoner at Valencey, where his chief not be abridged, was equally a breach of justice, amusement, it is believed, was embroidering a gown humanity, and gentlemanlike courtesy. and petticoat, to be presented to the Virgin Malay. It is curious, that about the same time when Kolli was then to have informed the prince of his Napoleon treated with so much cruelty a foreign errand, effected Ferdinand's escape by means of and independent princess, merely because she ex- confederates among the royalist party, and conveyed pressed a desire to exchange her residence from him to the coast, where a small squadron awaited France to England, his own brother Lucien was the event of the enterprise, designed to carry the received with hospitality in that island, so heartily King of Spain to Gibraltar, or whither else lhe detested, so frequently devoted to the fate of a chose. In March, 1810, Kolli was put ashore in second Carthage. Napoleon, who was always reso- Quiberon Bay, whence he went to Paris to prepare lute in considering the princes of his own blood as for his enterprise. He was discovered, however, the first slaves in the state, had become of late very by the police, and arrested at the moment when he urgent with Lucien to dismiss his wife, and unite was setting out for Valencey. Some attempts were himself with some of the royal families on the Con- made to induce him to proceed with the scheme, tinent, or at leasit to agree to bestow the hand of his of which his papers enabled the police to compredaughter upon young Ferdinand of Spain, who had hend the general plan, keeping commlnication at risen in favour by his behaviour on an occasion inn- the same time with the French minister. As 1e mediately to be mentioned. But Lucien, determined disdained to undertake this treacherous character, at this time not to connect himself or his family with Kolli was committed close prisoner to the castle of the career of his relative's ambition, resolved to Vincennes, while a person,-the same who betlayed settle in America, and place the Atlantic betwixt his principal, and whose exterior in some degree himselfand the importunities of his Imperial brother. answered the description of the British emissary,He applied to the British minister at Sardinia for a was sent to represent him at the castle of Valencey. pass, who was under the necessity of referring him But Ferdinand, either suspicious of the snare I to his government. On this second application he which was laid for him, or poor-spirited enough to was invited to England, where he was permitted to prefer a safe bondage to a br'ave risk incurred for live in fi'eedom upon his parole, one officer only liberty, would not listen to the supposed agent of having a superintendence of his movements and Britain, and indeed denounced the pretended Kolli correspondence. These were in every respect to Barthl6emy, the governor of the castle. T'he false blameless; and the ex-statesman, who had played so Kolli, therefore, returned to Paris, while tie rear 512 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. one remained in the castle of Vincennes till the and darkness. If it be considered in the capacity capture of' Paris by the allies. Ferdinand took of that of a human being, the indignant reader, were credit, in a letter to Bonaparte, for having resisted we to detail the horrors which lie permitted his solthe temptation held out to him by the British diers to perpetrate, would almost deny his title to government, who had, as lie pathetically observed, the name. It is a vulgar superstition, that when abused his name, and occasioned, by doing so, the the Enemy of mankind is invoked, and appears, he shedding of much blood in Spain. He again mani- destroys in his retreat the building which has witfested his ardent vi.sh to become the adopted son of nessed the apparition. It seemed as if' the French, the emperor; his hope that the author and abettors in leaving Portugal, were determined that ruins of the scheme to deliver him might be brought to alone should remain to show they had once been condign punishment; and concluded with a hint, there. Military license was let loose in its most that be was extremely desirous to leave Valencey, odious and frightful shape, and the crimes which a residence which had nothing about it but what were committed embraced all that is horrible to was unpleasant, and was not in any respect fitted humanity. But if a curtain is dropped on these for him. The hint of Ferdinand about a union with I horrors, and Massena is regarded merely as a miliBonaparte's famnily probably led to the fresh imn- tary leader, his retreat, perhaps, did him as much portunity on the emperor's part, which induced honour as any of the great achievements which forLucien to leave Italy. Ferdinand did tnot obtain merly had made his name famous. If he had been the change of residence he desired, nor does lie rightly called Fortune's favourite, he now showed seem to have profited in any way by his candour that his reputation did not depend on her smile, but towards his keeper, excepting that he evaded the could be maintained by his own talents, while she strict confinement, or yet worse fate, to which he shone on other banners. In retreating through the might have been condemned, had he imprudently north of Portugal, a rugged and mountainous counconfided in the false Baron Kolli. try, he was followed by Lord'Wellington, who In Portugal, the great struggle betwixt Mass6na allowed him not a moment's respite. The m:;eand Wellington, upon which, as we formerly ob- ments of the troops to those who understo(d, alld served, the eyes of the world were fixed, had been had the calmness to consider them, were as regularl finally decided in favour of the English general. consequences of each other, as occur in the gimlle This advantage was attained by no assistance of the of chess. elements,-by none of those casual occurrences The French were repeatedly seen drawn llup on which are called chances of war,-by no dubious, ground where it seemed impossible to dislodL;e or even venturous risks,-by the decision of no single them; and as often the bayonets of a British comlllni, battle lost or von; but solely by the superiority of which had marched by some distant lonte, aswtire one great general over another, at the awful game observed twinkling in the direction of theirl flink, in which neither had yet met a rival. intimating that their line was about to be tirned. lint For more than four months, Massena, with as this was only the signal for Mass6na to reconimec e fine an army as had ever left France, lay looking at his retreat, which he did before the English troops the impregnable lines with which the British forces, could come lup; nor did lie fail again to halt vhiere so greatly inferior in numerical strength, were c9- opportunity offered, until again disled-ed by his vering Lisbon, the object of his expedition. To sagacious and persevering pursuer. At len1tli, the assail in such a position troops, whose valour he French were fairly driven olt of the Portlg iese had felt at Busaco, would have been throwing away territory, excepting the garrison in tile frontier toiwn the lives of his soldiers; and to retreat, was to of Almeida, of which Lord Wellington fotrmed first abandon the enterprise which his master had en- the blockade, and afterwards the siege. trusted to him, with a confidence in his skill and his So soon as he escaped frorn the limits of Port.g al, good fortune, which must, in that case, have been Massena hastened to draw together such reinforcethereafter sorely abated. Mass6na tried every effobrt ments as he could obtain in Castile, collected once which military skill could supply, to draw his foe more a large force, and, within about a fortni ght out of his place of advantage. I-e threatened to after lie had effected his retreat, resurrled the oftencarry the wvr across the Tagus —he threatened to sive, with the view of relieving Alneida, which'sas extend his army towaids Oporto; but each demon- the sole trophy remaining to ehowv his trilumphant stration lie made had been calculated upon and an- advance in thle pr'eceding season. Lord WvVelliagton ticipated by his antagonist, and was foiled almost did not refuse the battle, which took place on the withotut an effort. At length, exhausted by the 5th of May, near Fuentes d'Onoro. the conflict want of supplies, and the interruption of his com- was well disputed, bht the French general sustained rnllnications, after lying one month at Alenquer, a defeat, notwithstanding his superiority of numbers; Massena retreated to Santarem, as preferable winter and particularly of cavalry. He then retreated quar'ters; but, in the beginnilng of March, lie found firom the Portuguese frontier, having previously sent that these were eqlally untenable, and became firlly orders for the evacuation of Almneida by the garrison, sensible, that if lie desired to save the remnant of a which the French conmmandant executed with much sickly and dinmiitished army, it must necessarily be dexterity. by a speedy retreait. On the more southern frontier of Portugal, Lord This celebrated movement, decisive of the fate Beresford fought also a dreadful and sanguinary of the campaign, commenced about the 4th of March. battle. The action was in some measure indecisive, There are two different points in which Mass6na's but Soult, who commanded the French, failed inl conduct may be regarded, and they differ as light obtaining such a success as enabled himn to acconi LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 513 plish his object, which was the raising of the siege when the French had collected their whole force to of Badajos. In Portugal, therefore, and along its overwhelm the British general and his forces, Marfrontiers, the Britishr had been uniformly successful, mont had the mortification to see the fbrmer withand their countrymren at home began once more to draw from the presence of a superior enemy, with open their ears to the suggestions of hope and as much calmness and security as if marching courage. through a peacefll country. Cadiz, also, the remaining bulwark of the patriots, Nothing remained for the French general, save to bad been witness to a splendid action. General detail in the pages of the Moniteur, what must have Graham, with a body of British troops, had sallied been the fate of the English but for their hasty and out from the garrison in March, 1811i and obtained precipitate flight,- when the well-concerted and at victory upon the heights of Barossa, which, had boldly-executed enterprise of Arroyo-Mulinos, conhe been properly seconded by the Spanish general vinced him to his cost that a retreat was no rout. Lapena, ivould have been productive of a serious In this village upwards of 1400 French were taken influence ulpon the events of the siege; and which, prisoners, at a moment when they least expected to even though it remained imperfect, gave heart and be attacked. This little action showed a spirit of confidence to the besieged, and struck a pexpetual hazard, a disposition to assume the offensive, which danmp into the besiegers, who found themselves the French did not expect firomr the British forces; bearded in t:lleir own position. There had been and they were, for the first time, foiled in their own much fighting through Spain with various results. military qualities of vigilance, enterprise, and actiBut, if we dare venture to use such an emblem, the vity. In Britain, also, the nation perceived that bush, though burning, was not consumed, and Spain their army showed the same courage and the same continued that sort of general resistance which superiority, which had been considered as the exseemed to begin after all usual means of regular elusive property of their gallant sailors. The French opposition had failed, as Nature often musters her were defeated under the rock of Gibraltar by the strength to comrbat a disease which the medical as- Spanish general Ballasteros, and their general, sistants have pronounced mortal. Godinot, blew out his own brains, rather than face Catalonia, though her strong-holds were lost, the account, to which Soult, his commander-in-chief, continued, under the command of De Lacy and was about to summon him. Tarifa, in the same d'Eroles, to gain occasional advantages over the quarter, was defended successfully by a garrison enemy; and Spain saw Figueras, one other strong- of mingled Spaniards and British, and the French est fortresses, recovered by the bold stratagem of were computed to have lost before it about two Rovira, a doctor of divinity, and commander of a thousand five hundred men. guerilla party. Being instantly besieged by the On the other hand, the French discipline conFrench, and ill supplied with provisions, the place tinned to render them superior over the patriots, was indeed speedily regained; but the possibility of wherever the latter could be brought to face them in its being taken was, to tile peculiarly tenacious spirit anything resembling a pitched battle. Thus Blake, of the Spaniards, more encouraging than its recap- after a gallant action, was totally defeated near tule was matter of dismay. Murviedro, and that town itself fell into possession But chiefly the auxiliary British, with the Portu- of the enemy. A more severe consequence of the guese, who, trained by the care of Lord Beresford, battle of Ocana, as that disastrous action was termwere fit to sustain their part in line by the side of ed, wgs the capture of Valencia, where Blake, and their allies, showed that they were conducted in the remainder of' his army, were made prisoners of a different spirit fronm that which made their leaders war. in formner expeditions stand with one foot on sea and But amid those vicissitudes of good or bad forone on land, never venturing from the sight of the tune, SiJain continued to Bonaparte the same harassocean, as if they led amphibious creatures, who ing and exhausting undertaking, which it had been required the use of both elements to secure their almost from the commeucemneut. Sickness and want existence; and tile scheme of whose campaign was made more ravages amnongst the French troops than to rout and repel, as they best could, the attacks of the sword of the enemy, though that did not lie the enemy, but seldom to venture upon anticipating idle. Maly of the districts are unhealthy to stranor disconcerting his plans. To protect Galicia, for gers; but of these, as well as others, it was necesexample, when invaded by the French, Lold Wel- sary fobr the invaders to retain possession. There, lingtcn, though with a much:'sferior army than lie while numerous deaths happened among the troops, was well aware could be brought against him, form- the guerillas watched the remnant, until sickness ed the blockade of Ciudad Rodrigo; thus compelling and fatigue had reduced the garrisons to a number -the enemy to desist froom their proposed attempt on insufficient for defence, and then pounced upon that province, and to concentrate their forces for them like birds of prey on a fallen animal, upon the relief of that important place. Such a concen- which they have been long in attendance. tration could not, ill the condition of the French ar- Besides, disunion continued to reign atnong the Itics, be etfected without muchi disadvantage. It French generals. Joseph, although in point of power afforded breathing space for all the guerillas, and the very shadow of what a king ought to be, had an opportunity which they never neglected, of acting spirit enough to resent the condition in which he with their usual courage and sagacity against small was placed amid the haughty military chiefs, who parties and convoys of the French, as well as that of acknowledged no superior beside the emperor, and seizing upon any posts which the enemy might have listened to no commands save those emanating fiom been obliged to leave imperfectly defended. And Paris. He wrote to his brother a letter.accompanyvxOL. ve. o I Am _~~~~~~~~~~~~~6 : tf-4 LIFE OF NAPOLEON -BONAPARTE. ing a formal abdication of the throne of Spain, un- work. Thus, when those Polish provinces which less he was to be placed in more complete authority had fallen to the portion of Prussia, were formed than even the orders of Napoleon himself had into the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, as an independhitherto enabled him to attain. But the.prospect of ent principality, and the sovereignty was conferred, a northern war approaching nearer and nearer, not without a secret meaning, on the King of Napoleon was induced to postpone his brother's re- Saxony, a descendant of the ancient monarchs of quest, althotgh so pressingly urged, and Spain was Poland, what could this be supposed to indicate, in some measure left to its fate during the still nore save the commencement of an independent stater urgent events of the -Russian cainpaign. to which might be added, as opportunity occurred, the remaining districts of Poland which had been CHAPTER LXXII. -seized upon by Austria and Russia? "To what:purpose," asked those statesmen, who belonged to Retospect eofthe-canses leading to the rptrewith~ Rius- the old Russian or anti-Gallican party in the emsi*-Originte in:the.treaty of T'ilsit.-Rnssiia's alleged ipire, "' are those stipulations for a free military reasolns of complaint. -Argtzmentts of Napoleons ci road and passage'of troops from Saxony, to Wardillors against wcar with Russia.-Fouchdlis againist:the saw:and its territory, through Silesia, if it is not war-Presents a memorial to Napoleon upon -the'snb- that France may preserve the means of throwing an ject-His answer.-Napoleon's:views in favour of the -overpowering force into the duchy, so soon as it war, as urged to his various adviser-s. shall be her pleasure to undo the work of the sage Catherine, by depriving Russia of those rich Polish WE are now approaching the verge of that fated.provinces, which her policy had added to the erlyear, when Fortune, hitherto unwearied in her pire? Wherefore," asked the same persons, partiality towards Napoleon, turned first upon him- ".should there have been a special article in the self, personally, a clouded and stormy aspect. same treaty of Tilsit, that'-France should retain -Losses he had sustained both by land and sea, but Dantzic until a maritime peace, unless it was to he could still remark, as when he first heard of the serve as a place of arms in the event of a new war defeat at Trafalgar,-" I was not there-I could not with Russia, the probability of which Napoleon,'be everywhere at once." But he was soon to ex- therefore, must certainly have calculated upon, perience misfortunes, to the narrative of which he even at the very moment when he cultivated:such could rnot apply this proud commentary. Tlhe reader close personal intimacy with the Emperor Alexmust be first put in remembrance of the causes of ander?" the incipient quarrel betwixt the empire of France These suspicions were considerably increased by and that of Russia. tile articles of peace concluded with Austria at Notwithstanding the subsequent personal:initimacy Schoenbrunn. By that treaty all Western Gallicia, which took place betwixt the two sovereigns, and together with the city of Cracow, and other terriwhich for five years prevented the springing up of tories, were disjoined friom Austria, and added to any enmity betwixt Alexander and Napoleon, the tile dukedom of Warsaw, marking, it was supposseeds of that quarrel were, nevertheless, to be found ed, still farther the intention of Napoleon, at one in the treaty of pacification of Tilsit itself. Russia, time;or another, to:restore in its integrity the anlying remote from aggression in every other part of'cient kingdom -of Poland, of which Russia alone!her immense territory, is open to injury on that im- now held the full share allotted to her by the parportant western firontier by which she is united with: tition treaties. Europe, and in those possessions by virtue of which Other causes led to'the same conclusion. The old she claims to be a member of the European re- Russians, a numerous-and strong partyin the empire, public. Tile partition of -Poland, -unjust as it was which comprehended the greater part of the large in every point of view, was a measure of far greater landholders, felt, as they had done under the Emperor -importance to Russia than either to Austria or Paul, much distress, national'and personal, fiom the Prussia; for, while that state possessed its former interruption of the Biitishtrade by Bonaparte's conselli-barbarous and stormy independence, it lay in- tinental system. Their timber, their pitch, their poterposed in a gr.at measure betwixt Russia and the tash, their hemp, and other bulky and weighty cornrest of Europe, -or, in -other words, betwixt her modities, the chiefproduce oftheir estates, for which and the c.;iliied world. Any revolution which the British had been ready customers, remained on might restore Poland to the independence, for *which their hands, while they were deprived of the colothe inhabitants had not ceased to -sigh, would have nial produce and manufactures of Britain, which effectually thr'ust the czar back upon his forests, they were wont to receive in exchange for those destroyed his interest and influence in -European articles, with mutual profit and convenience to both affiirs, anli reduced him comparatively to the rank.parties. It was in vain that, to reconcile themr to of an Asiatic sovereign. This liberation of their this state of interdiction, they saw in the speeches country, and the reunion of its dismembered pro- and decrees ofBonaparte, tirades about the freedomn'vinces under'a national constitution, was what the of the seas, and the maiitiine tyranny of England.'Poles expected'from:Bonaparte. For this they It seemed an ill-omened speciesof liberation, which crowded to h1is standard -after the battle of Jena;: began by the destruction of their commerce and imand although he was too cautious to promise any poverishment of their estates; and the Russias thing explicitly concerning the restoration of Poland Boyards could-no -more comprehend the declamation'to its rank among nations, yet most of his'measures of Bonaparte against the English, than the millers ildiated a'fiture purpose of accomplishing that of the'Ebro could be made to understand the de LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 515 nunciation of Don Quixote against their customers. demanded also an -immense expenditure, and dimiThese magnates only saw that the ruler of France ished, of course, the power of the F rench Emperor wished them to submit to great commercial distress to carry on the war on'the frontiers of Russia. A and inconvenience, in order to accelerate his plan'conclusion bf these wasting hostilities would have of ruining Great Britain, after which achievement'rendered him tar more formidable with respect t(a he might find it a more easy undertaking to destroy'the quality, as well as the number, of his disposable their own natural importance as a European power, forces, and it seemed the interest of Russia not to by re-establishing Poland, and resuming the fertile wait till that period should arrive. provinces on the western boundary; thusleading the Thle same arguments which recommended to Russian cabinet, if the French interest should re- Russia to chuse the immediate moment for resistmain paramount there, by:a very disadvantageQus ing the extravagant pretensions of France, ought, in road to a still more disastrous conclusion. point of prudence, to ha.ve induced Napoleon to There was, besides,'spread though'the Russian desist from urging such pretensions, and to avoid nation generally, a sense that France was treating the voluntarily engaging in two wars at the same their emperor rather on'the footing of an inferior. time, both of a character decidedly national, and It. is a thing entirely unknown in diplomacy, that'to only one of which lie could give the influence of one government should pretend a right to dictate to Ihis own talents and his own presence. His best another, who'is upon terms -of equality, the con- and wisest generals, whom he consulted, or, to ditions on which she should conduct her commerce;:speak more properly,'to whom he opened his parand the assuming such a right, seconded by -threat- pose, used various alrguiments to induce:him to alter, cuing language in case ol non-cormpliance, has been or'at'least defer, his resolution. lHe himself healways held a legitimate cause of war. Indeed, sitated for molre than la year,' and was repeatedly the opinion that the French league disgraced the upon'the point -of settling'with'Russia the grounds Russian nation, plunged their country into elibar- of'disagreement betwixt them'upon amicable terms. rassments, and was'likely to occasion still'farther The reasons of complaint, on the part of the czar, misfortunes to then, became so general,'that the were four in number. emperor must have paid some attention to the I.'The alarm given to Russia by the extension wishes of his people, even if his own friendship with of the Grand Duchy of'Warsaw'by the treaty of. Bonaparte had not been cooled by late occurrences. Schoenbrunn, asif it were destined to be the central The alliance with Austria was of a character,part ofan independent'state, or kingdom, inPoland, calculated toalarm Alexander. Russia and Austria,,to which those provinces of -that dismembered'though they had a common interest towithstand the country, which had become part of Russia, were at overpowering strength of Bonaparte, had been in some convenient time to'be united. -On this point ordinary times always rivals, and sometimes enemies.' the czar demanded an explicit engagement, on the'It was the interference of Austria, which, upon part of the French Emperor, that'the kingdom of several occasions, checked the progress of-the Rus- Poland should not be again established. Napoleon sians in Turkey, and:it was Austria also which | declined this form of guarantee, as it seerned to en-'formed a "barrier against the increase of their power'gage llim to warrant Russia against an event which in the south of Europe. The family connexion, mnight happen without his co-operation; but he of-'therefore, formed by Bonaparte with the house of fered to pledge himself that he would not favour'Hapsburg, made him still more formidable to Rus-'any enterprise %Which should, directly or indirectly, sia, as likely to embrace the quarrels and-forward lead to the re-esta-blishment of Poland as an inde-:the pretensions of that power against the czar, even pendent state. Tlhis modified acquiescence in what if France herself should have none to discuss with was required by Russia fell considerably short of'him. whit the czar wished; -for the stipulation, as at But there was no need to lhave recourse to renmote first:worded, would have amounted to an engagecauses of suspicion. Russia had, and must always ment on the part of France to join in -opposing any'have had, direct and immediate cause of jealousy,'step towards Polish independence;'whereas, acwhile France or her emperor claimed the:per- cording to the modification which it received at:nianent right of thinking and deciding for her,:as Paris, it only implied that France should remain well as other nations, in the relations of commerce neatter'if such an attempt should take place. and others, in which every independent'state is' II. The wrong done by including'the Duchy of nlost desirous of exercising the right of deliberating:Oldenburg, though guaranteedby the treaty of Tilsit for herself. This was the'true state of the case. to its prince,:the czar's near relative and ally, in To remain the ally of'Bonaparte, Alexander nmust the territory annexed to France, admitted of being have become his vassal; to attempt to be inde-: compensated by an indemnification. But'Russia pendent of him, was to make him'his enemy; and it desired that this indemnification should be either can be no wonder that -a'sovereign so proud -an'd the City of Dantzic, or some equally important ter-:powerfuil as the'czar, chose rather "to'stand the ritory, on the frontiers of the Grand Duchy of Warhazard of battle,'than diniinish -the lustre, or corn- saw, which might offer an additional guarantee promise the independence, of his ancient crown. against the apprehended enlargement of that state. Thetime, too, forresistance, seemed as;favourable'France would not -listen to thlis, though she did -not as Russia could ever expect. The war of'Spain, object to compensation elsewhere. though chequered in -its fortune, was in no respect III. The third point in question, was'the degree near a sudden end.'It occupied two hundred and to which the Russian commerce'with'England was fifty thousand ofthe best and oldest French roops; to be restricted. Napoleon proposed to grant some t 516 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. relaxation on the occasions where the produce of so broadly spoken out, that in this point of view Russia was exported in exchange for that of Eng- nothing would have been more easy for France, land, to be effected by the way of mutual licenses. than to modify or soften her line of policy in favour IV. It was proposed to revise the Russian tariff of the inferior states, in whose favour the Russian inof 1810, so as, without injuring the interests of terference was expected or apprehended. That policy Russia, it might relax the heavy duties imposed on had uniformly been a system of insult and menace. the objects of French commerce. The influence which France had gained in Europe From this statement, which comprehends the last grew less out of treaty than fear, founded on the rebasis on which Napoleon expressed himself willing collection offormer wars. All the states of' Germany to treat, it is quite evident, that had there not been felt the melancholy consequences of the existence of a deeper feeling of jealousy and animosity betwixt despotic power vested in men, who, like Napoleon the two emperors, than those expressed in the sub- himself, and the military governors whom he ecsjects of actual debate betwixt them, these might ployed, were new to the exercise and enjoyment of have been accomniodated in an amicable way. But their authority; and, on the other hand, the French as it was impossible for Napoleon to endure being Emperor and his satellites felt, towards the people called to account, like a sovereign of the second of the conquered, or subjected states, the constant rate, or at least in the tone of an equal, by the apprehension which a conscious sense of injustice Emperor of Russia; so the latter, more and more produces in the minds of oppressors, namely, that alarmed by the motions of the French armies, which the oppressed only watch for a safe opportunity to were advancing into Pomerania, could not per- turn against them. There was therefore no French suade himself, that, in agreeing to admit the present interest, or even point of honour, which called on grounds of complaint, Napoleon meant more than to Napoleon to make war on Alexander; and the postpone the fatal struggle for superiority, until he temptation seems to have amounted solely to the should find a convenient time to commence it with desire on Napoleon's part to fight a great battle,a more absolute prospect of success. to gain a great victory,-to occupy, with his victoIn the meantime, and ere the negotiations were rious army, another great capital,-and, in fine, to finally broken off, Bonaparte's counsellors urged subject to his arms the power of Russia, which, of him, with as much argument as they dared, to de- all the states on the Continent, remained the only sist from running the hazard of an enterprise so re- one that could be properly termed independent mote, so hazardous, and so little called for. They of France. contended, that no French interest, and no national It was in this light that the question of peace and point of honour, were involved in the disagreement war was viewed by the French politicians of the day; which had arisen. The principles upon which the and it is curious to observe, in the reports we have points of dispute might be settled, being in a man- of their arguments, the total absence of principle ner agreed upon, they argued that their master which they display in the examination of it. They should stop in his military preparations. To march dwell on the difficulty of Napoleon's undertaking, an army into Prussia, and to call forth the Prussians upon its dangers, upon its expense, upon the slender as auxiliaries, would, they contended, be using prospect of any remuneration by the usual modes measures towards Russia, which could not but bring of confiscation, plunder,; or levy of contributions. on the war which they anxiously deprecated. To They enlarge, too, upon the little probability there submit to menaces supported by demonstrations of was, that success in the intended war would bring open force, would be destructive of the influence of to a conclusion the disastrous contest in Spain; and Russia, both at home and abroad. She could not all these various arguments are insinuated or urged be expected to give way without a struggle. with more or less vehemence, according to the chaThese advisers allowed, that a case might be con- racter, the station, or the degree of intimacy with ceived for justifying an exertion to destroy the Napoleon, of the counsellor who ventured to use power of Russia, a case arising out of the transac- the topics. But among his advisers, none that we tions between France and the other states of Europe, read or hear of, had the open and manly courage to and out of the apprehension that these states, ag- ask, Where was the justice of this attack upon Rusgrieved and irritated by the conduct of France, sia? What had she done to merit it? Tile emperors might be tempted to seek a leader, patron, and pro- were friends by the treaty of Tilsit, confirmed by tector, in the Emperor Alexander. But this ex- personal intimacy and the closest intercourse at tremity, they alleged, could not exist so long as Erfitrt. How had they ceased to be such? What France had the means of avoiding a perilous war, had happened since that period to place Russia, by a mitigation of her policy towards her vassals and then the friend and confessed equal of France. auxiliaries; for if the states whose revolt (so to call in the situation of a subordinate and tributary it) was apprehended, could be reconciled to France state? On what pretence did Napoleon confiscate by a more lenient course of measures to be adopted to his own use the Duchy of Oldenburg, acknowtowards them, they would lose all temptation to fly ledged as the property of Alexander's brother-into Russia as a protector. In such case the power law, by an express article in the treaty of Tilsit? of Russia would no longer give jealousy to France, By what just right could he condemn the Russiasa or compel her to rush to a dubious conflict, for the nation to all the distresses of his anti-commercial purpose of diminishing an influence which could not system, while he allowed them to be a free and inthen become dange-ous to the southern empire, by dependent state?-Above all, while he considered depriving France of her clientage. them as a sovereign and a people entitled to be It might have been added, though it could not be treated with the usual respect due between powers LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 517 that are connected by friendly treaties, with what doubtless, that the unexpected circumstance of his pretence of justice, or even decency, could he appearing there, and the reasoning in his memorial, proceed to enforce claims so unfounded in them- would excite Napoleon's attention. To his grat selves, by introducing his own forces on their fron. surprise, Napoleon, with an air of easy indifference, tier, and arming their neighbours against them for the began the audience. "I am no stranger, Monsieur same purpose? Of these pleas, in moral justice, le Duc, to your errand here. You have a memorial there was not a word urged; nor was silence wonder- to present me-give it me-I will read it, though I ful on this fruitfill topic, since to insist upon it would know already its contents. The war with Russia is have been to strike at the fundamental principle of not more agreeable to you than that of Spain." Bonaparte's policy, which was, never to neglect a "Your Imperial Majesty will pardon my having present advantage for the sake of observing a gene- ventured to offer some observations on this important rat principle. " Let us hear of no general prin- crisis?" said the statesman, astonished to find himciples," said Bonaparte's favourite minister of the self anticipated, when he believed he had laboured period. " Ours is a government not regulated by in the most absolute secrecy. theory, but by emerging circumstances." "It is no crisis," resumed Napoleon; " merely a We ought not to omit to mention, that Fouch6, war of a character entirely political. Spain will:all among others, took up a testimony against the Rus- when I have annihilated the English influence at sian war. He had been permitted to return to his StPetersburg. I haveeighthundred thousand nen; chateau of Ferrieres, near Paris. under the apology and to one who has such an army, Europe is but an that the air of Italy did not agree with his constitu- old prostitute, who must obey his pleasure. Was it tion. But Napoleon distrusted him, and the police not yourself who told me that the word imzpossible were commissioned to watch with the utmost accu- was not good French? I regulate my conduct more racy the proceedings of their late master. Fouch6 on the opinion of my army than the sentiments of you was well aware of this; and, desirous that his re- grandees, who are become too rich; and while you monstrance with the emperor should have all the pretend anxiety for me only, are apprehensive of tile force of an unexpected argument, he shut himself general confusion which would follow my death. up in the strictest seclusion while engaged in cornm- Don't disquiet yourself, but consider the Russian posing a production, which perhaps he hoped might war as a wise measure, demanded by the true intebe a means of recalling him to recollection, if not to rests of France, and the general security. Am I to favour. blame, because the great degree of power I have I In an able and eloquent memorial, Fouche re- already attained forces me to assume the dictatorminded Bonaparte, that he was already the absolute ship of the world? My destiny is not yet accomnmaster of the finest empire the world had ever seen; plished-my present situation is but a sketch of a and that all the lessons of history went to demon- picture which I must finish. There must be one strate the impossibility of attaining universal mo- universal European code, one court of appeal. The narchy. The French empire had arrived, according same money, the same weights and measures, the to the reasoning of this able statesman, at that point same laws, must have currency through Europe. I when its ruler should rather think of securing and must make one nation out of all the European states, consolidating his present acquisitions, than of achiev- and Paris must be the capital of the world. At ing farther conquests, since, whatever his empire present you no longer serve me well, because yout might acquire in extent, it was sure to lose in soli- think my affairs are in dangerl; but before a year is dity. Fouch6 stated the extent of the country which over you will assist me with the same zeal and arNapoleon was about to invade, the poverty of the dour as at the periods of Marengo and Austerlitz. soil, the rigour of the climate, and the distance which You will see more than all this-it is I who assure each fresh victory must remove himn from his re- you ofit. Adieu, Monsieur le Duc. Do notplay the sources, annoyed as his communications werle sore disgraced courtier, or the captious critic of public to be by nations of Cossacks and Tartars. Hle in- affairs; and be so good as to put a little confidence plored the emperor to remember the fate of Charles in your emperor." Xlf. of Sweden. "If that warlike monarch," He then turned his back on FoucUh, and left hil he said, " had not, like Napoleon, half Europe in to reflect by what means he, who so well knlew all arms at his back, neither had his opponent, the Czar the machinations of the police, could himself have Peter, four hundred thousand soldiers, and fifty become exposed to their universal vigilance;; with thousand Cossacks. The invader, it was stated, some cause, perhaps, to rejoice, that his secret eamwould have against him the dislike of the higher ployment, though nipleasing to Bonaparte, was not ranks, the fanaticism of the peasantry, the exertions of soldiers accustomed to the severity of the climate. * Fouchd afterwards remembered, that an indildual in There were besides to be dreaded, in case of the his neigjhbourhood, mayor of a municipality, and when be slightest reverlse, the intlrigues of the Elnglish, the himself had employed in matters of police, had one morning fickleness of his continental allies, and even tileintruded rather hastily on him in his study, under pretext awakening of discontent and conspiracy in France ofpleadingthe cause of a distressed tenant; and concluded, that while he was searching for the papers concerning his its.elf, should an idea generally arise,- that le was visitor's ostensible business, lIVr Mayor had an opportunity sacrificing the welfare of the state to the insa- to glance at the sheets on his scrutoire, where the repetftiable desire of fresh enterprises and distant con- tion of V. M. I. and R. M. (intimating your Inperial and quests." Royal Majesty), betrayed that he was drawing up a 11memo. Fouch6 presented himself at the Tuileries, and rial to Napoleon, and a word or two of the context explailurequested an audience of the emperor, hoping, ed its purport. 5-18 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. of a character to attract punishment as well as animn- peror Alexander on that account declines.- J tr eaty adversion. with France dictated to Prtssia.-Relations between As Napoleon discountenanced and bore down the Austria and France-in order to preserve them, Bonaremonstrances of the subtle Fouch6, so he represent- parte is obliged to come under an engagement not to I ed to his various advisers the war nupon which he revolutionize Poland.-His error of policy in neglecting was unalterably determied, in. the- light nlost proper to cultivate the alliance of the Porte.-Amnount of Boto bring them over to his oan opinion. To the army naparte's army.-Levies. of the Ban,. the Second Btln, to bringener them overe to hi fs own opinio To the a lrmyf and Arrihre-Ban, for the protection of France in the in general, the mere name of war was in itself a suf- emperor's absence.-Storming of Cit-dad Rodrigo, by ficient recommendation. It comprehended prefer- Lord Wellington. - Bonaparte makes overtures of ment, employment, plunder,'distinction, and pen- peace to Lord Castlereagh-The correspondence broken sions. To the gefierals, it afforded marshals' ba- off.- Ultimatumn of Russia rejected, and made the direct tons,-to the marshals, crowns and sceptres;-to cause of Aostilities by Napoleon - who sets out from the civilians, he urged, as to Fouc.he, that it was a Paris, 9th May, 1812-and meets th-e sorereigns his allies ww of policy,-of necessity,-the last act in the at Dresden, where a variety of royal festivilies are drama, but indispensably requisite to conclude the held.-A last attempt of Napoleos to neyotiate with whole; —to his most intimate friends he expressed Alexanderproves unsuccessfdrl. his conviction that his fortune could not stand still; that it was founded on public opinion; and that if he THE' several powers, who might in their different did not continue to advance he must necessarily re- degrees of strength aid or impede the last and most trograde. To his uncle, Cardinal Feseh, he used a daring of Bonaparte's undertakings, were,-Denstill more extraordinary argument. This prelate, a mark, Saxony, Sweden, and Prussia, in the north of devout catholic, had begun to have compunction Europe; in the south. Austria, and the Turkish about his nephew's behaviour towards the pope; and empire. these sentiments mingled like an ominous feeling Denmark and Saxony were both devoted to the with the alarms excited by the risks of his tremend- cause of France; but the former power, who had ou0s undertaking. With more than usual freedom made over to Napoleon her seamen, had no land' lie conjured his kinsman to abstain from tempting troops to spare for his assistance. The few that she Providence. lie entreated him not to defy heaven had on foot were scarce sufficient to protect her and earth, the wrath of man, and the filry of the against any enterprise of Sweden or England. elements, at the same time; and expressed his ap. Saxony was also thle firm friend of Napoleon, who prehension that lie must at length sink under the had enlarged her dominions, and changed her ruler's wveight of the ennrity which lie incurred daily.* The electoral bonnet into a royal crown. It is true, if only answer whllich Bonaparte vouchsafed, was to Poland was to be regenerated, as seemed to be the lead thle cardinal to the window, and, opening the natural consequence of a war with Russia, tile King casemlellt, and plointing upwards,to ask him, " If he of Saxony must have reckoned upon losing his ducal saw yonder star?" interest in the Grand Duchy of WTarsaw. But firom " No, sire," answered the astonished cardinal. this he derived little present advantage, and as he " B.:t I see it," answered Bonaparte; and turned was secure of indemnification, the apprehension of fromnl his relation as if'he had filly confilted Ihis ar- that loss did not prevent him from fbllowing the gnrumets. banner of Napoleon, with the samne good will as ever. I'isa speech minght admlit of two meanings; — Very different was the condition of'Sweden. That either tha! Napoleorl wislred in this malneerto express kingdom, since the reign of Francis I., had been the tlhat hiis ownvi powers of penetration were superior to ancient anid natural ally of France against Russia; in those of the cardinal, or it might have ref.rence to acting against which last power her local advantages certail sluperstitiors confidenree in iris predestined afforded great facility. Sweden was also governed good fortune, wtlich we Ilrve already obsersed lie at tile nmomient by a Frenchman. But tire Prince wsis known to enrtertarin. IBrit as it was not Napo- Royal had receivedl more inilluies and affronts, tiran leon's:asthlirtr, whvltever reliance lie lle iht place on favoru's, at the hands of the ELnperor Napoleon, and such auguries, to neglect anry means of insuring sac- the violent policy which the latter was in the hablit cess vithin, his po(wer, we are next to inqusire wvhat of using towards those of his allies and neighbours, iolitic.al reasreaues he i;ad taken to carry on the who did riot sbihmit unresistingly to all hiis dnnmands,, proposed Russian war to adrantage. hadi alienated friom France the lea rlts of tihe Swe.des, and fiom ris onwn person the fiiendship of his oldr CHIAPT'ERl LXXIV. companion in armns. XXe have nmentioned the moide of argnument, or rather declamation, which lihe had Allies on whlose assistance Bonaparte might count. - iused to compel the Swedes into a total exclusion of Cautses rwhich alienated fromr him the Prince Royal of English manufactures, corntrary to a reservation made Sweden,- who signs a Treaty w7ith Rutssia. —Delicate in a recent treaty, by which the. Swedes had retainsituation of the King of Prussia, whose alliance the Em- ed the right of imploltinlg colonial goods and salt, * It is not unworthy of notice, that the emperor's mother hile cosentin to exclude British corniodities ge(Madame Mbre, as she was termed) always expressed a pre- nerallv. With the samne urgency and menaces, lie sentiment, that thle fortunes of her family, splendid as they had collmp)elled tire Crown Prince to declare war were, would be altered before her death; and when ridi- agarinst Britain. culed by her children for her frugal disposition, shie used to But althllougl Napoleon succeeded in both points, allege she was saving nmoney for them iin their distress; andi le colld not oblige Britain to treat Swedefrl ai1 i, be lini fact she lived to apply her hoards to that purlpose. ligerenlt powelr. On tihe contrary, Enritndl see.wlPi LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 19 not in,thle slightest degree-to alter the relations ofamity to France. But what bait could Napoleon hold out to a state which she considered as having adopted the to bring back an alienated friend.? He, might, inattitude of an enemy towards her, merely from corn- deed, offer to assist Bernadotte- i., regaining tihe pro,pulsion too powerful to be, resisted., This modera- vince of Finland, which, by, the conniv.atce of Nation on the part of Great Britain, did not prevent poleon, had been conquered by Russia.. But the Sweden from feeling all the evils of the anti social Crown Prince concluded, that, to, enter: into a war system of Bonaparte. Her commerce was reduced with the view of recovering Finland, would occasion to a mere coasting-trade,, and her vessels skulked expenses which the country, could not afforl, and from port to port, exposed to the depredations of which the acquisition, of Finland cou!ld not conDanish and French privateers,, who seized upon and pensate, even supposing it sure to be accomplished. confiscated upwards of fifty Swedish ships, under Besides, the repossession of Finland would engage pretence of enforcing the non-intercourse system. Sweden in perpetual disputes with Russia, whereas The Prince Royal applied for redress at the court the two. nations, separated by the Gull' of Bothnia, of Paris; but although vague promises were given, had at present no cause of difference. On the other yet neither were the acts of piracy discontinued, nor hand, by siding with Rulssia in the great contest any amends made for those daily conmmitted. The which was impending, Sweden might expect the Bar-on Alquier, who was the French envoy at Stock- assistance of that empire, as well as of Britain, to holon, used, according to Bernadotte's expression, achieve from Denmark, the ally of France, the the language of a Roman proconsul, without remem conqvtes.t of her kingdom of Norway, which, in its berinlg that he did not speak to slaves. geographical situation,, lay so conveniently for When asked, for example, to state categorically Sweden, and afforded her the whole range of seawhat Napoleon expected from. Sweden, and what he coast along the western shores of Scandinavia. It proposed to grant her in return, Alquier answered, is said that the Prince Royal offered to Napoleon that " the emperor expected fiomn Sweden compli- to enter into a leagule, offensive and defensive, with ance in every point conformable to his system; after France, providing Norway as well as Finland were which it would be tile enough to inquilre into what added to his dominions; but the emperor rejected his Imperial Majesty might be disposed to do in the terms with disdain. The whole alleged negoftvour of Sweden." tiation, however, has been disputed and denied. On another occasion, the French envoy had tlhe So soon as Bonaparte found there was no hope of assurance to decline farther Intercourse with the conciliating the Prince Royal, which indeed he Crown Prince on the subject of his mission, and to scarce seems seriously to have attempted, he prodesire that some other person might be appointed ceeded, without waiting for the ceremony of deto communicate with him. There can hbe no doubt, carting war, to strike against Sweden the most thit, in this singular course of diplomacy, Baron severe, or rather the only blow, in his power. In Alquier obeyed his master's instructions, who was January, 1812, General Davoust marched into Swedetermined to treat the Prince Royal of Sweden, dish Pomerania, tile only possession of Sweden emancipated as he was from his allegiance to France south of the Baltic Sea, seized upon the country and by letters patent from the Imperial Chancery, as if its capital, and proceeded to menace the military he had still been his subject, and sering'in his occupation of Prussia, so far as that country was armies. Napoleon went so, far as to say, before his no.t already in the hands'of France.. courtiers, that he had a mind to make Bernadotte Receiving no satisfaction for this aggression, finish his lessons in the Swedish language in the Sweden, 24th Marchl 1812, signed a treaty with Castle of Vincennes. It is even said, that the Russia, declaring war against France; and proposeraperor thought seriously of putting this threat into ing a diversion, with a joint force of twenty-five or execution, and that a plot was actually formed to thirty thousand Swedes, together with fifteen or seize the person of the Prince Royal, putting him on twenty thousand Russians, upon some poinlt of' Ceboard a vessel, and bringilng him pirisoner to France. I many. And the Emperor of Russia betaxe bound, Bat lie escaped this danger by the information of an either by negotiation or military co-ol)eration, to oflicer named Salazar, folmelly an aide-de-camp of unite the kingdoms of Norway to that of' Sweden, Mar,'mont, who conlveyed to the prince tinely infor- and to hold the Russian arnmy, wu hich was at present mutiton of the outrage which was intended.4 - in Finlanld, as disposable for that pui pose. Thus. Wtith so many causes of'll itual'anilmosity between was the force of Sweden, rendered yet more conFrance and Sweden, all arising out of' tie impolitic siderable by the highl military character of its vehemence by which Bonaparte endeavoured to present chief, thrown into the scale against Ftrance, drive, rather than lead, the l rince Royal into the to whom, brat for the passionate and impolitic chameasures he desired, it can hardly be s!ipposed that racter of Napoleon's proceedings towards lier, she the last would neglect ally opportunity to assert mnight, in all probability, have remained the same his independence, and his resoluition not to submit usefil and faithful ally which she had been since to asuperiority so degrading in itself, and so un- the alliance of Francis I. with Gustavus Vasa. graciously and even untlrcifillly exercised. No reason can he discovered for insulting Sweden Such was the state of matters betwixt the two at the precise moment when her co-operation would countries, when, fiom the apprt.achiing war with have been so usefill, excepting the animosity of itassia, the assistance of Sweden became essential Napoleon against a prince whom he regarded as an aoncient rival before the 18th Brumaire, and now as ~ see Appendix, No. 6 —-Reflections on the conduct of a contumacious and rebellious vassal. A due regar' d Napoleon ioward.m the Pince Roa of Sweden." to the honour and interest of France, would have -- I- — I — -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ —J 520 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. induced him to lay aside such personal considera- Bavaria, in hopes of acquiring allies, but only extions. Butthis does not appear to have been in posed thean to the decisive defeats of Ulm and Bonaparte's nature, who, if he remembered benefits, Eckumlhl. It would also have been like the equally had also a tenacious recollection of enmities, said ill-omened advance of the Prussian army in 1806i, tobe peculiar to the natives of Corsica. When this when, hurrying forward to compel Saxony to join feeling obtained the ascendancy, he was too apt to him, the Duke of Brunswick gave occasion to the sacrifice his policy to his spleen. unhappy battle of Jena. The situation of the King of Prussia, at the break- Experience and reflection, therefore, had led the ing out of the dispute between the empires of France Russian Emperor and cabinet to be of opinion, that and Russia, was truly embarrassing. His position they ought to avoid encountering the French in the lying betwixt the contending parties, rendered early part of the campaign; and in consequence, neutrality almost impossible; and if he took up that, far from advancing to meet them, they should arms, it was a matter of distracting doubt on which rather suffer the invaders to involve themselves in side he ought to employ them. Oppressed by the immense wastes and forests of the territories of French exactions and French garrisons; instigated, Russia itself, where supplies and provisions were besides, by the secret influence of the Tugend-bund, not to be found by the invader, and where every the people of Prussia were almost unanimous in their peasant would prove an armed enemy. The support eager wish to seize the sword against France, nor which could be derived from an auxiliary army of was the king less desirous to redeem the independ- Prussians, amounting only to 40,000 men, of whom ence, and revenge the sufferings of his kingdom. perhaps the half could not be drawsn together, was The recollections of an amiable and beloved queen, not, it appeared, an adequate motive for altering the who had died in the prime of life, heart-broken with plan of the campaign, which had been founded on the distresses of her country, with her hands locked the most mature consideration. The EmperorAlexin those of her husband, called also for revenge on ander, therefore, declined accepting of the King France, which had insulted her when living, and of Prussia's alliance, as only tending to bring upon slandered her when dead.' that prince misfortunes, which Russia had not even Accordingly it is now well underStood, that the the chance of averting, without entirely altering first impulse of the King of Pruissia's mind was to those plans of the campaign which had been delibethrow himself into the arms of Russia, and offer, rately adopted. Foreseeing at the same time that should it cost him his life and crown, to take share this refusal on his part must have made it necessary in the war as his faithful ally. But the Emperor for Frederick, whose situation rendered neutrality Alexander was sensible that, in accepting this of- impossible, to take part with France, the Emperor fered devotion, he would come under an obliga- Alexander generously left him at liberty to take the tior to protect Prussia in case of those reverses, measures, and form the connexions, which his cirwhich might be almost reckoned on as likely to cumstances rendered inevitable, assuring him, neveroccur in the early part of the campaign. The theless, thatif Russia gained the ascendint, Prussia strongest fortresses in Prussia were in the hands of should derive the same advantage fiorn the victory, the French, the army of the king did not amount to whatever part she might be compelled tc aaopt more than forty thousand men, and there was no during the struggle. time to arm or organize the national forces. In While the King of Prussia saw his alliance deorder to form a junction with these forty thousand lined by Russia, as rather burdensome than benemen, or as many of them as could be collected, it ficial, he did not find France at all eager to receive would be necessary that Alexander should preci- him on her part as a brother of the war. He offered pitate the war, and march a strong army into Silesia, his alliance to Bonaparte repeatedly, and especially upon wl ich the Prussians might rally. But such an in the months of March, 5X:lay, and Auguist, 1811; army, when it had attained its object, must have but receiving no satisfaction, he began to be apprehad in firont the whole forces of France, Saxony, hensive that his destruction was intended.'There and the Confederacy of the Rhine, while the hostile was some reason for this fear, for Napoleon seems troops of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, with pro- to have entertained a personal dislike towards Frebably a body of' Austrian auxiliaries, world have derick, and is said to have exclaimed, when lie was been in their rear. This premature movement in looking over a map of the Prussian territories, " Is it advance, would have resembled the conduct of possible I can have been simple enukSl, to leave that Austria in the unhappy canmpaigns of 1805 and 1809; man in possession of so large a kingdom?"'here in both of which she precipitated her armies into is great reason, besides, to suppose, that Napoleon may have either become acquainted with the secret In the Mo.niter, a scandalous intrigue was repeatedly negotiations betwixt Prussia and Russia, or may alluded to as existing between this princess ant the Empe- have been induced to assume from probability the ror Alexanlder, and both to Monsieur Las Cases and to others, Bonaparte affirmed the same personally; telling, at the same time, as a good jest, that he himself had kept the whether or not he would el mit Prssia to lo nal1 King of Prussia out of the way, to provide the lovers a an independent power. stolen meeting. These averments are so inconsistent with At length, however, on the 24th February, 18122, a the character universally assigned to this high-spirited and treaty was dictated to Frederick, under condition of unthappy princess, that we have no hesitation to assign them sumbscribing which, the name and title of King of dlirectly to calumny; a weapon which Napoleon never Prussia were to be yet left himll; failing his cormplidisdained to wield, whether in private or national contro- ance, Davoust, Who had occupied Swedish Polneversy. rania, was to march into Prussia, and treat it as a LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 521 hostile country. In thus sparing for the time a This compensation, it was stipulated, was to consist monarch, of whom he had evelry reason to be jealous, in the retrocession, on the part of France, of the Napoleon seems to have considered it more ad- Illyrian provinces, yielded up by his Imhnperial MavisaLle to use Frederick's assistance than to throw jesty of Austria at the treaty of Scheoenbrunl. him into the arms of Russia. The conditions of this By submitting to this embargo on his proceedings lenity were severe; Prussia was to place at the dis- in Poland, Napoleon lost all opport.unity of revoluposal of France about twenty thousand men, with tionizing that military country, from which he drew sixty pieces of artillery, the disposable part of the therefore little advantage, unless from the Duchy of poor remnant of the standing army of the Great Warsaw. Nothing but the tenacity with which Frederick. She was also to supply the French army Bonaparte retained every territory that fell into his with everything necessary for their sustenance as power, would have prevented him firom at once siemthey passed through her dominions; but the ex- plifying this complicated engagement, by assigning pense of these supplies was to be imputed as part to Austria those Illyrian provinces, which were enof the contributions imposed on Prussia by France, tirely useless to France, but on which her ally set and not yet paid. Various other measures were great value, and stipulating in return,-what Austria taken to render it easy for the French, in case of would then have willingly granted,-the power of necessity, to seize such fortresses belonging to disposing, according to his own pleasure, as well of Prussia as were not already in their hands, and to Polish Gallicia, as of such parts of the Polish prokeep the Prussian people as much as possible dis- vinces as should be conquered firom Russia; or in armed, a rising amongst them being considered in- case, as De Pradt insinuates, the court of Austria evitable, if the French arms should sustain any were averse to the exchange, it was in the power of reverse. Thus, while Russia fortified herself with Napoleon to have certainly removed their objections, the assistance of France's old ally, Sweden, France by throwing Venice itself into the scale. But we advanced against Russia, supported by the remain- have good reason to believe that Illyria would have ing army of Frederick of Prussia, who was at heart been a sufficient inducement to the transaction. Alexander's best well-wisher. We cannot suppose Bonaparte blind to the irmNapoleon had, of course, a weighty voice in the portance of putting, as he expressed it, all Poland councils of his father-in-law of Austria. But the on horseback; but whether it was, that in reality Austrian cabinet were far from regarding his plans he did not desire to establish an independent state of ambitious aggrandizement with a partial eye. The upon any terms, or whether he thought it hard to acute Metternich had been able to discover and give up the Illyrian provinces, ceded to France in report to his master, on his return to Vienna in the property, in order to reconstruct a kingdom, which, spring of 1811, that the marriage which had just nominally at least, was to be independent; or been celebrated, would not have the effect of in- whether, in fine, he had an idea that, by vague ducing Napoleon to sheathe his sword, or of giving to promises and hopes, he could obtain from the Poles Europe permanent tranquillity. And now, although all the assistance he desired,-it is certain that he on the approach of the hostilities into which they embarrassed himself with this condition in favour of were to be involved by their formidable ally, Austria Austria, in a manner which tended to render coinagreed to supply an auxiliary army of 30,000 men, plex and difficult all that he afterwards attempted under Prince Schwartzenberg, it seems probable in Polish affairs; and lost the zealous co-operation that she remembered, at the same time, the moderate and assistance of the Lithuanians, at a time when and lenient mode of carrying on the war practised it voulld have been invaluable to him. by Russia, when the ally of Napoleon during the Turkey remains to be noticed as the sole remaincampaign of Wagram, and gave her general secret ing power whom Bonaparte ought in Vprdence to instructions to be no further active in the campaign have propitiated, previous to attacking Russia, of than the decent supporting of the part of an auxili- which empire she is the natural enemy, as she was ary peremptorily required. also held the natural and ancient ally of France. In one most material particular, the necessity of Were it not that the talents of Napoleon were mllch consulting the interests of Austria interfered with better fitted to crush enemies than to gain or mainNapoleon's readiest and most formidable means of tain friends, it would be difficult to account for his annoying Russia. We have repeatedly alluded to losing influence over tile Porte at this important the re-establishment of Poland as an independent period. The Turkish government had been renderkingdom, as a measure which would have rent from ed hostile to France by the memorable invasion of Russia some of the finest provinces which connect Egypt; but Sultan Selim, an admirer of Napoleon's her with Europe, and would have gone a certain valour and genius, had become the friend of the length in thrusting her back into the character of an Emperor of France. Selim was cut off by a conspiAsiatic sovereignty, unconnected with the politics racy, and his successor was more partial to the of the civilized world. Stuch reconstruction of English interests. In the treaty of Tilsit the partiPoland was however impossible, so long as Austria tion of Turkey was actually agreed upon, though continued to hold Polish Gallicia; and that state, the term was adjourned;* as, at the negotiations of in her treaty of alliance with France against Russia, made.i a. e x s codin t t shd. * The fact is now pretty generally admitted to have been made it an express condition, that no attempt should as stated in the text. But in the public treaty, it appeared be made for the restoration of Polish independence that France negotiated an armistice, called that of Slobodby Napoleon, without the consent of Austria, or sea, by which it was stipulated that the two disputed pro. without making compensation to her for being, in vinces of MIoldavia andi Wallachia were to be restored to the event supposed, deprived of her share of Poland. the Turks. But the armnistice, as had previously been setvor.. v[. tii 52-?2 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Erfurt, Napoleon agreed to abandon the Turkish of France, and were able to impress on. the Sublime dominions as far as the Danube, to become the pro- Porte the belief, that though Russia was their na. perty of Russia, if it should be in her power to taral enemy amoing European nations, yet a peace conquer them. of some permanence might be secured with her, The Court of St Petersburg were ill-advised under the guarantee of England an.dSweden; whereenough to make the attempt, although they ought as, if Napoleon should altogether destroy Russia, to have foreseen, even then, that the increasing the conquest of the Turkish Empire, of which he power of France should have withheld them from had already meditated the division, would be a engaging in any scheme of conquest at that period. measure no state could have influence to prevent, Indeed their undertaking this ivar with the Ottoman as, in subduing Russi:a, he wvould overcome the last Empire, a proceeding so impolitic in case of a terrestrial barrier to his absolaute power. It gives rupture with France, may be quoted to show the no slight idea of the general: terror and suspicion Emperor Alexander's confidence that no such event impressed by the very name of Napoleon, that a was likely to take place, and consequently to prove barbarous people like the Turks, who generally only his own determination to observe good faith towards comprehend so much of politics as lies straight Napoleon. before them, should have been able to understand The Turks made a far better defence than had that there was wisdom in giving peace on reasonable been anticipated; and though the events of war terms to an old and inveterate enemy, rather than, were at first unfavourable to them, yet at length the by assisting in his destruction, to contribute to the grand vizier obtained a victory before Routschouk, elevation of a power still more formidable, more or at least gave the Russian general such a serious ambitious, and less easily opposed. The peace of check as obliged him to raise the siege of that place. Bucharest was accordingly negotiated betwixt RusBut the gleam of victory on the Turkish banners: sia and Turkey, of which we. shall hereafter have was of brief duration. They were attacked by the occasion to speak. Russians in their entrenched camp, and defeated in Thus was France, on the approaching struggle, a battle so sanguinary, that the vanquished army deprived of her two ancient allies, Sweden and was almost annihilated. The Turks, however, con- Turkey. Prussia she brought to the field like a tinued to maintain the war, forgotten and neglected slave at her chariot-wheels; Denmark and Saxony as they were by the Emperor of France, whose in- in the character of allies, who were favoured so terest it chiefly was, considering his views against long as they were sufficiently subservient; and AusRussia, to have sustained them in their unequal tria, as a more equal confederate, but who had construggle against that formidable power. In the trived to stipulate, that, in requital of an aid coldly meanwhile, hostilities languished, and negotiations and unwillingly granted, the French Emperor should were commenced; for the Russians were of course tie himself down by engagements respecting Poland, desirous so soon as a war against France became a which interfered with his using his influence over probable event, to close that with Turkey, which that country in the manner which would best have must keep engaged a very considerable army, at a served his purposes. The result must lead to one tinie when all their forces were necessary to oppose of two conclusions. Either that Napoleon, confident the expected attack of Napoleon. in the immense preparations of his military force, At this period, and so late as the 21st March, 1812, disdained to enter into negotiations to obtain that it seemed to occur all at once to Bonaparte's recol- assistance which he- could not directly command, or lection, that it would be highly politic to maintain, else that his talents in politics were inferior to those or rather to renew, his league with a nation, of which he displayed in military affairs. whom it was at the time most important to secure It is true, that if the numbers, and we may add the confidence. His ambassador was directed to the qtuality, of the army which France brought into urge the Grand Seignor in person to move towards the field on this momentous occasion, were alone to the Danube, at the head of one hundred thousand be considered, Napoleon might be excused for men; in consideration of which, the French Empe- holding cheap the assistance which he might have ror proposed not only to obtain possession for them derived from Sweden or the Porte. He had anticiof the two disputed provinces of Moldavia and pated the conscription of 1811, and he now called W~allachia, but also to procure the restoration to out that of 1812; so that it became plain, that so the Porte of the Crimea. long as Napoleon lived and warred, the conscription This wvar-breathing message arrived too late; the of the first class would be,-not a conditional rePorte having adopted a pacific line of policy. The gulation, to be acted or not acted upon according splendid promises of France succeeded too abruptly to occasion, —but a regular and never-to-be-remitted to so many years of neglect, to obtain credit for sin- tax of eighty thousand men, annually levied, withcerity. The envoys of England, with a dexterity out distinction, on the youth of France. To the which it has not been always their fortune to display, amount of these conscriptions for two years, were obtained a complete victory in diplomacy over those to he added the contingents of household kings, vassal princes, subjected republics,-of two-thirds tled between Napoleon and Alexander, broke up without of Europe, in short, which were placed under Bonaany such restoration; and a congress, which was held at parte's command. No such army had taken the Jassy for the arrangement of the quarrel between the Porte field since the reign of Xerxes, supposing the exagand Court of St Petersburg having been also dissolved with- gerated accounts of the Persian invasion to be adout coming to an agreement, the war between the Turks mitted as historical. The head almost turns dizzy I and Russians recommenced upon the Danube. as we read the amount of their numbers. ]LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.. 523 The gross amount of the whole forces of the em- whatever scheme was proposed by the emperor, yire of France, and its dependencies and allies, is had acquired the title of King of Reptiles, had upon thus given by Boutourlin: —- this occasion his usual task of justifying the impelial measures. In this allotment of another mighty Total amoult of the Frenacharm..... 850,00: men, draught of the youth of France to the purposes of The army of Italy, under the 0Viceroy ~u military service, at a time when only tile unbounded gmeh........................... 50,000 - — of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, ambition of Napoleon rendered such a measure newith other Poles................. 60,000 cessary, he could discover nothing save a new and of Bavaria.................. 40,000 affecting proof of the emperor's paternal regard for of Saxony................... 30,000 his subjects. The youths, he said, would be reof Westphalia............. 30,000 lieved by one-sixth part of a cohort at a time; and, of Wirtemberg,................ 15,000- being at an age when ardour of mind is united to.-.-.. ofBaden.................... 9,000 strength of body, they would find in the exercise of -- c- of the Princesof the Confederacy arms rather salutary sport and' agreeable recreaof the Rhine.............3........ 23,000 tion, than painful labour or severe duty. Then the The corps ofPrussian Auxiliaries.e...... 20,05, express prohibition to quit the frontiers would be, - of Au~strian Auxiliaries..........,301" their parents might rest assured, an absolute check The army of Naples................... 30,000 The army of apl. 30,000 on the fiery and impetuous character of the French 1,187,000 men. soldier, and prevent the young men from listening to their headlong courage, and rushing forward into But to approximate the actual force, we must distant fields of combat, which no doubt there might deduce from this total of 1,187,000, about:387,000 be otherwise reason to apprehend. All this sounded men, for those in the hospital, absentuponfurlough, very well, but the time was not long ere the Senate and for incomplete regiments. Still there remains removed their writ ne exeat regno, in the case of the appalling balance of eight hundred.thousand men, these hundred cohorts; and, whether hurried on by ready to maintain the war; so that Bonaparte was their own impetuous valour, or forced forward by enabled to detach an army to Russia greatly supe- command of their leaders, they were all engaged rior to what the Emperor Alexander could, without in foreign service, and marched off to distant and immense exertions, get under arms, and this without bloody fields, from which few of them had the good withdrawing any part of his forces from Spain. fortune to return. Still, however, in calculating all. the chances While the question of peace or war was yet attending the eventful game on which so much was trembling in the scales, news arrived from Spain to be staked, and to encounter such attempts upon that Lord Wellington had opened the campaign by France as England might by his absence be tempted an enterprise equally successfully conceived and. to make, Napoleon judged it prudent to have re- daringly executed. Cilldad Rodrigo, which the course to additional means of national defence, French had greatly strengthened, was one of the which might extend the duty of military service still keys of the frontier between Spain and Portugal. more widely among his subjects than was effected Lord Wellington had blockaded it, as we have even by the conscription. As the measure was seen, in the preceding year, but more with the purnever but in one particular brought into general pose of compelling General Marmont to concentrate activity, it may be treated of the more slightly. his forces for its relief, than with any hope of taking The system consisted in a levy of national guards, the place. But in the end of January, 1812, the divided into three general classes; the Ban, the French heard with surprise and alarm that the Second Ban, and Arriere-Ban; for Bonaparte loved English army, suddenly put in motion, had opened to retain the phrases of the old feudal institutions. trenches before Ciudad Rodrigo, and were batterThe First Ban was to contain all men, from twenty ing in breach. to twenty-six years, who had not been called to Marmont once more put his whole forces in moserve in the army. The Second Ban included all tion, to prevent the fall of a place which was of the capable of bearing arms, from the age of twenty-six greatest consequence to both parties; and lie had to that of forty. The Arriere-Ban comprehended every reason to hope for success, since Ciudad Roall able-bodied men from forty to sixty. The levies drigo, before its fortifications had been improved by from these classes were not to be sent beyond the the French, had held out against Mass6na for more frontiers of France, and were to be called out in than a month, though his army consisted of 100,000 succession, as the danger pressed. They were di- men. But in the present instance, within ten days vided into cohorts of eleven hundred and twenty from the opening of the siege, the place was carried men each. But it was the essential part of this by storm, almost under the very eyes of the expeproject that it placed one hundred cohorts of the rienced general who was advancing to its relief, First Ban (that is, upwards of one hundred thousand and who had no alternative b'ut to retire again to imen, between twenty and twenty-six years), at the cantonments, and ponder upon the skill and activity immediate disposal of the minister of war. In which seemed of a sudden to have inspired the short, it was a new form of conscription, with the British forces. arivantage, to the recrutits, of limited service. Lord Wellington was none of those generals who The celebrated philosopher Count Lacdpede, think that an advantage, or a victory gained, is su f;vho, from his researches into natural history, as ficient work for one campaign. The French were well as from the ready eloquence with which le hardly reconciled to the loss of Ciudad Rodrigo, so could express the acquiescence of the Senate in extraordinary did it appear to them, when Badajos 524 -LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. was invested, a much stronger place, which had reagh immediately replied, that if the reign of King stood a siege of thirty-six days against the French Joseph was meant by the phrase " the dynasty acin the year 1811, although the defences were then tually reigning," he must answer explicitly, that sUmch weaker, and the place commanded by an of- England's engagements to Ferdinand VII. and tile ficerof no talent, and dubious fidelity. Itwas now, Cortes presently governing Spain, rendered her with incomprehensible celerity, battered, breached, acknowledging him impossible. stormed, and taken, within twelve days after the The correspondence wnent no farther. The nature opening of' the trenches. Two French marshals had of the overture served to show the tenacity of Bonain vain interfered to prevent this catastrophe. Mar- parte's character, who, in treating for peace, would mont made an unsuccessfill attempt upon Ciudad yield nothing save that which the fate of war lad Rodrigo, and assumed the air of pushing into Por- actually placed beyond his reach; and expected the tugal; but no sooner did he learn the fall of the British to yield up to him the very kingdom of Spain, place, than he commenced his retreat from Castel- whose fate depended upon the bloody arbitr-ement Branco. Soult, who had advanced rapidly to re- of the sword. It also manifested the insincerity lieve Badajos, was in the act, it is said, of informing with which he could use words to mislead those a circle of his officers that it was the commands of who treated with him. He had in many instances, the emperor-commands never tinder any circumr- some of which we have quoted, laid it down as a stances to be disobeyed-that Badajos should be sacred principle, that princes of his blood called to relieved, when an officer, who had been sent for- reign over foreign states, should remain still the ward to reconnoitie, interrupted the shouts of Vive subjects of France and vassals of its emperor, whose l'empereuzr! with the equally dispiriting and incre- interest they were bound to prefer on all occasions dible information, that the English colours were to that of the countries they were called to govern. flying on the walls. Upon these grounds he had compelled the abdication These two brilliant achievements were not only of King Louis of Holland; and how was it possible of great importance by their influence on the events for him to expect to receive credit, when he proof the campaign, but still more so as they indicated posed to render Spain independent under Joseph, that our military operations had assumed an entirely whoie authority was unable to control even the new character, and that the British soldiers, as now French marshals who acted in his name? conducted, had not only the advautage of their own This feeble effort towards a general peace having strength of body and natural courage, not only the altogether miscarried, it became subject of considerbenefit of the resources copiously supplied by the ation, whether the approaching breach betwixt the wealthy nation to whom they belonged, but also, as two great empires could yet be prevented. The began to be generally allowed, an undoubted supe- most active preparations for war were taking place riority il military art and science. The objects of on both sides. Those of Russia were defensive; but the campaign were admirably chosen, for the exer- she mustered great armies on the Niemen, as if in tion t.) be made was calculated with a degree of expectation of an assault; while France was rapidly accuracy which dazzled and bewildered the enemy; pouring troops into Prussia, and into the Grand and though the loss incurred intheir attainment was Duchy of Warsaw, and assuming those positions very considerable, yet it was not in proportion to most favourable for invading the Russian frontier. the mnlch greater advantages attained by success. Yet amid preparations for war, made on such an Badajos fell on the 9th of April; and on the 18th immense scale as Europe had never before witof that month, an overture of pacific tendency was nessed, there seemed to be a lingering wish on the made by the French government to that of Britain. part of both sovereigns, even at this late hour, to It is not unlikely that Bonaparte, on beholding his avoid the conflict. This indeed might have been best commanders completely out-generaled before easily done, had there been on the part of Napoleon Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajos, might foresee in this a hearty desire to make peace, instead of what could inauspicious commencement the long train of defeat only be termed a degree of hesitation to commence and disaster which befel the French in that campaign hostilities. In fact, the original causes of quarrel of 181., the events of which could not have failed were already settled, or, what is the same thing, to give liberty to Spain, had Spain, or rather had principles had been fixed, on which their arrangeher government, been united among themselves, and ment might be easily adjusted. Yet still the precordial in supporting their allies. parations for invading Russia became more and It might be Lord Wellington's successes, or the more evident-the purpose was distinctly expressed lingering anxiety to avoid a war involving so many in the treaty between France and Prussia; and the contingencies as that of Russia; or it might be a war did not appear the less certain that the causes desire to impress the French public that he was of it seemed to be in a great measure abandoned. always disposed towards peace, that induced Napo- The anxiety of Alexander was therefore diverted leon to direct the Duke of Bassano to write a letter from the source of the dispute, to its important con~o Lord Castlereagh, proposing that the integrity sequences; and he became most naturally more and independence of Spain should be guaranteed solicitous about having the French troops withdrawn under the present reigning dynasty; that Portugal from the frontiers of Poland, than about the cause should remain tinder the rule of the princes of Bra- that originally brought them there. ganza; Sicily under that of Ferdinand; and Naples Accordingly, Prince Kourakin, the Russian p leniunder Murat; each nation, in this manner, retaining potentiary, had orders to communicate to the Duke possession of that which the other had not been able of Bassano his master's ultimatum. The grounds of to wrench 4.om them by force of war. Lord Castle- arrangement proposed by the czar were, the evacu LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 525h ation of Prussia and Pomerania by the French looks, lie wandered through, the gay and splendid troops; a diminution of the garrison of Dantzic; scenes, a mourner rather than a reveler. But fate and an amicable arrangement of the dispute between had amends in store, for a prince whose course, in, Napoleon and Alexander. On these conditions, times of unparalleled distress, had been marked by' which, in fact, were no more than necessary to courage and patriotism. assure Russia of France's peaceable intentions, the Amidst all these dignitaries, no one interested the czar agreed to place his commerce upon a system public so mnuch as he, for whom, and by whom, the of licenses as conducted in France; to introduce assembly was collected; the wonderful being who the clauses necessary to protect the French trade; could have governed the world, but could not rule and, farther, to use his influence with the Duke of i his own restless mind. When visible, Napoleon was Oldenburg, to obtain his consent to accept some i the principal figure of the group; when absent, reasonable indemnification feor the territory, which every eye was on the door, expecting his entrance had been so summarily annexed to France. He was chiefly employed in business in his cabinet, In looking back at this document, it appears to while the other crowned personages (to whom, inpossess as much the character of moderation, and deed, he left but little to do) were wandering abroad even of deference, as could be expected from the in quest of amusement. The feasts and banquets, chiefofa great empire. His demand that France, as well as the assemblies of the royal personages unless it were her determined purpose to make war, and their suites, after the theatrical representations, should withdraw the armies which threatened the were almost all at Napoleon's expense, and were Russian frontier, seems no more than common sense conducted in a style of splendour, which made those or prudence would commend. Yet this condition attempted by any of the other potentates seem mean was made by Napoleon, however unreasonably, the and paltry. direct cause of hostilities. The youthfuil empress had her share of these days The person, in a private brawl, who should say of grandeur. "The reign of Maria Louisa," said to an angry and violent opponent, " Sheathe your her husbasnd, when in Elba, " has been very short, sword, or at least lower its point, and I will accom- but she had much to make her enjoy it. Sile had modate with you, on your own terms, the original the world at her feet." Her superior magnificence cause of quarrel," would surely not be considered in dress and ornaments, gave her a great preemias having given him any affront, or other cause for nence over her mruother-in-law, the Empress of Ausinstant violence. Yet Bonaparte, in nearly the same tria, betwixt whom and Maria Louisa there seems, situation, resented, as an unatonable offence, the to have existed something of that petty feud, which demand that he should withdraw his armies from is apt to divide such relations in private life. To a position, where they could have no other purpose make the Austrian Empress some amends, BOnasave to overawe Russia. The demand, he said, was parte informs us, that she often visited her daughterinsolent; he was not accustomed to be addressed in-law's toilet, and seldom went back without rein that style, nor to regulate his movements by the ceiving some marks of her munificence. Perhaps commands of a foreign sovereign.'The Russian am- we may say of this infoblmation, as Napoleon says of bassador received his passports; and tile lunrea- something else, that an emperor should not have sonable' caprice of Napoleon, which considered an known these circumstances, or at least should not overture towards an amicable treaty as a gross of- have told themr. The truth is, Bonaparte did noi fence, because it summoned himt to desist firom his love the Empress of Austria; and though he repremenacing attitude, led to the death of millions, and sents that high personage as showing him much the irretrievable downfal of the most extraordinary attention, the dislike wvas mutual. The daughter of empire which the world had ever seen. On the 9th the Duke of Modena bhad not forgot her:hther's May, 1812, Bonaparte left Paris; the Russian am- sufferings by the canmpaigns of Italy. bassador had his passports for departure two days In a short time, however, the active spirit of later. Napoleon led hint to tire of a scene, where his vanity Upon his former military expeditions, it had been umight for a time be gratified, but which soon palled usual for Napoleon to join his army suddenly, and on his imagination as empty and frivolous. He sent with a slender attendance; bult on the present for De Pradt, the Bishop of Malines, whose taleJnts occasion he assumed a style of splendour and dig- he desired to employ as ambassador at Warsaw, nity becoming one, who miglit, if any earthly so- and in a singular style of diplonmacy, thus gave him Idis vereign ever could, have assumed the title of King co011mm1ission. " I am about to make a trial of you. of Kings. Dresden was app)ointed as a mutual You may believe I did not send for you here to say rendezvous for all the kings, dominations, princes, moass (wvhich ceremony the bishop had performed dukes, and dependent royalties of every de~..ription, that morning). You must keep a great establishwho were subordinate to Napoleon, or hoped for mient; hae an eye to,the women, their influence is good or evil at his hands.'The Emulperor of Austria, essential in that country. You know Poland; you with his empress, met his mighty son-in-law upon have read Rulhieres. For me, I go to beat the this occasion, and the city was crowded with princes Russians; time is flying; we must have all over by of the most ancient birth, as well as with others the end of September; perhaps we are even already who claimed still higher rank, as belonjingg to the too late. 1 am tired to death here; I have been here family of Napoleon.'The King of Prussia also was eight days playing the courtier to the Empress of present, neither a *willing nor a welcomle guest, lun- Austria." He then threw out indistinct hints of ss so far as his attendac;lr e wvas nieces:.;tiry to swell compelling Austria to qilit her hold on Gallicia, and the victor's triumph. Melalicioyly il heart and in accept an indemnification inillyria, or otherwise LIVE.OF NA.OOL EON BON APARTE. remain witlhot any. As to Prtrssia, he avowed his.-.Hisforceslmaccties occasion actualdelay..-.Napoleon intelntion, when the war was over, to ruin her cotn- remains for some days at Wlnha.-Abb de Pradt-His pletely, and to strip her of Silesia. " I am on my intrigues to excite tlee Poles-Neztralized'by Napoleoaus way to Aloscow,1 he adde-d. "' Two battles there sgagements:wii Austria.-An attempt to excite intsurwill do the business; I will burn Toula; the:Emperor'rection in Lithuania also fails. Alexander will come on his knees, and:then is Russia disarmed. All is ready, and only waits my IN ancient history, we often read of the inhabitpresence. Moscow is the heart of their -empire.; ants of,the northern regions, impelled by want, and besides, I make war at the expense of -the blood by the desire of exchanging their frozen deserts for ~of the Poles. I will leave fifty:thousand of:my the bounties of asmore genial climate, breaking forth Frencohmen in Poland. I will convert Dantzic into from their own bleak regions, and, with all the terrors another Gibraltar. I will give fifty millious a-year of an;avalanche, bursting down upon those of tle in subsidies to the Poles. 1 can afford the expense. south. But it was reserved for our generation to Without Russia be included, the continental system behold the invasion reversed, and to see immense would be mere folly. Spain costs me very dear; hosts of-French, Germans, and Italians, leaving their without her I should be'master of the world-; but own afruitful, rich, anid delightful regions, to carry at when I am so, my son will have nothing to do buit to once conquest and desolation -through the dreary keep his place, and it does not require to be very pine forests, swamps,:and barren wildernesses of clever to do that.'Go, take your instructions from Scythia. The philosopher, Hume, dedicated-an essay Maret" to consider, whetherfilturity-might expect a new inThe complete confidence'of success -implied in undation of barbarian conquerors; a fresh " living these disjointed, yet striking expressions, was ge. cloud of war," fiom the northern hives; but neither'neral through all who approached Napoleon's per-; to him nor any one else had it occurred to anticipate son, whether French or foreigners. The'young the opposite danger, of combined hundreds of thoumilitary -men looked on the -epedition against'Rns- sands from the most fair and fertile regionsefEurope, sia as on a hunting party whichli was to last for two llmoving at the command of a single man, for the purmonths. The army rushed to the fatal country, all pose of bereaving the wildest country of Europe of alive with the hopes of plunder, pensions, and pro- its national independence. "' Russia," said Bonamotion. All the soldiers who'were not included'par'te, in one of his Delphic proclamations, ",is dragrailed against their own bad lus-k, or the partiality of ged on by her fate; her destiny must be accomplishNapoleon, for detaining them from so triumphant an ed. Let us marchl; let us cross the Niemen; let us enrterlprise. carry war into her territories. The second war of Meantime, Bonaparte made;a:last -attempt at Poland will be as glorious tothe French arms as the negotiation, or rather todiscover what was the state fist; but the peace we shall conclude shall carry 0o'the Emperor Alexanders:mind, who, while lite witfh it lits guarantee, and terminate that haughty was himself surrounded by sovereigns, as the stn influence which Russia -has exercised for more than by planets, remained lonely in his own orbit, col- - fitty years on the affairs of Europe. " Napoleon's lecting around him means'of defence, s-ihich, ir- fitnal object was here spoken out; it was to thrust mense as;they were, seemed scarcely:adeqeate lto Itussial back upon her Asiatic dominions, and dethe awfiul crisis in which:he stood. General Lau- [ irive her of her influence in European politics. riston had been dispatched'to Wilna,:to conrmiti- Th'e add ress of the Russian Emperor to his troops cate -definitively with Alexander. Count de Nalt- was ill a different, more manly,rational, and intellibonne, already'noticed as the most adroit'colrtie,-i f gible stla-in, devoid of those blustering attempts at the Tuileries, was sent to invite the czar to: meet l; l,;l etic eloquence, which are in bad taste when Napoleon at Dresden, in hopes that, in a pet sonail lttlred, and, if they may acquire some credit among treaty, the two-sovereigns might'resume their Ilbits the x ilgar when followed by a successful campaign, of initimacy, and settle between theunsel'es w ait bt-colle the mnost bitter of satires, if fortune does they had been unable to arrange'through their atn i "nt si.ile on the vaticination. Alexander enforced bassadorls. IBut Lauriston could obtain no nllediele i sics itthle vpreservatrious eface, buts which he had prode of'the emperor, and the report of Narbornle -was h lit the nl neservt.stionlof peace, but which had proved decidedly warlike. He found the Russians neithier f;:itliess. "-It now only remaing s, " he said, "after depressed nor elated, but arrived at the geneil;, iiso1kitgthte Almighty eing who is the witness and conclusion, that war was become inevitable,,aid d (ttender oof tie true cause, to oppose our aforces to therefore determined to submit to its evils,'ratlitr those of the enenty It is unnecessary to recal to than avoid them by a -dislionourable peace. gen erals, officers, and soldiers, what is expected fionl their lovalty and courage; the blood of the ancient Sclavonians circulates in'their veilns. Soldiers, CHAPTER LXXV. ryou fight for your religion, your liberty, and:yoli oleon'spla caa ler ative land. Your emperor.isamongst you, and God [:rtpoleon's'plan of the'campaign against Russia- Utder- is'the enemy ofthe aggressor.' stood and provided again'st'by'Barclay de -Tolly, the Russian gencraissimo. —Statemett of thc:grand:Frcnc'h The sovereigns vho:addressed their troops, each.army-Of the grand Russian army-Disstr:te.i n peculiar mode of ehortation, had their river Wilia.-Diffculties of the campaign, ont tlie'pat:of different plans for the campaign. Bonaparte's was tie French, stated and-explained -Their defective com-'formed on his usual system of warfare. It was'his mlssariat and hospital department.-Greatconsequent primary object to accumulate a great force on the losses.-Cause of Bonapartesdetermination to advastce. cerltre of the Russian line, to break-it.asunder, and LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. A7. cut off'effedtually as many divisions, as activity been well calcnlated to cover that capital. On the could sutrprise and overmaster in such a struggle. otherhand, were the French to move on Moscow. To secure the possessionof large towns, if possible, which proved their final deterimination, the elnone of the two capitals, Petersburg or:Mosco'w; and trenchments at Drissa were of no importance. to grant that wl hi'h he doubted rnot would by that We must speak of the immense hosts combined tie'be. htumbly craved, the terms of a peace which under Bonaparte, as if they were all constituent houtld strip Rtssa of her E-uropean inifluence, and parts:of one army, although the theatre of war which eteablish a Polish nation in her bosom, conposed o'f they occupied was not less than a hundred and provinces' rent from her own donilnions,-.vould have twenty French leagues in extent of firont. crowned the undertaking. Macdonald commanded the left wing of the whole The tactics of Napoleon had, by long practice, French arnmy, which consisted of above 30,000 been pretty well understood, by those staldiots df'men: his orders were to penetrate intto Courland, btnilitary affairs. Barclayde Tolly, whom Alexander and threaten the right flank of the Russians; and, had made his generalissimo, a German by birthl, if it were found advisable, to besiege Riga, or at a Scotchman by extraction, had laid down and re- least to threatenthat important seaport. The extrenme commended to the czar, with whom he was in gri eat right of Napoleon's army was placed towards Pinsk,:favour, a plan of foiling Bonaparte tupon his own in Volhynia, and consisted alnost entirely of the system. He proposed that the.Russians should first Austrian -auxiliaries, under Prince Schwartzenberg. show only so'much opposition on the frontier of their They were opposed to'the Russian army tinder Gecountry, as should lay the invaders urder the leces- ne al rormazoff, which had been destined to protect sityof marching with precaution and leisure; that Volhynia. This was a false step of Napoleon, they should omit no means of annoying their'coni- adopted, doubtless, to allay the irritable jealousy of nMunications, and disturbing the -base on which they his ally Auostria, on the subject of freeing and restorrested, but should carefully avoid -everything up- ing the kiigdom of Poland. The nativesof Volhynia,. proaching to a general action.'- On this principle it must be remenibered, are Poles, subjected to the it was proposed to'fall hack before the invaders, yoke otf' Russia. Had French troops, or those of refisingtorengagein any.otheraction than skirmishes, the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, been sent amongst'and'those upon advantage, until the French lines-of them, the Volhynians would probably have risen in communication, extended toan' immeasurable'length, arms to vindicate their liberty. But they had little should become liable to be cut off even by'the in- temptation to doso when they only saw the Austrians surgent peasantry. In the meanwhile, as the:French by whose arms Gallicia was yet detained in subjec became straitened in provisions, and deprived of lion, and whose emperor was as liable as Alexander recruits and supplies, the Russians were to be rein- himself to suffer fron the'resuscitation of Polish inforcing their army, and at the same time refresling dependence. it. Thus, it was the object-of this plan of the cam-'Betwixtthe left wing, commanded by Macdonald, paign not to fight the French forces,.until the bad and the right -under Schwartzenberg, lay the grand roads, want ofprovisious, toilsonme'niarches, diseases, French arniy, divided into three masses. Bonaatid loss in skirmishes, should have deprived the patte himself moved with his guards, of which Besivading army of all its original'advantages of si:6'es commanded the caval'y, the Marshals Le-umbers, spirit, and discipline. Thist procrastinat-:fbvre and Mortier the infantry. The emperor had ing system of tactics'suited Russia the better, that alo tinder his timmediate command the corps d'arher preparations for defensive wvar were Xleryf tar mee, commanded by Davoust, Oudinot, and Ney from being completed, and that -it was imrportart to which, with the divisions of cavalry, under Grouchy, gain time to receive arms and'other supplies iofi Montbrun, and Nansouty, amnonting,, it was cornEngland, as well as, by making peace With thle puted, to no fewer than two hutmdred and fifty Turks, to obtain the disposal of the lage -army now thousand men, were ready to rush forward and engaged upon the Danube. overpower the opposite army of R.ssians, called At-the same time it was easy to foresee, th:at so the army of the West. King Jedtme of Westplhalia, long a retreat, together with'the desolation occa- with the divisions of Junotlt, Poniatowski, and Resioned to the Russian territory by the presence of gnier, and the ca'alry of Latour Manbourg, forman invading army, nulight'wenr out thle patience of in)g a mass of about 80,000 mien, were destined in the Russian soldiery. Somie advantageous po- thle same manner to niove bforward on the Russian sition was therefore to be selected, aud skilifully second, or supporting army. Lastly, a central armnly, fortified beforehand, in which a stand'might be under Engene, the Viceroy of Italy, had it in charge made, like thlat of Lord Wellington in the lines at to press between the first and second Rlussian army, Torres Vedras. For this purpose a very large fur- increase their separation, render'tlieir'jii(itionimposstified canmp was prepared at Drissa, on the river sible, and act against either, or both, as opl)portiunity Diina, or Dwina, which, supposing the object of should arise. Such was the disposition of the inthe French to have been St Petersburg, -would have' vading force. Murat, King of Naples, well known ~'Tle base of military operations is, in'strategie,:un'er- by his -old name of le beau sabreur, commande'Atood to;mean tlat space of country'which every army the whole cavalry of this immene rny. marching through a hostile te:ritory'imust keep open amid On the other'hand, the grand Russian army, comfrte in the rear, otherwise his mainebody must inecessa- manded by the emperor in person, and more iminmerily be deprived of its commnunications, sat'probably cut diately by Barclay de Tolly, advanced its headoff. The base, therefore, contains'tle'supplies anditidp6ts quarters — as far as Wilna; not that it was their of the armny. purposeto defend Lithuania, or its capitel, but to ~~528 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. oblige the Frehch to manoeuvre, and so show their most to a man, before the eyes of Napoleon, to inlteitions. It amounted to one hundred and twenty whom some of them in the last struggle turned their tlhousand men. On the north, towards Courland, faces, exclairning,r Vive l'empereur! The spectators this grand army communicated with a division of were istruck with horror. Bu3t much greater would ten thousand men, under Count Essen; and on that feeling have been, could they have known that the south held comnmunication, but on a line rather the fate of this handfiul of brave men was but an too much prolonged, with the second army, under anticipation of that which impended over the hinthe gallant Prince Bagration, one of the best and dreds of thousands, who, high in health and hope, bravest of the Russian generals. Platoff, the ce- were about to rush upon natural and artificial oblebrated Hettman, or Captain-general of the Cos- stacles, no less formidable and no less insurmountsacks, attended this second army, with twelve thllo- able than the torrent which had swept away their sand of his children of the desert. Independent of unfortunate advanced guard. these, Bagration's army might amount to eighty - -hile his immense masses were traversing Lithousand mlen. On the extreme left, and vwatching thuania, Napoleon fixed his head quarters at W'ilna, the Austrians, froln whom perhaps no very vigo- the ancient capital of that province, where he began rous measures were apprehended, was Torma- to experience the first pressure of those difficulties z,'f, with what was termed the army of Volhynia, which attended his gigantic undertaking., We mrust amounting to twenty thousand men. Two armies pause to detail them; for they tend to show tle of reserve were in the course of being formed at great mistake of those who have followed Napoleon Novogorod and Smolensk. They might amount to himself in supposing, that the Russian expedition about 20,000 men each. was a hopeful and wvell-conceived plan, which would Thulos, on the whole, the Russians entered upon certainly have proved successful, if not unexpectthe campaign with a sum total of two hundred and edly disconcerted by the burning of Moscow, and sixty thousatnd men, opposed to four hundred and the severity of the weather, by which the French seventy thousand, or wvith an odds of almost one armies were compelled to retreat into Poland. half against them. But during the course of the war, We have elsewhllere mentioned, that, according to Russia raised reitfbrcements of militia and volun- Napoleon's usual style of tactics, the French troops teers to greatly more than the balance which was set out upon their campaign witli bread and biscuit against her at tile commencement. for a few days, and vwhen that was expended (which, The grand Imperial army marched upon the river betwixt waste and consumption, usually happened Nielrlen in its three overwhelming masses; the before the calculated period), they lived on such King of Westphalia upon Grodno, the Viceroy of supplies as they could collect in the country, by the Italy on Pilony, and the emperor himself on a point means of marauding or pillage, wlhicll they had con. called Nagaraiski, three leagues beyond Kowno. verted into a regular systen. But Napoleon had tWhen the head of' Napoleon's columns reached far too much expel'ience and pl-ldence to trust, the river which rolled silently along under cover amid the wastes o' Russia, to a system of supplies, of immense forests on the Russian side, he advanced which had sufliced for maintenin ce of the army in in person to reconnoitre the banks, when his horse the rich fields of Austria. He lknew well that ne sturmbled anld threw him. "A bad omen," said a was plunging with half a million of mien into invoice, but whether that of the emperor or one of hospitable deserts, where Charles X1i. could not his suite, couldl not be distinguished; "a Ronan find subsistencn. for twenty thousand Swedes. He would return." On the Russian banlk appeared was aware, besides, of the imilolicy there would only a silngle Cossack, who challenged the first party be in harassing the Lithuanians by rmat rading exacof French thiat crossed thle river, and demanded tions. To conciliate them was a treat.branch of his their putrpose in the territories of Russia. "To beat plan, for Lithuania, in lespect to Rtlssial, yVes a conyol, asild to take Wilna," wvas the reply. The pa- quered province, into which N;apoleon hoped to trol withdrew, nor was another soldier seen. inspire the same desire of independence which aniA dreadful thunder-storm was the welcome whizh mated Poland, and thus to find friends and allies they received in titis wild land; and shortly after among the very subjects ot his enenmy. Tile ut!nost the emperor received intelligence that the R.ulssians exertion of his splendid talents, putting into activity wvere fallinlg back on every side, and manifested an the utmost extent of his unliumited puower, had been, evident intention to evacuate Lithuania without a therefore, tulrned towards collecting inmmense mlaga battle. The emperor urged forward his columns zines of provisions, and for sectuing the means of with even more tlhan hIis usual proilsptitude, eager transplortilg them 7along with the airlty. ltis strong to strike one of those forliidable blows by -shich he and impassioned genius was, bol months before the was wont to annihilate his enemy at the very corn- expedition, directed to this impnortant object, which mencement of the campaign. This gave rise to an he pressed upon his gene rals with the utniost solicievent inore ominous than the fall of his horse, or the rude. "'For masses like those we at e about to tempest which received him on the banks of the move, if precautions be not taken, the grain of no Niemen. Tile river Wilia being swollen with rain, country can suffice," he said, in one part of his and the bridges destroyed, the emperor, impatient correspondence.-In another,' All thie provrsionothtle obstacle, colnmanded a'body of Polish cavalry waggons mlust be loaded with flour, rice, bread, to cross by swimlnminlg. They did not hesitate to vegetables, and brandy, besides wvhat is necessary ilashl into the river. But ere they reachsed the for the hospital service. The resutlt of -ny moveM- uiddle of the streani, the irresistible torrenlt broke ments will assemble four hundred thousand imen on |i(ei- ranks, and they vwere swept down and lost al- a single point. There will be nothing to expect f'rom LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 529 the country, and it will be necessary to have every- informs us, that the armies under Eugene and Dathing within ourselves." voust were regular in their work of collecting conThese undeniable views were followed up by tributions, and distributing them among the soldiers; preparations, which, abstractedly considered, must so that their system of marauding was less burdenbe regarded as gigantic. The cars and waggons, some to the country, and more advantageous to which were almost innumerable, destined for the; themselves. On the other hand, the XVestphalian, carriage of provisions, were divided into battalions and other German auxiliaries, under King Jrlolne, and squadrons. Each battalion of cars was capable having learned the lesson of pillaging from the of transporting six thousand quintals of flour; each French, and wanting, according to S6gur, the elesquadron of heavy waggouns nearly four thousand gant manner of their teachers, practised the arts eight hundred quintals; besides the immense nlun- they had acquired with a coarse rapacity, which her dedicated to the service of the engineers and made the French ashamed of their pupils and imitathe hospitals, or engaged in transporting besieging tols. Thus the Lithuanians, terrified, alienated, materiel and pontoons. and disgusted, with the injuries they sustained, This sketch must convince the reader, that Napo — were far fro'm listening to the promises of Napoleon, leon had in his eye, fiom the outset, the prospect of or making common cause with him against Russia, deficiency in supplying his army with provisions, who had governed them kindly, and with considerand that he had bent his mind to the task of over- able respect to their own habits and customs. coming it by timely preparation. But all his precau- But this was not the only evil. The direct loss tions proved totally inadequate. It was found a sustained by the French army was very great. In vain attempt, to introduce military discipline amidst the course of the very first marches from the Niemen the carters and waggon-drivers; and when wretch- and the Wilia, not less than ten thousand horses, ed roads were encumbered with fallen horses and and numbers of men, were left dead on the road. broken carriages, when the soldiers and wain- Of the young conscripts especially, many died of drivers began to plunder the contents of the cars and hunger and fatigue; and there were instances of some wvaggons which they were appointed to protect and who committed suicide, rather than practise the to manage, the confusion became totally inextricable. cruel course of pillage by which only they could Very far from reaching Lithuania, where their pre- subsist; and of others, who took the same desperate sence was so essential, few of the heavy waggons step, from remorse at having participated in such ever attained the banks of' the Vistula, and almost cruelties. Thousands turned stragglers, and subnone proceeded to the Niemen. Weeks and months sisted by robbery. The Duke of Treviso, who folafter the army had passed, some of the light cars lowed the march of the grand army, informed Naand herds of cattle did arrive, but comparatively few in number, and in most miserable plight. The unfriendly criticism of General Gourganud impeaches Count soldiers were, therefore, at the very commencement S6gur's opportunities of knowing the facts lie relates, be of the carmpaign, cornpelled to have recourse to cause his duty did not call him into the line of battle, where their usual mode of supplying themselves, by laying he might have seen the military events with his own eyes. cotntributions on the coulntry; which, awhile they We conceive, with deference, that, as a historin, Count contributions oln e *immense fertwc -ility of they S gur's situation was more favourable for collecting intel-.continued in Poland, the immense fertility of te ligence than if he had been actually engaged. We speak soil enables it to supply. But matters became from high authority in saying, that a battle is in one regreatly worse after entering Lithuania, which the spect like a ball,-every one recollects the next mnorning Russians had previously endeavoured to strip of all the partner withi whom he danced, and what passed bethat could benefit the French. twixt them, but none save a bystander can give a general Thus, in the very first march from the Niemen account of the whole party. Now, Count Sdgur eminently arnd the WVilia, throughl a country which was regard- resembled the bystander in his opportunities of collecting ed as friendly, and before they had seen an enemy, exact information concerning the whole events of the camthe immense armay of Napoleon were incurring great paign. His duty was to take up and distribute the lodgloss thllenselves, and doin infinite damage to thle ings at the general head-quarters. It was, therefore, seldom co~untry on whllich they lived at firee cost, in spite of that an officer could go to or return from head-quarters all the measures which Bonaparte had tievised, and without holhing communication with Count Segur; and, all the measftres whiech honapd arte mhaid devtsed f having his plan of a narrative in view, he could not be the all the efforts he had made to maintain them from man of ability he appears, if he did not obtain from those their own stores. who arrived at or left head-quarters, such information as This uncertain mode of subsistence was common they had to communicate. As he had no pressing military to the whole armly, though its consequences were duty to perform, he had nothing to prevent his arranging especially disastrous in particular corps. S6gur and recording the information he collected; and when General Gourgaud urges the impossibility of the histo+ tere and elsewhere we quote, as a work of complete rian's being present at some of the most secret councils, he authority, Count Philip de Sugur's account of this memor- forgets that many such secrets percolate from the cabinet able expedition. The authocr is, we have always under- into the better-informed circles around it, evea before the stood, a man of lhonour, and his work evinces him to be seal of secrecy is removed, but especially when, as in the a man of talent. We have had the opinion of several offi- present case, a total change of circumstances renders socers of high character, who had themselves served in the crecy no longer necessary. We lave only to add, that campaign, that although unquestionably there may be some though the idolatry of Count Sugur towards the emperor! errors among the details, and although in some places the is not sufficient to satisfy his critic, he must in other eyes autllor may have given way to tile temptation of working be considered as an admirer of the late emperor: and that up a description, or producing effect by a dialogue, yet his those who knew the French army will find no reason to narrative on the whole is candid, fair, and liberal. The suspect him ofbeing a false brother. VOL. Vi. 67 I A30 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. poleon, that, from the Niemen to tlle Wilia, he had passed on, instead of suspending his enterprise seen nothing hut ruined habitations abandoned, car- until he was provided with those means, which he riages overturned, broke open and pillaged, corpses had all along judged essential to its success? lie of men and horses,-all the horrible appearances, might in this manner have lost time, but he would in short, which present themselves in the route of a have saved his men and horses, and avoided disdefeated army. tressing a country which he desired to conciliate. Those who desired to flatter Bonaparte, ascribed The truth is, that Napoleon had suffered his sound this loss to the storm of rain, which fell at the time and cooler judgment to be led astray, by strong they were entering Lithuania. Buat summer rain, and ardent desire to finish the war by one brilliant whatever its violence, does not destroy tile horses battle and victory. The hope of surprising the of an army by hundreds and thousands. That which Emperor Alexander at Wilna, of defeating his grand does destroy them, and renders those that survive arty, or at least cutting off some of its plrincipal almost unfit for service during the campaign, and in- corps, resembled too much many of his former excapable of bearing the hardships of winter, is hard ploits, not to have captivation for hirn. For this work, forced marches, want of corn or dry fodder, purpose, and with this expectation, forced marches and the supporting them on the green crop which is were to be undertaken, fioln the Vistula even to growing in the fields. It was now the season when, the Dwina and Dnieper; the carts, carriages, cattle, of all others, a commander, who values the service- all the supplies brought from France, Italy, and able condition of his army, will avoid such enter- Germany, were left behind, the difficulties of the prises as require from his cavalry hard work and enterprise forgotten, and nothing thought of but the forced marches. In like manner, storms of summer expectation of finding the enemy at unawares, and rain do not destroy the foot soldiers exposed to them, totally destroying him at one blow. The fatal conmore than other men; but forced marches on bad sequence of the forced marches we have stated; roads, and through a country unprovided with shel- but what may appear most strange is, that Napoter, and without provisions, must ruin infantry, since leon, who had recourse to this expeditious and every man, who, from fatigue, or from having strag- reckless advance, solely to surprise his enemy by gled too far in quest of food, chances to be left be- an unexpected attack, rather lost than gained that hind, is left exposed without shelter to the effects of advantage of time, to procure which lhe had made the climate, and if he cannot follow and rejoin his such sacrifices. This will appear from the following corps, has no resource but to lie down and die. detail:The provisions of the hospital department had The army which had been quartered on tile Vistula been as precarious as those of the commissariat. broke up from thence about the 1st of June, and adOnly six thousand patients could be accommodated vanced in different columns, and by forced marches, in the hospitals at Wilnla, which is too small a pro- upon the Niemen, which it reached upon different portion for an army of 400,000 men, even if lying in points, but chiefly near Kowno, upon the 23d1, and quarters in a healthy and peaceful country, where commenced the passage on the 24th of' the sanile one invalid in fifty is a most restricted allowance, month. From the Vistula to the Niemen is about 250 but totally inadequate to the numbers which actually wersts, equal to two hundred and thirty five, or two required assistance, as well from the maladies intro- hundred and forty Engtmsh miles: fioml Kowno, on the duced by fatigue and bad diet, as by the casualties banks of the Niemen, to Vitepsk, on the Dwina, is of war. Although no battle, and scarce a skirmish nearly the same distance. The whole space might be had been fought, twenty-five thousand patients en- marched by an army, moving with its baggage, in the cambered the hospitals of Wilna; and the villages course of forty marches, at the rate of twelve miles were filled with soldiers lwho were dying for want a-day; yet the traversing this distance took, as we of medical assistance. The King of Westphalia shall presently see, four, days more, notwithstanding must be exempted from this general censure; his the acceleration of forced marches. than would have army was well provided with hospitals, and lost been occupied by an army moving at an ordinary much fewe.r men than the others.'This imperfection and easy rate, and carrying its own supplies along of the hospital department was an origir*l defect in with its columns. The cause why this overhaste the conception of the expedition, and continued to should have been attended with actual delay, iwsas influence it most unfavourably fromn begining to end. partly owing to the great'mass of troops which were Napoleon sometimes repined under these losses to be supplied by the principle of the mnaraudingr and calamities, sometimes tried to remedy them by system, partly to the condition of the country, which threats against marauders, and sometimes enden- was doomed to afford them; and partly, it may be, voured to harden himself against thought of the to the political circumstances which detained Nadistress of his army, as an evil which must be en- poleon eighteen precious days at Wilna. The first dured, until victory should put an end to it. But reason is too obvious to need illustration, as a flying repining and anger availed nothing; denunciations army of twenty thousand men bears comparatively against marauders could not reasonably be executed light on the resources of a country, and may he upon men who had no other means of subsistence; pushed through it in haste; but those immnense and it was impossible to obtain a victory over an columns, whose demands were so unbounded, could enemy who would not risk a battle. neither move rapidly, nor have their wants hastily The reader may here put the natural question, supplied. But, besides, in a country like Litha-. Why Bonaparte, when he found the stores, which nia, the march could not be regular, and it was he considered as essential to the maintenance of often necessary to suspend the advance; thus losing ~lis army, had not reached the Vistula, should have in some places the time which great exertion had t LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 531 gained in others. Wildernesses and pathless forests ancient form, all were anxious to meet Napoleon's were necessarily to be traversed in the utmost haste, wishes; but an unfortunate hint which the emperor as they afforded nothing for the marauders, on had thrown out concerning the length of the discourse whose success the army depended for support. with which the Diet was to be opened, induced the To make amends for this, it was necessary to,halt worthy Count Mathechewitz, whose duty it was to the troops for one day, or even more, in the richest draw up the peroration, to extend it to fifty pages of districts, or in the neighbourhood of large towns, to very close writing., give leisure and opportunity to recruit their supplies As all the assembly exclaimed against the proat the expense of the country. Thus the time gain- lixity of this mortal harangue, the French ambased by the forced marches was lost in inevitable sador, the Abb6 de Pradt, was required to substitute delays; and the advance, though attended with such something more suitable for the occasion. Accordtragic consequences to the soldier, did not secure ingly he framed a discourse more brief, more in the the advantage which the general proposed to attain. taste of his own country, and, we doubt not, more Upon arrir ing at Wilna, Napoleon had the morti- spirited and able than that of Count Mathechewits. fication to find, that although the Emperor Alexander It was hailed by the warm and enthusiastic applause had not left the place until two days after he had of the Diet. Notwithstanding which, lwhen sent to himself crossed the Niemen, yet the Russian retreat Napoleon, then at Wilna, he disapproved of it, as had been made with the utmost regularity; all too obviously written in the French style of compomagazines and provisions, which could yield any sition, and intimated in plain terms, that language advantage to the invaders, having been previously like that of an ancient Pole, speaking his national destroyed to a very large amount. While Bona- sentiments in the oriental tropes of his national lanparte's generals had orders to press forward on their guage, would better have suited the occasion. traces, the French Emperor himself remained at The intimation of this dissatisfaction tore the veil Wilna, to conduct some political measures, which from the Abb6 de Pradt's eyes, as Ihe himself asseemed of the last importance to the events of the sures us. He foresaw that the infatuated want of carnpaign. judgment which the emperor displayed, in disliking The Abb6 de Pradt had executed with ability the his discourse, was that of a doomed and falling man; task entrusted to him, of exciting the Poles of the he dated fiom that epoch the overthrow of NapoGrand Duchy of Warsaw, with the hope of a general leon's power, and was so much moved with the restoration of Polish freedom. This brave but un- spirit of prophecy, that he could not wvithhold his happy country, destined, it would seem, to spend its predictions even before the young persons connected blond in every cause but its own, had, in that por- with his embassy. tion of it which formerly belonged to Prussia, and But a more fatal sign of Napoleon's prospects than now formed the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, gained could be inferred by any except the author, firom his bet little by its nominal independence. This state disapprobation of tile Abbe de Pradt's discourse, had only a population of about five millions of inha- occurred in his answer to the address of the Diet of bitants, yet maintained for the service of France, the Grand Duchy. rather than for its own, an armed force of eighty-five The Diet of Warsaw, anticipating, as they supthousand men. Eighteen regiments of these were posed, Napoleon's wishes, had declared the whole embodied with the emperor's army, and paid by kingdom, in all its parts, fiee and independent, as if France; but the formation and expense of the rest the partition treaties had never existed; and no justfar exceeded the revenues of the duchy. The last thinking person will doubt their right to do so. They amounted only to forty millions of francs, while the entered into a general confederation, declared the expenses more than doubfled that sam. Tile Grand kingdom of Poland restored, summonled all Poles to Duchy had also suffered its full share of distress quit the service of Russia, and, finally, sent deputafrom the continental system of Napoleon. The re- tions to tile Grand Duke and the King of Saxony, venue of Poland depends on the sale of the grain and another to Napoleon, announcing their desire to which her fertile soil produces; and that grain, in accelerate the political regeneration of Poland, and the. years previous to the present, had lain rotting their hope to be recogmized by the entire Polish nain the warehouses. The misery of the poor was tion as the centre of a general union. The expresextreme; the opulence of the rich classes had disap- sions addressed to Napoleon were in a tone of peared, and they could not relieve them. The year idolatry. They applied for the countenance of the 1811 had been a year of scarcity here as well as " Hero who dictated his history to the age, in whom elsewhere; and, as in former years the Poles had resided the force of Providence," language whlich grain which they could not send to market, so at is usually reserved to the Deity alone. " Let tilhe present they had neither corn, nor means to pullrchase Great Napoleon," they said, "only pronounce his it. To all these disadvantages must be added, the fiat that the kingdom of Poland should exist, and it plunder and misery sustained by the duchy during will exist accordingly. The natives of Poland wvill the march of Bonaparte's numerous forces from the unite themselves at once and unanimously to the Vistula to the Niemen. service of him to whom ages are as a moment, and Yet so highly toned is the national patriotism of space no more than a point." In another case, this the Poles, that it kindled at the name of independ- exaggerated eloquence would have induced some ence, notwithstanding the various accumulated cir- suspicion of sincerity on the part of those who used cumstances which tended to damp the flame. When it; but the Poles, like tile Gascons, to whom they therefore a diet-of the Duchy of Warsaw was con- have been compared, are fond of superlatives, and vened, where the nobles assembled according to of an exalted and enthusiastic tone of language, 532 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. which, however, they have in all ages been observed sion of the Illyrian provinces as an indemnity. And, to support by their actions in the field. if this exchange could not be rendered acceptable The answer of Bonaparte to this high-toned ad- to Austria, by throwing in Trieste, or even Venice, dress was unexpectedly cold, doubtful, and indeci- Napoleon ought then to have admitted the impossisive. It was at this moment, probably, he felt the bility of reinstating the independence of Poland to pressure of his previous engagements with Austria, have operated as a reason for entirely declining tie which prevented his at once acquiescing in the fatal war with Russia. wishes of the Polish mission. " He loved the Polish The French ruler miscarried also in an effort to nation," he said, "and in the situation of the Diet at excite an insurrection in Lithuania, although lie WVarsaw, would act as they did, but he had many named a provisional government in the province, interests to reconcile, and many duties to fulfil. Had and declared the country was free of the Russian he reigned when Poland was subjected to those un- yoke. But the Lithuanians, a colder people than just partitions which had deprived her of independ- the Poles, were not in general much dissatisfied ence, he would have armed in her behalf, and as with the government of Russia, while the conduct matters stood, when he conquered Warsaw and its of the French armies in their territories alienated surrounding territories, he instantly restored them their minds from Napoleon. They observed also to a state of freedom. - - - He applauded what they the evasive answer which he returned to the Poles, had done-authorized their future efforts, and would and concluded, that if the French Emperor should do all he could to second their resolution. If their have occasion to make peace with Alexander, he efforts were unanimous, they might compel their would not hesitate to do so at the expense of those oppressors to recognize their rights, but these hopes whom he was now encouraging to rise in insurrecmust rest on the exertions of the population." These tion. Thus the moral effect which Napoleon exuncertain and cool assurances of his general interest pected to produce on the Russian frontier was enin the Polish cause were followed by the express tirely checked and counteracted; insomuch, that of declaration, " That he had guaranteed to the Empe- a guard of honour, which the Lithuanians had proror of Austria the integrity of his dominions, and he posed to serve for the emperor's person, only three could not sanction any manceuvre, or the least move- troopers ever made their appearance on parade. nlent, tending to disturb the peaceable possession of Nor did the country at large take any steps, either what remained to him of the Polish provinces. As generally or individually, to intimate a national infor the provinces of Poland attached to Russia, he terest in the events of the war, seeming to refer was content with assuring them, that provided they themselves entirely to the course of events. were animated by the spirit evinced in the Grand Duchy, Providence would crown their good cause CHAPTER LXXV1. with success." This answer, so different from that which the Proceecdngs of the army under Prince Bagration-NapoPoles had expected, struck the mission with doubt leon's manceuvres against him. —King Jer6me of Westand dismay. Instead of countenancing the re-union phalia is disgracedfor alleged inactivity.-Bagration of Poland, Napoleon had given an assurance, that, is defeated by Davoust, but succeeds in gaining the in the case of Gallicia, he neither could nor would interior of Russia, and re-establishing his coenmunicainterfere to detach that province from Austria; and lion with the grand army-which retreats to Drissa.in that of the Polish provinces attached to Russia, Barclay de Tolly and Bagration meet at Smolensk on he exhorted the natives to be unanimous, in which the 20th July.-Je French generals become anxious that case, instead of assuring them of his powerfil assist- Napoleon should close the campaign at Vitepsk for the ance, lie was content with recommending them to season-He persists i proceeding.-Man auvres of both armies in regard to Smolensk-It is evacuated by Barthe care of that Providence, in whose place the clay de'olly, after seiltg fire to Ite place.-Redtced terms of their bombastic address had appeared to condition of the French, and qsrowing strength of the instal Napoleon himself. The Poles accordingly Rssia a ies.ee ected ssian armie.-Peace yefeteda bet ecn Russia, and began firom that period to distrust the intentions of England, SwLveden, and Tmurkey.-Nopo.'eon resolves to Napoleon towards the re establishment of their in- advance,tpon Moscov. dependence, the more so, as they observed that neither Polish nor French troops were employed in NAPOLEON continued to occupy his helad-quarters Volhynia or elsewhere, whose presence might have at Wilna, fromn 28th June to 16th July, the space given countenance to their efforts, but Austrians of eighteen dans. It was not usual with hiun to only, who, for example's sake, were as unwilling make such lolng halts; but Wiilna was his last point to encourage the Russian provinces of Poland to of communication withl Europe, and he had probably declare for the cause of independence, as they would much to arrange ere lie could plunge into the forests have been to preach the same doctrines in those and deserts of Russia, whence all external interwhich belonged to Austria. course must be partial and precarious. He. named Napoleon afterwards often and bitterly regretted Maret, Duke of Bassano, Governor of Lithuania, the sacrifice which he made on this occasion to the and placed under the management of that minister wishes of Austria; and he had the more occasion for the whole charge of correspondence with Paris and this regret, as the error seemed to be gratuitous. It with the armies; thus rendering him the centre of is true, that to have pressed Austria on the subject administrative, political, and even military commuef emancipating Polish Gallicia, might have had the nication between the emperor and his dominions. effect of throwing her into the arms of Russia; but It must not be supposed, however, that these this might probably have been avoided by the ces- eighteen days passed without military movements LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 533 of high importance. The reader must remember terval between the corps of Murat, who pressed that the grand army of Russia was divided into two upon Alexander and Barclay de Tolly, and of Daunequal portions. That commanded under the em- voust, who was pursuing Bagration. By thus pressperor by Barclay de Tolly had occupied Wilna and ing on where there was no hostile force opposed to the vicinity, until the French entered Lithuania, him, Napoleon inight have penetrated between the when, by a preconcerted and well-executed retreat, two Russian armies, to each of whom a superior they fell back on their strong fortified camp at force was opposed, might have forced himself beDrissa. The smaller army, under Prince Bagration, tween them and occupied Vitepsk, and threatened was much farther advanced to the south-westward, both St Petersburg and Moscow; or, if he decided and continued to occupy a part of Poland. The for the latter capital, might have advanced as far prince's head-quarters were at Wolkowisk; Platoff, as Smolensk. That Bonaparte formed this plan of with seven thousand Cossacks, lay at Grodno, and the campaign on the 10th of July at Wilna, we are both he and Bagration maintained communication assured by Sgnur; but it was then too late for putwith the main army through its left wing, which, ting it in execution-yet another week was lost at under Dorokhoff, extended as far as Lida. The Wilna. All seem to have been sensible of' an unarmy of Bagration had been posted thus far to the usual slowness in Naroleon's motions on this imporsouth-west, in order that when Napoleon crossed tant occasion; and S6gur attributes it to a premathe Niemen, this army might be placed in his rear ture decay of constitution, of which, however, Mwe as he advanced to Wilna. To execute this plan see no traces in the campaigins of 1813 alnd 1814. became impossible, so much greater was the in- But the terrible disorder of an army, the sick and vading army than the Russians had anticipated. stragglers of which absolutely filled Lithuania, and On the contrary, the French were able to protect that army one of such immense size, required consithe flank of their advance against Wilna by an army derable time to remodel and new-organize it; and of 30,000 men, under the King of Westphalia, placed this of itself, a misfortune inherent in the enterprise, betwixt them and this secondary Russian army. is sufficient to account for the halt at Wilna. And far from having it in his power to annoy the Meantime Bagration, in a precarious situation, enemy, Bagration was placed so much in advance defended himself with the greatest skill and galas greatly to hazard being separated from the main lantry. Being cut off from the direct road to Drissa, body, and entirely cut off. The Russian prince ac- it was his object to retreat eastward to his rear, cordingly had directions from Barclay de Tolly to instead of moving northward by his right flank, and get his army out of their perilous situation; and thus to make his way towards the Dwina, either again, on the 13th of' July, he had orders from Alex- through Ostrowno and Minsk, or by the town oif ander to move on the camp of Drissa. Borizoff. When he gained the Dwina, Bagration When Napoleon arrived at Wilna, the danger of trusted to form a junction with the grand army. Bagration became imminent; for the entrenched fiom which he was now so fearfully separated. camp at Drissa was the rendezvous of all the Rus- The actual strength of his army was, however, insian corps, and Napoleonbeing 150 wersts, or seven creased not only by the Hettman Platoff with his days' march, nearer to Drissa than Bagration, nei- Cossacks, who, being advanced south-westward as ther Napoleon nor any other general had ever so far as Grodno, made in fact a part of Bagration's fair an opportunity for carrying into execution the command, and assisted him materially in his retreat; French emperor's favourite manoeuvre, of dividing but also by the division of General Dorokhoff, which, into two the line of his enemy, which was unques- forming the extreme left of the grand Russian army, tionably too much extended. was cut off in the retreat upon Drissa by the adIt was the 30th of June ere Napoleon was cer- vance of the French, and therefore had been placed tain of the advantage which he possessed, and he also in communication with Bagration. So that, hlastened to improve it. He had dispatched the namerically, the prince might have under his conmgreater part of his cavalry tinder Murat, to press on mand from forty to fifty thousand men. the retreat of the grand Russian army; the second The ground which Bagration had to traverse was corps under Oudinot, and the third under Ney, with the high plain of Lithuania, where arise the sources three divisions of the first corps, were pushed to- of the rivers which take different directions to the wards the Dwina on the same service, and consti- Black and Baltic Seas. The soil is unusually tuted a force too strong for the army of Barclay de marshy, and traversed by long causewvays, which Tolly to oppose. On the right of' the army, the, the Russians made use of in defending themselves King of Westphalia had directions to press upon against the attacks of Jdrome's advanced guard. Bagration in front, and throw him upon the army of But while Bagration struggled against the attempt Davoust, which was to advance on his flank and on his fiont, Davoust, having occupied all the posts towards his rear. It was concluded that Bagration, on the Russian's right flank, and succeeded in precut off froin the grand army, and attacked at once venting him taking the shortest road to Drissa, began by Jr6ome and Davoust, must necessarily surrender next to cut hini off from his more circuitous route or be destroyed. to the east, occupying the town of Minsk, and the Having thus detached very superior forces against defiles by which Bagration must issu-, from Lithe only two Russian armies which were opposed to thitania towards Vitepsk and the Dwina. The ochim, Bonaparte himself, with the Guards, the army cupation of Minsk greatly embarrassed the retreat of Italy, the Bavarian army, and three divisions of of Bagration; insomuch, that the French were of Davoust's corps d'armdne, wvas at liberty to have opinion that it was only the want of skill and entermarched forward upon Vitepsk, occupying the in- prise on the part of King Jdornme of Westphalia, 534 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. who did not, it was said, press the Russians with sian general Wittgenstein, whose name began to sufficient vigour, that prevented the Russian prince be distinguished both for enterprise and conduct, being thrust back on Davoust, and totally destroyed. observing that Sdbastiani's van-guard of French At any rate, Jerome, whether guilty or not of the cavalry had quartered themselves with little precaualleged slowness of movement, was, according to tion in the town of Drissa, he passed the river unthe fashion in which the chief of the Napoleon dy- expectedly on the night of the 2d July, neat up nasty treated the independent princes whom he S6bastiani's quarters, and was completely successcalled to sovereignty, sent back in disgrace to his full in the skirmish which ensued. Enterprises Westphalian dominions, unaccompanied even by a of this sort show a firmn and energetic character, soldierof his guards, for all of whom Napoleon had and Napoleon began already to be aware of the sufficient employment. nature of the task he had before him, and of the neSeveral skirmishes were fought between the corps cessity of employing his own talents in the camnof Bagration, and those opposed to it, of which the paign. event was dubious. Platoff and his Cossacks had In the meantime, Barclay de Tolly was led to more than one distinguished success over the Polish change his plan, from learning the danger to which cavalry, who, with all their fiery courage, had not Prince Bagration was exposed. The camp at Drissa yet the intimate acquaintance with partisan war, became too distant a point of junction, and there which seems to be a natural attribute of the modern was every risk that the whole body of the French Scythians. In the meanwhile, Bagration, conti- army, which was ilOw getting itself into motion, nuing his attempts at extricating his army, made would force a passage across the Dwina at Vitepslk, another circuitous march towards the south, and, a good deal higher up than Drissa, and thus at once avoiding his pursuers, he effected the passage of the turn Barclay de Tolly's left flank, and entirely Beresina at Bobruisk. The Dnieper (anciently the separate him from Bagration and his corps d'armine. Borysthenes) was the next obstacle to be overcome, Alarmed at this prospect, Barclay de Tolly evaand with a view to regain the ground he had lost, cuated the camp, and began to ascend the right side Bagration ascended that stream as far as Mohiloff. of the Dwina, by Polotsk, towards Vitepsk. This Here he found himself again anticipated by Davoust, line of movement converged with that of Bagration's who was equally, though less unpleasantly sur- retreat, and served essentially to favour the desired prised, by finding himself in front of Bagration, who junction of the two Russian armies. Wittgenstein prepared to clear his way by the sword. The com- was left near Drissa to observe the eneiny, and bat was at first advantageous to the Russians, but cover the road to St Petersburg. The army first they were at length repulsed roughly, and lost the arrived at Polotsk, when the Emperor Alexander battle; without, however, suffering much, except left the troops, and hastened to Moscow, to recomin the failure of their purpose. Disappointed in this mend and enforce energetic measlues, and solicit attempt, Bagration, with unabated activity, once the heavy sacrifices which the emergency demand. more altered his line of retreat, descended the Dnie- ed. Barclay de Tolly continued his march upon per so far as to reach Nevoi-Bikoff, finally crossed Vitepsk, hoping to get into communication with at that point, and thus gained the interior of Russia, Bagration, to whom he had sent orders, directingr and an opportunity of again placing himself in cor- him to descend the Dnieper as far as Orcsa (or munication with the grand Russian army, from which Orcha), which is about fifty-six wersts fioml Vitepsk. he had been so nearly cut off. At this period, Napoleon was directing his whole It was certainly a new event in the history of reserved forces upon the same point of Vitepsk, with Napoleon's wars, that two large armies of French a purpose as anxious to prevent the junction of the should be baffled and outnmanceuvred by a foreign two Russian armies, as that of Barclay de Tolly to general. And yet this was clearly the case; for, accomplish that important movement. Had lNapoadmitting that the Russians comnitted originally the leon's march commenced earlier, there can be no great error of extending their line too far from doubt that he must have attained the disputed posiDrissa, the intended point of union, and although, tion sooner by marching fiom Wilna, than Barclay in consequence, the army of Bagration run great de Tolly could have reached it by ascending the risk of being cut off, yetthe manceuvres by which he Dwiua fiom Drissa. Hasting firom Wilna upon the effectually eluded the enemy showed superior mili- 4th, he. might easily have reached Vitepsk on the tary talent on the part of the general, as well as 20th, and would then have found himself, with a excellent discipline on that of the soldiers, and were chosen army of 120,000 men, without an enemy on sufficient for the extrication of both. his fi'ont, posted between the two hostile armies, MWe return to the grand army, commanded by the each of which was pressed by a force superior to emperor, or rather by Barclay de Tolly, which, their own, and having- their flanks and conmnunicathough pressed by Murat, at the head of the greater tions at his mercy. Instead of this advantage(,us part of the French cavalry, as well as by Oudinot condition, the emperor found himself in front of the and Ney, all burning for combat, made a regular grand arrnmyof Russia, in a situation where they and successful retreat to th.e entrenched camp at could not easily be brought to action, although seDrissa, where the Russian army had been appointed vere anld bloody skirmishes took place between the to concentrate itself. Th.e French troops, on their cavalry on both sides. part, approached the left bank of the Dwina, and On' his part, Barclay de Tolly was far fiom easy. that river now separated the hostile armies, and He heard nothing of BagTation, whom lie expected there took place only partial actions between de- to approach fi;om Orcsa; and, rather than abandoni tached corps with various success. But the Rus- hini to his fate by a retreat, he formed, on the 1 4th LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 535 July, the almost desperate resolution of risking a tage in the cavalry skirmish which took place. The general action with very superior forces, commanded Russian general, in consequence of the extension of by Napoleon. But just as he had made his dispo- his flank, discovered that there was no French sitions for battle, the Russian general received news force on the left, and consequently, that he was in from one of the prince's aides-de-camp, which made no danger on that point; and he resumed his original him joyfully alter his determination. The repulse plan of pressing the French at Rudneia. But while at Mobiloff had, as before noticed, obliged Bagra- Barclay de Tolly lost four days in these fruitless tion to change his line of retreat, which was now marches and countermarches, he at length learned. directed upon Smolensk. Barclay de Tolly, re- that the most speedy retreat towards Smolensk nouncing instantly his purpose of battle, commenced would be necessary to save him from that disaster a retreat upon the same point, and arriving at which he had truly apprehended, though he.mistook Smolensk on the 20th, was joined by Bagration the quarter from which the danger was to come. within two days after. The result of these manoeu- While Barclay de Tolly was in hopes of surprisvres had been on the whole disappointing to the Em- ing Napoleon, the emperor had laid a scheme of a peror of the French. The two armies of Russians singularly audacious character, for inflicting the sulr had united without material loss, and placed them- prise with which lie had been himself threatened. selves upon their own lines of communication. No Without allowing his purpose to be suspended by battle had been fought and won; and although Na- the skirmishing on his front, he resolved entirely to poleon obtained possession of the fortified camp at change his line of operations from Vitepsk upon the Drissa, and afterwards of Vitepsk, it was only as Dwina, to conicentrate his army on the Dnieper, positions which it no longer served the enemy's making Orcsa the central point of his operations, and purpose to retain. thus, turning the left of the Russians instead of their The marshals and generals who surrounded Na- right, as Barclay de Tolly had apprehended, he poleon began to wish and hope that he would close hoped to gain the rear of their forces, occupy Srnoat Vitepsk the campaign of the season, and, quarter- lensk, and act upon their lines of communication ing his troops on the Dwina, await supplies, and with Moscow. VWith this purpose Napoleon withthe influence of the invasion upon the mind of the drew his forces from Vitepsk, and the line of the Russian nation, till next spring. But this suggestion Dwina, with equal skill and rapidity, and, by throwBonaparte treated with contempt, asking those who ing four bridges over the Dnieper, effected a passage favoured such a sentiment,'whether they thought for Ney, the viceroy, and'Davoust. The King of he had come so far only to conquer a parcel of Naples accompanied them, at the head of two large wretched huts. If ever, therefore, he had seriously corps of cavalry. Poniatowski, with Junot, advanced thought of settling his winter quarters at Vitepsk, by different routes to support the movement. Ney which Segur affirms, and Gourgaud positively de- and Murat, who commanded the van-guard, drove nies, it had been but a passing purpose. Indeed, everything before them until they approached Krashis pride must have revolted at the very idea of for- noi, upon 14th August, where a remarkable action tifying himself with entrenchments and redoubts in took place. This manoeuvre, which transferred the the middle of summer, and confessing his weakness emperor's line of operations from the Dwina to the to Europe, by stopping short in the midst of a cam- Dnieper, has been much admired by French and paign, in which he had lost one-third of the active Russian tacticians, but it has not escaped military part of his great army, without even having fought a criticism.* general action, far less won a decisive victory. General Newerowskoi had been stationed at KrasMeanwhile the Russians, finding their two wings noi with above six thousand men, a part of the garunited, to the number of 120,000, were not inclined risonof Smolensk, which had been sent out for the purto remain inactive. The French army at Vitepsk pose of making a strong recognizance. But finding lay considerably more dispersed than their own, and himself attacked by a body of infantry stronger thlan their plan was, by moving suddenly upon Napoleon, his own, and no less than eighteen thousand cavalry to surprise him ere his army could be concentrated. besides, the Russian general commenced his retreat With this view, General Barclay de Tolly directed upon the road to Smolensk. The ground throllgh the march of a great part of the grand army upon which the road lay was open, flat, and favourable fbr Rudlmeia, a place about half-way between Vitepsk the action of cavalry. Murat, who led the pursuit, a;id Smnolensk, being nearly the centre of the French and, while he affected the dress and appearance oft linse of position. Their march commenced on the a cavalier of' romance, had the fiery courage necks- { 2titll July; but, on the next day, Barclay de Tolly re- sary to support the character, sent some of his liht ceived information from the outposts, which induced squadrons to menace the front of the Russian corlig s, him to conclude that Napoleon was strengthening while with his heavy horse he annoyed their flankls lhis left flank for the purpose of turning the Russian or thundered upon their rear. To add to the di-i I right wing, and assaulting the town of Smolensk in culties of the Russians, their columns consisted of raw I their rear. To prevent this misfortune, Barclay de troops, who had never been under fire, and ltho Tolly suspended his march in firont, and began by a light have been expected to shrink from the fllrious flank movemenlt to extend his right wing, for the onset of the cavally. They behaved bravely,. howpurpose of covering Smolensk. This error, for such ever, and availed themselves of a double rotw of it was, led to his advanced guard, who had not trees, whichm borders the high-road to Smiolensk rn been informed of the change of plan, being placed * See Appendix, No. 7 — Extract from matr nsvript obin some danger at Inkovwo, a place about two wersts servations on Napoleon's Russian campaign, by an li:giis!i trom hRudneia. Platoff, however, had the advan- oincer of rank., 536 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. each side, to make their musketry effectual, and to "At length/, said Napoleon, as he gazed on the screen themselves from the repeated charges. Pro- advance from the opposite side, " at length I have tecting themselves as they retreated by a heavy fire, them!"' Ie had no doubt it was the purpose of I Newerowskoi made good a lion-like retreat into the Russians to pass through the city, and, deploySmolensk, having lost four hundred men, chiefly by ing from its gates, to offer him under the walls that the artillery, and five guns, but receiving fiom friend general action for which he longed, and on which so and foe the testimony due to a movement so bravely much depended. He took all the necessary meaand ably conducted. sures for preparing his line of battle. Upon the 14th of August, the same day with this But the cautious Barclay de Tolly was determined skirmish, Napoleon arrived at Rasassina, upon the that not even for the protection of the sacred city Dnieper, and continued during the 15th to press for- would he endanger the safety of his army, so indisward towards Smolensk, in the rear of Ney and pensably necessary to the defence of the empire. Murat. Prince Bagration, in the meantime, threw He dismissed to Ellnia his more impatient coadjuGeneral Raefskoi into Smolensk, with a strong divi- tor, Prince Bagration, who would willingly have sion, to reinforce Newerowskoi, and advanced him- fought a battle, incensed as he was at beholding the self to the Dnieper, along the left bank of which he cities of Russia sacked, and her fields laid waste, pressed with all possible speed towards the endan- without the satisfaction either of resistance or regered town. Barclay de Tolly was now made aware, venge. Barclay de Tolly in the meanwhile occupied as we have already stated, that while he was engaged Smolensk, but only for the purpose of covering the in false mianoeuvres to the right, his left had been in flight of the inhabitants, and emptying the magafact turned, and that Smolensk was in the utmost zines. danger. Thus the two Russian generals pressed for- Bonaparte's last look that evening was on the still ward from different points to the relief of the city, empty fields betwixt his army and Smolensk. There whilst Napoleon used every effort to carry the place was no sign of any advance from its gates, and before their arrival. Murat prophesied that the Russians had no purpose Smolensk, a town of consequence in the empire, of fighting. Davoust entertained a different opinion; and, like Moscow, honoured by the appellation of and Napoleon, continuing to believe what he mlost the Sacred, and of the Key of Russia, contains wished, expected with the peep of day to see the about 12,600 inhabitants. It is situated on the whole Russian army drawn up betwixt his own heights of the left bank of the Dnieper, and was front and the walls of Smolensk. Moriling camle, then surrounded by fortifications of the ancient however, and the space in which lie expected to see Gothic character. An old wall, in some places the enemy was vacant as before. On the other dilapidated, was defended by about thirty towers, hand, the high-road on the opposite side of the which seemed to flank the battlements; and there Dnieper was filled with troops and artillery, which was an ill-contrived work, called the Royal Bastion, showed that the grand army of the Russians was in which served as a species of citadel. The walls, full retreat. Disappointed and incensed, Napoleon however, being eighteen feet thick, and twenty-five appointed instant measures to be taken to storm the high, and there being a ditch of some depth, the place, resolving as speedily as possible to possess town, thorgh not defensible if regularly approached, himself of the town, that he might have the use of might be held out against a coup-de-macin. The its bridge in crossing to the other side of the Dnieper, greatest inconvenience arose froln the suburbs of the in order to pursue the filgitive Russians. There place, which, approaching near to the wall of the are moments when men of ordinary capacity nlay town, preserved the assailants from the fire of the advise the wisest. Murat remarked to Bonaparte, besieged, as they approached it. Raefskoi prepared that as the Russians had retired, Smolensk, left to to defend Smolensk at the head of about sixteen its fate, would fall without the loss that must be thousand men. He was reinforced on the 16th of sustained in an attack by storm, and he more than August by a division of grenadiers under Prince hinted the imprudence of penetrating farther into Charles of Mecklenberg, who were detached for Russia at this late season ofthe year. The answer that purpose by Bagration. of Napoleon must have been almost insulting; for Ney arrived first under the walls of the city, and Murat, having exclaimed that a march to Moscow instantly rushed forward to attack the citadel. He would be the destruction of the army, spurred his failed entirely, being himself' wounded, and twvo- horse like a desperate man to the banks cf the river, thirds of the storming party cut off. A second at- where the Russian guns fiom the opposite side were tempt was made to as little purpose, and at length cannonading a French battery, placed himself under lie was forced to confine his efforts to a cannonade, a tremendous fire, as if he had been courting death, which was returned from the place with equal spirit. and was with difficulty forced fiom the dangerous Later in the day, the troops of Napoleon appeared spot. advancing from the eastward on one side of the Meantime the attack commenced on Smnolensk, Dnieper, while almost at the samei moment there but the place was defended with the same vigour were seen upon the opposite bank clouds of dust as on the day before. The field-guns were found unenveloping long columns of men, moving from differ- able to penetrate the walls; and the French lost four ent points with uncommon celerity. This wvas the or five thousand men in returning repeatedly to the grand -kmy of Russia under Barclay de Tolly, and attack. But this successful defence did not alter Barthe troops of Bagration, who, breathless with haste clay de Tolly's resolution of evacuating the place. an(d anxiety, were pressing forward to the relief of It might no doubt have been defended for several Smolensk. days more, but the Russian general feared that a LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 537 protracted resistance on this advanced point might of their original number, and a great additional give Napoleon time to secure the road to Moscow, loss had been sustained in the movements and enand drive the Russian armies back upon the barren counters on the Dnieper. The wounded of the army and exhausted provinces of the north-west, besides were in the most miserable state, and it was in vain getting betwixt them and the ancient capital of that the surgeons tore up their own linen for dressRussia. In the middle of the night, then, while the ings; they were obliged to use parchment, and the French were throwing some shells into the place, down that grows on the birch-trees: it is no wonder they saw fires beginning to kindle, far faster and that few recovered. more generally than their bombardment could have Thus it may be concluded, that this rash enteroccasioned. They awere the work of the Russian prise carried with it, from the beginning, the seeds troops, who, having completed their task of carrying of destruction, which, even without the conflagraoff or destroying the magazines, and having covered tion of Moscow, or the Russian climate, though the the flight of the inhabitants, had now set the dread- latter must have been at all events included, made fill example of' destroying their own town, rather the expedition resemble that of Cambyses into than that its houses or walls should afford assistance Egypt; of Crassus, and after hinm Julian, into Parto the enemy. thia; and so many others of the same character, When the Frenchmen entered Smolensk, which where the extent of preparation only rendered the they did the next morning, 18th August, most of subsequent fate of the invaders more signally calathe town, which consisted chiefly of wooden houses, Initous. was yet blazing-elsewhere they found nothing but While the French army was thus suffering a blood and ashes. The French troops were struck gradual or rather hasty decay, that of the Russians with horror at the inveterate animosity of the Rus- was now receiving rapid reinforcements. The Emsians, and the desperation of the resistance which peror Alexander, on leaving the army for Moscow, they met with; and all began to wish a period to a had convoked the nobles and the merchants of that war, where there was nothing to be gained from the capital in their several assemblies, had pledged to retreating enemy, except a long vista of advance them his purpose never to make peace while a through an inhospitable wilderness of swamps, pine- Frenchman remained in Russia, and had received forests, and deserts; without provisions, and without the most enthusiastic assurances firom both ranks of shelter; without hospitals for the sick, and dressings the state, of their being devoted to his cause with for the wounded; and without even a shed where the life and property. A large sum was voted by the weary might repose, or the wounded might die. merchants as a general tax; besides which, they Bonaparte himself hesitated, and is reported to opened a voluntary subscription, which produced have then spoken of concluding the campaign at great supplies. The nobility offered a levy of ten Smolensk, which would, lie said, be an admirable men in the hundred through all their estates; many head ofcantonments. " iere," he said, "the troops were at the sole expense of fitting out and armning might rest and receive reinforcements. Enough was their recruits, and some of these wealthy boyards dlone for the campaign. Poland was conquered., furnished companies, nay battalions, entirely at their which seemed a sufficient result for one year. The own expense. The word peace was not mentioned, next year they would have peace, or they would seek or only thought of as that which could not be conit at Moscow." But in the interior of his councils, he cluded with an invader, without an indelible disheld a different language, and endeavo;tred to cover, grace to Russia. with tile language of prudence, the pride and pertina- Other external circumstances occurred, which city of character, which forbade him to stop shortin an greatly added to the effect of these patriotic exerenterprise which had yet produced him no harvest tions. of renown. He stated to his generals the exhausted A peace with England, and the restoration of state of the country, in which his soldiers were liv- commerce, was the instant consequence of war ing from hand to mouth; and the risk and difficulty with France. Russia had all the support which of drawing his supplies from Dantzic or Poland, British diplomacy could afford her, in operating a through Russian roads, and in the winter seasou. reconciliation with Sweden, and a peace with He alleged the disorganized state of the army, which Turkey. The former being accomplished, under might move on, though it was incapable of stopping. the mediation of England, and the Crown Prince "Motion," lie said, "might keep it together; a halt being assured in possession of Norway, the Russian or a retreat would be at once to dissolve it. It was army under General Steigenteil, or Steingel, which an army of attack, not of defence; an army of oper- was, while Bernadotte's amicable disposition might ation, not of position. The result was, they must be doubted, necessarily detained in Finland, was advance on Moscow, possess themselves of the ca- now set at liberty, for the more pressing service of pital. and there dictate a peace." defending the empire.'l'he language which Sgur has placed in the A peace, even still more important, was made mouth of tie emperor by no means exaggerates the with the Turks at Bucharest, on the 16th May. dreadful condtition of the French army. When Na- The Porte yielded up to Russia, Bessarabia, and poleon entered the country, only six weeks before, that part of Moldavia situated on the left of the the corps which formed his operating army amount- river Pruth, and Russia renounced all claim to the ed to two hundred and ninety seven thousand muen; rest of the two provinces of Moldavia and Waland by the 5tll August, when preparing to break lachia. But the great advantage which accrued to up from Viteplsk, that number was diminished to Russia by this treaty, was its setting at liberty a one lundred and eighty-five thousand, not two-thirds veteran army of forty-five thousand men, and renVOL. V1.~j 538 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. deritg them a disposable force in the rear of thle French troops. CHAPTER LXXVII. If the able. statesman, who at thiat period condurcted the foreignl afFcairs of Great Britain, had Nactpoleon detachesM'urat anzdother generals in purs7uit of the Russians.-Bloody, but indecisive action, at Valonnever rendered to his own country and to the world, ot.er service theinencewi h tina.-Barclay de Tolly's deJfenlsive systent relinqnished, any other service than the influence which he suc- l ndKoutousoff cppcinted to the chief comntanpd of tAe cessftlly exercised in these important diplomatic lutssian artny. —Napoleon advances jrom Snmolensk.. affairs, fie must have gone down to posterity as Bcltle of Borodino foryght, on 5thi September. — Victor the minister, wvlho had foreseen and lprovided, in tile remains iwith the Fr:ench, be:t without affording them any Imeost critical moment, the mode of strengthening, essential service —Prince Bagralion amozng the slain.RI tssia to colnbat with her formidable invaderls, anld Koultososf retreats upon NMojaik, and thence t)pon MOs which, after all her exertions, was the means of cow.-Napoleon continues his advance oe the 12th.turcling the balance in her favour. Co.unt Rostopchtcn, governlor of,moscosew-Iis character. It wvas at Vitepsk that Napoleon learned that the Tlhe Rssianls abacrlo'e Afoscoco, c'tich is eraclcatetl Tulrks had made peace; and as it had only instigated by the ialsebitats, afler the rentoval oJ the archiazes atcd his meascres aainst Solensk, pcblic treasulres, and the emptyicyg of the magazilles.-. him to precipitate his measures against Smolensk, On the 14th Septenmber, the grartcl Rlssian aruly nacrches so now tlhe same reason urged him to continue his through Moscow —Latst pub!ic court of jscstice held there march on Moscow. Hitherto his wings had had the by Rostopchint, after which he followcs the lcarch of the advantage of the enemy. Macdonald, int blockading army. Riga, kept all Courland at his disposal, and alarmed St Petersbulrg. More to the south, St-Cyr had some WaITHOUT communicating his purpose of advanchard fighting with Wittgenstein, and after a severe ing in person from Smolensk, and completing, withbattle at Polotsk, had reduced that enterprising out any interval of' delay, his great undertaking, officer to the defensive. Napoleon tailed not to detach MAlrat, Ney, Junot, Equally favourable intelligence had reached fromn and Davoust, in pursuit of the Russians, as they Volhynia, the extreme. right of the terrible line of retired from Smolensk. Either, however, his own ilnvasion. The Russian General Tormazoff had mind was not made up, or hle did not *wish his plrmade, when least expected, his appearance in tlie pose of going onward to be known. lie represented Grand Duchy, d;iven before him R6gnier, who was this demonstration as arising merely out of the desire covering that part of Poland, destroyed a Saxon of pressing the Russian retreat, though in fact it wvas brigade, and alarmed Warsaw. But Regnie.r united preliminary to his own advance. himself withl the Austrian general Schwartzenberg, Barclay de Tolly having perfor-ned the stern duty advanced on Torimazoff, and engaging him near a of burning Smolensk, had retired for two or three place called Gorodeczna, defeated him with loss, mrtiles along the road to St Petersburg, which route and compelled himn to retreat. It was obvious, he chose in order to avoid a cannonade from the however, that tlce advantage of these two victories left side of the Dnieper. Havicng proceeded a little at Polotsk and Gorodeczna would be entirely lost, way in this direction, he turnel southward to regain if General Steingel, with the Finland army, should the road to Moscow, which he would have taken at join Wittgenstein, while Tormazofffell back on tile first, but for its exposing him to loss from the eneMoldavian army of Russia, commanded by Admiral my's artillerye where it bordered on the river. The Tchitchagoff. French could not for some timle determine on which For Napoleon to await in cantonments at Snm- route they were to pursue the Russiancs. At length, lensk, in a wasted country, the consequences of' finding the track, they overtook the Lealr-gard at a these junctions, which were likely to include the place called Valontina, encumbered as it rwas with destruction of his two wings, would have been a guns and baggage. Here a desperate action took desperate resolcution. It seemed waiting for the fate place, the Russians reinfoicinig tlheir rear-guard as which he had been wont to command. To miove fast as tile French broughlt new bodies to attack forward was a bold measure. But the French armny, them. Both parties fobught nmost obstinately, and in its state of disorganization, somewhat resernbled the distinguished French general (Cldin wsas moran intoxicated person, who possesses the power to tally woulnded. The French blailerd Juclut, who, run, though he is nnable to support himself if he having been dispatched across the Dnieper, slhowed stand still. If Napoleon could yet strike a gallant no alertness in advancing to charge the enemy. blow at tlhe Russian grand army; if he could yet There was seen, indeed, in this afftir of rValontina, obtain possession of Moscowi the Holy, he reckoned or Lrnlbino, that the marshals and the great ofticers on sending dismay into the heart of Alexandler, and who had been accustomled each to commalnd a sedictating to the czar, as he had done to many other parate corps d'armee, disdaiced to receive either princes, thie conditions of peace from within the orders, or even advice or hints, from a brother of walls of his own palace. Bonaparte, therefoire, the same rank. Wherever there Nrere two or three resolved to advance upon Moscow. And perhaps, of these dignitaries on thle field, it was necessary circcmstanced as he was, he had no safer course, Bonaparte should be wvithin reach, to ies.se tIle unless he had abandoned his whole undertaking, and necessary orders; for no vol e save that of the erlfallen back upon Poland; which would have been peror was implicitly obeyed by all. all acknowledgment of defeat that we can hardly Ilc the meantime, the bloody action of Valontina conceive his stooping to, while he was yet at the had an unsutiasfactory result. The Russians, whose head of an army. rear-guard h;-d been attacked, had moved off with{ Lord Castlereaghm. out losingl either guns, prisoners, or baggage. They.i. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 53p had lost equal numbers with the French, but the forward to join the advanced guard of his army at time was fast approaching when they must possess Gjatz. In this place his followers found a Frencha numerical superiority, and when, of course, an man who had dwelt long in Russia. They learned equal loss would tell in favour of the party which was from this mran the promotion of Koutousoff to the nearest to its resources. chief command of the army opposed to them, and The plan of Barclay de Tolly had hitherto been that he was placed there for the express purpose o/ scrupulously adhered to. All general actions had giving battle to the French army. The news were been cautiously avoided; and while no means were. confirmed by the manner of a Russian officer, who left unemployed to weaken the enemy in partial arrived under some pretext with a flag of truce, but actions, and to draw him on from swamp to swamp, probably to espy the state of the invader's army. from conflagration to conflagration, from one wild There was defiance in the look of' this man; and and waste scene to another of equal sterility and when he was asked by a French general what they disconsolation, the end had been in a great measure would find between Wiazma and Moscow, he anattained, of undermining the force and breaking the swered sternly, " Pultawa." There was, therefore, moral courage of the invading army, who wandered no doubt, that battle was approaching. forward like men in a dream, feeling on all hands a But the confusion of Bonaparte's troops was still sense of oppressive and stifling opposition, yet tn- such, that he was obliged to halt two days at Gjatz, able to encounter anything substantial which the in orderto collectand repose his army. He arrived slumberer can struggle with and overcome. Barclay at the destined field of battle, an elevated plain, de Tolly, if he had made some faults by extending called Borodino, which the Russians had secured his line too much at the commencement of the cam- with lines and batteries. paign, and afterwards by his false movements upon The French army were opposed to them on the Rudneia, had more than atoned for these errors by 5th September, having consumed seventeen days in the dexterity with which he had manceuvred before marching two hundred and eighty wersts. Their Smolensk, and the advantages which he had gained first operation was a successfil attack upon a reover the enemy on various other occasions. Baut doubt in the Russian front, but which-a great error they were now approaching Moscow the Grand, the in war-was situated too distant from it to be effecSanctified, and the military councils of Russia were tually supported. The French gained it and kept about to change their character. it. The armies lay in presence of each other all the The spirit of the Russians, especially of the new next day, preparing for the approaching contest. levies, was more and more exasperated at the re- Upon a position naturally strong, the Russians had treat, which seemed to have no end; and at the raised very formidable field-works. Their right style of defence, which seemed only to consist in flank rested on a wood, which was covered by some inflicting on the country, by the hands of Cossacks detached entrenchments. A brook, occupying in its or Tartars, the very desolation which was perhaps course a deep ravine, covered the front of the right the worst evil they could experience from the French. wing, and the centre of the position as far as the riser The natural zeal of the new levies, their confidence, of Borodino; from that village the left extended and their desire to be led to fight in the. cause for down to another village, called Semoneskoie, which which they were enlisted, eagerly declared against is more open, yet protected by ravines and tlhickets further retreat; and they demanded a halt, and a in firont. This, as the most accessible point, was battle under a Russian general, more interested, as anxiously secured by redoubts and batteries; and in they supposed such must be, in the defence of the the centre of the position, upon a gentle elevation, country, than a German stranger. The emperor al- arose a sort of double battery, like a citadel, for. the most alone continued to adhere to the opinion of protection of the whole line. Barclay de Tolly. But he could not bid defiance to In this strong position was stationed the Russian the united voice of his people and his military coun- army, equal now in numbers to tile French, as each cil. The political causes which demanded a great army might he about 120,000 men. They were battle in defence of Moscow, were strong and nu- commanded by a veteran, slow, caultions, tenllaious nierons, and overcame the military reasons which of his pumrpose, wily, too, as Napoleon afterwards certainly recommended that a risk so tremendous found to his cost, but perhaps not otherwise emishould not be incurred. nent as a military leader. The army he led Nwere In compliance, therefore, with the necessity of the of one nation and language, all conscious that this case, the emperor sacrificed his own opinion. Ge- battle had been granted to their own ardent wishes, neral Koutousoff, an officer high in military esteem and determined to make good the eagerness with among, the Russians, was sent for from the corps which they had called for it. which had been employed on the Danube against the The French army, again, consisted of various naTurks, to take the chief command of the grand army; tions; but they were the &lide, and seasoned soldiers and it was to Barclay de Tolly's great honour, that, who had survived the distresses of a most calamitous thus superseded, he continued to serve with the nt- march; they were the veterans of the victors of Eumost zeal and good faith in a subordinate situation. rope; they were headed by Napoleon in person, and The French were not long of learning that their under his immediate command by those marshals, enemy's system of war was to be changed, and that whose names in arms were only inferior to his own. the Dew Russian general was to give them battle, Besides a consciousness of their superiority in action, the object which they had so long panted for. Bona- of which, from the manner in which they had covered parte, who had halted six days at Smolensk, moved themselves in entrenchments, the enemy seemed fromu thence on the 24th August, and now pressed aware, the French had before them the prospect of 54 0 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE,,utter destruction, if they should sustain a defeat in a commence on the Russian right and centre. Fore. country so difficult that they could hardly advance seeing an obstinate resistance, he had ordered as even as a successful army, and certainly could much artillery as possible to be brought into line, never hope to retreat as a routed one. Bonaparte's and the guns on each side are, said to have amountaddress to his troops had less of the tinsel of oratory ed to a thousand. The battle began about seven than he generally used on such occasions." Soldiers," o'clock, by Ney's attacking the bastioned redoubt lihe said, "' here is the battle you have longed for; it on the Russian centre, with the greatest violence, is necessary, for it brings us plenty, good winter- while Prince Eugene made equal efforts to dislodge quarters, and a safe return to France. Behave the enemy from the village of Semoneskoie, and yourselves so that posterity may say of each of you, the adjoining fortifications. No action was ever'He was in that great battle under the walls of more keenly debated, nor at such a wasteful expetnMoscow.'" diture of human life.'[he fury of the French onset In the Russian camp was a scene of a different at length carried the redoubts, but the Russians ralkind, calculated to awaken feelings to which France lied under the very line of their enemy's fire, and had long ceased to appeal. The Greek clergy advanced again to the combat, to recover their enshowed themselves to the troops, arrayed in their trenchments. Regiments of peasants, who till rich vestments, and displaying for general worship that day had never seen war, and who still had the images of their holiest saints. They told their no other uniform than their grey jackets, formled countrymen of the wrongs which had been offered with the steadiness of veterans, crossed their brows, by the invaders to earth as well as Hleaven, and and haviang uttered their national exclamation,exhorted them to merit a place in paradise by their " Gospodee pozmiloui aas!-God have mercy upon behaviour in that day's battle. The Russians an- us! " —rllshed into the thickest of the battle, where swered with shouts. the survivors, without feeling fear or astonisllrhent, Two deeply-interesting circumstances occurred closed their ranks over their comrades as they fell, to Napoleon the day before the battle. An officer while, supported at once by enthulsiasm for their brought him a portrait of his boy, the King of Rome, cause, and by a religious sense of' predestination, which he displayed on the outside of the tent, not life and death seemed alike indifferent to them. only to satisfy the officers, but the soldiers, who The tate of' the day seemed more than once so Icrowded to look upcn the son of their emperor. The critical, that Na: oleon was stirongly urged, on more other was the arrival of an officer from Spain with than one occasion, to bring llp the Young Guard, dispatches, giving Napoleon news of the loss of the whom lie had in reserve, as the last means of decidbattle of Salamanca. He bore the evil tidings with ing the contest. He seas censured by some of those temper and firmness, and soon turned his thoughts around him for not having done so; and it has been alike from domestic enjoyments and foreign defeats, imputed to illness, as hlie had passed a bad night, to forming the necessary plans for the action before and seemed unusually languid during the whole of him. the day. But the secret of his refusal seems to be Davoust proposed a plan for turning the left of contained in his reply to Berthier when he illied t3he enemy's entrenched line, by following the old hint on the subject. "And if there is another battle road fronom Smolensk to Moscow, and placing 35,000 to-morrow, where is my army? " The fact is, that men in the flank and rear of that part of the Russian this body of ten thousand household troops Aerie his position. This operation was partly to be accom- last reserve. Th'ley had been spared as far as posplished by a night march, partly on the morning, sible in the march, artd had, of course, retained while the rest of the army was engaging the ene- their discipline in a pro)ol-tional degree; and had my's attention in front. The ground to which they sustained any considerable loss, which, froni this road would have conducted Davoust and his the obstinate resistance and repeated efforts of the troops, forms the highest land in the neighbourhood, Russians, was to be apprehended, Bonaparte, whoml as appears from the rivulets taking their source even victory must leave in a perilous condition, there. Upon this commanding position the attacking would in that case have lost the only corps upon corps might have been fiormed in the rear of the whom, in the general disorganization of his army, Russian line. Such a movement on that point must lie could thoroughly depend. The compromising have cut of' the Russians from their point of retreat the last reserve is an expedient reluctantly resorted on Mojaisk and Moscow, and Davoust might have to by prudent generals; and perhaps, if Napoleon come down on their line, driving everything before had been as circunmspect on that subject at Waterloo him, advancing from redoubt to redoubt, and dis- as at Borodino, his retreat from that bloody field persing reserve after reserve, till the Russians might have been less calamiitous than it proved. should no longer have the semblance of an army. The Russians, whose desperate efforts to recover Perhaps Napoleon considered this plan as too ha- their line of redoubts had exposed them to so much:ardous, as it implied a great weakening of his front loss, were at length coninianded to retreat; and line, which, in that case, might have been attacked although the victory was certainly with the French, and broken before the corps d'armne under Davoust yet their enemies might be said rather to desist had attained the desired position. from fighting, than to have suffered a defeat. Indeed, The emperor therefore determlined that Ponia- it was the French who, after the battle, drew off to towski, with not nmore than five thousand nien, their original ground, and left the Russians in posshould make a demonstration, that should com- session of the bloody field of battle, where they mhncre upon their left, in the direction proposed by buried their dead, anid arried off their wounded, Daioast, and that then a general attack should at their leisure. Their cavalry even alarmed the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 541 French camp on the very night of their victory. led to admire the natural spirit of obedience, aed Both parties sustained a dreadful loss in this instinct of discipline, by which they were brought sanguinary battle. Among that of tile Russians, to execute that movement with such steadiness, the death of the gallant Prince Bagration, whose that not a single straggler remained to betray their'admirable retreat firom Poland we h.ave had occasion secret. to commemorate, was generally lamented. General On tile 12th September, Bonaparte resumed his Touczkoff also died of his wounds; and many other march, the army having no better guide than the Russian generals were wounded. Their loss amounted direction of the high-road, and the men no better to the awful sum total of fifteen thousand men food than horse-flesh and bruised wheat. Upon the killed, and more than thirty thousand wounded. previous day, Murat and Mortier, who led the vanThe French were supposed to have at least ten thou- guard, found the Russians strongly posted near sand men killed, and double the number wounded. Krymskoie, where the inconsiderate valour of the Of these last few recovered, for the great convent King of Naples brought on an action, in which the of Kolotskoi, which served them as an hospital, French lost two thousand men. Still Bonaparte was very ill provided with anything for their relief; pursued the traces of the Russians, because he and the medical attendants could not procure a could not suppose it possible that they would resign party to scour the neighbouring villages, to obtain their capital without a second struggle. Hle was the lint and other necessaries,-for it seems even the more anxious to meet it, as two divisions of the necessaries of an hospital could, in this ill-fated Italian army, under Laborde and Pino, had joined army, only be collected by marauding. Eight French him from Smolensk, which again camried his nnumgenerals were slain, of whom Montbrun and Cau- bers, sore thinned after the battle of Borodino, to laincourt, brother of the grand equerry, were men upwards of one hundred thousand men. of distinguished reputation. About thirty other A council of war, of the Russian generals, had ~generals were wounded. Neither party could make been called, to deliberate on the awful question, any boast of military trophies, for the Russians made whether they should expose the only army which a thousand prisoners, and the French scarce twice they had in the centre of Russia, to the consequences the number; and Koutousoff carried away ten of a too probable defeat, or whether they should pieces of cannon belonging to the French, leaving in abandon without a struggle, and as a prey to the their hands thirteen guns of his own. So slight, spoiler, the holy Moscow-the Jerusalem of Russia except in the numbers of slain, had been the con- -tilhe city beloved of God and dear to ilan, with the sequences of the battle, that it might have seemed name and existence of which so many historical, to have been fought, as in the games of chivalry, patriotic, national, and individual feelings wtere nov merely to ascertain which party had the superior involved. Reason spoke one language, pride and strength and courage. affection held another. According to the Russian accounts, Koutousoff To hazard a second battle, was in a great measure entertained thoughts of giving battle again the next to place the fate of their grand army upon the issue; day; but the reports firom various corps having and this was too perilous an adventure even for the made him acquainted with the very large loss they protection of the capital. The consideration seems had sustained, he deemed the army too much to have prevailed, that Napoleon being now in the exhausted to incur such a risk. He retreated the centre of Russia, with an army daily diminishing, next day upon Mojaisk, without leaving behitnd him and the hard season coming on, every hour during a single fragment to indicate that he had the day which a decisive action could be delayed was a loss before sustained such an immense loss. Upon the to France, and an advantage to Russia. This was 9th September, the French arrived at Mojaisk, and iather the case, that Wittgenstein, on the northern came again in sight of the Russian rear-guard, and frontier, being reinforced by Steingel with the army made dispositions to attack them. But on the 11th, of Finland; and, on the south, that of Moldavia they found that the Russian army had again dis- being nited to Tormazoff,-Lithuania, and Poland, appeared, by a retreat so well conducted, and so which formed the base of Napoleon's operations, effectually masked and concealed, as to leave Na- were in hazard of' being occupied by the Russians poleon altogether uncertain whether they had taken from both flanks, an event which must endanger his the road to Moscow, or to Kalouga. Owing to this supplies, magazines, reserves, and communications uncertainty, Napoleon was obliged to remain at of every kind, and put in peril at once his person Mojaisk till the 12th, when he received positive in- and his army. Besides, the Russian generals retelligence that the Russian army had retreated upon flected, that by evacuating Moscow, a measulre their capital. which the inhabitants could more easily accomplish It is impossible to avoid observing. how often the than those of any other city in the civilized world, Russian army, though large, and consisting of new they *would diminish the prize to the victor, and levies, had, in the course of this campaign, escaped leave him nothing to triumph over save the senseless from the front of the French, and left Napoleon at a buildings. It was, thereobre, determined, that the loss to conjecture whither they had gone. Besides preservation of the army was more essential to the present occasion, the same circumstance took Russia than the defence of Moscow, and it was place at Vitepsk, and again before the walls of agreed that the ancient capital of the czars should IMoscow. No doubt the Russians were in their be abandoned to its fate.: own country, and possessed clouds of Cossacks, by Count Rostopchin, the governor of Moscow, was means of whom thley might cover the retreat of their a man of worth and talent, of wit also, as we have main body; yet with all these advantages we are been informed, joined to a certain eccentricity. I-e 542 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. had, since the commencement of the war, kept up thou shouldst desire the coming of thy countrynmen. the spirits of the citizens with favourable reports and Be free, then, and go to meet them. Tell thera loyal declarations, qualified to infuse security into there was one traitor in Russia, and thou hast seen the public mind. After the fate of Smolensk, how- him punished." ever, and especially after the recommrencement of The governor then caused the jails to he opened, iBonaparte's march eastward, many of the wealthy and the criminals to be set at liberty; and, abaninhabitants of Moscow removed or concealed their doning the desolate city to these banditti, and a few most valuable effects, and left the city themselves. of the lowest rabble, he mounted his horse, and, Rostopchin continued, however, his assurances, and putting himself at the head of his retainers, followed took various means to convince the people that there the march of the army. was no danger. Among other contrivances, he engaged a great number of females in the task of conatructing a very large balloon, from which he was to CHAPTER LXXVIII. shower down fire, as the people believed, upon the French arlmy. Uader this pretext, he is stated to on 14th September, Napoleon reaches Moscow, twhich he have collected a large quantity of fire-works and findsdesertedbythe ithabtnts-Thecityisdiscvered combustibles, actually destined for a very different to be on fire aboct midniyht.-Naoole takes p his quarters in the Kremlin.- The fire is stopt next day, but purpose. arises again at night-Believed to be wi.ful, and several As time passed on, however, the inhabitants be- Russians apprehlended and shot.-On tihe third night, t/ce came more and more alarmed, and forming a dread- iKremlin is discovered to be on fire.-Bonaparte leaves fill idea of the French, and of the horrors which it, and takes his abode at Petrowusky.-The fire rages would attend their entrance into the city, not only till the 19th, when four-fifths of the city are burnlt down. the nobility, gentry, and those of the learned pro- — On the 20th, Bonaparte returns to the Kreaelin.-Disfessions, hut tradesmen, mechanics, and the lower cussion as to the origin of this great conflagration.orders in general, left Moscow by thousands, while Disorganization and indiscipline (f the French armyny.the governor, though keeping up the language of Difficuty as to the route on leav-ing Aoscow.-Lauriston defiance, did all he could to superintend and encon- sent with a letter to the EmperorAlexraner.- tetrospect rage the emigration. The archives and the public of tte march of the Russian arny, after leaviny Ioscow. treasures were removed; the magazines, parti- -Larriston has an interview with Koutouso on 5tA October- The result.-Arumistice made by MItrat.-Precularly those of provisions, were emptied, as far as parations for retreat.-The Emperor Alexander refises time permitted; and the roads, especially to the to treat. south, velre crowded with files of carriages, and long columns of men, women, and children on foot, ON the 14th September, 1812, while the rear-guard singing the hymns of their church, and often turn- of the Russians were in the act of evacuating Mosing their eyes back to the magnificent city, which cow, Napoleon reached the hill called the Mount was so soon destined to be a pile of ruins. of Salvation, because it is there where the natives'The Grand Army of Moscow arrived in the po- kneel and cross themselves at first sight of the Holy sition of Fili, near the capital; not, it was now ac- City. knowledged, to defend the sacred city, but to tra- Moscow seemed lordly and striking as ever, with verse its devoted streets, associating with their thle steeples of its three Iund(red churches, and its march the garrison, and such of the citizens as were copJelr dolles glittering in the sun; its palaces of fit to bear arms, and so leave the capital to its fate. eastern architecture illingled with trees, and surOn the 14th of Septemnber, the troops marched with rounded %with gardentl; and its Kremlin, a huge downcast looks, furled banners, aind silent drums, tr-iangular mass of towers something between a pathroegh the streets of the mnetropolis, and went orut lace and a castle, which rose like a citadel out of at the Kolomnna gate. Their long columns of retreat the general mass of groves and buildingrs. But not wvere followed by the greater part of tile relmainting a chlimney sent up smoke, not a man appeared on population. Meanwhile Rostopchlin, ere departing, the battlements, or at the gates. Napoleon gazed held a public court of justice. Two mrten were every moment, expecting to see a train of bearde,4 brought before him, one a Russian, an enttlhusiast, boyvalds arriN iug to fling themselves at hiis feet, and who had learned in Gernmany, and been Ibolisli place their wealth at his disposal. His first exclamenough to express at Moscow, somrre of tile old ation was, "B3ehold at last that celebrated city!" French republican doctrines. The other was a -His next, "It vwas full time." His army, less Frenchman, whom the near approach of his country- regardfull of the past or tIre flture, fixed their eyes imen had emboldened to hold somne indiscreet po- on the goal of their wishes, anid a shout of "Moslitical language. The father of tile Russian delin- cow!-Moscow!"-passed fr'om rank to rank. quent was present. He was expected to interfere. Meantimre no one interruipted ihis meditations, unHe did so; but it was to demand his son's death. til a imessage came fiont Murat. Hle had pushlued "I grant you," said the governor, " some mrlolmlents in amllongl the Cossacks, who covered the real of to take leave and to bless him." the Russians, and readily admitted to a parley tlhe "Shall I bless a rebel?' said this Scvthian Bru- chivalrous champion, whom they at once recognized, ts. " Be my curse upon him that has betrayed his rlaving so often seen him blazing in the van of tihe country 9 French cavalry. The message which lre sent to 13oThe criminal was hewed down on the spot. naparte intimated, that Miloradovitch threatened " Stranger, " said Rostopchin to the Frenchman, to burn the town, if his rear was not allowed time " thou hast been imprudent; yet it is but natural to march throughl it. This was a tone of defiance. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 543 Napoleon, however, granted the armistice, for which own hand. They were dispatched by a Russian no inhabitants were left to be grateful. officer of rank, who had been disabled by indisposiAfter waiting two hours, he received from some tion from following the army. But no anlswer was French inhabitants, who had hidden themselves ever returned. during the evacuation, the strange intelligence that Next day the flames had disappeared, and the Moscow was deserted by its population. The tid- French officers luxuriously employed themselves in ings that a population of two hundred and fifty selecting out of the deserted palaces of Moscow. thousand persons had left their native city was in- that which best pleased the fancy of each for his credible, and Napoleon still commanded the boyards, residence. At night the flames again arose in the the public functionaries, to be brought before him; north and west quarters of the city. As far the nor could he be convinced of what had actually hap- greater part of the houses were built of wood, the pened, till they led to his presence some of that conflagration spread with the most dreadful rapidity. refuse of humanity,'the only live creatures they This was at first imputed to the blazing brands and could find in the city, but they were wretches of sparkles which were carried by the wind; but at the lowest rank. When he was at last convinced length it was observed, that, as often as the wind that the desertion of the capital wits universal, he changed, and it changed three times in that terrible smiled bitterly, and said, "The Russians will soon night, new flames broke always forth in that direclearn better the value of their capital." tion, where the existing gale was calculated to direct The signal was now given for the troops to ad- them on the Kremlin. These horrors were increased vance; and the columns, still in a state of wonder at by the chance of explosion. There was, though as the solitude and silence which received them every. yet unknown to the French, a magazine of powder in where, penetrated through that assemblage of huts, the Kremlin; besides that a park of artillery, with mingled with palaces, where it seemed that Penury, its ammunition, was drawn up under the emperor's which has scarce means to obtain the ordinary ne- window. Morning came, and with it a dreadful cessaries of life, had for her next door neighbour scene. During the whole night, the metropolis had all the wealth and profuse expenditure of the East. glared with an untimely and unnatural light. It At once tile silence was broken by a volley of nmus- was now covered with a thick and suffocating atketry, wvhich some miserable fanatics poured from mosphere of almost palpable smoke. The flames the battlements of the Kremlin on the first French defied the efforts of the French soldiery, and it is troops that approached the palace of the czars. said that the fountains of the city had been rendered These wretches wvere most of them intoxicated; inaccessible, the water-pipes cut, and the fire-enyet the determined obstinacy with which they threw gines destroyed or carried off: away their lives, was another feature of that rugged Then came the reports of fire-balls having been patriotism of which tie French had seen, and were found burning in deserted houses; of men and yet to see, so many instances. women, that, like demons, had been seen openly XWThen he entered the gates. of Moscow, Bona- spreading the flames, and who were said to be furparte, as if unwilling to encounter the sight of the nished with comlbustibles for rendering their dreadful empty streets, stopt immediately on entering the work more secure. Several wretches against whom first suburb. His troops were quartered in the de- such acts had been charged Awere seized spon, and, solate city. During the first few hours after their probably without much inquiry, were shot on tie arrival, an obscure rumour, which could not be ispot. While it was almost impossible to keelp the traced, but one of those which are sometimes found roof of the Kremlin clear of the burning brands to get abroad before the approach of some awful which showered down the wind, Napoleon watched certainty, announced that the city would be en- from the windows the course of the fire which dedangered by fire in the course of the night. The vonred his fair conquest, and the exclamation burst report seemed to arise from thcse evident circum- from him, "These are indeed Scythians!" stances which rendered the ev ent probable, but no The equinoctial gales rose higher and higher upon one took any notice of it, until at midnight, when the third night, and extended the flanies, with which the soldiers were startled from their quarters by there was no longer any human power of contending. the report that the town was in flames. The memor- At the dead hour of midnight, the Kremlin itself was able conflagration began anmongst the coachmakers' found to be on fire. A soldier of' the Russian police, warehouses and workshops in the Bazaar, or general charged with being the incendiary, was turned over market, which was the most rich district of the city. to the summary vengeance of tihe Inaperial Guard. It was inmpuited to accident, and the progress of the Bonaparte was then, at length, persuaded, by the flames was subdued by the exertions of the French entreaties of all around him., to relinquish his quarters soldiers. Napoleon, who had been roused by the in the Kremlin, to which, as the visible mark of iis tumult, hurried to tile spot, and when the alarm conquest, he had seemed to cling with the tenacity seemed at an end, he retired, not to his former of a lion holding a fragment of his prey. lie encounquarters in the suburbs, but to the Kremlin, the tered both difficulty and danger in retiring from the hereditary palace ol the only sovereign whom lie palace, and before he could gain the city gate, b;e had ever treated as in equal, and over whom his had to traverse with his suite streets arched Awith successful arms had now attained such an apparently fire, and in which the very air they breathed was immense superiority. Yet he did not suffer himself suffocating. At length, he gained thle open country, to be dazzled by tihe advantage he had obtained, and took up his abode in a palace of the czar's calied but availed himnselfof the lilght of tile blazing Bazaar, Petrowsky, about a French league from the city. As to write to the emperor proposals of peace with his he looked back on the fire, which, underthe influence _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~~~~~~ 544 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.L of the autumnal wind, swelled and surged around that we hardly know whether to term it vice or virtie Kremlin, like an infernal ocean around a sable tue, patriotism or vengeance. Pandemonium, he could not suppress the ominous Whether the conflagration of Moscow was, or expression, " This bodes us great misfortune." was not, the work of Russian will, and Russian The fire continued to triumph unopposed, and con- hands, the effects whlich it was to produce on the surmed in a few days what it had cost centuries to campaign were likely to be of' the most important raise. " Palaces and temples, " says a Russian an- character. Bonaparte's object in pressing on to the thor," monuments of art, and miracles of luxury, the capital at every risk, was to grasp a pledge, for the remains of ages which had past away, and those redemption of which he had no doubt Alexander which had been the creation of yesterday; the tombs would be glad to make peace on his own terms. of ancestors, and the nursery-cradles of the present But the prize of his victory, however fair to the generation, were indiscriminately destroyed. No- sight, had, like that fabled fruit said to grow on the thing was left of Moscow save the remembrance banks of the Dead Sea, proved in the end but soot of the city, and the deep resolution to avenge its and ashes. Moscow, indeed, he had seized, but it fall." * - had perished in his grasp; and far fiom being able The fire rated till the 19th with unabated violence, to work upon Alexander's fears for its safety, it was and then began to slacken for want of fuel[. It reasonable to think that its total destruction had is said, four-fifths of this great city were laid in produced the most vehement resentment on the part ruins. of the Russian monarch, since Napoleon received On the 20th, Bonaparte returned to the Kremlin; not even the civility of an answer to his conciliatory and, as if in defiance of the terrible scene which he letter. And thus the acquisition so much desired had witnessed, took measures as if he were disposed as the means of procuring peace, had become, by to make Moscow his residence for some time. He even this catastrophe, the cause of' the most irreconcilable caused a theatre to be fitted up, and plays to be acted enmity. by performers sent from Paris, to show perhaps that Neither was it a trifling consideration, that Nait was not in the most terrible of elements to overawe poleon had lost by this dreadful fire a great part of his spirit, or interrupt his usual habits of life. In the the supplies, which he expected the capture of the same style of indifference or affectation, a set of very metropolis would have contributed for the support precise regulations respecting the Th6atre Francais of his famished army. Had there existed in Moscow was drawn up by the emperor amid the ruins of the usual population of a capital, he would have Moscow. I-e was not superior to the affectation of found the usual modes of furnishing its markets in chasing distant places and foreign capitals for the full activity. These, doubtless, are not of the date of domestic and trifling ordinances. It gave the common kind, for provisions are sent to this capital, emperor an air of ubiquity, to issue rules for a Pa- not, as is usual, from fertile districts around the risian theatre from the Kremlin. It had already been city, but from distant regions, whence they are prophesied that he would sacrifice his army to have brought by water-carriage in the summer, and by the pleasure of dating a decree fiom Moscow. siedies, which travel on the ice and frozen snow, The conflagration of Moscow was so complete in in the wintei time. To Moscow, with its usual its devastation; so important in its consequences; so inhabitants, these supplies must have been remitted critical in the moment of its commencenient, that as usual, lest the numerous population of 250,000 almost all the eye-witnesses have imputed it to a and upwards, should be famished, as well as the sublime, yet almost horrible exertion of patriotic de- eneny's almy. But Moscow deserted,-Moscow cision on the part of the Russians, their government, burnt, and reduced to nountains of cinders and and, in particularl, of the governor, Ilostopchin. Nor ashes.-had no occasion for such supplies nor was has the positive denial of Count R6stopchin himself it to be supposed that the provinces from which diminished the general conviction, that tlie fire was they wvere usually remitted, wotald send them to a directed by him. All the French officers continued heap of ruins, where there remained none to be fed, to this day to ascribe the conflagration to persons save the soldiers of the invading armily. This conwhom lie hiad employed. viction came with heavy anticipation on the Emperor On the other hand, there are many, and those of France and his principal officers. good judges of the probabilities in such an eveunt, Meanwhile, the ruins of Moscow, and the remnant who have shown strong reasons for believing, that which was left standing, alforded the common sol-.Moscow shared but the tiste ofta deserted city, which diers an abundance of booty during their short day is alnost always burntt as well as pillaged. We shall of rest; and, as is their nature, tiey enjoyed the only observe, that should the scale of evidence incline present moment without thinking of iiturlity. The to the side of accident, History will lose one of the army -was dispersed over the city, plundering at grandest, as well as most terrible incidents which pleasure whiateser they could find; sometimes disshe has on record. Considered as a voluntary Rus- covering quantities of melted gold and silver, somnesian act, the burning of their capital is an incident times rich merchandize and precious artic:les, of of gigantic character, which we consider with awe which they knew not the value; sometimes articles and terror; our faculties so confused by the immen- of luxury, wlhichI contrasted strangely with their sity of the object, considered in its different bearings, general want of comforts, and even necessaries. It was not tsicommon to see the most tattered, shoeless * Keramzin, a Russian historian of eminence, whose wretches, sitting among bales of rich merchandize, warks were expressly excepted from the censorship, by the or displaying costly shawls, precions furs, and vest.. late EI-peror Alexander. ments rich with barbaric pearl and gold. In another LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 5 place, there were to be seen soldiers possessed of by a triumphant peace with Alexander, concluded tea, sugar, coffee, and similar luxuries, while the on the ruins of' his capital. ftis mind, which ever same individuals could scarce procure carrion to eat, clntg with tenacity to the opinions he had once or muddy water to drink. Of sugar, in particular, formed, revolved the repeated instances in which his they lhad such quantities, that they mixed it with voice had in such circumnstances commanded peace, their horse-flesh soup. The whole was a contrast and dictted thile articles. The idea which le had. of the willest and most lavish excess, with the last formed of Alexander's disposition during the inter, degree of necessity, disgusting to witness, and most views of'I Tilsit and Erfurt, Ihad Iade him regard the ominous in its presage. They esteemed themselves czar as docile, anl disposed to submit to the rebuke happiest of all, who could procure intoxicating li- of his own predlomninant genius. BIt he mistook the quors, and escape by some honurs of insensibility character of thie sovereign, and of the nation he comfrom tihe scene of confusion around them. manded. Thec one, altholgh he lIe d hitherto eicoanNapoleon anmd his officers toiled hard to restore tered nothling bult dfueat and disaster, was determined some degree of organization to the army. The phan- not to subnit, ws file his iimmllense resurce.s falnished deriitg, which could not be discontinued, was latterly tie means of i esistince. The other, in all probability, set about more regularly; and detacliments wvere would not have permitted the sovereign to act othersent to pillage the ruins of Moscow, is in turn of wise, for tile lolullar indignation was now at springduty. The rest of thle toops were withdrawn. from tide; and fioml the pialace of the czar to the hut the city, or confined to their quarters in the buildings of the slave, there slas nothing breathed save resiswhich reimained entire. Everything was done to tance and revenge. protect the few peasants, who broughlit provisions to It was in vair, therefore, that Napoleon exported the camp for sale. Nevertheless, few appeared, and that Alexander would open some comllnillicatitn on at length not one awas to be seen. The utmost ex- the subject of, or would answer, the letter which he ertion, therefore, could not, it was obvious, render had sent, (tlringg the first night he possessed Mos1Moscow a place of rest bor oi-any days; and the diffi- cow, by a Russian officer. lie grew impatient at cilty of clhasing the route by which to leave it, be- length, and resolved himself to mi.ake farther advancame now an enibarrassin, consideration. ces. Bult not even to his confidential advisers wvould Ihere were three modes of proceeding on evac.u- he own that he sought peace on his own score; lihe ating Moscow, all of which had in their turn Napo- affected to be anxious only on account of Alexander. leon's anxious consideration. First, he might march X' Ile is my firiend," he said; "a prince of excellent on St Petersburg, and deal with the modern, as he qualities; and should he yield to his inclinations, had with the ancient capital of Russia. This counsel and propose peace, the barbarians in their rage will best suited the daring gelnius of Bonaparte, ever dethrone and put him to death, and fill the throne bent upon the game by which all is to be lost, or all with some one less tractable. We will senld Canwon. tHe even spoke of that measure as a thing laincourt to break the way for negotiation, and pieresolved; but Berthiier and Bessieres prevailed in vent the odium which Alexander migh t itcl-, by convincing him, that the lateness of the season, the being the first to propose a treaty." Tqhe emperor state of the roads, the want of provisions, and the abode by this resolution, excepting in so far as he condition of the army, rendered such an attempt was persuaded with some difficulty to dispatch totally desperate. The second proposed measure, General Count Lauriston, his aide-de-camp, upon was to move sonlthwsards upon the fertile province of this embassy; lest Caulaincourt's superior rank of Kalouga, and thence to proceed westward towards master of the horse might indicate that his master Smoletsk, which was their first d6pot. In this sought a treaty, less for Alexander's security than route Napoleon must have fought a general action his own, and that of his army. Lauriston, who was with Koutousoff, who, as wve shall presently see, had well acquainted with the Russian character, urged taken a position to the south of Moscow. This, in- several doubts against the policy of the mission indeed, would have been, in many respects, a motive trusted to hin, as betraying their necessity to the with Napoleon to take the route to Kalouga; but a enemy; and recommended that the army should, second battle of Borodino, as obstinately fought, and without losing a day, commence its retreat by Kaas doubtful in its terminlalion, would have been a louga, and the more southern route. Bonaparte, bad commencement for a retreat, the flanks of which however, retained his determination, and Lauriston would certainly be annoyed, even if the Moldavian was dismissed with a letter to the Emperor Alexarmy did not intercept the front. The third plan ander, and the parting instruction,-" I must have. was, to return by the route on which he had ad- peace, and will sacrifice to obtain it, all except my vanced, and on which, by a few places hastily forti- honour." fied, he still preserved a precarious conmmunication Before we give the result of Lauriston's'mission, with Smolensk, Vitepsk, and so on to Wilna, This it is proper to trace the movements of the Russian line, however, lay through the countries which had grand army, since their melancholy march through been totally destroyed and wasted by the advance the city of Moscow. They left the city by the route of the army, and where all the villages and hamlets of Kolomna, and marched for two days in that had been burned and abandoned, either by the direction; and having thus imposed on the enemy a French or the Russians themselves. To take this belief, that they were bent in securing a retreat to direction was to confront famine. the south-east, leaving at once the eastern and Napoleon's hesitation on this important point was northern provinces undefended, Koutousoff exincreased by the eagerness with which he still ad- ecuted one of the most dexterous movements of the hered to his own plan for the conclusion of the war, Russian army during the campaign. The observavoi.. vs. 6 546 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. tion of the St Petersburg road was intrusted to spirit possessed the peasantry. They set fire to their Winzengerode, with a small flying army. Koutou- hamlets, wherever they could be of use to the insoff himself' turning to the soulthward, performed a vaders; proclaimed the punishment of death to kill circular march, of which Moscow was the centre, of their own order, who, from avarice or fear, should so as to transfer the grand army to the route towards be tempted to supply the enemy with provisions; Kalouga. They marched in stern dejection; for the and they inflicted it without mercy on such as inwind, great as the distance was, showered among curred the penalty. It is an admitted fact, that when their ranks the ashes of their burning capital, and the French, in order to induce their refractory priin the darkness, the flames were seen to rage like a soners to labour in their service, branded some of huge ocean of fire. The movement was a bold one them on the hand with the letter N, as a sign that also, for, although performed at a respectfil distance they were the serfs of Napoleon, one peasant laid from the French army, yet the march was for three his branded hand on a log of wood, and struck it off days a flank march, and consequently of a very deli- with the axe which he held in the other, in order to cate character. The Russians manoeuvred, how- free himself from the supposed thraldom. The ever, with such precision, that they performed their French who looked on shuddered, and cursed the movement in perfect safety; and while the French hour which brought them into collision with enetroops who had been sent in their pursuit, were mies of such a rugged and inexorable disposition. amusing themselves with pursuing two regiments of The patriotism of the peasants in general had been horse, which had been left on the Kolomna road, turned to still better account by the partisan or gtuethey were astonished to find that the grand Russian rilla warfare, for which Spain had given an example. army had assumed a position on the south-eastern Lieutenant-colonel Dennis Davidoff, who became side of Moscow, from Wvhich they could operate well known to the French by the name of le Capiupon and harass, nay, intercept at pleasure, Napo- taine Noir, had suggested this species of war to leon's line of communication with Smolensk and Prince Bagration, a little before the battle of Borowith Poland, and at the same time cover the town dino; and had obtained distinguished success at the of Kalouga, where great magazines had been as- head of a small party of Cossacks and hussars, by senlbled, and that of Toula, famed for the fabrication his operations on the route betwixt Gjatz and WViof arms and artillery. azma, in cutting off supplies, and defeating small The ardent King of Naples, with the advanced detached parties of the enemy. He was speedily guard of his brother-in-law's army at length moved put at the head of a much larger force; and other against their enemies on the Kalouga road; but little free corps of the same kind were raised, with birave took place save skirmishes, by which the Russians and active spirits at their head. They scoured the protected their rear, until they took up a stationary country, infested the French lines of communication, posture in the strong position of Taroutino. They drove in their outposts, and distressed them an were here admirably placed for the purpose of every point. covering the important town of Kalouga. There are The peasants also took arms, and formed themthree routes which lead from Moscow to that city; selves into bodies of partisans, rendered formidable and Taroutino being situated in the middle road, by their perfect knowledge of the woods, by-paths, an army placed there can with little trouble, by and passes. They have a natural contempt for moving to the right or the left, occupy either of the foreigners, for whom they have no other name than other two. The front of the Russian position was "the deaf and dumb," to denote their ignorance of covered by the river Nera. The camp was amply the Russian langllage. The events of the campaign, supplied with provisions from the wealthy and plenti- especially the conflagration of Moscow, had conful districts in the rear; and as the spirit of the verted their scorn into deadly hatred; and whatever country more and more developed itself, recruits soldier of Napoleon fell into their hands was put to and new-raised regiments arrived faster than the death without scruple orpity. exertions of the veteran soldier could train them to Meantime the cavalry of Murat, which afforded arms, although the Russian, from his docility and the best means of chastising and repressing these habits of obedience, receives military discipline with bands, gradually declined under hard work and unusual readiness. The Ukraine and Don sent want of subsistence; and, although little used to twenty regiments of Cossacks, most of them men droop or distress himself about the future, the King who, having already served their stipulated time, of Naples wrote repeatedly from his advanced post, were excused from military duty, but who univer- to press Napoleon no longer to delay a retreat which sally assumed the lance and sabre at a crisis of such was become absolutely necessary. It was while emergency.' matters were in this state that General Lauriston Murat at the same time pressed forward to esta- arrived at the Russian outposts, and after a good blish himself in front of the Russian camp, for the deal of difficulty, real or affected, was at length adpurpose of watching their motions. In his progress, mitted to an interview with Koutousofi, at midhe passed what had been a splendid domain, belong- night on the 5th October. His reception was such ing to Count Rostopchin, the governor of iMoscow. as to make him consider himself a welcome envoy. It was in ashes; and a letter from the proprietor in- Lauriston opened his business with a proposal for formed the French he had destroyed it, lest it should 1va00 in number, will leave it as you approach; and it will be reduced to ashes, that not one of you may!ollute 4'Frenchmen," such was the tenor of this remarkable it by your presence. Ihave left you two palaces in Moscow, timastion, 1 for eight years it has been my pleasure to - with their furniture, worth -half a million of rubles. Here Umbellish this my family residence. The inlhabitants. you will only find ashes.' LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 647 exchange of prisoners, which was of course declined were surprised, and lost a detachment in the town on the part of Koutousofi; aware, that while soldiers of Vereia, on Murat's left flank. Thus the war were plenty among the Russians, the ranks of continued everywhere, except on the front of the Napoleon nmust become every day thinner. Lauriston armies, where it had the greatest chance to be fanext introduced the subject of the independent vourable to the French. bands, and proposed that an end should be put to This bad policy is not to be imputed to Napoleon, this species of unusual war, in which so many who had refused to authorize the armistice, but to cruelties were committed. Koutousoff replied, that the vanity of Murat, under whose authority it was this kind of partisan war did not depend on his still observed. It gave him an opportunity of arnusorders, but arose from the native spirit of the coun- ing himself, by caracoling on the neutral ground try, which led the Russians to regard the French betwixt the camps, displaying his handsome form, invasion as an incursion of Tartars. General Lau- gallant horsemanship, and splendid dresses, to the riston then entered on the real business of his soldiers on both sides; receiving the respectful samission, by asking whether "this war, which had lutes of the Russian patrols, and the applause of the assumed such an unheard-of character, was to last Cossacks. These last used to crowd around him, for ever;" declaring, at the same time, his master partly in real admiration of his chivalrous appearance the Emperor of France's sincere desire, to terminate and'character, which was of a kind to captivate hostilities between two great and generous nations. these primnitive warriorys, and partly, doubtless, from The astucious old Russian saw Bonaparte's evi- their natural shrewdness, which saw the utility of dent necessity in his affected wish for peace, and maintaining his delusion. They called him their immediately adopted the course most likely to gain Hettman; and he was so intoxicated with their time, which must at once increase the difficulties of applause, as to have been said to nourish the the French, and his own power of availing himself of wild idea of becoming in earnest King of the them. He affected a sincere desire to promote a pa- Cossacks. cification, but declared he was absolutely prohibited Such delusions could not for ever lull Murat's either to receive any proposal to that effect himself, vigilance to sleep. The war was all around him, or to transmit such to the emperor. He therefore and his forces were sinking under a succession of declined to grant General Lauriston the desired petty hostilities; while the continual rolling of drums, passport to the presence of Alexander, but he of- and the frequent platoon firing, heard from behind fered to send General Wolkonsky, an aide-de-camp the Russian encampment, intimated how busily of the czar, to learn his imperial pleasure. they were engaged in drilling numerous bodies of The express charge which Lauriston had received fresh recruits. The Russian officers at the outposts from his master, that peace was to be obtained on began to hold ominous language, and ask the French any terms not inferring dishonour, did not permit him if they had made a composition with the Northern to object to this arrangement. He was even encou- Winter, Russia's most fearful ally. "' Stay another raged to hope it might prove effectual, so much satis- fortnight," they said, " and your nails will drop off, faction was expressed by General Koutousoff and and your fingers fall from your hands, like boughs the officers of his military family, all of whom seemed from a blighted tree." The numbers of the Costo deplore the continuance of the war, and went so sacks increased so much, as to resemble one of the far as to say, that this annunciation of a treaty would ancient Scythian emigrations; and wild and fantastic be received at St Petersburg with public rejoicings. figures, on unbroken horses, whose manes swept These accounts being transmitted to Napoleon, lulled the ground, seemed to announce that the inmost him into a false security. He returned to his origi- recesses of the desert had sent forth their inhabinal opinion, which had been shaken, but not sub- tants. Their grey-bearded chiefs sometimes held verted; and announced to his generals, with much expostulations with the French officers, in a tone satisfaction, that they had but to wait a fortnight for very different from that which soothed the ears of a triumphant pacification. He boasted his own su- Murat. "Had you not," they said, "in France, food perior knowledge of the Russian character, and de- enough, water enough, air enough, to subsist you clared, that on the arrival of his overture for peace, while you lived,-earth enough to cover you when St Petersburg would be full of bonfires. you died; and why come you to enrich our soil with Napoleon, however, was not so confident of peace your remains, which by right belong to the land as to approve a singular sort of armistice which where you were born?" Such evil bodements afMurat had entered into with the Russians. It was fected the van of the army, from whence Murat to be broken off, on an intimation of three hours' transmitted themto the emperor. space, by either party to the other; and, while in Immured in the recesses of the Kremlin, Napoexistence, it only subsisted along the fronts of the leon persisted in awaiting the answer to the letter two armies, leaving the Russians at liberty to carry dispatched by Lauriston. It had been sent to St Peon their partisan war on the flanks as much as ever. tersburg on the 6th, and an answer could not he The French could not obtain a load of filrze, or a expected before the 26th. To have moved before cart of provisions, without fighting for it, and often that period, might be thought prudent in a military to disadvantage. A large party of the dragoons of point of view; but, politically considered, it would the Imperial %Guard were surprised and piked by greatly injure his reputation fom agacity, and destroy the Cossacks. Two considerable convoys were the impression of his infallibility. Thus. sensible, surprised and cut off on the road to Mojaisk, the and almost admitting that he was wrong, -ho deteronly communication which the French arnay had mined, nevertheless, to persevere in the course he: with its magazines and reinforeetexa:ts. The Freach had chosen, in hopes that Fortune, which never 548 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. before failed him, might yet stand his friend in reported in what extent they could be obeyed. extremity. If this were the case, it was the rash indulgence - A bold scheme is said to have been suggested by of a groundless hope. The Emperor Alexander re-:Darn, to turn Moscow into an entrenched camp, fused to hear of any negotiation for peace, and took and occupy it as winter quarters. They might kill no other notice of that which had been transmitted the remainder of the horses, he said, and salt them to him by Wolkonsky, than to pass a censure on down; foraging must do the rest. Napoleon ap- the Russian officers concerned, and Prince Kout.. proved of what he termed a Lion's counsel. But ousoff himself, for having had the least intercourse the fear of what might happen in France, from with the French generals. He reminded the gewhich this plan would have secluded them for six neralissimo how positive his instructions had been months, induced him finally to reject it. It might on this subject, and that he had enjoined hitn on no be added, that the obtaining supplies by marauding account to enter into negotiations or correspondence was likely to become more and more difficult, as with the invaders; and he revived and enforced his winter and the scarcity increased, especially now injunctions to that effect. that the country around Moscow was completely The sagacious general was not, it is to be supruined. Besides, if Napoleon fixed himlself at posed, greatly affected by a rebuke which was only Moscow for the winter, not only his line of commu- given for form's sake. He made his soldiers acnications, but Lithuania, and the'Grand Duchy, quainted with the emperor's unalterable resolution which formed the base of his operations, ran every to give no terms to the invaders; and spreading risk of being invaded. On the south-west, the du- through the camp, at the same time, the news of the bious faith of Austria was all he had to trust to, for victory at Salamanca, and the evacuation of Madrid, the purpose of resisting the united armies of Tchit- pointed out to them, that Frenchmen, like others, chagoff and Tormazoff, which might be augmented were liable to defeat; and called on his soldiers to to 100,000 men, and make themselves masters of emulate the courage of the British, and patriotism of Warsaw and Wilna. On the northern extremity of the Spaniards. While the minds of the soldiery his general line of operations, Macdonald and St-Cyr were thus excited and encouraged, Koutousoff took might prove unable to resist Wittgenstein and Stein- measures for anticipating Napoleon, by putting an gel; and he had in his rear Prussia, the population end to the armistice, and assuming an offensive of which Napoleon justly considered as ready to posture. take arms against him at the. first favourable opport.nity. The scheme, therefore, for occupying winter CHAPTER LXXIX quarters at Moscow was rejected as fiaught with dangers. Murat's armistice broken qof-He is attacked and defeat d. Even when appearances of a fall of snow re- -Napoleon leaves Moscow on 19/!h -October,-Bloody minded the emperor of the climate which he was skirmish at lfMala- Yrrowslavetz.-Napoleos? in great braving, his preparations for retreat were slowly danger while reconnoitring-He retreats to Vrerein, and reluctantly, made; and some of them were dic- where meets Aortier and the Yotng Guard.-Wizentated by his vanity, rather than his judgment. All gerode nade prisoner, and insulted by Bonaparte.-TJle the pictures, images, and ornaments of the churches, Kremlin is blown unp by the French.-Napoleonl coltinues his retreat towards Poland-Its horrors.-Con.which were left unburnt, were collected, and loaded upon wains, to follow the line of march, already too lose 4,000 men —Cross the river Wiazmea during the much encumbered with baggage. A gigantic cross, night.-Proceedings of the Viceroy of Italy-He reaches which stood on the tower of Ivan the Great, the Smolensk, in great distress, on the 13th.-Bonaparte tallest steeple of Moscow, was dismounted with arrives at Smolensk, with the headmost division of the much labour, that it might add to the trophies, which grand army.-Sketch of the calamitous retreat of Neyl's were already sufficiently cumbrous. On the same division.-The whole French army scow collected at principle, Napoleon was angry when it was pro- Snmolensk.-Retrospect of proceedings on the extreme posed to leave some of his immense train of artillery, fanks of Napoleon's line of advance.-Cautions conduct which was greatly too numerous for the reduced of PritceSchwartzenberg.-Wmizengerodefreed on is size of his arny. "He would leave no trophy for the road to Paris, by a body of Cossacks.-Tchitchagoff. of hisary., He would leoccupies Minsk on 14th November, and Lanmbert, one of Russians to triumph over." That all the artillery his generals, captures Borizff, after severe fighting.and baggage might be transported, he surprised his Perilous situation of Napoleol. officers by an order to buy twenty thousand horses, vwhere, perhaps, there were not an hundred to be IT was easy to make Murat himself the active sold, and when those which they had already were person in breaking off the armistice, a step which daily dying for want of forage. The latter article, the Russian general preferred, lest a fotm al intimahe ordered, should be provided for two months, in tion of rupture on his own side might lead the King dep6ts on his route. This mandate might make of Naples to suspect his further purpose. Accordknown his wants; but as it certainly could contribute ingly, a Cossack having fired his carabine when little to supply them, it must only have been issued Murat was examining the advanced guards, irnitated, for the purpose of keeping up appearances. Per- as it was designed to do, that fiery soldier, and inhaps the desire to haw some excuse to himself and duced him to announce to the Russian generals that others for indulging in his lingering wish to remain a the armistice was ended. The Russians were "the day or two longer, to await the answer from St Pe- first to commence hostilities. lersburg, might be a secret cause of issuing orders, The camp, or position, which Murat occupied, which must occasion some inquiry ere it could be Worodonow, was covered on the right, and on the *LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 549 centre, by a rivulet or brook, running in a deep. about one hundred and twenty thousand men, indifravine; but the stream taking another direction, ferently well appointed, and marchingin good order. left a good part of the left wing uncovered, which They were followed by no less than five hundred was at the same time exposed to surprise from a and fifty pieces of cannon, a train beyond proporwood covering a little plain where his left rested. tion to their numbers, and two thousand artillery The sum of Murat's force, which consisted of the waggons. So far the march had a martial and imcavalry, and Poniatuwski's division, was computed posing aspect. But in the rear of these came a conto be upwards of thirty thousand. It is singular that fused crowd of many thousands, consisting of folsince the King of Naples expected an attack, as lowers of the camp, stragglers who had rejoined it, was intimated by his letter to his brother-in-law, and prisoners, many of them employed in carrying, he did not take the precaution of placing videttes or driving forward in wheelbarrows, the spoil of the and advanced guards in the woody plain. But the conquerors. French, friom their long train of success, were Among these were French families formerly inbaaccustomed to despise their enemies, and to consider bitants of Moscow, and composing what was called a surprise as a species of affront which they were the French colony there, who could no longer re/kon never to he exposed to. upon it as a safe place of abode, and who took the The Russians had laid a plan, which, had it been opportunity of retiring with their countrymen. There dexterously executed, must have destroyed the was, besides, amixture and confusionof all imaginwhole French advanced guard. An attack upon the able kind of carriages, charged with the baggage left of Murat's position, by two Russian columns, of the army, and with the spoils of Moscow, as well under Count Orloff-Dennizoff, was completely suc- those trophies which Napoleon had seized upon to cessful; but two other columns, by whom he should amuse the Parisians, as what had been seized by have been supported, did not arrive in time upon individuals. This miscellaneous crowd resembled, the point of action; the Poles, under Poniatowski, according to S6gnr, a horde - of Tartars returning made a glorious defence upon the right, and the from a successful invasion. van-guard was saved from utter destruction. But There were, as has been said, three routes from there was a complete defeat; the King of Naples Moscow to Kalouga. The central, or old road, was lost his cannon, his position, and his baggage, had that upon which the Russians lay encamped at their two thousand men killed, and lost fifteen hundred grand position of Taroutino, and in firont of it was prisoners. The French cavalry, except a few of that of Worodonow, or Inkowo, where they had so those belonging to the guard, might be said to be lately defeated Murat. Napoleon advanced a day's utterly destroyed. Everything which the Russians march on this route, in order to induce Koutousoff saw in the enemies' camp convinced them of the to believe that he proposed to attack his army in distress to which the French were reduced. Flayed front; but this was only a feint, for, on the next cats and horse-flesh were the dainties found in the day, he turned off by cross-roads into the eastern, King of Naples' kitchen. or new road to Kalouga, with the view of advancing It was the 18th of October when first the noise of by that route until he should be past the Russian the cannon, and soon after, the arrival of an officer, camp at Taroutino, on the right flank, and then of brought intelligence of this mishap to Bonaparte. again crossing tiom the new road to the old one,.IHis energy of character, which had appeared to and thus getting possession of Borowsk and Malaslumber during the days he had spent in a species of Yarowslavetz, towns on the same road to the southirresolution at Moscow, seemed at once restored. ward of Taroutino. Thus the Russian position He poured forth, without hesitation, a torrent of would be turned and avoided, while the main body orders suited for the occasion, directing the march of' the French Emperor would be interposed beof the troops to support Murat at Worodonow. twixt Koutousoff and Kalouga, and the fertile Notwithstanding the miscellaneous variety of direc- southern provinces laid open to supply his army. tions, each wvas distinct in itself, yet critically con- On the 23d, the emperor with his main body atnected with the others, so as to form, on the whole, tained Borowsk, and learned that the division of a perfect and well connected plan of movements. Delzons, which formed his van-guard, had occupied Part of the army marched that night; the rest had Mala-Yarowslavetz without opposition.'I'hus far all - their route for the next morning. A garrison, under seemed to have succeeded according to Napoleon's Marshal Mortier, was left as a rear-guard in the wish. Krernlin; from which it may be inferred that Napo- But Koutousoff, so soon as he was aware of the leon did not as yet intend a final retreat. danger in which he stood of being cut offil from KaOn the 19th October, before day-break, the em- louga, retaliated upon Napoleon his own manoeuvre, perorin person left Moscow, after an abode of thirty- and detached Generals Doktoroff and Raefskoi to four days. " Let us march," he said, "on Kalouga, the southward with a strong division, to outnrarch and woe to those who shall oppose us." In this the French, and occupy the position ofMala-Yarow-. brief sentence he announced the whole plan of his slavetz, or to regain it if it was taken. He himself, retreat, which was to defeat the army of Koutousoff, breaking up his camp at Taroutino, followed with or compel him to retire, and then himself to return his whole army by the road of Lectazowo, and to the frontiers of Poland, by the unwasted route of marched so rapidly as to outstrip the IFrench arumy, Kalouga, Medyn, Inkowo, Ellnia anld Smolensk. and reach the southward of Mala-Yarowslavetz, The French army, which now filed from the and consequently again interpose hlimself between gates of Moscow, and which continued to move on Napoleon and Kalouga. in a living mass for nimany hours, comprehended Mala-Yarowslavetz offers a strong position. The 550 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTi~, town is built on a rapid declivity, broken with cliffs, der to reconnoitre, and incurred in the attempt a the bottom of which is washed by the river Louja. great risk of his life or freedom. It was about dayOn the northern side of the Louja, and connected break, when, as attended by his: staff and orderly with the town by a bridge, is a small plain with soldiers, he crossed the little plain on the northern -some huts, where Delzons' army bivouacked, having side of the Louja in order to gain the bridge, the stationed two battalions to defend the town, and: to level ground was suddenly filled with fugitives, in watch the motions of the enemy. About four in the the rear of whom appeared some black masses. At morning, when all were asleep, save the few senti- first, the cries they made seemed to be those of Vice nels who kept a careless watch, the Russians rushed 1'emperezr; but the wild hourra of the Cossacks, into the place with dreadful outcries, drove the two and the swiftness of their advance, soon announced battalions out of the town, and pushed them down the children of the desert. " It is the Cossacks," the declivity and across the L6uja to their main said Rapp, seizing the reins of the emperor's bridle. body. The noise of the artillery-drew the attention "You must turn back." Napoleon refused to retreat, of Eug&ene the viceroy, who being only about three drew his sword, as did his attendants, and placed leagues from the scene of action, arrived there themselves on the side ofthe highway. Rapp's horse about the dawn. The soldiers of Delzons' division was wounded, and borne down by one of these lanwere then discovered struggling to regain the south- cers; but the emperor and his suite preserved their ern bank, on which the town was situated. Encou- liberty by standing their ground, while the cloud of raged by the approach of Eugene, Delzons pushed Cossacks, more intent on* plunder than prisoners, forward across the bridge, repelled the Russians, past them within lance's length, without observing gained the middle of the village, and was shot dead. the inestimable prey which was within their grasp, His brother, who endeavoured to drag the general's and threw themselves upon some carriages which body from the spot, incurred the same fate. General were more attractive. The arrival of the cavalry of G uilleminot succeeded to the command, and threw the guard cleared the plain of this desultory but a strong party of French into the church, which venturous and pertinacious enemy; and Napoleon served as a citadel during the continuance of the proceeded to cross the river and ascend the ihrther action. The Russians rushed in once more, and bank, for the purpose of reconnoitring. In the meandrove Guillemninot back to the bridge. He was, time, the audacity of the Cossacks in their retreat however, succoured by Prince Eugene, who, after was equal to the wild character of their advance. various less serious attempts, directed a whole They halted between the intervals of the French division on the town. cavalry to load their pistols and carabines, perfectly Mala-Yarowslavetz was then recovered by the secure that if pressed, their horses, at a touch of the French; but, on reconnoitring a little farther, the whip which is attached to their bridle, would outwhole of Koutousoff's army appeared on the plain strip the exhausted chargers of the French Imperial beyond it, upwards of 100,000 men in number, Guard. and already possessed of a good position, which they When the plain was attained, Napoleon saw on were improving by entrenchments. Reinforcements the front, and barring the road to Kalouga, Koufrom the Russian ranks immediately attacked the tousoff, strongly posted with upwards of 100,000 men, French, who were driven back on the town, which, and, on the right, Platoff and six thousand Cossacks, being composed of wooden huts, was now in flames, with artillery. To this belonged the pulk which he and the French were again dispossessed of Mala- had just encountered, and who were returning from Yarowslavetz. The miserable ruins of this place the flanks of his line, loaded with booty, while were five times won and lost. At length, as the others seemed to meditate a similar attack. He remain body of the grand army came up utnder Na- turned to his miserable head-quarters, after having poleon himself, he found the French still in pos- finished his reconnoitring party. session of the disputed village and its steep bank. A second council of war was held, in which BoBut beyond them lay the numerous Russian army naparte, having heard the conflicting opinions of stationed and entrenched, supported by a very large Murat, who gave his advice for attacking Koutoutrain of artillery, and seeming to render a battle ab- soff, and of Davoust, who considered the position solutely indispensable to dislodge them from the of the Russian general as one which, covering a long position they had taken, and the fortifications with succession of defiles, might be defended inch by which they had secured themselves. inch, at length found himself obliged to decide A council of war was held in the head-quarters of between the angry chiefs, and with a grief which the emperor, the hut of a poor weaver, divided by a seemed to deprive hilm of his senses for a little while, screen, which served as the only partition. Here he gave the unusual orders-to retreat. Bonaparte's received and meditated upon the reports of his ge- own personal experience had convinced him how nerals, together with their opinions, and learned, to much, in advancing, his flanks would be exposed to his distress, that Bessieres, and other good officers, the Hettman and his Cossacks, who had mustered reported that the position occupied by Koutousoff in great force in the neighbourhood of Medyn. Other was unassailable. He resolved to judge with his intelligence informed him that his rear had been atown eyes on the next day, and in the meantime tacked by another body of Cossacks coming from turned al negligent ear to the reports which informed Twer, and who belonged not to Koutousoff's army, him that the Cossacks were stealing through the but to another Russian division under the command woods, and insinuating themselves betwixt him and of Winzengerode, which was advancing from the his advanced guard. northward to re-occupy Moscow. This showed that At dawning Napoleon mounted his horse, in or- the communications of the French were at the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 551 enemy's mercy on the west and the north, on flank with them an important prisoner, whom chance. or and in rear, and seems to have determined the em- rather his own imprudence, had thrown into their peror to give at length, and most reluctantly, the hands. We have said incidentally, that upon the orders to retreat, for the purpose of returning to French army evacuating Moscow, XVinzengerode, the frontiers by Vereia and Wiazma, the same road with a considerable body of forces, advanced florn by vhich they had aldvancend. Twer to regain possession of thie city. All gas' raIt was very seldom that Napoleon resigned the cant and silent, except where the Frencl garrison settled purpose of his own mind, either to the advice lay deserted and moody in the Kremlin, with a few of those around him, or to any combination of op- detached outposts. WVinzengerode, with a single posing circumstances. He.usually recei4'ed any aide-de-camp, rode imprudently forward, and both objection founded on the difficulty of executing his were seized by the French soidiers. The general orders, with an evasive answer, "Ah, on ne peut waved a white handkerchlief, and claimed the privipas!" which, fiom the sarcastic mode in which he lege of a flag of truce, alleging that he came to uttered the words, plainly showed that he imputed sumnlo(r the French marshal to surrender. But the alleged impossibility to the imbecility of the of' Mortier refused him the privilege he claimed, obhficer who used the apology. It might have.-been serving, platsibly, that it was not the custom of better for Napoleon, in many instances, had he general officers to sumnlon garrisons in person. somewhat abated this pertinacity of disposition; Before leaving Moscow, the French, by the espeand yet it happened, that by yielding with unwonted cial cornland of Napoleon, plrep)ared to blow up docility to the advice of his generals upon the pre- the ancient palace of the czars. As the Kremlin sent occasion, he actually retreated at the very mno- swas totally useless as a fortification, even if Napoment when the grand Russian army were withdraw- leon could lhave hoped ever to return to Moscow tas ing from the position in' which Davoust had pro- a victor, this act of wanton mischief can only be imnounced them Iunassailable. Trhe reason of this puted to a desire to do something personally disretrograde movement, which involved the most pleasing to Alexander, because he had been found serious risk, and which, lhad Napoleon been aware to possess a firmler character than his formler friend of it, might have yielded hini access to the most had anticipated. The mbde of executing' this manfertile and unharassed provinces of Russia, was date, which, however, should be probably ascribed said to he Koutousoff's fears that the French, mov- to the engineers, was a piece of additional barbarity. ing from their right flank, might have marched round Aware that some of the Russians who were left tile Russian armly by the way of Medyn. The truth behind, men of' the lowest rank and habits, vwouhld seems to be, that Koutousotf, though placed in corn- crowd in to tlunder the palace when tlhe French mand of the grand army, in order to indulge the retreated, they attached long slow-matches to the soldiers with a general action, was slow and cautious gunpowder which was stored in tile vaults of the by nature, and rendered more so by his advanced palace, and lighted them when the rear of the French age. He forgot, that in war, to gain brilliant results, column marched out. The French were but at a or even to prevent great reverses, some risks must short distance, when the explosion took place, whicll be run; and having received just praise for his prac- laid a considerable part of the Kremlin in ruins, tised and cautious movements from the battle of and destroyed at the same tilme, in merev wantonBorodino till that of 1 lala-Yarowslavetz, he now ness, a number of wretches, whom curiosity or love carried the qualities of prudence and circiumspection of'plunder had, as was anticipated, induced to to the extreme, and shunned a general action, dr ra- crowd within the palace. The Russian troops ther the hazard of a general attack from the French, poured in, destroyed the mines which llhad not yet when lie might certainly have trusted, first, in the exploded, and extinguished the' fire which had chance (which trlllied out the reality) of Bonaparte's already caught the building. The patriotic foresight retreat; secondly, in the courage of his troops, and of the Russian peasants was nowv made mtlialilst. the strength of his position. "But tFortune," says We have mentioned the extreme wants of the Tacitus, "has tile chief influence on warlike events;" French in the desolate city. No sooner was the and she so ordered it, that both the hostile armies Russian flag hoisted, than these wants vanislled, as retired at once. So that while Bonaparte retreated if by magic. Eighteen hundred cars, loaded wvith towards Borowsk and Vereia, the route by which bread, poured in from the neighbourhood, on the lie had advanced, the Russians were leaving open very day that saw Moscow re-occupied. The before hlill the road to Kalouga, to gain which he bread, and the niode of conveying it, had been in had fought, and fought in vain, the bloody battle of secret prepared by these rustic patriots. Mala- Yarowslavetz. Favoured, however, by their WVe return to the mnovements of the French army. immense clouds of light cavalry, the Russians learn- The dreadfid explosion of the Kremlin shook the ed the retrograde movemlent of Napoleon long before grounld like an earthquake, and announced to Napolie could have any certain knowledge of theirs; and leon, then on his niarcl against Koutousofi, that lis in consequence, manOeuvred from their left so as to commands had been obeyed. On the next (lay, a approach the points of Wiazna and Gjatz, by which bulletin announced in a triumphant tone that the the French mulst needs pass, if they meant to march Kremllin, coeval with the Russian monarchy, had on Slnolensk. existed; and that Mloscow was now but an impure At Vereia, where Napoleon had his head-quarters laystall, while " the two hundred thousand persons on the 27th October, lie had the satisfaction to ileet which once formned her population wandlered through with Mortier, and that part of the Young Guard the forests, subsisting on wild roots, or perishing which had garrisoned the Kremlin. They brought for walst of thleml." WVith yet more audacity, the 552 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. same official annunciation represents the retreat of Lithuania, when such an event was least to be the French as an advance on the road to victory. hoped for. "The army expects to be put in motion on the 24th, Accounts had been received, tending to confirm to gain the Dwina, and to assume a position which the opinion that the Russian army were moving on will place it eighty leagues nearer to St Petersburg Medyn, with the obvious purpose of intercepting and to Wilna, a double advantage, since it Wvill the French army, or at least harassing their pasbring us nearer the mark we aim at, and the means sage at Wiazma or at Gjatz. By the orders of Naby which it may be accomplished." While such poleon, therefore, the army pressed forward on the splendid figments were circulated for the satisfac- last-named town. They marched on in three corps tion of the people of Paris, the real question was, d'arm6e. Napoleon was with the first of these not whether the French were to approach St Peters- armies. The second was commanded by the Viccburg, but by what means they were to get out of roy of Italy, Prince Eugene. The third, which was Russia with the semblance of an army remaining destined to act as a rear-guard, was led by Davoust, together. whose love of order and military discipline might Napoleon's spirit was observed to be soured by he, it was hoped, some check upon the license and the result of the affair at Mala-Yarowslavetz. It confusion of such a retreat. It was designed that was indeed an operation of the last consequence, one day's march should intervene between the movesince it compelled a broken and suffering army to ments of each of these bodies, to avoid confusion, retreat through a country already wasted by their and to facilitate the collecting subsistence; being a own advance, and by the acts of the Russians, delay of two, or at most three days, betwixt the where the houses were burnt, the inhabitants fled, operations of the advanced guard and that of the and the roads broken up, instead of taking the road rear. by Kalouga, through a region which offered both It has been often asked, nor has the question ever the means of subsistence and shelter. When the been satisfactorily answered, why Napoleon preadvanced season of the year was considered, it ferred that his columns should thus creep over the might be said that the retreat upon Vereia sounded same ground in succession, instead of the more the death-knell of the French army. These melan- combined and rapid mode of marching by three choly considerations did not escape Bonaparte him- columns in front, by which he would have saved self, though he endeavoured to disguise them from time, and increased, by the breadth of country others, by asserting, in a bulletin dated from Bo- which the march occupied, the means of collecting rowsk, that the country around was extremely rich, subsistence. The impracticability of the roads cannot might be compared to the best parts of France and be alleged, because the French army had come Germany, and that the weather reminded the troops thither arranged in three columns, marching to the of the sun and the delicious climate of Fontainebleau. front abreast of each other, which was the reverse His temper was visibly altered. Among other modes of their order in the retreat. of venting his displeasure, he bitterly upbraided his In the road, the army passed Borodino, the scene prisoner Winzengerode, who was then brought be- of the grand battle which exhibited so many vesfore him.- "Who are you? " he said-"A man tiges of the French prowess, and of the loss they without a country! —You have ever been my enemy had sustained. This, the most sano'uina:v conilict -You were in the Anstrian ranks when I fought of modern times, had been entirely witlio'ut adeagainst them —I have become Austria's friend, and quate advantages to the victors.'Ihe mon)enta-v I find you in those of Russia-You have been a possession of Moscow had annihilated e% erv chanc:e warm instigator of the iwar; nevertheless, you are a of an essential result by the catastrophe vwhich filnative of the Confederation of' the Rhine-you are lowed, and the army which had been victorious at my subject —you are a rebel-Seize on him, gen- Borodino, was now escaping firom their conqnuests, darmes'-Let him be brought to trial U" surrounded by daner on every hand, and already To this threat, which showed that Napoleon ac- disorganized on many points, by danger, p;lin, and counted the States of the Confederacy not as apper- privation. At the convent of Kolotskoi, which llhad taining in sovereignty to the princes whose names been the grand hospital of' the French after the they bore, but as the immediate subjects of France, battle, many of the wounded were found still alive, from whom the French Emperor was entitled to though thousands more had perished folr want of expect direct fealty, Napoleon added other terms materials necessary for surgical treatment, food of of abuse; and called WVinzengerode an English suitable quality, bandages, and the like. The'li surhireling and incendiary, while he behaved with civi- vivors crawled to the door, and extended their suplity to his aide-de-camp Narishkin, a native Russian. plicating hands to their countrymen as they passed This violence, however, had no other consequence onwards on their weary march. By Napoleon's than that of the dismissal of Winzengerode, a close orders, such of the patients as were able to bearbeing prisoner, to Lithuania, to be from thence forwarded moved were placed on'the settlers' carts, while the to Paris. The presence of a captive of rank and rest were left in the convent, together with some -reputation, an aide-de-camp of the Emperor of wounded Russian prisoners, whose presence, it was Russia, was designed of course to give countenance hoped, might be a protection to the French. to the favourable accounts which Napoleon might Several of those who had been placed in the car. find it convenient to circulate on the events of the riages did not travel very far. The sordid wretches campaign. It was not, however, Winzengerode's to. whom the carts and wains, loaded with the plunder fortune to make this disagreeable journey. He of Moscow, belonged, got rid in many cases ofthe was, as will be hereafter mentioned, released in additional burden imposed on them; by lagging be LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. b 43~ hhld the column of march in desolate places, and of the Russian regulars, supported by Platoff and murdering the men entrusted to their charge. In many thousand Cossacks, and being the harbinger other parts of the column, the Russian prisoners of Koutousoff, and the whole grand army of Russia. were seen lying on the road, their brains shot out by The old Russian general, when he learnedl the the soldiers appointed to guard them, but who took French Emperor's plan of retiring by G jatz and this mode of freeing themselves of the trouble. It Wiazma,.instantly turning his owvn retreat into a is thus that a continued course of calamity renders movement to the left, arrived by cross-roads from men's minds selfish, ravenous, and fiendish, indiffe- Mala-Yarowslavetz. The Russians now reached rent to what evil they inflict, because it can scarce the point of' action at day-break, pushed through eqqial that which they endure; as divines say of the Princh Eugene's line of march, and insulated his condemned spirits, that they are urged to malevo- van-guard, while the Cossacks rode like a whirllent actions against men, by a consciousness of their wvind among tile host of stragglers and followers of own state of reprobation. the army, and drove them along the plain at the Napoleon, with his first division of the grand lance's point. The viceroy was succoured by a army, reached Gjatz without any other inconve- regiment which Ney, though himself hardly pressed, nience than arose from the state of the roads, and dispatched to his aid from Wiasma, and his rearthe distresses of the soldiery. From rGjatz he advanc- guard was disengaged by the exertions of Davoust, ed in two marches to Wiazma, and halted there to who marched hastily forward to extricate them. allow Prince Eugene and Marshal Davoust to come The Russian artillery, which is superior in calibre, up, who had fallen five days' march to the rear, in- and carries farther than the French, mancelvred stead of three days' only, as had been directed. On with rapidity, and kept up a tremendous cannonade, the 1st November, the emperor again resumed his to which the French had no adequate means of painful retreat, leaving, however, the corps of Ney replying. Eugene and Davoust made a most gallant at Wiazmna to reinforce and relieve the rear-guard defence; yet they would not have been able to under Davoust, who, he concluded, must be worn maintain their ground, had Koutousoff, as was to out with the duty. He resumed with his Old Guard have been expected, either come up in person, or the road to Dorogobouje, on which town he thought sent a strong detachment to support his van-guard. it probable the Russians might be moving to cut him The battle lasted from seven in the morning till off, and it was most important to prevent them. towards evening, when Eugene and Davoust pushed Another order of Napoleon's confirms his sense of through Wiazma with the remains of their divisions, the danger which had now begun to oppress him. pursued by and almost mingled with the Russians, He commanded the spoils of Moscow, ancient ar- whose army marched into the town at the charging mour, cannon, and the great cross of Ivan, to be step, with drumns beating, and all the indications of thrown into the lake of Semelin, as trophies which he victory. The French divisions, under cover of the was unwilling to restore, and unable to carry off. Some night, and having passed the river (which, like the ot the artillery, which the unfed horses were unable town, is called Wiazma), established themselves to drag forward, were also now necessarily left be- in obscurity and comparative safety upon the left hind, though the circumstance was not communicated bank. The day had been disastrous to the French in every instance to Napoleon, who, bred in the ar- arms, though their honour remained unsullied. They tillery department, cherished, like many officers of had lost about four thousand men, their regimlents that branch of service, a sort of superstitious reve- were mouldered down to battalions, their battalions rence for his guns. to companies, their companies to weak picquets. The emperor, and the van-guard of his army, had All tacticians agree, that if Koutousolf had reinhitherto passed unopposed. It was not so with the forced Miloradovitch, as warmly urged by Sir centre and rear. They were attacked, during the Robert Wilson, or if he had forced the town of whole course of' that march, by clouds of Cossacks, WViazma, which his numrbers might have enabled bringing with them a s.ecies of light artillery mount- him to do, both the centre and rear divisions of ed on sledges, which, keeping-pace with their mo- Napoleon's force, and probably the troops under tions, threw showers of balls among the columns of Ney also, must have been inevitably cut off: But the French; while the menaced charge of these ir- the aged general confided in the approach of the regular cavalry frequently obliged the march to halt, Russian winter, and declined to purchase, by the that the men might form lines or squares to protect blood of his countrymen, a victory of which he themselves. The passage of streams where the held himself secured by the clinlate. Tile French bridges were broken down, and the horses and wag- were so far from any place where they could progons were overturned on the precipitous banks, or in cure either food or shelter; they were so hemmted the miry fords, and awhere drivers and horses drop- in, and confined to the desolated high-roads, which ped down exhausted, added to this confusion when every column as it passed rendered more impracsuch obstacles occurred. The two divisions, how- ticable to the rest, that he refused to gain, at the ever, having as yet seen no regular forces, passed sword's point, advantages which he deemed himself the night of the 2d November in deceitful tranquil- sure of possessing without effort. Determined, therelity, within two leagues of Wiazma, where Ney was fore, to avoid a general battle, yet to maintain lying ready to join them, his advantages over tile French by manoeuvring, In that fatal night, Miloradovitch, one of the Koutousoff, turning a deaf ear to tile remonstrances, boldest, most enterprising, and active of the Rus- and even threats, of those who differed in opinion sian generals, and whom the French were wont to from him, removed his head-quarters to Krastloi, call the Russian Murat, arrived with the van-guard leaving to Miloradovitch the duty of beating up the VOL. VI. 70 LI'FE OF NAPOLEON BONTAPARTE. rear of the French on their retreat, by following the experienced the terrors, although the weather had course of the high-road, while the Hettman Platoff, been cold, fiosty, and threatening. No sun was flalking the French march with his Cossacks, took visible, and the dense and ulr-ky fog which hung advantage of every opportunity to distress them. on the marching column was changed into a heavy In the meanwhile, the viceroy received orders fall of snow in large broad flakes, which at once from Napoleon to abandon thle straight road to cllilled and blinded the soldiers. Tile march, Snolensk, which was the route of the corps of hboaever, stmtubled forward, the men struggling, Davoust and Ney, and to move northward on and at last sinking, in the holes and ravines which Dowkhowtchina and l'oreczie, to affbrd countenance were concealed fironr themn by the new and disguised and support to Marshal Oudinot, now understood appearance of the f:ace of natuire. Those who yet to be hard pressed by Wittgenstein, who, as vWe retained discipline and( theie ruanks stood some chance shall presently see, had regained the superiority in of receiving ass;stance; but. amid the mass of the the north of Russia. The viceroy, in obedience to stragglers, I;en's hearts, intent upon self preservathis order, began his march on the new route vwhich tion, became hardened and closed against every was enjoined }im, by marching himself upon Zas- feeling of sympathy and compassion, the sentiments selie, closely pursued, watched, and harassed by of which are sometimes excluded by the selfishness his usual Scytlliian attendants. He was colnpelled of prosperity, but are alinost aluays destroyed by to leave behind hins sixty-four pieces of cannon; the egotism of general arid overwhelhning misfortune. and these, with three thousand stragglers, fell into A stormy wind also began to arise, and whil the the prompt grasp of the pursuers. snow friom the earth, as well as that fr-om the heavens, A large cloud of Cossacks, with Platoff at their into dizzy eddies around the soldiers' heads. There head, accompanied the movements of the viceroy were many hurlied to the earth in this manner, where and his Italian armny. Whoever strayed firom the the same snows furnished them wvith an instant grave, column was inevitably their prey. Etigene passed under which they were concealed until the next a night at Zasselie, without having as yet encountered summer came, and displayed their ghastly remainls any great misfortune. But in advancing from thence in the open air. A great number of slight hillocks to Dowkllowtchina, the French had to cross the on each side of the road, intimated, in tlle mneanWVop, a river swelled by rains, while the passage to while, the fate of these unfortunate men. the ford was steep and frozen. Here the viceroy IThere was only the, word Smolensk, which, passed over his infantry with great difficulty, but echoed from man to man, served as a talisman to was obliged to abandon twenty-three pieces of cannon keep up the spirits of the soldiers. The troops had and all his baggage to the Cossacks. The unhappy been taught to repeat that name, as indicating the Italians, wetted from head to foot, were compelled place where they were once more to be welcomed to pass a miserable night in. bivouac upon the other to plenty and repose. It was counted upon as side; and many expired there, whose thoughts, a depot of stores for the army, especially of such when perishing so miserably, must have been on supplies as they had outstripped by their forced their own mild climate and delicious country. Next marches, first on Wilna, and afterwards on Mosday, the shivering, half-nlaked, and persecuted cow. They were now falling back, as was hoped column reached Dowkhowtchina, where they ex- and trusted,. upon these resources, and continued pected some relief; bhut their first welcome was their march with tolerable spirit, which even the fromt afresh swarm of Cossacks, which rushed out snow-storm could not entirely depress. They from the gates wvith cannon. These were the ad! reckoned also upon a reinforcenment of 30,000 men vanced corps of the troops which had occupied under Victor, who were waiting their arr-ial at Moscow, and were now pressing westward where Simolensk; but a concoulse of evil tidings l;ad their services were more necessary. made the services of that division' necessary elseNotwithstanding their opposition, Prince Euge'ne where. forced his way into tile place with much gallantry, On the same fatal 6th of November, Bonaparte and took up quarters for the night. But having lost received intelligence of two events, both of deep his baggage; thle greater part of' his artillery and import, and which corresponded but too well Nwith ammunition, besides the utter destruction of his ca- the storms around him. The one was the singular valry, he saw no prospect of being able to march conspiracy of Malet, so remarkable for its temporary forward to Vitepsk to support Oudinot, nor was lihe success, and its equally sudden discomlfiture. This in a condition to have afforded him assistance, even carried his mind to Paris, with the conviction that if he had been in communication. In this situation all could not be well with an' empire where such an of distress,, thle viceroy determined to rejoin the explosion could so nearly attain success. On the grand army, and for that purpose marched upon other hand. his thoughts were recalled to his present Wlodimerowa, and fi om thence to Smlolensk, where, situation by the un pleasing intelligenuce that W ittgenharassed by the Cossacks, he arrived in a miserable stein had assumed the offensive, beaten St —Cyr, taken condition upon the 13th of Novemlber, having ftallen Polotsk anldVitepsk, and re occupied the whole line in with Marshal Ney upon his march, as we shall of the Dwina. Here was an unexpected obstacle to afterwards mention. his retreat, wlhiclh ie eldeavonred to remove by orderThe emperor, in the meantime, had halt.ed at ing Victor to mIove from S1molensk with the division Stakawo dauring the 3d and 4th Novenmber. On the juist muentioned, an(d instantly to drive Wittgenstein tth lie slept at Dorogboloje. behlind lie Dwina;-not perlhaps considering with On the 6th November commenced that terrible stiflciemit- accuracy whether the force which his Russian winter, of wliicli thie French lhad not yet marshal collmmlanded was equal to the task. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 5.,5, Similar bad news came from other quarters. Four than these. Every house had been lbrnt beforea I denii-brigades of recruits from France had arrived their arrival, and their sufferings from the eelnye at Smolensk. Baraguay d'Hilliers, their general, were the severer, that they were the last Frencl had, by command from Bonaparte, sent forward whom they had to work their revenge uponl. Yet these troops towards Ellnia, intimating at the time Ney continue-d to evince a degree of personal firmthat they should clear the road towards Kalouga, ness and resolution which has been rarely witnessed. by which last town he then expected the emperor At the passage of the Dlnieper, he wag attacked by to approach Smolensk. As Napoleon was excluded the enemy, and all was nearly lost in one general from the Kalougra road, these troops, as no longer confusion, when the marshal, seizing a musket to useful at Ellnia, ought to have been drawn back on encourage the few men who could be brought to Smolensk; but Baraguay d'Hilliers had no certain act, succeeded, against all the hopes of the Rusinformation of this change of route. The con- sians, and equally against the despairing calculations sequence was, that the celebrated Russian par- of the French, in bringing over a part of his reartisans, OrloffIDennizoff, Davidoff, Seslavin, and guard. But he lost on this fatal spot a great part of others, surprised these raw troops in their cAnton- his artillery, and a great number of his soldiers. mlents, and made them all prisoners, to the number We can give only one unvarying sketch of Ney's; of better than two thousand men. Other detach- dreadfill retreat. On every point he was attacked ments of the French about the same time fell into by the same wasting, wearying warfare, and every the hands of the Russians. cessation from fighting was necessarily employed in| At length the longed-for Smolensk was visible. pushing forward towards Sm.olensk,'which he wva i At the sight of its strong walls and lofty towers, the approaching on the 13th of November, when sudwhole stragglers of the army, which now included denly the hills to his left were-covered with a distreble the number of those who kept their ranks, orderly msob of fugitives, whom a band of Cossacks rushed headlong to the place. But instead of giving were pursuing and slaughtering at pleasure. Having themn ready admission, their countrymen in the town succeeded in dispersing the Cossacks, the neat apshut the gates against them with horror; for their parition was that of the army of Italy, to whiolh confused and irregular state, their wild, dirty, and the flying stragglers belonged. This corps d'arm e unshaved appearance, their impatient cries for en- was on its return,'as the reader is aware, fi'ontrance,-above all, their emaciated forms, and Dowkhowtchina towards Smolensk, and wnas an starved, yet ferocious aspects,-made them to be usual severely pushed at every step by the Cosregarded rather as banditti than soldiers. At lengtb, sacks. The passage of the Wop band stlipped t~:, the Imperial Guards arrived and were admitted; soldiers of baggage, provisions suelh as they bha& the miscellaneous crowd rushed in after them. To and artillery and cavalry. They kept their march, the Guards, and some few others who had kept however, with sufficient regularity. It was only order, rations were regularly delivered; but the tile stragglers whom the Cossacks chased before mass of stragglers, being unable to give any account them, and wounded, took, and slew at pleasure. of themselves or their regiments, or to bring with These wretched fugitives no sooner saw Ney's them a responsible officer, died, many of them, army, than they flew to shelter themselves under its while they besieged in vain the doors of the maga- protection, and by doing so comrmnicated their own aines. Such was the promised distribution of food terror to the marshal's ranks. All, both stragglers -the promised quarters were nowhere to be found. and soldiers, began to hurry towards the Dnieper, Smolensk, as is alleady recorded, had been burnt over which was a bridge, which their numbers soos by the Russians, and no other covering was to be choked up. Great loss was sustoined, until Eugene had than was afforded by miserable sheds reared and the indefatigable Ney again presented a defenagainst such blackened walls as remained yet stand- sive front, and repelled the assailants, who had again ing. But even this was shelter and repose, corm- gathered'around them. They xvere so near Smopared to the exposed bivouac on wreaths of snow; lensk, that Napoleon could send them refireshments and as the straggling soldiers were compelled by and succour during the action. The viceroy and hunger to unite themselves once more with their Ney at length extricated themselves fiom their perregiments, they at length obtained their share in the secutors, and entered Smolensk, where Davoust had regular distribution of rations, and an approach before found refuge. Napoleon allowed his army, towards order and discipline began to prevail in the which was now entirely collected, five days to conheadmtnost di vision of the grand army of France. sume such supplies as were to be found in the place, The central part of the army, under Davoust, and to prepare for the terrors of a farther retreat. who had relinquished the rear-guard to Ney, con- But though such a delay was indispensable, the evil tinned to advance from WViazma to Dorogobouje; news which continued to arrive fi'om every quarter, but at this point his distress became extreme, from positively prohibited his prolonging this period of I the combined influence of the storm, the enemy, and repose. It is now necessary to trace more pattithe disheartened condition of men driven from their cularly the incidents which had taken place on the standards by want of food, searching for it in vain, extreme flanks of Napoleon's line of advance, on and afterwards unable firom weakness to resume both of which, as we have already intimated, the their ranks. Many fell into the hands of the in- Russians, powerfiully reinforced, had assnumed the censed peasants, by whom they were either killed, offensive, with the apparent purpose of' forming a or stripped naked and driver: back to the high- communication with each other, and acting in conroad. junction, to intercept the retreat of the gran) arnllVy. The rear-guard, under Ney, suffered yet more Upon the 18th of August, St-Cyr having beaitenl g 556 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. W Vittgenstein, and taken Polotsk, the war had lan- towards Smolensk, where he arrived in a tnost diguished in that quarter. The French army lay in lapidated condition. an entrenched camp, well secured with barracks for In the meantime, Wittgenstein received reinshelter, and fortifications for defence. But in t e forcements, and not only kept Oudinot in ce-rxplete partisan war which they carried on for two months, check, but gradually advanced towards BIorizoff, St Cyr's army sustained great loss, while that of and threatenedi at that town, which lay directly in XVittgenstein was more than doubled by thle arrival the course of Napoleon's retreat, to form a junction of recruits. Finally, General Steingel, with two di- with the army of the Danube, which was marching visions of the Russian army' from Finland, amount- northward with the same purpose of co-operation, ing to 15,000, landed at Riga, and, after some ineffi- and to the movements of which we have now to cient movements against Macdonald, marched to the direct the reader's attention. support of Wittgenstein. The Russian general, thus It has been mentioned, that General Tormazoff reinforced, began to act on the offensive with great had, on thte 12th of' August, been defeated at Govigour. On the 17th of October, the French outposts rodecslna by the Austrians under Schwartzenberg, were driven into their entrenched camp at Polotsk. and the French under R6gnier, and that the Russians On the 18th, the camp itself' was furliously attacked, had fallen back beyond the Styr. Schwartzenberl, and the redoubts by which it was protected were satislied with this advantage, showed no vehement taken amid retaken several tinmes. The French re- desire to complete the disaster of his enemy. T'he mained in possession of them, but St-Cyr was wound- French go niglh to bring an accusation against himt ed, and his situation became very precarious. In of' treachery, which we do not believe. But his fact, the next day, 19th October, the attack was heart was not in the war. He was conscious, that renewed by XWittgenstein on the right bank of the the success of Alexander would improve the conDwina, while Steingel, advancing up the opposite ditizon of Austria, as we'l as of Europe in general, bank, threatened to occupy Polotsk and its bridge, and he fought no harder than was absolutely neand thus to enclose St-Cyr in the entrenched cessary to sustain the part of a general of an auxicamp. liary army, who felt by no means disposed to asFortunately for the French general, night and a sume the character of a principal combatant. thick mist enabled him to cross the river to the left While Tormazoff and the Austrians watched bank, and thus to effect a retreat, which Steingel each otiher upon the Styr, two smaller corps of was unable to prevent. But besides the disasters of Russians and Poles were making demonstrations in the loss of the camp, and of the important place of the same country. Prince Bagration, upon retreatPolotsk, which the ERussians occupied on the 20th ing from the banks of the Dwina, had not altogether October, discord broke out between the Bavarian deprived that neighbourhood of Russian troops_ general Wrede and St-Cyr. When the latter was At Bobruisk he had left a considerable garrison, wounded, the command naturally devolved in course which had been blockaded first by the French caupon the Bavarian; but the other French generals valry under Latour Maubourg, and afterwards, when refused to subMlit to this substitution, and St Cyr Latour Maubourg was summoned to join Napoleon, was obliged, in spite of his wounds, to continue to by the Polish General Dombrowski. Tile garrison act as conlmander-in-chief. XVrede, in the mean- was supported by a Russian corps under General while, assumled an independence of movement quite Ertell. It was an instance of Napoleon's extreme unusual in an auxiliary general, who was acting with unwillingness to credit anything that contradicted:a French marshal; and, separating altogether from his wishes, that lie persisted in believing, or desirSt-Cyr, fell back upon Vileika, near Wilna, anJd ing to have it believed, that the Russians on this withdrew lhimlself fom action entirely. point, which commanded still an access from Russia The French division must have been cut off, had to Poland, were inferior to the Poles, whomi lie had not Victor, svwho was then lying at Smolensk with a opposed to them; and while Dombrowski vas act-.covering army of twenty-five thousand lmen, receiv- ing against Ertell, he overwhelmed the enmbarrassed ed, as lately mentioned, Napoleon's orders, dis- general with repeated orders to attack and destroy patched on the 6th November, to advance and the enemy, before whom lihe could scarce maintain reinlorce St-Cyr, who thus became once naore su- his ground. Ie-'ior to Wittgenstein. Victor was under orders, The armies were thus occupied, lwhen Admiral however, to run no nnnecessary risk, but to keep Tchitchagoff, with fifty thousand Russians, whom tilhe as far as possible on the defensive; because it vtwas peace with the Turks permitted to leave Moldavia, to this army, and that under Schwartzenberg, that advanced upon Volhynia, with the purpose of' coNapoleon in a great measure trusted to clear tile operating with Tormazoff and Ertell; and, finally, way for his retreat, and prevent his being intercept. of acting in combination with WVittgenstein, fbr ined ele he gained the Polish frontiers. But when tercepting Bonaparte's retreat. Wittgenstein, even in the presence of Victor. took On the 14th September, this important junction Vitepsk, and began to establish himself on the D'wina, betwixt the armlies of Torrmazoff and Tchitchagolf Napoleon caused Oudinot, as a more enterprising was-effected; and the Russian army, increased to soldlier, to replace the lDuke of Belluno; and or- 60,000 men, became superior to all the force, wheadered Eugene to move from Wiaznla to Dowkhow- ther of French, Austrians, or Poles, which could tchina, for the purpose of reinforcing that armny. be opposed to thenm. They crossed the Styr, and Eugene's march, as we have formerly shown, was nloved forward on the Duchy of Warsaw, while rendered useless, by his misfo: tune at crossing Schwartzenberg, not without loss, retreated to the the river Wop; and he was compelled to nmove banks of the Bug. His pursuers might have pressed LIFE O-F NAPOLEON BONAPARTE'. 557 on him still closer, but for the arrival of Prince Austrian, or rather Anstro-Saxon army, was, after Czernicheff, the aide-de-camp of the emperor, who, some skirnlishing, compelled to retire behind the escorted by a body of chosen Cossacks, had exe- Bug. The admiral left General Sacken, a brave cuted a perilous march, in order to bring fresh orders and active officer, to observe Sclhwartzenberg and to Tormazoff and Tchitchagoff: The former was di- R6gnier, and keep them at least in check, whilst he rected to repair to the grand army, to occupy the himself retrograded towards the Beresina, where he situation formerly held by Prince Bagration, while expected to be able to intercept Bonaparte. the command of the united Volhynian army was de- Tchitchagoff succeeded, on the 14th November,. volved upon Admiral Tchitchagoff, who, to judge in occupying Minsk; a most essentital conquest at by subsequent events, does not seem to have been, the moment, for it contained a very large proportion. on great emergencies, very well fitted for so impor- of those stores which had been destined to relieve tant a trust. the grand army, or rather its remains, so soon as Prince Czernicheff then set out with his band of they should approach Poland. This success was Scythians, to carry to the army of'VWittgenstein followed by another equally important. Count Lamtidings of the purposes and movements of that of bert, one of Tchitchagoffs generals, marched against Moldavia. The direct course between the Russian Borizolf, situated on the Beresina, at the very point armies was held by the Franco-Austrian army. To where it was probable that Napoleon would be escape this obstacle, Czernicheff took his course desirouls to effect a passage. The valiant Polish westwards, and, penetrating deep into Poland, made general Dombrowski hastened to defend a place, so long a circuit, as completely to turn the whole in the loss of which the emperor's safety must stand army of Schwartzenberg. Marching with extraor- particularly compromised. The battle began about dinary dispatch through the wildest and most secret day-break on the 21st November, and, after severe paths, he traversed the interior of Poland, avoiding fighting, Lambert obtained possession of' Borizoflf at once the unfriendly population and the numerous after a victory, in which Dombrowski lost eight detachments of the enemy, and sustaining his cavalry, cannon, and 2,500 prisoners. The Admiral Tchithorses and men, in a way in which none but Cossacks, chagoff removed his head-quarters thither, as directand Cossack horses, could have supported existence. ed by the combined plan for farther operations. We have good evidence, that this flying party, on While Tchitchagoff marched eastward to his one occasion, traveled nearly one hundred English place of destination on the Beresina, Sacken, whom miles in twenty-four hours. he had left in Volhynia, sensible of the importance This extraordinary expedition was marked by a of the service destined for the admiral, made every peculiar and pleasing circumstance. The reader exertion to draw the whole attention of Schwartzmust recollect the capture of the German general enberg and Regnier upon himself. In this daring Winzengerode before the Kremlin, and the unge- and generous scheme he completely succeeded. As nerous mannerin which Bonaparte expressed himself' the forces of the Austrian and the French generals to that officer. Winzengerode, with another Russian were separated from each other, Sacken marched general, were dispatched, under a suitable guard, against RWgnier, and not only suiprised, but nearly from Moscow to Wilna, in order to their being sent made him prisoner. Nothing could have saved from thence to Paris, where the presence of two R6gnier fionm destruction, except the'alertness with captives of such distinction might somewhat gild which Schwartzenberg came to his assistance. The the gloomy news which the emperor was under the Austrian, with strong reinforcerlents, arrived nearly necessity of transmitting from Russia. When W'in- in the monent when his presence nrost have anni-engerode was prosecuting his melancholy and in- hilatel Sacken, who, not aware of the Atstriana voluntary journey, far advanced into Poland, and being so near, had, on the 15th November, engaged out of all hope either of relief or escape, he saw by in a serious action wvith Rkgnier near WVolkowitz. the side of a wood a figure, which retreated so sud- The Russian suffered considerable loss, and effected denly as hardly gave even his experienced eye time a retreat with difficulty. He concentrated his arnlya to recognize a Cossack's cap and lance. A ray of however, and continued his retreat from point to hope was awakened, which was changed into cer- point upon the position of Brzest, from which he had tainty, as a band of Cossacks, bursting from the commenced his advance. In this manner, Sacken wood, overcame the guard, and delivered the pri- withdrew the attention of Schwartzenberg and the soners. Czernicheff proceeded successfully on his'Austro-Saxon army to the banks of the Bug, at a expedition, embellished by this agreeable incident, moment when it ought to have been riveted on the and, moving eastward with the same speed, sagacity, decisive scenes which were about to take place on and successfill enterprise, joined'Wittgenstein's those of tile Beresina. army,' then lying between Vitepsk and Tchakniki, The French writers complain of the Austl-ian gewith communications from the Moldavian army, neral on this occasion. They cannot deny that and directions how Wittgenstein was to co-operate Schwartzenberg was active and victorious; balt they with them in the intended plan of cutting off 4apo- complain that his activity exerted itself in a quarter leon's return to Poland. which could not greatly affect the issue of the camIn virtue of the orders which he had received, paign. Some tacticians account for this, by sup. Tchitchagoff advanced upon Schwartzenberg, from posing that his secret instructions, given when the whom Napoleon might have first expected the ser- Emperor of Austria coulld not foresee that the pervice of a covering army, so soon as his broken and sonal safety of his son-in-law would be implicated, diminished troops should approach Poland. But prohibited Schwartzenberg to extend his military when Tchitchagoff appeared in force, this Franco- operations beyond Volhynia and Lithuania. 558 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. From these details, it appears that Fortune was staaces would admit, to reorganize his army, It was bending her blackest and most ominous frowns on reduced to about 40,000 men, with a disproportioned the favourite of so many years. Napoleon was train of baggage and of artillery, although much of quartered, with the wretched relics of his grand the former, and three hundred and fifty cannon, had army, amid the ruins of the burnt town of Smolensk, already been left behind. This force the emperor in which he could not remain, although his means divided into four corps, which were to leave Snuo-,of escape appeared almost utterly desperate. The lensk, placing a day's interval betwixt the march of grand army of the Russians waited on his flank to each. He himself led the van, with 6,000 of his assault his columns the instant they were in motion; Guard, and about as many soldiers, the relics of and should he escape a pursuing enemy, all the, different corps, amalgamated into battalions as well Polish towns in the front, where supplies had been as circumstances would permit. The emperor's diprovided for his relief, had been taken, and the two vision left Smolensk on the evening of the 13th, and brge armies of Tchitchagoff and Wittgenstein lay morning of the 14th November. in position on the Beresina to intercept him. Hem- The division of the viceroy Euge'ne, consisting of mned in betwixt pursuers, anld those who, in sports- about the same number as that of Napoleon, but mnan's phrase, were stationed to head him back, inferior in quality, as comprehending none of the destitute of cavalry to oppose the nations of Cossacks Imperial Guard, could not be collected till late on| which infested every motion, and having but little the 15th November, when the wearied wretches artillery to oppose to that of the Russians, all pro- were once more put into march, by promises of a bability of escape seemed removed to an immeasur- safe arrival in that Lithuania, which so few of them -able distance. were ever to see again. On the 16th, Davoust, after some high words with Ney, who would have hurried his departure, CHAPTER LXXX. set out with another fourth part of the Grand Army, approaching. to, or exceeding, 10,000 men in Napoleon divides his army into foltr corps, which leave number. Smolensk on their retreat towards Poland.-Cauttious Ney remained till the 17th of November. As he proceedings of Koutowsoff.-The viceroy's division is preceediygs eof Kuotesof-The vicerey's 0d6utiov ise had once more the perilous task of covering the reattacked by Miloradovitch, and effects a junction with treat w Napeoleon at Krasnoi, after severe loss.-Koutousoff hich duty he had performed so admirably attacks the French at Krasnoi, but only by a distant betwixt Wiazma and Smolensk, his division was cannonade.-The division tnder Davoust is reunited to fortified with about 4000 of the Imperial Guard, to Napoleone, but in a miserable state.-Napoleon marches whom, as better fed than the other troops, besides to Liady, and Mortier and Davoust are attacked, and their high character as veterans, more could be stfUer hleavy loss in killed, wottnded, prisoners, and ar- trusted, even in the most desperate circumstances. tillery.-Details of the retreat of Ney-He crosses the Ere the French left the town, they obeyed the strict Losmina, with great loss df men and baggage, andjoins commands of the emperor, in blolving up the towers Napoleon at Orcsa, with his dicision reduced to 1500 with which Smolensk was slrrounded, that it Iight men.-The whole grand aromy is now rednued to 12,000 not again, as Napoleon expressed himself, folm an effective. men, besides 30,000 stragglers.-Dreadful dis- t tress and difficulties of Bonazzprarte and his arin ceobstacle to a French army. Stich was the language. ular scesse betwixt Napoleons, anld Duroc, and Dar.- of this extraordinary man, as ift' affecting to provide Napoleon moves towards Borizofl and falls in u'ilh the for re-entering into Russia, at a tinie when it was corps of Victor and Oudinot.-.Konltotsoff halts at the only question whether he himself; ol any indiviKopyn, without attacking Bonaparte.-Napoleon crosses dual of his army. shoulld ever be able to leave the the Beresina at Studzianlka.-Partoutneauxs dlicision fatal country. —We must next attend to the motionls ctst off by Vittgensteit.-Setere fighting on both sides of the Rlssians. qf the river.-Dreadful losses of the French in crossing Tile general voice of the Russian army had deit.-According to the Rsussian official account, 36.000 manded Prince Golitcheit Koutousoff, as a chief bodies were found in the Beresina after the thaw. who would put an end to Barclay de'Tolly's system of retreat, and oppose the invaders in a pitched COOPED up, as we have said, in the ruins of battle. He had done so at Borodino, but it was his Smolensk, and the slender provision of food aind last effort of the kind.!His character was naturally a supplies which that place offered to his army almost the reverse of enterprising. Age had increased his entirely exhausted, Napoleon had now seriously to disposition to extreme prudence, and the success consider in what direction he should make an etfort which attended his procrastinating and cautitus to escape. As he tlad heard of the loss of Vitepsk, measures, while stationed at Tarontino, in the neighby which town he had advanced, and understood bourhood of Moscow, had riveted him to his own that Wittgenstein was in possession of the line of the system, of risking as little as possible. It was in Dwina, he naturally determined to take the road to vain pointed out to him, that the Russian troops 1Vilna, by Krasnoi, Borizoff, and Minsk.'The were in high condition, and that against an enenmy so two latter towns were stored with the provisions utterly broken and dispirited as the French then which he so much wanted; and, ignorant as yet of were, everything might be trusted to fthose brave what had happened on the south of Lithuania, he soldiers, who had not shrunk irom an equal conflict might expect to find the banks of the Beresina in with the same troops when in their vigour'; and possession of the Austro- Saxon army under who, if then worsted, had left the enemy.very little Schwartzenberg. to boast of, having insulted'his camp, and occupied For this effort he proceeded, as well as circum- the field of battle, even on the v:try night ot iis.. _. __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 559 victory. Could Suwarrow have been recalled from been utter destruction-and in fact they did entile dead, or even the noble Bagration (the god of counter such a challenge. They were saved from the army, as his name signifies in Russian); or had the consequences by a ready-witted Pole, who, Barclay de Tolly, Bennigsen, or Miloradovitch, answering the sentinel in Rtssian, imposed silence been permitted to act when the moment of action on hi)m, pretending that they were the corps of approached, it seems probable that Napoleon would Owaroff, employed upon a secret expedition. I have revisited the Kremlin, not as a conqueror but At length, upon the next morning (17th Novenmas a prisoner. But Koutousoff, trusting to the cli- ber), Eugene reached the head-quarters of his faroate of Russia, was contented to let the French ther-in-law, who had been very anxious on his acarmy decay under its influence. He had determined count. When the diminished division of Eug6ne not to encounter the slightest risk, but to glean up was united to that of the emperor, they did not the wreck of the elements, rather than anticipate exceed 15,000 men in total amount. Yet on being their work by the sword. His general plan was to joined by Eugene, the active genius of Napoleon, in maintain himself on the flank of Napoleon's army, these most disadvantageous circumstances, displayand from time to time to attack them by his van- ed its ascendancy. He had caused General Roguet, guard, but by no means to enter into a general with a detachment of the Young Guard, in the night action. He surrounded their corps with Cossacks, between the 15th and 16th, to beat tip the quarters who brought with them light field-guns mounted on of a Russian detachment, which approached his own sledges, which did infinite damage on points where too closely; and having thus taught the lhunters to the heavy French guns could not be easily pointed, respect the lair of the lion, he embraced the audaso as to reply to them. This system may be traced ciots resolution of remaining at Krasnoi in defiance in the preceding pages, and still more in those which of the Russian army, till the detachments of Davoust are about to follow. It has been applauded by and Ney should again join him. Whatever had been many competent judges, as gaining everything with- his reasons for separating from these divisions, he out putting any thing in hazard; but it is ridiculed now saw the necessity of once more uniting his forces. by others, and especially by the French, who ac- Even the cold and cautious spirit of Koutousoff knowleage themselves obliged to the tardiness of could not miss the opportunity occasioned by this Koutousoff, and the blunders of the Admiral Tchit- halt of 15,000 men, in the face of perhaps three times chagoff, for the escape of the poor remnant of the their nmnber. But neither the persuasions of his grand army which was preserved, and especially own officers, nor the reproaches ofSir Robert Wilson, for the personal safety of the emperor himself. the English commissioner, could prevail on the old With these explanations we resume our melancholy general to attack with the vivacity which the occaand momentous story. sion demanded. He would only consent to wage a Without any purpose of departing from his maxims distant engagement with artillery. At day-break on of caution, Koutoesoll commenced the attack on the the 17th, Eugene, whose -forces the preceding battle retreating army by a movement which appeared to had altogether disabled, was directed to take the indicate a more vigorous plan of procedure. He put advance towards Liady, the next miserable stage of his army in motion towards Krasnoi, upon a parallel the French army, while Bonaparte drew his sword, line with that of Bonaparte, moving on the left flank and saying he had already played the emperorl, and of the French, so as to place Napoleon's line of ad- m ust now tnce more be the general, led in person vance at his mercy, whenever he should -think proper his 6000 guards, attended by Moltier at the head to assail it. At the same time, he detached several of 5000 soldiers more, to meet as great odds as it large bodies to operate on the march of the enemy's should please Koutousoff to dispatch against hirn.* column. In the sort of battle which followed, the Russians Miloradovitch, with a large van-guard, pushed:acted with great caution. The name of Napoleon forward upon the high-road leading from Smolensk almost alone protected his army. The French suft to Krasnoi. Bonaparte had already reached the hered, indeed, from the fire of 100 pieces of artillery, latter point, at the head of his divis:on, but i ge6ne, and frorn charges of cavalry, which they had no who brought up the rear of the column, was effec- means of answering or repelling; but, thlolgh gaps toally cut off. They were sumlmoned to lay down were made in their line, and some of their squarels. their arms, but the viceroy imanfully rejected the were forced by the cavalry, yet neither success nor proposal. Immediately, each surrounding hill poured repulse could induce Koutousoff to hazard a serious forth, like a volcano, a torrent of fire upon them, attack upon Napoleon, for the purpose of altogether The French and Italians maintained their ground with unavailing bravery. Numbers were killed,' Colonel Boutourlin praises the add'ess of Kontousoft, others made prisoners, and.tlle divison almost en- who, he says, managed with such skill as always to preselltt tirely destroyed. a superior force to that which the French had upon the Still the viceroy made his defence good, till night, field of tattle, although his army w.as on the whole infelior the friend of the overmatched, approached to protect to that of Napoleon. Without admitting the exactness of the last statement, which there is considerable cause to mim; when, at the head of his division, diminished dispute, little merit can be assumed for the Russian geneto one half, he quitted the high-road, leaving his fires ra's dexterity in tainig a numerical eriority at.al's dexterity in obtaining a numerical superiority at burning to mislead the enemy, and, gaining the open Wiazma, Krasnoi, and elsewhere, when it is considered fields, accomplished, with great loss and ineffable that Napoleon himself had divided his army into four cofatigue, hisjunction with Napoleon at Krasnoi, which lumns, and placed one day's march betwixt each. The he reached by a circuitous route. The.challenge of Russians had, therefore, only one column of ten or twelve a sentinel during this delicate manceuvre might have thousand men to deal with at once. ] 5;0 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. destroying the invader and his army. Even Bou- On the 17th of November, Ney, last of the intourlin, a friendly critic, where the reputation of the vading army, left Smolensk at the head of seven or old Russian general is concerned, regrets he had eight thousand fighting men, leaving behind 5,000 not taken the bold course of placing his army across sick and wounded, and dragging along with them the direct line of Bonaparte's retreat, when the the remaining stragglers whomr) the cannon of Platotf, French, overcome at once by physical suffering and who entered the town immediately on Ney's deparmnoral depression, must, even supposing them equal ture, had compelled to resume their march. They in numbers, have been extremely inferior to their advanced witholt much inter.ruption till they reachopponents. Upon the whole, Koutousoff seems to ed the field of battle of Krasnoi, where they saw have acted towards Napoleon and the Grand Army, all the relics of a bloody action, and heaps of' dead, as the Greenland fishers do to the whale, whom they from whose dress and appealance they could reare careful not to approach in his dying agonies, cognize the different corps in which they had served when pain, furIy, and a sense of revenge, render the in Napoleon's army, though there vwas no one to tell last struggles of the leviathan peculiarly dangerous. the fate of the survivors. They had not proceeded The battle, or cannonade of Krasnoi, was con- much farther beyond this fatal spot, when they apcluded by the appearance of Davoust and his co- proached the banks of tlhe Losmina, where all had lumn, surrounded and followed by a large body of been prepared at leisure for their reception. MiloCossacks, fiom whom he endeavoured to extri- radovitch lay here at the head of a great force; cate himself by a precipitate march. WVhen they and a thick mist, which covered the ground, occacame in sight of Krasnoi, most of the soldiers, who sioned Ney's column to advance under the Russian had been horribly harassed since they left Smo- batteries before being aware of the danger. le:slk, broke their ranks, and hurried across the A single Russian officer appeared, and invited fields to escape the Russians, and gain the cover of Ney to capitulate. " A marshal of France never the town, in the streets of which their officers rallied surrenders," answered that intrepid general. The them with difficulty. In this miserable condition officer retired, and the Russian batteries opened a was the third corps of the army, according to its fire of grape-shot, at the distance of only two hunlatest division, when it was reunited to the main dred and fifty yards, while at the concussion the body. Upon inquiring after Ney and the rear- mist arose, and showed the devoted co'umn of guard, Napoleon had the mortification to learn that French, %vithi a ravine in front manned by their eneNey was probably still at Smolensk,. or, if upon mies, subjected on every side to a fire of artillery, the road, that he must be surrounded with diffi- while the hills wvere black with the Russian troops culties out of which it was impossible he could ex- placed to support their giuns. Far fionm losing heart tricate himself. in so perilous a situation, the F,ench geards, with In the meantime, Napoleon learned that the rare intrepidity, forced their f-sy througlih the ravine Russians were acting with more vigour, and that of the Losmina, and rushed w ith tile utniost fury on Prince Galitzin was about to occupy Krasnoi; and the Russian batteries. Ttey were, howve Per, charged further, that if he did not advance with all dispatch in their turn with the bayonet, and such as had on Liady, he might probably find it in possession of crossed the stream sltffered dreadfuilly. In spite of the enemy. Gladly as Napoleon would have kept this failure, Ney persevered in the attempt to cut the field, in order to protect the approach of Ney, his passage by main force throagh this superior he now saw that such perseverance must necessa- body of Russians, who lay opposed to himn in fiont. rily expose himself and the remnant of his army to Again the French advanced upon the cannon, losthe greatest peril, without, in all human probabi- ing whole ranks, which were supplied by their lity, being of use to his marshal. Under this conl- comrades as fast as they fell. T'he assault was viction, he put himself at the head of the Old once more unsuccessfil, and Ney, seeing that tile Guard, to march on as fast as possible, and secure general fate of his columni was no longer dot:btfil, Liady, and with it the passage of the Dnieper, endeavoured at least to save a part from the wreck. from which he might otlherwise have been excluded. Having selected about fotr thousand of the best Davoust and Mortier were left to defend Krasnoi, men, he separated himself from the rest, and set if practicable, till night fall, and then to follow forth under shelter of the night, moving to the rear, under cover of the darkness. The retreat of Napo- as if about to return to Smolensk. This, indeed, leon seemed to remove the charm, which had chill- was the only road open to him, but he did not pursue ed the Russians and warmed the French. A very it long; for as soon as he reached a rivulet, which fierce assault was made on the second and third had the appearance of being one of the feeders of divisions, and Mortier and Davoust, having both the Dnieper, he adopted it for his,gide to the suffered greatly, made their escape to Liady with banks of that river, which he reached in safety much difficulty. The French left on this fatal field near the village of Syrokovenia. Here he f;bund a fiorty-five pieces of cannon, upwards of six thousand single place in the river fiozen over, though the ice prisoners, with a great number of slain, and as was so thin that it bent beneath the steps of the mainy wounded, who were necessarily left to the soldiers. mercy of the Russians. To complete their losses, Three hours were permitted, to allow stragglers Ney's division of the army was, by the direction of from the column during the night-march to rally at the other columns upon Liady, left with the whole this place, should their good fortune enable them to Russian army betwixt himself and Napoleon. The find it. These three hours Ney spent in profound retreat of that celebrated soldier must next be sleep, lying on the banks of the river, and wrapped narrated. up in his cloak. When the stipulated time had LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 51| elapsed, the passage to the other side began and that this town also, with the bridge so necessary to contilued, although the motion of tile ice, and the him, was lost; that Borizoff was taken, as formerly awful sound of its splitting into large cracks, pre- mentioned, and Dombrowski defeated ulnderits walls. vented more than one from crossing at once. The "Is it then written," he said, looking upwards, waggons, some loaded with sick and wounded, last and striking the earth with his cane, "Is it written attempted to pass; but the ice broke with them, and that we shall comrnmit nothing but errors?" the heavy plunge and stifled moaning, apprised About the same gloomy period, &Sgur relates their companions of' their fate.'The Cossacks, as the following anecdote:-Napoleon had stretched usual, speedily appeared in the rear, gleaned up himself on a couch, and apparently slumbered, some hundreds of prisoners, and took possession of while his faithfiul servants, Duroc and Darn, sitting the artillery and baggage. in his apartment, talked over their critical situation. Ney had thus put tile Dnieper betwixt him and In their whispered conversation, the words, "'prithe regulars of the Russian army, by a retreat which soner of state," reached the sleepless ear of Napohas few parallels in military history. But he had leon. not escaped the Cossacks, who, were spread abroad " How!" said he, raising himself, "do you think over the face of the country, and soon assembled they would dare'?" around the remains of his column, with their light In answer, Daru mentioned the phrase, well artillery and long lances. By these enemies they known to the emperor, of state policy, as a thing were several timnes placed in the tlmost jeopardy; independent of public law or of morality. nevertheless, at the head of a reduced band of fif- "But France," said the emperor, to whom state teen hundred men, the marshal fought his way to policy sounded at present less pleasantly than when Orcsa, to which town Napoleon had removed from it was appealed to for deciding some great movement Liady, having crossed the Dnieper. Ney arrived of his own,-" what will France say'?" on the 20th November, and found Eugene, Mortier "Who can answer that question, sire?" conand Davoust. The emperor was two leagues in tinued Duroc; but added, "it was his warmest wish advance when they met. Napoleon hailed Ney that the emperor, at least, could reach France, with the undisputed title, the bravest of the brave, were it through the air, if earth were stopped against and declared he would have given all his treasures his passage." to be assured of his existence. His comrades has- "Then I am in your way, I suppose?" said the tened to welcome and to relieve him, and being emperor. now in Poland, provisions and accommodation had The reply was affirmaiive. become inole plenty among them. "And you," continued the emperor, with an afAll Napoleon's grand army was now united. fectation of treating the matter lightly, "have no But the whole, which had at-Smolensk amounted to wish to become a prisoner of state?" forty thousand, consisted now of scarcely twelve "To be a prisoner of war is sufficient for me," thousand men who retained the name and disci- said Daru. pline of soldiers, so much had want and the sword Napoleon was silent for a time; then asked if the thinned the ranks of these invincible legions. There reports of his ministers were burnt. were besides, perhaps, thirty thousand stragglers of " Not yet," was the reply. every description, balt these added little or nothing "Then let them be destroyed," he continued, " for to the strength of the army; and only served to en- it must be confessed we are in a most lamentable cumber its numbers, as they were under no disci- condition." pline, but plundered the country without mercy. This was the strongest sign he had yet given, of At this dreadful crisis, too, Napoleon had the Napoleon's deep feeling of the situation to which he mortification to learn the fall of Minsk, and the had reduced himself. In studying the map, to disretreat of Scihwartzenberg to cover Warsaw, which, coves the fittest place to pass the Beresina, he apof course, left him no hopes of reoeiving succour proached his finger to the country of the Cossacks, from the Austrians. He heard also that Victor and and was heard to murmur, "Ah, Charles XII.; Oiidiiiot had quarreled in what manner Wittgen- Pultawa." But these were only the momentary stein should be attacked, and had oil that aocount ejaculations dictated by a sense of his condition; all left him unattacked on any point. That general was his resolutions were calmly and firnimly taken, with therefore at fireedom to threaten filte left of the grand a sense of what -was due to himself and to his folarmy, should it remain long on the D)ieper; while lowers. Koutousoff might resume, at his pleasure, his old It was finally determined, that, in despite of station on Napoleon's left, and Tchitchagotf might Tchitchagoff and his army, which occupied the left occupy the Beresina in his front. In the bitterness bank, the passage of the Beresina should be attemptof his heart the emperor exclaimed, "Thts it befals, ed, at a place above Borizoff called Studzianka, when we commit faults upon faults." where the stream was only fifty-five fathoms across, Minsk being out of the queston,, Napoleon's next and six feet deep. point of direction was Borizoff. Here tilere was, There were heights, it is true, on the opposite over the Beresina, a bridge of three hundred fathoms bank, surrounding a piece of meadow ground; and in length, the possession of which appeared essen- these the adventurers must look towfind strongly octial to his final escape from Russia. But while Napo- cupied; so that those who adventured on the passage leon was considering what should be his next move- must expect to land in that marshy meadow, under,ment, after crossing the Beresina at Borizoff, he was a heavy fire from thatposition. Lastly, this perilous once more surprised with the additional evil tidings, attempt must, in all probability, be made in the very vor,. VI. 71 56Ot42 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. teeth of the Moldavian army. With Napoleon's ten nized the remains of the innumerlalle host which or twelve thousand fighting men, and twice or three had left them in such splendid equipment, and now times the number of disorderly stragglers, the attempt returned in the guise, and with the gait and manner, to force such a passage would have been utter insa- of spectres raised fiom a church-yard. They filed nity. Beut the star of Napoleon had not yet set. past their happier comrades with squalid counteThe first dawn of reviving fortune was marked by nances, their uniform replaced by women's pelisses, the success of Victor and Oudinot. They were ad- or what various rags each could pick up; their feet vancing with the hope of saving Borizoff, when they bare and bleeding, or protected by bundles of' filthy received intelligence that Dombrowski was routed rags instead of shoes. All discipline seemed gone; by Wittgenstein, and that the fragments of the Po- the officer gave no command, the soldier obeyed lish corps were close at hand, followed by the vic- none. A sense of common dangrter led them to keep torions Russians. Oudinot instantly gathered the together and to struggle forward, and mutual fatigue scattered Poles under his protection, and moving made them take repose by the same fires, but what on to meet the Russian advanced guard, they drove else they had learned of discipline was practised them back with considerable loss. WVittgenste'in, rather by instinct than by duty, and in many cases in consequence of this check, found himself obliged was altogether forgotten. to abandon Borizoff, and once more to place the The army of the two marshals, however, though Beresina betwixt himself and the French. But in scarce recovered from their astonishment, joined repassing that river, he took care to destroy the the ranks of the grand army, and, as if disorder bridge at Borizoff, so that the town, though secured had been infectious, very soon showed a disposition by the French, was no longer useful to them as a to get rid of that military discipline, which their new place of passage, and the emperor, when he learned associates had flung aside.-Leaving Napoleon on the news, was still compelled to abide by the plan his advance to the river, it is now necessary to noof crossing, as he best could, at Studzianka. The tice the motions of the Russians. task was rendered more easy, by the prospect of his The glory and the trophies of the march of the scattered and broken army being reinforced by the grand army had been enough entirely to satisfy troops of Victor and Oudinot, who ivere on the same Koutousoff. They were indeed sufficient to gorge side of the fatal river with himself, and might form such a limited ambition as that general might be an immediate junction with him. supposed to possess at his advanced age, when men Meantime, as a preparation for the march, the are usually more bent on saving than on winning. emperor limited all the officers. even of the highest From the 15th to the 19th November, the Russians rank, to one carriage; and ordered one half of the had obtained possession of 228 guns, had made waggons to be destroyed, that all the horses and 26,000 prisoners, of whom three hundred wvere dratught-oxen might be applied to getting forward officers, besides 10,000 men slain in battle, or dethe ammunition and artillery. There is reason to stroyed by fatigue. Satisfied with such advantages, think these commands were very imperfectly obeyed. the cautious veteran proceeded by short journeys to Another order, marrlng strongly the exigencies of Kopyn, on the Dnieper, without crossing that river, the time, respected such officers as still retained or attemptingto second the defence of the Beresiha their horses. The cavalry, under Latour Maubourg, by an attack on the rear of the enemy. I had, since leaving Smolensk, been reduced from It is true, that the Russian army had sustained eighteen hundred to one hundred and fifty. To great losses; not less, it was said, than 30,000 sick supply this defieiency, about five hundred officers, and wounded, were for the present unable to serve, all who remainad mounted, were formed into a body although the greater part of them afterwards recalled the Sacred Squadron, to attend upon the emr- coverod. It is no less true, thlat the Russian soldiers peror's pers m. Grouchy and S6bastiani had the suffered greatly from wantof hospitals, being unprocommand of this body, in which officers formed the vided for a struggle on such an extensive scale as privates, and generals of division served as captains. Napoleon's invasion gave rise to. Nor can it be But it was not long ere fiatigue and want of forage, denied that Koutousoff's minute attention to the no respecters of rank or condition, dismounted the proper providing of his army with all necessaries greater part of the Sacred Squadron. -was highly laudable. Yet we must still be of The army thus in some small degree reorganized, opinion, that an object so important as the capture and refreshed by the better q arters and nourish- of Bonaparte and the destruction of his army, would ment which they had received since the battle of have vindicated, even if the soldier hinmself had Krasnoi, now plunged into the immense pine-forests been appealed to, two or three forced marches, which conceal the course of the Beresina, to disguise with the hardships attending them. Such, however, their adventurous march the more completely from was not Koatousoff's opinion; he halted at Kopyn, the enemy. They were moving towards Borizoff, and contented himself with dispatching his Cossacks when loud shouts from the forest at first spread con- and light troops to annoy Napoleon's rear. fusion among their ranks, under the idea of an unex- The danger not being pressing on the part of the pected attack; but this fear was soon changed into Grand Armny of Russia, Napbleon had only to apjoy, when they found themselves on the point of prehend the opposition of Tchitchagoff, whose army, uniting with the army of Victor and Oudinot, amount- about 36,000 men in all, was posted along the Bereing to fifty thousand men, complete and provided sina to oppose the passage of Bonaparte wherever with everything. Yet whatever the joy on the part it should be attempted. Unfortunately, tle admiral of the grand army, it was at least equalled by the was one of an ordinary description of people, who, astonishment of their comrades, when they recog- having once determined in their own mind, that an t{ ~ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 563 advcersary entertains a particular design, proceed to for reinforcements and orders. Meanwhile the pasact upon that belief as an absolute certainty, and sage of the Beresina continued, slowly indeed, for can.t rarely be brought to reason on the possibility of the number of stragglers and the quantity of baggage h;is having any other purpose. Thus, taking it for was immense; yet by noon Napoleon and his guards grtanted tlhit Napoleon's attempt to cross the Bere- had crossed the river. Victor, whose division consin;;would take place below Borizoff, Tchitchagoff stituted the rear-guard of the grand army, had recoulld not be persuaded that the passage might be lieved the Imperial Guards in their post on the left as well essayed above that town. Napoleon, by bank; and Partouneaux, who formed the, rear of the various i:qitiries and reports transmitted through whole army, was moving fron Borizoff, where he the Jews, who, for money, served as spies on both had been stationed with the purpose of fixing the si~d:es, contrived to strengthen Tchitchagoff in the enemy's attention upon the spot. No sooner had he belief that he was only designing a feint upon Stud- left the town than it was again in the hands of the zianka, in order to withdraw the attention of the Russians, being instantly occupied by Platoff. Russians fi'omn the Upper Beresina. Never was a But the indelftigable Wittgenstein was in motion st.'atagetn more successful. on the left bank, pressing forward as Victor closed On the very day when Napoleon prepared for up towards Napoleon; and, throwing himself bethe passage at Stuldzianka, Tchitchagoff, instead of twixt Studzianka and Borizoff, on a plain called noticing what was going forward beneath Borizoff; Staroi-Borizoff, he cuf off Partouneaux's division not only marched up the river with all the forces front the rest of the French army. That general made under his own immediate command, but issued a gallant resistance, and attempted to force his way orders to the division of Tschaplitz, which amounted at the sword's point through the troops opposed to to six thousand men, and at present watched the him. Atlength the Hettman Platoff, and the Russian very spot where Napoleon meant to erect,his partisan Seslavin, coming up, the French general bridges, to leave that position, and follow him in the found himself entirely overpowered, and, after a same direction. These were the very orders which brave resistance, laid down his arms. Three geneBonaparte would have dictated to the Russian rals, with artillery, and, according to the Russian leader, if he had had his choice. accounts, about 7000 men, fell into the hand, of the VVhen the French arrived at Studzianka, their Russians, —a prize the mlore valuable, as the prisoners first business was to prepare two bridges, a work belonged chiefly to the unbroken and unexhausted which;was attended with much danger and diffi- division of Victor, and comprehelided eight hundred culty. They laboured by night, expecting in the fine cavalry in good order. morning to be saluted with a cannonade from the To improve this advantage, the Russians threw a Russian detachment under Tsc.haplitz, which occu- bridge of pontoons across the Beresina at Borizoff, pied the heights already mentioned, on the opposite and Tchitchagoff and Vittgenstein having cornmunibank. The French generals, and particularly Murat, cated, resolved upon a joint attack upon both banks considered the peril as so imminent, that they of the river at once. With this purpose, upon the wished Boraparte to commit himself to the faith of 28th of November, Admiral Tchitchagoffl moved some Poles who knew the country, and leave the to Stakhowa, upon the right bank, to reinforce army to its fate; but Napoleon rejected the pro- Tschaplitz, and assault that part of the French posal as unworthy of him. All night the French la- army which had crossed the Beresina; and Wittboured at the bridges, which were yet but little genstein with Platoff marched towards Studzianka, advanced, and night have been easily demolished by to destroy the emperor's rear-guard, which no the artillery of the Russians. But what was the joy exertion on the. part of Napoleon or his generals had and surprise of the French to see, with the earliest yet been able to get across the river. Thus, the beams of the morning, that artillery, and those extraordinary good fortune of finding a place of Russians, in full march retreating from their position! passage, and of being enabled by an uncommon Availing himself of their disappearance, Bonaparte chance to complete his bridges without opposition, threw across a body of men, who swam their horses was so far from placing Napoleon in safety, that his over the river, with each a voltigeur behind him. dangers seemed only to multiply around him. But Thus a footing was gained on the other bank of this yet upon his side of the river, now the right bank, perilous stream. Great part of Victor's arm1y had his own presence of mind, and the bravery of his inoved down the river towards Studzianka, while soldiers, gave him a decided superiority, and the the last division lay still at Borizoff, of which town tardiness, to say the least, of Tchllitchagoff's motions, that marshal had possession. This constituted a insured his safety. rear-guard to protect the army of Napoleon during Tschaplitz, who seems to have been a brave and the critical nlorlent of its passage, firom the inter. active officer, commenced the battle by advancing ruption which mnight be expected from the corps of from Stakhlowa. But he was worsted by the French, W'ittgenstein. who were superior in numblers, and he received no During the 26th and 27th, Napoleon pushed troops succours fromn the adl:iral, though repeatedly deacross the river, those of Oudinot forming the ad- mnaded. + Itn this manner were the French enabled vance; and was soon so secure, that Tschaplitz, dis- to force their way towards a village called Brilowau, eovering his error, and moving back to regain his through deep molrasses, and over long bridges or important position at Studzlianla, found the French The conduct of the admniral wras so unaccountable on too strongly posted on the right bank of the Bere- this occasion, that some attemtpted to explain it on his sina, for his regaining the oppoitunity which he had naval habits, and to suppose that he' was preventld from lost. He halted, therefore, at Stakhowa, and waited sending the reinforcements by the wind being contrary. 564 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. railways, formed of the lunks of pine-trees, where at a distance, or, mixing in it, were thrust over the a bold attack might have rendered their advance bridges, crushed under carriages, cut down perimpossible. The least exertion on the part of Tchit- haps with sabres, or trampled to death uinder the chagoff might have caused these bridges to be feet of their countrymen. All this whiile the action burnt; and as combustibles were laid ready for the continued with furiy, and, as if' the heavens meant purpose, it required but, according to Segur's ex- to match their wrath with that of man, a hurricane pression, a spark from the pipe of a Cossack, to arose, and added terrors to a scene which was alhave set them on fire. The destruction of this railway, ready of a character so dreadful. inclosing the French between the morass and the About mid-day the French, still bravely resistriver, must have rendered the passage of the Be- ing, began to lose ground.'The Russians, comnli, resina entirely useless. But it was not so decreed; gradually up in strength, succeeded in forcing the and the French, under Oudinot, were enabled to ravine, and compelling them to assume a position preserve the means of a movement so essential to nearer the bridges. About the same time, the larger their safety. Aleanwhile the scene on the left bank bridge, that constructed for artillery and heavy had become the wildest and most horrible which carriages, broke down, aand multitudes were foreed war call exhibit. into the water. The scream of mortal agony, which On the heights of Studzianka, Victor, who con- arose from the despairing multitude, became at this manded tile French rear-guard, amounting perhaps crisis for a moment so universal, that it rose shrilly to 8,000 or 10,000 men, was prepared to cover the audible over the noise of the elements and the retreat over the bridges. The right of this corps thunders of war, above the wild whistling of the d'armee rested on the river; a ravine full of bushes tempest, and the sustained and redoubled hourras covered their front, but the left wing had no point of the Cossacks. The witness from whom we have of support. It remained, according to the military this information declares that the sound wvas in his phrase, in the air, and was covered by two regi- ears for many weeks. This dreadful scene conments of cavalry. Behind this defensive line were tinued till dark, many being forced into the icy many thousands of stragglers, mingled with the river, some throwing themselves in, betwixt absousual followers of a camp, and with all those indi- lute despair, and the faint hope of gaining the opviduals who, accompanying, for various reasons, posite bank by swimming, some getting across only the French from Moscow, had survived the horrors to die of cold and exhaustion. As the obscurity of the march. Women, children, domestics, the came on, Victor, with the remainder of his troops, aged and the infants, were seen among the wretched which was much reduced, quitted the station he mass, and wandered by the side of this fatal river, had defended so bravely, and led them in their turn like the fabled spectres which throng the banks of across. All night, the miscellaneous multitude conthe infernal Styx, and seek in vain for passage. The tinued to throng across the bridge, under the fire want of order, which it was impossible to preserve, of the Russian artillery, to whom, even in the darktile breaking of the bridges, and the time spent in ness, the noise which accompanied their match the repair-the fears of the unhappy wretches to made them a distinct mark. At day-break, tile trust themselves to the dangerous and crowded French engineer, General Ebl6, finally set fire to passages, had all operated to detain them on the thie bridge. All that remained on tile other side, inright bank. The baggage, which, in spite of the cluding many prisoners, and a great quantity of guns -quantity already lost, of the difficulty of transport- and baggage, became the prisoners and the prey of ation, and of Napoleon's precise orders, amounted the Russians. The amount of the French loss was still to a very great number of carts, wains, and the never exactly known; but the Russian report, conlike, and wihich was now augmented by all that cerning the bodies of the invaders which were colbelonged to the troops of Oudinot and Victor, was lected and burnt as soon as the thaw permitted, seen, some filing towards the bridges, and the states that'upwards of 36,000 were found il tie greater part standing in confusion upon the shore, Beresina. the artillery itself, such as remained, was in no better state. CHAPTER LXXXI. Such was the condition o/' matters at the bridge, Such was the condition of matter is at ictory oer Napoleon determines to return to Paris-He leaves Smorwhen Wittgenstein, warm from his victory over Partouneaux, marching down the left bank of the go o 5 Decemberreacs Warsaw te t.Beresina, engaged ing a fierce corwn at with the rear- Curious interview with the Abbd de Pradt-Arrives at Beresina, engaged in a fierce combat with the rear- Dresden on the 14 th-ad at Paris oa the 18th, at midguard under Victor; and the balls of the Russians night.-Dreadful state of the grand army, when left lby began to fall among the mingled and disordered Napoleon-Arrive at Wrina, whence they are driven by mass which we have endeavonred to describe. It Cossacks, directing their flight upon Kowno.-Dissenwas then that the whole body of stragglers and fu- sions atmong the French gcrerals.-Cautiots policy of gitives rushed like distracted beings towards the the Austrians under Schlwartzenberg.-Precarious state bridges, every feeling of prudence or humanity of Aacdonald.-He retreats upon Tilsit.-D' Yorcksepaswallowed up by the animal instinct of self-preserv- rates his troops from the French.-MIacdonald effects ation. The horrible scene of disorder was aug- his retreat to Konigsberg.-Close ofthe Russian expecmented by the desperate violence of those, who, dition, with a loss on the part of the French of 450,) determined to make their own way at all risks, men in killed and prisoners.-Disc-ssion of the causes threw down and trampled upon whatever came in their road. The weak and helpless either shrunk WmEN the army of Bonaparte was assembled on back from the fray, and sat down to wait their fate the other side of the Beresina, they exhibited symp. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAIP-ARTE. 565 toms of total disorganization. Tlhe village of Bri- he was to remain a day's nlarch, as usual, behind lowau, where they halted on the night of their pas- the mass of what had been the army. sage, was entirely pulled down, that the materials The order of the march to Willla thus arranged, might supply camp fires; and a considerable part of Napoleon determined on his own departure. Three Bonaparte's head quarters was included in the same sledges were provided; one of which was prepared fate, his own apartment being with difficulty saved to carry him and Caulaincourt, whose title tile eimfroln the soldiery. They could scarcely be blamed peror proposed to assume while traveling incognito, for this want of discipline, for the night was deadly although their figures were strikingly dissimilar, the cold; and of the wet and shivering wretches who Duke of Vicenza being a tall, raw-boned, stiffhad been immersed in the icy river, many laid their looking man. In a general audience, at which were heads down never to raise them more. present the King of Naples, the viceroy, Berthier, On the 29th November, the emperor left the fatal and the marshals, Napoleon announced to them that banks of the Beresina, at the head of an army more he had left Murat to command the army, as genedisorganized than ever; for few of Oudinot's corps, ralissimo. He talked to them in terms of hope and and scarcely any belonging to Victor's, who were confidence. He promised to check the Austrians yet remaining, were able to resist the general conta- and Prussians in their disposition for war, by pregion of disorder. They pushed on without any re- senting himself at the head of the French nation, giular disposition, having no more van-guard, centre, and twelve hundred thousand men;-he said he had or iear, than can be ascribed to a flock of sheep. To ordered Ney to Wilna, to reorganize the army, and outstrip the Russians was their only desire, and yet to strike such a. blow as should discourage the adnumbers were daily surprised by the partisans and vance of the Russians;-lastly, he assured them of Cossacks. Most fortunately for Napoleon, the pre- winter quarters beyond the Niemen. He then took caution of the Duke of Bassano had dispatched to an affectionate and individual farewell of each of his the banks of the Beresina a division of French, generals, and, stepping into his trainean, a lively commanded by General Maison, who were sufficient emblem of the fishing-boat of Xerxes, he departed to form a rear-guard, and to protect this disorderly from Smorgoni at the late hour of ten at night. and defenceless mass of fugitives. Thus they reach- With what feelings this extraordinary man left ed Malodeczno on the 3d December. the remains of his army, we have no means even of Here Bonaparte opened to his chief confidants guessing. His outward bearing, during his extreme his resolution to leave the army, and push forward distresses, had been in general that of' the utmost to Paris. The late conspiracy of Malet had con- firmness; so that such expressions of grief or irritavinced him of the necessity of his presence there.' tion, as at times broke firom him, were picked up His remaining with an army, which scarce had and registered by those who heard them, as curious existence in a military sense, could be of no use. instances of departure firom his usual state of coinHe was near Prussia, where, from reluctant allies, posare. To preserve his tranquillity, lie pelomitted the inhabitants were likely to be changed into bitter no details to be given him of the want aind misery enemies. He was conscious of what he had medi- with which lie was surrounded. Thus, when Colonel tated against the King of Prussia, had lie returned d'Albignac brought news of' Ney's distresses, after victorious, and judged from his own purposes the the battle of Wiazma, lie stopped his mouth by saypart which Frederick was likely to adopt, in conse- ing sharply, " He desired to know no particulars." quence of this great reverse in his fortunes. It was of a piece with this resolution, that he always This resolution being adopted, Napoleon an- gave out orders as if the whole imperial army hald nounced that preparations for his departure should existed in its various divisions, after two-thirds had be made at Smorgoni, intending to remain at Malo-. been destroyed, and the remainder reduced to an deczno till he should he joined by General Maison unudisciplined mnob. " Would you deprive Tme of my with the rear-glard, which was left a day's march tranquillity?" he said angrily to an officer, who behind the main body. He now waited until it thought it necessary to dwell on the actual circlmshould close uip with him. They came at last, but stances of the armny, when some orders, expressed with Tschaplitz and the Russians at their heels. In- in this manner, had been issued. And when tense cold (the thermometer being twenty degrees the persevering filnctionary persisted to explainbelow zero) prevented anything more than skir- thinking, perhaps, in his simplicity, that Napoleon mishes between them. did not know that which in fact he only was reOn the 5th December, Bonaparte was at Smnor- luctant to dwell upon, —he reiterated angrily, " I goni, where he again received a welcome reinforce- ask you, sir, why you would deprive me of ny ti anment, being joined by Loison, advancing at the head qurillity?" of the garrison of VVilna, to protect his retreat to It is evident, that Napoleon must have known that place, and whose opportune assistance gave a the condition of his arnmy as wvell as ainy one around new rear-guard, to supply that commanded by him; but to admit that he was acquainted with that Maison, which the war and weather had already which he could not remriedy, would have been acrendered as incapable of effectual service, as those knowledging a want of power inconsistent with the whom they had protected finom the banks of the character of one, who would willingly be thought Beresina to Smorgoni. Loison had orders to take rather the controler than tile subject of' Fate. Nain his turn this destructive duty, for which purpose poleon was none of those princes mentioned by Horace, wlvo, in poverty and exile, lay aside their * The reader will findt the details of this singular attempt titles of majesty, and language of' authority. The in Cha pter LXXX I. head-quarters of Slmorgoni, and the residences rcf _. 566 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Porto Ferrajo and St Helena, can alike bear witness from his minister, that the minds of the inhabitants to the tenacity with which he clung not only to of the Grand Duchy had been much changed since power, but to the forms and circumstance attendant they had been led to despair of the regeneration of upon sovereignty, at periods when the essence of their country; and that they were already, since that sovereignty was either endangered or lost. A they could not be free Polanders, studying how to deeper glance into his real feelings may be obtained reconcile themselves with their former governors of from the report of the Abbe de Pradt, which is well Prussia. The entrance of two Polish ministers worth transcribing. checked the ambassador's communications. The After narrowly escaping being taken by the Rus. conversation was maintained from that moment by sian partisan Seslavin, at a hamlet called You- Napoleon alone; or rather he indulged in a monopranoni, Napoleon reached WNarsaw upon the 10th logue, turning upon the sense he entertained that the Decemlber. Here the Abb6 de Pradt, then minister failure of his Russian expedition would diminish his of France to the Diet of Poland, was in the act of reputation, while he struggled against the painful endeavouring to reconcile the various rumlnours which conviction, by numbering utp the plans by which he poured in from every quarter, when a figure like a might repair his losses, and alleging the natural obspectre, wrapped in furs, which were stiffened by stacles to which he had been obliged to succumb. hoar-frost, stalked into his apartments, supported by " We mitst levy ten thousand Poles," he said, a domestic,and was wvith difficulty recognized by the " and check the advance of' these Russians. A ambassador as the Duke of Vicenza. lance and a horse are all that is necessary. There " You here, Caulaincourt?" said the astonished is but a single step betwixt the sublime and the prelate.-" And where is the emperor?" ridiculous." " At the Hotel d'Angleterre, waiting for you." The functionaries congratulated him on his escape " Why not stop at the palace?" from so many dangers. " He travels incognito." "Dangers!" he replied; " none in the world. I "Do you need anything?" live.in agitation. The more I bustle the better I am. " Some Burgundy or Malaga." It is for kings of Cocagne to fatten in their pa" All is at your service-but whither are you laces-horseback and the fields are for me. —From traveling?' the sublimne to the ridiculous there is but a single " To Paris." step —Why do I find you so much alarmed here?" " To Paris!-but where is the army?"' We are at a loss to gather the truth of the newvs "It exists no longer," said Caulaincourt, looking about the army." upwards. " Bah!" replied the emperor; " the armly is in a "And the victory of the Beresina-and the six superb condition. I have a hundred and twenty thousand prisoners? "' thousand men-I have beat the Russians in every " We got across, that is all-the prisoners were a action-they are no longer the soldiers of Friedland few hundred men, who have escaped. Wfe have and Eylau. The army will recruit at Wiilna-I am had other business than to guard them." going to bring up three hundred thousand men-SucHis curiosity thus far satisfied, the Abbe de Pradt cess will render the Russians fool-hardy-I will give hastened to the hotel. In the yard stood three them battle twice or thrice upon the Oder, and in a sledges in a dilapidated condition. One for the em- month I will be again on the Niemen-I have more peror and Caulaincourt, the second for two officers of weight when on my throne, than at the head of my rank, the third for the Manleluke Roustan and an- army.-Certainly I quit my soldiers with regret; but other domestic. He was introduced with some I must watch Austria and Prussia, and I have more mystery into a bad inn's bad room, where a servant weight seated on my throne than at the head of )my wench was blowing a fire made of' green wood. armmy. All that has happenedgoes for nothing-a Here was the enmperor, whom the Abb6 de Pradt mere misfortune, in which the enemy canl clai:n no had last seen when he played King of Kings among merit-I beat them everywhere-they wished to cut the assembled sovereigns of Dresden. He was me off at the Beresina —I made a fool of that ass of dressed in a green pelisse, covered with lace and an admniral-(He could never pronounce the name lined with filrs, andt, by walking briskly about the Tchitchagoff)-I had good troops and cannon —the apartlnent, was enldeavouring to obtain the warmth position was superb-five hundred toises of alrsh which the chimney refused. He saluted "Monsieur -a river-" This lie repeated twice, then run l'Ambassadeur," as he termed him, with gaiety. over the distinction in the 29th bulletin betweenl The abb6 felt a movement of sensibility, to which men of strong and feeble minds, and proceeded.he was disposed to give way, but, as he says, " The " I have seen worse affails than this-At Marengo I poor man did not understand me." He limited was beaten till six o'clock in the evening-next day his expressions of devotion, therefore, to helping I was master of Italy-At Essling, that archduke Napoleon off with his cloak. To us, it seems that tried to stop me-He published sonlething or other Napoleon repelled the effusionsof the Archbishop of -My army had already advanced a league and a Malines' interest, because lie did not chuse to be the half-I did not even condescend to make any dlispoobject ejther of his interest or his pity. He heard sition. All the world knows how slchl things are managed when I ams in the field. I could not help' This alludes to exaggerated reports circulated by the Danube rising sixteen feet in onie night-Ah! Maret, DIuke of Bassano. then residing at Wilnta, of a pre- witlhoutt that, there would have been an end of the tended'victory obtained by Napoleon, at the passage at Austrian mtonarchy. But it was written in heaven Studzianka.. that I should marry an archduchess. (This was LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 667 said with an air of much gaiety.) In the same! sieur l'Ambassadeur to return immediately to Paris; manner, in Russia, I could not prevent its freezing. which, considering what had happened ill Russia, They told me every morning that I had lost ten and was about to happen in Poland, could not bhlt thousand horses during the night.-Well, farewell be a most welcome mandate, especially as it was to you!" lie bade them adieu, five or six times in likely to be soon enforced by the lances of the the course of the harangue, but always returned to Cossacks. the subject. " Our Norman horses are less hardy Napoleon continued to pass on with as much than those of the Russians-they sink under ten speed as possible. He said, when at St Helena, degrees ofcold (beneath zero). Itis the same with the that he was nigh being arrested in Silesia. " But men. Look at the Bavarians; there is not one left. the Prussians," he said, " passed the time in coll-Perhaps it may be said that I stopped too long at suiting which they ought to have employed in acMoscow; that may be true, but the weather was tion. They acted like the Saxons, of whom Charles fine-the winter came on prematurely-besides, I XII. said gaily, when he left Dresden, " They will expected peace. On the 5th October, I sent Lat- be deliberating to-day whether they should have riston to treat. I thought of going to St Petersburg, arrested me yesterday." If such an idea was enand I had time enough to have done so, or to have tertained by any one, it may have been by some of gone to the south of Russia, or to Smolensk. Well, the Tugend-Bund, who might think it no crime to we will make head at Wilna; Murat is left there. seize on one who made universal liberty his spoil. Ha, ha, ha! It is a great political game. Nothing But we do not believe that Frederick ever harbourventure, nothing win-It is but one step from the ed the thought, while he continued in alliance with sublime to the ludicrous. The Russians have shown France. they have character-their emperor is beloved by Meanwhile, Napoleon continued his journey in his people-they have clouds of Cossacks-it is secrecy, and with rapidity. On the 14th Decenmber something to have such a kingdom-the peasants of he was at Dresden, where he had a long private the crown love their government-the nobility are all conference with the good old king, who did not mounted on horseback. They proposed to me to feel his gratitude to the emperor, as a benefhctor, set the slaves at liberty, but that I would not consent abated by his accumulated misfortunes. Tile interto-they would have massacred every one. Imade view-how different from their last-was held in regular war upon the Emperor Alexander, but who the hotel where Bonaparte alighted, and where could have expecteid such a blow as the burning of Augustus came to visit him incognito. On the 18th, Moscow? Now they would lay it on us, but it was in the evening, he arrived at Paris, where the city in fact themselves who did it. That sacrifice would had been for two days agitated by the circulation of have done honour to ancient Rome." the 29th bulletin, in which the veil, though with a He returned to his favourite purpose of checking reluctant hand, was raised up to show the disasters the Russians, who had just annihilated his grand of the Russian war. army, by raising a large body of Polish lancers, to It may not be thought minute to mention, that whom, as things stood, it would have been difficult Napoleon and his attendant had difficulty in proto have proposed any adequate motive for exertion. curing admittance to the Tuileries at so late alln The fire went out, and the counsellors listened in hour. The empress had refired to her private frozen despair, while, keeping himself warm by apartment. Two figures muffled in fursentered thle walking up and down, and by his own energies, the ante-room, and (nle of them directed his course to emperor went on with his monologue; now betraying, the door of the empress's sleeping-chamber. The in spite of himself;, feelings and sentiments which he lady in waiting hastened to throw herself betwixt would have concealed; now dwelling upon that the intruder and the entrance, but, recognizing the which lie wished others to believe; and often re- emperor, she shrieked aloud, and alarmed Maria peating, as the burden of his harangue, the apho- Louisa, who entered the ante-room. Their meeting rism which lhe has rendered immortal, concerning was extremely affectionate, and showed, that, amidst the vicinity of the sublime and the ludicrous. all his late losses, Napoleon had still domestic hapIHis passage through Silesia being mentioned, he piness within his reach. answered in a doubtful tone, "Ha, Prussia?" as if questioning the security of' that route. At length We return to the grand army, or rather to the he decided to depart in good earnest; cut short the assemblage of those who had once belonged to it, respectfidl wishes for the preservation of his health for of an army it had scarce the semblance left. The with the brief assurance, that he " could not be in soldiers of the Imperial Guard, who had hitherto better health were the very devil in hin;" and made it their pride to preserve some degree of disthrew himself into the humble sledge which carried cipline, would, after the departure of Napoleon, Cawsar and his fortunes. The horses sprung for- give obedience to no one else. Murat, to whom tile /ward, nearly overturning the carriage as it crossed chiefcommand had been delegated, seemed scarcely the court-yard gate, and disappeared in the dark' to use it, nor when he did was he obeyed. If Ney, ness. Such is the lively account of the Abbe de and some of the marshals, still retained authority, Pradt, who declares solemnly, that on taxing his they were only attended to from habit, or because memory to the utmost, he accuses hilnself of neither the instinct of discipline revived when the actual want of accuracy nor forgetfulness. Napoleon does battle drew near. They could not, however, have not deny that such a long conversation took place, offered any effectual defence, nor could they shave but alleges that the abbe has caricatured it. In the escaped actual slaughter and dispersion, had it not meanwhile, hIe said he scratched an order for Mon- been for Loison's troops, who continued to formi the 568 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. rear-guard, and who, never having been on the In such a plight did the army arrive at Wilna eastern side of the fatal Beresina, had, amid great where great\ provision had been made for their resuffering, still preserved sutficient discipline to keep j ception. The magazines were groaning with plenty, their ranks, behave like soldicers, and slake them- but, as at Smolensk, the administrators and comnmisselves be respected, not only by the Cossacks, but sioners, terrified for their own responsibility, dared by Tschaplitz, Wittgenstein, and the Russians not issue provisions to a disorderly mob, who could detached from the main army, who followed them neither produce authority for drawing rations, nor close, andl annoyed them constantly. The division give a regular receipt. The famished wretches fell of Loison remained like a shield, to protect the down in the street before the magazines, and died disorderly retreat of the main body. there, cursing with their latest breath the ill-timed Still, some degree of order is so essential to human punctiliousness of office, which refused to starving society, that, even in that disorganized mass, the men the morsel that might have saved their lives. stragglers, which now comprehended almost the In other places of the town, stores both of provision whole army, divided into little bands who assisted and liquor were broken open by the desperate soleach other, and had sometimes the aid of a miserable diery, plundered, and wasted. Numbers became horse, which, when it fell down under the burden intoxicated, and to those, as they sunk down in the of what they had piled on it, was torn to pieces and street, death came before sobriety. The sick who eaten, while life was yet palpitating in its veins. went to the hospitals found them crowded not only These bands had chiefs selected front anlong them- with the dying, but with dead, whose corpses were selves. But this species of union, though advan- left to freeze or to putrefy on the stairs and in the tageous on the whole, led to particular evils. Those corridors, and sometimes in the apartmnents of those associated into such a fraternity would communicate who yet survived. Such were the comforts of to none save those of their own party, a mouthful of Wilna, from which so much had been hoped. rye-dough, which, seasoned with gunpowder for Still, however, some of the citizens, moced by pity want of salt, and eaten with a bouill6 of horse-flesh, or terror, or from desire of gain (for many soldiers formed the best part of their food. Neither would had still about their persons some renmnants of the they permit a stranger to warm himself at their fires, spoils of Moscow), were willing to give lodging and and when spoil was found, two of these companies food to these exhausted phantoms, who begged such often, especially if of different countries, fought for relief sometimes with furious threats and imprecathe possession of it, and a handful of meal was a tions, sometimes in the plaintive tone of men ready sufficient temptation for putting to death the wretch to perish. Distributions began also to be made at who could not defend his booty. The prisoners, it the public stores; and men who for long had not eat is said (and we heartily wish the fact could be a morsel of bread, or reposed themselves upon any refuted),;were parked every night, without receiving better lair than the frozen earth, or under any other any victuals whatsoever, and perished, like im- canopy save that of the snow-fiaught sky, deemed pounded cattle, fiom want of food, cold, and the it paradise to enjoy the most common household delirious fury which such treatment inspired. Among comforts, of which we think so little while we enjoy these unfortunates some became cannibals, and the them, yet are miserable when they are abridged or same horrible reproach has been cast on the French withdrawn. Some wept forjoy at receiving an orthemselves. dinary loaf of bread, and finding themselves at To enhance misfortunes so dreadful, the cold, liberty to eat it, seated, and under a roof: which had been for some timue endurable, increased On a sudden the repast, which seemed earnest of on the 6th December, to the most bitter degree of a return to safety and to social life, was disturbed fiost, being twenty-seven or twenty-eight degrees by a distant cannonade, which came nigher and below zero. Many dropped down and expired in nigher-then by the fire of musketry-at length by silence, the blood of others was determined to the their own drunls beating to arms in the streets. head by the want of circulation; it gushed at length Every alarm was in vain; even the Imperial Guard fi-om eyes and mouth, and the wretches sunk down no longer attended to the summons. The soldiers on the gory snow, and were relieved by death. At were weary of their lives, and it seenled as if they the night bivouacs, the soldiers approached their would have been contented to perish like the Jews f-ozen limbs to the fire so closely, that, falling asleep in the wilderness, with their fo6d betwixt their in that posture, their feet were scorched to the bone, teeth. At length, the distant hourra, and the nearer while their hair was frozen to the groulnd. In this cry of Cossacks! Cossacks! vwhich for some time had condition they were often found by the Cossacks, been their most available signal for marching, comand happy were those upon whom the pursuers pelled them to tear themselves fromn their refresh bestowed a thrust withl the lance to finish their mi- ment, and rush into the street.'There they folnd sery. Other horrors there were, which are better their rear-guard and Loison, although they had been left in silence. E nough has been said to show, that reinforced by the body of Bavarians commanded by sutch a calamnity, in such an extent, never before VWrede, who had been left on the verge of Volhynia, darkened the pages of i.story. J.n this horrible hurrying into the town in disorder like men defeated. retreat, twenty tliousand recruits had joined the. and learned that they had been driven back by army since crossing the Beresina, where, including Wittgenstein, with Platoff and other partisan leadthe corps of Oudinot and Victor, they amounted to elrs, who had followed them up to tile gates. eighty thousand imen. But of this sumn of eighty WVilna, besides the inmmense magazines belomnging thousand men, one-half perished betwixt the lBere- to tile French army, contained a vast deposit of sina atid the walls of Wilnla. wealth and property, which had been left there inl (.. -,_._..I LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 569 the advance upon Moscow, and, in particular, a still have been a great king, like the sovereigns of quantity of treasure belonging to Napoleon. The Austria and Russia. " These kings," answered Datown, though open, might have been made good till voust, bitterly, " are monarchs by the grace of God, the magazines were destroyed and the baggage re- by the sanction of time, and the course of custom. moved; but such was the confusion of the moment, But you-you are only a king by the grace of Nathat the Russians forced their way into the town by poleon, and through the blood of Frenchmen. You one access, whilst the French left it by another, are grossly ungrateful, and as such I will denounce directing their flight upon Kowno, with the most you to the emnperor." Such was this strange scene, valuable part of their baggage, or such as could be of which the marshals were silent witnesses. It most speedily harnessed. The inhabitants of the served to show how little unity there was in their town, the lower orders that is, and particularlythe councils, when the Master Spirit ceased to preside Jews, now thought of propitiating the victors by among them. but.chering the wretches whom they had received From Gumbinnen the French went to show their into their houses; or, at best, stripping and thrusting miseries at Konigsberg. Everywhere they were them naked into the streets. For this inhumanity coldly, yet not coarsely treated by the Prussians, the Jews are said to have been afterwards punished who had before felt their oppression, but did not by the Russians, who caused several of them to be consider them in their present state as becoming hanged. objects of vengeance. At Konigsberg they learnt Meanwhile the flying column had attained a hill the fate of their two extreme wings, which was of and defile, called Ponari, when the carriages be- a nature to close all hopes. came entangled, and at length one of the treasure- On the right of the French original line of adwaggons being overturned, burst, and discovered its vance, Schwartzenberg had no sooner learned that contents. All shadow of discipline was then lost; the emperor was totally defeated, and his army and, as if to anticipate the Russians, the French irretrievably dispersed, than, in the quality of a soldiers themselves fell upon the baggage, broke mere auxiliary, he thought himself no longer enopen the wains, and appropriated their contents. titled to hazard a single Austrian life in the quarrel. The Cossacks rode up during the fray, and so rich There was an armistice concluded between the was the booty, that even they were content to plun- Austrians and Russians, by the terms of which they der in company, suspending for the instant their agreed to manoeuvre as at a game of chess, but not national animosity, where there seemed wealth to fight. Thus, when the Russians should gain such enough for all, and no time to lose in fighting. Yet, a position, as in actual war would have given them it is said that the privates of the Imperial Guard an advantage, the Austrians were under the endisplayed a rare example of honour and discipline. gagement to retreat; and the campaign resembled The Count de Turenne, having beaten off the Cos- nothing so much as a pacific field-day, in which two sacks who pressed in, distributed the private trea- generals in the same service venture upon a trial of sure of Napoleon among his Guard, the individuals skill. Schwartzenberg, by his manoeuvres, proof which afterwards restored them. " Not a single tected the French corps under R1gnier, as long as piece of money," says S6gur, "was lost." This, possible, obtained good terms for Warsaw, and however, must be partly imagination; for many of gained for R1gnier three days' advantage, when at the Guard fell after this, and the Cossacks, who last he ceased to cover the place. Having thus became their executors, could have had little idea protected his allies to the last, he retired into the of making restitution. Austrian territories; and although R1gnier was It is not worth while to trace further the flight of finally overtaken and surprised at Khalish, it could this miserable body of wanderers. They arrived at not be imputed to Schwartienberg's desertion of length at Kowno, the last town of Russian Poland, him, but to his own making too long a halt to proNey alone endeavouring to give them some military tect some Polish depots. The relics of REtgnier's direction and assistance; while they were at every army, such at least as fled into the Austrian territoinstant deserting him and themselves. At Kowno, ries, were well received there, and afterwvards reit seems that about one thousand men were still stored to their own banners. Still the alliance with under arms, about twenty times that number in total Austria, which in one sense had cost Napoleon so dispersion. The pursuit of the Russians appeared dear, was now dissolved, asnd his right wing totally to cease after the fugitives had recrossed the Niemen dissipated by the defection of his allies. On the on the ice; they did not chuse to push the war into left wing matters had no better, or rather, they had'Prussia. a much worse appearance. At Gumbinnen, the remaining marshals and During the eventfill six months of the Russian commanders held a council, in which Murat gave campaign, Macdonald, who commanded the left way to the stifled resentment he had long entertained wing, had remained in Courland, with an army of against his brother-in-law. He had been displeased about 30,000 men, of whom 22,000 were Prussians, with Napoleon, for not severely repressing the inso- the rest Germans of different countries. It would leuce with which, as he conceived, he had been seem that Napoleon had been averse from the betreated by Davoust, and at another time by Ney; ginning to employ these unwilling auxiliaries upon and he openly inveighed against his relative as a any service where their defection might influence the madnman, upon whose word no reliance was to be other parts of his army. Yet they behaved well placed. In these moments of anger and mutiny, upon several occasions, when Macdonald had occaMurat blamed himself for rejecting the proposals of sion to repel the attacks and sallies of the numerous the English. Had he not done so, he said, he might garrison of Riga, and their active exertions enabled VOL. ~VI. fi70 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. him to save the park of heavy artillery destined for i Massenbach and their officers at their head, marched the siege of that place, which had almost fallen into off to join their countrymen under d'Yorck. the hands of the Russian general, Lewis, at Mittau, That general had, now and for ever, separated on the 29th of September. But on this occasion, his troops from the French. Upon 30OL December, though having every reason to be pleased with the he had concluded an armistice with thile Russian soldiers, Macdonald saw room to suspect their general, Dibbeitsch. By this agreement, the Prusleader, d'Yorck, of coldness to the French cause. sian troops were to be cantoned in their own terriThat officer was, indeed, engaged in a service which tories, and remain neutral for two months; at the at heart he detested. He was one of the Tugend- end of that period, if their king so determined, they Bund, so often mentioned, an ardent Prussian pa- should be at liberty to rejoin the French troops. triot, and eager to free his native country from a Both d'Yorck and Massenbach wrote to Macdonald foreign yole. lie therefore eagerly watched for a announcing their secession from his army. D'Yorck plausible opportunity when he might, without dis- contented himself with stating, that he cared not honour, disunite his forces from those of the French what opinion the world might forum on his conduct; marshal. it was dictated by the purest motives, his duty to his About the beginning of December, the situation of troops and to his country. Massenbach expressed Macdonald became precarious. Nothing was heard his respect and esteem for General Macdonald, and on every side, save of the rout and disasters of the declared, that his reason for leaving hima without an French Grand Army, and the marshal anxiously ex- interview, was the fear lie felt that his personal repected orders for a retreat while it was yet open to gard for the marshal might have prevented his obeyhim. But such was the confusion at the head- ing the call of duty. quarters after the emperor's departure, that neither Thus did a Prussian general first set the example M urat nor Berthier thought of sending the necessary of deserting the cause in which he served so unwilanutlority to Macdonald; and when they did, though lingly; an example which soon spread fast and far. the order to retreat might have reached him in five It was a choice of' difficulties on d'Yorck's side, for days, it was ten days on the road. his zeal as a patriot was in some degree placed in He commenced his retreat upon Tilsit, his van- opposition to the usual ideas of soldierly honolr. guard consisting of Massenbach's Prussian division, But he had not left Macdonald till the marshal's chiefly cavalry, he himself following with the Bava- safety, and that of the remainder of his army, was in rians, Saxonq, etc.,and d'Yorck bringingup the rear some measure provided for. He was out of the with 15,000 Prussians, the residue of that auxiliary Russian territory, and free, or nearly so, from Itussian army. In this order, with the Prussians divided pursuit. D'Yorck had become neutral, but not the into two corps, and his own posted between them, enemy of his late commander. as if to secure against their combining, the marshal Here the question arises, how long were the marched on in sufficient anxiety, but without com- Prussians to be held bound to sacrifiue their blood plaint on his side, or difficulties on that of the Prus- for the foreigners, by wvhom tihey had been consian general. But when the marshal, upon 28th quered, pillaged, and oppressed; and to what extent January, arrived at Tilsit, which was in the line of were they bound to endure adversity for those, w}ho their retreat, and had sent forward the cavalry of had uniformly trampled on them during their prosMassenbach as far as Regnite, the troops of d'Yorck perity? One thing, we believe, we may affi'rm with in the rear had detached themselves so far that Mac-. certainty, namely that d'Yorck acted entirely on hiis donald was obliged to halt for them. He sent letters own responsibility, and without any encourageement, to d'Yorck, pressing him to come np —he sent to the direct or indirect, from his sovereign. Nay, the e I cavalry of Massenbach in the van, commanding them is room to suppose, that though the arlmistice (,f to return. From d'Yorck came no answer. At Reg- Taurogen was afterwards declared good set\ ice hby nitz, the French general, Bachele, who had been the King.of Prussia, yet d'Yorck was not entirely sent to act as adjutant general with Massenbach's forgiven by his prince fbr having entered into it. It. corps, could find no obedience. The colonels of the was one of the nurmerous cases, in which a subject's Prussian cavalry objected to the weather, and the departing from the. letter of the sovereign's conlstate of the roads; they would not give the order to mand, although for that sovereign's more efiectual sound to horse; and when the horses were at length service, is still a line of conduct less grateful than reluctantly ordered out and produced, the soldiers implicit obedience. Upon receiving the news, Frewere equally restive, they would not mount. AWhile derick disavowed the conduct of his general, and the Prussian troops were in this state of muatiny, a appointed Massenbach and him to be sent to fBerlin Russian emissary was heard to press them to deliver for trial. Bat the officers retained their authority, up the Frenchnlan; bet the soldiers, though resolved for the Prussian army and people considered their to leave Bachela, would not betray him. The pro- sovereign as acting under the restraint of the French posal shocked their feelings of honour, and they troops under Augereau, who then occupied his camounted and marched back to Tilsit, to restore pital. Bachelu to Macdonald's army. But their purpose Macdonald, with the remains of his army, reduced was unchanged. As at Regnitz they had refiused to about nine thousand men, accomplished his ti mount their horses, so at Tilsit they refused to retreat to Konigsberg after a sharp skirmish. alight. At length they were prevailed upon to dis- And thus ended the memorable Russian expedimount and retire to their quarters, but it was only a tion, the first of Napoleon's undertakings in which feint' for, shortly after they weret supposed asleep), lie was utterly defeated, and of which we scarce thle Prussians tounted in gtreat silence, and, wNiti knoww whether:most to wonder at the daring audsl LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 67 1 city of the attempt, or the terrific catastrophe. The various causes of ruin, which were inherent in this loss of the grand army was total, and the results extravagant expedition from the very beginning, and are probably correctly stated by Boutourlin, as fol- were operating actively when the weather merely lows: came to their assistance'? On the first question it is needless to say much. Slain in battle...................., ~ ~ 125,000 A snow, accompanied with hard frost, is not necesDied from fatigue, hunger, aid the severity of sarily destructive to a retreating army. The weaker individuals must perish, but, to the army, it alobrds, Prisoners, comprehending 48 generals, 3000 offi- individuals must perish, but, to the army, it afords cers, and upwards of 10,0 en........ 13,000 if they are provided for the season, better opportunities of moving than rainy and open weather. In Total.... 450,000 the snow, hard firozen upon the surface, as it is in Russia and Canada, the whole face of the country The relics of the troops which escaped from that becomes a road; and an army, lightly equipped and overwhelming disaster, independent of the two having sledges instead of wains, may move in as auxiliary armies of Austrians and Prussians, who many parallel columns as they will, instead of being were never much engaged in its terrors, might confined, as in moist weather, to one high-road, along be about forty thousand men, of whom scarcely which the divisions must follow each other in sacten thousand were Frenchmen. The Russians, not- cession. Such an extension of the front, by multiwithstanding the care that was taken to destroy plying the number of marching columns, must be these trophies, took seventy-five eagles, colours, or particularly convenient to an army, which, like that standards, and upwards of nine hundred pieces of of Napoleon, is obliged to maintain itself as much as cannon. possible at the expense of the country. Where there Thus had the greatest military captain of the age, are only prolonged columns, following each other at the head of an innumerable array, rushed upon over the same roads, the marauders from the first his gigantic adversary, defeated his army, and de- body must exhaust the country on each side; so that stroyed, or been the cause of the destruction of his the corps which follow must send their purveyors capital, only to place himself in a situation where the beyond the ground which has been already pillaged, ruin of nearly the whole of his own force, without until at length the distance becomes so great, that even the intervention of a general action, became the rearward must satisfy themselves with gleanifng the indispensable price of his safe return. after the wasteful harvest of those who have preTle causes of this total and calamitous failure ceded them. Supposing six, eight, or ten colunns lay in miscalculations, both moral and physical, marching in parallel lines upon the same front, and which were involved in the first concoction of the leaving an interval betwixt each, they will cover six, enterprise, and began to operate from its very conl- eight, or ten times the breadth of country, and of mencement. We are aware that this is, with the course supply themselves more plentifully, as well idolators of Napoleon, an unpalatable view of the as much more easily. Such columns, keeping a pacase. They believe, according to the doctrine rallel front, can, if attacked, receive reciprocal aid which he himself promulgated, that he could be con- by lateral movements more easily than when assistquered by the elements alone. This was what he ance must be sent from the van to the rear of one averred in the twenty-ninth bulletin. Till the 6th long moving line; and the march being lateral on November, he stated, that he had been uniformly such occasions, does not infer the loss of time, and successful. The snow then fell, and in six days other inconveniences, inferred by a colntermnach destroyed the character ofthe army, depressed their from the front to support the rear. Lastly, the frost courage, elated that of the " despicable " Cossacks, often renders bridges unnecessary, fills ravines, and deprived the French of artillery, baggage, and ca- makes morasses passable; thus compensating, in valry, and reduced them, with little aid from the some degree, to a marching army, for the rigorous Russians, to the melancholy state in which they re- temperature to which it subjects them. tunrned to Poland. This opinion Napoleon wished - But, 2dly, It may be asked, if' frost and snow are to perpetuate in a medal, on which the retreat fron so irresistible and destructive in Russia, as to infer Moscow is represented by the figure of Eolus blow- the destruction of whole armies, why did not these ing upon the soldiers, who are shown shrinking casualties enter into the calculations of so great a fromn the storm, or falling cinder it. The same state- general entering on such an immense undertaking? ment lie always supported; and it is one of those Does it never snow in Russia, or is firost a rare phetenets which his extravagant adulirers are least nomenon there in the month of November? It is willing to relinquish. said that the cold weather began earlier than usual. Three questions, however, remain to be examined, This, we are assured, was not the case; but at any ere wev can subscribe to this doctrine. —. Does the rate it was most unwise to suffer the safety of an mere fall of snow, nay. a march through a country army, and an army of such numbers and importance, covered with it, necessarily, and of itself, infer the to depend on the mere chance of a frost setting in a extent oif misfortune here attributed to its agency? few days sooner or later. -'2. A; as not the possibility of such a storm a con- The fact is, that Napoleon, whose judgment was tiaoency which ought in reason to have entered into seldom misled save by the ardour of his wishes, had Nap:ohleon's calculations?-3. Was it the mere seve- foreseen, in October, the coming of the frost, as he city of the snow-storm, dreadful as it was, which had been aware, in July, of the necessity of collectoccasionled the destruction of Bonaparte's army; or, ing sufficient supplies of food for his army, yet itlldid not the cIlfecta of cl;mate rather come in to aid out making adequate provision against what he l~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 'I~7 2 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. knew was to happen, in either case. In the 22d stragglers, and some reserves which had been bulletin it is intimated, that the Moskwa, and other brought up. He fought the unavailing though most rivers of Russia, might hbe expected to be frozen honourably sustained battle of.Mala-Yarowslavetz; rover about the middle of November, which ought failed in forcing his way to Kalouga and Toula; and, to have prepared the emperor for the snow and frost like a stag at bay, was forced back on the wasted commencing five or six days sooner; which actually and broken-up road to Smolensk by Borodino. On took place. In the 26th bulletin, the necessity of this road was fought the battle of Wiazma, in which winter qrlarters is admitted, and the emperor is the French loss was very considerable; and his represented as looking luxuriously around him, to columns were harassed by the Cossacks at every consider whether lie should clhuse them in the south point of their march, and many thousands of' priIef Russia, or in the friendly country of Poland. The soners were taken. T'vo battles so severely fought, weather is then stated to be fine, " but on the first besides the defeat of Murat and constant skirmishes, days of November cold was tobe expected. Winter cost the French in killed and wounded (and every: quarters, therefore, must be thought upon; the ca- wounded man was lost to Napoleon), not less than valry, above all, stand in need of them." 25,000 men; and so far had the French army been It is impossible that he, under whose eye, or by diminished. whose hand, these bulletins were drawn up, could This brought him to the 6th November, until have been surprised by the arrival of snow on the which day not a flake had fallen of that snowr to 6th November. It was a probability foreseen, though which all his disasters are attributed, but which inl left unprovided for. fact (lid not commence until he had in a great lielaEven the rmost ordinary precaution, that of rough- sure experienced them. By this time, also, his.shoeing the horses of the cavalry and the draught- wings and reserves hlad undergone severe fighting horses, was totally neglected; for the bulletins com- and great loss, without any favourable restults. plain of the shoes being smooth. This is saying, in Thus, well nigh three-fourths of his original ar',}ny other words, that the animals bad not been new- were destroyed, and the remnant reduced to a lmtist shod at all; fobr French horses may be termed melancholy and disorderly condition, befor'e corn-;always rough-shod, until the shoes are grown old and mencement of the storm to which he found it afterworn smooth through use. If, therefore, frost and wards convenient to impute his calamities. It is snow be so very dangerous to armies, Napoleon scarcely necessary to notice, that when the snow did wilfully braved their rigour, and by his want of due begin to fall, it found Napoleon not a victor, but a preparations, brought upon himself the very disaster fugitive, quitting ground before his antagonists, and,of which he comlplained so heavily. indebted for his safety, not to the timidity of the Thirdly, Though unquestionably the severity of Russians, but to the over-caution of their general. the frost did greatly increase the distress and loss of The Cossacks, long before the snow-tempest cornlan army suffering under famine, nakedness, and menced, were muttering against Koutousoff for letprivations of every kind, yet it was neither the first, ting these skeletons, as they called the French anrmy, nor in any respect the principal, cause of their dis- walk back into a bloodless grave. asters. The reader must keep in remembrance the When the severe fi-ost came, itaggravated greatly march through Lithuania, in which, without a blow the misery, and increased the loss, of the Frelich struck, Napoleon lost ten thousand horses at once, army. But Winter was only the ally of the Rersand nearly a hundred thousand men, when passing sians; not as has been contended, their sole prothrough a country which was friendly. Did this tectress. She rendered the retreat of tile grand loss, which happened in June and July, arise from army more calamitous, but it had already been an the premature snow, as it has been called, of the indispensable measure, and was in the act of being 6th of November? No, surely. It arose firom what executed at the lance-point of the Cossacks before the bulletin itself describes as " the uncertainty, the storms of the north contributed to overwhelnm the distresses, the marches and countermiarches of the invaders. the troops, their fatigues and sufferances;" to the What, then, occasioned this most calamnitous casystern, in short, of forced marches, by which, tastrophe? We venture to reply, that a moral after all, Napoleon was unable to gain any actual error, or rather a crime, converted Napoleon's advance. This cost him one-fourth, or nearly so, of wisdom into folly; and that he was mrisled, by the his army, before a blow was struck. If we suppose injustice, of his views, into the great political, nay, that he left on both his flanks, and in his rear, a military errors, which he acted upon in his attempt force of 100,000 men, nnder Macdonald, Schwartz- to realize therm. enherg, Oudinot, and others, lhe commenced the We are aware there are many who think that the actual invasion of Russia Proper with 200,000 sol- justice of a quarrel' is of little moment, providing diers. A moiety ofthis large force perished before the aggressor has strength and courage to make he reached Moscow, which he entered at the head good what his adversary mnurmurs against as wrong. oif less than 100,000 maen. The ranks had been With such reasoners, the race is uniformly to the thinned by fatigue, and the fields of battle and swift, and the battle to the strong; and they reply hospitals rlust answer for the renlainder. Finally, to others wnith the profane jest of the King of PrRsNapoleon left Moscow on the 19th October, as a sia, that the Deity always espouses the cause of the I place where he could not remrain, and yet from most powerful. But the maxim is as false as it is which he saw no safe urmode of exit. lie was then irnpious. Without expecting miracles in this later at the head of about 120,000 Mren;: so Mlulchl was his age, we know that the world is subjected to moral'my recruited by convalescents, the collection of as well as physical laws, and that the breach of _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 572 the former frequently carries even a temporal pu- It was only the attack upon Murat that finally nishment along with it. Let us try by this test the dispelled this hope. conduct of Napoleon in the Russian war. Thus a hallucination, for such it may be termed, The causes assigned for his breach with Russia, led this great soldier into a train of conduct, which, unjust in their essence, had been put upon a plan of as a military critic, he would have been the first to settlement; yet his armies continued to bear down condemn, and which was the natural consequence upon the frontiers of tile Russian empire; so that of his deep moral error. He was hurried by this to have given up the questions in dispute, with the self-opinion, this ill-founded trust in the predomiFrench bayonets at his breast, Would have been on nance of his own personal influence, into a gross the part of Alexander a surrender of the national neglect of the usual and prescribed rules of war. independence. The demands of Napoleon, unjust He put in motion an immense army, too vast in in themselves, and attempted to be enforced by numbers to be supported either by the supplies of means of intimidation, it was impossible for a proud the country through which they marched, or by the people, and a high-spirited prince, to comply with. provisions they could transport along with them. Thus the first act of Bonaparte went to excite a na- And when, plunging into Russia, lie defeated her tional feeling, from the banks of the Borysthenes to armies and took her metropolis, he neglected to the wall of China, and to unite against him the wild calculate his line of advance on such an extent of and uncivilized inhabitants of an extended empire, base, as should enable him to consolidate his conpossessed by a love to their religion, their govern- quests, and turn to real advantage the victories ment, and their country, and having a character of which he attained. His army was but precariously stern devotion, which lie was incapable of estimat- coniected with Lithuania when he was at Moscow, ing. It was a remarkable characteristic of Napo- and all communication was soon afterwards entirely leon, that when he had once fixed his opinion, he destroyed. Thus, one unjust purpose, strongly and saw everything as he wished to see it, and was passionately entertained, marred the councils of the apt to dispute even realities, if they did not coincide Ivise, and rendered vain the exertions of the brave. with his preconceived ideas. He had persuaded We may read the moral in the words of Claudiaut,himself, that to beat an army and subdue a capital, Jam non ad culmina rerum was, with the influence of his personal ascendancy, Injustos crevisse queror; tolluntur in altum, all that was necessary to obtain a triumphant peace. Ut lapsu graviore ruant. He had especially a confidence in his own command Claudian. in Rifuntcm, Lib. I v. p1. over the minds of such as he had been personally intimate with. Alexander's disposition, he believed, CHAPTER LXXXII. was perfectly known to him; and he entertained no doubt, that by beating his army, and taking his Effects of Napoleon's return itpon the Parisians. —Concapital, he should resume the influence which he gratulations and addresses by all the poblic functionhad once held over the Russian Emperor, by grant- aries.-Coznspiracy of 3Aalet-very nearly sutccessftl.ing him a peace upon moderate terms, and in which Hom at last defeated.-The impressioni niade by this the acknowledgment of the victor's superiority would event uponl Bonaparfe, bofti ithile ii Russia, and onm his have been the chief advantage stipulated. For this return.-Discmissioiis ivith the pope, v/tuo is brought to lie hurried on by forced marches, losing so many France, hiot remains iiJexiltle-State of exrirs in th-ousands of men aid horses in ithuania, which an Spain. —Napoleoi's great anld sutccessJful exertions to thous ands of men and horses in Lithuania, which an recruit his army. —Guards oJ'Honour. —aI the oianth of attention to ordinary rules would have saved fi'om April, the army is raised to 350,000 men, intlepeudenayq destruction. For this, when his own prudence, and of the troops left in garrison iin Germany, and itn Spiazn that of his council, joined in recommending a halt and Italy. at Vitepsk or at Smlolensk, lie hurried forward to the fight, and to the capture of the nietropolis, which UPON the morning succeeding his return, which lihe had flattered himself was to be the signal of peace. was like the sudden appearance of one diopped His wishes were apparently granted. Borodino, from the heavens, Paris resoundedP with the news; the bloodiest battle of our battling age, was gained which had, such was the force of Napoleon's cha-Moscow was taken —but he had totally failed to racter, and the habits of subjection to which the calculate the effect of these events upon the Rus- Parisians were inured, the effect of giving a new sialns and their emperor. When he expected their imlpulse to tile whole capital. If thle impressions submission, and a ransom for their capital, the city made by the'29th bulletin could not be effaced, they was consurned in his presence; yet even the deser- were carefully concealed. The grumblers suppresstion and destruction of Moscow could not tear the ed their murmurs, which had begun to be alarming. veil fromn his eyes, or persuade him that the people The mourners dried their tears, or shed theml in and their prince would prefer death to disgrace. solitude. Tile safe return of Napoleon was a sunfiIt was his reluctance to relinquish the visionary cient cure for the loss of five hundred thousand hopes which egotism still induced him to nourish, men, and served to assuage the sorrows of as many that prevented his quitting Moscow a month earlier widows and orphans. The emperor convoked the than he did. He had no expectation that the mild Council of State. He spoke with apparent frank. climate of Fontainebleau would continue to gild ness of the misfortunes which had befallen his army, the ruins of Moscow till tlie arrival of December; and imputed them all to the snow. "All had gone b t he could not forego the flattering belief, that a well," he said, "Moscow was in our power-every letter and proposal of pacification must at last fulfil obstacle was overcome-the conflagration of the the anticipations which he so ardently entertained. eity had produced no change on the flourishing j574 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.,condition of the French army; but winter has been administratiou was accurate, that of superintendence productive of a general calamity, ill consequence of not less so. The obligations of the public filnctionwhich the army had sustained very great losses." aries were held as strict as those of military men. One would have thought, from his mode of stating But during the length of Napoleon's absence on the the matter, that the snow had surprised him in the Russian expedition, a plot was formed, which served imidst of victory, and not in the course of a disastrous to show how little firm was the hold which the and inevitable retreat. system of the Imperial government had on the feelThe Moniteur was at first silenton the news from ings of the nation, by what slight means its fhll } Russia, and announced the advent of the emperor as might be effected, and how small an interest a news if he had returned firom Fontainebleau; but after an revolution would have excited. It seemed that tle em- interval of this apparent coldness, like the waters peror's power showed stately and stable to the eye, of a rivelr in the thaw, accumulating behind, and at like a tall pine-tree, which, while it spreads its shade length precipitating themselves over, a barrier of broad around., and raises its head to heaven, cannot ace, arose the general gratulation of the public func- send its roots, like those of the oak, deep into the tionaries, whose power and profit must stand or fall bowels of the earth, but, spreading them along the wvith the dominion of the emperor, and whose voices shallow surface, is liable to be overthrown by the alone were admitted to represent those of the peo- first assault of the whirlwind. pie. The cities of Rome, Florence, Milan, Turin, The final purpose of Malet is not known. He was Hamburg, Amsterdam, Mentz, and whatever others of noble birth, and served in the mousquetaires of there;were of consequence in the empire, joined in the royal houselihll before the Revolution, which the general asseveration, that the presence of the inclined many to think that he had the interest of emperor alone was all that was necessary to con- the Bourbons in view. As, however, he had risen to vert disquietude into happiness and tranquillity. the rank of g6n6ral de brigade in the republican The most exaggerated praise of Napoleon's great army, it is more probable that he belonged to the qualities, the most unlimited devotion to his service, sect of Philadelphes.* In 1808, General AMalet was the most implicit confidence in his wisdom, were committed to prison, as concerned in an intrigue the theme of these addresses. Their flattery was against the emperor; and he was still under the renot only ill-timed, considering the great loss which straint of the police, when lie formed the audacious the country had sustained; but it -was so grossly scheme which had so- early succeeded. While anexaggerated in some instances, as to throw ridicule der a confinement now lenient, in a Maison de Sant6, even upon tile high talents of the party to whom it lie was able to execute, or procure to be executed, was addressed, as daubers are often seen to make a forged paper, purporting to be a decree of the -a ridiculous caricature of the finest original. In the Senate, announcing officially the death of the empefew circles where criticism on these effusions of ror, the abolition of the imperial government, and loyalty might be whispered, the authors of the ad- the establishment of a provisional committee of addresses were compared to the duped devotee in nministration. This document was to appearance Moliere's comedy, who, instead of sympathizing in attested by the official seal and signatures. his wife's illness, and the general indisposition of his On the 23d of October, at midnight, he escaped family, only rejoices to hear that Tartuffe is in ad- from his place of confinement, dressed himself in mirable good health. Yet there were few even his full uniform, and accompanied by a corporal in among these scoffers who would have dared to stay the dress ot'an aide-de-camp, repaired to tile prison behind, had they been commanded to attend the of La Force, where he demanded and obtained the emperor to Notre Dame, that Te Demln might be liberation of two generals, Lahorie, and Guidal, who celebrated for the safe return of Napoleon, though were confined under circumstances not dissimilar to purchased by the total destruction of his great his own. They went together to the barracks at tle army. Minims, not then inhabited by any part of the truest But it was amongst the public offices that the re- and lmost attached followers of Napoleon, who, turn of the emperor, so unexpectedly, produced the while his power was tottering at homne, were strevwdeepest sensation. They were accustomed to go on ing withl their bones the snows of Russia and the at a moderate rate Avith the ordinary rotutine of duty, deserts of Spain, but by battalions of raw conscripts while the emperor was on any expedition; but his return had tile sudden effect of the appearance of A secret society in the army, whose immediate object the master in the school, from which he had been a it has to overthrow the InLperial power, and whose Wltishort time absent. All was hbustle, alertness, exer- inate purposes a-ere not perhaps known to themselves. tion, and anticipation. On the present occasion, Their found, r was Colonel Jacques Joseph Oudet, a Swiss,t doable diligence, or the show of it, was exerted; for at once a debauchee and an enthusiast, on the p'al pf his all feared, and some with reason, that their conduct colntryman-Rousseau. He was shot the night befole the on a late event might have incurred the severe cen- battle of Wagram, not, as hi3 followers alleged, by a party sure of the emperor. We allude to the conspiracy of of Austrians, but by gendarmes, commissioned for that -J alet, a singular incident, the details of which we purpose. His sect comntilued to subsist, and Mass6na didl not escape suspicions of being implicated in its intrigues. hlave omitted till now. There was a communication in their name to Lord WelDuring Bonaparte's former periods of absence, the lington, in May, 1800; but the negotiation was not of a government of the interior of France, under the ma- character which the British general chose to encourage. nagement of Cambac6res, went on in the ordinary - Southey's History of the Peninsular War, Vol 1I, course, as methodically, though not so actively, as p. 303. when lNapoleon was at the Tuileries; the system of t Col. Oudet was a native of Franche-Comwtd. Ed. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE., 575 and recruits. H[ere Malet assumed an air of abso- publican hands.* The truth, though it must be late authority, commanded the drums to beat, or- known to some now alive, has never been made dered the troops on parade, and dispatched parties public. upon different services. This was the news which reached Bonaparte on No one disputed his right to be obeyed, and Sou- the fatal 6th of November, betwixt WViazma and tier, comlmandant of the troops, placed them at his Smnolensk, and which determined his retreat from the absolute disposal, being partly, as he himself alleged, army at Smorgoni, and his rapid journey to Paris. confused in mind by a fever which afflicted him at It was not so much the conspiracy which alarmed the time, partly, perhaps, influenced by a check for him, as the supineness or levity with which the na100,000 firancs, which was laid down upon his bed, tion, at least, Paris, its capital, seemed ready to to cover, it was said, a gratuity to the soldiers, and abandon the dynasty which he had hoped to render an issue of' double pay to the officers. One division perpetual. He was even startled by the number of seized Savary, the ministerof police, and conducted executions, and exclaimed against the indiscriminate him to' prison. Another party found it as easy to severity with which so many officers had been led to arrest the person of the prefect of police. A battalion death, although rather dupes than accomplices of of soldiers, under the same authority, occupied the the principal conspirator. " It is a massacre," he Place de Gr-ve, and took possession of the Hdtel said; "' a fusillade! WVhat impression will it make de Ville; while Count Frochot, who had been for on Paris?" thirteen years the Prefect of the Seine, stupified by When Napoleon reached the metropolis, he found the suddenness of the intelligence, and flattered per- the Parisians as little interested inl the execution of haps, by finding his own name in the list of the pro- the criminals, as they had been in their ephemeral visional committee of government, had the comrn- success. But the sting remained in his own mind, plaisance to put the conspirators in possession of the and on the first audience of his ministers, he extower of St.Jacques, from which the tocsin was claimed against ideology, or, in otler words, against usually sounded, and get an apartment in the H6tel any doctrine which, appealing to the general feelings de Ville arranged for the reception of. the new ad- of patriotism or of liberty, should resist the inde. ministration. But the principal conspirator, like feasible and divine right of the sovereign. He Fiesco, at Genoa, perished at the moment when his sounded the praises of Harlay and Mo16, nlinisters audacious enterprise seemed about to be crowned of justice, who had died in protecting the rights of writh success. Hitherto, none had thought of disobey- the crown; and exclaimed, that the best death would ing the pretended decree of the Senate. Rumour be that of a soldier who falls on the field of battle, if had prepared( all men for the death of the emperor, the end of the magistrate, who dies in defence of and the subsequent revolution seemed a consequence the throne and laws, was not still more glorious. so natural, that it was readily acquiesced in, and This key-note formed an admirable theme for the little interest shown on the subject. flourishes of the various counsellors of the sections, But Malet, who had himself gone to obtain pos- to whom the fate of Frochot, the peccant prefect, session of the head quarters in the Place Vendomae, had been submitted with reference to the extent of was unexpectedly resisted by General Hulin. Pre- his crime and his punishment. Not even the adpared for every circumistance, the desperado fired a dresses to James 11. of Britain (who had at least a pistol at the heard of the general, and wounded him hereditary right to the throne lie occupied) poul-ed grievously; but, in the meanwhile, he was himself forth such a torrent of professions, or were more inrecognized by Laborde, chief of the military police, differently backed with deeds, when the observant who, incredulous that his late captive would have courtiers were brought to the proof, than did those been selected by the Senate for the important duty of the French functionaries at this period. which he was assuming, threw himself on Malet, "What is life," said the Count de Chllabrol, who and made him prisoner. Thus ended the conspiracy. had been created Prefect of Parlis in room of the Tile soldiers, who had been its blind instruments, timorous Frochot-" What is life, in comparison to were marched back to the barracks. Malet, withl the irnmense interests which rest on the sacred head twenty-four of his associates, muost of them military of the heir of the empire? For me, whom an nlnexmen, were tried by a military tribunal, and twelve of pected glance of your imperial eye has called from a them were shot in the plain of Grenelle, 29th of distance to a post so eminent, what I most value in October. He met his death with the utmost firm- the distinction is the honour and right of setting the ness. The sun was rising onu the H6tel des Inva- foremost example of loyal devotion." lides, and the workmen were employed in gilding It was the opinion of MI. de Fontanes, senathat splendid dome, for which Bonaparte had given tor, peer of France, and grand-master of the express orders, in imitation, it was said, of those Imperial University, that " Reason pauses with which he had seen in Moscow. The prisoner mnade respect before the mystery of power and obesome remarks upon the improvement which this dience, and abandons all inquiry into its nature would be to the capital. As he stepped towards to that religion which made the persons of kings the fatal ground, he said, mysteriously, but sternly, sacred, after the image of Grod himself. It is " You have got the tail, but you will not get the His voice which humbles anarchy and factions, in head." From this expression it has been gathered, proclaiming tile divine right of sovereigns; it is the that, as the conspiracy of the infernal machine, Deity himself who has made it an unalterable maxim formed originally among the jacobins, was executed by the royalists, so this plot was the device of the + The Memoirs of Fouchd contain a specific avernent royalists, though committed to the execution of re- to this effect. See Mimoires de Fouchd, vol. 1, pp. 219-m2. 1? 576 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. of France, an unchangeable article of the law of our more dangerous that they bled inwardly, without fithers; it is Nature who appoints kings to succeed any external effulsion, to indicate their existence. each other, while reason declares that the royalty The chief of these dissensions was the dispute itself is immutable. Permit, sire (he continued), with the pope, which had occasioned, and conlithat the University of Paris tarn their eyes for a rno- ned to foster so much scandal in the Gallican ment fiom tlhe throne which you fill with so much Church. We have mentioned already, that the pope, gl) ry, to the auglllust cradle of the heir of your gran- refiusing to consent to any alienation of his secular dodeur. We unite him with your majesty in the love minions, had been forcibly carried off firom Rome, and respect we owe to both; and swear to hinm removed to Grenoble, then brought back over the beforehand the same boundless devotion which we Alps to Savona, in Italy. Napoleon, who denied owe to your mnijesty." that he had authorized this usage towards the father In better taste, because with less affectation of of the chu'ch, yet continued to detain him at Sieloquence, Monsieur S6guier, the President of the vona. He was confined there until June, 1812. In Court of' Paris, contented himself with declaring, the meantime, a deputation of the French bishops that the magistrates of Paris were the surest sup- were sent with a decree by Napoleon, determiingie, ports of the imperial authority-that their pre- that if his holiness should continue to refuse cadecessors had encountered perils in defence of nonical institution to the French clergy, as he had monarchy, and they in their turn were ready to sa- done ever since the seizure of' the city of Rome, crifice everything for the sacred person of the em- and the patrimony of St Peter's, a council of preperor, and for perpetuating his dynasty. lates should be held for the purpose of pronouncii,g Under cover of these violent protestations, the his deposition. unfortunate Frochot escaped, as a disabled vessel On 4th September, 1811, tile holy father admitdrops out of the line of battle under fire of her con- ted the deputation, listened to their argumnents w ith sorts. He was divested of his offices, but permitted patience, then knelt down before them, and repeated [ to retire, either to prosecute his studies in ideology, the psalm, Jzudica me, Domine. When the preor to indoctrinate himself into more deep acquaint- lates attempted to vindicate themselves, Pins VII., ance in the mysteries of hereditary right than he had in an animated tone, threatened to fulminate an exhitherto shown himself possessed of.' communication against any one who should attempt We have selected the above examples, not with tojustify his conduct. Then instantly recovering li.s the purpose of inquiring whether the orators (whom natural benignity of disposition, he ofi'ered his hallnd we believe, in their individual capacity, to have been to the offending bishops, who kissed it with revermen of honour and talents) did or did not redeem, ence. The French prelates took leave sorlowflily, by their after exertions, the pledges of which they and in tears. Several of them showed tllemselves were so profuse; but to mark with deep reprobation afterwards opposed to the views of Napoleon. anr. the universal system of assentation and simulation, sustained imprisonment in consequence of' their adto which even such men did not disdain to lend coun- hesion to what appeared to them their duty. tenance and exalmple. By such overstrained flat- The chemists of our time have discoverel, thiat teries and protestations, counsellors are degraded some substances can only be decomposed in partiand princes are misled-truth and sincere advice cular varietiesof gas; and apparently it was, in like become nauseous to the ear of the sovereign, false- manner, found that the air of Italy only confirmed hood grows familiar to the tongue of tile subject, and the inflexibility of the pope. public danger is not discovered until escape or rescue His holiness was hastily transported to Fontainehas becon-e impossible. bleau, where he arrived 19th June, 1812, Tt'e French Yet it cannot be denied, that the universal-tenor historians boast, that the old man was not tlhroin of these vows and protestations, supported by Bona- into a dungeon, but, on the contrary, was wc ll-loldgparte's sudden arrival and firm attitude, had the ed in the palace, and was permitted to attend mass, effect of smuppressiug for a time discontents, which -a wonderfll condescension towards the head of were silently maling wav;y amongst the French the catholic religion. But still he was a captive. He people. Tile more unthinking were influenced by abode at Fontainebleau till Napoleon's retuni friom the tenor of septi nents which seemed to be universal Russia; and it was on the 19th January, 1813, that throungh the empire; and, upon the whole, this mni- the emperor, having left St-Cloud under pretext of' versal tide of assentation operated upon the internal a hunting-party, suddenly presented himself before doubts, sorrows, discontents, and approaching disaf- his venerable prisoner. IHe exerted all tile powers fection of the enpir e, like an efflsion of oil on the sur- of influence which he possessed, and they were face of a torrenit, whose Itmurrmurs it may check, and I very great, to induce the pontiff to close with his whose bubbling ripples it may smooth to the eye, propositions; and we readily believe thiat the acbut the deep and cdark energy of whose course the counts, which charge him with having maltreated unction cannot in reality check or subdue. his person, are not only unauthenticated, but posiTo return to the current of our history. Bosa- tively false. He rendered the submission which he parte having tried the temper of his Senate, and i required more easy to the conscience of Pius VII., not finding reason to apprehend any opposition by not demanding from him any express cession of among his subjects, proceeded, while straining every his temporal rights, and by granting a delay of effort, as we shall presently see, for supporting six months on the subject of canonical instalment. foreign war, to take such means as were in his Eleven articles were agreed on, and subscribed, by power for closing domestic wounds, which were the. the emperor and the pope. l* ie obtained a pension oil teb restoration of Louis XVII. But hardly was this done ere the feud broke out LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 5i77 afresh, It was of importance to Napoleon to have was expended; every artisan, whose skill could be the schism soldered up as soon as possible, since the made use of, was set to work; horses were purchaspope refused to acknowledge the validity of his se- ed or procured in every direction; and such was the cond marriage, and, of course, to ratify the legiti- active spirit of Napoleon, and the extent of his macy of his son. He, therefore, published the arti- resources, that he was able to promise to the legiscles of treaty in the Moniteur, as containing a new lative sepresentatives, that he would, without atgConcordat. rThe pope complained of this, stating, menting the national burdens, provide the sumn of that the articles published were not a Concordat in three hundred millions of francs, which were wanted themiselves, but only the preliminaries, on which, to repair the losses of the Russian campaign. after due consideration, such a treaty might have We must not forget, that one of the ways and been formed. He was indignant at what he con- means of recruiting the. cavalry, was a species of' sidered as circumvention on the part of the Emperor conscription of a new invention, and which was ot' France, and refilsed to abide by the alleged Con- calculated to sweep into the ranks of the arimy the cordat. Thus failed Napoleon's attempt to close the youth of the higher ranks, whom the former draughts schismn of the church, and the ecclesiastical feuds had spared, or who had redeemed themselves from recorinmenced with more aclimony than ever. the service by finding a substitute. Out of this Looking, towards Spain, Napoleon saw his affairs class, hitherto exenmpted from the conscription, there in a better posture than he could have expect- Napoleon proposed to levy ten thousand youths ed, after the battle of Salamanca, and the capture of of the higher ranks, to be formed into four regiments Madrid. Lord Wellington, indifferently supported of Guards of Honour, who were to be regarded by the Spanish army, among whom quarrels and much as the troops of the royal household tinder the jealousies soon rose high, had been unable, fiom old system. This idea was encouraged a1mong the want of a sufficient battering-train, to take the for- courtiers and assentators, who represented the wvelltress of Burgos; and was placed in some danger of born and well-educated youths, as eager to exchange being irtercepted by Soullt's army, Nwho had raised their fowling-pieces for muskets, their shooting. the siege of Cadiz, while engaged with that under dresses for uniforms, and their rustic life for the d'Erlon, with whom was the intrusive king. The toils of war. Politicians saw in it something of a English general, therefore, with his usual prudence, deeper design than the mere adding ten thousand to retreated into the territories of Portugal, and Napo- the mass of recruits, and conceived that this corps leon, seeing that his army in Spain amounted to of proprietors was proposed with the view of bring270,000 men, thought them more than sufficient to op- ing into the emperor's power a body of hostages, who pose what forces Spain could present, with the re- should guarantee the fidelity of their fathers. The gular allied army of perhaps 70,000 at most, under scheme, however, was interrupted, and for a time Lord Wellington's command. He withdrew, ac- laid aside, owing to the jealousy of the Imperial cordingly, one hundred and fifty skeletons of batta- Guard. These PrTetorian Bands did not relish the lions, whichl he meant to make the means of disci- introduction of such patrician corps as those proplining his young-conscripts. posed, whose privileges they conceived might inIt'was now that the hundred cohorts, or one hun- terfere with their own; and accordingly the in. dred thousand youths of the First Ban of National stitution of the Guard of Holnour was for sonme time Guards, who had been placed in frontier garrisons, suspended. under the declaration that they were not, under any The wonderful energies of Napoleon's minid, and pretence, to. go beyond the limits of France, were the influence which he could exert over the minds converted into ordinary soldiers of the line, and des- of others, were never so striking as at this period of tined to fill up tile skeleton corps which were brought hbi reign. He had returned to his seat of empire at from Spain. Four regiments of guards, one of Polish a dreadful crisis, and in a niost calamitous condition. cavalry, and one of gendarmes, were at the same His subjects had been ignorant, for six sweeks, time withdrawn from the Peninsula. The sailors whether lie was dead or alive, and a formidable of the French fleet, whose services were now indeed conspiracy, which was all but successful, had at perfectly nominal, were landed, or brought rather once shown that there was an awakeiing activity fiotn the halrbours and maritime towns in which they amongst his secret enemies, and an apathy and indifloitered away their time, and formed into corps of ference amongst his apparent fi'iends. \kWhen he artillery. This reinforcement might comprehend arrived, it was to declare a dreadful catastrophe, of 40,000 men. But while his credit continued with which his ambition had been the cause; the loss of the nation, the conscription was Napoleon's best and five hundred thlousand men, with all their arms, never-failing resource, and with the assistance of ammunition, and artillery; the death of so many a decree of the Senate, it once more placed in his children of France as threw the whole country into hands the anticipation of the year 1814. This decree mournig. He had left behind him cold and invo-carried his levies of every kind to 350,000 men. luntary allies, changing fast into foes, and foes, enThe remounting and recruiting of the cavalry was couraged by his losses and his flight, threatening to a matter of greater difficulty, and to that task was to combine Europe in one great crusade, having for its bejoined the restoration of the artillery and materiel object the demolition of his power. No sovereign of the army, all of which had been utterly destroyed ever presented himself before his people in a situain the late fatal retreat. But the vaults under the tion more precarious, or overclonded by such, calaTuileries were not yet exhausted, although they had mities, arrived or in prospect. contributed largely to the preparations for the cam- Yet Napoleon came, and seemed: but to stamp on raign of the preceding year. A profusion of treasure the earth, and armed legions arose at his call; the vo,. Vw. 7 578 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. doubts and discontents of the public disappeared as fidence of the emperor." This oblique sarcasnl mist at sun-rising, and the same confidence which greatly increased the coldness betwixt the two brohad attended his prosperous fortunes revived in its thers-in-law. full extent, despite of his late reverses. In the Meantime, the Russians continued to advance monlth of April, his army was increased, as we have without opposition into Prussia, being desirous, by seen, by three hundred and fifty thousand men, in their presence, to bring that country to the decision addition to the great garrisons maintained in Dantzic, which they had long expected. The manner in Thorn, Modlin, Zamosk, Czenstochau, Custrin, etc., which Prussia had been treated by France; the augmented as they now were by the remains of the extreme contributions which had been levied from grand army, which had found refuge in these places her; the threats which had been held out of altoof strength. He had, besides, an active levy of forces gether annihilating her as a state; the occupation in Italy, and a very large army in Spain, notwith- of her fortresses, and the depriving her of all the standing all the draughts which his present necessity rights of independence, constituted an abuse of the had made him bring out of that slaughter-house. rights of conquest, exercised in consequence of suWhether, therefore, it was Napoleon's purpose to perior force, which was sure to be ended so soon as propose peace or carry on war, he was at the head that force ceased to be predominant. Napoleon, it of a force little inferior to that which he had here- is true, had the affectation to express confidence in tofore commanded. the friendship of Prussia in his adversity, which he Having thus given some account of the internal had never cultivated in prosperity. It would have state of France, it is now necessary to look abroad, been as reasonable in the patron of a Turkish cruizer, and examine the consequences of the Russian cam- to expecthis galley-slaves to continue, out of a point paign upon Europe in general. of honour, to pull the oars, after the chain was broken which fettered them to their benches. Accordingly, King Frederick took his measures CHAPTER LXXXIII. to shake himself free of the French yoke; but he did so with wisdom and moderation. Whatever Mirat leaves the grand army abruptly-Eutgene appointed wrongs the Prussians had sustained from the French, in his place.-Measures taken by the King of Prussia the King of Prussia had sought no means of avengfor his disenthraldom-Argumnents in his favour, op- ing them, even when routed armnies, falling back on posed to those of the French historians-He leaves his dominions in a defenceless condition, might have Berlin for Breslau.-Treaty signed between Rulssia and been destroyed in their desolate state by his peaPrutssia earlat Bresl santry alone. Popular violence, arising from the on 15th; en the 16th Prussia declares war against Froance.-Warlike preparations of Prussia-Uniersal resentment of long-suffered injuries, did indeed entlhusiason thro~ughout all lthe land-Blcher appointed ractise cruelties on the French at Konigsberg and generalissimo. —Vindication of the Crown Prince of elsewhere; but it was against the will of the governSweden for joining the confederacy against France.- ment, which suppressed them as much as possible. Proceedings of Austria.-Unabated spirit and preten- The king did not take any measures to intercept sions of Napoleon.-A regeotcy is appointed in France the retreat even of Napoleon himself, although there during his absence, and Maria Louisa appointed regent, was ground to expect he might have come to that with nominal powers, resolution. He renewed the armistice concluded by d'Yorck; he soffered the distressed and firozen THE command of the relics of the grand army remains of the grand army to augment the hostile had been conferred upon Murat, when Napoleon garrisons which had occupied his own strongest forleft them at Smorgoni. It was of too painful and tresses. He observed, in short, all the duties of an disagreeable a nature to afford any food to the am- ally, though an unwilling one, until the war, in which bition of the King of Naples; nor did he accept it he was engaged as an auxiliary, was totally ended, as an adequate compensation for various mortifica- by the defeat and dispersion of the army of his printions which he had sustained during the campaign, cipal. It is the more proper to enter at large into and for which, as has already been noticed, he this topic, because the French historians usually nourished considerable resentment against his bro- mention the conduct of the King of Prussia on this ther-in-law. Having, besides, more of the soldier occasion as defection, desertion, or some such word, than of the general, war lost its charms for him when indicating a breach of faith. Nothing can be more he was not displaying his bravery at the head of unjust. his cavalry; and, to augment his impatience, he be- It was not, surely, to be expected, that Frederick came jealous of the authority which his wife was was to submit his own dominions to the devastation exercising at Naples duaring his absence, and longed of the Russians, by continuing a war in which his to return thither. He, therefore, hastily disposed of share was only secondary; nor was it rational to bethe troops in the various Prussian fortresses recently lieve, that a country so much oppressed would negenumerated, where the French maintained garrisons, lect the means of emancipation which now presented and suddenly left the army upon the 16th January. themselves. It is, therefore, no marvel that PrusNapoleon, incensed at his conduct, announced his sia should have taken this favourable opportunity for departure, and the substitution of Eugene, the Vice- throwing off a yoke which she had found so oppresroy of Italy, in the general command of the army, sive. Nay, it is believed, on good grounds, that with this note of censure:-" The viceroy is more the course adopted by the King of Prussia was not accustomed to the management of military affairs only that of wisdom and patriotism, but even of neon a large scale, and, besides, enjoys the full con- cessity; for it is very probable, that, if he had re LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 579 fused to lead his subjects against the French, they been summed up in the declaration, that "France might, in that moment of excitation, have found had made Prussia her subject and her slave, but some one else to have placed at the head of the go- that now Prussia was enabled to act for herself', and vernment. He had, as we have already said, shake off the fetters which violence had imposed on denounced the convention entered into by d'Yorck her." This real note was touched, where the maniand Massenbach, and ordered them both to Berlin festo declares, that, "Abandoned to herself, and for the purpose of undergoing trial. But the gene- hopeless of receiving any effectual succour firom an rals had remained quietly in command of their troops, ally who had declined to render her even the deaffording a strong example, that, had Frederick la- mands of justice, Prussia must take counsel of herboured ever so much for that purpose, it would have self, in order to raise anew and support her existence been vain, if not hazardous, to have opposed his royal as a nation. It was in the love and courage of his authority to the impulse of the national spirit. people that the king sought means to extricate himBefore the king took his final resolution, be re- self, and to restore to his monarchy the indesolved, as a measure of prudence, to secure his own perdence which is necessary to insure the future person, lest, like Ferdinand and the Spanish Bour- prosperity of the kingdom." boIns, he should be seized upon as a hostage. He The Emperor Napoleon received that declaration thlerefore suddenly left Berlin on 2'2d January, 1813, of war, with the calmness of one by whom it had and betook himself to Breslau, where there were no been for some time expected. "' It was better," he French soldiery. Immediately afterwards he pub- said, "to have a declared enemy than a doubtfill lished an address to his people, calling his armies ally." By the Prussians at large it was heard with together, and giving the signal to the patriotism of all the rapture of gratified hope, and the sacrifices thousands who longed to arise in arms. The French which they made, not willingly only, but eagerly, ambassador was, nevertheless, invited to follow the show more completely than anything else can, the, Killg to Breslau, where a variety of discussions general hatred against France, and the feelings immediately took place betwixt him and the Prus- which that nation had excited during her career of sian cabinet. success. To the complaints of exactions and oppressions of From a country so trampled down and exhausted every kind, the French negotiators could only reply as Prussia, it might have been thought slender by reminding the Prussians, that Napoleon had, means of warfare could be provided. But vengeance after decisive victory, suffered the nation to retain is like the teeth of the dragon, a seed which, wheretle name of independence, and the king to wear a soever sown, produces a crop of warriors. Freedom, precarious crown. A robber would have the same too, was at stake; and when a nation is warring for defence against restoring the booty he had acquired its own rights, who shall place a limit to its exerfirom a traveler, if he stated, that though he had tions? Some preparation had been made by the despoiled, he had not murdered him. It was by the monarch. Thie jealousy of France had limited the right of the strongest that France had acquired that exercise of the Prussian militia to twenty-five thouinfluence over Prussia which she exercised so severe- sand men yearly. But the government had conly; and, according to the dictates of common sense trived to double this amount, by calling out the and human nature, when the advantage was on militia twice in the year, and training on the second Pruissia's side she had a right to regain by strength occasion the same number, but different individual., what she had lost by weakness. Every obligation, ac- firom those who had been first summoned. Thus, a cording to the maximn of the civil law, is made void certain portion of discipline had become general in the same manner in which it is rendered binding; among the Prussian youth, and, incited by the desire as Arthegal, the emblematic champion of Justice, of their country's freedom, they rushed to battle in Spenser's allegory, decrees as law, that what against France as to a holy warfare. The means of the sea has brought the sea may resume. providing artillery had also been sedulously augOn the Ist of March, or about that period, Prus- mented. This was not to be a war of posts or forsia, retrlning to a system which nothing but the ex- tresses, but of fields of battle and of bayonets. trenrity of her circumstances had ever interrupted, Many, therefore, of the brass pieces of ordnance, signed a treaty of alliance, offensive and defensive, which garnished the walls of such towns and forwith Russia. On the 15th March, the Emperor tresses as were yet unoccupied by the French, had Alexander arrived at Breslaum. The meeting was been recast, and converted into field-pieces. Money affecting betwixt the two sovereigns, who had been was scarce, but England was liberal; and besides, such intimate friends, and had always retained the the Prussian nobles and burgesses taxed themselves same personal attachment for each other, although to the uttermost. Even the ladies gave up their the circumstances of controling necessity had made diamonds and gold ornaments, for chains and bracethemr enemies, at a period when it was of import- lets beautifully wrought out of iron, the state enjoyarnce to Russia to have as few foes as possible, ing the advantage of the exchange. In a future age, thrown into the scale against her. The King of these relics, when found in the female casket, will Prussia wept. "Courage, my brother," said Alexan- be more valuable than the richest Indian jewels. dser; " these are the last tears which Napoleon shall Meanwhile the resentment and desire of revenge, cause you to shled." which had so long smouldered in the bosoms of the ()n the 16th March, Prussia declared war against Prussians, broke forth with the force of a volcano. France. There is, in the paper containing this de- The youth of every description rushed to fill the nunciation, much reasoning respecting the extent of ranks, the distinctions of birth were forgotten, nay, citiibaitions dlue and received, which might have in a great measure abolished; no question was asked 580 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. at the Prussian, but whether he was able and will- obscure retreat, as in the ancient Roman shows a ing to assist in the liberation of his country. The lion might have leaped from his dark den into the students, the cultivation of whose minds generally arena of the crowded amphitheatre, on which he adds to their feeling for national freedom and na- was soon to act his terrible part. Blucher was, tional honour, arrayed themselves into battalions indeed, by character and disposition, the very man and squadrons. Some formed the Black Bands, whom the exigence and the Prussian nation required who at this time distinguished themselves; others to support a national war. He was not possessed assumed the arms and dress of the Cossacks, whose of war as a science, nor skilled in planning out the name had become so terrible to the French. IIn objects of a campaign. Scharnhorst, and after hinm general, these volunteers were formed into mointed Gneisnau, were intrusted with that part-of the geneand dismounted squadrons of chasseurs, whose ap- ral's duty, as being completely acquainted with st-rapearance differed from that of the line only in their tegie; but, in the field of battle, no man possessed uniform being dark green, instead of blue. Their the confidence of his soldiers so completely as Genediscipline, formed on a system devised by Scharn- ral Blucher. The first to advance, the last to retreat, horst, was admirably calculated to give fresh levies he was seldom too much elated by victory, and the degree of training and discipline necessary to never depressed by bad success. Defeated to-day, render them serviceable, without pretending to give he was as ready to renew the battle to-morrow. In them the accuracy in details which experience alone his army was no'instance of whole divisions throwing can teach. down their arms, because they conceived their line In a few weeks numerous armies were on foot, broken or their flank turned. It was his system, and Prussia, like a strong man rousing himself from that the greater part of fighting consists in taking slumber, stepped forward to assume her rank among and giving hard blows, and on all occasions he preindependent nations. There could not be a greater sented himself with a good grace to the bloody exercontrast than between the same nation in her hour cise. He was vigilant, too, as taught by the exercise of presumption, her period of depression, and her of his youth in the light cavalry; and so enterprising present form of regeneration. To the battle of Jena and active, that Napoleon was heard to complain the Prussians had marched as to an assured con- with his accustomed sneer, that S"he had more quest, with a splendid army, well disposed, and ad- trouble from that old dissipated hussar, than from mirably appointed, but conducted with that negli- all the generals of the allies beside. " Deeply regence which is inspired by a presumptuous degree senting the injuries of his country, and his own exile, of confidence, and that pride which goes before Blucher's whole soul was in the war against France destruction. In the campaign of 1812, the Black and her ruler; and, utterly devoid of the milder Eagles stooping their dishonoured crests beneath feelings of modern military leaders, he entered into those of FPrance, they went, a discouraged and hostilities with the embittered and personal anrimoreluctant band of auxiliaries, to assist in the de- sity which Hannibal entertained of old against the struction of that power, whose subjugation they Roman name and nation. * Such were the characwere well aware must lead totheir own irretrievable ter and energies of the veteran to whom Prussia bondage. And now, such was the change of a few now confided the defence of her dearest rights, the weeks, nay, not many days, that Prussia again en- leading of her youth, and the care of her freedom. tered the list with an army, still deficient in its ma- Sweden, or, we ought rather to say, the Crown terial provisions, but composed of soldiers whose Prince, had joined the confederacy, as already hearts were in the trim, whom misfortunes had mentioned, and the spleen of Bonaparte, personal as taught caution, and oppression had roused to resist- well as public, had been directed even imore against ance; who knew by melancholy experience the him than against the iing of Prussia. The latter strength of their powerful adversary, but were not was represented as a rebellious and ungrateful vasthe less disposed to trust in their own good swords sal, the first as a refugee Frenchman who had reand good cause. nounced his country. A leader was selected, admirably formed by The last accusation, so grossly urged, was, if posnature to command a national army at such a crisis. sible, more unreasonably unjust than the first. The This was the celebrated Blucher, one of the few ties of our native country, strict and intimate as they Prussian generals, who, even after the battle of are, may be dissolved in more ways than one. Its Jena, continued to maintain the fame of the Great lawful government may be overthrown, and the Frederick, under whom he had been trained, and to faithful subjects of that government, exiled to fofight until every ray of hope had been entirely de- reign countries for their adherence to it, may lawstroyed. This high-spirited and patriotic officer had fully bear arms, which, in that case, are not directed remained in obscurity during the long period of the against the home of their fathers, but against the French domination. He was one of those ardent band of thieves and robbers by which it is ternporaand inflexible characters that were dreaded by Na- rily occupied. If this is not the case, what are we poleon, whose generosity, however it might display to think of the revolution of 1688, and the invasion itself otherwise, was seldom observed to' forgive of King William? In like manner, it is possible for those who had shown a steady and conscientious opposition to his power. Such men he held his Sworn from his cradle Rome's relentless foe, enemies in every sense, personal as well as political; Such generous hate the Punic champion bore; and, watched closely by the police, their safety Thy lake, O Thrasymene, beheld it glow, could only be insured by living strictly retired. And Cannue's walls and Trebia's crimson'd shore. But now the old warrior sprang eagerly fiom his SHENSTONIL ________________________________.____________________________________________ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 581 a native of France or Britain so to link himself with and doubtful eye. Her regard for a sovereign allied another country, as to transfer to it the devotion to her royal family by so close a tie as Napoleon, which, in the general case, is only due to the land of had not prevented her cabinet from feeling alarm his birth. In becoming the heir of tile crown of at the overgrown power of France, and th.e ambition Sweden, Bernadotte had become in fact a Swede; of her ruler. She had reluctantly contributed an for no one, circumstanced as he was, is entitled, in auxiliary force to the assistance of France in the interweaving his personal fortunes Nvith the fate of last campaign, and had taken the posture of a neutile nation which adopts him, to make a reserve of tral so soon as circumstances permitted. The reany case in which he can be called to desert their storation of independence to the world must restore interest for that of another country, though originally to Austria the provinces which she had lost, espehis own. cially Illyria and the Tyrol, and at the same time her In assuming a French general for their Crown influence both in Italy and Germany. But this Prince, Sweden no doubt intended to give a pledge might be obtained from Napoleon disabled, and willthat she meant to remain on terms of amity with ing to purchase his ransom from the reprisals of France; but it would be a wide step to argue from allied Europe, by surrender of his pretensions to thence that it was her purpose to subject herself as universal monarchy; and Austria therefore concluded a conquered province to that empire, and to hold the it best to assume the office of mediator betwixt prince whom she had chosen to be no better than France and the allies, reserving to herself to throw the lieutenant of Napoleon. This was indeed the heri sword into the scales, in case the forces and construction which the French Emperor put upon ambition of Napoleon should again predominate; the kingdoms of his own creation-Holland, West- while, on the other hand, should peace be restored phalia, Spain, and so forth. But in these countries by a treaty formed under her auspices, she would the crowns were at least of his conferring. That of at once protect the son-in-law of her emperor, regain Sweden, on the other hand, was given by the Diet her lost provinces and decayed influence, and conat Orebro, representing the Swedish people, to a tribute, by destroying the arrogant pretensions of person of their own election, nor had Bonaparte any- France, to the return of tranquillity to Europe. thing to do in it farther, than by consenting that a Otto, the French minister at Vienna, could alFrench subject should become King of Sweden; ready see in the Austrian administration a disposiwhich consent, if available for anything, must be tion to revive the ancient claims which had been certainly held as releasing Bernadotte from every annulled by the victories of Napoleon, and wrote to engagement to France, inconsistent with the duties his court, even in the beginning of January, that of a sovereign to an independent kingdom. they were already making a merit of not instantly When, therefore, at a period only a few months declaring war against France. A mission of Geafterwards, Napoleon authorized piracies upon the neral Bubna to Paris put a more favourable character Swedish commerce, and seized, with armed hand, upon the interference of the Austrian ministers. upon the only portion of the Swedish territories He informed the French cabinet that the Emperor which lay within his grasp, nothing could be more Francis was about to treat with France as a good unreasonable than to require, that because the ally, providing Austria was permitted also to treat Crown Prince was born in Bearn, he should there- with others as an independent nation. fore submit to have war made upon him in his capa- It was in short the object of Austria, besides city of King of Sweden, without making all the recovering her own losses (of which that cabinet, resistance in his power. Supposing, what might constantly tenacious of its objects, as it is well easily have chanced, that Corsica had remained a known to be, had never lost sight), to restore, as far constituent part of the British dominions, it would as possible, some equilibrium of power, by which have been ridiculous to have considered Napoleon, the other states, of which the European republic when at the head of the French government, as was composed, might become, as formerly, guaranbound by the duties of a liege subject of George III. tees for the freedom and independence of each simply because he was born at Ajaccio. Yet there other. Such was not the system of Napoleon. He is no difference betwixt the cases, excepting in the would gladly gratify any state who assisted him in relative size and importance of France and Corsica; hostilities against, and the destruction of another, a circumstance which can have no influence upon with a handsome share of the spoil; but it was conthe nature of the obligations incurred by those who trary to his policy to allow any one a protecting are born in the two countries. veto in behalf of a neutral power. It was according It may be readily granted, that a person in the to his system, ini the present case, to open to Austria situation of the Crown Prince must suffer as a man his determination to destroy Prussia entirely, and of feeling, when opposed to the ranks of his own to assure her of Silesia as her share of the booty, if countrymen. So must a judge, if unhappily called she would be his ally in the war. But he found, to upon to sit in judgment and pronounce sentence his surprise, that Austria had adopted a different upon a brother, or other near relation. In both cases, idea of policy, and that she rather saw her interest public duty roust take place of private or personal in supporting the weak against the strong, than, sentiment. while grasping at selfish objects, in winking at the While the powers of the North formed this coali- engrossing ambition of the ruler of France. Neither tion, upon terms better concerted, and with forces did he leave the Austrian cabinet long in the belief, of' a different character from those which had exist- that his losses had in any degree lowered his lofty ed upon former less fortr:nate occasions, Austria pretensions, or induced him to descend from the looked upon the approaching strife with a hesitating 1 high claims which he had formed of universal sove 582 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. reignty. From his declarations to the Senate and representative body of France, one of two things was plain; either that no sense of past misfortunes, or fear of those which might arrive, would be of or fear of those which might arrive, would e of State of the French grand army.-The Russians advance, any avail to induce him to abandon the most unjusti- and show themselves on the Elbe, joined everywhere by fiable of his usurpations, the most unreasonable of the inhabitantso-The French evacuate Berlin, and rehis pretensions; or else that he was determined to treat on the Elbe. —The Crown Prince of Swiveden joins have his armed force re-established, and his sword the Allies, with 35,010 men.-Dresden is occupied by the once more in his hand;- nay, that he had settled that sovereigns of Russia and Prassia.-Marshal Bessihres a victory or two should wash out the memory of killed on Ist.May-Battle of Lutzen fought on the 2d.his retreat from Moscow, before he would enter The A/lies lose 20,000 men in killed and wounded, and into any treaty of pacification. the French keep the field, after very dreadjil loss. —The The notes in the Moniteur, during this winter of Allies retire to Bantzen. —Hamburg taken possession of 181213, which were always written by himself, by the Danes and French.-Battle of Bautzen foulght on containetd Bonaparte's bold defiance to Europe, and the 20th and 21st Ilay, wuith great loss on both sides, the cavownted rhis intention to dfaintaince abrt Eopec French remaining masters of thefield.-The allies retire avowed hi s intention to maintain, abreast of each in good order-The French generals, Bryres and other, the two wars of Spain and Germany. He Duroc, killed on the'2d-Grief of Napoleon for the proposed at once to open the campaign in Germany death of the latter.-An aromistice signed on 4th June. (though he had lost the alliance both of Prussia and Austria), with an army of double the amount of WE must once more look out upon Gerlnany, to that which marched against Russia, and to reinforce which country, so long the scene on which were and keep up the armies of Spain at their complete fought the quarrels of Europe, the success of the establishment o'f 300,000 mnen. " If any one desired," Russians, and the total discomfiture of the army of he said,'-the price at which he was willing to grant Napoleon, had again removed the war. We left peace, it had been expressed in the Duke of Bas- the wrecks of the grand armny thronging in upon sano's letter to Lord Castlereagh, before commence- the fortresses held by their countrymen in Prussia, ment of the campaign of 1812." where they were deposited as follows: When that document is referred to, it will be found to contain no cession whatever on the part of Into Thorn were thrown by Murat, before he left the grand France, but a proposal that England should yield army............ 6,000 men. up Spain (now almost liberated) to his brother Into Modlin. 8,000 Joseph, with the admission that Portugal and Si- Into Zamosc. 4,000 cily, none of which kingdoms Napoleon had the Into Graudentz, Prussians......... 000 means of making a serious impression upon, might Into Dantzic.30,000 remain to their legitimate sovereigns. In other 5,000 words, he would desist from pretensions which he hadl no means to make good, on condition that every This total of fifty-four tfiousand men comprehendpoint, which was yet doubtful, should be conceded ed the sole remaining part of what Napoleon conin his favour. tinued to call the Grand Army of Russia; in which It was extravagant to suppose that Britain, after country, however, not one-third of them had ever the destruction occasioned'by the Russian retreat, been, having been employed in Lithuania or Volhywould accept terms which were refused when Na- nia, and having thus escaped the horrors of the poleon was at the head of his fine army, and in the retreat. Almost all these troops were sickly, some fill hope of conquests. When, therefore, Austria distressingly so. The garrison towns were, howoffered herself as a mediator at the court of St ever, filled with them, and put in a state ofdefence James's, the English ministers contented themselves judged sufficient to have checked the advance of the with pointing out the extravagant pretensions ex- Russians. pressed by France, in documents understood to be It would, in all probability, have done so upon authentic, and demanding that these should be dis- any occasion of ordinary war; fobr Russia having not avowed, and some concessions made or promised only gained back Lithuania, but taken possession of by Napoleon, ere they would hamper themselves by Warsaw, and that part of Poland which formerly any approach to a treaty. belonged to Prussia, ought not, in a common case, Upon the whole, it was clear, that the fate of telhave endangered her success by advancing beyond the world was once more committed to the chance the Vistula, or by plunging her armies into Silesia, of war, and that probably much more human blood leaving so many fortresses in the rear. B at thle conmust be spilled, ere any principles could be settled, dition of' Prussia, waiting the arrival of the Rutssians on which a general pacification might be grounded. as a signal for rising at once, and by her example A step of state policy-was adopted by Napoleon, encouraging the general insurrection of Germany, obviously to conciliate his father-in-law, the Aus- was a temptation too powerful to be resisted, trian Emperor. A regency was established during altholgh tlnquestionably there was a risk incurred his absence, and the empress, M'iria Louisa, was in giving way to it. The various fortresses were named regent. But her authority was curtailed of therefore masked with a certain number of troops; all real or effectual power; for he reserved to him- and the Russian light corps advancinlg beyond the self ex,lhisively the privilege of presentingall decrees line even of the Oder, began to show themselves on to be passed hby the Senate, and the emipress had the Elbe, joined everywhere by the inhabitants of only the right to preside in that body. the counltry, who, influenced by tIhe doctrines of the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 583 Tugend-Bund, and fired with detestation of the posed to desert her cause. Denmlark beganto treat French, took arms wherever their deliverers ap- with the allies, and even on one occasion, as will be peared. The French everywhere retired, and hereafter noticed, made a demonstration to join then Prince Eugene, evacuating Berlin, retreated upon in arms. the Elbe. It seemed as if the allies had come armed The King of Saxony, who had been always Napowith lighted matches, and the ground had been leon's most sincere friend, dared not now abide the strewed with gunpowder; so readily did the Ger- storm. He retreated to a place of security in Franmans rise in arms at the hourra of a body of Cossacks, conia, while his army separated themselves from the or even at the distant gleam of their lances. The French, and, throwing themselves into Torgau, began purpose of the war was not, however, to procure to stipulate for a neutrality, which would probaLly partial and desultory risings, from which no per- have terminated, like that of d'Yorck, in their acmanent benefit could be expected; but to prepare tually joining the allies. the means of occupying the north of Germany by an Davoust retreated to the northwards, after blowarmy conducted by one of the most celebrated ge- ing up the fine bridge at Dresdep, amid the tumulnerals of the age, and possessed of regular strength, tuary opposition and execration of the inhabitants. sufficient to secure whatadvantages might be gained, Dresden itself soon after became the head-quarters and thus influence the final decision of' the eventful of the Emperor of Russia and King of Prussia, who campaign. were received with joyful acclamations by all classes While the light troops of Russia and Prussia over- of the citizens. ran Germany, at least the eastern and northern pro- In like manner, three of the fortresses held by the vinces, the King of Sweden, in virtue of the conven- French in Prussia —Thorn, Spandan, and Czenstotion into which he had entered at Abo, crossed over chau-surrendered to the allies, and afforded hope to Stralsund in the month -of May, 1813, with a that the French might be dislodged from the rest in contingent amounting to 35,000 men, and anxiously the course of the summer. But the farther results awaited the junction which was to have placed under of the activity of the allied generals were in a great his command such corps of Russians and Germans measure prevented, or postponed, by the arrival of as should increase his main body to 80,000 or 100,000. the numerous forces which Napoleon had so speedily With such a force, the Crown Prince proposed to levied to restore his late losses. undertake the offensive, and thus to compel Napo- It would be severe to give the name of rashness to leon, when he should take the field, to make head the conduct of the allies. in this bold advance into at once against this force upon his left flank, and the middle and north of' Germany. A great part of defend himself in front against the advancing armies their power was of a moral character, and consisted of Russia and Prussia. The proclamations of inde- in acting upon the feelings of' the Germans, who pendence sent abroad by the allies made them friends were enchanted with the prospect of freedom and wherever they came, and three flying corps, under independence. Still there was much audacity in the Czernicheff, Tettenborn, and Winzengerode, spread allied monarchs venturing across the Elbe, and subalong both sides of the Elbe. The French retreated jecting themselves to the encounter of Napoleon and everywhere, to concentrate themselves under the his numerous levies, befbre their own resources had walls of Magdeburg, and other fortified places, of been brought forward. It was now, however, no which they still held possession. Meantime, Ham- time to dispute which plan ought to have been preburg, Lubeck, and other towns, declared for the ferred; the sovereigns of Russia and Prussia had no allies, and received their troops with an alacrity, other alternative than to follow out boldly that fromr which, in the case of Hamburg, was severely pu- which they could not now retreat. nished by subsequent events. Eugene, at the approach of the new French levies The French general, Morand, endeavoured to put through the passes of the Thuringian mountains, a stop to the stream of what was termed defection, removed from Magdeburg, and formed a junction and occupied Luneburg, which had declared for the with them on the Saale. The force in total mighllt allies, with nearly four thousand men. His troops amount to 115,000 present in the field; the greater were already in the place, and about to proceed, it part, however, were new levies, and many almost was said, to establish military tribunals, and punish mere boys. The allied army was collected towards the political crimes of the citizens, when the Rus- Leipsic, and lay full in Napoleon's road to that city, sians, commanded by the active Czernicheff, sud- and from thence to Dresden, which was the point denly appeared, forced their way sword in hand into on which he advanced. the town, and on the 2d April, 1813, killed or took It has been thought that the plains of Lutzen prisoners the whole of Morand's corps. The Viceroy would have been the most advantageous field of' Eugene attempted to impose some bounds on the battle for the allies, whose strength lay in their fine audacity now manifested by the allies, by striking a body of cavalry; to which it has been replied, that bold blow upon his side. He marched suddenly they expected to encounter Bonaparte on the other firom. the neighbourhood of Magdeburg, with a view side of the Saale, and there to have obtained open of surprising Berlin; but was himself surprised at ground for their cavalry, and a field fitting for their Moechern, driven back, defeated, and obliged to vengeance in the plains of Jena. But though the shut himself up in Magdeburg, where he was activity of the allies had of late been sufficient to blockaded, distress Napoleon's lieutenants, it was not as yet The predominance of the allies in the north of adequate to match that of the emperor himself. Germnany seenled now so effectually ascertained, An important change had lately taken place in that the warmest adherents of France appeared dis- their army, by the death of the veteran Koutousoff, 584 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. in whose place Wittgenstein had succeeded to the port the cause of national honour and fieedom; and, supreme command. on the other, the young men of Paris, many of them Skirmishes took place at Weissenfels and Po- of the best rank, who bravely endeavoured to susserno, upon 29th April and 1st May, on which last tain their colntry's long pre-eminent claim to victory. day a.) event occurred distressing to Bonaparte's Both combated under the eyes of their respective feelings. A contest took place in the defiie of Rip- sovereigns, maintained the honour of their country, pach, near Poserna, which was only remarkable and paid an ample tribute to the carnage of the day. for the death of an excellent officer. Marshal Bes- The battle lasted for several hours, before it sieres, whose name the reader must remember as could be judged whether the allies would carry the leader of Napoleon's household troops, fromn the their point by breaking through the French centre, time they bore the humble name of Guides, until or whether the French, before sustaining that calanow that they were the Imperial Guard, and he mity, would be able to wheel their wings upon the their colonel-general, coming up to see how the flanks of the allies. At length the last event began action went, was killed by a cannon-shot. His body to be anticipated as the most probable. The'distant was covered with a white sheet, and the loss con- discharge of musketry was seen on right and left cealed as long as possible from the Guards, who closing inwards on the central tumult, and recognized were much attached to him. Upon a former occa- for the fire of Macdonald and Bertrand, who comsion, when his horse was killed, Bonaparte told him manded the French wings. At the same time the lhe was obliged to the bullet, for making it known emperor made a successful struggle to recover the to him how much he was beloved, since the whole village of Kaya, and the allies, extricating themguard had wept for him. His time was, however, selves skilfully from the combat, led back their now come. He was sincerely lamented by Na- exhausted forces from between the forceps, as we poleon, who was thus, when the world was may term it, formed by the closing wings of Napogoing harder against him than formerly,,deprived of leon, without further loss than the carnage sustained an early and attached follower. in the field of battle. But that was immense. The But the war kept its pace. The French army allies lost twenty thousand men in killed and continued to advance upon Leipsic on the south; wounded. Among these was Scharnhorst, one of the allies approached from the north to defend the best staff-officers in Europe, and who had orgathe place. nized with such ability the Prussian landwehr and The centre of the French army was stationed at a volunteers. The Prince Leopold of Hesse-Homvillage called Kaya. It was under the command of berg, and the Prince of Mecklenberg-Strelitz, Ney. He was sustained by the Imperial Guard, nearly allied to the royal falnily of England, were with its fine artillery, drawn up before the well- also killed. The veteran Blucher was wounded, known town of Lutzen, which, having seen the last but, refusing to retire, had his wounds dressed upon conflict of Gustavns Adolphus, was now to witness the field of battle. Seven or eight French generals a more bloody tragedy. Marmont, wlho command- were also slain or wounded, and the loss of the ed the right, extended as far as the defile of Po- French army was very severe. serna, and rested with his left upon the centre. The Two circumstances greatly assisted to decide the left Ning of the French reached front Kaya to the fate of the action. General Bertrand, who was not Elstel. As they did not expect to be brought to come up when it began, arrived in time to act upon action in that place, or upon that day (May 2d), the left of the allies, and to permit Marmnont, whose Napoleon was pressing forward from his right, Lau- place he occupied, to unite hinmself, in the hour of riston being at the head of the column, with the need, to the defence of the centre. On tile part of purpose of possessing himself of Leipsic, behind the allies, on the contrary, the division of M5ilorawhich lie expected to see the army of the allies. dovitch, from some mistake or want of orders, But these, encouraged by the presence of the Em. never came into action. Few prisoners, and no peror Alexander and King of Prussia, had formed artillery, were taken. Tile allies moved off in the daring resolution of marching southward along safety, protected by their fine cavalry, and tile sole the left bank of the Elster during the night, trans- trophy of tile victors was the possession of the porting themselves to the right bank in the morning, bloody field. and assaulting, with the choicest of their troops, But Napoleon had need of renown to animate his under Blucher, the centre of the French, led by drooping partisans; and accordingly the battle was Ney. The fury of the attack was irresistible, and, scarce ended ere the most exaggerated reports of in despite of a most obstinate defence, the allies the emperor's success were dispatched to every obtained possession of Kaya, the point on which friendly court, and even so far as Constantinople. the centre of the French army rested. This was a The very best of Napoleon's rhetorical ornaments crisis worthy of Napoleon's genius, and he was not were exhausted on this occasion. The battle of wanting to himself. Assailed on the flank when in Lutzen was described as having, like a clap ofthunthe act of advancing in column, he yet contrived, der, pulverized a'l the schemes of the allies; and by a masterly movement, to wheel up his two wings, the cloudy train of intrigues, formed by the cabinet so as in turn to out-flank those of the enemy. He of St James's, as having been destroyed, like the hurried in person to bring up his guard to support the Gordian knot under tile sword of Alexanlder. The centre, which was in fact nearly broken through. eloquence of Cardinal Maury, who said Te Deum l'l;e combat was the more desperate and deplorable, on the occasion at Paris, was equally florid; until at thfat, on the one side, fought the flower of the Prus. length his wonder was raised so lhigh, as scarce to Sliia youth, which had left the.r unliversities to sup- admit that the hero who surmounted so many difli LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 585 cuities, performed so many duties, united so much tile allies of France. But the reality was, that as activity to so much foresight, such brilliancy of con- the Danish treaty with the allies was still in depenception to such accuracy of detail, was only, after dence, it was thought that this voluntary espousal ail, a mortal like himself and the congregation. of the cause of their neighbour might have a good The battle of Lutzen had indeed results of im- effect upon the negotiation. Something perhaps portance, though inferior by far to those on which might arise from the personal zeal of Blucher, the such high colouring was bestowed by the court commandant of Altona, who was a relation of the chaplain and the bulletins. The allied monarchs celebrated Prussian general. The Danes, however, fell back upon the Mulda, and all hope of engaging after this show of friendship, evacuated Hamburg Saxony in the general cause was necessarily ad- on the evening of the 12th of May, to return shortly journed. The French troops were again admitted after in a very different character- for it being in into Torgau by the positive order of their sovereign, the interval ascertained that the allies were deternotwithstanding the opposition of the Saxon general, mined to insist upon Denmark's ceding Norway to Thielmann. The King of Saxony returned from Sweden, and the newsof the battle of Lutzen seemPrague, his last place of refiuge, and came to Dresden ing to show that Napoleon's star was becoming on the 12th. Napoleon made a military fUte to re- again pre-eminent, the Danish prince broke off his ceive the good old monarch, and conducted him in negotiation with the allies, and returned to his a kind, of triumph through his beautiful capital. It league, offensive and defensive, with France. could afford little pleasure at present to the paternal The hopes and fears of the citizens of Hamburg heart of Frederick Augustus; for while that part of were doomed to be yet further tantalized. The Dresden which was on the left side of the Elbe was Crown Prince of Sweden was at Stralsund with a held by the French, the other wvas scarcely eva- considerable army, and 3000 Swedes next appeared cuated by the allies; and the bridge of boats, burnt for the purpose of protecting Hamburg. But as to the water's edge, was still the subject of contest this Swedish army, as already mentioned, was inbetwixt the parties-the French seeking to repair, tended to be augmented to the number of 90,000, the allies to destroy it. by reinforcements of Russians and Prussians which Another consequence of the battle of Lutzen was, had not yet appeared, and which the Crown Prince that the allies could no longer maintain themselves was soliciting with the utmost anxiety, he could not on the Elbe.' The main army, however, only re- divide his forces without risking the grand objects tired to Bao.tzen, a town near the sources of the for which this large force was to be collected, and Spree, about twelve French leagues fioom Dresden, the additional chance of his Swedish army, of' whose where they selectted a strong position. An army of blood he was justly and wisely frugal, being deobservation, under Bulow, was destined to cover stroyed in detail. We may add to this, that rom a L]Berlin, should the enemy make any attempt in that letter addressed by the Crown Prince to Alexander, direction; and they were thus in a situation equally at this very period, it appears he was agitated with convenient for receiving reinforcements, or retiring the greatest doubt and anxiety concerning the arrival upon Silesia, in case of being attacked ere such of these important reinforcements, and justly a}lpresuccours came up. They also took measures for hensive for the probable consequences of'their being concentrating their army, by ca'ling in their advanced delayed. At such a crisis, therefore, he was in no corps in all directions. condition to throw any part of' his forces into tIamOne of the most unpleasant consequences was, burg as a permanent garrison. their being obliged upon tile -whole line to withdraw The reasons urged for withdrawing the S; edish to the right side of the Elbe. Czernichel' and Tet- troops seem sufficient, but the condition of the tenborn, whose appearance had occasioned Ham- citizens of Hamburg was not the less hard, alterburg, and other towns in that direction, to declare nately deserted by Russians, Danes, and Swedles. themselves for the good cause, and levy men in On the 30th of May, 5000 Danes, now the allies of behalf of the allies, were now tnder the necessity France, and 1500 French troops, took possession of abandoning them to the vengeami e of the French, of the town in the name of Napoleon. They kept who were certain to treat theln as revolted subjects. good discipline, and only plundered af'ter the fashion The fate of Hamburg in particular, in itself a town of regular exactions; but this occupation wnvs the so interesting, and whlich hadl distiiinglished itselfhy prelude to a train of distresses, to which Ilaniburg the number arnd spir-it of the vclinteeis which were was subjected during the whole continuance of' the raised there in the cause of the allies, d was peculliarly wvar. Meanwhile, though this forlorn city was tantalizinig. lost for the time, the war continued in its leighNo s)ooner were the mnirn bohtv of the allies wvith- bourhood. drawn on thei 9th M'ay. thlni the place "as fiercely The gallant Czernicheff, as if to avenge himself attacked by DaroustC at the head of 5000 or 6000 for the compulsory retreat of his Cossacks fiom me., uttering, denunciations of vengeance against Hamburg, contrived, near Halberstadt, to cut off the city for the part it had taken. WVhen this force, a body of French inf:ntry, forming a hollow square which they possessed no adequate means of repell- of' musketry, and having fourteen field-pieces. It i,!g, was in the act of approaching to storm the place, was seen on this occasion, that these sons of the ths alarmed citizens of Hamburg, to their own desert were something very different from miserable wornder, were supported by Danish artillery and hordes, as they were termed in the language with gun.boats, sent fiom Altona to protect the city. which the French writers, and Napoleon himself, This kindness had not been expected at the hand of indulged their spleen. At one shrill whoop of their the Danes, who had as yet been understood to be commander, they dispersed themselves much in the VOL. V~. 74 ij586 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. manner of a farn when thrown open; at another Their right wing rested on fortified eminences, their signal, each horseman, acting for himself, came on left upon wooded hills. On their right, towards at full gallop. Thus they escaped in a considerable Hoyerswerder, they were watched by Ney and degree the fire of the enemy, which could not be Lauriston, who, of course, were l)repared to act in pointed against any mass, penetrated the square, communication with Napoleon. But the allies distook the cannon, made prisoners near 1000 men, concerted this part of the emperor's scheme with and piked or sabred more than seven hundred, singular address and boldness.'They surprised, by a not a Frenchman escaping from the field of battle. movement from their right, a column of 7,000 Ita-'l'his skirmish was so successfully managed on lians, and so entirely routed them, that those who Czernicheff's part, that a French force, much su- escaped dispersed and fled into Bohemia; after perior to his own, came up in time to see the which exploit, Barclay de Tolly and d'Yorck, who execution done, but not to render assistance to their had commanded the attacking division, again united countrymen. themselves with the main force of the allies, and reIn the meanwhile Dresden was the scene of po- sumed their place in the line. litical negotiations, and its neighbourhood resounded Ney moved to the support of the Italians, but too with the din of war. Count Bubna, on the part of late either for rescue or revenge. He united himself the Austrian Emperor, made the strongest remon- with the emperor about three in the afternoon, and strances to Bonaparte on the subject of a general the army accomplished the passage of the Spree at peace, while it seems probable that Napoleon en- different points, in front of the allied army. Napodeavoured to dazzle the cabinet of Vienna with poleon fixed his head-quarters in the deserted town such views of individual advantage, as to make of Bautzen; and his army, advancing towards the her declare without scruple for his side. The au- enemy slowly and with caution, bivouackedc, with diences of Count Bubna were prolonged till long their line extending north and south, and their friont past midnight, and matters of the last importance to the allies. The latter concentrated themselves seemed to be under discussion. with the same caution, abandoning whatever points The war was for a few days confined to skirmishes they thought too distant to be effectually maintained; of doubtfuil and alternate success, maintained on their position covering the principal road towards the right bank of the Elbe. On the 12th May, Ney Zittau, and that to Goerlitz; their right wing (Pruscrossed the river near Torgau, and menaced the sians) resting upon the fortified heights of Klein, and Prussian territories, directing himself on Spremberg Klein Bautzen, which were the keys of the position, and Hoyerswerder, as if threatening Berlin, which while the left wing (composed of Russians) was was only protected by Bulow and his army of ob- supported by wooded hills. The centre was renservation. The purpose was probably, by exciting dered unapproachable by commanding batteries. an alarm for the Prussian capital, to induce the As it was vain to think of storming such a position allies to leave their strong position at Bautzen. But in front, Napoleon!had recourse to the manoenvre of they remained stationary there, so that Napoleon modern war, which no general better understood, moved forward to dislodge them in person. On the -that of turning it, and thereby rendering it unser18th May be quitted Dresden. In his road towards viceable. Ney was, therefore, directed to make a Bautzen, he passed the ruins of the beautiful little considerable circuit around the Russian extreme town of Bischoffswerder, and expressed particular right, while their left was attacked more closely sympathy upon finding it had been burnt by the by Oudinot, who was to engage their attention by French soldiery, after a rencounter near the spot attempting to occupy the valleys, and debouching with a body of Russians. He declared that he from the hills on which they rested. For this last would rebuild the place, and actually presented the attempt the Russians were prepared. Mliloradovitch inhabitants with 100,000 francs towards repairing and the Prince of Wirtemberg madte good the detheir losses. On other occasions, riding where the fence on this point with extreme gallantry, and the recently wounded had not been yet removed, he fortune of the day, notwithstanding the great exerexpressed, as indeed was his custom, for he could lions of Bonaparte, seemed to be with the allies. never view bodily pain without sympathy, a very The next attempt was made on the fortified heights considerable degree of' sensibility. on the right of the allies, defended by the Prussians. "His wound is incurable, sire, " said a surgeon, Here also Napoleon encountered gieat ditliculties, upon whom he was laying his orders to attend to and sustained much loss. It was not till lie brougiht one of these miseral le objects. tip all liis reserves, anal conibiined them for one of' " Try, however," said Napoleon; and added, in those desperate exertions, which had so often turned a suppressed vnoice, - There will always be one the fate of battle, that h.e was able to succeed in his fewer of them,"-meat.i lg, doubtless, of the victins purp)ose. The attack was conducted by Soilt, aiid of' his wvars. it was mnaintained at the point of the bayonet. At Napoleon's i.s not the only instance in which men the price of nearly four hours' struggle, in the course have trembled or wept, at looking upon the details of which the heights were often gained, lost, and of misery which have followed in consequence of' again retaken, the French remained miasters of sonie abstract resolutions of their own. them. Arriving at Bautzen on the 21st, the emperor in At the very time vwhen their right point of support person reconnoitred the formidable position of the was carried by the French, the coips of Ney, with allies.'I'tey were formed to the rear of the town of that of Laluriston and that of Regnier, amoulnlting to Bautzeni, which was too limuch advanced to make a sixty thousand nmen, had established themlselves in part ot'feir position, and had the Spree in their flout. thie enemy's rear. It was then that Blucher was LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 587 compelled to evacuate those heights which he had listening to military details, or giving miilitary orders. defended so long and so valiantly. "Everything to-morrow," was his answer to those Bat although the allies were thus turned upon who ventured to ask his commands. He nlade more both flanks, and their wings in consequence forced than one decree in favour of Duroc's family, and in upon their centre, their retreat was as orderly as impledged the sum of two hundred Napoleons in tlhe it had been after the battle of Lutzen. Not a gun hands of the pastor in whose house DUroc had exwas taken, scarce a prisoner made; the allies retired pired, to raise a monument to his memory, for which as if on the parade, placed their guns in position he dictated a modest and affecting epitaph. In wherever the ground permitted, and repeatedly Bessieres and Duroc, Napoleon lost two of his best compelled the pursuers to deploy, for the purpose officers and most attached friends, whose sentimlents of turning them, in which operation the French suf- had more influence on him than others in whom'lie fared greatly. reposed less confidence. The double deprivation The night closed, and the only decided advantage was of the worst omen for his fortunes. vwhich Napoleon had derived firom this day of car- In resuming the sumt of' the loss arising fionm the nage was the cutting off the allies fiom their retreat battle, we must observe that the French suffereda by the great roads on Silesia, and its capital Breslan, most, because the strong position of the allies covered and driving them on the more impracticable roads therr from the fire. Nevertheless, the allies lost in. near to the Bohemian frontier. But they accom- slain and wounded about ten thousand men. It tplis-led this unfavourable change of position without would take perhaps five thousand more to approxibeirng thrown into disorder, or prevented fiom mate the amount of the French loss. chieving the sanie skilful defence by which their On the day preceding that sanguinary battle, an retreat ihad hitherto been protected. armistice had been proposed by Count Nesselrode, T'he whole day of the 22d of May was spent in in a letter to Caulaincourt, Duke of Vicenza, in comattacks upon the rear of the allies, which were always pliance, it was stated, with the wishes of the court repelled by their coolness aind military conduct. of Vienna; it was seconded by a letter from Count The Emperor Napoleon placed himself in the very Stadion to Talleyrand, whom, as well as Foouch6, friont of the pursuing column, and exposed his person Napoleon had summoned to his presence, because, to the heavy and well-aimned fire by which Milorado- perhaps, he doubted the effect of' their intrigues vitch covered his retreat. He urged his generals to during his absence, and in his difficulties. This Ithe pursuit, making use of such expressions as ex- armistice was to be preliminary to a negotiation, in pressed his impetuosity. "You creep, scoundrel," which Austria proposed to assume the character of was one which he applied to a general officer upon mediator. such an occasion. He lost patience, in fact, when In the meanwhile Napoleon marched forward, hle came to compare the cost of the battle with its occupied Breslau (from whiich the princesses of the consequences, and said, in a tone of bad hunmour, Prussian royal family removed into Bohemia), and' "Vhat, no results after so much carnage-not a gun relieved the blockade of Glogau, where the garrison -not a prisoner?-these people will not leave me had begun to suffer by famine. Some bloody skirso nmuch as a nail." mishes were fought without any general result, and At the heights of Reichembacl, the Russian rear- where Victory seemed to distribute her favours guard made a halt, and while the cuirassiers of the equally. But the main body of the allies showed Guards disputed the pass with the Russian lancers, no incliination to a third general engagement, and the French general, Bruyeres, was struck down retreating upon Upper Silesia, not even the demonby a bullet. Hle was a veteran of the Armyl of Italy, stration of advance upon Berlin itself could brilng and faivoured by Bonaparte, as having been a com- them to action. panion of his early honours. But Fortune had Tile armistice was at length agreed upon, and reserved for that day a still irmore severe trial of signed on the 4th of June. Bonaparte showed either Napoleon's feelings. As he surveyed the last point a sincere wish for peace, or a desire to be considered on which the Russians continued to mlake a stand, a.as entertaining such, by renouncing the possession ball killed a trooper of his escort close by his side. of Breslau and Lower Silesia to the allies, which "Duroc," lie said, to his ancient and faithful fl1- -enabled them to regain their communications with lower and confidant, now the grand larsllal of his Berlin. The interests of the volld, whvlich had been palace, " fortune has a spite at us to-day." It was so long committed to the decision of the sword, not yet exhausted. seemed now about to be rested upon the arguments Solme tinle afterwards, as the emnperor with his of a convention of politicians. suite rode along a hollow way, three cannon were - fired. One ball shivered a tree close to Napoleon, and. reboundin:,,, killed General Kirgener, and iourtally wounded Duroc, whom the emperor had just spoken to. A halt was ordered, and for tile rest of Chrange its the results formerly prodeced ty the Frelnch the day Napoleon remained in fronut of his tenlt,hegeners.s eca- ir tme discipline of the troops. —Vieuys of Austria —Arguments surrounded by his Guard, who pitied their emperor, in Javour of peace stated and discssed. —Pertinacity as if be hadt lost one of his children. He visited the of Napoleon.-State of the French interior-hid from iyilrg miun. whose entrails were torn by the shot, him by the slavery of the press.-Interview betwixt NEaanld expressed his affection and regret. On no other poleon arid the Austrian minister, Mletternich.-Delatsl but that single occasion was he ever observed so int the Inegotiat.ionss. -Plan of pacification proposed by much exhausted, or absorbed by grief, as to decline Austria, onr 7th August. —'fTe armistice broken off on the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 1Oth, twken Austria joins the allies.-Sudden placability they seized. But now, it was an ordinary thing to of Napoleon at this period-Ascribed to the news of the see one body of soldiers treading down and destrovbattle of Vittoria. ing the provisions, for want of which the next battalion was perhaps starving. The courage and energy Toxg victories of Lutzen and Bautzen were so of the French soldier were the same, but the reclulnexpected and so brilliant, that they completely lection of former dis'tresses had made him more selfdazzled all those who reposed a superstitious con- ish and more wasteful, as well as more ferocious. fidence il Bonaparte's star, who conceived that they Those who saw matters under this disad vantaueous again sav it reviving in all the splendour of its first light, went so far, though friends both to France rising. 3But the expressions of Augereau to Fouch6, and Napoleon, as to wish that neither the battle of Iat sl entz, as the latter passed te join Bonaparte at Lutzen or Bautzen had been fought, since they beI)resden, show what was the sense of Napoleon's camte, in their consequences, the greatest obstacles i best officers. " Alas!" he said, " our sun has set. to a settled pacification. Even Eugene Beauharnais H low little do the two actions of which they make used this despairing language. It is true, they also much at Paris resemble our victories in Italy, lowed that these memorable conflicts had sustained, when I taught Bonaparte the art of war which lie or even elevated, the emperor's military character, now abuses! How much labour has been thrown and that there was some truth in the courtly speech away only to win a few marches onward! At of Narbonne, who, when Napoleon desired to know?Lutzen our centre was broken, several regiments what the people at Vienna thought of these actions, disbanded, and all was lost but for the Young replied, "Some think you an angel, sire; som6e a Guard. We have taught the allies to beat us. devil; but all agree you are more than man." But, After such a butchery as that of Bautzen, there according to the sentiments of such persons, these were no results, no cannon taken, no prisoners made. encomiums on a point of the emperor's character, The enemy everywhere opposed us with advantage, which had before rendered him sufficiently feared, and we were roughly handled at Reichembach, the and sufficiently hated, were only calculated to elevery day after the battle. Then one ball strikes off vate his mind above prudential considerations, and Bessieres, another Duroc; Duroc, the only friend to render his chance of effecting a permanent reconhe had in the world. Bruyeres and Kirgener are ciliation with other nations more difficult, if not swept away by spent bullets. What a war! it will altogether impossible. The maxim of Europe at make an end of all of us. He will not make peace; present seemed to beyou know him as well as I do; he will cause himself Odi accipitrem qui semper vivit in armis.' to be surrounded by half a million of men, for, believe me, Austria will not be more faithful to him than A point was now reached, when Bonaparte's talents Prussia. Yes, he will remain inflexible, and unless as a soldier were rather likely to disturb a negotiahe be killed (as killed he will not be), there is an tion, which an opinion of his moderate views in end of all of us." future, could such have been entertained on planIt was, indeed, generally observed, that though sible grounds, would certainly have influenced t he French troops had all their usual brilliancy of favourably. This was particularly felt by Austria, courage, and although their emperor showed all his who, after having received so many humiliations customary talent, the former effect of both upon the from Napoleon, seemed now to be called upon to allies seemedin a great measure lost. The rapidity decide on his destiny. The views of that power with which Bonaparte's soldiers made their attacks could not be mistaken. She desired to regain Iler was now repelled with steadiness, or anticipated lost provinces, and her influence in Gernmauy, and with yet superior alertness; so that the French, unquestionably would use.this propitious hour to obwho, during their course of victory, had become so tain both. But then she desired still farther, fori the secure as to neglect the precautions of sentinels and preservation'of her donminion and of her influence, patrols, now frequently suffered for their careless- that France should desist from her dream of' absoness. On the other hand, the allies chose their days lute dominion, and Napoleon from those extravagant and hours of battle, continued the conflict as long as claims of universal royalty, which he had hitherto they found convenient, suspended it when it became'broadly acted upon. To what purpose, was asked nnfavourable, and renewed it when they saw cause. by the friends of peace, could it avail Bonaparte to There was an end to the times when a battle de- maintain large armies in Germany? To what purcided the fate of a campaign, and a campaign the pose keep possession of thle fortified to wns, even on course of the war. the eastern frontier of that empire, excepting to show, It was also seen, that though Bonaparte had been that, whatever temporary advaltage Napoleon mlight able to renew the numbers of his army, by an un- look for in an alliance with Austria, it was no part paralleled effort of exertion, it was not even in his of his plan to abandon his conquests, or to sink power to restore the discipline which the old soldiers from his claims of suprerne dominion, into a cohad lost in the horrors of the Russian retreat, and ordinate prince, among the independent sovereigns which the young levies had never acquired. The of Europe. Saxons and Silesians felt that the burdens which If he meant to prosecute the war, they urged, that the presence of an armed force always Inust inflict, his lingering in Saxony and Prussia woull certainly were no longer mitigated by the species of discipline induce Austria to join the coalition against him; and which the French soldiers had formerly exercised that, supposing Dresden to be the pivot of his opeamongst themselves, and which secured against wvaton outrage, and waste of the plunder which I hate the hawk who always lives in war. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 589. rations, he woild be exposed to be taken il flank I leon must have been well aware that he must fight by tile immense armies of Austria descending upon out the battle with Russia, Prussia, and Sweden, the valley of the Elbe, from the passes of tile Bohe- the instlrgent Germans ready to arise on every hand, mian mountains. and all the weighty force of Austria to back them. Another, and a very oppos'te course of measures It' peace wvas to be established on any terms, the dewould, said the same counsellors, be at once a gua- sti s tionti of the unnatural ilnfluence of' France on the rantee to Austria, of the French Emperor's peace- right side of the Rhine must have been an indisable intentions, and tend to check and intimidste I peini-:ble article, anl it was better fi)r Napoleon to the other allies. Let Napoleon evacuate of fi'ee mike thle cessiou voluntarily, than to waittill, throulgh will the blockaded fortresses upon the Oder and the insarrection of the people, and the discontent of Elbe, and thereby add to his army fifty thousand the mlonalchs lately his dependents, tile whole sysveteran troops. Let him, with these and his pre- ternl sliould explode and go to pieces of itself; sent army, fall back on the Rhine, so often acknowr- Ennl;and:vould, doubtless, insist on the liberation ledged as the natural boundary of France. Wlho of'lollanlid; yet even this could be no great sacriwould dare to attack him on his own strong frontier I fice on the part of Napoleon, who would lhave rewith such an army in front, and all the resources of' tuined Flanders, and the whole left side of the Rhine, France in his rear? Not Austria; for, if assured fromn Huningen to Cleves, including the finest territhat Napoleon had abandoned his scheme to make tories of the ancient Dukes of Burgundy, awhich had France victorious, and limited his views to making never belonged to the former Kings of France. The her happy, that power would surely desire to main- emancipiation of Holland might have been also comtain a dynasty connected with her own, on a throne pensated, by the restoration of some of the French wlhich might become a protection and ornament to colonies. EnIgland has never made hard balrgains Elllrope, instead of being her scourge and terror. on occasion of a general peace. The northern nations, Russia, Prussia and Sweden, There might have been difficulties on the subject would have no motive to undertake so wild a cru- of Italy; but tile near connexion betwixt the Enrsade as a march to the Rhine; and Great Britain, perors of Austria and France offered various means her communerce restored, and the peace of the Conti- of accoinimodating these. Italy might, for example, nieit established, could not, if she were desirous, have made an appanage for Eugene, ol, in the case find any sound reason for protracting the war which of sich existing, for Bonaparte's second son, so as shle had always carried on against the system, not to instire the kingdoms of France and Italy passing the 1person, of Bonaparte, until events showed that into distinct and independent sovereignties in the they were indivisible. Thus, France, by assuming next reign; or, it is believed, that if Austria had an attitude which expressed moderation as well as been absolutely determined to break ol' the treaty firmnlless, might cause the swords of the allies to for this sole object, she would have found the bellidrop fiom their hands without another drop of' blood gerent powers incliied in their turn to act as media. being sIled. tors, and been herself corimpelled to listen to modeIndeed, although it may appear, that by the course rate terms. recommrlended Napoleon must have made great sa- From what has been said, it would appear that crifices, yet, as circumstances stood, he resigned such cessions as ]lave been hiiiited at would at once claims dependent on the chance of war, rather than have put an end to the wvar, leaving Napoleon still advantages in possession, and yielded up little or in possession of the fairest kingdom of Europe, nothing that was firmly and effectually part of his algmented to an extent of territory greatly beyond empire. This will appear from a glance at the terms what her most powerfiil monarchs before hint had of the supposed surrender. ever possessed; while, on the other hand, the counSpain he must have relinquished all claim to. But tries and claims wlhich, in the case slupposed, lie waas Napoleon had just received accounts of tie decisive called upon to resign, resembled the wounded toast battle of Vittoria, which sealed the emancipation of in the tempest, which the seaman cuts away purtihe Peninsula; and he must have been aware, that posely, as endangering the vessel which it ihas ceased in this long-contested point he would lose nothing of to assist. But it uniolrtuntely happened, that Bonnwhich the fate of war had not previously deprived parte, generally tenacious of his own opiuiion, andal him, and would obtain for the south-western pro- particularly when his reputation was concerned, vinces of France, protection against the army of the imiagined to himself that he cotiJd not cut awvry the Duke of Wellington, which already threatened in- mast without striking thle colours which;were nailed vasion. to it; that he could not resign his high preten.sions, Germany was indeed partly in Napoleon's pos- hovever tunreasonable, without dimrmiag his persession, as far as the occupation of fortresses, and sonal glory, in the lustre of which he placed his such treaties as he had imposed on his vassal happiness. princes, could give him influence. But the whole lie would not, therefore, listen to those, who, with nation, in every city arid province, was alienated such arguments as we have above stated, pressed from France and her ruler, on account of the para- him to make a virtue of necessity, and assume a mount sovereignty which he had assumed, and the merit from giving up what lie could not attempt to distresses which he had brought upon them by the hold, without its being in all probability wrested unceasing demand of troops for distant expeditions, from himn. He persisted in mnaintainirng the contrary, and by his continental system. Besides, the en- referred back to the various instances in which he franchisement of Germany was the very question of had come off in triumph, when every other person war and peace; and that not being granted, Napo- had despaired of his safety, and had previously pro. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONA.PARTE,. tested against the hazardous means which he used lha'e me stoop, and that, too, when I commlanul so to ascertain it. This pertinacity did not arise solely many stirong places on the Elbe and Oder. 1)reaen out of the natural confidence in his own superiority, is the point un which I will manteuvre to receive alt which always attends minds so powerful and so de- attacks, while rmy enemies develope themselves like telrined; it was fostered by the whole course of his a line of circu;iference round a centre. Do you life. suppose it possihle for troops of various nations, "At the age of thirty," he said of himself, "I had and variously coamisanuded, to act with regularity gained victories-I had influenced the world-I had upon such an extensive line of operations? The appeased a national tempest-had melted parties enemy cannot force me back on the Rhline, till they into one —had rallied a nation. I have, it must be have gained ten battles; but allow me ollly one allowed, been spoiled by success-I have always victory, and I will nmarch on their capitals of Berlin been in supreme command. From my first entrance and Breslau, relieve my garrisons on tile Vistula and into life I have enjoyed high power, -and circum- Oder, and force tile allies to such a peace as shall stances and my own force of character have been leave my glory untarnished. Your def'ensive retreat suach, that from the instant I gained a superiority, I does not suit me; besides, I do not ask you for plains, lmave recognized neither masters nor laws."+ but for assistance to carry into execution lly own To a confession so ingenuous, the historian can projects." add nothing. It is no wonder, that one to whom Thus Napoleon silenced his military, as wvell as luck had been uniformly favourable, should love the his civil counsellors. But there was one ad.iser excitation of the play, and, making cast after cast in whose mouth he had stopt, whose advice, if' it coild( confidence of his own fortune, press the winning have reached him, would probably have altered Iris game until it became a losing one, instead of with- fatal resolution. One of Bonaparte's most impolitic drawing fiom the table as prudence would have dic- as well as ujnjustifiable measures lhad been, his total tated, when the stakes deepened, and the luck began destruction of every mode by whllich. the pulblic opito change. Napoleon had established in his own nion of the people of France could be ilanifested. mind, as well as that of others, an opinion, that he, His system of despotism, which had left no manner in Iris proper person, enjoyed an amnesty from the of expression whatever, either by public meetings, ordinary chances of fortune.t This was a belief by means of the press, or through the representati ve nrlst usefrl to him as it was received by others, but bodies, by which the national sentiments on public dangerous in Ihis own adoption of it; since it hinder- affairs could be made known, became now a serious ed hine froim listening in his own case to calculations, evil. The manifestation of public opinion was nsiwhich in that of others he would have allowed to be serably supplied by the voices of hired functionaries, well founded. who, like artificial fountains, merely returned back Bothl Talleyrand and Fouch6 gave their mlaster with various flourishes the sentiments with which tlhe adlvantage oi their experience on this occasion, they had been supplied from the common reservoir and totuched with less or more reserve upon the at Paris. Had fiee agents of any kind been permitted terror which his ambition had spread, and the toreport upon the state of the public mind, Napoleon determination of the allies, as well as Austria, not would have had before him a picture wvhlich would to make peace without such a guarantee as should have qurickly summoned shin back to France. He protect them against fitlure encroachments. Napo- would have heard that the nation, blind to tihe evils leon rejected their opinion and advice with disdain, of war while dazzled %sith victorry and military glory, imputing it to their doubts in the persevering exer- had becomne acutely sensible of themic so soon as tions of his genius, or to an anxiety for their own these evils became associated with defeats, and the private frirtunes, which induced them to desire at all occasion of new draugllts on the pollcliation of risks the end of the war. France. He vwoutd haive learned tlhat the fttal I-is military counsellors endeavoured to enforce retreat of Moscow, aind tlls precarilous caaign pic rrf similar advice, with the same want of success. Saxony, had awakened parties anid interests which Berthier, with tile assistance of the celebrated had lorg been dormant-that the lna-rite of tile BouLtrlenginleer, Rogniat, had dirawn tip a plan for removing bons swas again mlentioned in the west-tllat 5.0.000 tlhe French. army, reinforced with a'l thle garrisons recrisant conscripts wvere wiandering tilrrtlglr Franlce, which they had in Germany, from the line of the formling themselves into bands,. and realdy to join Elbe to that of the ~Rhine. anv standard which vwas raised Rgainls tile llmperial " Good God! " exclaimed Bonaparte, as hie aauthority; and thrat in tlhe Legislaltive lBMy, as w veill glaniced at the labours of his adjutant-genceral, " ten as the Sernrite, there was already orga;lnized tiacit lost battles could not brinig me so lowv as you wsoull oppositio, i tiso his governmenli t, t;iat wanted buit a irormient of Neakness to shlow itself. f Mn~vmcreialdce Ste-Alrsne, vol. VII, P. 137. All tis, ari ic ore, Ice world have learted; and t The following is a ludicrous instance. \When tle explo- must hiave been taught the necessity ofconcentratirg sion of the infernal machine took place, a bystander rushed is forces, returning to the lYotiers of France, reinto a company, and exclaimned, "The first cosntl is blown te roties of Fance, rep. A ustrian veteran clhancitlg to be of the plarty, covering the allegiance of those who hesitated, by who kad -witnessed Napoleon's wonderful escapes during accepting the best terms of peace which lhe coultI the Italian campaigns, exclaimed, in ridicule of the facile extort from the allies, and assumring on tile Rhine credulityof the newsmonger,- " He blown upl-Ahl, you such a firmn attitude of defence as should at once 1'ttle know your man-I will wager at this moment he overawe dlomestic dissatisfaction, and repel foreign is as well as any of us. I know all his tricks many a day invasion. But the least spiracle, by which the au:ce?. voice of France could find its way to the ears of her LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 5Sl screreign, was effectually closed. The fate of Na- greatly tended to abridge the formalities of diplopoleon turned on this circumstance; for the sove- macy; it had but this single disadvantage, that it reign who deprives himself of the means of collect- was only suitable for the lips of a victor, whose ing the general sense of the nation over which he renewal of war was to be, in all human probability, Iules, is like the householder who destroys his the resuming a career of victory. Such a tone of faithful mastiff. Both may, perhaps, alarm their negociation became the Roman Prwetor, when he master by baying without just cause, or at an incon- environed with a circle the feeble eastern monarch, venient tinme; but when the hour of action comes, and insisted on a categorical answer to the terms he no other sentinel can supply the want of their vi- had proposed, ere he should step beyond the line; gilance. and perhaps it became Napoleon, when, at Campo The armistice now afforded an apt occasion for Formnio, he threw down the piece of porcelain, dearranging a general peace, or rather (for that was claring that the Austrian empire should be dethe real purpose) for giving Austria an opportunity stroyed in the same llanner, unless they instantly of declaring what were her real and definitive accepted his conditions. But the same abrupt dictaintentions in this unexpected crisis, which had ren- torial manner was less felicitously employed, when dered her to a great degree arbitress of the fate of the question was to persuade Austria not to throw Europe. Napoleon, from his first arrival in Saxony, her force of 200,000 men into the scale of the allies, had adopted a belief, that although Austria was which already too equally balanced that of France; likely to use the present crisis as an opportunity of yet that ill-chosen tone may be observed in the folcompelling himnt to restore the Illyrian provinces, and lowing conference. perhaps other territories of which former wars had Napoleon upbraided Metternich with having fadeprived her, yet that in the end, the family con- voured his adversaries, by being so tardy in opening nexion, with the awe entertained for his talents, the negotiation. He intimated that the Austrian nliwould prevail to hinder her cabinet from uniting nister perhaps staid away, in order that France might their cause to that of the allies. An expression had be reduced to a lower state than at the opening of dropt from the Austrian minister, Metternich, which the campaign; while now that he had gained twvo would have altered this belief, had it been reported battles, Austria thrust in her mediation, that he might to him. be prevented from following up his success. In Ma-et, Duke of Bassano, had pressed the Aus- claiming to be a negotiator, Austria, he said, was trian hard on tie ties arising from the marriage, neither his friend nor his impartial judge-she wvas whven the Austrian answered emphatically, "The his enemy. "'You were about to declare yourselves," matciage-yes, the lmarriage-it was a match found- he said, " when the victory at Lutzen rendered it ed on political considerations; but —-- " prudent in the first place to collect more forces. This sintgle brief word disclosed as much as does Now you have assembled behind the screen of the the least key vwhen it opens the strongest cabinet- Bohemian mountains 200,000 mnen under Schwartzit made it clear that the connexion formed by the enberg's command. Ah, Metternich! I guess the marriage wvould not prevent Austria from taking the purpose of your cabinet. You wish to profit by my line in the present dispute which general policy embarrassments, and seize on the favourable niomlent demand(ed. And this was soon seen when Count to regain as much as you can of what I have taken Metternich came to Dreeden to have an audience of from you. The only question with you is, whether Napoleon. you vill make most by allowing me to ransonm This celebrated statesman and accomplished myself, or by going to war with me "-You are courtier had been very acceptable at the Tuileries, uncertain on that point; and perhaps you only come and Napoleon seems to have imagined him one of here to ascertain whllich is your best course. Wel!, thlose persons whose gaiety and good humour were let us drive a bargain —How much is it you combined Nwith a flexible character, liable to. be want?" nastered aid g-uided by one of power and energy To this insulting conmmencemnent Metternich relike his own. This was a great mistake. Metternich, plied, that " the only advantage desired by his nmasa rman of livelitess and addlress when in society, ter, was to see that moderation and respect tfor the was firm and decisive in business. He saw thlat the rights of nations which filled his owin bosom, restored opportunity of controling the absolute power of to the general councils of Europle, aisd such a wellFrance and of Bonaparte had at length arrived, and balanced system introduced as should pilace the was determined, so' far as Austria was concerned, universal tranquillity under the guarantee of an asand utnder his admninistration, that no partial views sociation of independent states." or advantages should prevent its being effectually It was easy to see which way this pointed, and to employed. His interview with Napoleon took place anticipate the conclusion. Napoleon affected to at Dresden on the 28th June, and the following treat it as a figure of speech, which was to cloak particulars are accredited:- the private views of Austria. " I speak clearly," Napoleolm always piqued himself on a plain, he said, " and come to the point. Will it suit you downrighlt style of negotiation, or rather upon his to accept of Illyria, and to renain neuter?-Your system of at once announlcing the only terms on neutrality is all I require. I can deal with the Ruswhich he would consent to negotiate. He would sians and Prussians with my own army." hear of no counter-project, and admit of no medium "Ah, sire," replied Metternich, "it depends betwixt the resumption of hostilities, and acceptance solely on your majesty to unite all our forces with tate. This frank and unanswerable mode of treating come to that extremity that Austria cannot remain 592 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. n;eutral-We must be with you, or against you." spoken, and both he and Metternich were fillvy meAfter this explicit declaration, from which it was quainted with each other's views. Mettelnich had to be inferred that Austria would not lay aside her refused all private conditions which could be offered arms, unless Bonaparte would comply with the to detach Austria from the general cause, and Bonaterms which she had fixed upon as the conditions of parte had rejected as an insult any terms which a general pacification, and that she was determined went to lower him to a rank of equality with the to refuse all that might be offered as a bribe for her other sovereigns of Europe. I-Ie would be CUesar neutrality, the Emperor of France and the Austrian or nothing. It did not mend the prospect of negostatesman retired into a cabinet, apart from the se- tiation, that he fiad formally insulted one of the cretaries, where it is to be presumed Metternich persons most influential in the Austrian councils. conmmunicated more specificallythe conditions which The chance of peace seemed farther off than ever. Austria had to propose. Napoleon's voice was pre- Accordingly, all the proceedings at the Congress sently heard, exclaiming aloud, " What! not only of Prague were lingering and evasive. The meeting Illyria, but half of Italy, the restoration of the pope, had been fixed for the 5th July, and the dissolution and the abandoning of Poland, and the resignation was postponed till the 10th August, in order to allow of Spain, and Holland, and the Confederation of time for trying to adjust the d sputed claims. Engthe Rhine, and Switzerland! Is this your modera- land had declined being concerned with the armistion? You hawk about your alliance from the one tice, alletging she was satisfied that Napoleon would camp to the other, where the greatest partition of come to no reasonable terms. Caulaincourt, to whom territory is to be obtained, and then you talk of the Bonaparte chiefly trusted the negotiation, did not apindependence of nations! In plain truth, you would pear till the 25th July, detained, it was idly alleged, have Italy; Sweden demands Norway; Prussia re- by his services as an officer of the palace. Austria quires Saxony; England would have Holland and spun out the tinle by proposing that the other connBelgium-You would dismember the French em- missioners should hold no direct intercourse, but *pire; and all these changes to be operated by Aus- only negotiate through the medium of the mediator. tria's mere threat of going to war. Can you pretend Other disputes arose; and in fact, it seems as if all to win, by a single stroke of the pen, so many of the parties manoeuvred to gain time, with a view to strongest fortresses in Europe, the keys of which I forward military preparations, rather than to avail have gained by battles and victories? And think themselves oftthe brief space allowed for adjusting you that I will be so docile as to march back mysol- the articles of peace. At length, so late as the diers, with their arms reversed, over the Rhine, the. 7th August, Austria produced her plan of pacificaAlps, and the Pyrenees, and by subscribing a treaty, tion, of which the bases were the following: —1. The which is one vast capitulation, deliver myself, like dissolution of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, which a fool, into the hands of my enemies, and trust for was to be divided between Russia, Prussia, and a doubtful permission to exist, to their generosity? Austria. 2. The re-establishment of the Hanseatic Is it when my army is triumphing at the gates of towns in their former independence. 3. The reconBerlin and Breslau, that Austria hopes to extort such struction of Prussia, assigning to that kingdom a a cession fiom me, without striking a blow or draw- frontier on the Elbe. 4.'T'he cession to Austria of ing a sword? It is an affront to expect it. And the maritime town of Trieste, with the illyrian prois it my father-in-law who entertains such a project? vinces. The emancipation of Spain and Holland, as Is it he who sends you to me? In what attitude matters in which England, no party to the congress, would he place me before the eyes of the French took chief interest, was not stirred for the present, people! He is in a strange mistake if he supposes but reserved for consideration at the general peace. that a mutilated throne can, in France, afford shelter A concluding article stipulated that the condition of to his daughter and his grandson —— Ah, Metter- the European powers, great and smnali, as might be nich," he concluded, " what has England given you settled at the peace, should be guaranteed to all and to induce you to make war on me?" each of them, and not innovated upon except by The Austrian minister disdaining to defend him- general consent. self against so coarse an accusation, only replied by Bonaparte in return offered much, but most of his a look of scorn and resentment. A profound si- cessions were clogged with conditions, which at lence ftllowed, during which Napoleon and Metter- once showed how unwillingly they were made, and nich traversed the apartment with long steps without seemed, in most cases, to provide the ineans of anlooking at each other. Napoleon dropt his hat, nulling them when times should be favourable. perhaps to give a turn to this awkward situation. 1. The Grand Duchy of Warsaw Napoleon agreed But Metternich wvas too deeply affrlonted for any to yield up, but stipulated that Dantzic, with its foroffice of courtesy, and the emperor was obliged to tifications demolished, should remain a firee town, lift it himnselfl Bonaparte then resumed the dis- and that Saxony should be indemnified for the cescourse, in a more temperate strain, and said he did sion of the duchy, at the expense of Prussia and not yet despair of peace. lie insisted that the con- Austria. 2. The cession of the Illyrian provinces gress should be assembled, and that, even if hosti- was agreed to, but the seaport of Trieste was re- i lities should recommence, negotiations for peace served. 3. Contained a stipulation that the German should, nevertheless, not be discontinued. And, Confederation should extend to the Oder. Lastly, like a wary trader vlheln driving a bargain, he whis- the territory of Denmark was to be guaranteed. pered Metternich, that his offer of Illyria was not Before this tardy agreemenet to grant some of the his last word. ternis which the allies had demanded could arrive this last word, however, had been in reality at Prague, fhe 10th of August, the day which con LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 593 elucded tIhe armistice, hadrl expired, and Auistria rhad Napoleon retutrns from the pursuit to Dresden, indispased from tile firiendlship of France into thile fede- posed.-VanEdrninte attacks the allies at Cetn-isup- I ratit\nir (d tlhe;aies. 0t the night betwixt the 10th posed, ard( driven back towards Peterswnald.- -Singular n 11 tl rocket ofa new and brilliant kdconflict between thie 5French and Prussians on the heights and 1 lth, rockets of a new aind brilliant kind flickq~' Peterswvald —Vandammeis eeted in ad ri ered in the air fromi height to height, betwixt Prague PetesEl- ne is defeated and ahe r'isoner, wiLh great loss. —F.i cts of the victory of Cul ol nd{ Trrachenberg, tlIle headqrjuarters of the Emnperor the allies-and an Napoleo. Cn on 11 ~~~~~~~~~the allies —and on Napoleon?. of Russia and King of PIrussia, to announce to these rovereigns that the armistice was broken ofl' Ar no period dliring tile armistice had the hope.a Metternich and Caulaincourt still continued their of peace been so probable, as to suspend fbr, nxnegotiations; and Napoleon seemed on a sudden ment the most active preparations for war. sincerely desirous of tlie peace about which he had Napoleon, determined, as we have already seen, hitherto trilled. Metternich persisted in his demand to render Dresden thile centre ofI his operations, had ofTrieste and the Hlanse towns. He rejected thIe exerted thIe utmost industry in converting that beauextension of the Confideration of the Rhine, as a tiful capital into a species of citadel. All the trees dermatr l made at a time so ill-chosen as to be nearly in the neighbourhood, including those which so much ridiculous; and lhe required th;at the independence adorned the public gardens and walks, had been cut of (ertnany should be declared free, as well as that down, and employed in the construction of a chain of Switzerland. of redoubts and field-works, secured by fosses and Bonaparte at length consented to all these de- palisades, which were calculated to render tile city mniailds, which, if' thliey had been admitted during Ihis very defensible. But, besides Dresden itself, with interview witlh Metternich, on the 28th June, or de- the neighlbouring mountain-fn'rtresses, tile French erm- elated to tile congress before thIe 10th August, mniist peror possessed as strongly fortified places, Torgan, have availred to secure peace. It is probable, either Wittemburg, Magdeburg, and others on thle Elbe, that Napoleon v was unwilling to inmake his minid utip to which sectired him tile possession of thIe rich and consent to termrs which lie thought humiliating, or beautiful valley of' that river. lIe had established an that Ire nimade the concessions at a time when they entrenched campn at the celebrated position of Pirna, would not, in all likelihood, be accelpted, in order and thrown a bridge of boats over the Elbe, near tlhat Ire niglrt obtain thIe chance of war, yet preserve Keenigstein, for thIe purpose of maintaining a corriwith his subjects the credit of having been willing niniication betwixt tlhat niountain-fi'ortress and tile to ntarike peace. fort of Stolplen. This showed Napoleon's apprelhenIt has been said, with muchli plausibility, that the sion of an attack fironm the mountatinlls of lBohllemria, allies, on their part, were confirmed in.their resolu- behind whicli thIe Austiians Ihad been assemblin' tion to dlen;nanl high ternis, by the news of the deci- their ariny. In this destined battle-ground Nalroleonii sire hattle of Vittoria, and thIe probability, that, in assembled the young conscripts, whlo continried to conserprence, the Duke of' Wellington's armry mighlit pour front thie French firontier; a-nd who, by a sinilIbe soon employed in the invasion of Flance. Napo- larly ingenions species of consbinatioin, were lecrni nleon entertained thIe samue impression, and sent thIe duties of their new condition, even while, withi Soult, tile ablest of his generals, to mnake a stand, if arms in their hands for thIe fitst timne, they w ere tpossiibe,: gainst thIe victorious English general, and marching to the field ofaction.* Iprotect at least tile territory of France itself,* In thIe heginning of Anipnst, Natpoleon hsad assenmbled abouit 2150,000 nen in Saxony and Silesia. CHAPTER;XXXVi.'This great force was stationed so as best to confiont thIe enemry on the points where they had assemibled Aniounnt Card distributionl of tlhe French armny at the re- their troops. At Leipsic, there were collected suNmptior oJ' /hostilities —Of'the armies of the allies-,Plan 60,000 imnen, Under comumand of Ondinot. At Lcetwof th. crnptrnirnt onn both sirldes.-Return of Mrorerr front enberg, Goldberg, Bontzl;tn and other towins on the Anrerica, to join thre allies.-Aitack oi Dreslen by the borders of Silesi, Nvere 100,000 uyen, commeanded allies, ann 26!h Arnflrst-Nrnpsleu au-rrives to ils snccomr h)y Macdonmald. Another arnry of 50,000 were qurar— Battle cowtinited on t/ze 27t/t-Death of Gener-al Jiro-rattye continretrl ann t he 27h-alieatns of Cennrr loso- tered i Lunsatia, near Zittan. St-Cyr, with 20,000, reamt-Defekat amnr retreat of the allies, weith great loss — was stationed near Pirna, to observe thIe miountains * The conirt ffNpoleon were rmnus end at lirs tlme by an of' Brohemtia, and tihe passes througlh which thIe Elbe inrcitrent connecte d with Saolt's derartu re. Ashehrad been disclrarges its waters tpon Saxoiny. In Dresden the desienedt to comnnnunud in tile Geruman crnmplign, this newr emperor himself lay with his Guard, amounting to desiinatiaon coirnpe'led himi to sell his horses, and nmake various othier inconuvenient sacrifices to the hrurry of the According to orders accurately calculated, tihe little monineut. H-is -ile. thie Druchess of I)amnatia, a laty of a brands of recruits, setting off'romn differert points, or dispirit equal tro th of' ile griat soldier to whonm shie was p6fts. on tile frontier, niet together at places assigned, and wetddedt, weent hlr; intte tr tie trisperor's preseiice to state as their nunnluers increased by each successive junction, her grievances; to insist lishat her hushasnt id been sub- were frirmed first into companies, next into battalions, and j,'cted to too nrmich fal;guing service, and to remnonstrate iast into regimnents; learning, ofcourse, topracrise surcagainst his beinig empuiryed ill lne Pyrenees. Go, ma- cessively tihe duties belonging to these various bodies. damt," said Napoleon, sternly; " remember tlhat I imm not When they joined tihe army, these combhination s, wlich your hunsliandl, and if I were, you daredt not nise ne thus. had but been adopted temporarily, were laid aside, tile Go, ardl remembnier it is a wife's duty to assist her hiusband, union of the marching battalion dissolved, anrd the colrunot to tease hitm." Such was (wnitth every respect to tihe scripts distributed among old regiuments, whiose examrple lady, who mightli, notwitilstandint, do we:l to be angry) tire miiglit commplete the discipline which they had thus learned Iamperial TTamning oa a Shrew."'in a general way. IVa,. VI. 594 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 25,000 men, the flower of his srany. Besides these cannot known-the purpose, namely, of Moreau, in hosts, Bonaparte had a considerable army ill Italy case of ultimate success. He certainly had not, as under the viceroy Eugerne; and,25,000 lBavarians Bernadotte might plead, acquired such rights in, were assembled as an army of resers e, Irnder gene- and such obligations to, another country, as to superral Wrede. Almost all his old lieutenants, who had sede the natural claims of his birth-place. Yet he ltughlt, and won so often in his cause, were sunmion- might be justified in the eye of' patriotism, if his ed to attend this important war; and even Mulrat, ultimate object really was to restore France to a who had been on indifferent termls with his relative, rational degree of liberty, under a regulated gci erncame anew fiom his beautifuil capital of' Naples, to ment; arid such it is stated to have been. Any enjoy*the pleastre of wielding his sabre against his purpose short of this munst leave him guilty of the old firiends the Cossacks. charge of' Ilhaing sacrificed his duty to his country The preparations of the allies were upon a scale to his private revenge. Ile was, however, highly equally ample. The accession of the Austrians had honoured by the Emrperor of Russia in particular; placed at disposal in Bohemia 120,000 men, to and his presence was justly considered as a great whom the allies joined 80,000 Rulssianis and Prus- accession to the council of war of the allies. sians, which brought the whole force to 200,000 So niany men of talent, and two of thenm masters men. Schwartzenberg had been selected to corn- of the French tactics, had no difficulty in divining mand this, which was called the Grand Armry of the mode in which Bonaparte meant to conduct the the Allies,-a judicious choice, not only as a fitting present campaign. They easily saw that he intended compliment to the Emperor of Austria, who had to join his strong and effective reserve of the Guard joined the confederacy at so critical a moment, btt to any of the armies placed on the frontier of Saxon account of Schwartzenberg's nmilitary talents, his ony, where a point of attack presented itself; and excellent sound sense, penetration, good hittnuour, thus advance upon, overpower, and destroy the and placidity of temper; qualities essential in every enemy whom he should find in front, as the hunted general, but especially in him upon whom reposes tiger springs upon the victim which he has selected the delicate duty of corrmandinlg an army composed out of the circle of hunters, who surround him with of different nations. This large host lay in and protended spears. To meet this mode of attack, about Prague, and, concealed by tile chain of' hills which might otherwise have been the means of the called tile Erzgebirge, was ready to rush intoSaxony allied armies being defeated successively and in so soon as an opportunity should offer of surprising detail, it was resolvxed that tile general against Dresden. whom Bonaparte's first effort should be directed, T'he other moiety of the original invading army, should on no account accept of the proffered battle, anmounting to 80,000, consisting of Russians and btut, withdrawing his troops before the emperor, Prussians, called the Army of Silesia, and cornm- should decoy him as far as possible in puIrstuit, manded by Blucher, defended the frontier of that while at the same time the other armies of the allies country, and the road to Breslau. Nearer the gates should advance upon his rear, destroy his comof Berlin was the Crown Prince of Sweden, with munications, and finally effect their purpose of closan army consisting of 30,000 Swedes, and about ing round him in every direction. 60,000 Prussians and Russians; the former being The grand arnmy, commanded by Schwalrzenthe corps of'Bulow and Tautenzein; the latter those berg, was partictularly directed to this latter task, of WVitizengerode arid WVoronzoff. Besides these because, while it would have been dangerous in armies, Walmoden, with a force consisting of 30,000 Napoleon on that point to have souglht them out by Russians, Pmrussians, and insurgent Germans, was at storming the mlounltain-passes of Boheimia, nothing Schwerin, in the Duchy of Mecklenberg; Hiller, could be more easy for Sclhwartzenberg than to with 40,000 Atistrians, watched the Italian army of rush down upon Dresden when Bonaparte should the viceroy; and tile Prince of Reuss confronted the leave that city uncovered, for however short an inBavarian troops with an army equal in strength to terval. Wrede!s own. Blucher was the first who, advancing fiom SileThe allies had agreed upon a plan of operations sia, and menacing the arumies of Macdonald and equally cautious and effective. It is believed to Ney, induced Bonaparte to march to join them with have been originally sketched by the Crown Prince his Guard, and with a great body of cavalry coinof Sweden, and afterwards revised and approved by mIanded by Latour Matmbourg. le left Dresden on the celebrated Moreau.'hat renowned French the 15th Atugust; he threw bridges over tile Bober, general had been induced, by the complexion of and advanced with rapidity, bringin_ forward Macnmatters in Europe, and the invitation of Russia, to donald's division in aid of his own fobrce. But the leave America, join the camp of the allies, and Prussian general was faithlful to the plan laid down. bring all thie knowledge of the art of war, for which He made an admirable retreat across the Katzbach, he was so famous, to enlighten their mnilitary coun- admitting the French to nothing but skirmishes, in cils. His conduct in thus passing over to the camp which tile allies had some advantage. Finally, he of France's enemies, has been ably defended by established himself in a position on the river Neiss, some, as the act of a patriot who desired to destroy near Jauer, so as to cover Silesia and its capital. the despotism which had been established in his On the 21st August, Napoleon learned the intecountry, while others lhave censured him for arming resting newls, that while he was pressing forward against his native land, in revenge for unworthy on the retreating Prussians, Dresden was in tl-e usage which he had received from its ruler. Much utmost danger of being taken. His Guards had of the justice of the case must rest upon what we instant orders to return to Saxony. He himself set LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 595 out early on the 23d. It was full time; for Schwartz- which covered their advance upon the ramparts; and enberg, with whom came the sovereigns of Russia the war began already to change its face, the allies and Prussia, as well as General Moreau, had de- drawing off from the poinlts they had attacked so scended from Bohemia, and, concentrating their fiercely, where they found them secured by these grand army on the left bank of the Elbe, were unexpected defenders. They remained, however, already approaching the walls of DrLesden, Napo- in front of each other, the sentinels on each side leon's point of' support, and the pivot of his operations. being in close vicinity, until next morning. Leaving, therefore, to Macdonald the task of con- On the 27th of August, the battle was renewed troling Blucher, the emperor set out with the Mlie nunder torrents of rain, and amid a tempest of wind. of his army; yet, with all the speed he couild exert, Napoleon, manoeuvring with excellence altogether very nearly came too late to save the object of his his own, caused his troops, now increased by consolicitude. centration to nearly 200,000 men, to file out from General St-Cyr, who had been left with about the city upon different points, the several columns 20,000 men to observe the Bohemian passes, was in diverging friom each other like the sticks of a fan no condition to make a stand, when they poured otut when it is expanded; and thus directed them upon upon him six or seven times his own number. lie such points as seemed most assailable along the threw himself with his troops into Dr'esden, in hopes, allies' whole position, which occupied the heights by means of its recent fortifications, to defend it fiom Plauen to Strehlen. In this manner, his plan until the arrival of Napoleon. The allies having assisted by the stormy weather, which served to found little resistance on their march, displayed conceal his movements, he commenced an attack their huge army before the city, divided into four upon both flanks of the enemy. On the left he obcolumns, about fbur o'clock on tile 25th August, and tained an advantage, firom a large interval left in the instantly commenced the assault. If they should allied line, to receive the division of Klenan, who be able to take DI'esden before it could be relieved were in the act of coming up, but fatigued and exby Bonaparte, the war might be considered as hausted with fatigue and bad weather, and their nearly ended, since they would in that case obtain muskets rendered almost unserviceable. In the, complete command of his line of communication meanwhile, as a heavy cannonade was continued on with France, and have at their mercy his recruits both sides, Napoleon observed one of the batteries and supplies of every kind. of the Young Guard slacken its fire. General The scheme of attack was excellently laid, but Gourgaud, sent to inquire the cause, brought inthe allied generals did not pursue it with the neces- formation that the guns were placed too low to reply sary activity. The signal for onset should have with advantage to the enemy's fire from the high been given instantly, yet they paused for the arrival ground, and that the balls from the French battery of Klenau, with an additional corps d'arm6e, and were most of them lost in the earth. " Fire on, the assault was postponed until next morning. nevertheless," was the emperor's reply; " we On the 26th, at break of day, the allies advanced must occupy the attention of the enemy on that in six colunlns, tinder a tremendous fire. They point." carried a great redoubt near the city-gate of' Dippol- The fire was resumed, and from an extraordinary diswalde, and soon after another; they closed on movement amongst the troops on the hill, the French the French on every point; the bombs and balls became aware that some person of high rank had began to fitll thick on the streets and houses of the been struck dlown. Napoleon supposed that the terrified city; and, in engaging all his reserves, St- sufferer must be Schwartzenberg. He paid him a Cyr, whose conduct was heroical, felt lie had yet tribute of regret, and added, with the sort of supertoo few nien to defend works of such extent. It stition peculiar to his mind, "He, then, was the was at this crisis, while all thought a surrender was victim whom the fatal fire at the ball indicated? ~ I inevitable, that columns, rushing forward with the always regarded it as a presage-it is now plain iapidity of a torrent, were seen advancing on Dres- whom it concerned." den from the right side of the Elbe, sweeping over Next morning, however, a peasant brought to its magnificent bridges, and pressing through the Napoleon more precise accounts. The officer of streets, to engage in the defence of the almost over- distinction lhad both legs shattered by the fatal ilowered city. The Child of Destiny himself was bullet-he was transported from the field on a bier beheld anlidst his soldiers, who, far from exhibiting composed of lances-the Emperor of Russia and fatigue, notwithstanding a severe forced march from King of' Prussia had expressed the greatest sorrow tile frontiers of Silesia, demanded, with loud cries, and solicitude. The n man ended this account by to be led into immediate battle. Napoleon halted bringing the fallen officer's dog, a greyhound, whose to reassure the King of Saxony, who was apprehen- collar bore the name of Moreau. This great general sive of the destruction of his capital, while his died a few days afterwards, having suffered amputroops, marching through the city, halted on the tation of the wounded limbs, which he bore with western side, at those avenues, from which it was great fortitude. His talents and personal worth designed they should debouche upon the enemy. were undisputed, and those who, more bold than we Two sallies were then made tinder Napoleon's are, shall decide that his conduct in one instance eye, by Ney and Mortier. The one column, pouring too much resembled that of Coriolanus and the Confrom the gate of Plauen, attacked the allies on the stable of Bourbon, must yet allow that the fault, left flank; the others, issuing from that of Pirna, assailed their right. The Prussians were dislodged * Given on account of the marriage of Napoleon and, from an open space, called the Great Garden,'MIaria Louisa.-See p. 488., -.____ 596 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. like that of those great men, was atoned for by an with those of Murat, whose bearing as a horseman early and a violent death. was inimitable, and whose battle-dress was always Moreau is said to have formed the plan on which distinguished by its theatrical finery. the attack on Dresden was conducted. His death The venerable King of Saxony received his delimust, therefore, have disconcerted it. But besides verer with rapture., for to him, personally, Bonaparte this, the allies had calculated upon Bonaparte's ab- certainly was such, though considered by many of sence, and upon the place being slightly defended. his subjects in a very different lighit. Napoleon They were disappointed in both respects; and his behaved generously after the action, distributing sudden arrival at the head of a choice, if not a nu- money amongst the citizens of' Dresden, vlwho haJ merous army, had entirely changed the nature of the suffered fronm the cannonade, and causing, the greatest combat. They had become defenders at the very care to be taken of the wounded and prisonlers be, time when they reckoned on being assailants; and longing to the allies. their troops, particularly the Austrians, who had in The next morning this ever-vigilant spirit wvas former wars received such dreadful cause to recol- again on horseback, directing his victorious troops lect the nanle of Napoleon, were discouraged. Even in pursuit of'the enemy. They were dispatched in if they repelled the French into Dresden, they:had different columns, to pulsue the allies oil the broken provided no magazines of support in front of it, roads by which they were compelled to retreat, anid should the allied army be designed to remain there. to allow them no rest nor refuge. No franie, even Jomini, the celebrated Swiss engineer, who had of iron, could have supported the fatigues of both exchanged, some short time before, the service of mind and body to which Napoleon had subjected Napoleon fbr that of the Emperor Alexander, pro- himself within the last three or four days. He wv;s posed the daring plan of changing the front of the perpetually exposed to the storm, and had rarely army during the action, and attacking in force the taken rest or refreshment. He is also stated to) have left of the French, which might have turned the for- suffered from having eaten hastily somle food tf a tune of the day. But the experiment was thought, coarse and indigestible quality.* Through one or with some justice, too perilous to be attempted, with other, or the whole of these causes combined, Naa discouraged and disordered army. A retreat was, poleon became very much indisposed, and wlas therefore, resolved upon, and, owing to the weather, prevailed upon to return in his carriage to Dresde,,, the state of the roads, and the close pursuit of the instead of remaining at Pirna, more close in the rear French, it was a disastrous one. The successful of his pursuing battalions, to direct their nlmtions. operations of the French had established the King The French officers, at least some of tiiem, ascril)e of Naples on the western road to Bohemia, by Frey- to this circumstance, as the primnary cause, a great, berg; and Vandamme, with a strong division, block- critical, and most unexpected misfortulle, which ed up that which led directly southward up the Elbe, befel his arms at this timle. by Pirna. On the 29th of August, the French still coltinuled The two principal roads beingthus closed against to push their advantages. The King f Nap;les. Schwartzenberg and his army, nothing remained for Marmont, and St-Cyr, were each pressing lJoiln tne them but to retreat through the interval between pursuit of the columns of the allies,' to Iwhlich they these highways by such country paths as they could had been severally attached. A corps d'arullle. of' find, which, bad in themselves, had been renldered about thirty thousand men, had been intrusted to, tle almostimpassable by the weather. They were pur- conduct of Vandamme, whose character as a genlesued by the French in every direction, and lost, what ral, for skill, determined bravery, and activity, was had of late been unusual, a great number ofprisoners. respected, while he was detested by the Germans Seven or eight thousand of the French were killed on account of his rudeness and rapacity, and disliked and wounded; but the loss of the allies was as great, by his comrades because of the ferocious obstinacy while their prisoners, almost all Austrians, amounted of his dispositiont.- With this man, who, not withto from 13,000 to 15,000.'I'hlis is admitted by Bou- out some of tile good qualities which distingnished tourlin. The French carry the loss to 50,000, which Bonaparte's officers, presented even a caricature of is an obviotus exaggeration; but hall' the number the vices ascribed to them, the misfortunes of his does not probably exceed the real extent of the loss. master in this campaign were destined to comnIt is singular, however, that in such roads as have mence. been described, the allies, out of more than one To be precise, - a shoulder of mutton, stuffed with hundred guns which they brought into position, garlic, wvas the only dinner which his attendants could should have lost only twenty-six. It was, notwith- procure for him on the 27th. Mahomet, who was a favourstanding, a battle with important consequences, ite of Napoleon, suffered by indulging in similar viandls. such as had not of late resulted firom any of Napo- But the shoulder of mutton, in the case of the Arabian leon's great victories. It proved, indeed, the last prophet, had the condescension to give its consumer warn. favour of an unmixed character which Fortune re. il)g of its deleterious qualities, though not till he had eaten served for her ancient favotirite, and it had all the too much for his health. dazzling rapidity and resistless strength of an unex- t The Abbe de Pradt represents Vandamme at Warsaw pected thunderbolt. as beating with his own hand a priest, the secretary of a.pected se brlatt. a Polish bishop, for not having furnished him with a supply HavingF seen this brilliant day to a close, Napoleon of tokay, although the poor man had to plead in excuse that returned to Dresden on horseback, his grey capote King JerBme had the day before carried off all that was in and slouched hat streaming with water, while the the cellar. A saying was ascribed to Bonaparte, "that if indifferent appearance of his horse and furniture, his he had had two Vandammes in his service, he must have awkward seat and carriage, made a singular contrast made the one hang the other.s LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 597 Vandalnme had advanced as far as Peterswald, the heights of Peterswald, biut, expecting probably a small town in the Erzgebirge, or Bohemian moan- the appearance of some of the French colunlns of tains, forcing before him a column of Russians, feeble.pursuit, morning found Vandamme in the valley of in number, but excellent in point of character and Calm, where night had set upon him. In the meandiscipline, commanded by Count Ostermann, who time, still greater numbers of the allied corps, which were retreating upon Toplitz. tlhis town was the were wandering through these mountain'regions, point on which all the retiring, some of which might repaired to the banners of Schwartzenberg and be almost termed the filgitive, divisions of the allies Barclay de Tolly; and the attack was renewed were directing their course. If Vandamme could upon the French column at break of day on the 30th, have defeated Ostermann, and carried this place, with a superiority of force, with which it was fruithe might have established himself, with his corps of less to contend. Vandamme therefore disposed 30,000 men, on the only road practicable for artillery, himself to retreat towards the heights of Petersby which the allies could march to Prague; so that wald, fiom which he had descended. But at this they must either have remained inclosed between moment took place one of the most singular accihis corps d'arm6e, and those of the other French dents which distinguished this eventful war. generals who pressed on their rear, or else they Among other corps d'armee of the allies; which must have abandoned their guns and baggage, and were making their way through the mountains, to endeavoured to cross the mountains by such wild rally to the main body as they best could, was that tracks as were used only by shepherds and peasants. of the Prussian general Kleist, who had evaded It was on the 29th, in the morning, that, acting the pursuit of St-Cyr, by throwing himself into the under so strong a temptation as we have mentioned, wood of Schoenwald, out of which he debouched Vandamme had the temerity to descend the hill on the position of Peterswald, towards which Vanfrom Peterswald, to the village of Culm, which is damme was making his retreat. While, therefore, situated in a very deep valley betwixt that town Vandamme's retreating columns were ascending the and Toplitz. As he advanced towards Toplitz, it heights, the ridge which they proposed to gain was appeared that his plan was about to be crowned seen suddenly occupied by the troops of Kleist, in with success. The persons of the Emperor of Rus- such a state of disorder as announced they were essia and the King of Prussia, the members of their caped from some pressing scene of danger, or hurrycabinet, and the whole ddpot of the head-quarters ing on to some hasty attack. of the allies, seemed now within his clutch, and, When the Prussians came in sight of the French, already alarmed, his expected prey were beginning they conceived that the latter were there for the parto attempt their escape in different directions. pose of cutting them off; and instead of taking a Vandamnle seemed within a hand's grasp of the position on the heights to intercept Vandamme, prize; fobr his operation, if' complete, must have they determined, it would seem, to precipitate totally disorganized the allied army, and the French themselves down, break their way through his troops, might perhaps have pursued them to the very gates and force themselves on to Toplitz. On the other of Prague, nay, of Vienna. The French advanced hand, the French, seeing their way interrupted, guard was within half a league of Toplitz, when of formed the same conclusion with regard to Kleist's a sudden Count Ostermann, who had hitherto re- corps, which the Prussians had done concerning treated slowly, halted, like a wild boar brought to them; and each army being bent on making its way bay, and commnenced the most obstinate and in- thronugl that opposed to them, the Prussians rushed flexible resistance. His troops Nwere few, but, as down the hill, while the French ascended it with a already said, of excellent quality, being a part of bravery of despair, that supplied the advantage of the Imperial Russian Guard, whoum their command- ground. er gave to understand that the safety of their father The two armies were thus hurled on each other (as the Russians affectionately terim the emperor) like two conflicting mobs, enclosed in a deep and depended upon their maintaining their ground. narrow road, formning the descent along the side of Never was the saying of Frederick II., that the a mountain. The onset of the French horse, under Russians might be slain but not routed, more coum- Corbinean, was so desperate, that many or most of pletely verified. They stood firmn as a grove of' them broke through, (although the acclivity against pines opposed to the tempest, while Vandantme led which they advanced would not in other circumdown corps after corps, to support his fuirious and stances have permitted them to ascend at a trot; repeated attacks, until at legtll lhe had broughlt and the guns of the Prussians were for a moment in his very last reserves firom the comnanding ground the hands of' the French, who slew many of the arof- Peterswald, and accumulated theni in the deep tillerymlen. Thle Prussians, however, soon rallied, valley between Culln and Toplitz. T'I'le brave and the two struggling bodies, again rmixing togeOsternlauin had lost an armn in tile action, and his ther, fought less for the purpose of victory or grenadiers had suffe.red severely; but they had slaughter, than to force their way through each gained tile time necessary. Barclay de Tolly, who other's ranks, and escape in opposite directions. now app)roachled the scene of action, brought up the All became for a time a mass of' confusion, the first columns of the Russians to their support; Prussian generals finding themselves in the middle Schwartzenberg sent other succours; and Vane of the French-the French officers in the centre of damme, in his turn, overpowered by numbers., re- tle Prussians. But the army of the Russians, who treated to Calm as nighlt closed. were in pumrsuit of Vandamme, appearing in his Prudence would have recommended to the French rear, put an end to this singular conflict. Generals to have continued their retreat during the night to Vandamme, Ha'xo, and Guyot, were made prison 598 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. ers, with two eagles and 7000 prisoners, besides a heavy loss in men and guns. —Operations of Ney upon great loss ill killed and wounded, and the total dis- Berlin-Ile is defeated at Dennewitz on the 6th Seppersion of the army, many of whom, however, after- tember.-Diticult and embarrassing situation of Napowards rejoined their eagles. leon-He abandons all the right side of the Elbe to the The victory of Clirnl, aln event 0so unexpected and allies.-Operations of the allies in order to effect a importanit in a military view, was beyond apprecia- junction-Concater-$xerations of Napoleon.-The French *tion in te consequences which it produced upon'generals averse to continuing the swar in Germanytion in the consequences which it produced upon D Dissensions betwixt t]kem and the emperor.-Napoleon the moral feelings of the allied troops. Before this- at length resolves to retreat upon Leipsic. most propitious event, they were retiring as a routed army, the officers and soldiers complaining0 of their TIa, advices which arrived at Dresden from the generals, and their generals of each other. But north of Germany wvere no balm to the bad tidings now their note was entirely altered, and they cquld from Bohemia. We must necessarily treat with sing songs of triumph, and appeal to the train of guns brevity the high deeds of arms performed at a conand long columns of prisoners, in support of the vic- siderable distance from Napoleon's person, great as tory which they claimed. The spirits of all were was their influence upon his fortunes. reconciled to the eager prosecution of the war, and Marshal Blucher, it will be remembered, retreated the hopes of liberation spread wider and wider across the river Katzbach, to avoid the engagement through Germany. Theother French corps d'armee, which the Emperor of France endeavoured to press on the contrary, fearful of committing themselves upon him. The Crown Prince of Sweden, on the as Vandammne had done, paused on arriving at the other hand, had his head-quarters at Potsdam. verge of the Bohemian mountains, and followed no Napoleon, when departing to succourr Dresden, on farther the advantages of the battle of Dresden. the 21st of August, left orders for Oudinot to adThe King of Naples halted at Sayda, Marmont at vance on Berlin, and for Macdonald to march upon Zinnwalde, and St-Cyr at Liebenau. The head- Breslau, trusting that the former had force enough quarters of the Emperor Alexander remained at to conquer tile Crown Prince, the latter to defeat Toplitz. Blucher. Napoleon received the news of this calamity, Oudinot began to move on Berlin by the road of however unexpected, with the imperturbable calm- Wittenberg, on the very day when he received the ness which was one of his distinguishing qualities. orders. On the other hand, the Crown PIrince of General Corbineau, who commanded in the singular Sweden, concentrating his troops, opposed to the charge of the cavally up the hill of Peterswald, French general a total force of more than eighty presented himself before the emperor in the con- thousand men, drawn up for the protection of Berlin. dition in which he escaped from the field, covered The sight of that fair city, with its towers and with his own blood and that of the enemy, and steeples, determined Oudinot to try his fortune with holding in his hand a Prussian sabre, which, in the his ancient comrade in arms. After a good deal of thick of the melee, he hlad exchanged for his own. skirmishing, the two armies came to a more serious -Napoleon listened composedly to the details he had battle on the 23d August, in which General Rignier to give. "One should make a bridge of gold for a distinguished himself. He commanded a corps flying enemy," he shid, "' where it is impossible, as which formed the centre of Oudinot's army, at the in Vandamme's case, to oppose to him a bulwark of head of which he made himself master of the village steel." He then anxiously examined the instruc- of Gross-Beeren, which was within a short distance tions to Vandamme, to discover if anything had of the centre of the allies. The Prussian general, inadvertently slipped into them, to encourage the Bulow, advanced to recover this important post, false step which that general had taken. But no- and with the assistance of Borstal, who attacked thing was found which couldjustify or authorize his the flank of the enemy, he succeeded in pushinhg his advancing beyond Peterswald, although the chance columns into the village. A heavy rain having preof possessing himself of Toplitz must have been vented the musrkets fi-om being serviceable, Grossacknowledged as a strong temptation. Beeren was disputed with the bayonet. Yet, to"This is the fate of' var," said Bonaparte, turn- wards nightfall, the two French divisions of Fournier ing to Murat. " Exalted in the morning, low enough and Glrilleurinot again attacked the village, took it, before night. There is but one step between triumph and remained in it till the morning. But this did and ruin." He then fixed his eyes on the map not reestablish the battle, for 1R6gnier having lost which. lay before him, took his compass, and re- fifteen hundred men and eight guns, Oudinot deterpeated, in a reverie, the following verses: — rined on a general retreat, which he conducted in the face of thie enemy with great deliberation. The Jsi servi, cemmante, vaincu jquarante annees; Crcwn Prince obtained other trophies; Luckau, Du monde entre mes mainsj'ai vu les destirl6es; it a gaion of a thosaud Frec, submitted to with a garrison of' a thousand French, submitted to Et j'ai touj ours connu qu'en chaque 6vdnement his arms on 28th A st. Le destin des 6tats dependait d'un moment. hs ls on 2Sth Agst. Besides these severe clhecks on the Prussian frontier, General Girard, in another quarter, had CHAPTER L;XXXVII. sulstained a defeat of some consequence. He had sallied fiorn the garrison of Magdeburg, after the Military proceedings in the north of Germany, in which battle of Gross Beeren, with five or six thousand the French were generally?unsuccessful.-Luc- kau sub- men,. lie was encolrraged to this mnoverment by the mits to the Crown Prince of Sweden. —Battles of Gross- removal of' the blockading brigade of llerschberg, Beeren and the Katzbach, where the French siffer wvh, in obedience to ordels, Iad joined the Crowr - ~ ~ ~~~~~~~h.i bdec oodr.hdJie h rw LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 599 Prince to oppose the advance of Oudinot. But, cavalry. Thus five thousand horse, and five times after the battle of Gross-Beeren, as the Prussian the number of infantry, being thrown at once onl the brigade was returning to renew the blockade of same line of march, soon confused and embarrassed Magdeburg, they encountered Girard and his divi. each other's motions, especially in passing the streets sion near Leibnitz, on 27th August. The French of a village called Kroitsch, a long and narrow were at first successful, but Czernicheff having defile, which the troops presently crowded to such thrown himself on them with a large body of Gos- a degree with foot and horse, baggage and guns, sacks, Girard's troops gave way, losing six cannons, that there was a'total impossibility of effecting a fifteen hundred prisoners, and all their baggage. passage. During this active period, war had been no less Macdonald, in the mean while, supported his busy on the frontiers of Silesia than on those of Bo- high reputation by the gallantry of' his resistance, hernia and Brandenbulg. Marshal Macdonald, as though charged on the left flank, which these misalready mentioned, had received orders from Napo- takes had left uncovered, by four regiments of caleon to attackL Blucher and his Prussians, who had vally, and by General Karpoff, with a whole cloud retired beyond the Katzbach, and occupied a posi- of Cossacks. But at length the day was decidedly tion near a town called Jauer. In obedience to this lost. The French line gave way, and falling back order, the marshal had sent General Lauriston, who on thle WVuthede-Neiss, now doubly raging fiom commanded his right wing, to occupy a position in torrents of rain, and upon the Katzbach, they lost a front of Goldberg, with orders to dispatch a part of great number of men. As a last resource, MItacdohis division under General Puthod, to march upon nald put himself at the head of the troops, who were Jauer, by the cicilitous route of Schonau. The at length debouching from the defile of Kroitsch; eleventh corps, whlich formed the centre of Mac- but they were driven back with great loss, and the donald's force, crossed the Katzbach at break of skirmish in that quarter concluded the battle, with day, nuder his own command, and advanced towards great loss to the French. Jaiber, up the side of a torrent called the Wuthend i The evil did not rest here. Lauriston being also (i. e. raging) Neiss. lThe third corps, under Soa- under the necessity of' retreating across the Katzham, destined to form the left wing, was to pass the bach, while Puthod, who had been detached towards Katzbach near Leibnitz, and then, moving south- Schonau, was left on the right-hand side of that river, ward, were to cone upon the nmarshal's left. With this corps was speedily attacked by the ernemy, and this left ving marched the cavalry, tnder Sebastiani. all who were not killed or taken remained prisoners. It chanced that, on this very 26th of August, The army which Bonaparte destined to act in Blucher, aware that Bonaparte was engaged at Silesia, and take Breslau, was, therefore, for the I Dresden by the descent of the allies from Bohemia, present completely disabled. The French are adthought it a good time to seek out his opponent and mitted to have lost 15,000 men, and more than a fight him. For this purpose, he was' in the act of hundred guns. descending the river in order to encounter Macdo- Though the battles of Gross-Beeren and the nald, when the marshal, ont his part, was ascending Katzbach were severe blows to Bonaparte's plan of it, expecting to find him in his position near Jauer. maintaining himself on the Elbe, he continued obThe stormiy weather, so often referred to, with stinate in his determination to keep hIis ground, with.mist and heavy rain, concealed fiom each other the Dresden as his central point of support, and atmovements of the two armies, until they met in the tempted to turn the bad fortune which seemed to fields. They enlcountered in the plains which extend haunt his lieutenants (but which in fact arose froiln betweenl WVahlstadt and the Katzbach, but under their being obliged to attempt great achievements circumstances highly unfavourable to the Frenc.h with inadequate means), by appointing Ney to the nmarshal. His right wing was divided froml his command of'the Northeln Army, with strict injunccentre.; Lauliston being at Goldberg, and fiercely tions to plant his eagles on the walls of lBerlin. engaged wvith the Russian general, Langeron with Accordingly, on the 6th September, Ney took char-ge whoil he had comle into contact in the front of that of the army which Oudinot had forlmerly colmmuanldtown; and Puthod at a much greater distance from ed, and which was lying under the wvalls of VWitenthe field of battle. Macdonald'sleft wing, with the berg, and, in obedience to the emperor's orders, cavalry, was also far in the rear. Blucher allowed determined to advance on the Prussian capital.'l:e no leisure for tie junction of these forces. His own enemy (being the army commanded by the Crown cavalry being all in filont, and ready for action, Prince) lay ratl.ei dispersed upon the grounds mlore cbarged the French without permitting them leisure to the east, occupying Juterbock, Belzig, and otlicr to get into position; and when they did, their right villages. Ney was desirous to avoid alppro;rc!liiwing indeed rested on the XW-uthend6-Neiss, but the the quarters of any of theni, or'to give the lest left, which should have been covered by Sebastiani's alarm. That marshal's object was to leave thelm:on cavalry, mwas altogether unsupported. the left, and, evading any encounter wvith the Crown-. iMessage on messag~e was sent to hasten up the Prince, to throwv his force on the road from Torg'-a n left wing; but a singtlar fatality prevented both the to Berlin, and eiiter into communication with anSy cavalry and infantry floln arriving in time. Dilferent tr6ops which Bonaparte might dispatch fioim Dreslines of advance had been pointed out to Souham den upon the samle point. and S6bastianli; btlt Souhain, hearing the firing, and Oin examining thle plan more closely, it,was fouand impatient to place himirself on the road which he to comprehend the danger of rousing the Prince of thought likely to lead him most speedily into action, Sweden and his army upon one point, and thlat was unluckily adopted that which was appointed for the at Dennewitz, the nmost southern village held by the I fdlt LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. al.i(s. It was occulpied by Tauentzein with a large at their head. Others saw tile matter in a dilterelt t)rce, and could not be passed without the alarm point of view. They said that formerly, wheln being given. Dennewitz might, however, be masked means were plenty with Bonaparte, lie took care by a sufficient body of troops, under screen of which that his lieutenants were supplied w-ith forces adethe marshal and his main body might push forwards qulate to the purposes on which they were to be emto Dahnme, without risking an engagement. It was ployed. But it was surmised that now lie kept the concluded, that the rapidity of their motions would Guard and the lite of' his forces under his own be so great as to leave no time for the Crown immediate command, and expected his lieutenants Prince to concentrate his forces for interrupting to be as successfll with few and raw troops, as they them,. had formerly been with numbers and veterans. It On thle 5th, Ney marched from Wittenberg. On cannot, however, be said that lie saved his own the (th, thle division of Bertrand, destined to mask exertions; for during tl:e mlonthl of September, while Deninewitz, formed the left flank of the army. he persisted in maint;aining thle war in Saxoly, alWhen they approached thle village, Tauentzein, though no afit:ir of' consteqence took place, yet a who commanded there, took the alarm, and -drew series of active measures showed howv anxious he up between Dennewitz and the French division. If was to bring thle war to a decision under his own Bertrarnd had only had to maintain himself for a eye. short interval in that dangerous position, it would In pertusing the brief abstract of movements which have been well, and he might have made head follows, the reader will relmember, that it was tlle against Tauentzein, till the last file of Ney's army purpose of Bonaparte to bring the allies to a battle lhad past by; but by some miscalculation (which on some point, where, by superior namhbers or supebegani to be more common now than formerly among rior skill, he might obtain a distinguished ictory; the French officers of the staff), the corps of Ber- while, on the other hand, it was the policy of tile trand was appointed to march at seven in the allies, dreading at once liis talents anld his despair, mrarnling, while the corps which were to be protect-.to avoid a general action; to lay swaste the glonund ed by Ilimt did not move till three hours later. Ber- around the points he occtpied; restirict hiis cotmmittnnitraurd was thus detained so long in face of the cations; raise Germany in armls around. him; anld enemy, that his demonstration was converted into finally, to encompass and herm hini in when his an action, his false attack into a real skirmish. ranks were grown thin, and thle spirit of his s:,liiers Presenlllv after tile battle became sharp and serious, diminished. Keeping these objects in his eye, tIle and the corps on both sides advancing to sustain reader, with a single glance at the nlap, will conthlem were engaged. Bulow came to support Tauen- ceive the meaning of the following mlovenients on tzeiun-Ri6gnier advanced to repel Bulow-Guille- either side. minot hastened tip on the French side-and Borstel Having deputed to Ney, as we have just seen, catne to support tile Russians. However unpre- the task of checking the progress of the Crown ilmeditated, the battle became general, as if by com- Prince, and taking Berlin if possible, B3onaparte mon consent. started in person from Dresden on the 3d Sjq,temu-'hi:e Prussians sulffered heavily from the French ber, in hopes of fetching a blow at Bluicller, xvlvose artil'ery, but witliout giving way. The Swedes and Cossacks, since the battle of' the Kafubacli, had Ru ssians at length camne lup, and the line of Ney advanced eastward, and intercepted a colliov even began to yield gro rnd. That general, who had near Bautzen. But agreeably to the plan adoptted hardly, thoulglh atl his fboces were etngaged, made' at the general head-quarters of the allies, tile I'Prshis p'ost good against the Russians alone, despaired sian veteran fell back and avoided a b;,ttle. Mleanof success when ihe saw these new enemies appear. while Napoleon was recalled towards 1)res'den Il Iie bLegatn to retreat; alnd his first amovement in that the news of the defeat of Ney at l)enm eniz, tzlad direction was a sig-nal of flight to the 7th corps, the yet more pressing intelligence that tihe allits c:ttilMost'd clliefly of Saxons not over well inclined were on the point of descendiug iito SiXi)ny, anli to the cause of Napoleon, and wlmvo therefore made again arraying themselves under the wvalls of D;esit no point of' hornour to fight to thle deathl in his den. The advanced guard of' \Vittgenstein ll ld cause. A huioe blan-k wvas created in the French shown itself, it was said, at Pirna, aiud tlie cityv \ is line by their fiiglit; and the cavalry of the allies a prey to newv alarmns. Thlle French LEIiperor posted ritsiiing iii at tile gap, the army of Ney vas cut into back towards thle E;be, and on the 9th canie in si;l,t twvo lar'ts; one of which pushed forwards to Dahme of Wittgenstein. But thie allied generals, ali'aid of \ith the marshlal hinmself'; the other, with Oudinot, ome of tlose suldem strokes of imspiraticn, m hemm retreated mupon Scharnitz. Ney afterwards accom- Napoleon seemed almost to dictate terims to ifate, It;tished his retreat on Torgan. But the battle of had enjoined Wiittgelstein to retreat in his tarm'. Deninewitz ihad cost him ten thousand men, forty- The passes of the Erzgebirge received hiimt, land th.ree pieces of cannion, and abundance of warlike Bonaparte, followving lrim1 as flur as Peterswald, trophites, relinquished to tile adversary, besides the gazed on the spot where Vuandamme mriet his mut1actotal dis:ppoimntmenit of his object in marching to- countable defeat, and looked across the -alley of wards l3erin.. Culmn to Toplitz, where his rival Alexander still These repeated defeats of Gross-Beeren, -the held his head-quarters. WVith the glance of an eye, Katzla:ich, arnd Dennewvitz, seemed to intimate that the most expert in rmil;tary affairs, he saw the danthe French were no lomiger the invincibles they had ger of involving himrselfin such impracticable defiles once been esteermed; or at least, that when they yet as the valley of Culrn, and the roads which comnmu-!worked mliracles, it vas only when Bonaparte was nicated witl; it, and resolved to proceed no farther. -,...,, ~ _... LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 601 Napoleon, therefore, returned towards Dresden, they were left unexecuted, partly owing to the huwhere he arrived on the 12th September. In his manity of Napoleon's liettenants, and partly to the retreat, a trifling skirmish occurred, in which the rapid advance of the allies. There was little ocson of Blucher was wounded, and made prisoner. casion for this additional cruelty; for so dreadfullly A victory was claimed on account of this affair, in had these provinces been harassed and pillaged by the bulletin. About the same period Blucher ad- the repeated passing and repassing of troops'on vanced upon the French troops opposed to him, both sides, that grain, cattle, and forage of every endangered their communications with Dresden, kind, were exhausted, and they contained scarce and compelled them to retreat from Bautzen and any other sustenance for mal or beast, except the Neustadt, towards Bischoffswerder and Stolpen. potatoe crop,_then in the ground. While Bonaparte thought of directing himself east- After his return to Dresden, on the 24th Sepward towards this indefatigable enemy, his atten- tember, Napoleon (lid not leave it till the period of tion was of new summoned southward to the Bohe- his final departure; and the tenacity with which lie mian mountains. Count Lobau, who was placed in held the place has been compared by some critics to observation near Gieshubel, was attacked by a de- the wilful obstinacy xwhich led to his tarrying so long tachment fiom Schwartzenberg's army. Napoleon at Moscow. But the cases were different. We have hastened to his relief, and made a second attempt formerly endeavoured to show, that Napoleon's to penetrate into these mountainrecesses, from which wisdom in the commencement of' this campaign the eagles of the allies made such repeated descents. would have been to evacuate Germany, and, by He penetrated, upon this second occasion, beyond consdnting to its liberation, to have diminished the Culm, and as far as Nollendorf, and had a skil- odium attached to his assumption of universal power. mish with the allies, which was rather unfavourable As, however, he had chosen to maintain his lofty to him. The action was broken off by one of the pretensions at the expense of these bloody caintremendous storms which distinguished the season, paigns, it was surely prudent to hold Dresden to ile and Bonaparte again retreated towards Gieshubel. last moment. His retreat from it, after so many On his return to Dresden, he met the unpleasant losses and disappointments, would have decided news, that the Prince Royal was preparing to cross the defection of the whole Conf'ederation of the the Elbe, and that Bulow had opened trenches be- Rhine, which already was much to be dreaded. It fore Wittenberg; while Blucher, on his side, ap. would have given the allied armies, at present seproached the right bank of the river, and neither parated from each other, an opportunity to form Ney nor Macdonald had sufficient force to check a junction on the left side of the Elbe, the consetheir progress. quences of which could hardly fhil to be decisive of On the 21st September, Napoleon once again his fate. On the other hand, while he remained at came in person against his veteran enemy, whom Dresden, Napoleon was in a condition to operate by he met not far from Hartha; but it was once more short marches upon the communications of the allies, in vain. The Prussian field-marshal was like the and might hope to the last that an opportunity would phantom knight of the poet. Napoleon, when he be afforded him of achieving some signal success advanced to attack him, found no substantial body against one or other of them, or perhaps of beating against which to direct his blows. them successively, and in detail. The allied soveThe emperor spent some hours at the miserable reigns and their generals were aware of this, and, thrice-sacked village of Hartha, deliberating, pro- therefore, as we have seen, acted upon a plan of bably, whether he should press on the Crown Prince extreme caution, for which they have been scoffed or Blucher, and disable at least one of these adver- at by some'French writers, as if it were the result saries by a single blow; but deterred by reflecting, of fear rather than of wisdom. But it was plain that the time necessary for bringing either of them that the time for more decisive operations was apto action would be employed by Schwartzenberg in proaching, and, with a view to such, each party accomplishing that purlpose of seizing Dresden, which drew towards them such reinforcements as they his movements had so fiequentily indicated. could command. Thus Napoleon could neither remain at Dresden Bonaparte's soldiers had suffered much by fatigue without suffering the Crown Prilce and Blucher to and skirmishes, though no important battle had been enter Saxoun, and inale theniselves masters of the fought; and he found himself obliged to order Auvalley of the Elbe, nor make ally distant movement gereau, who commanded about 16,000 men in the against those generals, xwit)houit endangering the safe- I neighbourhood of urtzberg, to join him at Dresden. ty of Dresden, all, witll it, of this lines of corm- He might, however, be said to lose more than he munlication withl Ftlrance.'Tlie last, as thle more gained bythis supply; for tile IBavarians, upon whose irreparable evil, he resolved to givard against, by I inclinations to desert the French cause Augereau' s retreatingp to Delsclin,'hllici: he reached on the army had been a check, no sooner saw it depart, 24th. tis tulashlias had orders to approachl closer than an open and friendly intercourse took place to the centiral pIoint, wxhere ime hlitmself itd his head- betwixt their army and that of Austria, which lay quarters; aulh ill tile right side of the Elbe xvas opposed to themn; negotiations were opened between abandoned to tlie allies. It is said by Baron Ode- their courts withoutmuchnaffectati"- ofconcealment; Iclen, tihat the severest olders wxelre issued for de- I and it was generally believed, tha, only some qlle strolyin hiises, dri C il, oil cattle, la rning woods tion about tile Tyrol prevented their coming to a and r'o(tig up11 rlit-trees, rolducing tlie country in immediate agreement. sliirt to a desert (an evil rexvwid fior the confidence r The allies received, on their side, the reinforceanrd fidelity of ti- old Kg cf' Saxonx), but that nment of no less than 60,000 Russians, under the (i02 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. command of Bennigsen. The most of them came from proach, he crossed the Mulda, and formed a julncthe provinces eastward of Moscow; and there were tion with the army of the Crown Prince, near to be seen attending them tribes of the wandering Zoerbig, on the left bank of that river; Napoleon, Baskirs and Tartars, figures unknown in European once more baffled, took up his head quarters at war, wearing sheep-skins, and armed with bows and Duben on the 10th. Helre he soon learned that the arrows. But the main body consisted of regular Crown Prince and Blucher, apprehensive that he troops, though some bore rather an Asiatic appear- might interpose betwixt them and the grand army ance. This was the last reinforcement which the of Schwartzenberg, had retreated upon the line of allies were to expect; being the arriere-ban of the the Saale during the night precedling the 11th.almost boundless empire of Russia. Some of the They were thus still placed on his communications, men had traveled from the wall of China to this but beyond his reach, an(l in a situation to comnmuuniversal military rendezvous. nicate with their own grand army. Their utmost force being now collected, in num- But this movement to the westward, on the part bers greatly superior to that of their adversary, the of the allies, had this great inconvenience, that it allies proceeded to execute a joint movement, by left Beljn exposed, or inadequately protected by means of which they hoped to concentrate their the single division of Tauentzt-in at Dessan. This forces on the left bank of the Elbe; so that if Na- did not escape the falcon eye of Napoleon. He laid poleon should persist in remaining at Dresden, he before his umashals a mlore daring plan of tactics might be cut off from communication with France. than even his own gigaltic imagination had (exceptWith this view Blucher, on the 3d October, crossed ing in the Moscow campaign) ever bef'ole conceived. the Elbe near the junction of that river with the He proposed to recross the Elbe to the right bank, Schwarze Elster, defeated Bertrand, who lay in an and then resting his right wing on Dresden, and his entrenched camp to dispute the passage, and fixed left on Hamburg, there to maintain himnself, with his head-quarters at Duben. At the same time, the the purpose of'recrossing tIhe Elbe on the first apCrown Prince of Sweden in like manner transferred pearance of obtaining a success over the enermy, his army to the left bank of the Elbe, by crossing dashing down on Silesia, and raising the blockade at Rosslau, and entered into communication with of the fortresses upon the Oder. With this i:,Ipose the Silesian army. Thus these two great armies he had already sent R1gnier and Bertrand across were both transferred to the left bank, excepting the Elbe, though their ostensible mission had the division of Tauentzein, which was left to nothing more important than to raise tilhe siege of maintain the siege of Wittenberg. Ney, who was Wittenberg. in front of these movements, having no means to The counsellors of the emperor were to a man resist such a preponderating force, retreated to dissatisfied with this plan. It seemed to them that Leipsic. remaining in Germany was only clinging to thlu deSimultaneously with the entrance of the Crown fence of what could no longer be defended. They Prince and Blucher into the eastern division of appealed to the universal disaffection of'all the GerSaxony from the north-west, the grand army of the mans on the Rhine, and to the destruction of tilhe allies was put in motion towards the same district, kingdom of Westphalia, recently effected by no advancing from the south by Sebastians-Berg and greater force than Czernicheff, with a pulk of CosChemnitz. On the 5th October, the head-quarters sacks. They noticed the almost declared defecti(on of Prince Schwartzenberg were at Marienberg. of all their former friends, alluded to their own diThese movements instantly showed Bonaparte minished numbers, and remonstrated against a plan the measures about to be takenl by the allies, and which was to detain the army in a wasted country, the necessity of preventing their junction. This he inhabited by a population gradually becoming hosproposed to accomplish by leaving Dresden with tile, and surrounded with enenaies whom they couldd all his disposable force, attacking Blucher at Du- not defeat, because they would never fight but at ben, and, if possible, annihilating that restless enemiy, advantage, and who possessed the means of dis. or, at least, driving himt back across the Elbe. At tressilug them, while they had no nmeans of retorting the same time, far from thinking lie was about to the inljuries they received. This, they said, vwas the leave Dresden for ever, vwhich le had been employ- history of the last three months, only varied by the ed to the last in fortifying yet more strongly, lie decisive defeats of Gross-Beeren, the Katzbach, placed a garrison of upwards of 15,000 men in that anid Dennewitz. city under St-Cyr. This force was to defend the Napoleon remained from the ltll to the 14th of' city against any corps of the allies, which, left in October at Dubemi, concentrating his own forces, the Bohemian mountains for that purpose, might waiting for news of the allies' motions, and remaining otherwise have descended and occupied Dresden, in a state of uncertainty and inactivity, very different so soon as Napoleon removed from it. The King fi'on his usual frame of mind and natural habits. "' I of Saxony, his queen and family, preferred accon;- have seen him at that tilme," says an eye-witness,* panying Napoleon oin his adventurous journey, to "' seated on a sof: beside a table, onl which lay his remaining in Dresden, where a siege was to be ex- charts, totally unemplloyed, unless in scribbling mepected, and where subsistence was already become ciianically large letters on a sheet of white paper." difficult. Consultations with his best generals, which ended The same alertness of movemnent, which secured without adolting any fixed deterniination, varied Blucher on other occasions, saved him in the pre- those unpleasing reveries. The councils were often sent case from the meditatedl attack on Dtd-en. | Barlon Odelelen, in his interesting Circumnstantial On the 9th of' October, hearing of Napoleonl's apil- No;ie;l tie Camnpaign ill Saxony. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 6c3 seasons of dispute, almost of dissension. The want movements of the troops had been of an inldecisive of success had made those dissatisfied with each character; but after the 14th, when the belligerent other, whose friendship had been cemented by uni- powers became aware of each other's plans, tihe form and uninterrupted prosperity. Great misfor- corps of the allies, as well as those of the French, tunes might have bound them together, and com- streamed towards Leipsic as to a common centre. pelled them to regard each other as common suffere rs. Leaving Duben, the emperor reached Leipsie.But a succession of failures exasperated their tem- early on the 15th of October, and received the per, as a constant drizzling shower is worse to en- agreeable information that his whole force would bhe dure than a thunder-storm. in twenty-four hours under the walls; that tile Grand Napoleon, while the marshals were dissatisfied Army of Austria was fast approaching; but that his with each other and with him, complained, on his demonstration against Berlin had alarmed Blucher, part, that fatigue and discouragement had overpow- and therefore that marshal nlight be longer of ered most of his principal officers; that they had advancing, from his anxiety to protect tl;e Prussian become indifferent, lukewarm, awkward, and there- capital. An opportunity of fightinlg the one army, fore unfortunate. " The general officers," he said, without the presence of the other, was what Napo"desired nothing but repose, and that at all rates." leon most anxiously desired. On the other hand, the marshals asserted that In the meantime cannon were heard, and shortly Napoleon no longer calculated his means to the after Murat brought all account of a desperate caends which he proposed to attain-that he suffered valry skirmish, in which each party claimed the himself to be deceived by phrases about the predo- victory. He himself, marked by the splendlolll of minance of his star and his destiny-and ridiculed his dress, had with difficulty escaped fronm a young his declaration that the word Inpossible was not Prussian officer, who was killed by an orderly dragood French. They said that such phrases were goon that waited upon the King of Naples. Another well enough to encourage soldiers; but that military remarkable circumstance in this skirmish was, tilhe councils ought to be founded on more logical argu- distinguished behaviour of a Prulssian regiment of ments. They pleaded guilty of desiring repose; but cuirassiers. When complimented on their behaviolr, asked which was to blame, the horse or the rider, they replied, ":Could we do otherwise?-this is the when the over-ridden animal broke down with anniversary of the battle of' Jena." Such a spirit fatigue? prevailed among the allies, nor is it to be slupposed At length Napoleon either changed his own opi- that that of the French was inferior. I' the one nion, or deferred to that of his military advisers; the had wrongs to avenge, the other had honours to orders to R6gnier and Bertrand to advance upon preserve. Berlin were annulled, and the retreat upon Leipsic The venerable town of Leipsic forms an irregular was resolved upon. The loss of three days had ren- square, surrounded by an ancient Gothic wall, with dered the utnlost dispatch necessary, and Bonaparte a terrace planted with trees. Folr gates,-on the saw himself obliged to leave behind him in garrison, north those of Halle and Rastadt, onll the east the Davoast at Hamburg, Lemarrois at Magdeburg, gate of Grimma, and on the south that called St Lapoype at W;ittenberg, and Count Narbonne at Peter's Gate,-lead from tile town' to the suburbs, Torgau. Still lie seems to have anticipated some which are of great extent, secured by walls and favourable chance, which might again bring him barriers. Upon the west side of the town, two riback to the line of the Elbe. " A thunderbolt," vets, the Pleisse and the Elster, wash its walls, as lie himself expressed it, "alone could save him; and, flowing through meadows, divide themselves but all was not lost while battle was in his power, into several branches, connected by amarshy islandn. and a single victory might restore Germany to its Leipsic cannot, therefore, be esteemed capable of obedience." approach by an enemy in that direction, excepting by a succession of bridges which cross those rivers CHAPTER LXXXVIII. and their connecting streams. Tile first of these bridges leads to a village called Lindeneau, andl Napoleon reaches Leipsic on 15th of October.-Description bridges leads to a village called Lindenea, and Nf that tonin-statem opnlfethe Frenoh and alliedm thence to Mark-Rastadt. It is close to the gate of of that town.-SStatement of the Frenlcht and alli/ed forces.-Battle of Leipsic, commenced oe 16th, and ter- the city which takes its name fionl that village. minales with disadvantage to the French at nightfall.- This road forms the sole communication betwixt 2Napoleon dispatches General Merfeldt (his prisoner) Leipsic and the banks of the Rhine. On the east to the Emperor of Austria, with proposals for an ar- side, the river Partha makes a large semicircular mistice-No answer is rettcrned.-The battle is renewed bend anound the city, inclosing extensive plains, witl on the morning. of the 18th, (ant lasts till night, when the various heights and points of elevation, which malke French are cornFelled to retreat, after itmlense loss on it well adapted for a military position; on the south both sides.-Tnhey eraclcate Leipsic on the 19th, the llies the same species of groulnd continues, but nlmre in.full pursuit.-The retreat rendered more bloody by broken into eminelces, one of which is called tbe tie blowing tcp of one of the brirtes.-Prince Ponliatowski Swedish Camp, filrm the wars, doubtless, of Gusdroned in the Elster.-25,000 French are made pri- tavtus Adolphlls; another is called the Sheepwvalk of I oners. —T/e alliedsovereignls mleet in trilmpA, at nl0oon, enMeusdorf; it is then bounded by the banks of the in the great square at Leipsic.-King of Saxony sent Pleisse. This line is marked by a variety ofvillages, der a guard to Berich, in the fearfil days which we are now to Timf last act of the grand draulm, so far as the describe, gained a iiame in history, About the vilscele lay inl Gellrmany, was nl)lwV flist approaching. lage oc Connewitz begins the mlarshy ground, illunIuring the two first wveels of October, the various jdated by tile Pleisse and Elster. 60s4 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. It was on this last line that, on the 15th October, the southern side of Leipsic. It has been supposed, the columns of the grand army of the allies were though, we think, with small probability, that he scen hastily advancing. Napoleon immediately scarce expected a serious attack upon tile northern made his arrangements for defence. Lindeneau, side at all. In the evening, however, of the 15th, through which ran the Mark-Rastadt road, by which three death-rockets (feux de mort), displaying long the French must retreat, was occupied by Bertrand. brilliant trains of white lighllt, were observed to rise Poniatowski, advancing to the right bank of the high in the southerly quarter of the heavens, and Pleisse, held all the villages along the side of the they were presently answered by four of a red coriver-Connewitz, LUfsnig, I)ooblitz, and so on to lour, which were seen in the distant north. It was AMarkleberg. As the line of defence swept to the concluded that these were signals of communication eastward, Augereaa was established on the elevated between the grand army of the allies, and those of plain of Wachaul. He was supported by Victor the Crown Prince and Blucher. The latter, thereand Lauriston at a considerable village called Lie- fore, must be at no incalculable distance. bertwolkowitz. Cavalry were posted on the wings Napoleon remained in the rear of his own Guards, of these divisions. The Imperial Guards were behind the central position, almost opposite to a placed in the rear as a reserve, at a village named village called Gossa, which was occupied by thle Probtsheyda; and Macdonald occupied a gentle allies. and sweeping rising ground, extending from Stoet- At break of day, on the 16th October, the battle teritz to Holtzhausen. began. The French position was attacked along all On the opposite, that is, the northern side of the the southern ti-ont vith the greatest fury. On the city, Marmont occupied a line betwixt Mocchern French righlt, the village of Markleberg was fiercely and Euteizt. HIis troops were intended to make assaulted by Kleist, while the Austrian division of head against Blucher, whose approach from the Merfeldt, making their way through the marshes north was momentarily to be applrehended. Almost to the left bank of the Pleisse, threatened to force all along the ground thus defended, but especially themselves across that river. Poniatowski, to whom on the south front, the allies had prepared colunns the defence was confided, was obliged to give ground, of attack; and the sentinels of both armies were, so that the emperor was compelled to bring up the vwhen evening fell, in some places within musket- troops under Souhamn, which had joined during the shot of each other. Neither side, however, seemed night, and which had been designed to support wiliing to begin the battle, in which the great ques- Marinont on the north of Leipsic. Marshal Victor tion was to be decided, whether France should defended the village of WVachall, in front of the poleave other nations to be guided by their own princes, sition, against Prince Eugene of Wirtemberg. The or retain the unnatural supremacy with which she town of Liebertwolkowitz was made good by Lauhad been invested by the talents of one great sol- riston against Kl6nau. The allies made six despedier. rate atteinpts on these points, but all were unsuccessThe number of men who engaged the next morn- full. They were now something in the condition of ing, was said to be 136,000 French, omitting the wrestlers who have exhausted themselves in vain corps of Souham, who was not engaged, and of ai;d premature efforts; and Napoleon in turln, asRdgnier, who was not yet come up. The allies are surning the offensive, began to show his skill and by the samle accounts rated at 230,000, without power. counting, the division of the Crown Prince, or that of Macdonald was ordered to attack K(lnau, and Bennigsen, which had not as yet joined. Almost beat hirm back froml Liebertwolkowitz, svith the caall thle statements assign a predonminating force to valry of Sdbastiani; while two divisions descended the allies of 80,000 or 100,000 men superior to their to sustain General Lauriston. It vwas about noon enemy. It thus appears that they had at last acted when this general aldvance took place along the according to Napoleon's own idea of the art of war-, centre of the Frenclh. It was for some tillle fearwhich hie dcefined as the art of assembling the greatest -fully successful. The village of Gossa, hitlherto number upon a given point. ouccupied by the allies, and in the very cenltre of Napoleon hinmiself visited all the posts, gave his their line, was carried by the bayonet. The eiiilast orders, and took the opportlunity, as lie fie- nence called the Sheepwvalk was also inr danger of quently did on the eve of battle, to dlistri)'ute eagles beiing lost, and the exertions of Macdonald put )iihn to those regiments of Agllereati's division, which, in possession of the redoubt called the,Swedish beiitg new levies, had not yet received these mlili- Camp. The desperate inlpetuosity of the French tary emblemis. Thlle ceremony, perbfomed with war- hadl fairly broken through the centre of the allies like ponlp, ilay rermiiid the reader of the ancient and Napoleon, as if desirous not to lose a miioment in falshion of makinig kniglhts on the eve of a battle. proclaiming his supposed victory, sent tile tidings to The soldiers were made to swear never to abandon the Kinr of Saxony, liho commanded all the chutrchtheir eagles; and the emllperor concluded by saying, bells in the city to be rung for rejoicing, even while in a loud voice, "Yoiider lies the eneniy. Swear the close continued roar of the cannon seelmed to that you will rather die than perllit France to be give the lie to the merry peal. The King, of Naples, dishonoured." in the meantime, withl Latour Mauhourg, and Kel"\Veswear it," exclaimed the battalions. "Long lermann, poured through the gap in the enemy's'.ve the emperor!" And unqlestionahly they kept centre, and at the head of thle swhole body of cavalry their word in the tremendous series of a:-t:ons wimich thundered forward as far as Magdeburg, a village followed. in the rear of the allies, bearing down General Napoleon's preparations were made chiefly upon Raefskoi, with the grenadiers of the reserve, Nwho LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. c(;0. threw themselves forward to oppose their passage. morst had been forced back by Blucher, and the But at this imminent moment of peril, while the whole line of' defence on that side was crow uld French cavalry were disordered by their own suc- more near to the walls of Leipsic. cess, Alexander ordered the Cossacks of his Guard, Napoleon, in the meantime, had the melancholy who were in attendance' on his person, to charge. task of arranging his soldiers for a defence, sure to They did so with the utmost fury, as fighting under be honourable, and yet at length to be unavailing. the eye of their sovereign, disconcerted Bonaparte's Retreat became inevitable; yet, how to accomplish it manceuvre, and bore back with their long lances through the narrow streets of a crowded city; how the dense mass of cavalry who had so nearly carried to pass more than one hundred thousand men over a the day. single bridge, while double that number were pressIn the meantime, when the carnage was continu- ing on their rear, was a problem which even Bonaing on the southern side of Leipsic, a similar thunder parte could not solve. In this perplexity, he thought of artillery commenced on the right, where Blacher of appealing to the sentiments ofaffection which the had arrived before the city and suddenly come into Emperor of Austria must necessarily be supposed to action with Marmont, with at least three men for entertain for his daughter and grandchild. The capone. Breathless aides-de-camp came galloping to ttre of General Merfeldt served opportunely to reclaim the troops of Souham, which, for the pur- afford the means of communication with the better pose of supporting Poniatowski; had been withdrawn grace, as, after the battle of Austerlitz, this was the from their original destination of assisting Marmont. individual, who, on the part of the Emperor of GerThey could not, however, be replaced, and Blucher many, had solicited a personal interview, and faobtained, in consequence, great and decided results. vourable terms friom Napoleon. In a private interHe took the village of Mcechern, with twenty pieces view with this officer, Napoleon received the conof artillery, and two thousand prisoners; and when firmlation of what he had longi apprehended, the night separated the combat, had the advantage of defection of the King of Bavaria, the union of his having greatly narrowed the position of the enemy. army with that of Austria, and their determination Blt the issue on the south side of Leipsic conti- to intercept him on his return to the Rhine. This nued entirely indecisive, though fulriously contested. fatal intelligence increased his desire of' peace, and Gossa was still disputed, taken and retaken repeat- lie requested, yet in terms of becoming dignity, edly, but at length remained in possession of the the intercession of his father-in-law. I-e was now allies. On the verge of the Pleisse, the combat wvas willing to adopt the terms proposed at Prague. He no less dreadful. The Austrians of Bianchi's divi- offered to renounce Poland and Illyria. He would sion poured on Markleherg, close to the side of the consent to the independence of Holland, the Hause river, with the most dreadful yells. Poniatowski,; towns, and Spain; but he wished this last to be dewith Augereau's assistance, had the utmost difficulty layed till a general peace. Italy, lie proposed, should in keeping his ground. From the left side of the be considered as independent, and preserved in its Pleisse, Schwartzenberg manceuvred to push a body integrity. Lastly, as the price of the armistice to be of horse across the swampy river, to take the French immediately concluded, he was willing to evacuate in the rear of the position. But such of the cavalry Germany and retreat towards the Rhine. as got through a very bad ford were instantly charged These terms contained what, at an early part and driven back, and their leader, General Merfeldt, of the campaign, and voluntarily tendered, would fell into the hands of the French. An Austrian di- have been gladly accepted by the allies. But Bonavision, that of Giulay, manceuvred on the left bank paorte's own character for ability and pertinacity; of the Pleisse, as far down as Lindenau, and the the general impression, that, if he relinquished his succession of bridges, which, we have said, forms views for a time, it was only to recur to them in a on the western side the sole exit from Leipsic to- more favourable season; and his terrible power of wards the Rhine. This was the only pass which makilg successfll exertions for that purpose, harremained for retreat to the French, should they fail dlened the hearts of the allied sovereigns against in the dreadful action which was now fightingl. wh;t, fiiom another (could any other save Bonaparte Giolay might have destroyed these bridges; but it is be supposed in his situation) would, in the like cirbelieved he had orders to leave open) that pass hr ciumstances, have beenfavour-ablyvreceived. "Adien, retreat, lest the French should be rendered utterly General Merfeldt," said Napoleon, disntlssing his desperate, when there was no anticipating wviat prisoner; "when, on my part, youl name the word exertions they might be goaded to. armistice to the two emperors, I doubt not that thec The battle, thus fiercely contested, continued to voice which then strikes their ears will aw-aken rage till nightfall, when the bloody work ceased as muany recollections." VVords affecting by their if by mutual consent. Three cannon shot, fired as a simplicity, and.which, coming from so prond a heart, s;gnal to the more distant points, intimated that the and one who was reduced to ask the generosity conflict was ended for the time, and the armies on whlii:h lie had formerly extended, cannot be recordedl the southern line retired to rest, in each other's without strong sympathy. presence, in the very positions which they had oc- General Merfeldt went out, like the messenger copied the night before. The French had lost the from the ark, and long and anxiously did Bonaparte ground which at one period they had gained, but expect his return. But he was the raven envoy, they had not relinquished one foot of their original and brought back no olive-branch. Napoleon did position, though so fiercely attacked during the not receive an answer until his troops had re-crossed whole day by greatly superior numbers. On the the Rhine. The allies had engaged themselves so. aorth their defence had been less successful. Mar- lemnly to each other, that they would enter into on! _ _ 60o3 LEFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. treaty with his while an individual of the French sides. The Poles, with their gallant general Poniaarmy remained in Germany. towski, to whom this was to prove the last of his Bonaparte was now engaged in preparations for fields, defended the banks of the Pleisse, and the retreat; yet he made them with less expedition than villages connected with it, against the Prince of te necessities of the time required. Morningcame, Hesse-Homberg, Bianchi, and Colloredo. In the and the enemy did not renew the attack, waiting for centre, Barclay de Tolly, Wittgenstein, and Kleist, Bennigsen and the Prince Royal of Sweden. In advanced on Probtsheyda, where they were opthe meanwhile, casks and materials of all kinds posed by the King of Naples, Victor, Augereau,. being plenty, and labourers to be collected to any and Lauriston, under the eye of Napoleon himself. extent, it seems, that, by some of the various modes On the left, Macdonald had drawn back his division known to military engineers, * temporary bridges from an advanced point called Holtahausen, to a vilmight have been thrown over the Elster and the lage called Stoetteritz, which was the post assigned Pleisse, which were tranquil, still rivers, and the to him on the new and restricted line of defence. marshes betwixt them rendered sufficiently passable. Along all this extended southern line, the fire conUnder far more disadvantageous circumstances tinned furious on both sides, nor could the terrified Napoleon had bridged the Beresina within the space spectators, fiom the walls and steeples of Leipsic, of twelve hours. This censure is confirmed by a perceive that it either advanced or recoiled. The! most competent judge, the general of engineers, French had the advantage of situation and cover, Rogniat, Nwho affirms that there was time enough to the allies that of greatly superior numbers; hoth have completed six bridges, had it been employed were commanded by the first generals of their with activity. The answer, that he himself, as chief country and age. of the engineer department at the time, ought to About two o'clock afternoon, the allies, under have ordered and prepared these means of retreat, General Pirch and Prince Augustus of Prussia, seems totally insufficient. Napoleon did not permnit forced their way headlong into Probtsheyda; the his generals to anticipate his commands on such im- camp-followers began to fly; the noise of the tumult portant occasions. It is said, indeed, that the em- overcame almost the fire of the artillery. Napoleon, peror had given orders for three bridges, but that, in the rear, but yet on the verge of this tumult, prein the confusion of this dreadful period, that was served his entire tranquillity. He placed the reserve seldomr completely accomplished which Napoleon of the Old Guard in order, led them in person to could not look after with his own eyes. Nothing of recover the village, and saw them force their enthe kind was actually attempted, except at a place trance, ere he retreated to the eminence from which called the Judges' Garden; and that, besides having he observed the action. During the whole of this its access, like the stone bridge, through the town eventfil day, in which he might be said to fight less of Leipsic, was constructed of too slight materials. for victory than for safety, this wonderful man conPerhaps Napoleon trusted to the effect of Merfeldt's tinned calm, decided, collected, and supported his mission; perhaps he had still latent hopes that h;s diminished and broken squadrons in their valiant reedeat might be unnecessary; perhaps he abhorred defence, with a presence of mind and courage, as the tholught of that manoeuvre so much, as tolead determined as he had so often exhibited in directing him entirely to confide the necessary preparations to the tide of onward victory. Perhaps his military another; but certain it is, the exertion was not made talents were nmore' to be admired, when thus conin a manner suitable to the occasion. The village tendintl at once against fortune and the superiority of Lindenau, on the left side of tile river, was of numbers, than in the most distinguished of his nevertheless secured. victories, when the fickle goddess fought upon his The 17th, as we have said, wsas spent in prepara- side. Iions on both sides, without any actual hostilities, The allies, notwithstanding their gallantry and I excepting when a distant cannonade, like the growl- their numbels, felt themselves obliged to desist ing of some huge monster, showed that war was only tfrom the murlderous attacks ulpon the villages which 1 laumhbeiing, and that but lightly. cost thell such immense loss; and drawing back At eight o'clock on the 18th of October, the battle their troops as they brought forward their guns and was renewed with tenfold fury. Napoteon had con- howvitzers, contented thiemlselves with maintaining a siderably contracted his circuit of detfence; on the dreadilil tire on the French masses as they showed external range of heights and villges, which haad themselves, and throwing shells into the villages. been so desperately defended on tile 16th, the allies Thl'le French replied with great spirit; but they had now found no opposition but that of outposts. The fewer guns in position, and besides, their ammuniFrench were posted in an interior line nearer to tion was falling short. -Still, however, Napoleon Leipsic, of which Probtsheyda dwas the central completely maintained the day on the south of point. Napoleon himeseli; stationed onr an eminence Li ipsic, where he was present in person. called Thonberg, commanded a prospect of the On the north side of Leipsic, the superiority of whole field. Masses were drawn lip behind the numbers, still greater than that which existed on the villages, which relieved their defenders ifrom time south, placed Ney in a precarious situation. He was I to time with fresh troops; cannon were placed in pressed at once by the army of Blucher, and by that their front and on their flanks, and every patch of of the Crown Prince, which was now coriie uip in wooded ground which aftforded the least shelter was force. The latter general forced his way across the filled with tirailleurs. The battle then joined on all, Partha, with three columns, and at three different points; and Ney saw himself obliged to retreat, in |* be Sir Heoward Dquglas's work on military bridges. order to concentrate his forces nearer Leipsic, and LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 607 communicate by his right with the army of Napo- Dresden altogether impossible, especially when the len. Bavarian general, now his declared enemy, was'lhe Russians had orders to advance to force this master of his communications with France. newv position, and particularly to drive back the ad- The retreat, however necessary, was doomed vanced guard of R6gnier, stationed on an eminence inevitably to be disastrous, as is evident from the called Heiterblick, betwixt the villages of Taucha situation of the French army, cooped up by suand Paunsdorf. On a sudden, the troops who occu perior forces under the walls of a large town, the pied the French line on that point came forward to narrow streets-of which they must traverse to reach meet the allies, with their swords sheathed, and two bridges, one of recent and hasty construction, colours of truce displayed. This was a Saxon bri- by which they must cross the Pleisse, the Elster, gade, who, in the midst of the action, embraced the and the marshy ground, streams, and canals, which time and opportunity to desert the service of Napo- divide them from each other; and then, added to leon, and declare for independence. These men this was the necessity of the whole army debouching had an unquestionable right to espouse the cause of by one single road, that which leads to Lindenau, their country, and shake off the yoke of a stranger, and on which it would be impossible to prevent which Saxony had found so burdensome; but it is dreadful confusion. But there was no remedy for not while on the actual battle-ground that one side these evils; they must necessarily be risked. ought to be exchanged for the other; and those must The retreat was commenced in the night time, be in every case accounted guilty of treachery, who, and Bonaparte, retiring in person to Leipsic, spent bringing their swords into the field for one party, a third exhausting night in dictating tile necessary shall suddenly, and without intimation given, turn orders for drawing the corps of'his army successively them against the power in whose ranks they had within the town, and transferring them to the weststood. ern banlk of the two rivers. The French troops The Russians, afraid of stratagem, sent the Saxon accordingly came into- Leipsic from all sides, and troops, about ten thousand in number, to the rear of filling the town with tile ineffable confusion swhich the position. But their artillery were immediately always must attend the retreat of so large a body in brought into action; and having expended during the presence of a victorious enemy, they proceeded that morning one half of their ammunition on the to get out of it as they best could, by the way preallies, they now bestowed the other half upon the scribed. Macdonald, and Poniatowski, with their French army. By this unexpected disaster, Ney corps, were appointed to the perilous honour of prowas obliged to contract his line of defence once tecting the rear.. more. Even the valour and exertions of that dis- " Prince," said: Napoleon, to the brave Polisl tirngished general could not defend Schoenfeld. prince, " you must defend the southern suburb."'l'lat ir village firms almost one of the northern " Alas, sire," he answered, 6' have but few suburbs of Leipsic. It was in vain that Bonaparte soldiers left," dispa;tched his reserves of cavalry to check the " Well, but you will defend them with what you advance of' tie Crown Prince. He defeated all have?. olpp(sition that presented itself, and pressed Ney "Doubt not, sire, but that we will make good into a 1 osition close under; the walls of Leipsic. our ground; we are all ready to die for your majes. The battle once more ceased on all points; and ty's service." after the solemn signal of three cannon-shot had Napoleon parted with this brave and attached been heard, the field was left to tie slain and the prince, upon whom he had recently bestowed a ssounded. marshal's baton. They never niet again in thlis Although the French army kept its ground most world. valiantly during the whole of this trermnendlous d y, The arrival of day-light had no sooner shown to there was no prospect of their being able to sustain the allies the commencement of the French retreat, themselves any longer around or in Leipsic.'I'Te than their columns began to advance in pursuit on allies had approached so close to thleil, that their every point, pushing forward, with all the aniniatioon attacks might, on the third day, be expected to ble of victory, to overtake the enemy in the suburbs more combined and siiiualtatieous than before.'Tlie and streets of Leipsic. The King of Saxony, the superiority of numnibers becallie more etici it ir taftel nmagistrates, alnd sonie of' the Freiich generals, enthe great carnage that hadl taken place, alld tehat ti)r deveoured to secure the city froni,the dlangers which the simple reason, tlhat the armiiy wh-icih had greatest were to be expected from a battle in the town, benumbers could best atfirdi to lose 1;ves. It is said twixt the rear-guard of the French and the advanced also by Baron Fail. tl;tt thie enornmous liulber (cf' ard of the allies. They senit prolosals, that the 250,000 cannon-hullets had been expendled by the'renclh army should he permitted to eliect their re French during the last four days, and that there oiily treat nmiiiolestemd, in nlercy to the unfbrtunate town remained to serve their guns about 16,000 carl But when were victorious generals prevented frtor tridges, which could scarce support a lhot fire hto prosecutitiig military advantages, by the mere conI two hours. This was owing to the great park of sideration of' humanity? Napoleon, on his side, artillery having been directed on Torgau, another was urged to set file to tile suburbs, to check the circumstance wl.ich serves to show how little Bona- pressure of the allies on his rear-guard. As this parte dreamed of abandoning the Elbe when lie however, must have occasioned a most extensive moved from Diresden. To this the increasing scar- scene of imisery, Bonaparte generously refused to city of provisions is to be added; so that every give such a dreadful order, which, besides, could thing combined to render Napoleon's longer stay at l.ot have been executed without compromising the fi08 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. safety of a great part of his own rear, to whom the the river, a dreadful accident had taken place. task of destruction must have been committed, and The bridge, so necessary to the escape of this who would doubtless immediately have engaged in distressed army, had been mined by Bonaparte's au extensive scene of plunder. Perhaps, also, Na- orders, and an officer of engineers was left to execute poleon might be influenced by the feeling of what the necessary measure of destroying it, so soon as was due to the confidence and fidelity of Frederick the allies should approach in force sufficient to ocAugustus of Saxony, who, having been so long the cupy the pass. Whether the officer to whom this faithful follower of his fortunes, was now to be aban- duty was intrusted had fled, or had fallen, or had doned to his own. To have set fire to that unhappy been absent from his post by accident, no one seems monarch's city, when leaving him behind to make to have known; but at this critical period a sergeant terms for himself as he could, would have been an commanded the sappers in his stead. A body of evil requital for all he had done and suffered in the Swedish sharp-shooters pushed up the side of the cause of France; nor would it have been much river about eleven o'clock, with loud cries and better had Napoleon removed the Saxon King from huzzas, firing upon the crowds who were winning his dominions, and destroyed all chance of his mak- their way slowly along the bridge, while Cossacks ing peace with the irritated sovereigns, by trans- and Hulans were seen on the southern slide, rushing p)ortilg him along with the French army, in its cala- towards the same spot; and the troops of Saxony nitous retreat. and Baden, who had now entirely changed sides, At nine o'clock Napoleon had a farewell interview were firing on the French from the wall of the suwith Frederick Augustus, releasing him formally burbs, which they had been posted to defend against from all the ties which had hitherto combined them, the allies, and annoying the retreat which they had and leaving him at liberty to form such other al- been destined to cover. The non-commissioned liances as the safety of his states might require. officer of engineers imagined that the retreat of the Tileir parting scene was hurried to a conclusion by French was cut off, and set fire to the mine, that the the heavy discharge of musketry from several points, allies might not take possession of the bridge for which intimated that the allies, forcing their way pursuing Napoleon.* The bridge exploded with a into the suburbs, were fighting hand to hand, and horrible noise. from house to house, with the French, who still con- This catastrophe effectually intercepted the retinned to defend them. The King and Queen of treat of all who remained still on the Leipsic side Saxony conjured Bonaparte to mount his horse, and of the river, excepting some individuals who sucmake his escape; but, before he did so, he dis- ceeded by swimming through the Pleisse and the charged from their ties to France and to himselfthe Elster. Among these was the brave Marshal King of Saxony's body-guard, and left them for the Macdonald, who surmounted all the obstacles opprotection of the royal family. posed to his escape. Poniatowski, the gallant When Napoleon attempted to make his way to nephew of Stanislaus, King of Poland, was less the single point of exit, by the gate of Rastadt, which fortunate. He was the favourite of his countrymen, led to the bridge, or succession of bridges, so often who saw in their imagination the crown of Poland mentioned, he found reason for thfnking his personal glittering upon his brow. He himself, like most of safety in actual danger. It must be remembered, the Poles of sense and reflection, regarded these that the French army, still numbering nearly 100,000, hopes as delusive; but followed Napoleon with unwere pouring into Leipsic, pursued by more than flinching zeal, because he had always been his double that number, and that the streets were en- friend and benefactor. Besides a thousand other cumbered, with the dead and wounded, with artil- acts of valour, Poniatowski's recent defence of the lery and baggage, with columns so wedged tup that extreme right of the French position was as brilliant it was impossible for them to get forward, and with as any part of the memorable resistance at Leipsic. others, who, almost desperate of their safety, would not be left behind. To fight his way through this This story was at first doubted, and it ws soppwsr confulsion, was impossible even for Napoleon. He that Napoleon had commanded the bridge to be blown up, with the selfish purpose of securing his own retreat. Bt,t and his suite were obliged to give up all attempts to fromn all concurring accounmts, the explosion took place in proceed in the direct road t. the bridge, and turning e maer, and fro tie cause, metoned n te te, the manner, and from the cause, mentioned in the text. in the other direction, be got out of the city through There is, notaithstanding, an obscurity in the case. A St Peter's Gate, moved on until he was in sight of French officer of engineers, by name Colonel IMontfort, the advancing columns of the allies, then turning was publicly announcedl as the person, through whose negalong the eastern suburb, he found a circuitous by- ligence or treachery the. post was left to subordinate way to the bridtes, and was enabled to get across. keeping. Nevertheless, it is said, that the only officer of Bitt the temporary bridge which we have before that name, in lte enginleer service of Bonaparte's army, mentioned had already give way, so90 that there was actually at Mentz when thebattle ofLeipsic tookplace. remained only the old bridgre on the road to Linde- This is alluded to by General Grouchy, who, in a note upon naDl, to serve as an exit to the whole French arumy. his interesting (observations on General Gourgaud's Account of the Campaign of 1815, has this remarkable pasThe furious defence wlhich was maintained in the subourbs, continued to check the advance of the allies, sage: — One would wish to forget the bulletil, which, suburbs, continued t check the advanc~e of the allies, after the battle of Leipsic, delivered to the bar of public otherwise the greater part of the French army must opinion, as preliminary to bringing him before a military inevitably have been destroyed. But the defenders, commnission, Colonel Monttort ofthe engineer service, gra. themnselves, with their brave commanders, were at tuitously accused of the breaking down the bridge at Leiplength, after exhibiting prodigies of valour, compelled sic." Neither the colonel nor the non-commissioned officer to retreat; and ere they could reach the banks of were ever brought to a court-martial. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 609 He had been twice wounded in the previous battles. that sovereigns should not be prompt to foster a love Seeing the bridge destroyed, and the enemy's of war, there is great room for question whether the forces thronging folward in all directions, he drew encouragement of this warlike propensity be upon his sabre, and said to his suite, and a few Polish the whole a subject for Europe to congratulate itself cuirassiers, who followed him, " Gentlemen, it is upon. better to fall with honour than to surrender." He Policy and the science of Nwar alike dictated a charged accordingly, and pushed through the rapid a}d close pursuit after tile routed French; but troops of the allied armly opposed to him, in the the allied army had been too' much exhausted by course of' which desperate attempt he was wounded the efforts required to gain the battle, to admit of by a musket-shot in the arm. Other enemies ap- its deriving the full advantage firon success. -']'here peared; he threw himself upon them with the same was a great scarcity of provisions around Leipsic; success, making his way amongst them also, after and the stores of the city, exhausted by the French, receiving a wolnd through the cross of his decora- afforded no relief. The bridge which had been detion. He then plunged into the Pleisse, and, with stroyed was as necessary fbr the advance of the allies the assistance of his staff-officers, got across that as the retreat of Napoleon. Besides, it mrust be river, in which his horse was lost. Though much admitted that an allied army is always less decided exhausted, he mounted another horse, and seeing and rapid in its movements than one wliich receives that the enemy were already occupying the banks all its impulses firom a single commander of strong of the Elster withriflemen, he plunged into that deep and vigorous talents. Of this we shall see more and marshy river, to rise no more. Thus bravely proofs. But in the mealtime, a great point was dlied a prince, who, in one sense, may be termed gained. The liberation of Germany was clmnplete, the last of the Poles.' even if Napoleon should escape the united armies The remainder of the French army, after many of Austria and Bavaria, which lay still betwixt him had been killed and drowned in an attempt to cross and the banks of the Rhine. And indeed the battles these relentless rivers, received quarter fiom the which he fought for conquest terminated at Leipfsic. enemy. About 25,000 men were made prisoners, Those which lie afterwards waged were for his own and as Napoleon seems only to have had about 200 life and the sceptre of France. guns at the battle of Hanau, many miust have been abandoned in Leipsic and its neighbourhood. The CHAPTER LXXXIX. quantity of baggage taken was immense. -The triumph of the allied monarchs was complete. Details of the retreat of the French front Getrsrany.-GeAdvancing at the head of their victorious fobrces, neral cdefection of Napoleon's par'tisancs.-Battle oJ each upon his own side, the Emperor of Russia, the Jfanae fought oer 30th anld 31st October —in re/rich the King of Prussia, and the Crown Prince of Sweden, French are successful-T'rey prosecute their retreat.ret and greeted each other in the g~reat square of Napoleon arrives at Paris on 9th Novemnber-State in the city, where they were soon joined by the Emperor hericn he arids the public ind in the ciARirl.-Fgte of of Austria. General Bertrand, the French coni- the Frenh garrisons left ii terary-ATricei of e allied armies on the banks of the Rttire —'heir exola - mandant of the city, surrendered his sword to these tion, which is universal throughoZt Geranty. —'Tle illustrious personages. No interview took place allies halt on the Rhine.-General view of NAapoleon's between th'e allied monarchs and thle King of Saxony. political relations at the present period.-Italy.-Spain. He was sent under a guard of Cossacks to Berlin, -Restoration of Ferdinand.-Liberatio n of the pole, nor was he afterwards restored to his throne, until who returns to Rome.-Emancipation of Holland. he had paid a severe fine for his adherence to France. NAPOLEON was now on his retreat, and it proved When reflecting upon these scenes, the rank and a final one, firom Germany towards France. It was dignity of the actors naturally attract our observa- performned with disorder enoughlr, and great loss, tion. It seems as if the example of Bonaparte, in though far less than that which hlad attended the placing lria self at the head of his armies, had in famlous departure fiom Moscow. Ti'e troops, acsome respects changed the condition of sovereigns, cording to Baron Odeleben, soulred by misfirtlr.e, from the reserved and retired dignity in which mrost marched with a fierce and menacing air, and the had remained, estranged firom the actual toils of G uards ill particular indulged in every excess. Inl government and dangers of war, into the less ab- this disordered condition, Napoleon passed through stracted condition of sharing tile risk of battle, and Lutzer, late the scene of his brilliant success, now the labours of negotiation. Such scenes as those witness to his disastrous losses. His own courage which passed at Leipsic on this menlorable day, was unabated; he seemed indeed pensive, brt w\'s wvhethler we look at the parting of Napoleon from calm and composed, indulging in no vain regrets, Frederick Arrgustus. amid the firing and shouting of still less in useless censures and reoriminations. hostile armies, or the triumphant meeting of the Harassed as he passed the defiles of Eckartsberg, allied sovereigns in the great square of Leipsic, had by the light troops of the allies, he pushed on to been fior centuries only to be paralleled in romance. Erfurt, where he hoped to be able to mlake some B3at considering lhow imlportant it is to the people pause, and restore order to his disorganized followers. H* is body woas found. and his obsequies performed with On the 23d of October, he reached that city, great military pomlp; hoth the victors and vanquished at- which was rendered by its strong citadel a convetellding him t.o tile tomlb, with every lonour which could iient rallying point;: and upon collecting the report: be rendered to his remains. of his losses, had the misfortune to find them much, volv.. 77. *~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 610 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. greater than he had apprehended. Almost all the It is probable that, but for the relief afforded by German troops of his army were now withdrawn this halt, and the protection of the citadel and defrom it. The Saxons and the troops of Baden he fences of Erfurt, Napoleon, in his retreat from had dismissed with a good grace; other contingents, Leipsic, must have lost all that remained to him of which saw their sovereigns on the point of being an army. He had received news, however, of a freed from Napoleon's supremacy, withdrew of character to preclude his longer stay in this place themselves, and in most cases joined the 1llies. A of refuge. The Bavarian army, so lately his allies, great many of those Frenchmen who arrived at Er- with a strong auxiliary force of Austrians, amountfurt were in a miserable condition, and without arms. ing in all to fifty thousand, under Wrede, were Their wretched appearance extorted from Bonaparte hurrying from the banks of the Inn, and had reached the peevish observation, "They are a set of scoun- Wurtzburg on the Maine, with the purpose of drels, who are goingto the devil!-In this way I throwing themselves in hostile fashion between the shall lose 80,000 men before I can getto the Rhine." army of Napoleon and the frontier of France. In The spirit of defection extended even to those addition to this unpleasing intelligence, he learned who were nearest to the emperor. Murat, discoi- that the Austrians and Prussians were pressing forraged and rendered impatient by the incessant mis- ward, as far as Weimar and Laugenlsalza, so that fortunes of his brother-in-law, took leave, under he was once more in danger of being completely pretence, it was said, of bringing forces up from surrounded. Urged by these circumstances, Napothe French frontier, but in reality to return to his leon left Erfurt on the 25th of October, amid iweaown dominions, without filuther allying his fortunes tiler as tempestuous as his fortunes to those of Napoleon. Bonaparte, as if' influenced An unfortunate determination of the allied counby some secret presentiment that they should never cils directed Marshal Blucher to move in pursuit of again meet, embraced his old companion in arms Napoleon by Giessen and Wietzlar, and commandrepeatedly ere they parted. ed him to leave the direct road to the banks of tile The Poles who remained in Napoleon's army Rhine, by Fulda and Gelnhaissen, open for the showed a very generous spirit. He found himself march of an Austrian columnn, expected to advance obliged to appeal to their own honour, whether they from Schmalkald. Tile most active and energetic chose to remain in his service, or to desert him at of thie pursuers was thus turned aside from Napothis crisis. A part had served so long under his leon's direct path of retreat, and the Austrians, to banners, that they had become soldiers of fortune, whom it was yielded, did not come tup in tirme to to whom the French camp served for a native overtake the retreating enemy. The French were country. But many others were men who had still foillowed, however, by the arrixal of Cossacks assumed arms in the Russian campaign, with the under their adventurous leaders, Platoff, Czerlniintention of freeing Poland from the foreign yoke cheff, Orloffi-Dennizotf, and Kowaiski, who conunder which it had so long groaned. The manner tinned their harassing and destructive operations on in which Napoleon had *disappointed their hopes their flanks aind their rear. could not be forgotten by them; but they had too In the nieanwhile General Wrede, notwithstandmuch generosity to revenge, at this crisis, the in- ing the inft rioritv of his forces to those of Bon; - justice with which they had been treated, and agreed parte, perse ered in his purpose of barring tlhe unanimously that they would not quit Napoleon's return of Napoleon into France, and took tip a service until they had escorted him safely beyond position at Hanau for that purpose, where he was the Rhine, reserving their right then to leame his joined by the chiefs of the Cossacks already menstandard, of which a great many accordingly avail- tioned, who lhad pushed on before the advance of the ed themselves. French armny, in hopes that they might afford Wrede Napoleon passed nearly two days at Erfiurt, dur- their assistance. If Bliucher and his troops had been ing which the reorganization of his troops advanced now in the rear of Napoleon, his hour had in all rapidly, as the magazines and stores of the place probability arrived. But Wrede's force, of whom were sufficient to recruit them in every department. ile had been uliable to bring tip above 45;000 men, T'leir reassembled force amounted to about eighty was inferior to the attempt, almost always a dangethousand men. This, together with the troops left rouls one, of intercepting the retreat of a bold and to their fate in the garrison towns in Gernlany, was desperate enemy upon the only road which can lead all that remained of two hundred and eighty thou- him to safety. It was upon a point, also, where the sand, with which Napoleon had begun the canlpaign. Bavarians had no particular advantage of position, Thile garrisons amounted to about eighty thousand, which might have presented natural obstacles to the so that the loss of the French rose to one hundred progress of the enemy. and twenty thousand men. These garrisons, so im- Upon the 30th, the Bavarians had occupied the prudently left behind, were of course abandoned to large wood of Lamboi, and were disposed in line their fate, or to the discretion of the enemy; Napo- on the right bank of a small river called the Kintzig, leon consoling himself with the boast, "that, if they near a village named Neuhoff, where there is a could form a junction in the valley of the Elbe, bridge. Tile French threw a body of light troops eighty thousand Frenchmen might break through all into the wood, which was disputed from tree to tree, obstacles." Instructions were sent to the various the close fire of the sharp-shooters on both sides commanders, to evacuate the places they held, and resembling that of a general chasse, such as is pracform such ajunction; but it is believed that none of tised on the Continent. Tile combat was sustained them reached the generals to whom they were ad- for several hours without decided success, until dressed. Bonaparte commanded an attack in force on the loft LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. of the Bavarians. Two battalions of the Guards, had presumed to check the retreat of tile emlperor, under General Curial, were sent into the wood to alone shed a lustre on the arms of Napoleon, which support the French tirailleurs; and the Bavarians, they greatly needed, for his late successive misforat the sight of their grenadier-caps, imagined them- tunes had awakened both critics and 1murtmurers. selves attacked by the whole of that celebrated The rupture of the armistice seemed to be the ldate body, and gave way. A successful charge of ca- of his declension, as indeed the jrnction of the Valry was at the same time made on Wrede's left, Austrians enabled tile allies to bear him down by which made it necessary for him to retreat behind resistless numbers. Nine battles had been fought the Kintzig. The Austro-Bavarian army continued since that period, including the action at Culm, to hold Hanau; but as the main road to Frankfoit which, in its results, is well elrtitled to tile name. does not lead directly through that town, but passes Of these, Bonaparte only gained twvo-tlose of on the south side of it, the desired line of retreat Dresden and Hanan; that at Wachau was itl:dciwas left open to Napoleon, whose business it was to sive; while at Gross-Beeren, at Jauer on the Katzpush forward to the Rhine, antd avoid farther corn- bach, at Culm,, at Dennewitz, at Mcechern, and at biat. But the rear-guard of the French army, con- Leipsic, the allies obtained decisive and important silting of 18,000 men, under command of Mortier, victories. was still at Gelnhaussen; and Maramont was left The French had been still more unfortunate in with three corps of infantry to secure their retreat, the numtnber of bloody skirmllishes which were obuglht o tile Bonaparte, with the advance, pusherd on to alnlost everywhere through the scene of war. They \Villiamstadt, and from thence to Hockstadt, in the were outnumbered in cavalry, and especially in light d rection of Frankfort. cavalry; they were outnumbered, too, in light corps On the morning of the 31st, Marmont made a of infantry and sharp-shooters; for the Gerlans, dirtble attack upon the town of Hanati, and thire po- who had entered into tile war with general entllhsition of Wrede. Of the first he possessed him- siasm, fuirnished numerous reinforcements of this s l-t' by a bombardm'ent. The other attack took place description to the regular armies of the allies. These near the bridge of Neuhoff. The Bavarians had disasters, however they might be glossed over, had at first the advantage, and pushed a body of 1000 or not escaped the notice of the French; nor was it 1200 men across the Kintzig; but the instant attack the sight ofa' few banners, and a column of 4000 Elnd destruction of these by the bayonet impressed Bavarian prisoners, ostentatiously paraded, that thleirgeneral with greater caution. Wrede himself prevented their asking, what was becomne of upwas at this moment dangerously wounded, and the wards of 200,000 soldiers-what chalrm had dissolvPrince of (Ettingen, his son-in-law, killed on the ed the Confederation of the Rhine-and why they spot. General Fresnel, who succeeded WVrede in heard rumours of Russians, Austrians, Prussians, the command, acted with more reserve. He drew Germans, on the east, and of English, Spanish, cff fiom the comlbat; and the French, more intent on and Portuguese, on -the south, approaching the inprosecuting their march to the Rhine than on violable frontiers of the Great Nation? During the improving their advantages over tihe Bavarians, bright sunshine of prosperity, a nation may be too followed the emperor's line of retreat in the di- much dazzled with victory; but the gloomy horizon, rection of Frankfort. obscured by adversity, shows objects in their real An instance of rustic loyalty arid sagacity was colours. displayed during the action, by a German riiller, The fate of the garrisons in Germany, which which may serve to vary the recurring detail of mi- Bonaparte had so imprudently omitted to evacuate, litary movements. This man, observing -the fate of was not such as to cure this incipient disaffection. thle battle, and seeing a body of Bavariuan intanty The emperor had never another opportunity, driing Iald pressed by a large force of French cavalry, this var, to collect the veteran troops thlls unhapbhad the presence of mind to admit the water into pily left behind, under his banner, though often his mill stream when the Bavarians had passed its rmissing them at his greatest need. The dates of channel, and thus suddenly interposed an obstacle their respectixe surrenders, referring to a set of between them and the pursuers, which enabled the detached facts, which have no influence upon tihe inf:antry to halt and resume their ranks.' Tile saga- general current of history,,nay be as well succinctly cious peasant was rewarded with a pension by the recited in this place. King of Bavaria. St Cyr at Dresden, finding, himself completely The loss of the French in this sharp action was abandoned to i-is ovwn slender resources, made on supposed to reach to about 6000 mene; that of the the 11th of November a capitulation to evacuate the Austro-Bavarians exceeded 10,000. Escaped fr;om place, with hiis garrison of 35;000 nien (of aviholrl this additional danger, Napoleon arrived at Frnank- Nery many were hliwever invalids), who were to fort upon the 30th October, and left, upon the 1st have a safe condrct to Fratnce, under engagement not November, a town which was soon destined to to serve against the allies for six montlhs. Sclhwartzreceive other guests. On the next day he arrived enlberg refused to ratify the capitulation, as being at Menrtz, which he left upon the 7th November, much too favourable to the besieged. He offered Stand arriving on the 9th at Paris, concluded his Cyr, who had already left Dresden, to replace him second unsuccessful canmpaign. there in the same condition of defence which he enThe emperor hIad speedy infornmation that the joyed when the agreement was entered into. This was temper of the public was by no means tranqlil. The contrary to the rules of war; for how was it possible victory of Hanan, though followed by no other f(i the French commandant to be in the same situaeffect than that of getting clear of the enemy, who tion as before the capitulation, when the enenmry had 61'2 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. become completely acquainted with his means of while thousandts aftel thousands of the French were defence, and resources?'! But the French general marched to distant prisons in Austria and Russia, an cornceived it more expedient to submit, with his addition was regularly made to the armies of the l army, to become prisoners of war. reserving his right allies, equal at least to double the number of those to complain of breach of capitulation. that were withdrawn from the French army. Stettin surrendered on the 21st of November, XVhile these successes wsere in the act of being obafter an eight months' blockade. Eight thousand tained in their rear, the allied sovereigns of Russia French remained prisoners of war. Here the Prus- and Prussia advanced upon the Rhine, the right sians regained no less than three hundred and fifty bank of which was almost entirely liberated fiomr pieces of' artillery. tile enemy. It is a river upon which all the GerOn the 29th of November, the important city of mans look with a national pride, that sometimes takes Dantzic. surrendered, after trenches had been open almost the appearance of filial devotion. When the before it for forty days. As in the case of Dresden, advanced guard of the army of the allies first came the sovereigns refulsed to ratify the stipulation, in sight of' its broad majestic flood, they hailed the which provided for the return of the garrison to Father River with such reiterated shouts, that those France, but made the commandant, happ, the same who were behind stood to their arms and pressed proposal which had been offered to the Marshal forward, supposing that an action was about to take St-Cyr: which Rapp in like manner declined. About place. Tile proud and exulting feeling of' recovered nine thousand French were therefore sent prisoners independence was not confined to those brave men into Russia. But the Bavarians, Westphalians, and who had achieved the liberation of their country, Poles, belonging to the garrison, were permitted to but extended everywhere, and animated the whole return to their homes. Many of thenm took service mass of the population of Germally. with the allies. The detention of this garrison must The retreat of the French armies, or their relics, also be recorded against the allies as a breach of' ac-oss the land which they had so long over-run, and faith, which the temptation of dimninishing the ene- where they had leveled and confounded all narly's forces cannot justify. tional distinctions, might be compared to the abateAfter the battle of Leipsic, Tauentzein had been meat of the great deluge, when landmarks, which detached to blockade WVittenberg, and besiege Tol- had been long hid fiom. thle eye, began to be once gan. The latter place was yielded on the 26th more visible and distinguished. The reconstruction December, with a garrison of ten thousand wretches, of the ancient sovereignties was the instant occupaamongst whom a pestilential fever was raging. Za- tion of the allies. amosc, in the Duchy of Warsaw, capitulated on the From the very field of battle at Leipsic, the Elec22d, and Modlin on the 25th of December. toral Prince of Hesse departed to assume, amid the At the conclusion of the year 1813, only the fol- acclamations of the inhabitants, the sovereignty of lowing places, situated in the rear of the allies, re- the territories of1his fathers. The allies, on 2d Noilained in the hands of the French;-Hamburg, vember, took possession of Hanover and its depenMagdeburg, WVittenberg, Custrin, Glogau, with the dencies in name of the King of England. The galcitadels of Erfurt and of VVurtzburg, the French lant Duke of Brunswick, whose courage, as well as having in the last two instances evacuated the towns. his ardent animosity against Bonaparte, we have Two circumstances are remarkable concerning already had cccasion to commemorate, returned at the capture of the surrendered fortresses. The first the same time into the possession of his hereditary is the dismal state of the garrisons. The men, who estates; and the ephemeral kingdom of Westphalia, had survived the Russian campaign, and who had the appanage of J6r6me Bonaparte, composed out of been distributed into these cities and fortresses by the spoils of these principalities, vanished into air, Murat, were almost all, from the hardships they had like the palace of Aladdin in the Arabian tale. enduried, and perhaps from their being too suddenly Those members of the Confederacy of the Rhine, accommodated with more genial food, subject to who had hitherto been contented to hold their crowns diseases which speedily became infectious, and and coronets, under the condition of being liege vasspread firom tile military to the inhabitants. When sals to Bonaparte, and who were as much tired of the severities of a blockade were added to this ge- his constant exactions as ever a drudging fiend was neral tendency to illness, the deaths became numer- of the authority of a necromancer, lost no time in ons, and the case of the survivors made them envious renouncing his sway, after his talisman was broken. of those who died. So virulent was the contagion Bavaria and Wirtemberg had early joined the alliat Torglan, that the P.russians, to whom the place ance,-the latter power the more willingly, that the was rendered on the 25th December, did not ven- Crown Prince had, even during Napoleon's supretlre to take possession of it till a fortnight after- macy, refused to acknowledge his sway. The lesser wards, when the ravage of the pestilence began to princes, therefore, had no alternative but to declare, decline, Thus widely extended, and thus late pro- as fast as they could, their adherence to the same longed, were the fatal effects of the Russian expe- cause. Their ministers thronged to the head-quartere dition. of the allied sovereigns, where they were admitted Tile other point worth notice is, that the surren- to peace and fraternity on the same general terms; der of each fortress rendered disposable a block- namely, that each state should contribute, within a ading army of the allies, proportioned to the strength certain period, a year's income of their tenrritories, of the garrisons, which ought, according to the the proportion of a blockading army to the garrison which rales.of war, to be at least two to one.* Thus it masks. But where there is little apprehension of relief T+'hree to one, according to the general rule of war, is or of strong sorties, the number may be mucim reduced. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 6il3 with a contingent of soldiers double in numbers to hot iron until it has scorched him to the bone. that formerly exacted by Bonaparte, for maintaining After that decisive battle, there was no obstacle the good cause of the alliance. They consented in fiont to prevent the Duke of WVellington fiom willingly; for though the demand mi:ght be heavy entering France, but he chose first to reduce the in the meantime, yet, with the downfal of the strong frontier fortresses of St Sebastian and PamFrench Emperor, there was room to hope for that peluna. The first capitulated finally on the 9th lasting peace which all men now believed to be in- September; and notwithstanding the skill and braconsistent with a continuance of his power. very of Soult, which were exerted to the uttermost, Waitinig until their reinforcements should come he could not relieve Pampeluna. The English army, firom the interior of Germany, and until the sabor- at least its left wing, passed the Bidassoa upon the dinate princes should bring forward their respective 7th October, and Pampeluna surrendered on the contingents of troops, and desirous also to give 31st of the same month. Thus was the most perseNapoleon another opportunity of treating, tile allied vering and the most hated of Bonaparte's enemies sovereigns halted on the banks of the Rhine, and placed in arms upon the French soil, under the cantoned their army along the banks of that river. command of a general who had been so uniformly This afforded a space to discover, whether tile lofty successful, that he seemed to move hand in hand mind of Napoleon could be yet induced to bend to with victory. It was but a slender consolation, in such a peace as might consist with the material this state of matters, that Suchet, the Duke of Alchange in the circumstances of Europe, effected bufera, still maintained himself in Catalonia, his in the two last camnpaigns. Such a pacification was head-quarters being at Barcelona. In fact it would particularly the object of Austria; and the greater have been of infinitely more importance to Bonahope was entertained of its being practicable, that parte, had the marshal and those troops, v!who had the same train of misfortunes which had driven Na- niot yet been discouraged by defeat, been on the poleon beyond the Rhine, had darkened his political north side of the Pyrenees, and ready to co-operate horizon in other quarters. in defence of the frontiers of France. Italy, so long the scene of his triumphs, was nowv To parry this pressing danger, Napoleon had reundergoing the same fate as his other conquests, aind course to a plan,'which, had it been practised tile rapidly melting away from his grasp. At tlhe begin- year before, might have placed the aflhirs of Spain ning of'the campaign, the Viceroy Eg~ntle, with about on a very different footing. He resolved, as we forty-fitve thousand men, had defended the north of have hinted, to desist from the vain undertalking, Italy, witl great skill and valour, against tle Austrian which had cost himself so much blood and treasurll general, Hiller, who confronted Ilill witll superior to undo his own favourite work; to resign the claims forces.'rie fi ontiers of Illyria were the chief scene of his brother to the crown of Spain; and, by restorof their military operations.'The FIrenchl maintained ing the legitimate sovereign to the throne, endeathemiselves there until the defection of the Bavarians voutr to form such an alliance with him as might opened the passes of the'lyrol to the Aulstrian arily, take Spain out of the list of his enemies, and lperhaps after which, Eutgene was obliged to retire behind add her to that of his friends. Had he had recourse the Adige. The warlike Croatians, declaring in to this expedient in the previoIus year, Ferdinand's faivour of tleir ancient sovereigns of Austria, lmuti- appearance in Spain might have had a very innied, and rose inl arms on several points. Tihe im- portant effect in enmbroiling the councils of tile portant seaport of'Trieste was taken by the Austrians Cortes. It is well known that the unfortunate dison the 21st of October. General Nugent had entered tinctions of royalists and liberalists wvere already the mouth of the Po wvith an English squadron, with broken out among the Spaniaids, and, from the co. a force sufficient to occupy Ferrara and Ravenna, Iours in which his present majesty of Spain has sintce and organize a general insurrection against the shown himiself, there is great roorn to doubt whether French. It was known also, that Murat, who had lie had either temper, wisdom, or virtue sufficient to begun to fear lest lie should be involved in tile ap- act as a mediator betwixt the two classes of his proaching fall of Napoleon, and who remembered subjects, of which both were inclined to carry their with more feeling the affi-onts which Napoleon had opposite opinions into extremes. It is lmore than put upon him firon time to time, than the greatness probable that a civil war might even then lhave to which he had been elevated by him, was treating taken place, between tle kilng, desirous of regaining with thie allies, and endeavouring to make a peace the plenitude of authority conferred on him by the which should secure his own authority under their ancient constitution, and the Cortes, anxiouts to sanction. Thus, there was no point of view in which maintain the liberties which they had recently reItaly could be regarded as a source of assistance to covered, and carried, by their new constitution, to Bonaparte; on the contrary, that fair country, the the extent of republican license. If' such a wvar subject of his pride and his favour, was in the great- had arisen, King Ferdinand would probably have est dangter of being totally lost to him. fallen into the snare prepared for him by Bonaparte, The Spanish Peninsula afforded a still more and called in his late jailer, in the calpacity of' his alarmling pro,spect. The battle of Vittoria had en- ally, against the Cortes, and pterhaps also against tirely destroyed the tusulrped autltority of Joseph the English, who, though not approving of thle theoBonaparte, and Napoleon himself had becomle de- retical extravagainces of the system of governmenlt, sirous tL see the war ended, at the price of totally wvhichi had divided tile patriots into two civil facceding the kinudomr on which he had seized so tions, imust, nevertheless, have considered thiat astiujustifiably, and whicht he tlad, il his fatal obstinacy, sembly as thile representatives of the Spanish people, continued to grasp, like a furious maditlan holding a and the allies wvith whlom the British had formed 614 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. their league, Talleyrand is said to have recom- recognized Ferdinand as the King of Spain and the mended the liberation of Ferdinand at a much Indies. 2, Ferdinand undertook that the English earlier period. He called the measure an olla po- should evacuate Spain, and particularly Minorca diida for Spain. and Ceuta. 3, The two governments became enBut Napoleon's present concession came too late, gaged to each other, to place their relations on the and was too evidently wrung from him by the most footing prescribed by the treaty of Utrecht, and pressing necessity, to permit Ferdinand, however which had been maintained until 1772. Lastly, the desirous of his liberty, to accept of it on the terms new king engaged to pay a suitable revenue to his offered. The reader may, indeed, be curious to father, and a jointure to his mother, in case of know in what language Napoleon could address the her survivance; and provision was made for reprince whose person he had seized, and imprisoned establishing the commercial relations betwixt France like a kidnapper, and on whose throne he had so and Spain. long and so pertinaciously endeavoured to support In this treaty of Valencey, subscribed the 11th a usurper. Perhaps, when writing the following of December, 1813, the desire of Bonaparte to emletter, Bonaparte was himself sensible that his con- broil Spain with her ally, Great Britain, is visible dluct admitted of no glossing over; he, therefore, not only in the second article, but in the third. For came to the point, it will be observed, atonce, trust- as Napoleon always contended that his opposition ing probably that the hope of being restored to his to the rights exercised on the sea by the English liberty and kingdom would be so agreeable in itself, had been grounded on the treaty of Utrecht, his that the captive monarch would not be disposed reference to that treaty upon the present occasion strictly to criticise the circumstances which had shows that he had not yet lost sight of his continental occasioned so pleasing an -offer, or the expressions system. in which it was conveyed. The regency of Spain, when the treaty of Va" My Cousin-The state of my empire and of my lencey was laid before them, refused to ratify it, political situation leads me to put a final adjustment both in virtue of a decree of the Cortes, which, as to the affhirs of Spain. The English are exciting early as January, 1811, declared that there should anarchy and jacobinism; they ehdeavour to over- be neither truce nor negotiation with France, until throw the crown and the nobility, in order to esta- the king should enjoy his entire liberty, and on acblish a republic. I cannot, without being deeply count of their treaty with England, in which Slpain affected, think on the destruction of a nation which engaged to contract no peace without England's interests me, both by its neighbourhood, and its comn- concurrence. Thus obliged to renounce the hopes mon interest concerning maritime cormnnerce. I of fettering Spain, as a nation, with any conditions, wish to reestablish the relations of friendship and Bonaparte at length released Ferdinand from his good neighbourhood, which have so long been esta- confinement, and permitted him to return to his blished betwixt Fr'ance and Spain. You will thiere- kingdom upon his personal subscription of the treaty, fore listen to what the Count de la Forest will pro- trusting that, in the political alterations which his pose in my name," etc. arrival might occasion in Spain, something might Considering the terms of this letter, and contrast- turn up to serve his own views, xvliich could never ing them with the manner in which the friendly be advanced by Ferdinand's continuing in confinerelations alluded to had been broken off, and that ment. Nothing of the kind, however, took place, in which the interest taken by Napoleon in the king- nor is it needful either to detain the reader fatrther dorn of Spain had been displayed, the hypocritical with the Spanish affairs, or again to revert to them. professions of the writer were too obviously dictated Ferdinand is said, by the French, to have received by necessity, to impose upon the meanest under- Napoleon's proposals with much satisfaction, and to standing. The answer of Ferdinand Nwas not without have written a. letter of thanks to the emperor for his dignity. He declined to treat without having an frieedom, obtained afternearly six years'most causeopportunity of consulting with the regency of' Sain, less imlprisonment. If so, the circumstance must be and required permission to hear a depiutation of his received as evidence of Ferdinand's singularly subjects, who might at once inform him of the acta;tl gratefull disposition, of which we believe there are state of affairs in Spain, and point out a remedy for few other exaiimples to be quoted, The liberated the evils under which the kingdoi siffelred. monarclh returained to his territories, at the conclusion "If," said the prince, in his reply to Napoleon's of' all this negotiation, in the end of March, 1814. proposal, " this liberty is not permitted to me, I The event is here anticipated, that there may be no prefer remaining at Valencey, where I have now occasion to return to it. lived four years and a half, and where I am willing Another state-prisoner of importance was liberto die, if such is God's pleasure." Finding the ated about the samle time. Nearly at the commenceprince firm upon this score, Napoleon, to whom his ment of the year 1814, proposals had been transfreedom might be possibly sonime advantage, and nitted, by the agency of Cardinal Maury and the when his captivity could no longer in any shapIe Bishops of Evreux and Plaisance, to Pius VII., benefit him, consented that Ferdinand should be still (letailned at Fonmtainebleau. His liberation was liberated, upon a treaty being drawvn up between tendered to him, aiud, on condition of his ceding a the Duke of San Carlos, as the representative of part of' the territolries of the church, he was to be Ferdinand, and the Count de la Forest, as plenipo- restored to the remlainder. tentiary of Napoleon; but which treaty should not " Th'le (loluiniolns of Saint Peter are not my probe ratified until it had been approved of by the re- perty," answered tile pontiff; "they belong to the gency. Tile heads were briefly these:-1, Napoleon chrinell, and I cannot consent to their cession." LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 015" To prove the emperor's good intentions," said where, many houses were pulled down, or suffered the Bishop of Plaisance, "I have orders to announce to fall to ruin by the proprietors, fionm inability to your holiness's return to Rome." pay the taxes., At Haarlem, whole stleets were in' It must then be with all my cardinals," said desolation, and about five hundred houses were Pins VII. entirely dismantled. The preservation of the dikes " Under the present circumstances that is im- was greatly neglected for want of funds, and the possible." sea, breaking in at the Polrlers and elsewherle, "Well, then, a carriage to transport nue is all I threatened to resume what human industry had desire-I wish to be at Rome to acquit myself of withdrawn from her reign. mly duties as head of the church." The discontent of tihe people arose to the highest An escort, termed a guard of honour, attended pitch, and their thoughts naturally reverted to the him, commanded by a colonel, who treated his holi- paternal government of the house of Orange, and ness with much respect, but seemed disposed to the blessings which they had eljoyed under;t. But suffer no one to speak with him in private. Piuns with the prudence, which is the distinguishing mark VII. convoked, however, the cardinals who were at of the national character, the Dutch knew, that Fontainebleau, to the number of seventeen, and took until the power of France should be broken, any an affecting farewell. As the pope was about to attempt at insurrection in Holland must be hopeless; depart, he commanded them to wear no decoration they, therefore, contented themselves with itorming received from the French government; to accept no secret confederations among the higher order of pension of their bestowing; and to assist at no fes- citizens in the principal towns, who mnade it their tival to which they might be invited. On the 24,th business to prevent all premature distullbrallces on of January, Pius left Fontainebleau, arnd retulned the part of the lower classes, insinuating themselves, by slow journeys to Savona, where lie remrained at the samne time, so much into their favoutr, that fiom the 19th of February to the 19th of March. they were sure of having them at their disposal, He reached Fiorenzuola on the 23d, vwhere his when a propitious moment for action shoull(l irise. French escort was relieved by an Austrian detachl- Those intrusted with the secret of the intended inment, by whom the pontiff was received wsith all surrection acted with equal prudence aitnd filrmness; the usual honours; and lie arrived at Romle on tihe and the sagacious, temperate, and reasonable Clia18th of May, amid the acclamations of thousands, racter of the nation was never seen to geaterl adwho thronged to receive his benediction. vantage than upon this occasion. The national guarlds With such results terminated an act of despotic were warmly disposed to act in the callse. Tihe authority, one of the most impolitic, as well as un- rumours of Bonaparte's retreat from Leipsio poputlar, practised by Bonaparte during his reign. He himself was so much asllamed of it, as io disown for sucn an host his having given any orders folb the captivity of the Fled not in silence through the acfrighted deep, pontiff, though it was continued tiunder his authority for five years and upwards. It was remarkable, that united to prepare the public mind for resistance to when the pope was taken from Rome as a prisoner, the foreign yoke; and the approach of General Murat was in possession of his dominions, as the Bulow towards the banks of tlle Yssel, became the connexion and ally of Bonaparte; and now his holi- signal for general insurrection. ness found the same Murrat and his army at Ronle, On the 14th November, the Orange flag w:Is and received fiom Ihis hands, in the opposite cha- hoisted at the Hague and at Amsterdrdalr, anlidl the,arter of ally of the Emperor of Austria, the re- ancient acclamations of " Orange-boveen" (Up \with dlelivery of the patrimony of St Peter's in its fill the Orange). At Rotterdarn, a small larty (of tife irrteg'it~y. Dutch patriots, of the better class, Nwaited oel the'hul-s was restored to its ancient allegiance that prefect, Le BrUun, Duke of Placentia, and, showilrg celebrated city, which had for a time borne the title the oraligecockade which they wore, addlress;ed t!:i of' SECOND in the French domnirions. The revolution Frenclh gelerlal in these words:-" You rmay g,(ress in l-lolland came also to augment tile embarrass- fiom these colours the purpose which has broughit rs rlents of Napoleon, and dislocate what rehmained of hither, and the events which are ahlout to take place. the imrmnense additions which he had attempted to You, who are now tile weakest, know tihat we arle nllite with his empire. That country had been first tile strongest-and we, tile strongest, know that voii irlpoverished by the total destruction of its com- are the weakest. You will act wisely to del;a,'t rle! ce, under pretence of erinf rcing the continental from this place in quiet; and thle sooner you d(l so, svstem. It was from isa inability to succeed in his you are the less likely to expcse yourself to insulr, atterrpt to avert this pest from the peaceful and in- and it may be to dangerl." dulst.riors DPutchtnen, that Louis Bonaparte had A revolution of so imrrportant a nature had ne xel relinqulislied in disgumst a sceptr'e, the authority of certainly been announced to the sinking party, withl vlich was not permitted to protect the people over so little tumurlt, or in such coarteorus terms. l'Ihe whom it was swayed. reply of General Le Bran was that of a Frenchman, The distress which followed, urporn the introduc- seldom villin,g to be ourttlone in politerness:-" I;navce tion of' these urnnatural restrictions into a coumitry, expected thils sulrnrmons for some tirne, anld arll elry the existence of whlich deplenrled on thle feedom of willing to accedle to your proposal, and take riy its cormmrnerce, was almirost incredible. At Amlster- departure inirmmediately." He mounted into hlis cardatl, the popllation wvas redulced fioirt 220,000 riage accordlinrgly, alld drove thirouigh an imrrrner;se to l109,000 souls. Ii the tlague, Dellt, and else- multitulde row asseimbled, without uneeting any otliher 616 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. insult than being required to join in the universal wide a stretch of frontier. Allowing the truth of cry of Orange-boven. their reasoning, he denied its efflicacy in the present The Dutch were altogether without arms when instance. Policy now demanded, he said, that they took the daring resolution to reconstruct their there should be lno voluntary abatement of the lofty ancient government, and were for some tile in great pretensions to which France laid claim. The Ausdanger. But they were secured by the advance of trians and Prussians still remembered the campaigns the Russians to their support, while forces from of the Revolution, and dreaded to encounter France England were sent over, to the number of 6,000 once more in the character of an armed nation. This men, under General Graham, now Lord Lynedoch; apprehension was to be kept up as long as possible, so that the French troops, who had thrown them- and almost at all risks. To concentrate his forces selves into two or three forts, were instantly block- would be to acknowledge his weakness, to confess aded, and prevented from disturbing tile country by that he was devoid of means to supply the exhausted excursions. battalions; arrd, what might be still mlore imprudent, No event curing the war made a smore general it was making the nation itself sensible of the same and deep impression on the mind of the British na- melancholy truth; so that, according to this reation, than the liberation of Holland, which is well soning, it was necessary to keep up appearances, enltitled by a recent author, " one of the mlost for- however ill seconded by realities. The allied sovetunate events which could at tllhat moment have reigns, on the other hand, were gradually approachtaken place. Tile rapidity with which the Dutclh, ing to the right bank of the Rhine their immense fronm being obstacles to the invasionr of France, be- masses, whllich, including the reserves, did not percamie the instruments by which that undertaking was haps amount to less than half a million of men. mnost falcilitated, could only have been brought about The scruples of tile Etmperor of Austria, joined to through the detestable system of government which the respect entertaired for the courage of the French, Bonaparte had pursued with them."* arnd the talents of their leader, by the coalition at Thus victory, having changed her course, like large, influenced their councils at this period, and some powerfrld spring-tide, was now, in the end of before resulming a train of hostilities which must the year 1813, receding at every point from the do- involve some extreme conclusion, they resolved once minions wvhich its strong and rapid onward course more to offer terms of peace to the Emperor of had so totally overwhelmed. France. The agent selected on this occasion was the Baron de St-Aignan, a French diplomatist of reputation, CHAPTER XC. residing at one of the German courts, who, falling into the hands of the allies, was set at liberty, with Preparations of Napoleon againstth.e invasion of France.. a, rep tlona of Napolen agaist the iv f France. a commission to assure the French Emperor of their — Terms of peace offered by the allies, through the Baron das of the.ra willingness to enter into a treaty on equal terms. de St-Aigtawn. —Bases of the treaty. —Cogyress held at de.e Se efs th ttrre e. The English government also publicly announced -Banhaei's.-Lorel Castlereagh.-sanriyesto of the allies. ter -onaparte's reply-Its inasicerity.-State of paties their readiness to'negotiate for a peace, and that ilr France.-1. The adhererts of the Bzurbons-their they would make considerable concessions to obtain chipefparlisans.-2. The old reprblicals.-l The poplqtlation so great a blessing. Napoleon, therefore, had anof Firance, in general, ivearied of the war, arid desirous other opportunity for negotiating, upon such terms of' the deposition of Bonaparte.-His 7tnsuccessful at- as rmust indeed deprive him of the nlr just supremacy temnpts to arouse the natJionwl spirit.-Courncil of state among European councils which he had attempted extraordinary held, on November 11th, when new taxes to secure, but would have left him a high and hoare inmposed, and a ireor conscriptionl of- 300,000 mea nolruble seat among the sovereignsof Euope. Brt ecreed.-loai of a/the tcouncil, afnd. vaionlence Boa- tire pertinacity of Napoleon's disposition qualified parte. —lReport of the state of the nation presented to l hi_. ill for a negotiator, unless when he had the fill Netpoleon by the Legislative Body. —His irrdignation onl reeiving it.-The Legisletive Body is proroayreel.- power in his own hand to dictate the telrms. His Comnrissioners sent to the departments to rouse the determined firmness of purpose, in many cases a people-but in vain.- Unceasing activity of the enperor. great advantage, proved now the very reverse, as it — Natioznal Guard calle out. —Napoleon, presentingry to prevented him from anticipating absolute necessity, tlrear his empress aid child, takes leave of the people. by sacrificing, for the sake of peace, something -He leaves Paris for the armnies onl 25th Januzary, 1814,'which it was actually in his power to give or retain. frill of melancholy presages. This tenacity was a peculiar feature of his character. I-le might, indeed, be brought to give tup his claims WHXIILE these scenes were passing in the vicinity of to kingdonls and provinces which were al:eady put France, tire emperor was using every effort to bring beyond his poswer to recover; but wshen the question forward, in defence of her territory, a force in somre regarded the cession of anything wllich was still in degree corresponding to the ideas whllich he desilred his possession, tlhe grasp of thie lion itself' could Imen should entertain of the Great Nation. lie dis- scarce be more unrelaxing. Hence, as his rrisfortributed the seventy or eighty thoisand nmen who111 tunes accumulated, the negotiations between him he had brought;back withl lIiril, along the,line of the andl the allies came to resenble the bargair driven Rhine, unmoved by the opinions of those who with the King of Rone, according to anicient history, dfeemred them insufficient ia number to deelnd so for the books of tIe Sybils. The price of peace, like that of thlese mysterious volumes, was raised against Operations of the Aliied Armies inr 1813 and 1814, lhim ulpon every renewal of the colfelenrces.'This P. 49. cannot surprise anly one who considers, thrat inn pro LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 617 portion to the number of defeats sustained and power natural limits, the Rhine, the Alps, and the Pyrenees, diminished, the demands of the party gaining the which of course left her in possession of the rich advantage must naturally be heightened. provinces of Belgium. The independence of Italy, This will appear from a retrospect to former ne- Germany, and HIolland, were absolutely stipulated. gotiations. Before the war with Russia, Napoleon Spain, whom the power of Great Britain, seconded might have made peace upon nearly his own terms, by her own efforts, had nearly freed of the French providing they had been accompanied with a dis- yoke, was to be in like manner restored to independavowal of that species of superior authority, which, ence, under Ferdinand. by the display of his armies on the frontiers of Po- Such were the outlines of the terms proposed. land, he seemed disposed to exercise over an inde- But it is generally admitted, that if Bonaparte had pendent and powerful empire. There was nothing shown a candid wish to close with them, the stipuleft to be disputed between the two emperors, ex- lations might have been modified, so as to be more cepting tle point of equality, which it was impossible agreeable to him than they sounded in the abstract. fobr Alexander to yield up, in justice to himself and There were ministers in the cabinet of the allied to his subjects. sovereigns who advised an acquiescence in Etugene The congress at Prague was of a different com- Beauharnais, of whom a very favourable opinion plexion. I'he fate of war, or rather the consequence was entertained, being received as king of the upper of Napoleon's own rashness, had lost him an immense part of Italy, while Murat retained the southern half army, and had delivered from his predominant in- of that peninsula. The same counsellors would not fluence both Prussia and Austria: and these powers, have objected to holding Holland as sufficiently inunited in alliance with Russia and England, had a dependent, if the conscientious Louis Bonaparte title to demand, as they hhd the means of enforcing, were placed at its head. As for Spain, its destinies such a treaty as should secure Prussia, from again were now beyond the influence of Napoleon, even descending into a state which may be compared to in his own opinion, since lie Awas himself treating that of Ilelots or Gibeonites; and Austria fiom one with his captive at Valencey, fobr re-establishing him less directly dependent, but by the continuance of on the throne. A treaty, therefore, might possibly which she was stripped of many fair provinces, and have been achieved by help of' skilful management, exposed along her frontier to suffer turmoil from all which, while it affirmled the nominal independence the wars which the too well-known ambition of the of Italy and Holland, would have left Napoleon in French empire might awaken in Germany. Yet actual possession of all the real influence which so even then the terms proposed by Prince Metternich powerful a mind could have exercised over a brostipulated only the liberation of Germany from ther, a son-in-law, and a brother-in-law, all inFrench influence, with the restoration of the Illy- debted to him for their rise to the rank they held. rian provinces. The fate of Holland, and that of His power might have been thus consolidated in the Spain, were remitted till a general peace, to which most formidable manner, and his empire placed in England should be a pamty. But Bonaparte, though such security, that he could fear no aggression on Poland and Illyria might be considered as lost, and any quarter, and had only to testify pacific intentions the line of the Elbe and Oder as indefensible against towards other nations, to illsure the perfect tranthe assembled armies of the allies, refiused to accept quillity of France, and of the world. these terms, unless clogged with the condition that But it did not suit the high-soaring ambition of the [Hanse towns should remain under French in- Napoleon to be contented with such a degree of fluence; and did not even transmit this qualified ac- power as was to be obtained by negotiation. His quiescence to a treaty, until the truce appointed for favourite phrase on such occasions, whvlich indeed the purplose of the congress had expired. he had Iput into the mouth of Maria Louisa upon a Alter gaining six battles, and after the allies had recent occasion, was, that lie could not occupy a redeemed their pledge that they would not hear of throne, the glory of which was tarnished. This swas farther negotiation while there was a French soldier a strange abuse of words; for if his glory was at all in Germa ny except as a prisoner, or as belonging to impaired, as in a military point of view it certainly the garrison of a blockaded fortress, it was natural was, the depreciation arose fronm his hairing lost that the demands of the confederated sovereigns many great battles, and could not be increased by should rise; more especially as England, at whose his acquiescing in such concessions as his defeats expense the war had been in a great measure carried rendered necessary. The loss of a battle neceso:l, was become a party to the conferences, and her sarily infers, nlore or less, some censuire on the conparticular objects must now be attended to in their duct of a deftated general; but it can never disturn. honour a patriotic prince to make such sacrifices as TItiL term.s, therefole, proposed to Napoleon, on may save his people from the scourge of a protracted which peace atml the glarantee of his dynasty might and losing warfare. Yet let us do justice to the be obtained, had risen in proportion to the success memory of a man so distinguished. Ift' a mnerited of his enetmi es. confidence in the zeal and bravery of his troops, or The Earl of Aberdeen, well known for his litera- in his own transcendent abilities as a general, could ture and talents, attended, on the part of Great justify him in committing a great political error, in Britain, the negotiations held with the Baron de neglecting the opportunity of secllinug peace on St-Aignan. The bases of the treaty proposed by honourable ternis, the events of the strangely- arieh the allies were-that France, divesting herself of all campaign of 1814 show sufficiently the ample grouind the unnatural additions with which the conquests of there was for his entertaining such an assurance. Bonaparte had invested her, should return to her At this period, Maret, Duke of Bassano, invited VOL. Vi., _..F~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_ 6'18s LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. the allies to hol(l a congress at Manheim, for con- ber. It declared that Bonaparte acquiesced in the sidering the preliminaries of peace; and, on the principle which should rest the proposed pacificapart of Great Britaih, Lord Castlereagh, a cabinet tion on the absolute independence of tile states of minister, was sent over to represent her on this im- Europe, so that neither one nor another should in portant occasion. Faction, which, in countries future arrogate sovereignty or supremacy in any where free discussion is permitted, often attaches form whatsoever, either upon land or sea. It was its censure to the best and worthiest of those to therefore declared, that his majesty adhered to the whose political opinions it is opposed, has calum- general bases and abstracts communicated by Moniated this statesman during his life, and even after sieur St-Aiguan. "They will involve," the letter his death. This is onq of the evils, at the expense added, "great sacrifices on the part of France, but oft which fireedom is purchased; and it is purchased his majesty would make them without regret, if, by the more cheaply, that the hour of confutation fails like sacrifices, England would give the means of not to come. Now, when his power can attract no arriving at a general peace, honounable for all conflattery, and excite no odiulm, impartial history must cerned." write on the tomb of Castlereagh, that his undaunted The slightest attention to this document shows courage, manly steadiness, and deep political sa- that Napoleon, in his pretence of being desirous for gacity, had the principal share in infusing that spirit peace on the terms held out in the proposals of the of continued exertion and unabated perseverance allies, was totally insincere. His answer was artinto the councils of the allies, which supported them fully calculated to mix up with the diminution of through many intervals of doubt and indecision, his own exorbitant power, the question of the mariand finally conducted them to the triumphant con- time law, on which England and all other nations clusiona of the most eventful contest which Europe had acted for lmany centuries, and which gim es to ever saw. those nations that possess powerful fleets, the same In the meanwhile, both parties proclaimed their advantage which those that have great armnies enjoy anxiety for peace, well aware of the advantageous by the law martial. The rights arising out of this opinion which the French public in particular could law maritime had been maintainedl by England at not fail to entertain of that party, which seemed the end of the disastrous American war, when the most disposed to afford the world the blessings of Armed Neutrality was formned for the express parthat state of rest and tranquillity, which was now pose of depr'iving her, in her hour of wveakness, of universally sighed for. this bulwark of her naval power. It had been deA manifesto was published by the allied mo- fended during the present war against all Europe, narchs, in which they complain, unreasonably cer- with France and Napoleon at her head. It was tainly, of the preparations which Bonaparte was impossible that Britain should permit any chalmaking for recruiting his army, which augmenta- lenge of her maritime rights in the present mnoment tion of the means of resistance, whether Napoleon of her prosperity, when not only her ships rode was to look to peace or war, was equally justifiable, triumphant on every coast, but her own victorious vwhen the frontiers of' France were surrounded by army was quartered on French ground, and the the allied armies. The rest of this state paper was powerful hosts of her allies, brought to the field by in a better, because a truer tone. It stated that her means, were arrayed along the whole fiontier victory had brought the allies to the Rhine, but they of the Rhine. Tile Emperor of the French might meant to make no farther use of their advantages have as well proposed to make the peace which than to propose to Nalpoleon a peace, founded on Europe was offering to him depend upon Great the independence of France, as well as upon that Britain's ceding Ireland or Scotland. of every other country. "They desired," as this Neither can it be pretended that there was an indocument stated, "that France should be great, direct policy in introducing this discussion as an powerful, and happy, because tile poower of France apple for discord, which nmight give cause to disis one of the fuilndamental bases of the social system union among the allies. Far firom lo(;king on the nrain Europe. Th'ey were willing to colfirm to her an litime law, as exercised by Britail, with the eves of extent of territory, greater than she enjoyed under jeallhsy, with wvlich it might at other times have her ancient kings; but they desired, at the same been regarded, the continental nations remlenmbered time, that Europe should enjoy tranquillity. It was, the far greater grievances which had been entailed in short, their object to arrange a pacification on on therm by Bonaparte's niemorable attemlipt to put such terms as might, by mutual guarantees, and a down that law by his anti-coinnmercial system, which well-arrang ed balance of power, preserve Europe had made Russia herself buckle on her armour, and in fttnre ftomn the numitrless calamrities, which, was a cause, and a principal one, of the general during twenty years, hadl distracted tile world." coalition against France. As Bon31aparte, therefiore, This public declaration seemed intended to intimate could have no hope to obtain any ailantagle, direct that tile war of the coalition was not as yet directed or indirect, lfom mixing uip the questionl Of maritime against the person of Napoleon, or his dynasty, but rights with that of the general settlement of the Cononly against his system of arbitrary supremacy. tinent, and as mere spleen anld hatred to Great BriThe allies further declared, that they would not lay tain would be scarce an adequate motive in a mind down their arms until tile political state of Europe so sagacioums, we nirist suppose this inadmissilble atisiould be fimnally arranged on unalterable principles, pulatiou to lave been thrown in for the purpose of l and recognized by the sanictity of treaties. enabling him to break oft' the negotiation when he'rhle reply of Bomimarte is clnt;inod in a letter pleased, and cast upon the English the unpopularity foom Catlaincolrt to Atetternichl, dated 2d I)etelr- attending the breach of it. It is very true, that Eng- LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 619 land had offered to make sacrifices for obtaining a by the historical remembrances'connected with general peace; but these sacrifices, as was seen by ancient names and high descent. Bonaparte himthe event, regarded the restoration to France of con- self, by the restoration of nobility as a rank, gave a quered colonies, not the cession of her own naval dignity to those who had possessed it for centuries, rights, which, on no occasion whatsoever, a minister which his own new creations could not impart. It of Britain will, can, or dare, permit to be brought is true that, in the eye of philosophy, the great man into challenge. Accordingly, the acceptance by who first merits and wins a distinguished title is in Bonaparte of the terms transmitted by St-Aignan himself infinitely more valuable and respectable being provided with a slip-knot, as it were, by than the obscure individual who inherits his honours which he could free himself from the engagement at at the distance of centuries; but then he is valued pleasure, was considered, both by the allies, and by for his personal qualities, not fbr his noblesse. No a large proportion of the people of France, as elu- one thought of paying those marshals, whose names sory, and indicating no serious purpose of pacifica- and actions shook the world, agreater degree of restion. The treaty therefore languished, and was not pect when Napoleon gave them titles. On the confairly set on foot until the chance of war had been trary, they will live in history, and be familiar to the again appealed to. imagination, by their own names, rather than those In the meanwhile, the allies were bringing up alising from their peerages. But the science of hetheir reserves as fast as possible, and Bonaparte on raldry, when admitted as an arbitrary rule of society, his side was doing all he could to recruit his forces. reverses the rule of philosophy, and ranks nobility, His measures for this purpose had been adopted like medals, not according to the intrinsic value of long before the present emergency. As far back the metal, butin proportion to its antiquity. If this as the 9th October, the Empress Maria Louisa, in was the case with even the heroes who had hebwed the character of regent, presided in a meeting of a soldier's path to honours, it was still more so with the Senate, held for the purlpose of calling for fresh the titles granted by Bonaparte, " upon carpet recruits to the armies. She was an object of interest consideration," and the knights whom he dubbed and compassion to all, when announcing the war with unhacked rapier. It imight be truly said of which had broken out betwixt her father and her these, that husband; but the following injudicious censure upon her country was put into tile mouth of the young Their fire-new stamp of honour scarce was current. sovereign, without much regard to delicacy. "No When, therefore, the republican fury died away, one," she said, "can know so well as I what the and Bonaparte directed the respect of the people French will have to dread, if they permllit the allies at large towards title and nobility, a distinct and to be conquerors." The closing paragraph was also superior influence was acquired by those who posmuch criticised, as attaching more importance to sessed such honours by hereditary descent. Napothe. personal feelings of the sovereign, than ought to leon knew this, and courted, and in some degree have been exclusively ascribed to them in so great feared, the remainder of the old noblesse, who, a public extremity. "Having been acquainted for unless he could decidedly attach them to his own four years with the inmost thoughts of my husband, interest, were exposed to surveillance and impri I know with what sentiments he would be afflicted sonment on circumstances of slight suspicion They if placed on a tarnished throne, and wearing a crown became, however, so circumspect and cautious, despoiled of glory." The decree of the Senate, that it was impossible to introduce the spies of the passive as usual, appointed a levy of two hundred police into their salons and private pati;es. Still and eighty thousand conscripts. Napoleon was sensible of the existence of this party, When Bonaparte arrived at St-Cloud, after having and of the danger which might attend upon it, even broughlt the remnains of his once great army to Mentz, while his followers had forgot perhaps that the his affairs were even in a worse state than had been Bourbons continued to live. " I thought him lxmad," anticipated. But before we proceed to detail the said Ney (whose head, according to FouchlI, could measures which lie took for redeeming them, it is not embrace two political ideas), " when, taking necessary to take notice of two parties in the state, leave of the army at Smorgoni, he used the exwho, in consequence of the decay of the Imperial pression,' The Bourbons will make their own of ovower, were growving gradually into imllortance. this.'"'* The first were the adherents of the Bourbons, This party began now to be active, and a royalist wvho, reduced to silence by the long-continued suc- confederation organized itself in the centre of cesses of Bonaparte, still continued to exist, and France as early as the month of March, 1813. The now resumed their consequence. They had nu- most distinguished members are said to have been rulerons partisans in the west and south of France, the Dukes of Duras, Tremouille, and Fitzjames; and many of thenm still maintained correspondence Messrs de Polignac, Ferrand, Adrien de Montmiowith the exiled family. The old noblesse, amongst relicy, Sosthene de La Rochefoucault, Sesmaison, whom such as did not attach themselves to the and La Roche-Jacquelin. Royalist commanders court and person of Nalxdeon continued to be had been nominated in different quarters-Count staunch royalists, had acquired, or rather regained, Suzannet in tile Lower Poitou, Duras in Orleans'a considerable influence in Parisian society. The and Tours, and the Marquis de Riviere in tile prosuperlor elegance of their manners, the seclusion, vince of Berri. Bordeaux was full of royalists, and almost mystery of their mmeetings, their courage alnd tlieir misfotrtmnes, gave an interest to these " Les Bourbons s'e tireraient." MIewoires de FouciAd, relics cf the history of France, which was increased vol. II, p. 149. L... 620 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. most of them of the mercantile. class, who were determined to retain everything, defend everyruined bIy the restrictions of the continental system, thing, venture everything, without making the least and all waited anxioutsly a signal for action. sacrifice to circumstances, as if he were in his own Another internal faction, noways desirous of the person independentof the laws of Destiny, to which e eturn of the Bourbons, yet equally inimical to the the whole universe is subjected. These men ftlt power of Napoleon, consisted of the old republican the oppression of the new taxes, the terrors of the I tatesmen and leaders, with the more zealous part new conscription,4 and without forming a wish as of their followers. These could not behold with to the mode in which he was to be succeeded, deindifference the whole fruits of the Revolution, for voutly desired the emperor's deposition. But when which so much misery had been endured, so mutch an end is warmly desired, the means of attaining blood spilled, so many crimes committed, swept it soon come to occupy the imagination; and thus away by the rude hand of a despotic soldier. They many of those who were at first a sort of general saw, with a mixture of shame and mortification, malcontents, came to attach themselves to the that the issue of all their toils and all their systems more decided faction either of the royalists or lihad been the monstrous concoction of a military beralists. despotism, compared with which every other go- These feelings, varying between absolute hostility vernment in Europe might be declared liberal, ex- to Napoleon, and indifference to his fate, threw a ~ept perhaps that of Turkey. During the monarchy, general chillness over the disposition to resist the so long represented as a system of slavery, public invasion of the strangers, which Bonaparte liad opinion had in the parliaments zealous advocates, reckoned on as certain to render the war national and an opportunity of making itself known; but in amongst so high-spirited a people as the French. Imperial France all was mute, except the voice of No etffort was spared to dispel this apathy, and exhired functionaries, mere trumpets of the govern- cite thenm to resistance; the presses of the capital ment, who breathed not a sound but what was sug- and the provinces all adopted the tone suggested by gested to them. A sense of this degraded condition the government, and called forth every one to rise united in secret all those who desired to see a free in mass, for defence of the country. But although, government in France, and especially such as had in some places, the peasants were induced to take been active in the commencement of the Revo- arms, the nation at large showed a coldness, which lution. can only be accounted for by the general idea which This class of politicians could not desire the re- prevailed, that the emperor had an honourable peace turn of the family in whose exile they had been within his power, whenever he should be disposed active, and had therefore cause to fear the re-action to accept of it. with which such an event might be attended; but In the meantime, new burdens were necessary to they wished to get rid of Napoleon, whose govern- pay the expenses of the approaching campaign, and ment seemed to be alike inconsistent with peace recruit the diminished ranks of the army. Napoleon, and with liberty. The idea of a regency suggested indeed, supplied from his owvn hoards a sum of itself to Fouch6 and others, as a plausible mode thirty millions of francs; but, at the same time of attaining their purpose. Austria, they thought, the public taxes of the subject were increased by might be propitiated by giving Maria Louisa the one moiety, without any appeal to, or consultation precedence in the council of regency as guardian with, the Legislative Body, who, indeed, were not of her son, who should succeed to the crown when sitting at the time. In a Council of State extraordihe came to the age of majority. This expedient, it nary, held oat the 11th November, two days after his was thought, would give an opportunity, in the mlean- return to Paris, Napole6n vindicated the infliction of while, to introduce fiee principles into the constitu- this heavy augmentation on a discontented and distion. But while it does not appear how these the- tressed country. " In ordinary times," he said, "the orists intended to dispose of Napoleon, it is certain contributions were calculated at one-fifth of the inthat nothing but his death, captivity, or perpetual come of the individual; but according to the trgeincy exile, would have prevented such a man from ob- of events, there was no reason why it shouldl not taingin the full management of a regency, in which rise to a fourth, a third, or a half of the whole itlhis wife was to preside in the name of his son. collle. In fact," he concluded, " the contribution A great part of tile population of France, without had no bounds; and if there were any laws intihaving any distinct views as to its future govern- mating the contrary, they were ill-considered laws, ment, w-ere discontented with that of Bonaparte, and unldeservirg of attention." which, after having drained the country of men and * It has beeln given as sufficient answer to these c.omwealth, seemed about to terminate, by subjecting it prlaints, that Bonaparte is falsely accused of having drained to the revenge of incensed Europe. When these France of ler youth, since, upon the whole, the population were told that Bonraparte could not bear to sit upon is stated to have, on the contrary, increased. This maybe a tar nished throne, or wuear a crown of whichl the tle case; but it is no less certain that the wars of Bonaglory was diminished, they were apt to consider how parto consunled at least a million of conscripts, anrd it often it was necessary that the best blood of France does not occur to us that the population of a coslbry shouldc be expended in washing the one, and restor- increases under such circumstances, like the growth of a tree subjected to much pruning; still less that the gei the illiancy of the other. hey saw i Na- neral result would satisfy parents for the slaughter of their poleon a bliod and obstinate man, conscious of hav- children, any more than the sorrow of a mother who liad ing overcome so many obstacles, that he could not lost her infant would be assuaged by the inllfrmation enduhre to admit the existence of any which might that her next-door neighbour had been safely deliverepd of hbe inlsurmountable. They behrelt hin obstinately twins. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 6i2 There was then read to the Council a decree of least shadow of popular representation, of everythe Senate for a new conscription of three hundred thing approaching to freedom of debate or right of thousand men, to be levied upon those who had remonstrance, and, by a recent act of despetic inescaped the conscription of former years, and who novation, had even robbed them of the power of had been considered as exempted from the service. chusing their own president. He is said also to There was a deep and melancholy silence. At have exerted his authority over individuals by a length a counsellor spoke, with some hesitation, practice similar to that practised by James the though it was only to blame the introductory clause Second upon menlbers of parliament, called closet of the senatorial decree, which stated the invasion ing, admitting individuals of the Legislative Body of the fiontiers as the cause of this large levy. It to private interviews, and condescending to use towvas, he suggested, a declaration too much calculated ward them that personal intercession, which, coming to spread alarm. from a sovereign, it is so difficult to resist. But'" And wherefore," said Napoleon, giving way to these arts proved unsuccessful, and only tended to his natural vehemence, and indicating, more strongly show to the world that the Legislative Body had than prudence warranted, the warlike and vindic- independence enough to intimate their desire for tive purposes which exclusively occupied his breast, peace, while their sovereign was still deterimined -" wherefore should not the whole truth be told? on war. A. commission of five of their snemberst, Wellington has entered the south; the Russians me- distinguished for wisdom and moderation, were nace the northern frontier; the Prussians, Austrians, appointed to draw up a report upon the state of the and Bavarians threaten the east. Shame! —Vel- nation, which they did in terms respectful to Napolington in France, and we have not risen in mass leon, but such as plainly indicated their conviction to drive him back. All my allies have deserted that he would act wisely to discontinue his schemes me; the Bavarians have betrayed me-They threw of external ambition, to purchase peace by disclaimthemselves on my rear to cut off my retreat-But ing them, and at the same time to restore to the they have been slaughtered for their pains. No subject some degree of internal liberty. They sugpeace-none till we have burned Munich. A trium- gested, that in order to silence the complaints of tile virate is formed in the north, the same which made allied monarchs, which accused France of aiming at a partition of Poland. I demand of France three general sovereignty, the emperor should mlake a hundred thousand men —I will form a camp of a solemn and specific declaration, abjuring all such hundred thousand at Bordeaux-another at Metz- purposes. They reminded him, that when Louis another at Lyons. With the present levy, and what XIV.. desired to restore energy to the nation, he remains of the last, I will have a million of men. acquainted them with the efforts he had made to Bat I must have grown men —not these boy-con- obtain peace, and the effect answered his wvishes. scripts, to encumber the hospitals, and die of fatigle They recommended the example to Napoleon. It upon the highways-I can reckon on no soldiers now was only necessary, they said, that the nation should save those of France itself." be assured, that the war was to be continued for the " Ah, sire," said one of the assentators, glad to sole object of the independence of the French people throw in a suggestion which he supposed wvould suit and territory, to reanimlate public spirit, and induce the mood of the time, " that ancient France must all to concur in the general defence. After other remain to us inviolate." arguments, tending to enforce the same advice, the "And Holland i" answered Napoleon, fiercely. report concludetd with recommending tllhat his ma"' Abandon Holland! sooner yield it back to the sea. jesty should be supplicated to maintain the active Counsellors, there must be an impulse given-all and constant execution of the laws, which preserve nmust march-You are fathers of families, the heads to Frenchimen the rights of liberty, and security both of the nation; it is for you to set the example. They of person and property, and to the nation the fiee speak of peace; I hear of nothing but peace, when exercise of its political privileges. all around should echo to the cry of war." Like the mute prlince, who recovered his speech This was one of the occasions on which Bona- when his athter's life -was endangered, tile extremity parte's constitutional vehemence overcame his polli- of the national distress thus gave thllepower of retical prldence. We might almost think we hear the meonstrance to a public body, which hald hitherto voice of the Scandinavian deity Thor, or the war- been only the passive agents of the vill of a desgod of Mexico, clamorous for his victims, and de- potic sovereign. Yet, comparing the naturle of tlhe manding that they be unblemished, and worthy of remonstrance with the period of extrelity at which his bloody altar. But Bonaparte was unable to it was made, Napoleon rmulst have felt somewhat in inspire others with his own martial zeal; they only the situation of the patriarch of UZ, the friend s of foresaw that the nation must, according to the sys- whose former prosperity came in the moment of his tem of its ruler, encounter a most perilous danger, greatest distresses with reproaches instead (A'assistand that, even in case of success, when Napoleon ance. The Legislative Body had been at least silent reaped laurels, France would only gather cypress. and acquiescent during the wonederfiul peio(t of1 This feeling was chiefly predominant in the Legis- Bonaparte's success, and they now chose that of his lative Body assembly; as every representative, adversity to give him unpalatable advice, instead of which emanates however remotely from the people, aiding in this energency to inspire the nafion with has a natural aptitude to espouse their cause. confidence. A philosophical monarch would neverIt is true, that the emperor had, by every precan- theless have regarded the quality of the course r{ - tion in his power, endeavoured to deprive this part commended more than the irritating circmstmtulces of the state, tile only one which had retained the of time and manner in which it was given;,ail |;22'IN~LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. would have endeavoured, by frank confidence and qilalified to increase the confidence of the plblic, concessions, to reconcile himself with the Legislative who now saw want of unity between the emperor Body. An artful and Machiavelian despot would and the popular representatives, added to the other have temporised with the deputies, and yielded for threatening circumstances of the time, and became the time, with the purpose of afterwards recovering, yet more distracted in their opinions, and unwilling at a fitting period, whatever point he might at pre- to exert themselves for the common defence. sent be obliged to cede. But Napoleon, too impe- To give, a more favourable impulse to the mind of tuous for either policy or philosophy, gave way to the nation, Napoleon had recourse to an expedient, the full vehemence of a resentment, which, though which, in the time of the Republic, had been atunreasonable and imprudent, was certainly, consi- tended with universal effect. He sent special corndlering those to whom it was addressed, by no means missioners, twenty-seven in number, into the diffeunnatural. He determined instantly to prorogue the rent departments, to arouse the dormant energies of assembly, which had indicated such symptoms of the inhabitants, and induce them to take up arms. opposition. Their hall was, therefore, shut against But the senators and counsellors, chosen obr this theim, and guarded with soldiers, while the deputies, purpose, were altogether void of the terrible enersummoned before the throne of the emperor, received gies of the republican proconsuls; and, though enthe following singular admonition:-" I have prohi- dowed like them with the most arbitrary powers, bited the printing of' your address, because it is se- they had neither the furlious zeal, nor the contenipt ditious. Eleven parts ofyou are good citizens, but of all the prejudices of humanity, which had been the twelfth consists of rebels, and your commissioners displayed by those ferocious demagogues. Their are of the number. Lain6 corresponds with the mission, therefore, produced but little effect. The Prince Regent of England; the others are hot- conscription, too, failed to be the ready source of headed fools, desirous of anarchy, like the giron- levies which it had so often proved. The lancet dins, whomrl such opinions led to the scaffold. Is it had been so often used, that the blood no longer when the enemy are on the frontiers that you demand followed it so readily. an alteration of the constitution? Rather follow the The unceasing activity of Napoleon laboured to example of Alsace and Franche-Comtd, where the supply these deficiencies. By day he was incesinhabitants ask for leaders and arms to drive the in- santly engaged in actively reviewing troops, inspectvaders back. You are not the representatives of ing stores, and all the preparations for a desperate the people-You are only the representatives of the resistance. By night, the lights were seen to glim. individual departments.... Yet you seek in your nler late and long in the windows of his private address to draw a distinction betwixt the sovereign apartment, in the upper story of the Tuileries. He and the people. I-I am the only real represen- succeeded in levying twelve fresh regiments, and tative of the people. Which of you could support prepared to augment his veteran force by withdrawsuch a burden?-The throne is merely a piece of ing Sachet from Catalonia, and making draughts wood covered with velvet. I-I alone hold the from Soult's army on the frontiers whichhe designed place of the people. If France desires another to supply by fresh levies. species of constitution, vwhich does not suit me, I The Moniteucr, and the other newspapers, magwill tell her to seek another monarch. It is at me nified the success of the emperor's exertions, dethe enemiies aim, more than at France; but are we, scribed armies in reserve which had no existence, therefore, to sacrifice a part of France? Do I not and dilated upon the beau dksespoir which was sacrifice my self:love, and my feelings of superiority, driving all France to arms, while in fadt, most of the to obtain peace? Think you I speak proudly? If provinces waited with apathy the events of the war. I do, I an proud because I have courage, and be- One of the strongest symptoms of Napoleon's cause France ownes her grandeur to me. Yes-your own consciousness of approaching danger, was his address is unworthy of the Legislative Bodu, and of calling out and alrming the National Guard of Paris, me. IBegone to your homes. I will cause your ad- a force to which he twould not have appealed, save dress to he publashed in the Moniteur, with such in the case of the last necessity, bult to which he notes as I shall furnish. Even if l had done wrong, now felt himself obliged to have recourse. Aware, you ought not'to have reproached the with it thus howvever, that to mark any want of confidence in the publicly. People do not wasi their dirty linen be- armed citizens at this moment, would be to give fire the world. To conclude, France has more need occasion to the disaffection which he dreaded. lihe ofs me than I have of France." solemnized his departure to the fiontier by convokWith this philippic, %which we have but slightly ing a meeting of the officers of the National Guard compressed, he spurned the members of the Legis- at the Tuileries. He appeared among themln with lat.ie Body front his presence. It displays in a re- his empress and his infant child, and in a tone whi ch niarkable degree his natural vehemence of temper; penetrated every bosom, announced that, being htis view of the constitution as a drama, in whichshe about to place himself at the head of his altiv, lihe filled up every part, and performed at once the part committed to the faith of' the citizens of Paris the of the prince and of the people; his consciousness security of his capital, his wife, and his child. of his own extraordinary powers, which he boldly Whatever conlplaints might be justly entertained weighed in the balance against all France; and the against Napoleon's political conduct, none were so coarse and mean taste of some of his expressions. ungenerous as to remember thenm at that minomnt. The suspension of the Legislative Body, the only Many of the officers shared in the emotion which pasrt, we repeat, of the Imperial constitution which he testified, and some mingled their tears with thoue htud the leatst pretence to a popular origin, was not of the alarmed and sorrowing empress. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 6?3 This scene took pl ice on the 23d of January; on the They had not been too much elated by the s&tc25th Napoleon leftthat abode of royalty, to which he cesses of the late campaign. These had been was doomed not to return until he had undergone bought at a high price, and events had shown, that strange changes of fortune. His mnind was agitated if Napoleon could be resisted and defeated, it cotlld with unusual apprehensions and anticipations of mis- only be by outnumbering his veteran armiies, and fortune; feeling also, what was unsuspected by many, accumulating such force against him as even his that the real danger of his situation arose fron the pro- skill and talents should find irresistible. They rebability of the nation's wishing to recal the Bourbons. collected, also, the desperate efforts of which France He had even, according to his own account, resolved and Frenchmen were capable, and were prude5ntly to arrest " the person of a man of great influence,"' desirous to express the moderation of their purpose whom he supposed most likely to promote this de- in such a form as should have no chance of being sign. His coutnsellors persuaded him to forbear this mistaken. arbitrary action at a moment when his power was Their manifestoes disclaimed the intention of dicbecoring daily more obnoxious, aud reminded him tating to France any particular form of governmnent. thitt the suspected person had as much reason to They only desired that she should remain within the fear the restwration of the Bourbons: as he himself limits of her ancient territory, a peaceful member of had. The emperor yielded the point, but not with- the European commonwealth, allowing to otlher out strongly repeating his fears that his advisers and states, as wvell as claiming for herself; the fiull imnhitmself would both have to repent of it; and not munities of freedom and independence. The allied without charlging Cambac&les to make sure of that sovereigns desired that there should be an end put individuial's person, in case any crisis should take to the system which decided the fate of kingdomls, place iu the capital. not according to the better right, but the longest Thus, fiull of melancholy presages, he hastened sword. They wished a total suppression of all doto the field, where lhe had but inadequate means to mination of the powerful over the wveak; of all pre: opL)ose to the accumulated force which was now text of usurpation founded on alleged natural boundprecipitating itself upon France. aries, or, in other words, on the claim of a powerful state to rend from a weak one whatever suited its convenience to possess. In a word, they aimed at CHAPTER XCI. the restoration of the balance of power, vllhich had been long the political object of the wisest statesmen Declaration of the views of the allies in entering France. in Europe. It is singular, that the three nations -Thtey ernter Switzerlandtl, ancd take possession of Ge- who were now united to oplpose the aggressions of necvaz.-Prince Sclvartzenberrt crosses the Rhise.- Bonaparte, had themselves been the first to set an Apathy of thse }'lFrench.-Jnction of Bicher wvith the example of violent and ulnprincipled spoliation in'1grand arnty.-Preeedings of the Crowrn Pritce of the partition of Poland; and that they had reaped Swvesett. — Tarainess of she alties.-Intferiority of NapoOs'iS n.Taerdil forceh-Beattlesn of Briesne-ofd LaN a lln abundant punishment in the measure of retribhileon's neetmericat force. —Battles of Brieftie —and La Rothiie.-Difficlties of Bonsaparte, (tItring whlich hoe tion -dealt to them by the instrmnentaihty of the very me(ditates to resigr tihe crown.-He makes a succesosfil tma, whose lawless outrages they, in their turn, attack on the Silesian armyi at Chaspacune t. —Blitcher were now combined to chastise. is compelledt to retreat.-The grand nrelsty of the allies With respect to the nature of' the changes whichB carries Noiglst aned Monltereaiu-attackedb Nt napoleon, tight take place in the internal arraangemelnts of and Sclssart zenJlerf seWds h isl a letter o' reimonstrauce. France, in order to bring about the restoration of the -Mistereart is taken by slaor.-BotLnaparte's violelnce balance of power, the allied mlonarchl s l).oftssed to itis glenirals.- T-/e Anustrians resolve ont a general re- themselves indifltrent If Napoleon should recosi tr at, nsfacr asv Nancy asstd Lainyres.-Thei) i niotivese- cile himself to thie general pacification they proCronSpqslsevtr i frtt atio al(l excesses of he Austriasll posed, they did not plretend anly right to state t;'o, ps.-Alsiver of Napoleon to the letter (,f P-rince w - e e s - obections to his remtaining in aultlhority. It was the partle's head qsarters, ito treat fJor ass arnistice.T'l'e military system of usurpation, not the person of'eclh hbomsbard an(l'enster T'aroyes on 23d February.- Bonaparte, atainst which they made wvar. If, on'Exceutiost of CGosnasit, a royalist.-A (decree of (ldeath the'other hand, F1rance could not retilra to a state is dtieol'tceed anysialst all'wearissg the Bourbos emblems of peace witholeut a change of' her ruler, it 1was for asid cll esnir.;oats ituo.,holddjointhe allies.-Retrospect France herself to consider what that cllange should of movesments 2tpon thefros7tiers, be. The allied sovereigns were determinileds sihe should ino longer work her unrconlroltd will upon Ir was timie that Bonaparte should appear in the other states; but they left her at ftull liberty to adopt field in peison, for the eastern frontiers of his em- what government, and whiat sovereign shle hpleased, pire, assaulted on every point, were yielding an within her own territories. almost unresisted entrance to the invading armies. At the same timtre, having limited the purpose of The allied sovereigns had commenced their oiera- their armament to such a just and moderate object, tions upon a system, as moderate and prudent in a the allies resolved to put such activity in their meapolitical 1loint of view, as it was bold and decisive sutles as to satisfy the French thlat they hlad the considered under a mnilitary aspect,. power of enforcintg their demands; and for that putrpose they determinedl to enter the frontier. Froim' * Talley.rand is intimated; for Fourcl6, t'o whom the de- Basle to Mentz, from Mentz to thle nothll of tihe scription night otherwise have applied, was not at this time Scheldt, the fiontier of France and Belgitiu is dein or near Paris. fended by the Rhine, a stlrong natural boundary in I 6'24 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. itself, and covered by a triple row of a hundred neral Gitlay on the 17th. A division of the Austrians anld forty fortresses, some of them of the very first was immediately advanced to Dijon. class. Above Basle, where the Rhine divides France The apathy of the French at this period, may be from Switzerland, the frontier is more accessible. estimated fronl the following circumstance: —)ijon, Balt then this upper line could not be acted upon summoned by a flying party of ccvalry, returned for without violating the neutrality which Switzerland answer, that a town containing thirty thousand inhad asserted, which Bonaparte had admitted as habitants, could not with honour surrender to fifteen aflordilg protection for the weakest part of the hussars, but that if a respectable force appeared threatened frontier, and which, upon their own before. its walls, they were ready to give up the principle of respecting the rights of neutrals, the keys of their city. This reasonable request fwas allies were under a sort of necessity of acknow- complied with, and Dijon surrendered on 19th ledging. Nevertheless, the extreme facility of January. entering France on this side led Austria and Prussia The city of Lyons, the second in the empire, had to form the wish to set aside scruples, and disregard itself nearly f:llen into the hands of thlie Austrians the neutrality of Switzerland. but the inhabitants showed a disposition to defend These two powers remembered how little respect the town, and being reinforced with troops sent to Napoleon had shown to neutral rights in the cani- secure a place of' such importance, the Austrian paign of Ulm, when he marched without hesitation general Bubna retired from under its walls. It is through tile Prussian territories of Anspach and Ba- allowed, that more activity on the part of the allies renth, in order to accomplish the demolition of the might have saved this repiulse, which was of consiAustrian army; nor did they fail to quote his for- derable importance. It was the only one which they cible interference in the affairs of the Cantons of had yet sustained. Switzerland, at an earlier period of his history. WVhile the grand army, under Schwartzenberg, Russia did not for some time acquiesce in this was thus advancing into France, the Army of Silesia, reasoning; but when some plausible grounds were which was the name given to that commanded by alleged of breach of neutrality on the part of the tile veteran Blucher, consisting, as fiormerly, of' Swiss, the scruples of Alexander were removed; Prussians and Russians, had made equal progress, and it was resolved that the Austrian grand army though against greater resistance and more diffishould traverse the Swiss territory for the purpose culties. His army advanced in four columns, or of entering France. They halted before Geneva, grand divisions, blockading the strong frontier foraInd took possession of the town, or rather it was tresses of Metz, Sarre-Louis,'I'hionville, Luxemyielded to them by the citizens. bomrg, and others, passing the defiles of the Vosges,'IThe Canton of Berne, also, which resented some and pushing forwvard to Joinville, Vitry, and Stalterations made by Napoleon to the prejudice of Dizier. The army of Silesia was thus placed in their feudal claims upon the Pays de Vaud, received communication with the grand army, the advanced the Aurstrians not as intruders but as friends. Bo- divisions of which had penetrated as far into France nIaparte, in his rmanifestoes, insisted vehemently upon as Bar-sur-Aube. the injlstice of this aggression upon the territories of There was yet a third army of the allies, called tile Swiss. Undoubtedly the transaction was of a that of the North of Europe. It was originally comqulestionable character; birt it was inconsistent in manded by the Prince Royal of Sweden, and conNapoleon to declaim against it, since in the case of sisted of Swedes, Russians, and Germans. But the thte arrest of the'Duke d'Enghien, he had laid it Crown Prince, whose assistance had been of such down as national law, that the violation of the ter- material consequence during the campaign of 1813, ritory of Baden was an offence pleadable by no other did not, it appears, take an active share in that of' thaTl the sovereign of that territory. On his own 1814. There may have been two reasons, and doct.rine, therefore, it was incompetent in any other weighty ones, for this inactivity. To assist in drivcation to resent on behalf of the Swiss that which ingthe French out of Germany, seermed a duty which the Swiss did not resent for themselves. the Prince of Sweden could not as such decline, Upon the 21st of December, Marshal Prince when the welfare of Sweden demanded it. Burt an Schwvartzenberg crossed the Ithine with the Austrian ilnvasion of his native soil might seem to Bernadotte arirVy tit four points, and advanced upon Langres, a service unpleasing and unpopular in itself, and in as had been previously agreed. Moving with the which he could not be so rightfully engaged, at extremrre slowness and precision which characterize least while the freedom of Germany and the north IAustrian manceuvres, p)aying always the same re- opened another field ofexertions, where his military splct to fortresses without garrisons, and passes efforts could be attended with no injury to his per-'withoilt guards, as if they had been in a posture of sonal feelings. Denmark was still in arms, and dlefence, the Austrians, instead of reaching Langres Davoust still held out at Hamburg; and the presence cn 27th Decelmber, did not arrive till the 17th Ja- of the Swedish army and its leader was necessary I:nalry, 1814. A serious intention had been for sonie to subdue the one, and clear the north from the tiule manifested to defend the place, and it was other. It must also be remembered that Sweden, a even garrisoned by a detachment of Bonaparte's poor kingdom, was not in a condition to smustain'a O(ic Guard. The alpproach of the numerous Austrian war at a great distance from its frontier, and arisilnga rellfoIcemnenrts, however, rendered the prepara- out of causes in which it was more remotely concern. Yinuis irr dhefernce of tie town unavailing, and Lan- ed. Her armies could not be recruited with tie gre4 w evacratedl by all the French troops, saving same ease as those of the gre;iter powers; anld Be1a.about three htuntdred iren, who surrendered to Ge- nadotte, therefore, rather chose to imuurt: e censmrl I._______ ______ ___________________________________ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE..626 ot being supposed cold in the cause of his confe. reported to have been cruel, unless when provoked, derates, than the risk of losing the only body of but were not in general able to resist temptations to troops which Sweden had been able to fit out, and plllnder. The excursions of these and.other light upon preserving which his throne probably depend- troops were of course distressing to the French ed. The allied sovereigns, however, directed, that territory. while the Crown Prince remained in the north, a On the other hand, in two or three cases, armed part of' the Russian and Prussian corps, who were citizens in the towns, summoned by small parties placed under his command, should be ordered to of the allies, fired upon flags of truce, and thus march towards France, for the purpose of augment- justified severe reprisals. It Nras said to be by Boing the olrce which they already possessed inl Hol- naparte's strict orders that such actions were cotnland and Belgium. The Crown Prince having, by a mitted, the purpose being if possible, to excite short war with Denmark, compelled that power to deadly hatred betwixt the'lFrench and the allies. yield up her ancient possession of Norway, left Indeed, in the reverse of the circumstances in Bennigsen to continue tile siege of Hambiurg, and which each had formerly stood, Napoleon and the adlvanced in person to Cologne, to assist in the com- Austrian generals seemed to have exchanged system plete liberation of Belgium. and sentiments. He now, as the Archduke Charles The French troops, which had been drawn toge- did in 1809, called out every peasant to arms; ther, had been lefeated at Merxem by General while Schwartzenberg, like Napoleon at that earlier Bulow and Sir Thomas Graham; and although the period, denounced threats of military execution, Fu-ench flag was still flying at Antwerp and Bergen- without mercy or quarter, to every rustic who should op Zoom, Holland might be considered as liberated. obey the summons. The impartial historian must General Winzengerode, at the head of the Russian proclaim, in the one case as in the other, that the troops, and tl-e Saxons, under Thielmann, being the duty of resistance in the'defence of our native corps detached, as above-mentioned, from the army country, does not depend on the character of a of the north of Germany, soon reached the Low man's weapons, or the colour of his coat; and that Countries, and erntered into communication with the armed citizen is entitled, equally with the reBu3low. General Sir Thorras Graham, with tfie gular soldier, to the benefit of the laws of war, so English and Saxons, and with such Dutch and long as he does not himself violate them. But fromrn Flemnish troops as could be collected, was left to these various causes, it was plain that the present blockade Bergen-op-Zoomn and Antwerp, whilst apathy of the French people was only temporary, Bulow and Winzengerode were at liberty to enter and that some sudden and unforeseen cause was France on the northern frontier: and thus, in the not unlikely to rouse so sensitive and high-spirited hour of need, which soon afterwards arrived, they a people into a state of general resistance, by which were to act as a reserve to the army of Silesia the allies could not fail to be great suffirers. Itaunder Bllcher. They pushed on as far as Laon. pidity in their movements was the most obvious These advances, which carried the armies of the remedy against such a danger; biut this was the allies so fari nto the bosom of France, and surrounded military quality least proper to coalitions, where with blockades the fiontier fortresses of that king- many people must be consulted; and, besides, was dom, were not made wvithout an honourable though inconsistent with the well-known habits of tile Getineffectual opposition, on such points where the mans, but especially of the Austrians. French rmilitary could Jrake any stand against the It seems also, that the allies, having safely formpreponderating numbers of tlre invaders.'rle peo- ed an almost complete mnilitary line firom Langres to ple of the cotuntry in general neither Nwelcomed nor Chalons, found themselves at some loss hosw to use opposed thle all-es. In some places they were their advantages. Nothing could be better situated received with acclamatioon-in a few others some than their present position, for such a daring enteropposition was tendered-they encountered des- prise as was now termcd a holurra upon Paris; perate resistance nowhere. rlTheallies did all that and as all the hIigh-roads, departing fron various discipline could to mainlain strict order among their points of' the extensive line which they held, controops; but where tiere were so many free corps,- verged on the capital as a common cent:e, while litlanrs, Croats, and Cossacks, —whose only pay is the towns and villages, through which these ioads what they call plunder, occasional transgressions passed, afforded an ample supply of provisions, necessarily took place. Thle services of these irre- this nmarch might have been accomplished almost gular trotnos were, however, indispensable. The without opposition, but for the tardy movements of Cossacks, in particular-, might be termed the eyes of the grand army. The real weakness of Napoleon the army. Accustomed to act in sinall parties when had been disguised by the noisy and exaggerated necessary, thley threaded woods, swam rivers, and ramours concerning his preparations; and now when often presented themrselves unexpectedly in'illages the allies learned that such an opportunity had many miles distant from the main army to which existed, they learned, at the same time, that it was they belonged, thus inlpressing the French with anl well nigh lost, or at least that the road to Paris idea of thle nunlbers a-nd activity of the allies fhr must first be cleared by a series of bloody actions beyond tihe truth. T'hese Arab:ls of the North, as In these the allies could not disnuise from themNapoleon termned them, always announced their;elves the pdssibility of their receiving severe party as the advanced ngard of a considerable force, checks; and under this apprehension they began to for whom they ordered provisions and quarters to calcul'ate the consequences of such a defeat, rcceivbe prepared; and thus awed the inhlbitants into ed in the centre of France, as that which they had acquiescence in their demands. They are not;suffered under the walls of Dresden. There was oL. VI. 79 62fi LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. here no favourable screen of mountains to secure advantages to one who knew so well how t a-s their retreat, no strong positions for checking a them. The highways, by which the allies must adpursuing army, as in the case of Vandamnme, and vance, formed a half or quarter circle of rays, conturning a defeat into a victory. The frontier which verging, as already mentioned, on Paris as a centre. they had passed was penetrated, not subdued-its A much smaller arnmy might, therefore, oppose a fortresses, so strong and numerous, were in the large one, because, lying between Paris and the enegreater part masked, not taken-so that their retreat my, they must occupy the same roads by a munch upon the Rhine must be exposed to all the dangers shorter line of communication than the invaders who incident to passing in disorder through a country in were farther from the cenltre, where the roads dicomplete possession of the enemy. verged to a greater distance from each other. With General councils of war seldom agree upon re- this advantage of collocation to balance a great in. conmmending bold nmeasures. In this sense Solomon feriority in numerical force, Bonaparte advanced to says, that in the multitude of counsellors there is play for the most momentous stake ever disputed, safety; meaning that the most cautious, if not the with a degree of military skill which has never been wisest measures, are sure to have the approbation matched. of the majority. Arrived at Chalons on the 25th January, BonaAccordingly, this spirit predoiminatirng in the parte took the command of such an army as hle had councils of the allies, led to a degree of uncertainty been able to assemble, by the concentration of the in their movements on this momentous occasion, troops under the Marshals Victor, Marmont, Macwhich, as is usual, endeavoured to disguise itself donald, and Ney, all of whom had retreated from under the guise of l,rudence. They resolved that the frontier. So munch were the French corps d'arthe grand army should halt a short space at Langres, mde reduced, that these great and distinguished gein hopes either that Napoleon, renewing the nego- nerals, who, in former times, would have commanded tiation, the scene of which was now to be trans- 60,000 or 70,000 men each, had under them all, ferred to Chatillon sur-Seine, would avert his pre- when concentrated, but a total of 532,000, to which sent danger, by acquiescing in the terms of the Napoleon was only able to add about 20,000 broughlt allies; or that the French nation, an event still less from Paris. But no one ever understood better than likely to happen, would become tired of the military Bonaparte the great military doctrine, that victory monarch, whose ambition had brought such distress does not depend on the comparative result of nuleupon the country. In the meanwhile, the allies rical superiority in general, but on the art of obtaindeclined the offers of such royalists as came fbr- ing such a superiority on the field of action itself. ward in the natne, and for the interest of the exiled Blucher was, as usual, the forermost in advance, family, uniformly replying, that they would give no and Napoleon resolved to bestow on this active and weight to any expression of the sentiments of the inveterate enemy the terrible honour of his first atFrench people, unless it was made in some quarter tack, hoping to surprise the Silesian corps d'arm6e of the kingdom where it could not be supposed to before it could receive succour from the army of he influenced by the presence of the allied army. Schwartzenlberg. The marshal was apprised of tihe They trusted chiefly at that moment to the effect emperor's purpose, and lost no time in concentrating of negotiation with the present possessor of the his forces at the village of Brienne, near the sL.urce thrne. - of the Aube. This is a snmall village, seated on the But Napoleon, as firmly determined in his pur- ascent of a hill. The place has but two streets, one pose as the allies were doubtful, knowing himself to of which ascends to the cihateau, occupied fobrmrly be the soul of his army, and absolute lord of his own as a Royal Academy for young persons designed actions, felt all the advantage which a bold, active, for the army; the other conducts to Arcis-sur- Auhe. and able swordsman has in encountering an opponent, The chalteau is partly slurrounded by a park or whose skill is less distinguished, and whose deter- chase. It was at the military school of Brienne that ruination is more flexible than his own. The allies Napoleon acquired the rudiments of that skill in the had presented in the grand army a front of 97,000 military art with which he had almost prrostrate(l the men, Marshal Blucher one of 40,000, affording a dis- world, and had ended by placing it in array against posable force of 137,000. To oppose this the French him; and it was here he came to commence what Emperor had only, of old troops, independent of seenied his last series of efforts for %ictory; —like those tinder Suchet in Catalonia, tiunder Somuilt near some aninials of the chase, who, when hard pressed Bayonne, and also of garrisons, about 50,000 men; by the hunters, are said to direct their final attempts nor could he hope to add to them more than 70,000 at escape upon the points from which they have first conscripts. Nay, in fact his levies, so far as they started. could be brought into the field, fell greatly short of The alert movements of Napoleon surpassed the this number; for the allies were in possession of a anticipation of Blucher. He was at table withl his considerable part of the kingdom of France, and, in staff in the chateau. General Alsufieff, a Russian, this moment of general confusion, it was impossible occupied the town of Brienne, and General Sacken's to enforce the law of conscription, which was at all corps was drawn up in columns, on the road from times obnoxious. It was soon proved, that he who Brienne to La Rotlhiere. At once a horrible tumult so lately had led half-a-million of men to the Vistula, was heard. The Russian cavalry, two thousand in and 300,000 to the banks of the Elbe, could not now number, were completely driven in by those of Namuster, for the protection of the capital of his own poleon, and at the same moment Ney attacked the empire, a disposable force of imore than 70.000 men. village; while a body of French grenadiers, whlo, Tihe defensive war had no doubt considerable favoured by the wooded and broken character uf LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 6'27 the ground, had been enabled to get into the park, A general council of war, held at the castle of tllreatened to make prisoners all who were in the Brienne, now resolved that the two armies (althougl chateau. Blucher, with his officers, had barely having so lately found the advantage of mutunl suptime to reach a postern, where they were tnder the port) should separate from each other, and that necessity of leading their horses down a stair, and Bluchler, detaching himself to the northward, and in that way made their escape with difficulty. The uniting under his command the division of d'Yorck bold resistance of Alsufieff defended the town against and Kleist, both of whom had occupied St-Dizier Ney, and Sacken advanced to Alstfieff's assistance. and Vitry, should approach Paris by the Marne; The Cossacks also fell on the rear of the French in while Prince Schwartzenberg and the grand arnmy the park, and Bonaparte's own safety was cornpro- should descend on the capital by the course of the nrised in the nm16ee. Men were killed by his side, Seine. The difficulty of finding provisions for such and he was obliged to draw his sword in his own immense armies was doubtless in part the cause of defence. At the very momtnent of attack, his atten- this resolution. Bult it was likewise recommended tion was engaged by the sight of a tree, which he by the success of a similar plan of operations at recollected to be the saime under which, during the Dresden, and afterwards at Leipsic, where the hours of' recreation at Brienne, he used, when a enemies of Bonaparte approached him fiom so many schoolboy, to peruse the Jerusalem Delivered of different quarters, as to render it impossible for him Tasso. Ift the curtain of fate had risen before the to make head against one arlny, without giving great obscure youtl, and discovered to him in the same opportunity of advantage to the others. spot, his own image as Emperor of France, contend- Bonaparte reached Troyes, on which he retreated ing against the Scythians of the desert for life and after crossing the Aube, in a disastrous condition; power, how wonderful would have seemed the pre- but his junction with his Old Guard, whose appearsage, when the nmere concurrence of' circumstances ance and high state of appointments restored coustrikes the mind of those who look back upon it rage to the dejected troops who had been beaten at with awful veneration for the hidden ways of' Pro- La Rothiere, gave a new impulse to thle feelings of vidence! Lefebvre Desnouettes fell, dangerously his army, and restored the younmg levies to confiwounded, in charging at the head of the guards. dence. He resolred, taking advantage of the division The village caught fire,,and was burned to the of the two armies of the allies, to march upon that ground; but it was not until eleven at night that the of Blucher. But, in order to disguise his purpl se, Silesian army ceased to make efforts for recovering he first sent a small division upon Bar-slrt-Seine, to the place, and that Blucher, retreating fiom Brienne, alarm the Austrians with an attack upon their right took up a position in the rear of that village, and wing. Schwartzenberg ilnnmediately appreheinded upon that of La Rothiere. that Bonaparte was about to move with his whole The result of the battle of Brienne was indecisive, force in that direction; a movemient which in fact and the more unsatisfactory to Bonaparte, as the would have been* most favor'-able for the allies, part of Blucher's force engaged did not amount since it would have left the road to Paris ucldefendto 20,000 men, and the sole advantage gained over ed, and open to the whole. But, terrified by the them, was that of keeping the field of battle. Na- idea that his left flank lnighlt he tinrned or forced, poleon's principal object, lwhich was -to divide Bltl- the Austrian general moved his chief strength in that cher from the grand army, had altogether fhiled. It direction; thus at once suspending his mleditated was necessary, however, to proclain the engage- march on the Seine, and increasing the distance bement as a victory, and much liains was taken to twixt the grand armly and that ofSilesia. Bonaparte represent it as such. But when it was afterwards having deceived Sclhwartzenberg by this successful discovered to be merely a smart skirmish, without feint, evacuated Troyes, leaving the Marshals Vicany material results, the temporary deception only tor and Oudinot to oppose the Austrians with very served to injure the cause of Napoleon. inadequate means, while lie directed his own march On the 1st of February, Blucher, strongly rein- against Blucher. forced from the grand army, prepared in his turn to Blucher, in the meanwhile, having left Napoleon a;ssume the offensive. It would have been Napo- in fiont of the grand ariny, and nlot doubting that leon's wish to have avoided an engagement; but a the Austrians would find hini sufficient eumpiloymrnent, retreat across the Aulbe, by the bridge of l'Esmont, hurried forward to the Marne, forced Macdonald to whllich was the only mode of passing that deep and retreat from Clhateau-Thierry, and advanced his scarce fordable river, would lhave exposed his rear head-quarters to Vertus; while Sacken, who formed tol destruction. He therefore risked a general action. his van guard, pushed his light troops as far as Blucher attacked the line of the French on three Fert6-sous Jouarre, and was nearer to Paris than points, assaulting at once the villages of La Rothiere, was the emlperor himself. General d'Yorck had Dienville, and Chaumont. The conflict, in which advanced as far as Meaux, and Paris was in the last the Prince Royal of Wirtemnberg distinguished him- degree of alarim. self, was hard fought during the whole day, but in Even Bonaparte himself was so much struck by the evening the French were repulsed on all points, the inextricable situation of his affairs after the deand Bonaparte was compelled to retreat across the feat of La Rothiere, that a thought occurred to Aube, after losing 4,000 prisoners, and no less than him, which posterity, excepting on0 his own avowal, seventy-three guns. Ney, by the emperor's orders, would hardly give credit to. The Illan which satgdestroyed the bridge at l'Esmont.'1'he allies were gested itself was that of sacrificing his own authority not aware of the amount of their advantage, and to the peace of France, and of abdicating the crown suffered the French to retire unmolested. in favour of the Bourbons, while he had yet the 628 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. means of resistance in his possession. He felt he totally dispersed them, taking their artillery, and had reigned and con;mbated long enough for his own 2000 prisoners, while the remainder of the division glory, and justly thought that the measure of his fled into the woods, and attempted to escape in-di renown would be filled up by such an act of gene- vidually. The whole force of the emperor was rous self-denial. But a maxim occurred to him now interposed between the advanced guard under (suggested, he says, by Mr Fox), that restored no- Sacken, and the main body under Blucher. It was narchs could never forgive those who had occupied first directed towards the former, whom Napoleon their place. Probably his thoughts turned also to encountered sooner than lie expected, for Sacken, on the murder of the Duke d'Enghien; for there was hearing of the action at Chamlpanbert, instantly no other point of personal offence betwixt Bonaparte countertnarched his division to assist Alsufietff, or at and the exiled family, which their restoration, if the least to rejoin Blucher; but he was overwhelhned event took place by his intervention, might not have by the superior force of the French, and having lost fully atoned for. If our conjecture be real, it serves one-fourth of his division, about 5000 men, was to show how such a crime operates in its conse- forced to leave the high-road, upon which Blucher quences to obstruct its perpetrator in future attempts was advancing, and retreat by that on Chaiteauto recover the path of virtue and honour. Had Thierry. At this village Sacken was joined by Napoleon been really capable of the generous act General d'Yorck and Prince William of Prussia; of self-denial which he meditated, he must have but, still unable to make a stand, they could only been ranked, in despite of the doubtful points of his secure a retreat by destroying the bridge over the character, as one of the greatest men who ever Marne. War began now to show itself in its most lived. hideous forms. The stragglers and fugitives, who But the spirit of egotism and suspicion prevailed, could not cross the bridge before its destruction, and the hopes of accomplishing the discomfiture and were murdered by the peasantry, while the allied defeat oftthe Silesian army appeared preferable to soldiers, in revenge, plundered Chateau-Thierry, meriting, by one act of disinterested dleiotion, the and practised every excess of violence. The defeat eternal gratitude of Europe; and the philosopher of Sacken took place on the 12th of February. and friend of humanity relapsed into the -warrior and Blucher, in the meanwhile, ignorant of the exconqueror-. There is, no doubt, something nlerito- tent of the force by which his van-guard had been rious in the conceiving of great and noble resolutions, attacked, pressed forward to their support, and, in even although they remain nnrealised. But this a wide and uniuclosed country, suddenly found pat,'iotism ofl' the imagination does not rise to a higher'himself in the front of the whole army of Napoleon, scale of merit, than the sensibility of those who can- flushed with the double victory which they had not hear a tale of sorrow without weeping, but already gained, and so numerous as to make a rewhose sympathy never assumes the expensive form treat indispensable on the part of the Prussians. of actual charity. Blucher, if surprised, remained undismayed. Having The army of Napoleon was now to be transferred only three regiments of cavalry, he had to trust for fiomn the high-road leading from Paris to Troyes, to safety to the steadiness of his infantry. He formed that leading fromn Chailons to Paris, on which Blucher them into squares, protected by artillery, and thus was operating, and that by flank marches through commenced his retreat by alternate divisions; those an impracticable country; but which, if they could battalions which were in motion to the rear, being be accomplished, would enable the French Emperor protected by the fire of the others then standing fast, to attack the Silesian army at unawares in flank and and covering them with theirs while they retired in rear. The lateral cross-roads, which connect one turn. Tile French cavalry, though so strong as to highway with another through France, are generally operate at once on the flanks and rear, failed in scarce passable in winterl, even for the purpose of' being able to break a single square. After the ordinary comnmunication, much less for al army with Prussians had retired several leagues in this manner, its carriages and artillery. Bonaparte had to tra- fighting every foot of their way, they were nearly verse a country intersected with thickets, marshes, intercepted by a huge column of French horse, drains, ditches, and impediments of every kind; the which, having made a circuit so as to pass them, weather was execrable, and buit for the extraordi- had drawn up on the causeway to intercept their naryv exertions of the Mayor of Barbonne, who col- retreat. Without a mnoment's hesitation, Blucher lected five hundred horses to extricate the gulls, they instantly attacked them with such a murderous fire must have been abandoned on the road. But by of infantry and artillery, as forced them from the dint of perseverance, Bonaparte accomplished this high-road, and left the passage fi'ee. The Prussians f.arced march, oil 10th of February, and the flank of found the village of Etoges, through which they the S.lesian army was in consequence placed at his were obliged to pass, also occupied by the enemy; mercy. They were moving on without the least but here also they cleared their way by dint of suspicion ofsuchan attack. Sacken led the advance, fighting. This expedition of the Marne, as it is the Russian general Alsufieff followed, and Blucher called, is always accoiunted one of Napoleon's umilihimself' brought tup the rear with the main body. tary chefs-d'oeuvre; for a flank march, unndertaken All intent upon the advance to Paris, they were through such a difficult country, and so completely marching with careless haste, and had suffered such successful, is not perhaps recorded in history. On large intervals to take place betwix-t their divisions, the other hand, if Blucher lost any credit by the too as to expose them to be attacked in detail. great security of his march, he regained it by the nasBonaparte fell upon the central division of Alsu- terly manner in which he executed his retreat. Had fieff, at Champaubert, surrounded, defeated, and the army which he commanded in person shared the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 6(29 fate of his van-guard, it is problable there wo-ild have satisfied with the number of men he had lost, lhaded been no campaign of Paris. with reproaches some of his best officers. MontThe Parisians, in the meantime, saw at length brun was censured for want of energy, and l)igeon actual proofs that Napoleon had been victorious. for the scarcity of anmnunition with which the arLong columns of prisoners moved through their tillery was serve(d; but it was chiefly on Victor, streets, banners were displayed, the cannon thun- the Duke of Bellhno, that his resentment dischargdered, the press replied, and the pulpit joined, in ed itselt: He imputed to him negligence, in not extolling and magnifyring the dangers which the having attacked Montereau on the day before thle citizens had escaped, and the merits of their action, whenit was unprovided for resistance; and preserver. he ordered hinm to retire firom the set vice. T'he marIn the midst of the joy natural on such an occa- shal endeavoured to obtain a hearing in his own desion, the Parisians suddenly learned that the town fense, but for some time cotld not succeed in checkof Fontainebleau was occupied by Hungarian hus- ing the stteam of reproaches. At length they were sars, and that not Cossacks only, but Tartars, softened into a charge of broken health, and the Baskirs, and iali-ucks, tribes of a wild and savage love of repose, incident to wounds and infirmities. aspect, a kind of Asiatic ogres, to whom popular "The best bed," said the emperor, "which the credulity imputed a taste for the flesh of children, quarters afford, must now be sought out for the once had appeared in the neighbourhood of Nangis. indefatigable Victor." The marshal felt the charge These renewed signs of approaching danger, arose more severely in proportion as it became moderated fiom the grand army of the allies having carried, within what was probably the bounds of truth; but at tile point of the bayonet, Nogent and Montereau, he would not consent to qulit the service. and advanced the head-quarters of the monarchs to "I have not," he said, " forgot tny original trade. Pont-sur-Seine. T'his alarm to Paris was accom- I will take a musket. Victor will become a private panied by another. Schwartzenberg, learning the in the Guard."-Bonaparte could not resist this mark disasters on the Milarne, not only pushed forward of attachment. He heldl out his hand-" Let us be fiom three directions on the capital, but dispatched friends," lie replied.' I cannot restore to you your forces from his right towards Provins, to threaten corps d'arnlme, which I have givem to Gerard; but Napoleon's rear and communications. Leaving the 1 will place you at the head of' two divisions of' the purk-suit of Blucher, the emperor countermarched on G uard. Go-assume your command, and let there Meaux, and, marching from thence to Guignes, he be no more of this matter betwixt us." joined the arimy of Oudinot and Victor, who were It was upon such occasions, when he snbdued retreating before Schwartzenberg. He here found his excited feelings to a state of kindness and gethe reinforcements which he had drawn from Spain, nerosity, that Bonaparte's personal conduct seems about 2J,000 in number, tried and excellent troops. to have been most amiable. ~With this army he now fi-rnted that of Schwartzen- The allies, in the meantime, remembering, perberg, and upon the 17th February, commenced the haps, though somewhat of the latest, the old fable offensive, at all points, and with success, possessing of the bunch of arrows, resolved once mnre to enter himnself of Nangis, and nearly destroying the corps into communication with tile Silesian army, and, tnder Count Pahlen at Mormrant. The Prince concentrating near Troyes, to accept of battle, if Royal of Wirtemnberg was forced to retreat to Bonaparte should offer it. The- indefatigable BluMontereau. c-her had already recruited his troops, and, being So alarmed were the allies at the near approach reinforced by a division of the army of the north, of their terrible enemy, t::at a message was sent to under Langeron, moved southward fromt Chalons, Napoleon friom the allied sovereigns, by Prince to which he had retreated after his disaster at MontSclhwartzenberg's aide-de-canip, Count Parr, stating mirail, to MWry, a town situated upon the Seine, their surprise at his offensive movement, since they to the northeast of Troyes, to which last place had given orders to their plenipotentiaries at Chla- the allied monarchs had again rermoved their headtillon to sign the prelimninariesof peace, on the terlms qularters. Here he was attacked with fury by the which had been assented to by the French envoy, troops of Bonaparte, who mrade a desperate attempt Caulaincourt. to carry the bridge and town, and thus prevent tile T'his letter, of which we shall hereafter give a proposed communication between the Silesian arnly more fulll explanation. remrnained for some days un- and that of Schwartzenberg. The bridge, which answered, during which Napoleon endeavonued to was of wood, was set fire to in tile struggle. The push his advantages. He recovered the bridge at sharp-shooters fought am-lid its blazing and criacking Montereau, after a desperate attack, in which the beams. The Prussians, however, kept possession Crown Prince of Wirtemberg signalized himself by of MWry. the valour of his defence. In the course of the ac- A council of war was now held by the allies. tion, Naipoleon returned to his old profession of an Bluchelr urged the fulfilment of their original pulrartilleryman, and pointed several guns himself, to pose of hazarding an action with Napoleon. But the great delight of the soldi rs. They trembled, the Austrians had again altered their mind, and howvever, when thle fire attracted the attention of determined on a general retreat as far as the line the enemy, whose balls began to be aimed at the between Nancy and Langres; tLe very position on French battery. "Ge lmy childreen," said Bona- whiich the allies had paused when they first entered parte, ridiculing their apprehensions; "the ball is France.'rile plrincipal cause aileged for this retrenot cast that is to kill me."" grade movement, by which they must cede halft' the Having taken the place by stormli, Bonaparte, dis- grolund they had gained since their entering France, 16fi30 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. was, that Augereau, who had hitherto contented solved not to listen to any proposals which went to himself with his successfil defence of Lyons, had separate the Austrian cause from that of their allies. been recruited by considerable bodies of troops It was therefore at first resolved that no answer from the army of Sachet, which had been employed should be sent to the letter; but the desire of gainill Catalonia. Thus reinforced, the French marshal ing time for bringing up the reserves of the grand was now about to assume the offensive against the army, who were approaching the Swiss frontier Austrian forces at Dijon, act upon their communica- under the direction of the Prince of Hesse-Homnberg, tions with Switzerland, and raise in a mass the as also for the union of the army of the north, under warlike peasantry of the departments of the Doubs, Bulow and Wiinzengerode, with that of Silesia, dethe Haute-Sa6ne, and the Vosges. To prevent termined them to accept the offer of a suspension of such consequences, Schwartzenberg sent General hostilities. Under these consideratidns, Prince WenBianchi to the rear with a large division of his ceslans of Lichtensteiu was sent to the head-quarforces, to support the Austrians at Dijon; and ters of Napoleon, to treat concerning an armistice. conceived his army to) much weakened by this The emperor seemed to be in a state of high hope, detachment to retain his purpese of risking a general and called upon the Austrians not to sacrifice themaction. It was therefore resolved that if the head. selves to the selfish views of Russia, and the miquarters of the grand army were removed to Langres, serable policy of England. He appointed Count those of Blucher should be once more established Flahault his commissioner to negotiate for a line of on the Marne, where, strengthened by the arrival of demarcation, and directed him to meet with the tile northern army, which was now approaching envoy from the allies at Lusigny, on 24th February. fiom Flanders, he might resume his demonstration On the night of the 23d, the French bombarded upon Paris, in case Bonaparte should engage himself Troyes, which the allied troops evacuated according in the pursuit of the grand army of the allies. to their latest plan of the campaign. The French This retrograde movement gave much disgust to entered the town on the 24th, when the sick and the Austrian soldiers, who) considered it as the wounded, left behind by the allies, were dragged preface to a final abandonment of the invasion. Their out to grace Napoleon's triumph; and a scene not resentment showed itself, not only in murmurs and less deplorable, but of another description, was perin tearing out the green boughs with which, as in formed at the same time. sign of victory, they usually ornament their helmets Amid the high hopes which the entrance of the and schakos, but also, as is too frequently the case allies into France had suggested to the enemlies of in similar instances, in neglect of discipline, anti Bonaparte's government, five persons, the chiefl of excesses committed on the country. whom were the Marquis de Widranges, and the To diminish the bad effects arising from this dis. Chevalier de Gouault, had displayed the white content among the troops, Schwartzenberg publish- cockade, and other emblems of loyalty to the exiled ed an order of the day, commanding the officers to family. They had received little encouragement to enforce the strictest discipline, and at the same take so decided a step either from the Crown Prince time explain to the army that the present retreat of Wirtemberg, or from the Emperor Alexander; was only temporary, and that on joining with its both of whom, although approving the principles on reserves, which had already crossed the Rhine, the which these gentlemen acted, refused to sanction the grand army would instantly resume the offensive, step they had taken, or to warrant them against the while Field-Marshal Blucher, at present moving consequences. It does not appear that their denorthward, so as to form a junction with Winzen- claration had excited any corresponding enthusiasm gerode and Bulow, should at the same time attack in the people of Troyes or the neighbourhood; and the rear and flank of the enemy. The publishing it would have been wiser in Napoleon to have oxverthis plan of the campaign went far to rouse the looked such a trifling movement, which he might dejected confidence of the Austrian army. have represented as arising firom the dotage of On the evening of the 22d February, an answer loyalty, rather than to have, at this critical period, to the letter of Schwartzenberg was received, but called the public attention to the Bourbons, by deit was addressed exclusively to the Emperor of noun1cing and executing vengeance upon their parAustria, and while its expressions of respect are tisans. Nevertheless Napoleon had scarce entered bestowed liberally on that power, the manner in Troyes, when the Chevalier de Gouault (the other which the other members of tile coalition are treated royalists having fortunately escaped) was seized shows unabated enmity, ill-concealed under an af- upon, tried by a military commission, condemnned, fectation of contempt. The Emperor of France ex- and immnediately shot. Hle died with the utmost pressed himself willing to treat upon the basis of firmness, exclaiming, Vive le roi! A violent and the Frankfort declaration, but exclaimed against ill-timed decree promrnlgated the penalty of death the terms which his own envoy, Caulaincourt, had against all Who should wear the decorations of the p)roposed to the plenipotentiaries of the other powers. Bourbons, and on all emigrants who shonld join the In short, the whole letter indicated, not that Napo- allies. The severity of the measure, so contrary to leon desired a general peace with the allies, but Napoleon's general conduct, of late years, towards that it was his anxious wish to break up the coali- the Bonrbons and their followers, whom he had for tion, by lmaking a sei,arate peace with Austria. a long period scarce even alluded to, made tihe This counteracted in spirit and letter the pmurpomse of { the confedera;,tes, distiilctly expressed in their cornuei ction federtes, distinctly expressed in their com It has been said thlat Napoleon had been perquaded to save his life. But the result was similar to the cxectitmou''lite 1lmperor Francis and his ministers were re- of Clarence. L- -. _ z. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 631 w(Q'ld ascribe his unusual ferocity to an uncommon and pillaged, the abodes of man, and all that belongs state of apprehension; and thus it gave farther en- to peaceful industry and domestic comfort, desolated couragement to those into whom it was intended to and destroyed. Wolves, and other savage animals, strike terror. increased fearfully in the districts which had been At this period of the retreat of Schwartzenberg laid waste by hunman hands, with ferocity congenall from Troyes, and the movement of Blucher towards o their own. Thus were the evils, which France thie Marne, we must leave the aimies which were had unsparingly inflicted upon Spain, Prussia, Ruscontending in the interior of France, in order to sia, and almost every European nation, terribly reretrace those movements upon the frontiers, which, taliated within a few leagues of her own metropolis; though operating at a distance, tended at once to re- and such were the consequences of a system, which, inforce the invading armies, and to cripple Napo- assuming military force for its sole principle and leon's means of defence. law, taught the united nations of Europe to repel its It is difficult for the inhabitants of a peaceful ter- aggressions by means yet more formidable in extent ritory to picture to themselves the miseries sus- than those which had been used in supporting them. tained by the country which formed the theatre of this sanguinary contest. While Bonaparte, like a tiger hemmed in by hounds and hunters, now menaced CHAPTER XCIT. one of his foes, now sprung furiously upon another, and while, although his rapid movements discon- Refrospect of military events en the Frenchfrontiers.certed and dismayed them, he still remained unable Defection of uirat, uwho declares infaeerr of the allies to destroy the individuals whom he had assailed, -Its consequnences.-Anrgerean is compellel to abandon lest, while aiming to do so, lie should afford a fatal Ccx and Franche-Conet.-Tle worth of Germany and.lest, whirle aiming to do so,'e.hould.'.. Flancders lost to France.-Carnot intrulsted with the advantage to those who were disengaged,-the scene commnld of Antreerp.-Bergen-op Zom nearly taken of this desultory warfare was laid waste in the most by Sir Thomas Grahanm, but lost by the lisord-cer of the merciless manner. The soldiers on both parts, driven troops in the mnoment of success.-The allies take, and to desperation by rapid marches through roads block- evacuate Soissons.-Bullow and TWinzengerode cunite ed with snow, or trodden into swamps, became with Bluclher.- The Duke of Welliington forces his rway reckless, and pitiless; and, straggling from their through the Pays dles Gaves.-State of the royalists in columns in all directions, commlitted every species the west of France.-Discontent of the old reprblicans of excess urpon the inhabitants. These evils are nien- with Napoleon's. governnertr. -Views of the differenlt tioned in the. bulletins of Napoleon, as well as in the r2enrbers of the alliance as to the hdynasties of the Boargeneral orders of Schwartzenberg. bbons and of Napoleon.-Proceedings of thle Dukes of The peasants, with their wives and children, fled Berri and Argoulnme, aed leonsier, the two latter of whom enter France.-The French defeatel by Wellingto caves, quarries, and woods, where the latter were ton at Orthez-Bordeaux is voluntarily surrendered to ton at Orthez. —Bordeaux is voluntarily surreltdceredl to starved to death by the inclemency of the season, larshal Beresfor by the inhabitants, who moreumt the and want of sustenance; and the former, collecting white cockade. - Details of the Negotiations of Cheainto small bodies, increased the terrors of war by tillon. —Treaty of Chaunmont, by which tire allies birde pillaging the convoys of both armies, attacking themselves of new to carry on the war iwith vigocr.small parties of all nations, and cutting off the sick, Napoleon presents a singularly urnlreasoenable contrethe wounded, and the stragglers. The repeated projet at Chdtilton.-Conlgress at Chtiellon brrrken up. advance and retreat of the different contending parties exasperated these evils. Every fresh band of WHILB Napoleon was strroggling, in the campaign plunderers which arrived was savagely eager after of Paris, for his very existence as a monarch, evenlts spoil, in proportion as the gleanings became scarce. were taking place on the frontiers, by all'of whllich In the words of Scripture, what the locust left was his fate was more or less influenced, and in almnost devoured by the palmer- worm —what escaped the all of them unfavourably. Of these events we must 3Baskirs, and Kirgas, and Ct'oats, of the Volga, and give a brief detail, mentioning, at the same time, Ca;lsli:ln and Turkish frontier, was seized by the the influence which they individually produced h Ia-clad and half-starved conscripts of Napoleon, upon the results of the war. wholllr vrrant, hardship, and an embittered spirit, ren- The defence of Italy had been committed to dered as careless of the ties of country and language, Prince Eugene Beaulharnais, the viceroy of that as thie others wvere indifferent to the general claims kingdom. He was entirely worthy of the trust, but of Ihutnianity. Tl'e towns and villages, which were was deprived of any means that remained to him of the scenes of actual conflict, were frequently burnt accomnplishing his task, by the defection of Murrat. to the ground; and this not only in the course of We have often had occasion to describe Murat as tile ar.tions of importance which we have detailed, distinguished on the field of battle-rather an nnbut in consequence of innumnerable skirmishes fought daunted and high-mettled soldier than a wise cornmin different points, which had no influence. indeed, mander. As a sovereign he had little claim to upon the issue of the campaign, but increased incalcu- distinction. He was good-tempered, but vain; lably the distress of the invaded country, by extend- limited in capacity, and totally Uninformled. Napoing the terrors of battle, with fire, famine, and slaugh- leon had not concealed his contempt of his underter for its accompaniments, into the most remote arnd standing, and after the retreat fr'on Rulssia, hlaid sequestered districts. The woods affolrded no con- passed an oblique, but miost intelligible censurre oni cealment, the churches no sanctuary; even the grave him, in a public bulletin. Ini writing to the wvit, (f' itself gave no cover to the relics of mortality. The Murat, and his own sister, Napoleon had rmenuitioned villages were everywhere burnt, the farms wasted her husband disparagingly, as one wio was brave 632 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. only on the field of battle, but elsewhere as weak chef's Spanish veterans did indeed join the marshal as a monk or a woman. Caroline, in answer, cau- at Lyons, and enable him to advance on General tioned her brother to treat her husband with more Bubna, whom he compelled to retreat to Geneva. respect. Napoleon, unaccustomed to Suippress his But the arrival of General Bianchi, with a strong sentiments, continued the same line of language and reinforcement which Schwartzenberg had dispatchconduct. ed for that purpose, restored the ascendancy of the Meanwhile IMurat, in his resetntment, listened to allied armies on that frontier, especially as the terms from Austria, in which, by the mediation of Prince of lEesse-.Homberg also approached from that state, which was interested in the recovery of Switzerland at the head of the Austrian reserves. her Italian provinces, England was with difficulty This last general had no difficulty in securing the induced to acquiesce. In consequence of a treaty passes of the Saone. Augereau in consequence was formed witth Austria, Murat declared himself in compelled to abandon the country of' Gex and favour of the allies, and marched an army of 30,000 Franche-Comt6, and again to return under the walls Neapolitans to Rome, for the purpose of assisting in of Lyons. Napoleon was not more complaisant to the expulsion of the French from Italy. Hle speedily his old comrade and tutor, than he had been to the occupied Ancona and Florence. There was already other marshals in this campaign, who had not acin Italy an army of 30,000 Austrians, with whom complished tasks which they had not the means to the viceroy had fought the indecisive battle of Ro- achieve. Augereau was publicly censured as being verbello, after which he retreated to the line of the inactive and unenterprising. Adige, on which he made a precarious stand, until The north of Germany and Flanders were equally the war was concluded. The appearance of'Murat's lost to France, and French interest. Hamburg inarmy on the side of Austria, though he confined deed still held out. But, as we have already said, himself to a war of proclamations, was calculated it was besieged, or rather blockaded, by the allies, to end all French influence in Italy. Counter-revo- under Bennigsen, to whom the Crown Prince of lutionary movements, in some of the cantons of Sweden had left that charge, when he himself, Switzerland, and in the mountains of Savoy, tended having put an end to the war with Dennmark, had also to close the door through which Bonaparte had advanced towards Cologne, with the purpose of so often transferred the war into the Italian penin- assisting in clearing Belgium of the French, and sula, and firom its northern provinces into the heart then entering France from that direction, in support of Austria herself of the Silesian army. The Crown Prince showed The defection of Murat had the further effect of no personal willingness to engage in the invasion of disconcerting the measures which Napoleon had France. The causes which might deter him lhave meditated for recovery of the south-eastern frontier been already conjectured. The royalists added of'France. Augereau had received orders to ad- another, that he had formed views of placing himvance from Lyons, and receive the reinforcements self at the head of the government of France, which which Eugdene was to have dispatched from Italy the allied monarchs declined to gratify. It is certain across the Alps. These, it was calculated, would that, whether fiom motives of prudence or estrangehave given the French marshal a decisive superiori- ment, he was, after his arrival in Flanders, no longer ty, which might have enabled him to ascend towards to be considered as an active member of' the coalithe sources of the Saone, call to arms the hardy tion. peasantlry of the Vosgesian mountains, interrupt the In the meantime Antwerp was bravely and sciencommunications of' the Austrian army, and excite tifically defended by the veteran republican Carot. a national and guerilla warfare in the rear of the This celebrated statesman and engineer had always allies. opposed himself' to the strides which Napoleon T'o stimulate more highly the energies of his early made towards arbitrary power, and hIad voted comrade in arms, Napoleon caused the Empress against his election to the situation of consul for life, Maria Louisa to wait upon the young Duchess of and that of emperor. It does not appear that NaCastiglione (the marshal's wife), to prevail on her poleon resented this opposition. He had been to use her influence with her husband, to exert all obliged to Carnot before his unexampled rise, and his talents and audacity in the present crisis. It afterwards he was so far mindful of him, as to cause awas a singular feature of declension of power, when his debts to be paid at a moment of embarrassment. it was thought that the command of the emperor, Carnot, on his part, took the invasion of' France as imposed upon one of his marshals, might require a signal for every Frencklman to use his talents in being enforced by the interposition of a lady; or the public defence, and, offering his services to the ratler, it implied that Napoleon was sensible that emperor, was intrusted with the command of Anhe was requiring of his officer something which no twerp. ordinary exertions could enable him to perform. IHe Bergen-op-Zoom was also still occupied by the wrote, however, to Aulgereau himself, conjutring him French. This city, one of the most strongly fortified to remember his early victories, and to forget t-hat in the world, was nearly taken by a coup-de-main,, he was upwards of' fifty years old. But exhortations, by Sir Thomas Graham. After a night-attack of the whether by a sovereign or lady, cannot supply the boldest description, the British columns were so far want of physical force. successful, that all ordinary obstacles seetmed overAugereau was unable to execute the task imposed come. But their success was followed by a degree upon him, from not receiving the Italian reinforce- of disorder which rendered it unavailing, and many i ments, which, as matters stood in Italy, Eugene of the troops who had entered the town were killed, could not possibly spare, Detachments from Su- or obliged to surrender. Thus an enterprise, ably LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 633 planned and bravely executed, miscarried even in Bonaparte were neither ignorant of the e xistence or the moment of victory, by accidents for which purpose of this conspiracy, but they were unable to neither the general nor the officers immediately in obtain such precise information as should detect command could be justly held responsible. General and crush it. The two Messrs de Polignac were Graham was, however, reinforced from England, deeply engaged, and, becoming the subjects of and was still enabled, with the help of the Swedes suspicion, it was only by a dexterous and speedy and Danes, as well as Dutch and Flemish corps, to flight from Paris that they eluded captivity; or check any sallies from Bergen or from Antwerp. perhaps death. They succeeded in reaching the The liberation of the Low Countries being so army of the allies, and were, it is believed, the first nearly accomplished, Bulow pressed forward on La who conveyed to the Emperor Alexander an exact Fare, and finally occupied Laon. Here, upon the state of the royal party in the interior of France, 26th of February, he frmed a junction with Win- particularly in the capital, which made a powerful zengerode, who, bequeathing Juliers, Vanloo, and impression on the mind of that prince. Maestricht, to the observation of the Crown Prince, Throughout the vwest of France there started up a marched through the forest of Ardennes. Soissons thousand agents of a party, which were now to offered a show of desperate resistance, but, the awake from a sleep of twenty years. Bordeaux, commandant being killed, the place was delivered with its loyal mayor, Count Lynch, and the greater up. This was on the 13th February, and the allies part of its citizens, was a central point of the assoought to have held this important place. But in ciation. A great part of the inhabitants were setheir haste to join Prince Blucler, they evacuated cretly regimented and embodied, and had arms in Soissons, which Mortier caused to be presently re- their possession, and artillery, gunpowder, and occupied by a strong French garrison. The posses- ball, concealed in their warehouses. The celesion of this town became shortly afterwards a matter brated La Roche-Jacquelin, made immortal by the of great consequence. In the meantimle Bulow and simple and sublime narrative of his consort, solicited Winzengerode, with their two additional armies, the cause of the royalists at the English head-quarentered into communication with Blucher, of whom ters, and made repeated and perilous journeys from they now formed the rear-guard, and more than thence to Bordeaux, and back again. Saintonge restored to him the advantage he had lost by the and La Vendee were organized for insurrection by defeats at Montmirail and Champaubert. a loyal clergyman, the Abbe Jaqualt. The brothers On the south-western frontier the horizon seemed of Roche-Aymon prepared Perigord for a struggle. yet darker. The Duke of Wellington having entered The Duke of Duras had engaged a thousand gentleSpain, was about to force his way through the strong men in Touraine. Lastly, the Chouans had again country, called the Pays des Gaves, the land, that prepared for a rising under the Count de Vitray, is, of the ravines formed by rivers and torrents. He and Tranquille, a celebrated leader called le capimaintained such severe discipline, and paid with taine sans peur. Numerous bands of refractory such regularity for the supplies which he needed conscripts, rendered desperate by their state of from the country, that he was voluntarily furnished outlawry, were ready at Angers, Nantes, and Orwith provisions of every kind; while the army of leans, to take arms in the cause of the Bourbons, Soult, though stationed in the marshal's own country, under the Count de Lorge, Monsieur d'Airac, Count obtained none, save the scanty and unwilling means Charles d'Autichamp, the Count de Suzannet, and of military requisition. In consequence of this strict Cadoudal, brother of the celebrated Georges, and discipline, the presence of the British troops was far his equal in courage and resolution. But all desired from being distressing to the country; and some the previous advance of the Blzte-Flints, as they effor-ts made by General Harispe, to raise guerillas called the English, their own being of a different coamong his countrymen, the Basques, to act on the lour. Trammeled by the negotiation at Chatillon, Duke of Whellington's rear, became totally ineffec- and various other political impediments, and anxious tual. The small seaport town of St-Jean de Luz especially not to lead these high-spirited gentlemen supp)lied the English army with provisions and into danger by encouraging a premature rising, the reinforcements. The activity of English commerce English ministers at home, and the English general speedily sent cargoes of every kind into the har- in France, were obliged for a time to restrain rather bour, where before were only to be seen a few than encourage the forward zeal of the royalists. fishing-boats. The goods were landed under a Such caution was the more necessary, as there tariff of duties settled by the Duke of Wellington; existed at the same time another conspiracy, also and so ended the continental system. directed against Bonaparte's person, or at least his In the meantime, the state of the west of France authority; and it was of importance that neither was such as held out the highest political results to should explode until some means could be found of the British, in case they should be able to overcome preventing their checking and counteracting each the obstacles presented by the strong entrenched other. This second class of malcontents consisted camp at Bayonne, on which Soult rested his right of those, who, like Bonaparte himself, owed their flank, extending a line of great strength upon the political consequence to the Revolution; and who, Adlor and the neighbouring gaves. without regard to the Bourbons, were desirous to WVe have mentioned already the confederacy of get free of the tyranny of Napoleon. These were royalists, which was now in full activity, and ex- the disappointed andl degraded republicans, the tended by faithful agents through the whole west of deceived constitutionalists, all who had hoped and France. They were now at their post, and pre- expected that the Revolution would have paved the paring everything for an explosion. The police of way for a free government, in which the career of TOL. VI. 80 634 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. prefernent should be open to talents of every de- rosity of his own disposition, as well as from a clear scriptioi, —a lottery in which, doubtless, each hoped and comprehensive view of future possibilities, enthat his own abilities would gain some important tertained views favourable to thle Bourbons. This prize. The sce,tre of Napoleon had weighed harder illustrious person justly conjecturel, that free upon this class than even upon the royalists. He institutions would be more likely to flourish tinder had no dislike to the principles of the latter, abstract- the restored family, who would receive back tleir edly considered; he felt some respect for their birth crown undler conditions faivourable to fieedom, than and titles, and only wished to transfer their affections under any modification of the revolutionary system, fiom the house of' Bourbon, and to attach them to which must always, in the case of Bonaparte's being that of Napoleon. Accoldingly, he distributed em- permitted to reign, Ie felt as inlplying encroachployments and honours among such of the old no- ments on his imperial power. The Boullons, in the blesse as could le brought to accept them, and ob- case presume(l, might be supposed to coIunt theirm viously felt pride in drawing to his court names-and winnings, in circumstances where the tenaci(ous anr titles, known in the earlier periods of French history. resentful mind of Napoleon would b rood over lois Besides, until circumstances shook his throne, and losses; and it might be feared, that with a return enlarged their means of injuring him, he considered of fortune he might struggle to repair theml. But the number of the royalists as small, and their there were ministers in the British cabinet who power as despicable. But from those active'spirits, were afraid of incurring the imputation of protracting who had traded in revolution after revolution for so the war by announcing England's adoption of the many years, he had much more both to fear and to cause of the Bourbons, which was now of a date dislike, especially as they were now understood to somewhat antiqlated, and to which a sort of unbe headed by his ex-minister Talleyrand, with happy fatality had hitherto been annexed. Englands whose talents, both for scheming and executing interest in the royal cause was, therefore, limited political changes, lie had so much reason to be ac- to good wishes. quainted. To this class of his enemies he imputed The Emperor Alexander shared in the inclination the hardy attempt which was made, not without which all sovereigns must have felt towards this unprospect of success, to overthrow his government happy family, whose cause was in some deglree that durlling his absence in Russia.' You have the tail, of princes in general. It was understoodl that Mobut not the head," had been the words of the prin- reau's engagement with the Russian monarch lhad cipal conspirator, when about to be executed; and been founded upon an express assurance oil the part they still rung in tile ears of Bonaparte. It was ge- of Alexander, that the Bourbons were to be restornerally supposed, that his long stay in Paris, ere he ed to the crown of France under the limitations of again took the field against the allies, was dictated a free constitution. Prussia, from her close alby his fear of some similar explosion to that of liance with Russia, and the personal causes of Malet's conspiracy. Whether these two separate displeasure which existed betwixt Frederick and classes of the enemies of Bonaparte communicated Napoleon, was certain to vote for the downfal of withu each' other, wve have no opportunity of knowing, the latter. but they bothl had intercourse with the allies. That But the numerous armies of Austria, and hler viof Talleyrand's faction was, we believe, maintained cinity to the scene of action, rendered her aid ilndisat tile court of London, through means of a near re- pensable to tile allies, while the alliance hetwixt her lation of his oxwn, who visited Englanld shortly before Imperial house and this once fortunate soldier thrlew the opening of the campaign of which we treat. We munch perplexity into their councils. It was believhave no doubt, that through some sinmilar medium ed that the Emperor of Austria would insist upoti Talleyraud held communication with the Bourbons; Bonaparte's being admitted to treat as Sovereign of and that, in the samne nianner as the English Resto- France, providing the latter gave sufficient evidence ration was brolght about by a union between the that lie would renounce Iris pretensions to general cavaliers and presbyterians, there was even then supremacy; or, if he continued unreasonably obstiupon foot some treaty of accommodation, by which nate, that the EImperor FPranlcis would desire that a the exiled monarch was, in regaining the crown, to regency should be established, withI Maria lIonisa have the assistance of those, whom, for want of at its head. Either course, if adopted, would have another namne, we shall call c6nstitutfionalists, it being been a death's-blow to the hopes of tIle exiled fauntlerstood that his governiment was to be establish- mnily of Bourbon. ed on the, basis of a free model. Amid this uncertainty, the princes of the house It was of the greatest importance that botl) these of Bourbon gallantly determined to risk their oN\n factions should be cautious in their movements, until persons in France, and try wheat their piresence it should appear whiat course the allied monarchs might do to awake ancient remenmbrances at a crisis were about to pursue in tile impendinig negotiation so interesting. with Bonaparte. 1'he issue of this was the nmore Altholgh thie British ministry refused to afford dubious, as it was generally understood, that though any direct countenance to thIe schemes of the Boirthe sovmereigns wvere agreed on the great point of de- bon family, they could not, in ordinary justice, deny stroying, on the one hand, the supremacy of France, the more active mneumbers of that unhappy race the and, on the other, in leaving her in possession of her freedom of acting as they themselves might judge just weight and influlence, they entertained a differ- most for the interest of their cause and adherents. ence of opinion as to thIe arrangement of her future T'1 their applications for pernmission to depart for govellln ent. France, they. received from the British ministry thle Tile Prince Regent of England, from thle gene- reply, that the princes of thte house of Bourbon LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 635 were tile guests, not the prisoners, of Britain; and d'Olron. On the right side of the latter gave, the although the present state of public affairs preclud- French took a position on very strong ground in ed her from expressly authorizing any step which front of the town of Orthez, where, joined by they might think proper to take, yet they were friee Clausel and a strong reinforcement, Soult endeato quit her territories, and return to them at their voured to make a stand. The Duke of Wellington pleasure. Under a sanction so general, the Duke commenced his attack on the enemy's right, stormd'Atnigouleme set sail for St-Jean de Luz, to join ing and taking the village by which it was cornthe army of the Duke of Wellington; the Duke de manded. The desperate resistance which the enemy Berri for Jersey to correspond with the royalists of made on this point occasioned one of those critical Brittany; and Monsieur for Holland, from which movements, when a general is called upon, in the he gained the frontiers of Switzerland, and entered heat of battle, to alter all previous arrangements, France in the rear of the Austrian armies. The and in the moment of doubt, conflsion, and anxiety, movements of the two last princes produced no to substitute new combinations to supersede those effects of consequence. which have been planned in the hours of cool pre-'l'he Duke de Berri paused in the Isle of Jersey, meditation. A left attack upon a chain of heights on receiving some unpleasant communications from extending along General Soult's left, was substitutFrance respecting the strength of the existing go- ed for that to which Wellington had at first trusted vernment, and on discovering, it is said, a plot to for victory. induce him to land at a point, where he must become At the same time, the appearance of General the prisoner of Bonaparte, Hill's division, who had forded the river, or gave, Monsieur Entered France, and was received at above Ortlez, and threatened the eneny's flank Vesoul with great enthusiasm. But this movetnent and rear, made the defeat complete. For sonte was not encouraged by the Austrian commandants time Marshal Soult availed himself of the alertand generals; and Monsieur's proposal to raise ness of his troops, by halting and taking new posicorps of royalists in Alsace and Franche-Comt6 tions, to preserve at least the form of a regular was treated with coldness, approaching to con- retreat; but at length, forced from one line to antempt, The execution of Gonault at Troyes, and otherby the manoeuvresofthe British, sustaining new the decree of death against the royalists, struck losses at every halt, and menaced by the rapid apterror into the party, which was increased by the proach of General Hill's division, his retreat became retrograde movement of the grand army. The en- a flight, in which the French suffered great loss. terprise of Monsieur, therefore, had no immediate Whole battalions of conscripts dispersed entirely,. result, though undoubtedly his presence had a deci- and many left their muskets regularly piled, as if sive effect in consequence of ultimate events; and intimating their fixed resolution to retire altogether the restoration would hardly have taken place, from the contest. without that prince having so adventured his person. Another action near Aire, by General Hill, and The arrival of the Duke d'Angouleme in the the passage of the Adour, under Bayonne, by the army of the Duke of ~Wellington had more imme- Honourable Sir John Hope, a manocuvre which diate consequences. His royal highness could might well be compared to a great battle fobght, only be received as a volunteer, but the effect of gave fiesh influence to the British arms. Bayonne his arrival was soon visible. La Roche-Jacquelin, was invested, the road to Bordeaux laid open, and who had dedicated to the royal cause his days antid Soult, left with scarce the semblance of an army, nights, his fortune and his life, soon appeared in retreated towards Tarbes, to secure a junction with the British camp, urging the general to direct his such French corps as might be returning from Spain. march on the city of Bordeaux, which, when deli- The battle of Orthez, with the brilliant and masvered from the vicinity of'Soult's armiy, would in- terly manceuvres which preceded and followed it, stantly declare itself' for the Bourbons, and be fol- served to establish the superiority of the British lowed, by the rising of Guienne, Anjou, and Lan- forces in points wherein they had till then been guedoc. Humanity, as well as policy, induced the deemed most deficient. Since the victories in Spain I)uke of'\ellington still to hesitate. He knew how it was no longer uncommon to hear a French officer fieqluently patriotic enthusiasmi makes promises allow, that in the extreme tug of conflict the English beyond its power to fulfil; and he cautioned the soldier, from physical strength and high energy of zealous envoy to beware of a hasty declaration, character, had perhaps some degree of superiority since tile conferences at Chiatillon were still con- over his own impetuous butless persevering countrytinted, and there was a considerable chance of man. But he uniformly qualified such a stretch of their ending in a peace between the allies and Na- candour, by claiming fob the French superior skill poleon. La Roche-Jacquelin, undeterred by re- in contriving, and promptitude in executing, those mnonstrances, continlled to urge his suit with such previous movements, on which the fate of battles intelligence and gallantry, as to receive at last the usually depends. The victory of Salamanca, though encourlaging answer, "Remain a few days at head- gained over a general distinguished as a tactician, q Irlters, and you shall see us force tile Gaves." and in coisequence of a previous contest of manHere, accordingly, commenced a series of scien-. ceuvres, was not admitted to contradict the opinion t;fic rmanoeuvres, comnmenzcitg 14th February, by with which Frenchmen were generally inpressed. which the Duke of Wellington, pressing step by Yet since the commencement of the canpaign on step on that part of the French army which were the Adour, the French army, thougl under contI on tile left side of the Adotur, drove them succes- mand of the celebrated Soult (le vieux renard, as he si ely beyond tile G.x e de Maulkon, and the Gave was familiarly called by his soldiers), was checked, * $i36 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. turned, out-marched, and out-flanked upon every I Brilliant as these tidings were, they excited in occasion; driven fiom position to position, in a Britain the most cruel apprehensions for the fate country that affords so many of peculiar strength, which Bordeaux might incur, if this declaration without having it in their power to injure their vic- should unhappily prove to be premature. The treaty tors by a protracted defence; and repeatedly de- at Ch.tillon seemed to approach a termination, and feated, not by main force or superiority of numbers, vessels are said to have been dispatched to the but by a combination of movements, at once so Gironde, to favour the escape of such citizens as boldly conceived and so admirably executed, as left might be most obnoxious to the vengeance of' Bonathrouglhout the whole contest the palm of science, parte. Many of those who wished most for British as well as of enduring energy and physical hardi- success were tempted to regret that the victory of hood, with the British soldier. These victories, Orthez had taken place; so great were their apprebesides adding another laurel to the thick-woven hensions for those who had been encouraged by that chaplet of the English general, had the most deci- success, to declare against the government of' Naposive effect on the future events of the war, as well leon ere his power of injuring them, was at an end. as upon the public mind in the south of France. That we may see how far those fears were warBordeaux being thus left to follow the inclinations ranted, we shall hastily review the progress of this of the inhabitants, and encouraged by the approach remarkable negotiation, of which, however, the of an English detachment of 15,000 men, under secret history is not even now entirely known. Field-mal-shal Beresford, poured out its multitudes The propositions for peace had begun with the to receive the Duke d'Angouleme. The numbers communication of the Baron de St-Aigmnan, which which thronged out of the city were computed to be had been discussed at Frankfort. The terms then at least 10,000 persons. The mayor, Count Lynch, proposed to Napoleon were, that, abandoning all in a short speech, told the English general that if his wider conquests, France should retire within he approached as a conquseror, he needed not his the course of tile Rhine and the barrier of the Alps. interposition to possess himself of the keys of Bor- Napoleon had accepted these conditions as a basis, deaux; but if he came as an ally of their lawful under a stipulation, however, which afforded a presovereign, he was ready to tender them up, eith text for breaking off the treaty at pleasure, namiely, every token of love, honour, and affection. Field- that France was to he admitted to liberty of commarshal Beresford reiterated his promises of pro- merce and navigation; an implied challenge of the tection, and expressed his confidence in the loyalty maritime law, as exercised by the British. To this, of the city of Bordeaux. The mayor then uttered the Earl of Aberdeen, the able and accomplished the long-forgotten signal cry of Tizve le roi! and it representative of Britain, replied, that France should was echoed a thousand tinmes from the thousands enjoy such liberty of commerce and navigation as around. Count Lynch then, pulling the three-co- she had any right to expect. A subject of debate, loured cockade from his hat, assumed the white and a most important one, was thus left open; and cockade of the Bourbons. All imitated his exam- perhaps neither of those powers were displeased to pie, and at a concerted signal the old ensign of possess a means of disturbing the progress of the loyalty streamed fiom the steeples and towers of treaty, according to what should prove the events of the city, arnidl general acclamation. the war. riThe enthusiasml with which the signals of loyalty Caulaincourt, Duke of Vicenza, the minister of were adopted, and the shouts of Vive le roi re- foreign affairs, was the representative of Napoleon peated on all hands, mingled with blessings upon at Chhtillon, upon this most important occasion. the heads of the English and their leaders, formed His first instructions, dated 4th January, 1814, rea scene which those who witnessed it will not spee- stricted him to the basis proposed at Franktort, dily forget. It was a renewal of early aflections which assigned Belgium to France, thus conceding and attachments, which seemed long dead and for- to the latter what Napoleon now called her natuiral gotten,-a general burst of feelings the more gener- boundaries, although it certainly did not appear ons and affecting, because they were not only as why, since victory had extended her fiontiers by so disinterested as spontaneous, but might eventually many additional kingdoms, defeat should not now be deeply fraught with danger to those who ex- have the natural effect of retrenching them. But pressed them. Yet they were uttered with a ge- after the inauspicious commencement of the camnerous enthusiasm, that placed the actors far albove paign, by the battle of Brienne, in which Napoleon the apprehension of' personal consequences. gained little, and that of La Rothiere, in which he'T'he satme lively acclamations hailed the entrance was defeated, he saw that as peace, like the Books of tile Duke m'AAngouleme into this fine city. At the of the Sybils (to the sale of which the negotiation prince's entry, the inhabitants crowded round him has been compared), would rise in price, circunmwith enthusiasm. The archbishop and clergy'ofthe stances might render it necessary, also, that peace diocete recognized him; Te Dezcm was sung in full should be made by Caulaincourt without communipomp, while the united banners of France, Britain, cation with Napoleon. Depending upon the events Spain, and Portugal, were hoisted on the walls of of wvar, it might be possible that a favourable day, the town. Lord Dalhousie was left commandant of nay, an hour being suffered to elapse, might put the Britishl; and if excellent sense, long experience, the treaty out of his reach. For these reasons, the most perfect eqmality of temper, and unshaken Caulaincourt was intrusted, over and above his insteadiness, be necessary qualities in so delicate a structions, with a definitive and unlimited carte trust, the British army had not one more fit for the blanche, in which he was empowered to "bring the charge. negotiation to a happy issue, to save the capital, and LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 637l prevent the hazards of a battle, on which must rest But in the meantime, the successes which Napothe last hopes of the nation." leon obtained over Blucher at Montinirail ant Caulaincourt reached Chatillon-sur-Seine, which Cliampanbert, had elevated him in his own opinion. had been declared neutral for the purpose of the above the necessity in which he stood after the conferences. At this memorable congress, Count battle of IBrienne. From the field of battle at Ch'Stadion represented Austria, Count Razumowski tean-Thierry, he wrote to Caulaincourt to assume ans Russia, Baron Humboldt Prussia, and Great Britain attitude less humiliating among the members of the had three commissioners present, namely, Lord congress; and after the defeat of the Prince of Aberdeen,. Lord Cathcart, and Sir Charles Stewart. Wirtelmberg, at the bridge of Miiontereau, and the Every politeness was shown on the part of the retreat of the grand arnly from Troyes, lihe seems French, who even offered the English ministers the to have entirely resolved to break off the treaty. advantage of corresponding directly with London by WVhen Schwartzenberg, as we have seen, dethe way of Calais; a courtesy which was declined manded the meaning of Napoleon's offensive movewith thanks. ment, contrary to what had been agreed upon by the The commissioners of the allies were not long in congress at Chatillon, lie answered, by the letter to expressing what Napoleon's fears had anticipated. the Emperor of Austria, in which he rejected the They declared that they would no longer abide by conditions to which Caulaincourt had agreed, and the basis proposed at Frankfort. " To obtain peace, reprobated them as terms which, if known in Paris, France must be restricted within her ancient limits," would excite general indignation. " It would reawhich excluded the important acquisition of Bel- lize," he said, "the dream of Burke, who desiled to gium. Baron Fain gives us an interesting account make France disappear from the map of Europe. of the mode in which Napoleon received this cornm- It was placing EnglandY in possession of' Antwerp mlnication. He retired for a time into his own and the Low Countries, neither of which he would apartment, and sent for Berthlier and Malet. They ever surrender." came-he gave them the fatal dispatch-they read, In the same spirit, and at the same time, Napoand a deep silence ensued. The two faithful minis- leon wrote from Nangis to Caulaincourt, that," when ters flung themselves at their master's feet, and with he had given him carte-blanche, it was for the purtears in their eyes implored him to give way to the pose of saving Paris, and Paris was now saved; it necessity of the time. "Never," he replied, "will I was for avoiding the risk of a battle,-that risk was break the oath by which I swore, at my coronation, over, and the battle won; he therefore revoked the to maintain the integrity of the territories of the extraordinary powers with which his ambassador Republic, and never will I leave France less in was invested." extent than I found her. It would not only be France Ve will not stop to inquire into the diplomatic that would retreat, but Austria and Prussia who question, whether Caulaincourt had not effectually would advance. France indeed needs peace, but exercised, on 9th February, those powers which such a peace is worse than the most inveterate war. were not recalled until the 17th, seven days after; W-hat answer would I have to the republicans of and, consequently, whether his master was not the state, when they should demand from tue the bound, by the act of his envoy, beyond the power barrier of the Rhine? No-write to Caulaincourt of retracting. Enough remains to surprise us in that I reject the treaty, and will rather abide the Napoleon's headstrong resolution to continue the blrunt of battlet' Shortly after he is said to have war, when, in fact, it was already ended upon exclaimed, "I am yet nearer to Munich than they terms which had been recommended by all his are to Paris." counsellors, one excepted. His obligation to the His counsellors were not discourlaed. In a cooler Republic of France, to maintain the integrity of its moment, the ministers who watched his pillow ob- territories, could scarcely remain hinding on onlle, tained from him permission that the treaty should by whom that very republic had been destroyed; proceed. lie directed that the articles proposed by and at any rate, no such engagement can hind a the allies should be sent to Paris, and the advice of sovereign fiom acting in extremity as the safety of each privy counsellor taken individually upon the the community requires. Far less conld the terms subject. With one exception, that of Count Lacmi6e be said to dishonour France, or strike her out of de Cessac, all the privy counsellors agreed that the the mnap of Europe, unless her honour and existence, terms proposed at Chaftillon ought to be subscribed which had flourished for twelve centuries, depended to. Thus sanctioned, Caulaincourt, on the 9tfi of upon an acquisition which she had made within February, wrote to the commissioners of the allies, twenty years. But the real' case was, that B(onathat if an immediate armistice were entered into, he parte always connected the loss of honour zwith the was ready to consent that France should retreat surrender of whatever he conceived himself to have within her ancient limits, according to the basis a chance of being able to retain. Every cession proposed. lie offered, also, that France should was to be wrung from him; he would part with cede instantly, on condition of the armistice being nothing willingly; and, like a child with its toys, granted, some of the strong places, which their ac- that of which there was any attempt to deprive himl ceptance of the terms offered obliged her to yield became immediately the nmost valuable of his posup. But this offer of ceding the fortresses was sessions. Antwerp, indeed, had a particular right clogged with secret conditions, to be afterwards explained. The allies declared their readiness to This alluded to the mnatch, then supposed to le on the adhere to these prelimlinaries, and for a day the war tapis, betwixt the late Princess Charlotte of wales and the might be conlsidered as ended. Prince of Orange. 638 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, to be considered as inestimable. The slims he had the capitulations of Dresden, Dantzic, and Gorcura, bestowed on its magnificent basins, and almost authorizes us to endeavour not to be duped. Refer, impregnable fortifications, were immense. He had therefore, these questions to a military arrangement, always the idea that lie might make Antwerp the as was done at Presburg, Vienna, and Tilsit. His principal station of a large navy. He clung to this majesty desires that you would not lose sight of the vision of a fleet, even at Elba and St Helena, repeat- disposition which he will feel, not to deliver up ing often, that hle might have saved his crown if he those thiree kceys of France, if military events, on would have resigned Antwerp at Chatillon; and no which he is willing still to rely, should permit him idea was more riveted in his mind, than that his not to do so, even if he should tave signed the cesrefilsal was founded on patriotic principles.* Yet sion of all these provinces. In a word, his majesty the chief value of'Antwerp lay in the event of an- wishes to be able, after the treaty, to be guided by Other war with Great Britain, for which Bonaparte existing circumstances, to the last momrent. He was thus preparing, while the question was, how orders you to burn this letter as soon as you have the present hostilities were to be closed; and surely, read it." the possibility of a navy which had no existence, The allies showed, on their side, that the obstishould not have been placed in competition with the nacy of Napoleon had increased, not diminished, safety of a nation deeply emperiled by the war now their determination to carry oil the war. A new waging in the very centre of his kingdom. This he treaty, called that of Chaumont, was entered into saw in a different light from that of calm reason. upon the 1st of March, between Austria, Russia, "If I am to receive flagellation," he said, "let it Prussia, and England, by which the high contractbe at least under terms of compulsion." ing parties bound themselves each to keep tip an Lastly, the temporary success which he had at- army of 150,000 men, with an agreement on thile part tained in the field of battle was of a character, of Great Britain to advance tfur millions to carry which, justly considered, ought not to have encour- on the war, which was to be prosecuted withollt aged the French Emperor to continue war, but, on relaxation, until France should be reduced within the contrary, might have furnished a precious op- her ancient limits; and what further indicated the portunity for making peace, before the very sword's feelings of both parties, the military comniissioners, point was at his throat. The conditions which he who had met at Lusigny to settle the terms of an might have made in this moment of temporary suc- armistice, broke up, on pretence of being unable to cess would have had the appearance of being grace- agree upon a suitable line of demarcation. fullly ceded, rather than positively extorted by ne- The principal negotiation continued to languish at cessity. And it may be added, that the allies, Chatillon, but without much renlaining hope being starltle(l by their losses, would have probably grant- entertained, by those who were well informed on ed him better terms; and certainly, remembering either side, of the result being favourable. his military talents, would have taken care to ob- On the 7th March, Rumigny, a clerk of Bonaserve those which they might fix upon. T'he re- parte's cabinet, brought to the emperor, oit the evenverses, therefore, in the month of February, which ing of the bloody battle of Craonne, the ultimatum obscured the arms of the combined monarchs, re- of the allies, insisting that the French envoy should serobled the cloud, which, ii Byroio's tale, is de- either proceed to treat upon the basis they had scribed as passing over the moon, to afford an im- offered, namely, that France should be redllced penitent renegade the last and limited term for within her ancient limits, or that Caulaincourt should repentance.t- But te he heart of Napoleon, like that present a contre-projet, Iis plenipotentiary reof'Alp, was too proud to profit by the interval of quested instructions; but it appears that Bonaparfe, delay thus afforded to him. too able not to see the result of his pertinacity, yet The truth seems to be, that Bonaparte never too haRughty to recede front it, had resolved, in seriously intended to make peace at Chitillon; and spcrtsmian's phrase, to die hard. The 10th day of while his negotiator, Caulaincourt, was instructed March having passed over, without any answer to hold out to the allies a proposal to cede the fron- arrising from Bonaparte to Caulaincoult, the term tier fortresses, he received from the Duke of Bas- assigned to him for declaring his ultimatum wvas exsano the following private directions: "Tl'te emperor tended for five days; the plenipotentiary of France desires that you would avoid explaining yourself hoping, probably, that sonime decisive event in the clearly upon everything which may relate to de. field of battle would either induce his master to livering up the fortresses of Antwerp, Mentz, and consent to the ternls of time allies, or give him a right Alexandria, if you should be obliged to consent to to obtain better. those cessions; his nlajesty intending, even thougtl It is said that, during this interval, Prince Wenhe sllhould have ratified the treaty, to be guided by ceslaus of Lichtenstein was again dispatched by the the military situation of afhairs:-wait till the last E mperor Francis to the head-quarters of Napoleon momlent. The bad faith of the allies in respect to as a special envoy, for the purpose of conjuring him to accommodate his ultimnatunm to the articles settled *J[&Jnorialde Ste-HMlene, vol. VIi, pp. 156 7. t There is a light cloud lay the moon- as thie basis of the conferences, and informing him'T is passing, and will pass full soon- that otherwise tile Emperor Francis would lay asitde If, by the time its vapoury sail those family considerations, which had hitherto prellath ceased her shrouded orb to veil., vented himn from acceding to the dispositions of the Thy heart is not within thee changed, other allied powers in favousr of the dynasty (cf BotrThen God and maa are botllh aveinged. bou. It is added, that Bonaparte seenme( at first Siege of CV raink. silenced and astounded by this intimation; but. in LIFE -OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 639 mediately recovering himself, treated it as a vain the treaty on the subject of Antwerp; the chief threat held out to intimidate him, and said it would utility of which, to his empire, mast have been in be most for the interest of A ustria to join in procur- the fuiture wars which he meditated with Britain ing him a peace on his own terms, since otherwise It was seeking war through peace, not peace by war. he might again be forced to cross the Rhine. The Such reasoners were no doubt in many cases preAustrian prince retired without reply; and from that judiced against Napoleon's person, and inclined to mo'nent, it has been supposed, the emperor resigned consider his government as a usurpation. But others his son-in-law, without further effort in his favour, amongst them allowed that Napoleon, abstractedly to the consequences of his own ill-timed obstinacy. considered, was not a worse man than other conCaulaincoulrt, in the meantime, played the part querors, but that a. run of success so long uninterof an able minister and active negotiator. IHe kept rupted had made war and conquest so familiar to the negotiation as long afloat as possible, and, in the his soul, that, to use an expression of the poet, the meanwhile, used every argument to induce his " earthquake voice of victory " was to him the nemaster to close with the terms of the allies. At length, cessary and indispensable breath of life. This passion however, he was compelled to produce a coentre- for battle, they said, might not make Napoleon projet, which he hoped might have. at least the effect hateful as a man, for much, far too much, allowance of prolonging the negotiation. is made in modern morality for the thirst of military But the plan he offered was not only too vague to fame; but it must be allowed that it rendered him serve the purpose of amusing the allies, but too in- a most unfit monarch for those with whose blood consistent with the articles adopted by all parties as that thirst was to be staunched. Such reflections are, the basis of the conference, to be a moment listened however, foreign to our present purpose. to. He demanded the whole line of the Rhine- It was not the least remarkable contingence in he demanded great part of that of the Waal, and the these momentous transactions, that as Caulaincourt fortress of Nimeguen, which must have rendered the left Cllhtillon, he met the secretary of Bonaparte independence of Holland purely nominal-he requir- posting towards him with the, full and explicit ed Italy, and even Venice, for Eugene Beauharnais, powers of treating which he had so long vainly solialthough this imtportant article was not only in abso- cited. Had Napoleon adopted this final decision of lute contradiction to the basis of the treaty, but submitting himself to circumstances but one day peculiarly offensiv~e and injurious to Austria, whom earlier, the treaty of Chtatillon might have proceeded, it was so much Bonaparte's interest to conciliate. and he would have continued in possession of the The possession of Italy embraced, of course, that of throne of France. But it was too late. Switzerland, either directly or by influence; so that in filture wars Austria would lie open to the incursions of France along her whole frontier, and, CHAPTER XCII1. while concluding a victorious treaty upon French gr-mnl, wo.ld have been placed in a...rse situationDifficulties of Bonaparte-He marchestpon Blclcher: who grsuon 1, would hlave been placed in a vorse situation is in possession of Soissons-Attacks the place without than by that which Bonaparte himself dictated to success.-Battle of Craonnle, on 7th mIarch, attended her at Canpo Fornlio! There were stipulations, be- by no decisive result. - Blucher retreats on Laon.sides, for itldenmnities to J&rmire, the phantom-king Battle of Laon on7 the 9th. —Napoleon is comrpellel to of Westphalia; to Louis, Grand Duke of Berg; and withdraw on the 11th, with great loss.-He attfacks to E,,gene, in compensation of his alleged rights on Rheims, wt/hi h is evacuated by the Russiamns.-Defeat at the Grand Duchy of Frankfort. Nay, as if deter- Bar-swtr-Aube of the French divisions uonder Oudinzot nined to show that nothing which he had everdone, and Gura ld, wzho, with Macdonald, are forced to reeven though undone by himself, should now be con- treat upon the great read to Paris.-Sh2ittrtzeEbero sideredl as null, witlhout exactiln compensation at wishes to retreat behind the AuIe -b,,t the Emperor the Ase of the rest of Eu- Alexander and Lord Castlereagh opposing the measure, the expense of' the rest of' Europe, Bonaparte deit is determined to proceed upon Paris.-Napoleon occurounded an inidemnnitv for his brother Joseph, not in-. pies Arcis. —Battle of Arcis on the 20th. —Napoleo,, is deed fir the crown of Spain, but for that very throne joined, in the night after the battle, by Macdosalad, Ouof Napl.es, froIm which he had himself displaced him, diriot, and GCrard-Nevertheless he retreats along both in order to make room for M!urat! The assembled sides of the Aube, with little loss. congress received this imperiots communication with equal surprise and displeasure. They instantly THE sword was now again brandished, not to be declared the congress dissolved; and thus termi- sheathed or reposed, until the one party or'the other Dated the fears of many, wvho considered Europe should be irretrievably defeated. as in greater danger friom any treaty that could be The situation of Bonaparte, even after the victory made with Bonaparte, than from the progress of his i of AMontereau, and capture of Troyes, was most arms against the allies. discouraging. If he advanced on the grand army It was the opinion of such men, and their number I of the allies, which he had in front, there was every was very considerable, that no peace concluded likelihood that they would retilre before him, wvastwith Napoleon could be permanent, andl that any ing his force in skirmishes, without a possibility of immediate terms of composition could be only an', his being able to force them to a general action; armed truce, to last until the Emperor of France while, in the meantime, it might be reckoned for should feel himself able to spend the remainder of certain that Blucher, master of the Marne, would his life iti winn ng back again the conquests which march upon Paris. On the contrary, if Napoleon he had spent the earlier part of it in gaining. They moved with his chief force against Blucher, he haid, insisted that this was visible, from his breaking off, in like manner, to apprehend that Schvartzenberg LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. wou!ld resllme the route upon Paris by way of the commandant, intimidated by the advance of Bulow's valley of the Seine. Thus, he could make no exer- army of 30,000 men, yielded up Soissons to that tion upon the one side, without exposing the capital general, upon a threat of an instant storm, and no to danger on the other. quarter allowed. The Russian standards then waved After weighing all the disadvantages on either on the ramparts of Soissons, and Blucher, arriving side, Napoleon determined to turn his arms against under its walls, acquired the fill power of uniting Blucher, as most hostile to his person, most rapid himself with his rear-guard, and giving or refusing iln his movements, and most persevering in his pur- battle at his pleasure, on the very moment when Boposes. He left Oudinot, Macdonald, and G6rard, naparte, having turned his flank, expected to have in front of the grand army, in hopes that, however forced oil him a most disadvantageous action. inferior in numbers, they might be able to impose The emperor's wrath exhaled in a bulletin against ntpon Schwartzeerberg a belief that Napoleon was the inconceivable baseness of the comtandant of present in person, and thus either induce the Austrian Soissons, who was said to have given up so importo continue his retreat, or at least prevent him tant a place when he was within heal-ing of the canfrom resuming the offensive. For this purpose the nonade of the 2d and 3d, and must thereby have French troops were to move on Bar-sur-Aube, and known the approach of' the emperor. In the heat occupy, if' practicable, the heights in that neigh- of his wrath, he ordered Soissons to be assaulted bourhood. The soldiers were also to use the cry of and carried by storm at all risk: but it was defended Vive lenmpereser, as if Napoleon had been present by General Laligeron, with 10,000 Russians. A It was afterwards seen, that as the marshals did desperate conflict ensued, but Langeron retained not command 40,000 men in all, including a force possession of the town. tinder Macdonald, it was impossible for them to Abandoning this project, Napoleon crossed the discharge effectually the part assigned them. In Aisne at Bery-au-Bac, with the purpose of attackthe meanwhile, Napoleon himself continued his ing the left wing of Blucher's army, which, being lateral march on Blucher, supposing it possible for now concentrated, was strongly posted betwixt tile himt, as formerly, to surprise his flank, as the Prus- village of Craonne and the town of Laon, in such a sian marched upon Paris. For this purpose he manner as to secure a retreat upon the very strong moved as speedily as possible to La Ferte-Gau- position which the latter town affords. Blucher inlacher, where he arrived 1st March; but Sacken and gined a manceuvre, designed to show Bonaparte d'Yorck, who would have been the first victims of that his favourite system of turning an enemy's flanlk this manoeuvre, as their divisions were on the left had its risks and inconveniencies. He detached ten bank of the Marne, near to Meaux, crossed the river thousand horse tinder Winzengerode, by a circuitat La Fert6-sous-Jouarre, anld formed a junction ous route, with orders that when the French comwith Blucher, who now- resolved to fall back on the menced their march onl Craonne, they should move troops of Bulowand Winzengerode. These geiierals round and act upon their flank and rear-. But the were, it will be remembered, advancing from the state of the roads, and other impedimrents, prevented frontiers of Belgium. this body of cavalry from getting up in time to exeA sudden hard fiost rendered the country pas- cute the intended manoeuvre. sable, which had before been in so swampy a con- Meantime, at eleven in the morning of the 7th dition as to render nlarching very difficult. This was March, the Fretch beganl their tttack witlh tile altmuch to the advantage of the Prussians. Napoleon most bravery. Ney assaulted tle position on the detached the forces, tinder Marmont and Mortier, right flank, which was defended by a ravine, a;nd whom he had united with his own, to press upon Victor, burning to show tile zeal wltich1 lie had been and harass the retreat of the Prussian field-mnar- accused of wanting, tmade incredible exertions in shal; while he himselfl, pushing otn by a shorter line, fiont. But the assault was met by a defence equmlly possessed hiniself of the town of Fisines, about half obstinate, and the contest became one of thle Imost way betwixt Rhleims and Soissons. The occupation bloody and best-sustained during the wvar. It was of this last place was now a matter of the last con- four in the afternoon, and thle French had not yet sequence. 11' Blucher shoulld find Soissons open to been able to dislodge the Russians on any point, hin, he might cross the Marne, extricate himself when tile latter received orders from Blucllher to wvithfiom his pursuers without difficulty, and fJrm n is draw from the disputed ground, and unite withl the junction with the army of the north. Btut if ex- Prussian army on the splendid position cf Laon, eluded from this town antd bridge, Blutcher ntmust whiclh the nmarshal co:nsidered as a more favourable have hazarded a battle on the niost disadvantageous scene of action. There were tno guns lost, or priterms, having Mottier and Marcmont oil his front, soners made.'lhe Rtussians, in despite of a general Naploleon on his left flank, and in his rear, a town, charge of the French cavalry, retreated as on the with a hostile garrison and a deep river. parade. As the armies, considering the absence of It was almost a chance, like that of the dice, Winzengerode with the detachment of cavalvy, and which party possessed this important place. The of Langeron with the garrison of Soissons, -were Russians had taken it * on l-13th February, but being nearly equal, the indecisive event of the battle was immediately evacuated by thel, it was on the 19th the more onminons. The slain and wounded were occupied by iMlortier, and garrisoned by five hundred about the same nimber on both sides, and the Poles, who were imagined capable of tile most de- French only retained as a mark of victory the postermined defence. On the 2d March, however, the session of the field of battle. Napoleon hilnself followed the retreat of the Rusr See page 633. 1 sians as far as an inn between Craonne and Laon, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 641 called l'Ange Gardien, whlere he reposed for tille Bonaparte, arising before day-break, was callig for -night. He indeed never more needed the assistance his horse, two d(istnounted dragoons were brought of a guardian angel, and his own appears to have before him, with tile Unpleasing intelligence thlat deserted his char(ge. It was here that Rumigny the enemy had made a Itourra upon Marmont, surfound him when he presented the letter of C(aulain- prised him in his bivouack, and cut to pieces, taken, court, praying for final instructions from the empe- or dispersed his whole division, and they alone had ror; and it was here he could only extract the am- escaped to bring the tidings. All the marshal's guns biguous reply, that if he must submit to the basti- were lost, and they believed he was himself either nado, it should be only by force. At this cabaret, killed or prisoner. Officers sent to reconnoitre also, lie regulated his plan for attacking the position brought back a confirmation of the truth of this inof Blucher on the next morning, and thus ridding telligence, excepting as to the situation of the marhimself fitnally, if possible, of that Silesian army, shal. He was on the road to Rheims, near Corbeny, which had been his object of disquietude for forty- endeavouring to rally the fiugitives. Notwithstandtwo (days, during the course of which, scarce two ing this great loss, and as if in defiance of bad days had passed without their being engaged in se- fortune, Napoleon renewed the attack upon Clacy rious conflict, eitllher in froit or rear. IIe received and Semilly; but all his attempts being fruitless, lihe valuable ifoi mation for enabling him to make the was induced to relinquish the undertaking, under the projected attack, firon a retired officer, Monsieur excuse that the position was found impregnable. Brrssy de Bellay, who lla(] been his school-fellow at On the 11th, he withdrew from before Laon, having Brienne, wvho lived in tile neiglibourhood, and was been foiled in all his attempts, and having lost tlrirty well acquainted with the grolund, and whom he gnlls, and nearly ten thousand men. The allies srufinstantly rewarded vith the situation of an aide-de- fered comparatively little, as they fought under calmp, and a large appointment. When his plan cover. for thle attack was finlishedl, lie is said to have ex- Napoleon halted at Soissons, which, evacuated claimedl, "' I see this war is an abyss without a bot- by Langeron when Blucher concentrated his army, torn, but I am resolved to be thie last whomr it shall was now again occupied by the French. Napoleon devour." directed its defences to be strengthened, designing The town of Laon is situated upon a table-land, to leave Mortier to defend the place against the or eminence flattened on tile top, which rises very advance of Blucher, which, victorious as he was, abrruptly sbove a plain extendinrg about a league in might be instantly expected. length. The face oi' thell declivity is steep, shelviug, While at Soissons, Napoleon learned that Stalmost precipitous, and occupied by terraces serving Priest, a French enigrant, and a general in the as vinevards. Bunlowv defended this town and bank. Russian service, had occupied. Rheims, remarkable The rest of' tile Silesian ar-rmy was placed on the for the venerable cathedral in which the kings of plain below; the left wing, composed of Prussians, France were crowned. Napoleon instantly saw that extending to the village of Athies; the right, con- the possession of Rheims would renew the comnmusisting of Russians, resting on the hills between nication betwixt Schwartzenberg anld Blucher, beThiers and Semnonville. sides neutralizing thle advantages which lie himself Only the interval of one day elapsed between the expected from the possession of Soissons. He moved bloody battle of Craonne and thiat of Laon. On the fi'om Soissons to Rheims, where, after an attack 9th, availing hinself of a thick mnist, Napoleon which lasted till late in the night, the Russian gepushled his colninns of attack to the very foot of the neral being wounded, his followers were disconeminence on vwhiclh Laon is situated, possessed raged, and evacuated the place. Th'le utmost horhimself of two of the villages, termed S6milly and rors might have been expected during anight attack, Ard.on, alid prepareid to force lis way rip the bill when one army forcedl another from a considerable towards tihe town. The wveatiler cleared, thle French town. Buntin this instance we have the satisfaction attack was repelled by a tremendous fire firom ter- to record, that the troops on both sides behaved in a races, vineyards, windrrills, and every point of most orderly manner. In his account of the previous advantage. Two battalions of Yagers, the impetus action, Napoleon threw in one of those strokes of of' their attack increased by the rapidity of the fatality which hlie loved to introduce. IIe endeadescent, recovered the villages, and the attack of voured to persuade the public, or perhaps he himself Laon in firont seemed to he abandloned.'I'he French, believed, that St-Priest was shot by a ball from tile however, continued to retain possession in that same cannon which killed Moreau. quarter of a part of the village of' Clacy. Thus stood During the attack upon Rheims, Marmont came the action on the right and centre. The French had tip with such forces as he had been able to rally been repulsed all along the line. On thle left Mar- after his defeat at Athies, and contributed to the slhal Marmont had advanced upon thle village of' success of the assault. He was, nevertheless, reAthies, which was the key of Blucher's position in ceived by Napoleon with bitter reproaches, felt that point. It was gallantly defended by d'Yorck severely by a chief, of whose honorur and talents no and Kleist, supported by Sacken and Langeron. doubt had been expressed through a long life of Marmont nmade some progress, notwithstanding this soldiership. resistance, and night found him bivouacking in front Napoleon remained at Rheims three days, to of the enemy, and in possession of part of the dis- repose and recruit his shattered army, which was puted village of Athies. But he was not destined reinforced from every quarter where men couldl be to remain there till day-break. collected. Jansaens, a Dutch officer, displayed a Upon thle 10th, at four in the morning, just as particular degree of military talent in bringing a VOL. vI. 81 1642 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. hody of about 4000 men, draughted from the garrisons The defeat of Oudinot and G6rard obliged iMarof the places on the Moselle, to join the army at shal Macdonald, who defended the line of the river Rheims; a movement of great difficulty, considering above Bar, to retreat to Troyes, from his strong pohe had to penetrate through a country which was in sition at La Fert6-sur-Aube. He therefore feil back a great measure possessed by the enemy's troops. towards Yandoeuvres. But though these three disThe halt of Napoleon at Rheims was remarkable, tinguished generals, Macdonald, Oudinot, and G,as affording the last means of transacting business rard, had combined their talents, and united their with his civil ministers. Hitherto, an auditor of forces, it was impossible for them to defend Troyes, the Council of State had weekly brought to the Im- and they were compelled to retreat upon the great perial head-quarters the report of the ministers, and road to Paris. Thus, the head-quarters of the allied received the orders of the emperor. But a variety monarchs were, for the second time during this of causes rendered this regular communication changefll war, established in the ancient capital of during the rest of the campaign, a matter of impos- Champagne; and the allied grand army recovered, sibility. At Rheims, also, Napoleon addressed to by the victory of Bar-sur-Aube, all the territory C.aulaincourt a letter, dated 17th March, by which which they had yielded up in consequence of Bona.he seems to have placed it in the power of'that ple- parte's success at Montereau. They once more nipotentiary to comply in filll with the terms of the threatened to descend the Seine upon Paris, being allies. But the language in which it is couched is entitled to despise any opposition oflered by a feeble so far from bearing the precise warrant necessary line, which Macdonald, Oudinot, and Gerard, enfor so important a concession, that there must re- deavoured to defend on the left bank. main a doubt whether Caulaincourt would have felt But Schwartzenberg's confidence in his position justified in acting upon it, or whether, so acting, was lowered, when he heard that Napoleon had Napoleon would have recognized his dbing so, if' taken Rheims; and that, on the evening of the 17th, circumstances had made it convenient for him to Ney, with a large division, had occupied Chltlonsdisown the treaty.* sur-Marne. This intelligence made a deep imnresWhile Napoleon was pursuing, fighting with, and sion on the Austrian council of war. Their tac tics finally defeated by Blucher, his lieutenant-generals being rigidly those of tile old school of wlar, they were not more fortunate il front of the allied grand esteemed their army turned whenever a Frenchl dliarmy. It will he recollected that the Marshals vision occupied such a post as interposed betwvixt Oudinot and G6rard were left at the head of 25,000 them and their allies. This indeed is in one sense. mnen, exclusive of the separate corps under Macdo- true; but it is equally true, that every division so nald, with orders to possess themselves of the heights interposed is itself liable to be turned, if the hostile of Bar-sur-Aube, and prevent Schwartzenberg from divisions betwixt which it is interposed take comcrossing that river. They made the movement in bined measures'for attacking it. T'he catching, advance accordingly, and after a sharp action, which therefore, too prompt an alarm, or considering the left the town in their possession, they were so nigh consequences of such a movement as irretrievable, to the allied troops, who still held the suburbs, that belongs to the pedantry of war, and not to its a battle became unavoidable, and the marshals had science. no choice save of making the attack, or of receiving At midnight, a council was held for the purpose it. They chose the former, and gained, at first, of determining the future motions of the allies. The some advantages from the very audacityof their at- generalissimo recommended a retreat behind the tempt; but the allies had now been long accustomed line of the Auhbe. The Emperor Alexander opposed to stand their ground under greater disasters. Their this with great steadiness. He observed, with jinsnumerous reserves were brought up, and their long tice, that the protracted war was driving the country train of artillery got into line. The French, after people to despair, and that the peasantry were alobtaining a temporary footing on the heights of Ver- ready taking up arms, while the allies only wanted nonfait, were charged and driven back in disorder. resolution, certainly neither opportunity nor numbers, Some fine cavalry, which had been brought fiom the to decide the affair by a single blow. armies in Spain, was destroyed by the overpowering So many were the objections stated, and so difficannonade. The French were driven across the cult was it to bring the various views and interests Aube, the town of Bar-str-Atibe was taken, and the of so many powers to coincide in the same general defeated marshals could only rally their forces at plan, that the emperor informed one of his attendthe villa;e of Vandoeuvres, about half-way between ants, he thought the anxiety of the night nmust have Bar and Troyes. turned half his hair grey. Lord Castlereagh was against the opinion of Schwartzenber-, the rather The words alleged to convey such extensive powers as that he conclned that a retreat belllg the Atbhe totally to recal and alter every former restriction upon would he a preface to one behind the Rhine. Taking Caulaincourt's exercise of his own opinion, are contained, it upon him, as became the Iinister of Britain at as above stated, in a letter from Rheims, dated 17th March, such a crisis, he annnced to the allied powers, 1814.'1I have charged the Duke of Bassano to answer Ch a crisis, he annced to the allied powers, that, so soon as they should commence the proposed your letter in detail. I give you directly the authority to rethrt s S as they should conlmence the proposed make such concessions as shall be indispensable to main- retreat, the subsidies of England would cease to be tain the continuance (activitY) of the negotiations, and to paid to them. arrive at a knowledge of the ultimatum of the allies; it It was, therefore, finally agreed to resume offenbeing distinctly understood that the treaty shall have for sive operations, for which purpose they proposed to its immediate result the evacuation of our territory, and diminish the distance betwixt the allied grand army the restoring prisoners on both sides.* and that of Silesia, andt resume such a corlnmlunica IFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 643 tion with ltllcher as might prevent the repetition of than of making serious opposition. He crossed the srucn disasters as those of Montinirail and Monte- Aube at Plancy, and mloved upwards, along tile left renal. With this view, it was determined to descend bank of the river, with Ney's corps, and his whole the Aunbe, unite their army at Arcis, offer Napoleon cavalry, while the infantry of his gulard advanced battle, should he desire to accept it, or move boldly upon the right; his army being thus, according to the on Paris if lie should refuse the proffered action. French military phrase, a cheval, upon the Aube. |What determined them more resolutely, from this The town of Arcis had been evacuated by the allies moment, to approach the capital as soon as possible, upon his approach, and was occupied by the French w.as the intelligence which arrived at the head- on the morning of the 20th March. That town quarters by Messieurs de Polignac. These gentle- forms the outlet of a sort of defile, where a succesmen brought an encouraging account of the progress sion of narrow bridges cross a number of drains, of the royalists in the metropolis, and of the general brooks, and streamlets, the feeders of the river arrangements which were actively pursued for unit- Aube, and a bridge in the town crosses the river ing with the interest of the Bourbons that of all itself. On the other side of Arcis is a plain, in others, who, from dislike to Bonaparte's person and which some few squadrons of cavalry, resenibling a government, or fear that the country, and they them- reconnoitring party, were observed manoeuvring. selves, must share in his approaching ruin, were de- Behind these horse, at a place called Clermont, sirous to get rid of the imperial governmlelnt. Tal- the Prince Royal of Wirtemberg, whose name has leyrand was at the head of the confederacy, and all:been so often honourably mentioned, was posted were resolved to embrace the first opportunity of with' his division, while the elite of the allied army showing themselves, which the progress of the allies was drawn tip on a chain of heights still farther in should permit. This important intelligenlce, coming Ithe rear, called Mdnil la Courtesse. But these friom such unquestionable authority, strengthened:forceswere not apparent to the van-guard of Napothe allies in their resolution to march- upon Paris. leon's army. The French cavalry had orders to In the meantime, Napoleon being at Rlleims, as attack the light troops of the allies; but these were stated, on the 15th and 16th March, was alarmed by - instantly supported by whole regiments, and by canthe news of the loss of the battle of Bar, the retreat non, so that the attack was unsuccessful; and the of the three marshals beyond the Seine, and the squadronls of the French were repulsed ant driven demonstrations of the grandl army to cross that river back on Arcis at a moment, wvhen, from the impeonce more. He broke up, as we have seen, from diments in the town and its environs, tile infantry Rheims on the 17th, and sending Ney to take pos- could with difficulty debouchle from the town to session of ChAlons, marched himself to Epernay, support them. Napoleon showed, as lie always did with the purpose of placing himself on the right flank, in extremity, the same heroic courage which he had and in the rear of Schwartzenberg, in case he should exhibited at Lodi and Brienne. He drew his sword, advance on the road to Paris. At Epernay, he threw himself among the broken cavalry, called on learned that the allies, alarmed by his movements, them to remember their former lictories, andl had retired to Troyes, and that they were about to checked the enemy by an impetuous charge, in which retreat upon the Aube, and probably to Langres. he and his staff-officers fought hand to hand with He also learned that the Marshals Macdonald and their opponents, so that he was in personal danger Oudinot had resumed their advance so soon as their from the lance of a cossack, the thrust of which was adversaries began to retreat. He hastened to form averted by his aide-de-camp, Girardin. His Mamea junction with these persevering leaders, alnd pro- luke Roustan fought stoutly by his side, and received ceeded to ascend the Aube as high as Bar, where a gratuity for his bravery. These desperate exerhe expected to throw himself into Schwartzenberg's tions afforded time for the infantry to debouche from rear, having no doubt that his army was retirilng tile town. The Imperial Guards came up, and the from the banks of the Aube. combat waxed very warnsm. The superior numbers In these calculations, accurate as far as thlie in- of the allies rendered them the assailants on all formation permitted, Bonaparte was greatly misled. points. A strongly-situated village in front, and He conceived hiuiself to be acting upon the retreat somewhat to tile left of Arcis, called Torcy-leof the allies, and expected only to find a rear-guard Grand, had been occupied by the Frevch. This at Arcis; lie was even talking jocularly of making place was repeatedly and desperately attacked by his father in-law prisoner during his retreat. If, the allies, but the French made good their position. contrary to Iris expectation, lie should find the ene- Arcis itself' was set on fire by the shells of the asIny, or any considerable part of them, still upon the sailants, and night alone separated the combatants, Aunbe, it was, front all he had heard, to be suplrlosed by inducing the allies to desist from the attack. his aippearance wo(uld precipitate their retreat to- In the course of thie night, Bonaparte was joined wards the frontier. It has also been asserted, that by Macdonald, Ouldinot, and G6rard, with the forces lie expected Marshal Macdonald to make a cor- with which they had lately held the defensive upon responding advance froln the banks of the Seine to the Seine; and the anxious question remained, whethose of the Aurbe; but the orders had been received ther, thus reinforced, he should venture an action too late to admit of the necessary space being tra- with the grand army, to which he was still much versed so as to arrivs on the ilorning of tihe day of inferior in numbers. Schwartzenberg, agreeably to battle. the last resolution of the allies, drew up on the Napoleon easily drove before him such bodies of heights of Mdnil la Comtesse, prepared to receive light cavalry, alnd sharp-shooters, as had been left battle. On consideration of the superior strength by the allies, rather for the purpose of reconnoitring of the enemy, and of the absence of some troops trot 1644 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTI. yet come up, Napoleon finally determined not to and march back to the frontier. Such a resilt wri accept a battle under such disadvantageous circum- the rather to be hoped, because the continued fitav stances. He, therefore, commenced a retreat, the of the allies, and the passage and repassage of direction of which was doomed to prove the crisis troops through an exhausted country, hiad worn out of his fate. He retired as he had advanced, along the patience of the hardy peasantry of Alsace and both sides of the Aube; and though pursued and Franche-Comt6, whom the exactions and rapine, annoyed in this movement (which was necessarily inseparable from the movements of a hostile solexecuted through Arcis and all its defiles), his rear- diery, had now roused from the apathy with which guard was so well conducted, that he sustained they had at first witnessed the invasion of their terlittle loss. A late author,? who has composed an ritory. Before Lyons, Napoleon might reckon on excellent and scientific work on this campaign, has being reinforced by the veteran army of Suchet, remarked,-" In concluding the account of tle two arrived from Catalonia; and he would be within days thus spent by the contending armies in pre- reach of the numerous chain of fortresses, which sence of each other, it is equally worthy of remark, had garrisons strong enough to form an army, if that Bonaparte, with a force not exceeding 25,000 drawn together. or 30,000 men, should have risked himself in such a The preparations for arranging such a force, and position in front of 80,000 of the allies, as that the for arming the peasantry, had been in progress for latter should have allowed him to escape them with some time. Trusty agents, bearing orders concealed impunity." The permitting him to retreat with so in the sheaths of their knives, the collars of their little annoyance has been censured in general by dogs, or about their persons,- had been detached to all who have written on this campaign. warn the various commandants of the empeirorl's pleasure. Several were taken by the blockading troops of the allies, and hanged as spies, but others CHAPTER XCIV. made their way. While at Rheims, Bonaparte had issued an order for rousing the peasantry, in which Plans of Bonaparte in his present difficulties considered. he not only declared their arising in arrmo was an I-Military aad poitical qnestions regardzig Paris- act of patriotic duty, but denounced as traitors the Napoleon determines to pass to the rear of the eastern mayors of the districts who should throw obstlrcfrontier, and crosses the Marne on 22d March.-Retro- tions in the way of a general levy. The allies, on spect of events in the vicinity of Lyons, etc.-The allies.advance pon Paris — Defats of the French. va u. the contrary, threatened the extremity of military vuartce ZpOlrzs.rm ont-D fean s of tihe French eit vaisous qearters.-Armont and etortier, uith their disco- execution on all the peasantry who should obey raged and broken forces, retreat nuder the walls of Napoleon's call to arms. It was, as we formerly Paris.-Paris, howfar defensible.-Exertions of Joseph observed, an excellent exemplification, hIwY much Bonaparte.-The Empress Maria Loutisa, with the civil political opinions depend on circumstances; for, after authorities of government, leave the city.-Attack of the second chpture of Vienna, the Austrians wmre Paris on the 30th, when the French are defeated on calling out the levee-en-masse, and Napoleon, in all sides.-A truce is appliedfor, and accorded.-Joseph his turn, was threatening to burn the villages, and.Bonaparteflies, ieith all his attenlants. execute the peasants, who should dare to obey. While Napoleon was at Rheinms, the allails of THE decline of Napoleon's waning fortunes hav- the north-east frontier seemed so plromising, that ing been such as to turn him aside from an offered Ney offered to take the command of the insurrecfield of battle, and to place him betwixt two armies, tionary army; and, as he was reckoned the best ofeach superior in number to his own, called now for ficer of light troops in Europe, it is not improbable a speedy and decisive resolution. le might have brought the levee-en-masse on that The manceuvres of Schwartzenberg and Blucher warlike border, to have fought like the French iatended evidently to form a junction; and when it is tional forces in the begiluing of the Revolution. considered, that Bonaparte had felt it necessary to Bonaparte did not yield to this proposal. Perllaps retreat from the army of Silesia before Laon, and he thought so bolt( a movement could only succeed from the grand army before Arcis, it would have under his own eye. been frenzy to wait till they both closed upon him. But there were two especial considerations which Two courses, therefore, remained;-eitlher to draw must have made Napoleon hesitate on adopting this back within the closing circle which his enemies species of back-gane, designed to redeemn the stake were about to form around him, and, retreating be- which it was impossible to save by the ordinary fore them unltil he had collected his whole forces, meanls of carrying on the bloody play. The one was make a stand under the walls of' Paris, aidled by the military question, whether Paris could be dewhatever strength that capital possessed, and which fended, if Napoleon was to move to the rear of the his energies could have called out; or, on the con- allied army, instead of falling back upon the city trary, to march eastward, and, breaking through the with the army which he commanded. The other sanme circle, to operate on the rear of the allies, and question was of yet deeper import, and of a political on their lines'of communication. This last was a nature. The means of the capital fir defence being subject on which the Austrians had expressed such supposed adequate, was it likely that Paris, a town feverish anxiety, as would probably immediately of seven hundred thousand inhabitants, divided into induce them to give up all thoughts of advancing, factions unaccustomed to the near voice of war, ant startled by the dreadful novelty of their situation, a Memoirs of thie Operations of tie Allied Armies in would submit to the sacrifices which a successful 1813 and 1814: Murray, London, 1822. defence of the city must in every event have ne LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 615 qtirled? W"as, in short, their love and fear of Bona- sov ereiguns, was peculiarly entitled to induluge, —it is partle so great, that without his personal preseice, piobable that lielost sight of the great disproportion and that of his army, to encourage, and at the same betwixt the natioli and an individual; and forgot, timne overawe their;, they would willingly incur the amid the hundreds of thousands rwhichl Paris conrisk of seeing their beautiful metropolis destroyed, tains, what sniall relation the number of his own and all tile hoi'rors of a sack inflicted by the mass of faithful and devoted followers bore, not only to nations whom Napoleon's amibition had been the those who were perilously eng'aged in factions hosrneans of combining against them, and who pro- tile to lilni, but to the great ulass, who, in Hotspur's claimed themselves the enemies, not of France, but phrase, loved their own shops or barims better than of Bonlaparte? Ihis house. Neither of these questions could be answered Thirdly, the consequences of Paris being lost, witll confidence. Napoleon, although he had em- either from not possessing, or not employing, the bodied 30,000 National Guards, had not provided nleans of defence, were sure to be productive of artns for a third part of the number. This is hinted irretrievable calamity. Russia, as ]had been shown, at by some authors, as if the want of these arms could survive the destrnction of its capital, and peroughllt to be imputed to sonicme secret treason. But haps Great Britain's fate might not be decided by the this accusation hias never been put in any tangible capture of London. But the government of France shape. The arms never existed, and never were had, durinlg all the plhases of the Ievolution, deordered; anld altholugh Napoleon had nearly three pended upon the possession of Paris, a capital tmouths' tilne allowed himl, after his return to Paris, which has at all times directed the public opinion of yet lie never thoughlt of armillng thle Parisians in ge- that country. Should the military occupation of this neral. Perhaps lhe doubted their fidelity to his cause. most influential of all capitals bring about, as was HIe ordered, it is said, two hundred cannon to be most likely, a political and internal revolution, it p)rovided fobr the defence of the northern and eastern was greatly to be doubted, whether thle emperor line of the city, but neither were these obtainedl in could make an effectual stand in any other part of his sutflic'ient quantity. The number of individuals who dominions. could be safely intrusted with armns was also much It must be candidly admitted, that this reasoning, limited. Whether, therefore, Paris was, in a mili- as being subsequent to the fact, has a unmuch more tary point of view, capable of defence or not, must decisive appearance than it could have had when. have, in every event, depended much on the strenlth subjected to the consideration of Napoleon. He was of the military force left to protect it. This Napo- entitled, from the feverisli anxiety hitherto shown leon knew must be very moderate. His hopes were by the Austrians, upon any approach to flatllk movetherefore necessarily limited by circumstances, to ments, and by the caution of their general proceedthe belief that Paris, though incapable of a protract- ings, to think that they would be greatly too timorous ed defence, might yet hold out for stuch a space as to adopt the bold step) of pressing onward to Paris. milght enable himn to move to its relief. It was more likely that they would follow hiiun to But, secondly, as the means of holding out Paris tlhe frontier, with the purpose olf preserving their were very inllperfect, so the inclination of the citi- communications. Besides, Napoleon at this crisis zens to defend thlenmselves at the expense of any had but a very slender choice of measures. To reconsiderable sacrifice, was much doubted. It was main where lie was, betweeni Blucher aniid Schwartnot in reason to be expected that the Parisians zenberg, was not possible; and ii advancing to should imitate the devotion of Zaragossa. Each either flank, he must have fought with a superior Spanish citizen, on that memorable occasion, had enemny. To retreat upon Paris, was sure to induce his share of interest in the war whicrh all miaintained the whole allies to pursue in the samlie direction; -a porrtion, namely, of that liberty and independence Iand the encouragement which such a retreat must for which it was vaged. But the Parisians were have given to his opponents, nmight have had the very ditferently situated. They were not called on most fatal consequences. Perhaps his partisans to barricade their streets, destroy their suburbs, turn might have taken more courage durillg his absence, their houses into fortresses, and themselves into from the idea that he was at the head of a conquer- soldiers, and expose their property anld families to ing army, in the rear of' the allies, than during his the horrors of u storm; and this not for any advantage actual presence, if he had arrived in Paris in conseto France or themlselves, but imerely that thley might quence of a compulsory retreat. maintain Napoleon on the throiie. The ceaseless, Bonaparte seems, as much from a sort of necesand of Iate the losing wars, in which'he seemed ir- sity as from choice, to have preferred breaking retrievably engaged, had rendered his government through the circle of hunters which hernmmed hime in, lnpopular; aid it was plain to all, except perhaps trusting to strengthen his army with the garrisons hinmself; that he did iiot stand in that relation to the drawn from the frontier fortresses, and vith the people of Paris, when citizens are prepared to die warlike peasantry of Alsace and Franche-Coutdf, for their sovereign. It Imight have been as well and, thus reinforced, to advance with rapidity on expected that the frogs in the fable would, in case the rear of his enemies, ere they had time to exeof invasion, have risen in a rmass to defend King cute, or perhaps to arrange, any systen of ol'ensiove Serpent. It is probable that Bonaparte did not see operations. The schenie appeared the more hopetlis in the true point of view; but that, with the feel- fil, as he was peremptory in his belief that mhis rtgs of self-importance which sovereigns must na- march could not {ail to draw after him, in pursuit, tur-2y acquire fiom their situation, anld which, fronm or observation at least, the grand army of Schall t z — his high actions and distinguished talents, he, of all euberg; thle general mnaximn, that the war could 646 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. only be decided where he was present in person, step betwixt him and his capital, and at the sanie being, as he conceived, as deeply impressed by ex- time betwixt him and his enemies. perience upon his enemies as upon his own soldiers. In the meantime, events had taken place in thle, Napoleon could not disguise from himself, what vicinity of Lyons, tending greatly to limit ally adindeed he had told the French public, that a march., vantages which Napoleon might have expected to or, as he termed it, a hourra upon Paris, was the reap on the south-eastern part of the frontier tourincipal purpose of the allies. Every movement wards Switzerland, and also to give spirits to the made in advance, whether by Blucher or Schwartz- numerous enemies of his government in Provence, enberg, had this for its object. But they had uni- where the royalists always possessed a considei able. formly relinquished the undertaking, upon his mak- party. ing any demonstration to prevent it; and therefore The reinforcements dispatched by the Austrians he did not suspect them of a resolution so venturous under General Bianchi, and their reserves, brought as to move directly upon Paris, leaving the French forward by the Prince of Hesse-Hornberg, had rearmy unbroken in their rear, to act upon their line stored their superiority over Augereat's army. He of communication with Germany. It is remarked, was defeated at Macon on the 11th of March. in a that those chess-players who deal in the most ven- battle which he had given for the purpose of' niainturous gambits are least capable of defending them- taining his line on the Saone. A second time, lie selves when attacked in the same audacious manner; was defeated on the 18th at St- Georges, and obliged and that, in war, the generals whose usual and fa- to retire in great disorder, with scarce even the vourite tactics are those of advance and attack, have means of defending the Isere, lip which river he been most frequently surprised by the unexpected retreated. Lyons, thus uncovered, opened its gates adoption of offensive operations on the part of their to Bianchi; and, after all that they had hleard conenemy. Napoleon had been so much accustomed cerning the losses of the allies, the citizens saw with to see his antagonists bend their attention rather to astonishment and alarm an untouched body of their parry blows than to aim them, and was so confident troops, amounting to 60,000 men, defile through in the dread impressed by his rapidity of movement, their streets. This defeat of Augereau was probaily his energy of assault, and the terrors of his reputa- unknown to Napoleon, when lie determined to laril ) tion, that he seems to have entertained little appre- to the frontiers, and thought he might reckol on cohension of the allies adopting a plan of operations operation with the Lyonnese army. Though, theerewhich had no reference to his own, and which, fore, the emperor's movement to St-Dizier was ouit. instead of attempting to watch or counteract his of the rules of ordinary war, and though it enabl ed movements in the rear of their army, should lead the allies to conceive and execute the daring scrhele theml straight forward to take possession of his ca- which put an end to the campaign, yet it w as by no pital. Besides, notwithstanding objections have means hopeless in its outset; or, we would rat'ihlr been stated, which seemed to render a permanent say, was one of the few alternatives, whlich the defence impossible, there were other considerations crisis of his affairs left to Bonaparte, anid wh-llic to be taken into view. The ground to the north of judging from the previous vacillation and cautious Paris is very strong, the National Guard was nu- timidity displayed in the councils of the allies, lie merous, the lower part of the population of a mili- had no reason to apprehend would have given rise to tary character, and favourable to his cause. A the consequences that actually followed. defence, if resolute, however brief, would have the The allies, who had in their latest councils wotund double effect of damping the ardour of the assailants, up their resolution to the decisive expel iutent of and of detaining them before the walls of the ca- marching on Paris, were at first at a loss to account pital, until Bonaparte should advance to its relief;, for Napoleon's disappearance, or to guess whither hie and thus place the allies between two fires. It was had gone. This occasioned some hesitation and loss not to be supposed that the surrender of Paris would of time. At length, by the interception of a F rench be the work of a single day. The unanimouls voice courier, they tound dispatches addressed by Bonzaof the journals, of the ministers of the police, and of parte to his government at Paris, from whicih they the thousands whose interest was radically and were enabled to conjecture the real purpose and deeply entwisted with that of Bonaparte, assured direction of his march. A letter, in tie elnperor's their master on that point. Thie movenlent to the own hand, to Maria Louisa, confirnied the certainty rear, therefore, though removing him from Paris, ofttle information. The allies resolved to adhere, which it might expose to temporary alarm, might tinder this unexpected change of circumstances, to not, in Bonaparte's apprehension, seriously com- the bold resolution they had already ibrimed. To promise the security of the capital. conceal the real direction of' his mnarch, as well as Tile French Emperor, in executing this decisive to open communications;with the Silesian army, movement, was extremely desirous to have possess- Schwartzenberg, moving laterally, transferred his ed himself of Vitry, which lay in the line of his head-quarters to Vitry, wlere lie arrived on the advance. But as this town contained a garrison of 24th, two days after it had been summoned by about 5000 men, commanded by an officer ofresola- Napoleon. Blucher, in thAl mleanltime, alproached tion, lie returned a negative to the summons; and his army fron Laon to C110lons, low entirely reNapoleon, in no condition to attempt a coup de main organized aflter the two bl(oody battles which it had on a place of some strength, passed the Marne on the sustained. 22d of March, over a bridge of rafts constructed at As a necessary preparation for the advance, GeFrignicourt, and continued his movement towards neral Ducca was left on the Aube, with a division of the eastern frontier, increasing the distance at every Austrians, for the purpose of defending their dep6ts, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 647 keeping open their communications, and guarding Schwartzenberg, had he been induced to retreat tile person of the Emperor Francis, who did not from the line of the Aube, as Napoleon expected lie perhaps judge it delicate to approach Paris in arms, would. But as a very differenlt course had been with the rest of the sovereigns, while the city was adopted by the allies, from that which Napoleon nominally governed by his own daughter as regent. bad anticipated, the two marshals found themselves Dacca had also in charge, if pressed, to retreat unexpectedly in front of their grand armly near La upon the Prince of Hesse-Homberg's army, which Fere Champenoise. They were compelled to'atwas in triumphant possession of Lyons. tempt a retreat to S6zanne, in which, harassed by This ilnportaslt arrangement being made, another the numerous cavalry of the allies, they sustained was adopted equally necessary to deceive and ob- heavy loss. serve Napoleon. Ten thousand cavalry were se- While the cavalry wele engaged in pursuit of the lected, under tile enterprising generals, Winzenge- marshals, the inifantry of the allies wvere approachrode and Czernicheff, who, with fifty pieces of ing the town of' La Fdre Champenoise, when a cannon, were dispatched to hang on Bonaparte's heavy fire was heard in the vicinity, anid presently march, to obstruct his communications with the appeared a large columiin of infantry, advancing country lie had left, intercept couriers from Paris, chequer-'wise and by intervals, folloMwed -ad repeator information respecting the motions of tile allied edly charged by sevel;ll sqlladrons of caralry, who armies, and to present on all occasions such a fiont, were speedily recognized as belonging to tile Sileas, if possible, rlniht impress him rvith the belief sian aruery. Tl'le itflntry, aboullt 5000 in numrber, that their corps fornmed the van-guard of tlre whole had left l'aris wvith a large convoy of lprovisions anid army of Schwaltzenlberg. The Russian and Prns- amrntunition. T'iey elre lproceedilg to\\ar da s Iotsian light troops rneanwvhile scoried the roads, and mirail, vellnl tlhey verie disco% ered and attacked by intercepted, near Sorimmepits, a convoy of artillery thle cava!ry of 3lilcl.er's alyi. Uliahle to illnae a and aimmun ition belonging to Napoleon's rear-guard, stand, tlley ctndeao oriid, by art alterationi of tileir when twenty pieces of cannon, with a strong escort, rlalrh, to reach LJ; I ere Chanllpeoise, wlhere fell into their hands. They also cut off several they expected t, finrd eithier thle emperor, or M1arcouriers, bringing imnportanlt dispatches to Napoleon iront and iMlortier. It was thus their ilisfortlune to from Paris. One of these was loaded with as heavy faill upon Scylla inr seeking to avoid Cllarybdis. tidings as ever were destined to afflict falling great- Tile columni (consisted entirely of youlng mlen,, conness. This packet informed Napoleon of the descent scripts or natioinal guards, who had never before of the English in Italy; of the entry of the Austrians been in action. Yet neither the necessity of' their irito Lyons and tIle critical state of Augereau; of condition, nor their unexpectedl surprise in rieeting the declaration of Bordeaux in favour of Louis; of first one, and then a secondrl arliy of eneries, where thie demonstrations of Wellington towards Toulouse; they looked only for fiiends, could induce these of the disaffected state of the public mind, and spirited young men to surrender. Rappatel, tle the exhausted condition of the national resources. aide-de-camp of Moreau, and entertained in thie Much of these tidings was new to the allied sove- same capacity by the Emperor Alexander, wvas reigns and generals; but it was received by them shot, while attempting, by the orders of' the with very different sensations fionl which the intel- emperor, to explain to them the imllpossibility of' ligence was calculated to inflict upon him for whom resistance. The French say, that the brother of' the packet was intended. Rappatel served in the company from which the shot Blucher, in the mneanlwlhile, so soon as he felt the came which killed the unfortunate officer. Tile aropposition to llis moverennt diminished by the tillery at length opened on the French on every side; march of Bonaparte friom Chalons to Arcis, had they were charged by squadron after sqmadrlon; tihe instantly resumed the offensive, and driven the corps whole convoy was taken, and the escort were iilled, of Mortier and Marniont, left to observe his motions, wounded, or made prisoners. over the AMarne. He passed tile Aisne near Bery- Thus, tile allies continued to advance upon Paris, -au-Bac, repossessed hinself of Rheims by blowing while the shattered divisions of' Mortier and NMaropen the gates and storming the place, and, having mont, hard pressed by the cavalry, lost a ealrgained these successes, moved towards Chalons and guardl of 1500 men near JLa Fert6-Gauiccher. At Vitry. His course had hitherto been south-eastward, Cr6cy they parted into two bodies, one retreating in order to join with Schwartzenberg; but he now on Meaux, the other on Lagny. They Nwere still received frion the King of Prussia the welcome pursued and harassed; and at length, the soldiers orlder to trlmn his march westward, and move straight becoming desperate, could hardly be kept togethler, upon Paris. The grand army adopted the same while the artillerymen cut the traces of their gutns. direction, and thus they moved on in corresponding and mounted their draught-horses, to effect their lines, and in communication with each other. escape. It is computed that tile French dir isions While Bonaparte, retiring to the east, prepared between La FBre Chamnpenoise and L;agny, lost for throwing himself on the rear of the allies, he was 8000 menl, and eighty guns, besides inlnrense qtIrannecessarily, in person, exposed to the same risk of tities of baggage and ammunition. Indeed, srlhalrinig Iris commnlications cut off, and his supplies rounded as they were by overpowering numbers, it intercepted, which it was the object of his movement required no little skill in thie generals, as well -3 to inflict upon his enemy. Marrlmont and Mortier, bravery and devotion in the soldiers, to keel) the svwh- retreated before B1lucher over the Marne, hlad army from dissolving entirely. Tire allies, gaiingli orders to mlove ur)poir Vitry, probably because that advantages at every step, moved onl with such exmovelment would Ihave placed theml in tile rear of pedition, that when, onl the 27th March, they took 648 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPAiRTE. up their head-quarters at Coulommiers, they had be occupied by (jther guests, and for fiar different marched upwards of seventy miles in three days. purposes. In ad(vance of these heights, and proAin effort wvas made, by about 10,000 mlen of the tected by them, is the village of Pantin, situated on National Guards, to stop a column of the ariny of the great road from Bondy. To the left of RomrainSilesia, but it totally failed; General Horne gallop- ville, and more in front of Belleville, is a projecting tug into the very centre of the French mass of in- eminence, termed the Butte de Chanmonot. The fantry, and making prisoner the general who con- ridge there sinks, and admits a half-finished aquemanded them with his own hand. When Blucher duct, called the Canal de l'Ourcq. The ground approached Meaux, the garrison (a part of Mortier's then again rises into the bold and steep eminence, army) retreated, blowing tip a large powder magazine. called Montmartre, from being the supposed This was on the 28th March, and on the evening of place of the martyrdom of St Denis, the patron of the same day, the van-guard of the Silesian army France. The declivity of this steep hill is a pushed on as far as Claye, from whence, not with- level plain, extending to the river Seine, through out a sharp action, they dislodged a part of the which runs the principal northern approach to Palis, divisions of Marmont and Mortier. These marshals front the large village of St-Denis. The most fornow retreated under the walls of Paris, their discon- midable preparations had been made for maintaining raged and broken forces forming the only regular this strong line of defence, behind which the city lay troops, excepting those of the garrison, which could sheltered. The extreme right of the French tor ces be reckoned on for the defence of the capital. occupied the wood of Vincennes, and the village The allied armies moved onward, on the same of Charenton upon the Mqarne, and was supported grand point, leaving, however, Generals Wrede and by the troops stationed on the heights of Belleville, Sacken, with a corps d'armde of 30,000 men, upon Romainville, and on the Butte de Chaumolnt, hich the line of the Marne, to oppose any attempt which composed the right wing. Their centre occupied might be made for annoying the rear of the army, the line formed by the half-finished Canal de I'Ourcq, and thus relieving the metropolis. was defended by the village of La Villette, and a Deducing this covering army, the rest of the al- strong redoubt on the farmi of Roavroi, mounted lied forces moved in columns along the three grand with eighteen heavy guns, and by the elbalnkinents routes of Meaux, Lagny, and Soissons, thus threat- of the canal, and still farther protected by a power ening Paris along all its north-eastern quarter. The ful artillery planted in the rear, on the heights of military sovereigns and their victorious armies were Montmartre. The left wing was thrown back front now in sight of that metropolis, whose ruler and the village called Mouceaux, near the north-western his soldiers had so often and so long lorded it in theirs; extremity of the heights, and prolonged itself to that of that Paris, which, unsatisfied with her high rank of Neuilly, onl the Seine, which was strongly ocamong the cities of Europe, had fomented constant cupied by the extreme left of their army. Thus, war until all should be subjugated to her empire; with the right extremity of the army resting upon of that proud city, who boasted herself the first in the river Marne, and the left upon the Seine, the arms and in science, the mistress and example of French occupied a defensive semicircular line, the civilized world, the depositary of all' that is which could not beturned, the greater partof which wonderful in the fine arts, and the dictatress as well was posted on heights of uncoiimmon steepness, and of taste as of law to continental Europe. the whole defended by cannon, placed with the utThe position of Paris, on the north-eastern fron- most science and judgment, but very deficient inll tier, which was thus approached, is as strongly point of numbers. defensible, perhaps, as can be said of any mlnfor- The other side of Paris is almost defenceless; btit, tified town in the world. Art, however, had added in order to have attacked onl that side, the allies little to the defence of the city itself, except a few must have previously crossed the Seine; an operawretched redoubts (called by tihe French tainthours), tion successfully practised in the following year, erected for protection of the. barriers. But the ex- but which at that period, when their work, to be ternal line was very strong, as will appear from the executed at all, must be done suddenly, they had following sketch. The heights which environ the no leisure to attempt, considering the great prolacity on the eastern side, rise abruptly from an ex- bility of Napoleon's coming up in their rear, recalled tensive plain, and obrm a steep and narrow ridge, by the danger of the capital. They were, therefore, which sinks again as suddenly upon the eastern compelled to prefer a sudden andt desperate attack quarter of the town, which it seems to screen as with upon the strongest side of the city, to the slower, a natural bulwark. Tle line of'defence which they though more secure measure, of turning the forafford is extremely strong. The southern extremity midable line of defence which we have endeavoured of the ridge, which rests upon the wood of Vin- to describe. cennes, extending southsvaid to the banks of the Three times, since the allies crossed the Rhine, river Miarne. is called the heights of Belleville and the capital of France had been menaced by the apRomainville, taking, its name from two delightful proach of troops within twenty miles of the city, blt villages which occupy it, Belleville being nearest, it had uniformly been delivered by the active and. and Rtomainville most distant from Paris. The rapid movenments of Napoleon. Encouraged by this heights are covered with romantic groves, and de- recollection, the citizens, without muich alarm, hea d:orlated by many pleasant villas, with gardens; for the fourth time that the Cossacks had been seen orchards, vineyards, and plantations. These, which at Meaux. Stifled rumours, however, began to cirin eateftil timues are a favourite resort of the gay culate, that the divisions of Marlmont and Mor tier Parisians, on their parties of pleasure, were now to had sustained severe loss, and were in full retreat LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 649 on the capital; a fact speedily confirmed by the long time, after destroying the private records of the train of wounded who entered the barriers of the high police, and carrying with them the crown jewcity, with looks of consternation and words of dis- els, and much of the public treasure. Joseph Bocouragement. Then came crowds of peasants, naparte remained, detaining with him, somewhat, it flying they knew not whither, before an enemy is said, against his inclination, Camnbac&rls, the whose barbarous rapacity had been so long the chancellor of the emperor, whom, though somewhat theme of every tongue, bringing with them their half- too unwieldy for the character, Napoleon had, in naked and half-starved famlilies, their teams, their one of his latest councils, threatened with the carts, and such of their herds and household goods honours and dangers of the colonelcy of a battalion. as they could remove in haste. These unfortunate Joseph himself had the talents of an accomplished fugitives crowded the Boulevards of Paris, the man, and an amiable member of society, but they usual resort of the gay world, adding, by exaggerated do not seem to have been of a military description. and contradictory reports, to the dreadful ideas He saw his sister-in-law depart, at'tended by a rewhich the Parisians already conceived of the ap- giment of 700 men, who some writers have alleged proaching storm. had been better employed in defence of the city; The government, chiefly directed by Joseph Bona- forgetting of what importance it was to Napoleon that parte, in the name of his sister-in-law Maria Louisa, the person of the empress should be protected alike did all they could to encourage the people, by ex- against a roving band of Hulans or Cossacks, or the aggerating their means of defence, and maintaining chance of some civic mutiny. These arrangements with efflontery, that the troops which approached being made, Joseph published, on the morning of the the capital composed but some isolated column 29th, a proclamation, assuring the citizens of Paris which by accident straggled towards Paris, while that " he would remain with them;" he described the emperor was breaking, dividing, and slaughter- the enemy as a single straggling colunln which had ing, the gross of the confederated army.'The light approached from Meaux, and required themn by a could not be totally shut out, but such rays as were brief and valorous resistance to sustain the honour admitted were highly coloured with hope, having of the French name, until the arrival of the emperor, been made to pass through the medium of the police who, he assured the Parisians, -was in full march to and public papers. A grand review of the troops, their succour. destined for the defence of the capital, was held Between three and four o'clock on the next eventupon the Sunday preceding the assault. Eight fill morning the drums beat to arms, and the National thousand troops of the line, being the garrison of Guard assembled in force. But of the thousands Paris, under General Girard, and 30,000 National which obeyed the call, a great part -were, fiom age, Guards, commanded by Hulin, governor of the city, habits, and want of inclination, unfit for the service passed in order through the stately court of the demanded from them. We have also already alTuileries, followed by their trains of artillery, their luded to the scarcity of arms, and certainly there corps of pioneers, and their carriages for baggage were very many of those citizen-soldiers, whom, and ammunition. This was. an imposing and en- had weapons been more plenty, the government of courlaging spectacle, until it was remembered that Bonaparte would not have intrusted with them. these forces were not designed to move out to dis- Most of the National Guard, who were suitably taut conquest, the destination of many hundreds of armed, were kept within the barrier until about thousands which in other days had been paraded eleven o'clock, and then, as their presence became before that palace; but that they were the last hope necessary, were marched to the scene of action, and of Paris, who must defend all that she contained by arrayed in a second line behind the regular troops, a battle tnder her walls. The remnants of Mar- so as rather to impose upon the enemy, by an appearmont and Mortier's corps d'armne made no part of ance of numbers, than to take a very active share this parade. Their diminished battalions, and dis- in the contest. The most serviceable were, however, ordered state of equipment, were ill calculated to draughted to act as sharp-shooters, and several batillspire courage into the public mind. They were talions were stationed to strengthen particular points concentrated and stationed on the line of defence of the line. The whole of the troops, including mally already described, beyond the barriers of the city. volunteers, who actively engaged in the defence of But the marshals themselves entered Paris, and the city, might be between 10,000 and 20,000. gave their assistance to the military councils of The proposed assault of the allies was to be geJoseph Bonaparte. neral and simultaneous, along the whole line of Preparations were made by the government to defence. Tile Prince Royal of' Virtemberg was to remove beyond the Loire, or at least in that direc- attack the extreme right of the French, in the wood tion. Maria Louisa had none of the spirit of anAma- of Vincennes, drive them from the banks of the zon, though graced with all the domestic virtues. Marne and the village of Charenton, and thils trinn She was also placed painfully in the course of a war the heights of Belleville on the light. The Russian betwixt her husband and father. Besides, she general, Raefskoi, making a flank movement from obeyed, and probably with no lack of will, Napo- the public road to Meaiix, was to direct three strong leon's injunctions to leave the capital, if danger columns, with their artillery and powerful reserves, slrould approach. She left Paris, therefore, with in order to attack in front the important heights of her son, who is said to have shown an unwillingness Belleville and Romainville, and the villages which to depart, which, in a child, seemed to have some- give name to them. The Russian and Prussian thiing-.niinouus in it. Almost all the civil authorities body-guards had charge to attack the centre of the of Blilap;lrte's government left the city at the same enemy, posted upon the Canal de l'Ourcq, the reV(i,. Vi. 82.....,,. - 650 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.' serves of which- occupied the eminence called that upon the left. About eleven o'clock, having Montmartre. The army of Silesia was to assail the contented itnself witl observing and lblockading a left of the French line, so as to turn and carry tlse body of French troops. who occupied tile village of heights of iMoutrnartre from the north-east. The St-Delsis, lie directed the columnls of General Lal-s third division of the allied army, andl a strong body geron against the village ol'Aubervilliers, and,having of cavalry, were kept in rese ve. Bebfore the attack surimounted the obstinate opposition which was there commenced, two successive flags of truce were dis- made, moved themi by the road of Clichy, right patched to summllon the city to capitulate. Both against the extremity of the heights of Montmartre, were refised admittance, so that the intention of whilst the division of Kleist anrd d'Yorck marched the defenders of Paris appeared fixed to hazard anl to attack in flunk the villages of La Villette and engagement. Pantin, and thus sustain the attack oni the centre and It was about eight o'clock, when the Parisians, right of' the Frencll. The deftnders, strongly enwho had assembled in anxious crowds at the barriers trenched arnd protected by powerful batteries, op~ofiSt-Denis and of Vincennes, the outlets from Paris, posed thle most formidable resistance, and, as the corresponding with the two extremities of the line, ground was broken and impracticable for cavalry, becamne sensible, fiom the dropping succession of manly of the attacking colu-mns suffered severely. nusket-shots, which sounded like the detached pat- When tile divisions of the Silesian army, commanded tering of large drops of rain before a thunder-storm, by Prince William of Prussia, first came to the asthat the work of destruction was already commenced. sistance of the original assailants upon the centre, Presently platoons of musketry, with a close and the French concentrated themselves on the strong heavy fire of cannon, fiom the direction of Belleville, post of La Villette, and the farm of Rouvroi, and announced that the engagement had become general continued to offer the most desperate resistance in on that part of the line. defence of these points. Upon the allied left wing General Raefskoi had begun the attack by push- the Prussian Guards, and those of Baden, threw ing forward a columin, with the purpose of turning.themselves with rival impetuosity into the village of the heights of' Romainville onl the right; but its pro- Pantin, and carried it at the point of the bayonet. gress having been arrested by a heavy fire of artil- During these advantages, the Prince Royal of Wirlery, the French suddenly became the assailants, temnberg, on the extreme left of the allies, had forced and, under the command of Marmont, rushed for- his way to Vincennes, and threatened the right of ward and possessed themselves of the village of the French battalions posted at Belleville, as had Pantin, in advance of their line; an important post, been projected in the plan of the attack. General which they had abandoned on the preceding evening, Raefskoi renewed the suspended assault upon these at the approach of the allied army. It was instantly heights in front, when he learned that they were recovered by the Russian grenadiers, at the point thus in some measure turned in flank, and succeeded of thie bayonet; and the French, although they se- in carrying those of Romainville, with the village. veral tinmles attempted to resume the offensive, were Marmont and Oudinot in vain attempted a charge driven back by the Russians on the villages of Belle- upon the allied troops, who had thus established ville and Me nilmlontant, while the alliance pushed themselves on the French line of defence. They J forward througlh the wood of Romainville, under the were repulsed and pursued by the victors, who, fol- acclivity of the heights. The most determined and lowing up their advantage, possessed themselves sustained fire wvas directed upon them fiorn the successively of the villages of Belleville and Md- French batteries along the whole line. Several of nilmontant, the Butte de Chaumont, and the fine these were served by the youths of the Polytechnic artillery which defended this line. School, boys fronm twelve to sixteen years of age, About the same'timne the village of Charonle, on who showed the greatest activity and the most the right extremity of the heights, was also carried, devoted courage. The French infantry rushed and tile whole line of defence occupied by the right repeatedly in columns from the heights, where op- wing of the French fell illto possession of the allies. portunities occurred, to check the progress of the Their light horse began to penetrate from Vincennes allies. They were as often repulsed by the Russians, as far as the barriers of Paris, and their guns and each new attempt giving rise to fiesh conflicts and mortars upon the heighits were turned upon the city. more general slaughter, while a contilnued and dis- The centre of the French army, stationed upon the persed combat of sharp-shooters took place among Canal de l'Ourcq, had hitherto stood fir m, protected the groves, vineyards, and gardens of the villas, by the redoubt at Rouvroi, with eighteea heasy with which the heights are covered. At length, by pieces of cannotn, and by the village of La /illette, order of General Barclay de Tolly, the Russian which formed tile key of the position. PAt the riglht commander-in-chief, tile front attack on the heights flank of their line being turned by those 1roops who was suspended until the operations of the allies on had become possessed of Romainville, tile allies the other points should permit it to be resumed at a overwhelmed this part of the line also, and carrying cheaper risk of loss. The Russian regiments which by assault the farm of Rouvroi, with its strong rehad been dispersed as sharp-shooters, were with- doubt, and the village of La Villette, drove the drawn and again formed ill rank, and it would seem centre of the French back uaoln the city. A body that the FIrencrh seized this opportunity to repossess of French cavalry attempted to check the advance thermselves of the village of Pantin, and to assume a of the allied colunins, but were repulsed al(nd demomentary superiority in the contest. stroyed by a brilliant charge of the black hussars of Bluchler had received his orders late in the mnorn- Brandehbulg. Meanwhile the right wing of' tileing, and could not commence the attack so early as Slitsiar. army aptroachesd close to the foot of Mont LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 65t martre, and Count Langeron's corps was preparing difficulty repulsed fionm the Faubourg St-Antoine, to storm this last remaining defensible post, when a on which they made a hLourra. - The city of Paris is flag of truce appeared, to demand a cessation of i merely surrounded by an ordinary wall, to prevent hostilies. smuggling. The barriers are not much stronger It appears that, in the morning, Joseph Bonaparte than any ordinary turnpike-gate, and the stockade had shown himselfto the defenders riding along the with which they had been barricaded could have lines, accompanied by his staff, and had repeated, to been cleared away by a few blows of the pioneers' all the corps engaged, the assurance that he would axes. Add to this, that the heights comImanding live and die with them. There is reason to think, the city, Montmartre excepted, were in complete that, if he did not quite credit that such extensive possession of the enemy; that a bomb or two, preparations for assault were made by a single divi- thrown probably to intimidate the citizens, had alsion of the allies, yet he believed he had to do with ready fallen in the Faubourg Montmartre and the only one of their two armies, and not with their Chauss6e d'Antin; and that it was evident that any united force. He was undeceived by a person attempt to protract the defence of Paris lmust be named Peyre, called, by some, an engineer officer attended with utter ruin to the town and its inhabiattached to the staff of the governor of Paris, and, tants. Marshal lMarmont, influenced by these conby others, a superintendant belonging to the corps siderations, dispatched a flag of truce to General of fire-nlen in that city. Peyre, it seems, had fallen Barclay de Tolly, reqauw sting a suspension of hostiinto the hands of a party of Cossacks the night lities, to arrange the terms on which Paris was to before, and was carried in the morning to the pre- be surrendered. The armistice was granted, on sence of the Emperor Alexander, at Bondy. In his condition that Montmartre, the only defensible part route he had an opportunity of calculating the inl- of the line which the French still continued to mense force of the armies now under the walls of occupy, should be delivered up to the allies. DeParis. Through the medium of this officer, the Em- puties were appointed on both sides, to adjust the peror Alexander explained the intentions of the terms of surrender. These were speedily settled. allied sovereigns, to allow fair terms to the city of The French regular troops were permitted to retire Paris, provided it was proposed to capitulate ere the from Paris unmolested, and the metropolis was next barriers were forced; with the corresponding inti- day to be delivered up to the allied sovereigns, to mation, that if the defence were prolonged beyond whose- generosity it was recommended. that period, it would not be in the power either of Thus ended the assault of Paris, alter a bloody the emperor, the King of Prussia, or the allied action, in which the defenders lost ulFwardsof'4000 generals, to prevent the total destruction of the town. in killed and woundled, and the allies, who had to M. Peyre, thus erected into a commissioner and storm well-defended batteries, redoubts, and enenvoy of crowned heads, was set at liberty, and trenchments, perhaps about twice the nunmber. with danger and difficulty found his way into the They remained masters of the line at all points, and French lines, through the fire which was maintained took nearly one hundred pieces of cannon. TWhen in every direction. He was introduced to Joseph, night fell, the multiplied and crowded watch-fires, to whom he delivered his message, and showed that occupied the whole chain of heights on which proclamations to the city of Paris, with which the the victors now bivouacked, indicated to the astoEmperor Alexander had intrusted him. Joseph nished inhabitants of the French mnetropolis, how hesitated, at first inclining to capitulate, then pulling numerous and how powerful were the armies into up resolution, and determining to abide the chance whose hands the fate of war had surrendered them. of arms. He continued irresolute, blood flowing fast around him, until about noon, when the enemy's CHAPTER XCV. columns threatening an attack on Montmartre, and the shells and bullets from the artillery, which was State of parties in Paris.-Royalists -Revolbtiowistsin position to cover the attempt, flying fast over Boopnap artists. —Talleyranzd-his plans and vie ms.. —Chsthe heads of himself and his staff, he sent Peyre to teautbriasnd-iufluence of his eloquence insfstortre Qf the General Marmont, who acted as commander-in- royalists. -llission to the allied soverei/rns from, tile chief, with permission to the marshal to demand a royalists.-Their asuwer.-Jlfrts of the Bocaparlists. cessation of arms.; At the same time Joseph him- -Feelings of the lowest classes in Paris-of the midself fled with his whole attendants; thus abandoning dig ranks.-Neutrality of the Natiinal Gseard.-Gross-. ing strength and cofidenlce of' the roya/ists. —They issue thme troops, whom his exhortations had engaged in roclagsCions acnd ohite cockades.-Crotws asseh b le thle bl'oody and hopeless resistance, of which he at the Boutlevards to witness the entrance oflthe allies. had solemnly promised to partake the dangers. — Mutability of the Frensch character. —The allies are Marmont, with Moncey, and the other generals received with shouts of'vwelcome.-Thteir armry retiresto who conducted the defence, now saw all hopes of quarters, asnd the Cossacks bivouac in the CHaamps making it good at an end. The whole line was Elysies. carried, excepting the single post of Montmartre, which was turned, and on the point of being storm- THr battle was fought and won; but it remained ed on both flanks, as well as in filont; the Prince a high and doubtful question in what way the vicRoyal of Wirtemberg had occupied Charenton, tory was to be improved, so as to produce results with its bridge over the Marne, and pushing forward of far greater consequence than usually follow from on the high-road fi-om thence to Paris, his advanced the mere military occupation of an enemy's capital. posts were already skirmishing at the barrier; called While the mass of the inhabitants were at rest, the T6dane; and a party of Cossacks had been with exhausted by the fatigues and anxieties of the day, 652 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. many secret conclaves, on different principles, were lost. Talleyrand was acceptable to them, as himnheld in the city of Paris upon the night after the self noble by birth, and he knew better than any assault. Some of these even yet endeavoured to one how to apply the lever to unfasten tie deep reorganize the means of resistance, and some to foundations of Napoleon's power. Of his aodress, find out what modern policy has called a mezzo- though not successful in the particular instance, Las Mermninze, some third expedient, between the risk Cases gives us a curious specimen. TalleVyradi of standing by Napoleon and that of recalling the desired to sound the opinion of D rers, about thle banished family. time of the crisis of which we are treating'. lie The only middle mode which could have suc- drew that minister towards the chimney, and opelnceeded would have been a regency under the em- ing a volume of Montesquieu, said, as if in the tone press; and Fouchd's TMemoirs state, that if he had of an ordinary conversation, "I iound a passage been in Paris at the time, he might have succeeded here this mnorningu, which striick tme in an extraorin establishling a new order of things upon such a dinary manner: here it is, in such a book and ciiapbasis. T're assertion may be safely disputed. To ter, page so and so. Wlen a, p rince has rtised Austria, suchl a plan might have had some recom- himself above all laes,s ws/en, is tyranny becosZes mendatiols; but to the sovereigns and statesmen insupportable, there remains noithinC to th/e oof the other allied nations, the proposal would only pressed subject except —-" have appeared a device to obtain immediate peace, " It is quite enoughi," said Decreis, placilg lis and keep the throne, as it were, in commission, that hand upon Talleyrand's mouth, " I will ihear no Bonaparte might ascend it at his pleasure.* more. Shut your book." And Talleyrand closed We have the greatest doubts whlether,' among the the book, as if nothing remarlkable had happened..ancient chiefs of the Revolution, most of whom had, An agent of such extitaordinary tact was not freas hackneyed tools, lost credit in the public eye, quently baffled, in a city, and at a tisie, when so both by loss of principle and political inconsistency, masny were, from hope, fear, love, lhated, and all there remained any who could have maintained a the other strongest passions, desirous, according to popular interest in opposition to that of the royalists the Rmrn.an phrase, of ta new state of things. lie had on the one hand, and the Bonapartists on the other. been unceasingly active, and eminently successfil, The fev who remained steady to their demiocratic in convincing the royalists, that the king mist purprinciples, Napoleon had discredited and thrown chase the recovery of' his authority by conseinting into the shade; and lhe had rendered many of the to place the monarchy on a constitutional footing; others still more inefficient, by showing that they and in persuading another class, that the restoration were accessible to bribery and to ambition, and that of the Bourbons was the most favourable chlannn for ancient demagogues could, without much trouble, the settlemenlt of a fr;ee system of governmenlt. Nor be transmuted into supple and obsequious courtiers. didl this accomplished politician limlit his tefforts to Their day of power and interest was past, and the those who had loyalty to be awakened, and a love of exaggerated vehemence of their democratic opinions liberty to be rekindled, but extended themi thlionggh haid no longer any effect on the lower classes, who a thousand ramifications, through every class of'perwere in a great proportion attached to the empire. sons. To the bold he offered an enterprise requiring The royalists, on the other hand, had been long courage; to the timid (a numerous class at tile combining and extending their efforts and opinions, time), lie showed the road of safety; to the allrliwhich gained, chiefly among the higher orders, a tious, the prospect of gaining power; to the gtuiltv, sort of fiashion which those of the democrats had the assurance of indemnity and safety. He hlad inspired resolution even into the councils of tile allies. * The passage is curious, whether we regard it as really A note fiom him to the Einperor Alexander, il the emanating from FouchM, or placed in the mouth of that following words, is said to have deteisaiined thiat.active reuvolutionist by some one who well understood tile prince to persevere ir tise march lupon Pa is. " Yon genius of the party. "Had I been at Paris at that time (tie venture notning," said this laconic billet len period of the siege, namnely), the weight of my influence,e evert n once douabtless, and my perfect acquaintance with she secrets of more."1 every party, would have enabled me to give these extra- more. ordinary events a very different direction. IMy preponder- It is not to be supposed that Talleyrani wrought ance, and the promptness of my decision, would have pre- iln this deep intrigue without active coadj utors. The doaniniated over the more slow ands mysterious influence cf Abb6 de Pradt, whose lively works have so often Talleyrand. That elevated personage could not have made given some interest to our pages, was deeply inhis way unless Nwe had been harnessed to the same car. I volved in the transactions of that busy period, and would have revealed to himn the ramifications of my poli- advocated the cause of the Bourbons against that of. dical plans, and iii spite of tile odious poiicy ot Sve ary, the his former master. Beurnomaville and other senators ridiculous governncent of Camba't res, the lieutenancy of were engaged in tie samne cabals. tihe puppet Joseph, and the base spirit of thie Senate, we The royalists, on their own palt, vere in the Iighwould have breathed new life into the carcase of the Revo- e, and prepared lution, and these degraded patricians would not have est state of activity, and prepared to lse teir tthought of acting exclusively for their own interests. By mostexertionsto obtain themasteryof tie public our united impulse, we would have pronounced before spirit. At this most critical monuent all *vas dane the interference of any foreign influence, the dethrone- by Monsieur de Chllteaubriandll, which eloquence imeot of Napoleon, and proclaimed the regency, of whilch could effect, to appeal to thie affections, perhiaps 1t had already traced the basis. This conclusion was the even the prejudices of the people, in Ilis celebrated only one which could have preserved the Revolution and pamphlet, entitled, Donat arte and the Bourbons. its principles' Mfmoires de Foucmt, vol. II, pp. 282-3. This vigorous and affecting comparison between the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 653 days when Francie was in peace and honour under land. Paris, like every great metropolis, has hen her own monarchs, contrasted with those in which share, and more than her share, of this unwholeEurope appeared in arms under her walls, had been some population. It was the frantic convocations written above a month, and the manuscript was con- of this class which had at once instigated and carcealed by Madame de Ch&teatbriand in her bosom. ried into effect the principal horrors of the RevoIt was now privately printed. So was a proclama- lution, and they seemed now resolved to signalize tion by Monsieur, made in the name of his brother, its conclusion by the destruction of' the capital. the late King of France. Finally, in a private as- Most of these banditti were under the influence of sembly of the principal royalists, amongst whom Bonaparte's police, and were stimulated by the were the illustrious names of Rohan, Rochefoucault, various arts which his emissaries employed. At one Monttorency, and Noailles, it was resolved to send time horsemen galloped through the crowd, exhorta deputation to the allied sovereigns, to learn, if pos- ing them to take arms, and assuring them that Bo. sible, their intention. Monsieur Douhet, the gentle- naparte had already attacked the rear of the allies. mah intrusted with this communication, executed Again they were told, that the King of Prussia his mission at the expense of considerable personal was made prisoner, with a column of 10,000 men. danger, and returned into Paris with the answer, At other times, similar emissaries, announcing that that the allies had determined to avoid all appear- the allies had entered the suburbs, and were sparance of dictating to France respecting any family or illg neither sex nor age, exhorted the citizens, by mode of government, and that although they would placards pasted on the walls, to shut their shops, most joyfully and willingly acknowledge the Bour- and prepare to defend their houses. bens, yet it could only be in consequence of a pub- This invitation to make the last earthly sacrifices lic declaration in their favour. At the same time, in behalf of a military despot, to which Zaragossa Monsieur Douhet was fillunished with a proclamla- had submitted in defence of her national indeplendtion of the allies, signed Schwartzenberg, which, ence, was ill received by the inhabitants. A free without mentioning tile Bourbons, was powerfully state has millions of necks, but a despotic governcalculated to serve their cause. It declared the iment is in the situation desired by the Imperial friendly intention of the allies towards France, and tyrant-it has but one. When it was obvious that represented the power of the government which now the Emperor Napoleon had lost his ascendancy, no oppressed them, as the only obstacle to instant shopkeeper in Paris was fool enough to risk in his peace. The allied sovereigns, it was stated, sought cause his shop, his family, and his life, or to coanbut to see a salutary government in France, who sent to measures for preserving the capital, which would cement the friendly union of all nations. It were to commence by abandoning to the allied belonged to the city of Paris to pronounce their opi- troops and the scum of their own population all th)at nion, and accelerate the peace of the world. was to him individually worth fighting for.. The Furnished with this important document, which placards we have mentioned were pulled down, plainly indicated the private wishes of the allies, therefore, as fast as they were pasted up; and there the royalists resolved to make an effort on the morn- was an evident disposition, on the part of the better ing ofMarch 31st. It was at first designed they should class of citizens and the National Guards, to disassemble five hundred gentlemen in arms; but this courage all counsels which tended to stimulate replan was prudently laid aside, and they determin- sistance to the desperate extremity therein recoimed to relinquish all appearance of force, and address mended. the citizens only by means of persuasion. Nevertheless, the state of the capital continued In the meantime, the friends of the Imperial go- very alarming, the lower classes exhibiting altervernment were not idle. The conduct of the lower nately the symptoms of panic terror, of fury, and of classes, during the battle on the heights, had as- despair. They demanded armas, of which a few sumed an alarming character. For a time they had were distributed to them; and there is no doubt, listened with a sort of stupified terror to the distant that had Napoleon arrived among them in the thunders of the fight, beheld the wounded and fu. struggle, there would have been a dreadful battle, gitives crowd in at the barriers, and gazed in useless in which Paris, in all probability, would have shared wonder on the hurried march of troops nioving the fate of Moscow. But wvhen the cannonade out in haste to reinforce the lines. At length the ceased, when the flight ofJoseph, and the capitulanumerous crowds which assembled in the Boeule- lation of the city became publicly known, this convards, and particularly in the streets near the Pa- flict of jarring passions died away into silence, anti lais Royal, assumed a more active.appearance. There the imperturbable and impassive composure of the began to emerge from the suburbs and lanes those National Guard maintained the absolute tranquillity degraded members of the community whose slavish of the metropolis. labour is only relieved by coarse debauchery, invi- On the morning of the 31st, the royalists were sible for the most part to the more decent classes seen in groups in the Place Louis Qluinze, the Garden of society, but whom periods of public calamity or of the Tuileries, the Boulevards, and other public agitation bring into view, to add to the general con- places. They distributed the proclamations of the fusion and terror. They gather in times of public allies, ani raised the long-forgotten cry of Vive le danger, as, birds of ill omen and noxious reptiles roi! At first, none save those engaged in the are said to do at the rising of a tropical hurricane, perilous experiment, diurst echo back a signal so and their fellow-citizens look with equal disgust and dangerous; but by degrees the crowds increased, dread upon faces and figures, as strange to them as the leaders got on horseback, and distributed white if they had issued from somle distant and savage cockades, lilies, and other emblems of loyalty, disI ;'54 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. playing banners at the same time, made out of plead that his submission flowed entirely fiom goodtheir own handkerchiefs. The ladies of their party will, and not from constraint. Many of those waho, came to their assistance. The Princess of Leon, on the preceding day, were forced to fly from the Viscountess of Chllteanbriand, Countess of Choi- heights which defend Paris, thought themselves at seuil, and other women of rank, joined the proces- liberty next morning to maintain, that the allies had sion, distributing on all hands the emblems of their entered the capital only by their consent and perparty, and tearing their dress to make white cock- mission, because they had joined in the plaudits ades, when the regular stock was exhausted. The which accompanied their arrival. To i indicate, better class of the bourgeois began to catch the therefore, their city from the disgrace of being enflame, and remembered their old royalist opinions, tered by force, as well as giving way to the real and by whom they were defeated on the celebrated enthlusiasm which was suddenly inspired by the exday of the Sections, when Bonaparte laid the foun- change of the worst evils which a conquered people dation of his fame, in the discomfiture of the Na- have to dread for the promised blessings of an hotional Guard. Whole picquets began to adopt the nourable peace and internal concord, the Parisians white, instead of the three-coloured cockade; yet received the Emperor Alexander and the King of the voices were far front unanimous, and on many Prussia with such general and unremitting plaudits, points parties of different principles met and skir- as might have accompanied their triumphal entrance mished together in the streets. But the tendency into their own capitals. Even at their first entrance to discord was diverted, and the attention of the within the barriers, wve learn from Sir Charles StewParisians of all classes and opinions, suddenly fixed art's official dispatch, the crowd was already so upon the imposing and terrible spectacle of the army enormous, as well as the acclamations so great, that of the allies, which now began to enter the city. it was difficult to move forward; but before the moThe sovereigns had previously received, at the, narchs had reached the Porte St-Martin to turn on village of Pantin, the magistrates of Paris, and the Boulevards, there was a moral impossibility of Alexander had expressed himself in language still proceeding; all Paris seemed to be assembled and more explicit than that of their proclamation. He concentrated in one spot-one spring evidently dimade war, he said, on Napoleon alone; one who had rected all their movements. They thronged around been his friend, but relinquished that character to the monarchs, with the most unanimous shouts of become his enemy, and inflict on his empire great Vive l'Empereur Alexandre!-Vive le Roi de evils. He was not however come to retaliate those Prusse! mingled with the loyal exclamations, Vive injuries, but to make a secure peace with any go- le roi!-Vive Louis XVIII!-Vivent les Bonrvernment which France might select for herself. bons! To such unexpected unanility might be "I am at peace," said the emperor, "with France, applied the words of Scripture, quoted by Clarendon and at war with Napoleon alone." on a similar occasion,-" God had prepared the These gracious expressions were received with people, for the thing was done suddenly." Tile the more gratitude by the citizens of Paris, that they procession lasted sever al hours, during which 50,000 had been taught to consider the Russian prince as chosen troops of the Silesian and grand army filed a barbarous and vindictive enemy. The measure of along the Boulevards in broad and deep columns, restoring the Bourbons seemed now to be regarded exhibiting a whole forest of bayonets, mingled with by almost every one, not particularly connected with long trains of artillery, and preceded by numerous the dynasty of Napoleon, like a haven on the lee- regiments of cai aIry of every description. Nothing ward, unexpectedly open to a tempest-tossed and surprised those who witnessed this magnificent endangered vessel. There was no loss of honour in spectacle, more than the high state of good order adopting it, since the French received back their and regular eqeipment in which the mnen and horses own royal family-there was no compulsion, since appeared. They seemed rather to resemble troops they received them upon their own free choice. drawn from peaceful quarters to some grand or soThey escaped from a great and imminent danger, as lemn festival, than regiments engaged during a long if it had been by a bridge of gold. winter campaign in constant marches and counterAn immense crowd filled the Boulevards (a large marches, as well as in a succession of the fiercest wide open promenade, which, under a variety of and most sanguinary conflicts, and who had fotbglit distinctive names, forms a circuit round the city), a general action but the day before. After making in order to witness the entrance of the allied sove- the circuit of half of Paris by thle interior Boulereigns and their army, whom, in the succession of yards, tile monarchs halted in the Champs Ely sees, four-and-twenty hours, this mutable people Nwere and the troops passed in review before thern as they disposed to regaard as friends rather thaln enemies,- were dismissed to'their quarters in the city. Tile a disposition which increased until it amounted to Cossacks of the guard established their bivomac enthusiasm for the persons of those princes, against in the Chtamps Elys6es thlemselves, which may be whom a bloody battle had been fought yesterday termed the Hyde Park of Paris, and which were under the walls of Paris, in evidence of which thus converted into a Scythian encampment. mortal strife, there still remained blackening in the sun the unburied thousands who had fallen on Loth sides. There was in this a trait of national cha- CHAPTER XCVI racter. A Frenchman submits with a good grace, Fears of the Parisians.-Proceediags of Napoleom-He is and apparent or real complaisance, to that which informed of the dissolution of the congress at Chtillon. he canlr.ot help; and it is not the least advantage of -Operations of the French cavalry ins rear of tIe a:his philosophy, that it entitles him afterwards to lies.-Capture of the Austrian baron Weissemberg. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTRE. 65 The Emperor Francis is nearly surprised.-Napoleon allies had attacked the rear of his army unider lIarhastens on to Paris, and reaches Troyes on the night of donald, near St-Dizier. He instantly hastened to the 29th March. —Opinion of Macdotald as to the pos- the support of the marshal, concluding that his own sibility of relieving Paris.-Napoleon leaves Troyes ot scheme had been sccessfl, al that Iis retreat to the 30th, and meets Belliard, a few miles from Paris, the eastward had drawn after him the grand army infull retreat.-Conversation betwixt them.-He deter-. e allies showe a great n of mies to.proeedto i at l h d - of the allies. The allies showed a great number of mizes to proceed to Paris, but is at lengyth dissuaded c. -- ancd dispatches Cautlaincourt to the metropolis, to re-cavalry with flying guns, but no iuftntty. Napoceive terms from the allied sovereigns. —He himself re- leon ordered an attack on them, in which the PFrench turns to Fontainebleau. were successfil, the allies falling back after slight opposition. He learned fromn the prisoners, that he WmEN the enthusiasm attending the entrance of had been engaged, not with Schwartzenberg, but the allies, which had converted a day of degradation with Blucher's troops. This was strange intelliinto one of joy anti festivity, began to subside, the pe- geuce. He had left Blucher threatening Meaux, and rilous question occurred to those who found themn- now he found his army on the verge of Lorraine. selves suddenly embarked in a new revolution, On the 27th, by pushing a reconnoitring party as Where were Napoleon and his army, and what far west as Vitry, Napoleon learned the real state means did his active and enterprising genius pos- of the case; that both the allied armies had marched sess of still re-establishing his affairs, and taking upon Paris; and that the cavalry fwith which he had vengeance on his revolted capital? That terrible skirmished were 10,000 men under Winzengerode, and evil spirit, who had so long haunted their very left behind by the allies as a curtain to screen their dreamns, and who had been well termed the Night- motions, and engage his attention. Every word in mare of Europe, was not yet conjured down, though this news had a sting in it. To hasten after the alfor the present he exercised his ministry elsewhere. lies, to surprise them, if possible, ere the cannon on All trembled for the consequence of his suddenly Montmartre were yet silenced, was the most urgent returning in full force, combined either with the thought that ever actuated the mind even of Napotroops of Augereau, or with the garrisons withdrawn leon, so accustomed to high and desperate risks, fiom the frontier fortresses. But their fears were But the direct route on Paris had been totally exwithout foundation; for though he was not personally hausted of provision, by the march and countermarch distant, his powers of inflicting vengeance were now of such large armies. It was necessary to go round limited. —Ve proceed to trace his progress after his by Troyes, and, for that purpose, to retrograde as movement eastward, from the neighbourhood of Vi- far as Douilevent. Here he received a small billet try to St-Dizier, which had permitted the union of in cipher, from the postmaster-general, Lavalette, the two allied artmies. the first official communication he had got from the Here he was joined by Caulaincourt, who had to capital during ten days. "The partisans of the infornm hin of the dissolution of the congress at stranger," these were the contents, "are making Cha'tillon, with the addition, that he had not received head, seconded by secret intrigues. The presence lhis instructions fi'om Rheims, until the diplomnatists of Napoleon is indispensable, if he desires to prevent had departed. Those subsequently dispatched by his capital from being delivered to the enemy. Count Frocilot lie had not received at all. There is not a moment to be lost.' The march was Meanwhile, Napoleon's cavalry commenced the precipitated accordingly. proposed operations in the rear of the allies, and At the bridge of Doulaincotlrt, on the banks of made prisoners some persons of consequence, who the Atibe, the emperor received dispatches, inforniwere traveling, as they slrpposed, in perfect secu- ing him that an assault on Paris was horly to be rity, between Troyes and Dijon. Among these was expected. Napoleon dismissed his aide-de-camp, Baron Weissemrberg, who had long been the Aus- Dejean, to ride post to Paris, and spread the news trian envoy at the court of London. The Emperor, of his speedy arrival. He gave him two bulletins, Francis was nearly surptised in person by the describing in extravagant colours a pretended vicFrench light troops. He was obliged to fly in a tory at Arcis, and the skirmnish at St-Dizier. lie drosky, a Russian carriage, attended only by two then advanced to Troyes, which he reached on that domestics, from Bar-sulrrAube to Chattillon, and same night (29th March), the Tnperial Gurard marchfrom thence he retreated to Dijon. Napoleon show- ing fifteen leagues in one day. Ott tile 30th, Marshal ed every civility to his prisoner, Weisseirberg, and Macdonald gave to Bertllier the following sound dispatched him to. the Emperor of Austria, to solicit and striking opinion:-" It is too late," he said, " to once more his favourable interference. The person relieve Paris; at least by the route we follow. The of the present KiEg of France (then Monsieur) distance is fifty leagues; to be accomplished by would have been a yet more important capture, but forced marches, it will require at least ftbr days; the-forays of the light cavalry did not penetrate so and then in what condition for combat is the army far as to endanger him. like to arrive, for there are no d6pots or magazines, On the 24th March, Napoleon halted at Doule- after leaving Bar-sur-Seine. The allies, being yesvent, to concentrate his forces, and gain intelligence. terday at Meaux, must have pushed their advanced He remained there also on the 25th, and employed his guards up to the barriers by this time. There is no time in consulting his maps, and in dictating new good reason to hope that the united corps of the instructions for Caulaincourt, by which he empower- Dukes of Treviso and Ragusa could check them long ed him to make every cession. But the hour of enough to allow us to come up. Besides, at olr safety was past. Upon the morning of the 26th, approach, the allies will not fail to defend the pusNapoleon was roused by-the intelligence, that the sage of the Marne. I an then of opinion, that if ~~~~- -- ---,,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ C56 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Paris fall untder the power of the enemy, the empe- to enter till seven o'clockin the molinlag, it is possible ror should direct his march on Sens, in order to they may have found their way to the outposts, and retreat upon Augerea.a, unite our forces with his, that your majesty may find Russian or Prussian and, after having reposed our troops, give the enemy palrties at the gates, or on the Boulevards." — " It is battle on a chosen field. If Providence has then all one-I am determined to go there —ly carriage! decreed our last hour, we will at least die with -Follow me with your cavalry."-" Bat, sire, your honour, instead of being dispersed, pillaged, taken, majesty will expose Paris to the risk of storm or and slaughtered, by Cossacks." Napoleon's an- pillage. More than 20,000 men are ill possession of xiety for the fate of his capital did not permit him the heights-for myself, I have left the city in conto hearken to this advice; though it seems the best sequence of a convention, and cannot therefore recalculated to have placed him in a condition, either turn."-" What is that convention? who has conto make a composition with the allies, or to carry on t eluded it?" —" I cannot tell, sire; I only know from a formidable war in their rear. the Duke of Treviso that such exists, and that I From Troyes, Napoleon dispatched to Paris an- must march to Fontainebleau."-" What is Joseph other aide-de-camp, General Girardin, who is said to about?-Where is the minister at war?" —" I do have carried orders for defending the city to the not know; we have received orders from neither of last, and at all risks,-an accusation, however, them during the whole day. Each marshal acted which, considering the mass of unimaginable mis- on his own responsibility. They have not been seen chief that such an order must have involved, is not to-day with the army-At least not with the Duke to be received without more proof than we have of Treviso's corps."-" Come, we must to Paris — been able to obtain. nothing goes right when I am absent-they do noOn the 30th1 March, Napoleon left Troyes, and, thing but make blunders." finding the road entirely unoccupied by the enemy, Berthier and Caulaincourt joined in trying to threw himself into a post-carriage, and traveled on divert the emperor fiom his purpose. He never at full speed before his army, with a very slight at- ceased demanding his carriage. Caulaincourt antendance. Having in this way reached Villeneuve nounced it, but it did not come up. Napoleon strode l'Archevequie, he rode to Fontainebleau on horse- on with hurried and unequal steps, asking repeated back, and, though it was then night, took a carriage questions concerning what had been already' exfor Paris, Berthier and Caulaincourt accompanying plained. "You should have held out longer," he him. On reaching an inn, called La Cour de France, said, "and tried to wait for the ar ival of the a-mly. at a fesw miles' distance from Paris, he at length met You should have raised Paris, which cannot surely ample proof of his nlisfortune in the person of Gene- like the entrance of the Russianls. You should have ral Belliard, with his cavalry. The fatal intelligence put in motion the National Guiard, whose disposition was communicated. is good, and intrnsted to them tlhe defence of the Leaping fromn his carriage, Napoleon turned back fortifications which the ministerl has caused to be with Belliard, exclaiming,-" What means this? erected, and which are well furnished with artillery. WVhy here with youlrcavalry, Belliard? And where Surely the citizens could have defended these, are the enemy?"'-" At thle gates of Paris."-" And whle tile troops of the line fought upon the heights the army?"-"It is following tne."-" Where are my and in the plain?"-" I repeat to you, sire, that it wife and sou?-where Marnlont?-where Moiltier I" was impossible. The army of 15,bOO or 18,000 men -" The empress set out tbr Ramlbonillet, and thence j has resisted one of 100,000 for four hours, expecting for Orleans. The marshals are busy coinpleting your arrival. There was a report of it in the city, their arrangements at Paris." He then gave all ar- which spread to the troops. They redablolled their count of the battle; and Napoleon instantly ordered exertions.'The National Guard has behaved exhis carriage for Paris. They had already pro- teiiely well, both as shiarp-shlooters and in defence ceeded a mile and a hafll on the road. The same of' tile wretched redoubts wvhicil protected the barconversation proceeded. and we give it as preserved, riers."-" It is astonishing. How mirany cavalry had because it marks the character of the principal per- you'?"-" Eighteen hundred horse, sire, including sonage, and the tone of his feelings, muach better the brigade of Darutencourt."- "Montmartre, well' than these can le collected froni his expressions fortified and definded by heavy cannon, should have upon mlore fo)rmal occasiolns, and when lie had in been impregnable."-". Lckily, sire, tile enemy view some particular purpose.' were of your opinion, and approached the heights General Belliard reminded him there were no with mulch caution. But there was no occasion, we longer any troops in Paris. "I't niatters not," said had not above seven six-pounders."-" What can Napoleon; "I will find tile National Guard there. they have made of' my artillery? I ought to have The armliy will join me to. morrow, or the day after, had more than two hundred gruns, alnd ammnunition and I will put tlings on a proper footing."-" Bat I to serve them for a month."-" The truth is, sire, must repeat to your majesty, you cannot go to Paris. that we had only field-artillery, and at two o'clock The National Guard, in virtue of the treaty, mount we were obliged to slacken our fire for want of amguard at the barriers, and though the allies are not munition."-" Go, go-I see every one has lost their senses. This comes of employing people who have ~ It is laken from a work which has remarkable traces neither common sense nor energy. Well! Joseph of authenticity, entitled Memoires, pour servir d l'Histoire imagines himself capable of conducting an army; de la Caropagne de 1814, par le G6n6ral Koch. See also, and Clarke, a mere piece of routine, gives himself Memoirs of the O)perations rof the Allied Armies, already the airs of a great minister; but the one is no better quoted. than a -, and the other a --—, or a traitor, LIFE OF NAPOLEON 2ONAPARTE. 657 for I begin to believe what Savary said of him."- lainc, art came to Paris oni the part of his master, T'he conversation going on in this manner, they had with power to subscribe to all and each of tho advanced a mile farther fiom the Cour de France, demands by the allies, he was not indeed explicitly when they met a body of infantry under General refused audience; but, before he was admitted to a Curial. Napoleon inquired after the Duke of Tl're- conference with the Emperor Alexander, to whom viso, to whose corps d'armie they belonged, and his mission was addressed, the sovereigns had come was informed li he was still at Paris. tinder engagements which precluded them altogeIt was then, that, on the pressing remonstrances ther from treating with Napoleon. of his officers, who saw that in going on to Paris he When the Emperor of Russia halted, after the was only rushing on death or captivity, Napoleon at progress of the allied sovereigns through lhe city, it length turned back; and having abandoned the was at the hotel of Talleyrand. He was scarcely strong inflexible impulse which would have carried arrived there ere the principal royalists, and those himn thither at all adventures, he seenls to have con- who had acted with them, waited on him to crave sidered his fate as decided, or at least to have an audience. Besides the Emperor Alexander, the relaxed considerably in the original vehemence King of Prussia, and Prince Schwartzenberg, were which he opposed to adversity. present General Pozzo di Borgo, Nesselrode, LichHe returned to the Cour de France, and gave tenstein, the Duke Dalberg, Baron Louis, the Abbe orders for diaiscsing the forces, as they should come de Pradt, and others. Three points were discussed. up, on the heights of Longjumeau, behind the little 1. The possibility of a peace with Napoleon, upon river of Essone. Desirous, at the same time, of sufficient guarantees. 2. The plan of a regency. renewing the negotiation for peace, which, on stIc- 3. The restoration of the Bourbons. cesses of an ephemeral description, he had broken The first proposition seemed inadmissible. The off at Chitillon, Napoleon dispatched Caulaincourt second was carefully considered. It was particuto Paris, no longer to negotiate, but to receive and larly urged that the French were indifferent to the submit to such ternms as the allied sovereigns might caulse of the Bourbons-that the allied monarchs be inclined to impose upon him. He returned to would observe no mark of recollection of them exFontainebleat the same night. He did not take hibited by the people of France-and that the army Fuossession of any of the roonms of state, but chose a seemed particularly averse to them.'Thell united private and more retired apartment. Among the testimony of the French gentlemen present was tnany strange transactions which had taken Iplace in offered to repel these doubts; and it was at length that venerable and ancient palace, its halls were agreed, that the third proposition,-the restoration now to witness one the most extraordinary. of the ancient family, and the ancient limits,-should he the terms adopted for the settlement of France. A proclamation was immediately dispersed, by CHAPTER XCVII. which the sovereigns made known their determination not to treat with Bonapalte or any of his family. The n~iedt so.uerigtust issue a prscanzatisas thIat they toti But more formal evidence, in the shape uf legal not treat uvith Bonaparte.-A Provisional Government procedure, was necessary to establish the desire of is 1'amecld by the Conservative Seznate, aho also decree thae Coonseerte of Napoleolih-Tais decree is sctioned the French people to coincide in the proposed change by declaration frost all the public bodies in Paris.- of government. The public assembly which ought The legality of these proceedings discussed.-Feelings naturally to have taken the lead in such an important toiwards Napoleon, of the lower classes, and of the ski- afftir, was the Legislative Body, in whom Napolitary. — On 4th April, Bolnaparte issues a docucment, leon's constitution vested sone ostensible right of abdicating the throne of' France. —His subsequent agi- interference when the state was in danger; but so tation, and srish to continue the war.-'The deed is far had the emperor been from recognizing such a finally dispatched. power in practice, that the instant when that assembly assumed the right of remonstrating Xwith him, WHILE Napoleon breathed nothing save the de- though in the most respectful terms, he suspended sire of recovering by war what war had taken fiomrn their functions, and spurned them from the footstool of hibl, or at least that of nmaking such a peace as his throne, informiing them, that not they, bit lie, was should leave hiun at the head of the French govern- the representative of the people, fiom bhom there nment, political events were taking place in Paris lay no appeal, and beside whom no body in the state vhicli pointed directly at the overthrow of his possessed power and efficacy. This legislative counpower. vil, therefore, being dispersed and prorogued, could His great military talents, together with his ex- not take the initiative upon the present occasion. treme inflexibility of temper, had firmly impressed The searching genius of Talleyrand sought an the allied monarchs with the belief, that no iasting organ of public opinion where few would have looked peace could be made ill Europe while lhe remained for it,-in the Conservative Senate, namely, whose at the head of the French nation. Every concession members had been so long the tools of Bonaparte's which he hlad seemed willing to make at different wildest projects, and the echoes of his most despotic times, had been wrtung from him by increasing diffi- decrees,-that very body, of which he himself said, culties, and was yielded with such extreme reltuc- with equal bitterness and truth, that they were more tance, as to infer the strongest suspicion that they eager to yield up national rights than he had been to would all he again resumed should the league of the demand the surrender, and that a sign from him had allies be dissolved, or their means of opposing his always been an order for the Senate, who hastened purposes become weaker. When, therefore, Cau- uniformly to anticipate and exceed his demands. VOl.. I. - 1- I — — ~~~~~~~ —-------- --- -T-~~~~~~~~~-aa..IN 658 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Yet when, on the summons of Talleyrand, who knew the above decree of forfeiture. The consequences well with whom he was dealing, this Senate was of these bold measures showed, either that Napoconvoked, in a meeting attended by sixty-six of leon had in reality never had more than a slight their number, forming a majority of the body, they hold on the affections of the people of France, or, at once, and without hesitation, named a Provision- that the interest they took in his fortunes had been al Government, consisting of Talleyrand, Beurnon- in a great degree destroyed by the fears and pasville, Jancourt, Dalberg, and the Abbe de Montes- sions excited by the immediate crisis. Even before quieu; men recommended by talents and moderation, the Senate could reduce its decree into form, the and wvhose names, known in the Revolution, might, council-general of the department of the Seibe had at the same time, be a guarantee to those who renounced Napoleon's authority, and imputed to dreaded a renovation of the old despotic govern- him alone the present disastrous state of thle country. ment with the restoration of the ancient race of kings. The decree of the Senate was followed by declaraOn the 2d and 3d of April, the axe was laid to the tions firom all the public bodies in and around Paris, roots. A decree of the Senate sent forth the fol- that they adhered to the Provisional Government, lowing statement:-1st, That Napoleon, after go- and acquiesced in the decree of forfeiture. Nu:verning for some time with prudence and wisdom, merous individuals, who had been favoured and had violated the constitution, by raising taxes in an enriched by Bonaparte, were among the first to join arbitrary and lawless manner, contrary to the tenor the tide when it set against him. But it had been of his oath. —2d, That he had adjourned without always his policy to acquire adherents, by addressnecessity the Legislative Body, and suppressed a ing himself rather to men's interests than to their report of that assembly, besides disowning its right principles; and many of his friends so gained, natuto represent the people.-3d, That he had published rally became examples of the politic observation, several unconstitutional decrees. particularly those " that i' a prince places men in wealthy circumof 5th March last, by which he endeavoured to stances, the first thing they think of, in danger, is render national a war, in which his own ambition how to preserve the advantages they have obtained, alone was interested.-4th, That he had violated the without regard to his fate to whom they owe themn." constitution by his decrees respecting state prisons. We do not believe that it occurred to any person — 5th, That he had abolished the responsibility of while these events were passing, to question either ministers, confounded together the different powers the formality or the justice of the doom of firfeiture of the state, and destroyed the independence of ju- against Napoleon; hbut time has called out nmany dicial authorities.-6th, That the libertyof the press, authors, who, gained by the brilliancy of Napoleon's constituting one of the rights of the nation, had been reputation, and some of them bound to him by ties nniformly subjected to the arbitrary censure of his of gratitude or friendship, have impugned, more or police; while, at the same time, he himself had less directly, the formality of the Senate's ptocemade use of the same engine to fill the public ear dure, as well as the justice of their sentence. We, with invented fictions, false maxims, doctrines fa- therefore, feel it our duty to bestow some considervourable to despotism, and insults upon foreign ations upon this remarkable event in both points of governments.-7th, That he had caused acts and vienw. reports, adopted by the Senate, to be altered by his The objection proposed against the legality c:f own authority, before publication. —Sth, That instead the Senate's acting as the organ of the people, in of reigning, according to his oath, for the honour, pronouncing the doom of forfeiture, rests upon the happiness, and glory of the French nation, he had idea, that the right of dethroning the sovelreign, put the finishing stroke to the distresses of the coun- wvho shall be guilty of oppression beyond endurance, try, by a refusal to treat on honourable conditions can only be exercised in a peculiar and fblr mal -by the abuse which he had made of the means nmanlier, or, as our law-phrase goes, " accordin to intrusted to him in men and money-by abandoning the statute made and provided in that case." This the wounded, without dressing or sustenance-and seems to take a narrow view of the subject. I'lie by pursuing measures, of which tihe consequences right of redressing themselves under such circumhave been tile ruin of towns, the depopulation of the stances does not belong to, and is not liritedl by, country, fluline and pestilence. Frotn all these in- any peculiar forms of ci*il government. It is a ritlit ductive causes, the Senate, considering that the which belongs to human nature under all systenis imperial government, established by the decree of whatsoever. It exists in every government unmler 28th Floreal, in the year XII, had ceased to exist, the sun, from that of the Dey of Algiels to the Iost and that the manifest desire of all Frenchmen was firee relublic that ever was constructed. There is, to obtain an order of things, of which the first result indeed, much greater latitude for the exercise of should be peace and concord amolig the great memrn- arbitrary authority, in some govelrnments than in bers of the European family: therefore, the Senate others. An Emperor of Morocco may, with itmptldeclared and decreed, 1st, That Napoleon Bona- nity, bathe his hands to the elbows in the blood of parte had forfeited the throne, and the right of in- his subjects, shed by hislown hand; but even in this heritance established in his family.-2d, That the the most absolute of despotisms, there are peculiar people and army of France were disengaged and limits which cannot be passed by the sovereign freed from the oath of fidelity, which they had taken without the exercise of the natural right of resistancle to Napoleon and his constitution. on the part of his subjects, although their system cf About eighty members of the Legislative Body, government be as arbitrary as words can declare it at the summons of the Provisional Government, as- to be, and the emperor is frequently dethroned anr minbled on the 3d April, and formally adhered to slain by his own guards. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 659 In limited governments, on the other hand, like looking black upon his cause. There could beno I that of Great Britain, the law imposes bounds, I argument between these men, save with their good beyond which the royal authority shall not pass; but swords in a fair field. it makes no provision for what shall take place, But sich decided sentiments were not entertained should a monarch, as in the case of James II., trans- upon the part of the great bulk of the French nation. gress the social compact. The constitution averts its A large number of the middle classes, in particular, eyes from contemplating such an event-indeed, it remembering the first terrors of the Revolution, had is pronounced impossible; and when the emergency showed their willingness to submit to the yoke which did arrive, and its extrication became a matter of gradually assumed a despotic character rather than, indispensable necessity, it was met and dealt with by a renewed struggle for their liberties, to run the as a concurrence of circumstances which had not risk of reviving the days of Terror and Proscription. happened before, and ougl-t never to be regarded It is in the person of such an individual, desirous of as being possible to occur again. The foreigner the honour and advantage of his country, and anxious, who peruses our constitution for the forms of pro- at the same time, for the protection of his own facedure competent in such an event as the Revolu- mily and property, that we now endeavour to contion, might as well look in a turnpike act for di- sider the question of Napoleon's forfeiture. rections how to proceed in a case resembling that The mind of such'a person would naturall.y revert of Phaeton. to the period, when Bonaparte, just returned from If the mode of shaking off an oppressive yoke, by Egypt, appeared on the stage like a deity descending declaring the monarchy abdicated or forfeited, be to unloose a perplexing knot, which no human in7l not a fixed form in a regular government, but left to genuity could extricate. Our citizen would probe provided for by a convention or otherwise, as a bably admit that Napoleon used the sword a little case so calamitous and so anomalous should de- too freely in severing the intricacies of the noose; meand, far less was it to be supposed that a consti- or, in plain words, that the cashiering the Council of tution like that of France, which Bonaparte had Five Hundred, at the head of his grenadiers, was an studiously deprived of every power and means of awkward inode of ascending to power in a country checking the executive; should contain a regular which still called itself free. This feeling,,, however, form of' process for declaring the crown forfeited. would be greatly overbalanced by recollecting the -le had been as careful as despot could, to leave no use which was nmade of the power thus acquired; bar in existence before which the public might the subjugation, to wit, of foreign enemies, the exarlaign him; but will it be contended, that the tinction of civil dissensions, the protection of propubhlic had therefore forfeited its natural right of perty, and, for a time, of personal liberty also. accurising and of obtaining redress? If he had ren- Napoleon's having elevated France fiom the conditlered the Senate the tame drudges which we have tion of a divided and depressed country, in the imdescribed; and prorogued the Legislative Body by mediate apprehension of invasion, into that of alln arbitrary coup d'6tat, was he therefore to escape arbitress of Europe, would at once justify comthe penalty of his misgovernment? On the contrary, mitting the chief authority to such able hands, and the nation of France, like Great Britain at the time excuse the means he had used for attaining it; of' the Revolution 1688, was to proceed as it best especially in times when the violent and successive co lld in taking care, Ne quid detrimenti respublica changes under which they had long suffered had Carfiat. The Senate was not, perhaps, the best made the nation insensible to irregularities like organ lbr expressing public opinion, but it was the those attached to the revolution of the 18th Bruotly- one Napoleon had left within reach, and there- maire. Neither would our citizen probably be much f)ore it was seized upon and made use of. That it shocked at Napoleon's assuming the crown. Mowas composed of men who had so long gone on with narchy was the ancient government of France, and Napoleon's interest, and now were able to keep up successive changes had served to show that they in course with him no longer, made his misrule even could not fix on any other form of constitution, yet more glaring, and the necessity of the case more labour how they would, which was endowed with evident. the same degree of permanence. The Bourbons It is of far more importance to be enabled to form had, indeed, the claim by birth to mount that throne, an accurate judgment respecting the justice of the were it to be again erected. But they were in exile, sentence of forfeiture pronounced against this emi, separated by civil war, party prejudices, the risk of nent man, than upon its mere formality. That we reaction, and a thousand other difficulties, which may examine this question with the impartiality it seemed at the time absolutely insurmountable. deserves, we must look upon it not only divested of Bonaparte weas standing under the canopy, lie our feelings as Britons, but as unconnected with the grasped the regal sceptre in his hand; his assuming partisans either of the Bourbons or of Bonaparte. the royal seat passed almost as a matter of course. With these last there could be no room either for Our supposed Parisian has next to review a inquiry or conviction. The royalist must have been course of years of such brilliancy as to baffle criticonvinced that Napoleon deserved, not deprivation cism, and charm reason to silence, till the underonly, but death also, for usurping the throne of his takings of the emperor seem to rise above each rightful sovereign; and the Bonapartist, on the other other in wonder, each being a step towards the hand, would hold it cowardly treason to desert the completion of that stupendous pyramid, of which valiant emperor, who had raised France to such a. the gradations were to be formed by conquered state of splendour by his victories, more especially provinces, until the refractory and contumnacious to forsake him in the instant when Fortune was isle of Britain should be added to complete the pile, 660 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. on the top of which was destined to stand the every prospect that a secure and lasting peace armed form, of Napoleon, trampling the world under would ensue; if refused, the inevitable consequence his foot. This is the noble work which France and would be a battle between two large armiies fought her monarch were in the act of achieving. It re- under the walls of Paris, which city wvas almost celiquires the sacrifice of children or relatives to fill tain to be burnt, whichever party got tile advantage. their ranks; they go where Honour calls and Vic- In consequence of this information, the citizen of' tory awaits them. These times, however, are over- Paris would probably be able to decide for himself. clouded; there come tidings that the stone heaved But if he inquired at ajurist, he would be informed by such portentous exertions so high up the hill, has that Napoleon held the crown not by right of blood, at length recoiled on him who laboured to give it a but by the choice, or rather permission of the peocourse contrary to nature. It is then that the real pie, as an administrator bound to manage bor their quality of the fetters, hitherto gilded over by suc- best advantage. cess, begins to be felt, and the iron enters into the Now every legal obligation may he unloosed in soul. The parent must not weep aloud for the the same way in which it is formed. If, therefore, child-the emperor required his service;-the pa- Napoleon's government was no longer for the adtriot must not speak a word on public affairs-the vantage of France, but, on the contrary, tended dungeon waits for him. plainly to her ruin, she had a right to rid herself' of While news of fresh disasters from Spain and him, as of a servant unfit for duty, or as if mariners Moscow were every day arriving, what comfort had taken aboard their vessel a conmrade intended could a citizen of France find in adverting to past to act as pilot, but wsho had proved a second Jonas, victories? These had brought on France the hatred whom it was necessary to sacrifice to appease a storm of Europe, the tears of families, the ruin of for- which had come upon them through his mlisconduct. tunes, general invasion, and well nigh national Upon such reasoning, certainly neither unwise nor bankruptcy. Every year had the children of France unpatriotic, the burghers of Paris, as well as all those undergone decimation-taxes, to the amount of who had anything to lose in the struggle, may be fifteen hundred millions of francs yearly, had suc- supposed to have acted. ceeded to the four hundred millions imposed under The lower, or rather the lowest class of inhabithe reign of the Bourbons-the few remaining ships tants, were not accessible to the same an-gurll-nents. of France rotted in her harbours-her bravest They had been bequeathed to Bonaparte as an heirchildren were slaughtered on their native soil-a loom of the Republic, of which lie has been trully civil war was on the point of breaking out-one half called the heir. His police had industrioulslyv maiiiof' France was overrun by the foreign enemy. WVas tained connexions amongst them, and retaimlcd in this most melancholy state of the country broughllt pay, and in dependence on the government, their about in defending strongly, but unfortunately, any principal leaders. Names had changed arounnd meni! of the rights of France? No-She might have en- of that ignorant condition, without their feeling their joyed her triumphs in the most profound peace. situation much altered. The Glory of Frlance wias Two wars with Spain and Russia, which gave fire to to them as inspiring a watch-word as the Righlts of this dreadful train of calamities, were waged for no Man had been; and their qtlantim of sons per (lav, national or reasonable object, but merely because when employed, as they frequently were, upon tile one half of Europe could not satisfy the ambition of' public works, was no bad exchange for Liberty and one man. Again, our citizein inquires, whether, Equality, after they had arrived at the discovery of having committed the dreadful error of commencing the poor cobbler, who exclaimed,-" Fine Liberty, these wars, the emperor has endeavoured to make indeed, that leaves me cobbling shoes as she lollund peace with the parties injured? He is answered, mre!" Bulletins and Moniteurs which trumlleted that repeated terms of peace have been offered to the victories of Napoleon, were as animating and enNapoleon, upon condition of ceding his conquest, tertaining to the inhabitants of the suburbs as the but that he had preferred hazarding the kingdom of speeches of' republican orators; for in such triumphs France, to yielding ulp that which he termed his of a nation, the poor have a share as ample as their glory, a term which he successively conferred on wealthier neighbours. The evils of the war were also whatever possession he was required to surrender; less felt by the poor. Their very poverty placed that even at Chatillon, many days passed when he them beneath taxation, and the children, of whom might have redeemed himself by consenting that they were bereaved by the conscription, they must France should be reduced within the limits which otherwise have parted with, in all probability, that she enjoyed under the Bourbons; but that the pro- they might seek subsistence elsewhere. In tile preposal, when half admitted, had been retracted by sent circumstances, the hatred to foreigners, proper him in consequence of some transient success; and to persons of their class, canle to aid their admirafinally, that in consequence of this intractability and tion of Bonaparte. In a battle, they had something obstinacy, the allied sovereigns had solemnly de- to gain and nothing to, lose, saving their lives, of clared they would not enter into treaty with him, which their national gallantry induced them to take or those who acted with him. Our citizen would small heed. Had Napoleon been in Paris, lie might naturally look about for some means of escaping the have made much use of this force. But in his abimpending danger, and would be informed that the sence, the weight of property, prudently directed, peace which the allied princes refused to Bona- naturally bore down the ebullitions of those who had parte, they held otlt with ready hand to the kingdom only brute strength to throw into the balance, and of Franlce under any other government. Hie would the overwhelming force of the allied army kept the learn that, if these terms were accepted, there was suburbs in subjection. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. GG6 I The disposition of the military was a question of tary point of view, they thought the attempt despedeep importance. Accustomed to follow Napoleon rate, considering the state of the army, and because, through every climate, and every description of in a political position, they regarded it as contrary danger, unquestionably their attachment to his per- to their duty as citizens. son was of the most devoted and enthusiastic kind. In the night betwixt the 2d and 3d of April, CanBut this can only be said in general of the regi- laincourt returned from his mission to Paris. Iie mental officers, and the soldiers. The marshals, reported, that the allies pIersisted in their determinaand many of the generals, were tired of this losing tion to entertain no treaty with Bonaparte; but lie war. These, with many also of the inferior officers, was of opinion, that the scheme of a regency by the arnd even of the soldiers, began to consider the in- empress, as the guardian of their son, might even yet terest of their general, and that of France, as having be granted. Austria, he stated, was favourable to become separated from each other. It was fiom such an arrangement, and Russsia seemed not irreParis that the changes had emanated by which the concilably averse to it. But the abdication of Boarmy was governed during every revolutionary naparte was a preliminary condition. As this news crisis; and they were now required to engage in an circulated among the marshals, it fixed them in undertaking which was likely to be fatal to that their resolutions not to march against Paris, as, in metropolis. To advance upon the allies, and fight their opinion, the war ought to be ended by this a battle under the capital, was to expose to destruc- personal sacrifice on the part of Napoleon. tion the city, whose name to every Frenchman has Bonaparte had not, probably, expected this sepaa sacred and inviolable sound. The marshals in ration between the duties of a soldier and of a citizen. particular, were disgusted with a contest, in which On the 4th April, he reviewed a part of his troops, each of them had been left successively without addressed them on the display of the white colours adequate means of resistance, to stem, or attempt to in France by some factious persons, reminded them stern, a superior force of the enemy; with the cer- that the three-coloured cockade was that of victory tainty, at the same time, to be held up to public and honour, and that he intended to nmarch on the censure in the next bulletin in case of failure, though capital, to punish the traitors by whom it had been placed in circumstances which rendered success vilified. He was answered by shouts of "Paris, impossible. These generals were more capable than Paris!" and had no reason to fear that the troops the arniy at large of comprehending the nature of would hesitate to follow him in his last effort. The the war in which they were likely to be engaged, orders iwere given to advance tile Imperial quarters and of appreciating the difficulties of a contest which from Fontainebleau to Essonne. was to be maintained in future without money, am- But after the review was over, Berthier, Ney, munition, or supplies, excepting such as should be Macdonald, Caulaincourt, Oudinot, Bertrand, and extorted fiom that part of the country over which other officers of the highest rank, followed the enithey held military possession; and this, not only peror into his apartment, and explained to him the against all the allies now in France, and the insurgent sentiments which they entertained on the subject of corps of royalists in the west, but also against a the proposed moverment, their opinion that lie ought second or reserved line of three or four hundred to negotiate on the principle of personal abdication, thousand Russians, Austrians, and other allied and the positive determination which most of them troops, which had not yet crossed the frontier. had formed, on no account to follow him in an attack Besides, the soldiers withl which ian attack upon upon Paris. the allied army must have been undertaken, were Tlere is no doubt that, by an appeal to officers of reduced to a disastrous condition, by their late forced an inferior rank and consideration, young Seids, who marches, and the want of succours and supplies of knew no other virtue than a determined attachment every description; the cavalry were in a great mea- to their chief, through good or evil, Napoleon might sure dismounted; the regiments not half' complete; have filled tip, in a military point of view, the vathe horses unshod; the physical condition of the cancy which the resignation of the marshals must army bad, and its moral feelings depressed, and have created in his list of generals. But those who unfit for enterprise. The period seemed to have urged to him this unpleasant proposal, were the faarrived, beyond which Napoleon could nlot maintain thers of the war, the well known brave and beloved his struggle, without destruction to himself;, to Paris, leaders of large armies. Their names mighft be inand to France. These sentiments were commonly dividually inferior to his own but with what feelentelrta:ned among tile French general officers. They ings would the public hear that he was deprived of felt their attachment to Napoleon placed in opposition those men, who had been so long the pride and to the ditty they owed their country by the late dread of war? and what were likely to he the sentidecree of the Senate, and they considered the cause mlents of the soldiery,,upon whom the names of Ney, of France as the most sacred. They had received Macdonald, Ouidinot, and others, operated like a intelligence fiom Beurnonville of what had passed war-trunmpet? at Paris, and considerinlg the large proportion of the With considerable reluctance, and after long dlecapital which had declared against Bonaparte, and bate, Napoleon assumed the pen, and, acquiescing that an assault on Paris must have occasioned much in the reasoning pressed upon him, wrote the foleffusion of French blood, and have become the lowing words, which we translate as literally as signal of civil wvar, tlme marshals and principal gene- possible, as showing Napoleon's power of dignity ral officers agreed they could not follow Napoleon of expression, when deep feeling predominated over in such an attack on the city, or against the allies' his affectation of antithesis and orientalism of cornline of defence around it, both because, in a mili- position: 662 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. "Tle allied powers having proclained that the Emperor Napoleon is the sole obstacle to the reestablishment of peace in Europe, the Emperor Na- CHAPTER XCVIII. poleon, faithfill to his oath, declares that he is ready to descend firom the throne, to quit France, and Victor, and others oft1ie French marshals, give in their even to relinquish life, for thie good of the country, adlesion to the Pr-ovisional Goverinment. -Aarmont which is inseparable from the rights of his soD, enters into a separate convention, but assists at the confrom those of the regency in the person of the e ferences held at Paris, leaving Souhasl secon1d in co0trioin those of the regency in the person of the emtsand of his army.-The comozalders have Oit interpress, and from tile maintenance of the laws of the ellipire. Doe at ourPalace of Fontainebleau, view with the Emperor Alexander.- Softhami eafers, elpire. Done at our Palace of Fontainebleau, with his army, into the lines of the allies; in cslse4th Aplril, 1814." quence, the allied sovereigns insist uzpon the s7scosnCaulaisncourt anld Ney were appointed to be bear- dittioal ssubmission of Napoleoz.- His behaviour on ers of this important document, and comulnissioners learnling this resilt —and reluctant acquiescence.-T- he to negotiate with the allies, concerning the ternms of ternzs granted to him-Cossiderations as to their po!icy. accommodation to which it might be supposed to Disapprobation of Lord Castlereagh.-Ge2eral deseslead. Caulaincourt was the personal representative tiot of Napoleon.-Tl e Empress Maria Louissa tetuss s of Napoleon; and Ney, who had all along been to her father's protection.-l)et of Josvhiue.-pSie - zealous for the abdication, was a plenipotentiary gselar staxtensesst made by Barons Fates Natpoleos proposed by the rest of the marshals. Napoleon, it secretary, of the emperor's attempt to conzmst swscirle — After this he becomes more resigned. —lis views reis said, wished to add Marmont; but he was absent -petihs he best policy of the resigned-, is vies reswith the troops quartered at Essonne, who,.aving spectiny the best policy of the Bourbonss as Uts secceswith the troops quartered at Essonne, who, having sors.-Leaves Fontainebleau, ont his jortsney to Eba, been withdrawn in consequence of the treaty of on 20th April. Paris, were disposed of in that position. Macdonald was suggested as the third plenipotentiary, as an THE plenipctentiaries of Napoleon had been diofficer whose high character best qualified him to rected to confer with Marmont at Essonne, in tlfeir represent the army. Napoleon hesitated; for though road to the capital. They did so, and obtaineel he had employed Macdonald's talents on the Inost information there which rendered their negotiation important occasions, he knew that the marshal more pressing. Several of the generals who had not disliked upon principle. the arbitrary character of his been at Fontainebleau, and had not had an op),orgovernment; and they had never stood to each other tunity of acting in conjunction with the military in any intimate or confidential relation. He con- council which assembled there, had viewed thle tlct stilted Isis minister, Maret. " Send the Duke of of the Senate, adhered to by the otler pIblic Tarentunm" replied the uminister. " He is too nmuch bodies, as decisively closing the reign of Bonalpalte, a mlan of honour not to discharge, with religious or as indicating tile commencement of a civil owart. fidelity, any trust which he undertakes." Marshal Most of them were of opinion, that thle interest of all Macdonald's name was added to the commission individual, whose talents had been as dansgerolls to accordingly. France as the virtues of Caesar had been to RomnIe, When the terms were in the act of being adjusted, ought not to be weighed against the welt:are of tlle the marshals desired to know upon what stipulations capital and the whole nation. Victor, Dttke of they were to insist on Napoleon's personal behalf. Ilelluno, had upon these principles grient in his "Upon nonle"- said Bonaparte. "Do what you personal adhlesion to the Provisional Govel-nnient, can to obtain the best terms for France; for myself, and his example was followed by many othets. I ask nothing." They were instructed particularly But the most important proselyte to the royal to obtain an armistice until the treaty should be cause was the Marshal Marmont, Duke of Ragtsa, adjusted. Through the whole scene Bonaparte con- who, lying at Essonne with ten or twelve tllousand ducted himself withl firmness; blithe gave way to a men, formed the adlvance of the French arlniy. Colnnatural emotion when he had finally signed the ab- ceiving himself to have the liberty of other Frenchdication. He threw himself on a sofa, hid his face menl, to attend at this crisis to the wreal of France, for a few minutes, and then looking up, with that rather than to the interest of Napoleon alone, and smile of persuasion wvhich hie had so often fosnd with the purpose of saving France froim the joint irresistible, he implored his brethren of the field to evils of a civil and domestic war, he rnade use ( f annul the resolultions they had adopted, to destroy the position in which he was placed, to give a the papers, and follow him yet again to the contest. weiglt to his opinion, which that of no other indivi" Let us nlarch," lie said; "let us take the field dual cotuld have possessed at the momeint. Marsl:. once more! We are sure to beat theln, and to have Marmtont, after negotiation with thie Provisionmal peace on our own terms." The moment would Government on tile one hand, and Prince Schwarlzhave beenl invalulable to a historical painter. The i enberg on the other, had entered into a convention marshals were deeply affected, bet could not give I on his own accountt, and that of his corps d'arslee, way. They renewed their argutments on the wretch- by which he agreed to nmarch the division which lie ed state of the army,-on the reluctance with which commanded within the lines of cantonment lleld by the soldiers would move against the Senate,-on the the allies, and thus renouneed all idea of flirthler certainty of a destructive civil war,-and on the prosecuiting the war. On the other hand, the narprobability that Paris would be destroyed. He shal stipulated for thle fieedom and honolurable usage aequiesced once nmore in their reasoning, and per- of Napoleon's person, shoultl he fall into the hands mitted them to depart on their embassy. of tile allies. He obtained also a guarantee, theat Ihis corps d'armee should be permitted to retreat LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 663 into Normandy. This convention was signed at retain the Imperial title over a small territory, with Chevilly upon 3d April. an ample revenue, guards, and other enmblems of *This step has been considered as a defection on dignity. " The place," continued the Emlperor of the part of Oeneral Marmont; but whly is the choice Russia, "' may be Elba, or some other islanl." With of a side, betwixt the Provisional Government and thlis annunciation the conmmissioners of Bonaparte the emperor, more a desertion in that general than were dismissed for the evening. in any other of the marshals or authorities who pre- Marshal Malrlaont had done all in his power to sently after took the very same step? And if the stop the military movement which he had un1dertaken Duke of Ragusa by that means put fairther bloodshed to exectte, thinking it better, doubtless, to move out of question, ought it not to be matter of rejoicing hand in hand with his brethren, than to act singly (to borrow an expression of Talleyrand's on a similar in a matter of such respolsib;ility; but accident occasion), that the marshal's watch wvent a few nli- precipitated what lie desired to delay. Napoleon nutes faster than those of his colleagues? had summoned to his presence Count Sonham, who When Macdonald and Ney communicated to commanded the division at Essonne in Marmont's Marmont that they were bearers of Napoleon's ab- absence. No reason was given for this command, dication, and that he was joined with them in corn- nor could anything be extracted friom the messenmission, that marshal asked why he had not been ger, which indicated the purpose of the order. summoned to attend with the others at Fontaine- Souhaim was therefore induced to suspect, that Nableatn, and mentioned the convention which he had poleon had gained intelligence of the Convenltion of entered into, as acting for himself. The Duke of Chevilly. Under this apprehension, lie called the Tarentunm expostulated with him on the disadvan- olher generals who were in the secret to a midnight tage which must arise fioni any disunion on the part counicil, in which it was determrined to execute the of the principal officers of the army. Respecting convention inistantly by passing over with the troops the council at Fontainebleau, he stated it had been within the lines of the allies, without awaiting any convened under circumstances of such sudden emer- farther orders ifrom Marshal Marmont. The divigency, that there was no timie to summon any other sion was put in movement uiponi the 5th of April, than those marshals who were ciose at hand, lest about five o'clock, and marched for some time withl Napoleon had in the meanwhile moved forward the much steadiness, the movement being, as they suparmy. The commissioners entreated Marmont to posed, designed for a flank attack on the position of suspend the execution of the separate convention, the allies; but when they perceived that their proand to come with them to assist at the conferences gress was watched, without being interrupted, by a to be held at Paris. He consented, and mounted column of Bavarian troops, they began to suspect into Marshal Ney's carriage, leaving General Sorl- the real purpose. When this became known, a ham, who, with all the other generals of his division, kind of mutiny took place, and somle Polish lancers two excepted, were privy to the convention, in com- broke off from the main body, and rode back to Fonmand of his corps d'ar6ee, which he gave orders tainebleau; but the instinct of discipline prevailed, should remain stationary. and the officers were able to bring the soldiery into.When the umarshals arrived in Paris, they found their new quarters at Versailles. They were not, the popular tide had set strongly in favour of the however, reconciled to the measure in which they Bo'rlbons; their emblelns were everywhere adopted; had been made partakers, and in a few days afterand the streets resounded with Vive le roi. The wards broke out into an actual mutiny, which was populace seemed as enthusiastic in their favour as not appeased without considerable difficulty. they had been indifferent a few days before. All. Meanwhile the commissioners of Bonaparte were boded an unfavourable termination for the.ir mission, admitted to a conference with the allied sovereigns so flr as respected the proposed regency. and mninisters in full council, but whJich, it may be The names and characters of the commissioners conjectured, was indulged to them molre as a form, instantly obtained their introduction to the Emlperor that the allies might treat with due respect the reAlexander, who received them with his natural presentatives of the French arnmy, than with any courtesy. " On the general subject of their mis- purpose on the part of the sovereigns of altering lhe sion," he said, " he could not treat but in concert plan to which they had pledged thenlselves by a wvith his allies." But he enlarged on the subject of proclamation, upon the faith of which thousands had Napoleon personally. "He was my friend," he already acted. However, the question whether to said; "I loved and honoured him. Hiis ambition adopt the projected regency, or the restoration of forced sue into a dreadful war, in which mry capital the Bourbons, as a basis of agreement, was anwas burnt, and the greatest evils inflicted on my nounced as a subject of consideration to the meetinsg. douminions. But he is unfortunate, and these wroigs I The marshals pleaded the cause of the regency. are forgotten. -lave you nothing to propose on his The Generals Beurnonville and Dessolles were heard personal account.? I will be his willing advocate." iii reply to the comlmissioners from Fontainebleau, The marshals replied, that Napoleon had made no when, ere the debate had terminated, news arrived conditions for himself whatever. The emperor would of the march of Marmont's division to Versailles. hardly believe this until they showed him their in- The colmissioners were astounded with tlis unexstructions, which eiitirely related to public afflirs. pected intelligence; and thle emperor took the opThe emlperor thenl asked if they would hear a pro- portunity to determine that the allies would not treat posal from him. They replied with suitable respect with Bonaparte save on the footing of lunconditional and gratitude. He then mentioned the plain, which abdication. With this answer, mitizated with the was afterwards adopted; that Bonaparte should offer of an independent principality for their an-, I 664 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. cient commander, the marshals returned to Fon- of the empire. The document was couched in these tai-nebleau, while the Senate busied themselves to words:-" The allied powers having proclaimed arrange the plan of a fiee constitution, undr which that the Emperor Napoleon is the sale obstacle to the Bourbons were to be called to the throne. the re-establishllment of peace in Europe, he declares Napoleon, in the retirement of Fontainebleau, that he renounces for himself and his heirs the mused on the future with little hope of advantage throne of France and Italy, because there is no perfrom the mission of the narshals. tle jiudged tlhat sonal sacrifice, not e en that oflife itself, which he the sovereigns, if they listened to the proposal of a is not ready to mlake for the interest of France." regency, would exact the most fornmidable guaran- Notwithstanding his haxin g adopted this course, tees against his own interferenie with the go ern- Napoleon., until the fitnal.:djustment of the treaty, ment; and that under his wife \aria Louisa, who continued to nourish thoughts of breaking it off: He had no talent for public business. France would folrmed pla is fot c.arlying on the war beyond the probably be managed by an Austrian commnittee. Loire-for mnarcling to join Augereau-for peneHe again tho:lglht of trying the chance of war, and trating into Italy, and Iluiting with Prince Eugene. might probably have settled on tile prnpose ntiost con- At one time lie w as very near again summoning his genial to his nature, had nit Colonel Goargand troops to arms, il consequence of a report too brought him the news that the division of' Marinont hastily transmnittred by a general much attached to had passed into the enemy's cantonments on the hini (General Alix, we believe), stating that the morning of the 5th April. " Tile ungratefll nman!" Emperor of Austria was displeased at the extremihe said. " But he is more to be pitied than I am." ties to whiclh they urged his son-in-law, and was ie oLughtto have been contented iuith this reflec- resolved to suppoit himt]. On this report, which tion, for which, even if unjust to the amarshal, every proved afterwards totally unftunded, Napoleon reone must have had sympathy and excuse. But the quired the nmarshals to give him back his letter of next day lie published a sort of appeal to the army abdication. But the deed having been formally on the solemnity of a military eingagement, as nlore executed, and dully registered and delivered, the sacred than the duty of a patriot to his country; marshals held themselves bound to retain it in their vlhich he might more gracefully have abstained own hands, and to act upon it as tile only mieans of from, since all knew already to what height he car- saving France at this dreadful crisis. ried the sentiments of arbitrary power. Bonaparte reviewed Iris Old Guard in the courtWihen the marshals returned, he listened to the yard of the castle; for their numbers were so dimtinews of the failure of their negotiation, as a termina- nished that there was space for them in that narrow tion which he had expected. But to their surprise, circuit. Their zealous acclamations gratified his recollecting his disinterested behaviour when they ears as much as ever; but when lie looked on their parted, he almost instantly demanded what provision diminished ranks, his heart failed; he retired into had been made for him personally, and how he was the palace, and summoned Oadinot before him. to be disposed of'? They informed him that it was "May I depend on the adhesion of the troops?" he proposed he should reside as an independent sove- said. —Oudinot replied in the negative, and renlindreign, "in Elba, or somewhere else." Napoleon ed Napoleon that lie had abdicated.-" Ay, but paused for a moment. " Somewhere else?" lie ex- under conditions," said Napoleon.-" Soldiers do claimed. " That must be Corsica. No, no,-I will not understand conditions," said the marshal; " they have nothing to do with Corsica.-Elba? ~W'ho look upon your power as terminated."-"'iThen on knows anything of Elba? Seek out some officer that side all is over," said Napoleon; "let us wait who is acquainted with Elba. Look out what books the news fi-oml Paris." or charts can inform us about Elba." Macdonald, Caulaincourt, and Ney, soon afterIn a moment he was as deeply interested in thle wards arrived at Fontainebleau, with the treaty position and capabilities of tlhis little islet, as if' lie whiich they had concluded on the bases already hlad never been Emperor of France, nay, almost of tle ann1ounced by the Emperor of Russia, who had taken i world. But Bonaparte's nature was egotistical. lie the principal share in drawing it up. Under his well knew how little it would become an emplteror sa;nction, the cormmiissioners had obtained such terms' resigning his crowvn- to be stipulating for his futuire as never before were granted to a dethroned teocourse of life, and had reason to conclude, that by narch, and whicl) Iave little chance to be conceded playing his character with magnanrinity, lie aighlt to such a one in future, wllile the portentous clnsebest excite a corresponding liberality in those with qiences are preserved by history. By these condiwhom he treated. But whlen tlIe die was cast, when tions, Bonaparte wavrS to remain eLf)peror, but his his f'ate seemed fixed, he exarneired Nsith nmiinuteness ssway was to be limited to the island of lrIl)a, in the what lie miiust afterwards consider as hIis sole for- MlTediterranrean, in extent twenty leagues, aid contune. To turn his thoughts ftomta France to Elba, taining about tveli e thousand inhabitanits. I-e was was like the elephant, wvhich can tranesport artillevy, to be recognized as one of thle crovwned heads of applying his trunk to aather pins. Blt Napoleon Euarope-was to be allowed body-guards, and a could do both easily, because lie regir-ded these navy on a scale suitable to the li;its of his domnitwo objects, not as they diffeied fi'oma each other, but mlons; anid to maintain this state, a revenue of six as they belonged, or did not beloig, to himself. millions of fr'ancs, over and above the revenues of After a night's consideration, the fallen chief took the Isle of' Elba, were settled on him. Two nMilliout his resolution, and displatelued Cautlaincorurt and and a hIalf were also assigned ii pe)esions to hIis Macdonald onuce more to Paris, to treat with the brotlhers, Jos6phirie, and thie other mtieambers of his allies upon the fbotinig of an Innconditional abdi.ation farmily,-a revenue moire splendid than ever King of LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 66 England had at his personal disposal. It was well ment, to secure the future fortune of a rival who argued, that if Bonaparte deserved such advanta- lies prostrate at his feet, to hear thanks and geous terms of retirement, it was injustice to de- compliments on every hand, and from the mouths throne him. In other points, the terns of this treaty even of the vanquished, is the most fascinating seemed as irreconcilable with sound policy as they triumph of a victorious sovereign. It is only the are with all former precedents. The name, dignity, consequences which teach him how thriftless and military authority, and absolute power of an em- unprofitable a prodigality of beneficence often peror, conferred on the potentate of such Liliputian proves, and that in the attempt so to conduct great domains, were ludicrous if it was supposed that national measures that they shall please and satisfy Napoleon would remain quiet in his retreat, and every one, he must necessarily encroach on the hazardous if he should seek the means of again rules both of justice and wisdom, and may occasion, agitating Europe. by a thoughtless indulgence of romantic sensibility, It was no compliment to Bonaparte's taste to in- new trains of misfortune to the whole civilized vest him with a poor shadow of his former fortune, world. The other active parties in the treaty were since for him the most honourable retirement would the King of Prussia, who had no motive to scan have been one which united privacy with safety and with peculiar scrutiny a treaty planned by his ally the competence, not that which maintained a vain pa- Emperor Alexander, and the Emperor of Austria, rade around him, as if in mockery of what he had tvho could not in delicacy object to stipulations in formerly been. But tine fatally showed, what many favour of his son-in-law. augured from the beginning, that so soon as his The marshals, on the other hand, gladly received spirit should soar beyond the narrow circle into what probably they never would have stipulated. which it had been conjured, the imperial title and They were aware, that the army would be conciliated authority, the assistance of devoted body-guards with every mark of respect, however incongruous, and experienced counsellors, formed a stake with which could be paid to their late emperor, and perwhich, however small, the venturous gamester might haps knew Bonaparte so well as to believe that he again enter upon the hazardous game of playing for might be gratified by preserving the external marks the kingdoms he had lost. The situation of Elba, of imperial honour, though upon so limited a scale. too, as the seat of his new sovereignty, so near to There was one power whose representative foresaw Italy, and so little removed from France, seemed the evils which such a treaty might occasion, and calculated on purpose to favour his resurrection remonstrated against them. But the evil was done, at some future period as a political character. and the particulars of the treaty adjusted, before The other stipulations of this extraordinary treaty Lord Castlereagh came to Paris. Finding that the divided a portion of revenue secured to Napoleon Emperor of Russia had acted for the best, in the among the members of his family. The most ration- name of the other allies, the English minister real was that which settled upon Maria Louisa and frained from risking the peace which had been made her son the duchies of Parma, Placentia, and Guas- in such urgent circumstances, by insisting upon his talla, in full sovereignty. Except this, all the objections. He refused, however, on the part of his other stipulations wele to be made good at the ex- government, to become a party to) the treaty farther pense of France, whose Provisional Government than by acceding to it so far as the territorial arwere never consulted upon the terms granted. rangements were concerned; but he particularly It was not till the bad effects of this singular declined to acknowledge, on the part of England, the treaty had been experienced, that men inquired title ofemperor, which the treaty conferred on Napowhy and on what principle it was first conceded. leon. A greatpersonage has been mentioned as its original Yet, when we have expressed with frieedom all the author. Possessed of many good and highly ho- objections to which the treaty of Fontainebleau nourable qualities, and a steady and most important seems liable, it must be owned, that the allied sove. member of the great European confederacy, it is reigns showed policy in obtaining an accommodation doing the memory of the Emperor Alexander no on almost any terms, rather than renewing the war, ipjury to suppose, that he remembered his educa- by driving Napoleon to despair, and inducing the tion under his French tutor, La Harpe, and was marshals, from a sense of honour, again to unite not altogether free from its effects. With these themselves with his cause. there always mingles that sort of showy sensibility When the treaty was read over to Napoleon, he which delights in making theatrical scenes out of made a last appeal to his marshals, inviting thenm to acts of beneficence, and enjoying in fill draughts follow him to the Loire or to the Alps, where they the popular applause which they are calculated to would avoid what he felt an ignominious composition. excite. The contagious air of Paris,-the shouts, But he was answered by a general silence. The -the flattery,-the success to a point hitherto generals whom he addressed knew but too well that unhoped for,-the wish to drown unkindness of any efforts which he could make must be rather in every sort, and to spread a feast from which no the character of a roving chieftain, supporting hi3 one should rise discontented,-.the desire, to sum condottieri by the plunder of the country, and that up all in one word, to show MAGNANIMITY in country their own, than that of a warlike monarch, the hour of success, seem to have laid Alexander's waging war for a specific purpose, and at the head heart more open than the rules of wisdom or of of a regular army. Napoleon saw their determination prudence ought to have permitted. It is generous in their looks, and dismissed the council, promising to give, and more generous to pardon; but to an answer on an early day, but in the meantime deibestow favours and forgiveness at the same mo- dlining to ratify the treaty, and demanding back his vor,. wr. 84 666 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. abdication from Caulaincourt; a request which that return no more." The abdicated sovereign had, minister again declined to comply with. however, the consolation of seeing, that the attachMisfortunes were now accumulating so fast around ment of several faithful servants was only tried and 1 Napoleon, that they seemed of force sufficient to purified by adversity, as gold is by fire. break the most stubborn spirit. The famnily conlexions, and relatives of Napoleon, Gradually the troops of the allies had spread as as well as his familiar friends, were separated from far as the hanks of the loire. Fontainieblean was him in this general wreck. It will not be forgotten, surrounded by their detachments; on every side the that on the day before the battle of Paris, several French officers, as well as soldiers, were leaving his members of Napoleon's administration set out with service; he had no longer the power of departing the Empress Maria Louisa, to escape fiom the apfirom the palace in safety. proaching action. They halted at Blois, where they Paris, so late the capital in which his will was were joined by Joseph, and other niembers of the law, and where to have uttered a word in his dispa- Bonaparte family. For some time this reunion ragement vwould have been thought worse than blas- maintained the character and language of a council pIlemy, was become the scene of his rival's triumph of regency, dispersed proclamations, and endeavourand his own disgrace. The shouts which used to ed to act as a government. The news of the taking wait on the emperor were now welcoming to the of Paris, and the subsequent events, disposed Joseph Tuileries Monsieur, the blother of the restored king; and Jrdome Bonaparte to remove themselves to the who came in character of lientenant-general of the provinces beyond the Loire. But Maria Louisa kingdom;-the presses, which had so long laboured refilsed to accompany them, and while the point was in disseminating the praises of the emperor, were yet contested, Count Schoiwalow, one of the Ausnow exerting all their art and malice in exposing his trian ministers, arrived to take her under his protecreal faullts, and imputing to him such as had no tion. The eplhemeral legency then bloke up, and existence. HJe was in the condition of the huntsman fled in different directions; the brothers of Blonalarte who was devoured by his own hounds. taking the direction of Switzerland, while Cardinal It was yet mnore affecting to see courtiers, depend- Fesch and the mother of Napoleon retreated to ents, and even domestics, who had lived in his Rome. smiles, dropping off under different pretexts to give Maria Louisa made more than one effort to join in, their adhesion to thle Bourbons, and provide for her husband, but they were discouraged on the pai t their own fortune in the new world which had com- of Napoleon himself, who, while he continued to menoed at Paris. It is perhaps in such moments, ruminate on renewing tile war, could not desire to that human nature is seen in its very worst point of have the empress along with him in such an advenview; since the basest and most selfish points of the tare. Shortly afterwards, the Emperor of Austria character, which, in the train of ordinary life, may visited his daughter and her son,then at Rambouillet, never be awakened into existence, show themselves, and gave her to understand that she was, for some and become the ruling principle, in such revolutions. time at least, to remain separate fiom her husband, Men are then in the condition of well-bred and de- and that her son and she were to return to Vienna corous persons, transferred from an ordinary place along with him. She returned, therefore, to her of meeting to the whirlpool of a crowd, in which they fatlher's protection. soon demean themselves with all the selfish desire It mist be also here mentioned, as an extraordiof their own safety or convenience, and all the total nary addition to this tale of calamity, that Josphdine, disregard for that of others, which the conscious the former wife of Bonaparte, did not long sunr% ie habits of politeness have suppressed, but not era- his downfal. It seemed as if the Obi-wornan of dicated. Martinique had spoken truth; for at the time whein Friends and retainers dropt firom the unfortunate Napoleon parted froin the sharer of his early filNapoleon, like leaves from the fading tree; and tunes, his grandeur was on the wane, and her death those whom shame or commiseration yet detained took place bhit a few weeks subsequent to his being near his person waited but some decent pretexts, dethroned and exiled. The Emperor of Russia i;id like a rising breath of wind, to sweep them also visited this lady, and showed her some attention, away. with which Napoleoni, for reasons Nwe cannot conjecThie defection included all ranks, from Berthier, tarle, was extremely displeased. She was almply who shared his bosom councils, and seldom was provided for by the treaty of Fontainebleau, bmit did absent from his side, to the Mameluke Rouistan, who not survive to reap any benefit firom thle provision, as slept across tile door of his apartment, and acted as she shortly after sickened and died at her beautifull a body-guard. It would be absurd to criticise the villa of Malmaison. She was buried on the 3d of conduct of the poor African,+ but the fact and mode June, at the village of Rueil. A vast number of the of lBerthier's departure must not escape notice. lie lower class attended the obsequies; for she had well asked permission to go to Paris about some business, deserved the title of patroness of the poor. saying he would return next day. "He will not While we endeavour to sum the mass of misforreturn,'" said Napoleon, calmly, to the Duke of Bas- tunes with which Bonaparte was overwhelmed at sano.-" Wlhat!" said the minister, "can these be this crisis, it, seems as if Fortune had been deterthe adieus of Berthier?"" I tell you, yes —he will mired to show that she did not inttend to revelrse the lot of humanity, even in the case of one who had + The man had to plead his desire to remain with his been so long her favourite, but that she retained lhe wife and family, rather than return to a severe personal power of depressing the obscure soldier, whom she thraldom. b had raised to be almost King of Europe, in a degree LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARIfE. 6067 as humiliating as his exaltation had been splendid. suffered severely during the night, but that his comA'l that three years before seemed inalienable from plaint had left him. his person was now reversed. The victor was de- After this crisis, and having ratified the treaty teated, the monarch was dethroned, the ransomer of which his marshals had made for him, Napoleon prisoners was in captivity, the general was deserted appeared more at his ease than he had been for by his soldiers, the master abandoned by his domes- some time before, and conversed frankly with his tics, the brother parted from his brethren, the hus- attendants upon the affairs of France. band severed from the wife, and the father torn He owned, that, after all, the government of tile from his only child. To console him for the fairest Bourbons would best suit France, as tendintg to and largest empire that ambition ever lorded it over, reconcile all parties. "Louis," he said, " has tahe had. with the mock name of emperor, a petty isle, lents and means; he is old and infirml; he wvill not, to which he was to retire, accompanied by the pity I think, chase to give his name to a bad reign. lf of such friends as dared express their feelings, the he is wise, he will occupy my bed, and content unrepressed execrations of many of his formner sub- himself with changing the sheets. But," he copjects, who refused to regard his present humiliation tinned, " he must treat the army well, and take as an amends for what hie had made theim sulter care not to look back on the past, otherwise his during his power, and the ill-concealed triumph reign will be of brief endlurance." of the enemies into whose hands he had been deli- He also mentioned the iniiolability of'the sale of vered. the national domains, as the woof' upon which the A Roman would have seen, in these accumulated whole web depended; cut one thread of it, he said, disasters, a hint to direct his sword's point against and the whole will be unraveled. Of the ancient his breast; a man of better faith would have turned noblesse and people of fashion, he spoke in emabithis eye back on his own conduct, and having read, tered language, saying they were an English colony in his misuse of prosperity, the original source of in the midst of France, who desired only their own those calamities, would have remained patient and privileges, and would act as readily for as against contrite under the consequences of' his ambition. him. Napoleon belonged to the Roman school of philo- "If I were in Louis's situation," le said, " I sophy; and it is confidently reported, especially by would not keep up the Imperial Guard. I myself Baron Fain, his secretary, though it has not been have treated them too well, not to have insured universally believed, that he designed, at this extre- their attachment; and it will be his policy to dismiss mity, to escape from life by an act of suicide. them, giving good pensions to such officers and The emperor, according to this account, had car- soldiers as chuse to retire from service, and preferried with him, ever since the retreat from Moscow, iment in the line- to others who incline to remain. a placket containing a preparation of opium, made This done, lie should chuse another guard from the utp in the same manner with that used by Condorcet army at large." for self-destruction. His valet-de-chambre, in the After these remarkable observations, which. in night betwixt the 12th, and 13th of April, heard fact, contained an anticipation of nmuch that afterhiml arise and pour something into a glass of water, wards took place, Napoleon looked around upon his drink, and return to bed. In a short time after- officers, and made them the following exhortation: wards, the man's attention was called by sobs and —' Gentlemen, when I remain no longer with you, stifled groans; an alarm took place in the chateau- and when you have another government, it will besome of the principal persons were roused, and re- conie you to attach yourselves to it frankly, and paired to Napoleon's chanmber. Yvan, the surgeon serve it as faithfully as you have served me. I I who had procured him the poison, was also sum- request, and even command you to do this; theremnoeed; but hearing the emperor conmplain that the fore, all who desire leave to go to Paris have my operation of the potion was not quick enough, he permission to do so, and those who remain here was seized with a panic terror, and fled from the will do well to send in their adhesion to the governpalace at fill gallop. Napoleon took the remedies ment of trle Bourbons." Yet, while Napoleon used recommended, and a long fit of stupor ensued, with this manful and becoming language to his followers, protuse perspiration. lie awakened much ex- on the subject of the change of government, it is hansted, and surprised at finding himself still alive; clear that there lurked in his bosom a persuasion lie said aloud, after a few moments' reflection, that the Bourbons were surrounded with too many " Fate will not have it so;" and afterwards ap- difficulties to be able to surmount them, and that peared reconciled to undergo his destiny, without Destiny had still in reserve for him a distinguished similar attempts at personal violence. There is, as part in the annals of Europe. wve have already hinted, a difference of opinion In a private interview with Macdonald, whose concerning the cause of Napoleon's illness, some part in the abdication we have mentioned, he eximllputing it to indigestion. Tile fact of his having pressed himself warmly satisfied with his conduct, been very much indisposed is, however, indisput- regretting that he had not more early known his able. A general of the highest distinction trans- value, and proposed he should accept a parting acted business with Napoleon on the morning of gift. "It is only," he said, anticipating the mziarthe 13th of April. He seemed pale and dejected, shal's objections, " the present of a soldier to his as from recent and exhausting illness. His only comrade." And indeed it was chosen with great dress was a night-gown and slippers, and he drank delicacy, being a beautiful Turkish sabre, which from time to time a quantity of tisan, or some such Napoleon had himself received from Ibrahim Bey liquid, which was placed beside him, saying he had while in Egypt. 668 ELIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Napoleon having now resigned himself entirely of his hatred. It galled him that she should assume to his fate, whether for good or evil, prepared, on an immediate share in deciding upon his fate the 20th April, to depart for his place of retreat. He received the English commissioner with parBut first, he had the painfill task of bidding farewell ticular expressions of esteem, saying he desired to to the body in the. universe most attached to him, pass to Elba in an English vessel, and was pleased and to which hle was probably most attached,-his to have the escort of anEnglishofficer. "Yournacelebrated Imperial Guard. Such of them as could tion," he said, " has an elevated character, for be collected were drawn out before him in review. which I have the highllest esteem. I desired to raise Some natural tears dropped from his eyes, and his the French people to such a pitch of sentimlent, but features had the marks of strong emotion while -." He stopt, and seemed affected. He spoke reviewing for the last time, as he must then have with much civility to the Austrian general, Kohler, thought likely, the companions of so many victories. but expressed himself somewhat bitterly on the He advanced to them on horseback, dismounted, subject of Russia. tHe even hinted to the Austrian, and took his solemn leave. " All Europe," he said, that should he not be satisfied with his reception in " had armied against himn; France herself had de- Elba, lie might possibly chuse to retire to Great serted him, and chosen another dynasty. He might," Britain; and asked General Kohler, whether he lie said, " have maintained with his soldiers a civil thoulght he ivould not receive protection froim them. var of years, but it would have rendered France " Yes, sire," replied the Austrian, " the more rearunhappy. Be faithful," he continued (and the dily, that your majesty has never made wvar in that words were remarkable), " to the new sovereign country." whom France has chosen. Do not lament my fate; Napoleon proceeded to give a farewell audience I will always be happy while I know you are so. to the Duke of Bassano, and seemed nettled when I cotld have died-nothing was easier-but I will an aide-de-camp, on the part of General Bertrand, always follow the road of honour. I will record announced that the hour fixed for departing was with my pen the deeds we have done together. I arrived. " (ood," he said. " Thlis is sometlling cannot embrace you all, but I embrace your ge- new.-Since when is it that our motions have been neral-(he pressed the general to his bosom).- regulated by the watch of the grand marshal? iWe Bring hither the eagle-(he embraced the stand- will not depart till it is our pleasure-perhaps we ard, and concluded),-Beloved eagle, may the kisses will not depart at all." This, however, was only a I bestow on you long resound in the hearts of momentary sally of impatience. the brave!-Adieu, my children,-Adieu, my brave Napoleon left Fontainebleau the 20th April, 1814, companions, —Surround me once more-Adieu." at eleven o'clock in the morning. His retinue occiiDrowned in grief, the veteran soldiers heard the pied fourteen carriages, and required relays of thirty farewell of their dethroned leader; sighs and mour- pairs of post-horses. On the journey, at least during mntrs broke from their ranks, but the emotion burst its commencement, he affected a sort of publicity, out ia no threats or remonstrances. They appeared sending for the public authorities of towns, and inresigned to the loss of their general, and to yield, vestigating into the state of the place, as he was like him, to necessity. wont to do on former occasions. The cries of Vive l'empereur were frequently heard, and seemied to give him fiesh spirits. O-n the other hand, the CHAPTER XCIX. nmayors and sub-prefects, whom he interrogated concerning the decay of many of the towns, dis, leased Consmissioners auppoi2nted to escort Napoleon-He leases him by ascribing the synlptoms of dilapidation to the Fontoinebleaie on the 20th April.-His inlrterview wtith war, or the conscription; and in several places the Aunqereatt at Valence.-Expressions of popular dislike people wore the white cockade, and insulted his towaards Napoleon in the soolth of France-Fears for passage with shouts of Vive le roi. his personal safety.-His own alarnm, agitation, and In a small barrack near Valeace, Napoleon, upon irecomnionzs.-FIe arrives at Frejus —and emlbarks on 24th April, met Angereaum, his old conipanion in the oar7d tlue Utirlaiuted, wiih the British aind Alustrian campaigns of Italy, and in some degree his tutor in counzissi nerls.-Arrives at Elba on 4th Mity-and lawnds the art of war. lThe marshal had resented some of at Porto Ferrajo. the reflections wlhich occurred in the bulletins, censliring his operations for the protection of Lyons. UPON his unpleasant journey, Napoleon was at- When, therefore, he issued a proclamation to his tended by Bertrand and Dronet, honourably faithfill army, oil the recent chanlge, he announced Napoleon to the adverse fortunes of the master who had been as one who had brougllt on his own ruin, and yet their beneftctor when in prosperity. Four dele- dared not die. An angry interview took place, gates froni the allied powers accompanied him to his and the following words are said to have been exnew dominions. Theirnames were,-General Schotu- changed between thlenl:-"I have thy proclaniawalow, oin the part of Russia; the Austrian general, tion," said Napoleon. " Thou hast betrayed me." Kohler; Colonel Sir Niel Campbell, as represent- -" Sire," replied the marshal, "it is you who have inig Great Britain; and the General Baron'l'rch- betrayed France and the army, by sacrificing both sess Waldounrg, as the commissioner of Prussia. to a frantic spirit of ambition."-" Thou hast chosen Napoleon received the three first with much per- thyself a new master," said Napoleon.-" I have no sonal civility, but seemed to resent the presence of account to render to you on that score," replied the the representative of Prussia, a country which had general.-" Thou hast no courage," replied Bonabeen at one time the subject of his scorn, and always parte.-"'Tis thou hast none," replied the general; LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 669 and turned his back, without any mark of respect, ladies?"-" The Enmperor Napoleon."-"- am Naon his late master.* poleon."-" You jest, sir," replied the ladies.At Montdlimart, the exiled emperor heard the " What! I suppose you expected to see me look last expressions of regard and sympathy. He was more mischievous'? Oh yes-confess that, since fornow approaching Piovence, a region of which he tune is adverse to me, I must look like a rascal, a had never possessed the affections, and was greeted miscreant, a brigand. But do you know how~ all with execrations and cries of, -" Perish the tyrant" this has happened? Merely because I wished to -"Down with the butcher of our children!" Mat- place France above England." ters looked worse as they advanced. On Monday, At length he arrived at Frljus, the very port that 25th April, when Sir Niel Campbell, having set out received him, when, coming from Egypt, he was on before Napoleon, arrived at Avignon, the officer the verge of commencing that astonishing career, upon guard anxiously inquired if the escort attending now about to terminate, to all earthly appearance, the emperor was of strength sufficient to resist a at the very point from which he had started. He popular disturbance, which was already on foot; at shut himself up in a solitary apartment, which he! the news of his arrival. The English commissioner traversed with impatient and hasty steps, sometimes entreated him to.protect the passage of Napoleon by pausing to watch friom the window the arrival of every means possible. It was agreed that the fiesh the vessels, one of which was to transport him from horses should be posted at a different quarter of the France, as it then seemed, for ever. The French town from that where it was natural to have expect- frigate, the Dryade, and a brig called the Inconstant, ed the change. Yet the mob discovered and sur- had come from Toulon to Frdjus, and lay ready to rounded them, and it was with difliculty that Napo- perform this duty. But, reluctant perhaps to sail leon was saved from popular filry. Similar dangers under the Bourbon flag, Napoleon preferred ernattended him elsevwhere, and, in order to avoid as- barking on board his Britannic Majesty's ship the sassination, the ex emperor of France was obliged Undaunted, commanded by Captain Usher. This to disguise himself as a postilion, or a domestic, vessel being placed at the direction of the British anxiously altering from time to time the mode of his commissioner, Sir Niel Campbell, he readily acdress; ordering the servants to smoke itl his pre- quiesced in Napoleon's wish to have his passage in sence; and inviting the commissioners, who traveled her to Elba. It was eleven at night on the 28thll ere with him, to whistle or sing, that the incensed people lie finally emlbarked, under a salute of twenty-one mnight not be aware who was in the carriage. At guns. "4Adieu, Caesar, and his fortune,'" said the Orgon, the mob brought before hint his own effigy Russian envoy. The Austrian and British conlmisdabbled with blood, and stopped his carriage till sioners accompanied him on his voyage.* they displayed it before his eyes; and, in short, fions During the passage, Bonaparte seemed to recover A vignon to La Calade, he was grossly insulted in his spirits, and conversed with great frankness and every town and village, and, but for the anxious in- ease with Captain Usher and Sir Niel Campbell. tertference of the commissioners, he would probably The subject chiefly led to high-coloured statements have been torn to pieces. The unkindness of the of the schemes which he had been compelled to people seemed to make much impression on him. leave unexecuted, with severe strictures on his enelie even shed tears. He showed also more fear of mies, and much contempt for their means of opposiassassination than seemed consistent with Isis ap. tion. The following particulars are amlnsinlg, and, proved courage; but it must be recollected, that the so far as we know, have never appeared:danger was of' a new and peculiarly horrible de- He was inquisitive about the discipline of the scription, and calculated to appal many to whom the vessel, which he commended highly, but assured terrors of a field of battle were familiar. The bravest Captain Usher, that, had his power lasted for five soldier might shudder at a death like that of the De years longer, he would have. lhad three hundred sail WVitts. At La Calade he was equally nervous, and of the line. Captain Usher naturally asked how exhibited great fear of poison. VVhenl he reached they were to be manned. Napoleon replied, that Aix, precautions wvere taken by detachments of he had resolved on a naval conscription in all the gesndarmes, as well as by parties of the allied troops, seaports and sea-coast frontier of France, which to insure his personal safety.t At a chsteau called would man his fleet, which was to be exercised in Bouillidou, he had an interview with his sister Pan- the Zuyder-Zee, until fit fior going to the open sea. line. The curiosity of tile lady of the house, arid The British officer scarce suppressed a smile as lie two or three females, made them also find their way replied, that the marine conscripts would make a to his presence. They saw a gentleman in an sorry figure in a gale of wind. Austrian uniform. "Whom do you wish to see, To the Austrian envoy, Napoleon's conlstant sub* Ittitiraire de Bonaparte, p. 35. Augereau was an' The Prussian commissioner wrote an account of their old republican, and had been ready to oppose Bonaparte journey, called itisteraire de Bonaprarte, jesquz'& soea emon the day he dissolved the Legislative Body. He sub- barquuenstet c Frejuls: Paris, 1815. The facts are amply mitted to hist during his reign, but was a severe censurer confirmed by the accounts of his fellow-travelers. Napoof his excessive love of conquest.-See p. 5,8. leon always reckoned the pamphlet of General Trucht This, indeed, had been previously arranged, as troops sess Waldbourg, together with the account of De Pradt's in considerable numbers were posted for his protection Embassy to Poland, as the works calculated to do him most at Grenoble, Gap, and Sisteron, being the road by which injury. Perhaps he was sensible that during this journey he was expected to have traveled; but, perhaps with a he had behaved beneath the character of a hero, or perhaps view to try an experiment on his popularity, he took the he disliked the publication of details, which inferred his route we have detailed. extreme unpopularity in the south of Franlce. i70 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. ject was the enlarged power of Russia, which, if the probable cause of such a result. Thus (lid his she could by any means unite Poland into a healthfil colouring, it' not his facts, change according to the and integral part of her ar ay, would, he stated, mood of the moment. moverwhelm Europe. While on board the Undaunted, Napoleon spoke On a subsequent occasion, the emperor favoured with great fr-eedom of tile facility with which }he had his anditors with a new and curious history of' the outwitted and delfeated the allies during the last renewal of the war with England. According to campaign. "The Silesian army,"' hlie said, "had this edition, the Isle of Malta was a mere pretext. given him most trouble. The old devil, B.l.:cher, Shortly after the peace of Amiens, he said, Mr Ad- was no sooner defeated than he was willing to fight dington, then the English prime minister, proposed again." But he considered his victory overSchwvartto himi a renewal of Mr Pitt's commercial treaty zenberg as certain, save for the defection of MAlar1 ith France; but that he, Napoleon, desirous to mont. Much. more lhe said, with great apparent enc.ourge the interior industry of France, had re- frankness, and seented desirous to make hlimself in fused to enter into such a treaty, excepting upon every respect agreeable to his colmpanions on board. terms of reciprocity; namely, that if France re- Even the seamen, who at first regarded himl with ~, ceived so many millions of English import, England wonder, mixed with suspicion, did not escape the was to be obliged to take in return the same quantity charnm of his atfability, by which they were soon of French prodllctions. These terms were declined won over, all excepting the boatswain tilton, a tar by Mr Addington, on which Napoleon declared of the old school, who could never hear the etlthere should be no treatyatall, unless his principles peror's praises without muttering the vulgar but were adopted. " Then," replied Mr Addington, as expressive phrase, "Htumbay."* quoted by Bonaparte, " there must be hostilities; With the samte good-humour, Napoleon admitted for, unless the people of England have the advan- any slight jest which might be passed, even at his tages of commerce on the terms they are accustomed own expense. When off Corsica, he proposed that to, they will force me to declare war." —And the Captain Usher should fire a gun to bring-to a fishingwar took place accordingly, of which, he again boat, from which he hoped to hear some news. averred, England's determination to recover the Captain Usher excused hinmself, saying such an act advantages of the treaty of commerce between of hostility towards a neutral would denatiornalize Vergennes and Pitt, was the real cause. her, in direct contradiction of Napoleon's doctrine' Now," he continued, kindling, as he spoke, concerning the rights of nations. The emperor "England has no power which can oppose her laughed heartily. Atanothertimne, he amused himsystem. She can pursue it without limits. There self by supposing what admirable caricatures his will be a treaty on very unequal terms, which will voyage would give rise to in London. He seenmed not afford due encouragement to the manufactures wonderfully familiar with that species of satire, of France. l'he Bourbons are poor devils-" he though so peculiarly English. checked himself,-" they are grands-seignetrs, con- Upon the 4th of May, when they arrived within tent to return to their estates and draw their rents; sight of Porto Ferrajo, the principal towvn of Elba, but if the people of France see that, and become which has a very fine harbour, they found the island discontented, the Bourbons will be turned off in six in some confusion. The inhabitants had been remonths." He seemed again to recollect himself cently in a state of' insurrection against the French, like one who thinks he has spoken too much, and which had been quieted by the governor and the was perceptibly more reserved for the rest of the troops giving in their adhesion to the Bourbon day. governmlent. This state of things naturally increased This curious ebullition was concocted according Napoleon's apprehensions, which had never entireto Napoleon's peculiar manner of' blending what ly subsided since the dangers he underwent in might be true in his narrative, with what was in- Provence. Even on board the Undaunted, he had tended to forward his own purpose, and mingling it requested that a sergeant of marines might sleep with so mutch falsehood and delusion, that it re- each night on the outside of his cabin-door, a tru sty sembled what the English poet says of the Catholic domestic also mounting guard within. He nowv Plot, showed somne unwillingness, when they made the island, to the ship running right tinder the batteries; Some truth there was, but mix'd and dash'd with lies. and when he first landed in the mlorning, it was at It is probable that, after the peace of Amiens, Lord an early hour, and in disguise, having previously Sidmoouth might have wished to renew the corn- obtained from Captain Usher, a sergeant's party of enercial treaty; but it is absolutely false that Napo- marines to attend himn. leon's declining to do so had any effect upon the Htaving returned on board to breakfast, after his renewal of hostilities. His prophecy that his own incognito visit to'his island, the Emperor of Ellba, as downfal would be followed by the English urging he may now be styled, went on shore in form, about upon France a disadvantageous commercial treaty, two o'clock, with the commissioners, receiving, at has proved equally false; and it is singular enough leaving the Undaunted, a royal salute. On the that he who, on board the Undaunted, declared, beach, he was received by the governor, prefect, that entering into such a nieasure would he the do- * The honest Bsoatswain, however. could understand and str.uction of the Bollirbons, should, while at St le- value what was solid in Napoleon's merits. As he had to — lena, ridicule and censure Lord Castlereagh for not return thanks in name of the ship's ompany, for 200 louis having secured to Britain that commercial supre- with which the emperor presented them, he wished "hish imacy, the granting of which he had represented as honour good health, and better luck the next timne.] LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 671 and other official persons, with snch means of ho- good-humoured smile, " It must be confessed my nour as they possessed, who conducted him to the isle is very little." H6tel de Ville in procession, preceded by a wretch- He professed, however, to be perfectly resigned ed band of fiddlers. The people welcomed him tohis fate; often spoke of himself as a man politiwith many shouts. The name of Bonaparte had cally dead, and claimed credit ftl, wnat lie said been unpopular among them as Emperor of France, upon public affairs, as having no remaining intei-est but they anticipated considerable advantages from in them. He professed his intentions were, to dehis residing among them as their own particular vote himself exclusively to science and literature. sovereign. At other times, he said lie would live in his little island, like a justice of peace in a country town in: CHAPTER C. England. The character of Napoleon, however, wvas little Elba-Napoleon's mode of life and occupation there.- known to himself, if he seriously thought that his.E#ects produced by his residerce at Elba upon the ad- restless and powerfill mind could be satisfied with joifnin~g Kiadom of Italy.-He is visited by his nsother the investigation of abstract truths, or amused by anld Me Princess Paline-and by a Polish latdy-Si, tile leisure of literary research. He compared his Niel Campbell the only commissioner left at Elba.Napoleon's conversations on the state of Europe.-His abdication to tat of Charles V., forgetting that the pecuniary diofliculties-and fears of assassination-His Austrian Emperor's retreat was voluntary, that he impatience untader these causes of complaint. -Motley had a turn towards inechanical pursuits, and that, talure of his court-He withdras himnself awithin court- even with these means of solace, Charles became forms Jiroin intercoutrse with Sir Niel Campbell -Symp- discontented with his retirement. The character of tlois f somne approaching crisis.-A part of the Old Bonaparte was, on the contrary, singularly opposed Guard disbanded, who returnt to France.-Napoleon to a state of seclusion. His Iropensities continued escapes frol;Elba. - Fruitless pucrsuit by Sir _Niel esapes from E, ba. - Fruitless pursuit by Sir iel to be exactly of the same description at Elba, which had so long terrified and disquieted Europe. To ELBA, to the limits of which the mighty empire change the external face of what was around him; of Napoleon was now contracted, is an island oppo- to imagine extensive alterations, without accurately site to the coast of Tuscany, about sixty miles in considering the means by which they were to be circumference. The air is healthy, excepting in the accomplished; to work within his petty province such neighbourhood of the salt-marshes. The country is alterations as its limits permitted; to resume, in mountainous, and, having all the florid vegetation short, upon a small scale, those changes which he of Italy, is, in general, of a romantic cliaracter. It had attempted upon that which was most magtlifiproduces little grain, but exports a considerable cent; to apply to Elba the system of policy which quantity of wines; and its iron ore has been famous he had exercised so long in Europe, was the only since the days of Virgil, who describes Elba as mode in which lie seems to have fbund amusement and exercise for the impatient energies of a temper. Insula inexhaustis chalybum generosa me tallis. b exhsts chayum generosa m. accustomed from his early youth to work upon others, There are also other mineral prodmluctions. The is- but apt to become lethargic, sllesn, and discontented, land boasts two good harbhours, and is liberally pro- when it was compelled, for want of other exercise, ductive of vines, olives, fruits, and nmaise. Perhaps, to recoil upon itself. if an enimpire could be. supposed to exist within such During the first two or three weeks of his resi, a brief space, Elba possesses so much both of beauty dence in the island of Elba, Napoleon had already and variety, as mnighit constitute the scene of a stim- planned improvements, or alterations and innlovamer-nig,,ht's dream ofsovereignty. Bonaparteseemed tions at least, which, had they been to be carried to lend himself to the illusion, as, accompanied by into execution with the means which he possessed, Sir Niel Campbell, lie rode in his usual exploring would have perhaps taken his lifetime to execute. nood, around the shores of his little state. lie did It was no wonder, indeed, accustonmed as lie had not fail to visit the iron mines, and being informed been to speak the word, and to be obeyed, and to the annual produce was 500,000 francs, " These, consider the improvemlents which lie meditated as then," he said, " are mine." But being renmiaded those which became the head of a great empire, that lie had conferred that revenue on the Lesion of' that he shomuld not have been able to recollect that HIonour, lie exclaimed, " Where was my head when his present operations respected a petty islet, where I gave such a g'rant! But I have made many fool- magnificence was to be limited, not only by utility, ish decrees of that sort." but by the want of funds. One or two of the poorer class of inhabitants In the course of tuvo or three days' traveling, knelt, and even prostrated thenlselves when they with the same rapidity which characterized his movemet him. Hle seemed disgusted, and imputed this ments in his frequent progresses through France, hufmliliating degree of abasement to the wretchedness and showing the same impatience of rest or delay, of their education, under the auspices of the monks. Napoleon had visited every spot in his little island, On these excursions he showed the same apprehen- mines, woods, salt-marshes, harbours, fortifications, sion of assassination which had marked his journey and whatever was worthy of an instant's considerto Fr6juls. Two couriers, well armed, rode before ation, and had meditated improvements and innovahim, and examined every suspicions spot. But as tions respecting every one of them. Till he had done lie climbed a mountain above Ferrajo, and saw the this he was impatient of rest; and, having done so, ocean approach its feet in almost every direction, he lacked occupation. tihe expression broke from him, accompanied with a One of his first, and perhaips most characteristic, 672 LIFE OF NAPOLEO(N BONAPARTE. proposals, was to aggrandize and extend his Lilipu- His body-guard, of about 700 infantry and 80 catian dominions by occupation of an uninhabited is-'alry, seenled to occupy as munch of Napoleon's laud, called Rianosa, which had been left desolate attention as the grand army did formerly. They on account of the fiequent descents of the corsairs. were constantly exercised, especially in throwing tie sent thirty of his guards, with ten of the inde- shot and shells; and, in a short tiune, he was ohpendent company belonging to the island, upon this served to be anxious about obtaining recruits for expedition-(what a contrast to those which he had them. This was no difficult matter, where all the formerly directed!) sketched out a plan of fortifica- world had so lately been in arms, and engaged in a tions, and remarked, with complacency, "Europe profession which many, doubtless, for whom a will say that I have already made a conquest." peaceful life had few charms, laid aside with regret, In an incredibly short time Napoleon had also and longed to restme. pl;lrned several roads, had contrived mleans to con- As early as the month of July, 1814, there was a vey water friom the mountains to Porto Ferrajo, de- considerable degree of fermentation in Italy, to signed two palaces, one for the country, the other which the neighbourhood of Elba, the residence of inl the city, a separate mansion for his sister Pauline, several members of the Bonaparte ialnily, and the stables for one hundred and fifty horses, a lazaretto, sovereignty of Mulrat, occasioned a general resort buildilgs for accommodation of the tunny fishery, of Bonaparte's fiiends and admnirers. Every day and salt-works on a new construction at Porto Lon- this agitation increased, and various arts were regone. The Emperor of Elba proposed, also, pur- sorted to for dissenlinating a prospect of Napoleon's chasing various domains, and had the price estimat- future return to power. Sundry parties of recruits ed; for the inclination of the proprietor was not came over to Elba finom Italy to enlist in his guards, reckoned essential to the transaction. He ended by and two persons employed in this service were arestablishing four places of residence in the different rested at Leghorn, in whose possession were found qurarters of the island; and as his amusement con- written lists, containing the names of several hunsisted in constant change and alteration, he traveled dred persons willing to serve Napoleon. The spefrom one to another with thle restlessness of a bird cies of ferment and discontenrt thus produced in Italy in a cage, which springs fromn perch to perch, siiice was muach increased by the iiimpolitic conduct of it is prevented froml winging the air, its natural ele- Prince Rospigliosi, the civil governor oft'luscany, mlert. It seemed as if the magnitude of the object who re-established in their full force every form was not so much the subject of his consideration, and regulation formerly practised under the Dukes providilng it afforded immrnediate scope for employing of Tuscany, broke up the establishment of the Muhis constant and stimulated desire of activity. He seum, which had been instituted by BLonaparte's was like the thorough-bred gamester, who, deprived sister, and, while he returned to all the absurdities of the means of depositing large stakes, will rather of the old government, relaxed none of the imposts play at small game than leave the table. which the Frenchl laid on. Napoleon placed his court also upon an ambitious Napoleon's conduct towards the refugees who scale, having more reference to what he had so long found their way to Elba mray be judged from the been, thanto what he actually now had been reduced following sketch. On tile 11thll of Jully, Colormboni, to, while, at the same time, the fiurniture and intternal commanldant of' a battalion of' the 4th regimlent of accommodlatioins of the imperial palace were meaner the line in Italy, was presented to the emperor as by far than those of an English gentlenman of ordi- newly arrived. "Well, Colotbloni, your business nary rank. The proclamation of the French go- in Elba?"-" First, to pay mydduty to your majesty; verlnor, on resigning his authority to Napoleon, was secondly, to offer myself to carry a musket amonlg well and becomningly. expressed; but the spiritual your guards."-"That is too low a situation; you:nandate of the Vicar-general Arrighi, a relation of must have somlething better," said Napoleon, and Bonaparte's, which was designed to congratulate the instantly named him to an appointment of 1200 francs Ipeople of Elba on becoming the subjects of the yearly, though it appears the eulperor hiinlselft'as Great Napoleon, was extremely ludicrous. " Elevat- then in great distress for money. ed to the sublime honour of receiving the anointed About the middle of sumntler, Napoleon was viof the Lord," he described the exhaustless wealth sited by his mother, and his sister the Princess jwhich was to flow in upon the people, firom the Paitline. At this time, too, lie seems to have exstrangers who came to look upon the hero. The ex- pected to be rejoined by his wife Maria Louisa, i hortation sounded as if the isle had become the re- who, it was said, was coming to take possession of I sidence of some non-descript animnal, which was to her Italian dominlions. Their separation, with the te shown for money. incidents which happened before Paris, was the The interior of Napoleon's household, though re- only subject on which he appeared to lose temper. j duced to thirty-five persons, still held the titles, Upon these topics lie osed stiolg and violent lanand affected the rank, proper to an imperial court, guage. He said, that interdli ting him intercourse of which it will be presently seen the petty sove- with his wife and son excited universal reprobation reign made a political use. tie displayed a national at Vienna-that no such instanice of' inhumanity and flag, having a red bend'dexter in a white field, the injustice could be pointed ou1t in modern timesbend bearing three bees. To dignify his capital, thatthe empress was detained a prisoner, an olderly having discovered that the ancient name of Porto officer constantly attending upon her-finally, that Ferrajo was Comopoli (i. e. the city of Como), he she had been given to understand before she left commnanded it to be called Gosmopoli, or the city of Orleans, that she was to obtain permission to join all nations. him at the island of Elba, though it was now denied LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, 673 her. It was possible, he prceeded, to see a shade Niel Campbell was the only one of the four com(t' policy, though none whatever of justice, in this missioners who continued to remain at Elba by,eparaltion. Austria had meant to unite the child of orders of the British Cabinet. It was difficult to ner sovereign withe tr Emperor of France, hbut was say what his office really was, or what were his desirous of breaking off the connexion with the Em- instructions. He had neither power, title, nor means, peror of Elba, as it might be apprehended that the to interfere with Napoleon's motions. The emperor respect due to the daughter of thle house of Haps- had been recognized by a treaty —wise or foolish, it burg would, had she resided with her husband, have was too late to ask-as an independent sovereign. It reflected too mruch lustre on the abdicated sovereign. was therefore only as an envoy that Sir Niel Campbell The Austrian commissioner, General Kohler, on could be:ermitted to reside at his court; and as an the other hand, insisted that the separation took envoy also, not of the usual character, for settling place by the Empress Maria Louisa's consent, and affairs concerning the court from which he was dlis. even at her requtest; and hinted that Napoleon's patched, but in a capacity not generally avowed, desire to have her society was dictated by other the office, namely, of observing the conduct of that feelings than those of domestic affection. Bult al- at which he was sent to reside. In fact, Sir Niel lowing that Naplleon's view in so earnestly desiring Campbell had no direct or ostensible situation whatthe company of }his wife mighllt be political, we can ever, and of this the French minister of Elba soonl see neither justire nor reason in refusing a request, took advantage. Drouot, the Governor of Porto which would have been g;anted to a felon condemn- Ferrajo, made such particularinquiries into the chaed to transportation. racter assumed by the British envoy, and the length We have not thboght it necessary to disturb the of his stay, as obliged the latter to say that his ornrarrative of importrant events by noticing details ders were to remain in Elba till the breaking' up of which belong rather to romance; but as we are now the congress, which was now settling the affairs of treating of Napoleon in his more private character, Europe; but if his orders should direct hin to cona mysterious circumnstance loay be mentioned. About tinue there after that period, he would apply ta have the enrl of August, 1814, a lady arrived at the Isle his situation placed on some recognized public footof Elba, from Leghorn, with a boy about five or six ing, which he did not doubt would be respectable. years old. She was received by Napoleon with Napoleon did not oppose or murnmair at the congreat attention, but at the same time with an air of tinued, though equivocal, residence of Sir Niel mnlch secrecy, and was lodged in a small and very Campbell at Elba; he affected, on the contrary, to retired villa, in the most remote corner of the is- be pleased with it. For a considerable time lie land; from whlence, after reniaining two days, she even seemed to seek tbe society of the British envoy, re-embarl;led for Naples. The Elbese na;turally held frequent intercourse with him, and conversed concluded that this luist have been the Emipress with apparent confidence upon public affairs. Thle Maria Louisa and her son. But the individual was notes of such conversations are now before mas; and known by those near Napoleon's person to be a though itis, on the one hand, evident thatNapoleon's Polish lady from \Warsaw, and the boy was the expressions Nwere arranged, generally speaking, on offspring of an intrigue betwixt hler and Napoleon a premeditated plan, yet, on the other, it is equally several years befbre. The cause'of her speedy de- certain, that his ardent temperament, slhen once parture might be delicacy towards Maria Louisa, engaged in discourse, led him to discover moore of and the fear ofaffording thle court of Vienna a pre- his own private thoughts than he would on cool retext for corntinuting the separation of wlich Napo- flection Iave suffered to escape him. leon complainerd. In f~act, the Austrians, in defence On the 16th September, 1814, fbr example, Sir of their ovwn conduct, imparted irregularities to that Niel Campbell had an audience of three hours, durof Bonaparte; but the trutlh of these charges would ing which, Napoleon, with his habitual impatience be no edtiit'in subhject of investigation. of a sedentary posture, walked from one end of the About the mriddle of May, Baron Kolller took room to the other, and talked incessantly. He Nwas farew;ell of N apoleon, to retiurn toVienna. He was happy, hlie said, that Sir Niel remained in Elba pouzr an Austrian genelal of rank and reputation; a par- romnz)re la chknere (to destroy, namely, the idea ticlilar frienrd anid old srhoolfellow of Prince Schwart- that lihe Bonaparte, had fuirther intention of disturbzelrberg. IThe scene of Napoleon's parting xwith this ing the peace of Europe). " I think," he continued, gentleulen was quite xpatlhetic on tlle emperor's side. "'of nothing beyond thle verge of my little isles. I I:e we-pt as lie enllh)raced General Kohler, and en- coutld have supported the war for twenty years, if I t:eated him to proculre, if' possible, his reunion with had chosen. I am now a deceased person, occuhis wife and child-called Iliml the preserver of his pied with nothing hut my famlily, mny retreat, my life-regretted his Ipoverty, whvlich prevented his house, my cows, and my poultry." He then spoke bestowing on him some valuablle token of remerl- in the highest terms of tlre English character, probrance-firrally, folding the Austrian general in his testing it llad alwiays had his sincere admiration, arns, lie held him tlhere for somre time, repeating notwithstanding the abuse directed against it in hisexpressionls of the wvarmest attachrment. IThis sen- name. fJie requested the British envoy to lose no. sibility existed all upon one side; for an Enlglish time il plrcluring him an Efnglish Grammatr.-Tt is a gentlemian, who witnesserl tlhe scene, having asked pity Mr Hinton, tlhe boatswain, was not present, to Kohler afterwards what he was thinkinl, of while have accompanied this eulogy with his favourite ejalocked in the emaperor's embraces —" Of Judas Iser- culation. riut," answrered ltie Austrian. In the rest of the conversation the Elbese EmAfter tile dear;lture of Baron Kohler, Colonel Sir peror was probably more serious. He inquired with'VOL. VI. ______________________ ___________ -t~ 674 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. eagerness after the real state of France. Sir Niel argument, or by reasoning, or indulging them with a Campbell informed him that all tile information he firee constitution, he could induce them to sink into a had been able to collect ascribed great wisdom and state of peaceful industry. He insisted that the moderation to the sovereign and government; but Duke of Wellington's presence at Paris was an allowed that those who had lost good appointments, insult on the French nation; that very strong discord the prisoners of war who had returned fiom abroad, prevailed in the country, and that the king had but and great part of the army who remained embodied, few friends, either in the army or among the people. were still attached to Napoleon. In answer, Bona- Perhaps the king might try to get rid of a part of the parte seemed to admit the stability of the throne, army by sending them to St Domingo, beut that, hie supported as it was by the marshals and great ofli- observed, would be soon seen through; he himself cers; but he derided the idea of affording France had made a melancholy trial, with the loss of 30,0)0 the benefit of a free constitution. He said, the at- men, which had proved the inutility of such exlpetempt to imitate that of Great Britain -was a farce, ditions. a caricature. It was impossible, he observed, to He then checked himself, and endeavoured to imitate the two Houses of Parliament, for that re. show that he had no personal feeling or expectation spectable families, like those composing' the aristo- fr'om the revolutions he foretold. "I am a deceased cracy of England, did not now exist in France. He man," he said; "I was born a soldier; I have talked with bitterness of the cession of Belgium, and mounted a throne; I have descended fiom it;.1 am of France being deprived of Antwerp. He himself prepared for any fate. They may transport me to a spoke, he observed, as a spectator, without hopes or distant shore, or they may put me to death here; I interest, for he had none; but thus to have mortified will spread mly bosom open to the poniard. When the French showed an ignorance oftthe national cha- merely General Bonaparte, I had property of lmy racter. Their chief feeling was for pride and glory, own acquiring-I am now deprived of all." and the allies need not look'forward to a state of On another occasion, he described the ferment in satisfaction and tranquillity under such circumstances France, which he said he had learned fiom the coras France was now placed in. " The French," he respondence of his guards with their native country, said, " were conquered only by a great superiority and so far forgot the character of a defunct person, of number, therefore were not humiliated; and the as to say plainly, that the present disaffection would population had not suffered to the extent alleged, for break out with all the fury of the former revolution, he had always spared their lives, and exposed those and require his own resurrection. "For then," he of Italians. Germans, and other foreigners." He added, "the sovereigns of Europe will soon find it remarked that the gratitude of Louis XVIII. to necessary, for their own repose, to call on IE to tranGreat Britain was offensive to France, and that he quillize matters." was called in derision the King of England'sViceroy. This species of conversation was perhaps the In the latter months of 1814, Sir Niel Campbell best which could have been adopted, to conceal his began to become sensible that Napoleon desired to secret purpose from the British commissioner. Sir exclude him from his presence as much as lie pos- Niel Campbell, though not without entertaining sibly could, without positive rudeness. He rather suspicions, judged it, upon the whole, unlikely that suddenly entrenched himself within all the forms of he meditated anlything eccentric, unless a tempting an imperial court; and without affording the British opening. should present itself on the part of France envoy any absolute cause of complaint, or even any or Italy. title to require explanation, he contrived, in a great Napoleon held the same species of language to measure, to debar him from opportunities of conver- others as well as the British resident. He was af: sation. Ilis only opportunity of obtaining access to fable, and even cordlial (in appearance), to the nulNapoleon was on his return from short absences to merous strangers whom curiosity led to visit ill Leghorn and Florence, when his attendance on the spoke of his retirement as Dioclesian might lhave levee was matter of etiquette. done in the gardens of Saloilica; seemed to consider On such occasions, the tenor of Napoleon's pro- his political career as ended, and to be now chiefly phecies was minatory of the peace of Europe. He anxious to explain such passages of his life as n:et spoke perpetually of the hunmiliation inflicted upon the harsh construction of the world. In giving fiee France, by taking fiom her Belgium and his favourite and easy answers to those who conversed with hini object, Antwerp. On the 30th of October, while and especially to Englishmen of rank, Bonaparte enlarging on these topics, lie described the irritable found a ready means of communicating to the public feealngs of the nation, saying, every man in France such explanations concerning his past life, as were considered the. Rhi,,e to be their natural boundary, best calculated to serve his wishes. Iii these lie and nothing could alter this opinion. There was no palliated, instead of denying, the scheme of poiwant, he said, of a population in France, martial soning his prisoners in Syria, the massacre at Jatli, beyond any other-nation, by natural disposition, by the murder of the Duke d'Enghien, and other enorthle consequences of the Revolution, and by the idea mities. An emperor, a conqueror, retired firom war, of glory. Louis XIV., according to his account, and sequestered from power, must be favourably notwithstanding all the misfortunes he had brought listened to by those who have the romantic pleasure upon the nation, was still beloved, on account of the of hearing him plead his own cause. Milder editions eclat of his victories, and the magnificence of his of his measures began to be circulated in Europe, court. The battle of Rosbach had brought about and, in the curiosity to see and admire the captive the Revolutionr. Louis XVIII. totally mistook the sovereign, men forgot the ravages which he had character of the French in supposing,'that either by committed while at liberty. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 675 As the winter approached, a change was dis- Napoleon. The sixth article of that treaty provides re inible in Napoleon's manners and habits. The an annuity, or revenue of two millions five hundred alterations which he had planned in the island no thousand francs, to be registered on the Great Book longer gave him the same interest; he renounced, of France, and paid without abatement or deduction fiomr titne to time, the severe exercise in which he to Napoleon Bonaparte. This annual provision was had at first ind(ulged, used a carriage rather than his stitlulated bythe Marshals Macdonald and Ney, as horse, and sunk occasionally into fits of' deep con- the price of Napoleon's resignation, and the French templation, mingled with gloomy anxiety. ministers could not refuse a declaration of payment He became, also, subjected to uneasiness, to without gross injustice to Bonaparte, and at tile which he had hitherto been a stranger, being that same tinme a severe insult to the allied powers. arising ifrom pecuniary inconveniences. He had Nevertheless, far from this pension being paid with plunged into expenses with imprudent eagerness, regularity, we have seen no evidence that Napoleon and withoat weighing the amount of his resources ever received a single remittance to account of it. against the cost of the proposed alterations. The The British resident observing how much tile exready money which he brought ftiom France seems emperor was harassed by pecuniary straits, gave it, to have been soon exhausted, and to raise supplies, not once but repeatedly, as his opinion, " that, if lie conmmanded the inhabitants of his island to pay these difficulties pressed upon him much longer, so up, in the month of Jaune, the contributions of the as to prevent him firom continuing the external show last year. This produced petitions, personal solicit- of a court, he was perfectly capable of crossing ations, and discontent. It was represented to him, over to-Piombino with his troops, or committing any that, so poor were the inllahitants of the island, in other extravagance." This was Sir Niel Campbell's consequence of want of sale for their wine for opinion on 31st October, 1814, and Lord Castlemonths past, that they would be driven to the most ex- reagh made strong remonstrances on the subject, treme straits if the requisition should be persisted although Great Britain was the only power among in. In some of the villages, the tax-gatherers of the allies, who, being no principal party to the the emperor were resisted and insulted. Napoleon, treaty of Fontainebleau, Inight safely have left it to on his side, sent part of his troops to quarter upon those states who were. Tile French were not the insurgent peasantry, and to be supported:by ashamed to defend their conduct on the technical them at free cost, till the contributions should be objection, that the pension was not due until the paid up. year was elapsed; a defence which we must conThus we recognize, in his government of this sider as evasive, since such a pension is of an miniature state, the same wisdom, and the same alimentary nature, the terlm!y payments of which errors, by which Bonaparte won and lost tile ought to be paid in advance. The subject was empire of the world. The plans of improvements mentioned again and again by Sir Niel Canmpbell, and internal ameliorations which lie formed were but it does not appear that the French administraprobably very good in themselves, but he proceeded tion desisted from a course, which, whether arising to the execution of that which he had resolved with from a spirit of mean revenge, or from avarice, or too much and too reckless precipitation; too much from being themselves embarrassed, was at once of a determination to work his own pleasure, and dishonourable and impolitic. too little concern for the feelings of others. Other apprehensions agitated Bonaparte's mind. The compositions proving a weak resource, as He feared thIe Algerine pirates, and requested tile they were scarce to be extracted from the miserable interference of England in his behalf. Ie believed, islanders, Napoleon had recourse to others, which or affected to believe, that Brulart, the Governor of must have been peculiarly galling to a man of his Corsica, who hald been a captain of Chouans, the haughty spirit. But as his revenue, so far as tan- friend of Georges, Picllegru, &c. was sent thither gible, did not exceed 300,000 francs, and his expen- by Louis XVIII.'s administration, for the purpose diture amounted to at least a million, he was com- of having him assassinated, and that fitting agents pelled to lower the allowances of most of his were dispatched firom Corsica to Elba for that purretinue; to reduce the wages of the miriers to one- pose. * Above all, lie pretended to be infobrned of fourth; to raise money by the sale of the provisions a design to dispense wvith thle treaty of Fontainebleau, laid tip for tile garrisons; nay, even by selling a and to reniove thim fronm his place of refuge, to he train of brass artillery to the Duke of Tuscany. He disposed, also, of some property, a large house' Bonaparte had particular reason to dread Brulart. which had been used as a barrack, and he went the This Chouan chief bad been one of the numbers who laid leiigth of meditating tihe sale of the Town-House at down their arms on Napoleon assuming the consulate, and Porto Ferraio. who had been permitted to reside at Paris. A friend of WVe have said, that Napoleon's impatience to Brulart, still more olbnoxious than himself, was desirous execute whatsoever plans occurred to his fertile uf being permitted to retuln frol Enlgland, to which ue imag~ination, was the orliginal cause ofthese Fecunifry had emigrated. He applied to Napoleon through Brulart, who was directed by the emperor to encourage his friend distresses. But they are not less to be imputed to to come over. Immnediately on his lantding in France, lie the unfair and unworthy conduct of the Frenchd executed. Brulart ed toEnglandinrief ministry. The French administration were, of all and rage, at being made the means of decoying his friend others, most intimately bound in conscience, honour, to death. Inlthe height of his resentment he wrote a letand policy, to see the treaty of Foontainebleau, as ter to Napoleon, threatening him with death by his hand. forming the footstool by whichl Louis'XVI-II. mount- The-recollection of this menace alarmed Bonaparte, when ed his restored throne, distinctly observed towards' he found Irulart so near him as Corsica. 6 76 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. imprisoned at St Helena or St Lucie. It is not im- stantly engaged in voyages to every part of Italy, possible that these fears were not altogether feigned; and brought over, or returned to the Continent, for though there is not an iota of evidence tending to Italians, Sicilians, Frenchmen, and Greeks, who show that there was reason for believing the allies seemed all active, yet gave no reason for their entertained such an unworthy thought, yet the re- coming or departure. Dominico Eltori, a monk who port was spread very generally through France, had escaped fromo1 his convent, and one Theoiogos, a Italy, and the Mediterranean, and was encouraged, Greek, were considered as agents of some cousedoubtless, by those who desired once more to place quence among this group. Bonaparte in action. He. certainly expressed great The situation of Sir Niel Campbell was now very anxiety on the subject, sometimes declaring he embarrassing. Napoleon, affecting to be more tewould defend his batteries to the last; sometimes nacious than ever of his dignity, not only excluded affecting to believe that he was to be sent to reside the British envoy from his own presence, but even in England, a prospect which lie pretended not to threw obstacles in the way of his visiting his mnother dislike personally, while he held out sufficient reasons and sister. It was, therefore, only firom interviewvs to prevent the course from being adopted. "HIe with Napoleon himself that he could hope to get any concluded," he said, " he should have personal information, and to obtain these Sir Niel was, as alliberty, and the means of removing prejudices en- ready noticed, obliged to absent himself from the tertained against his character, which had not yet island of Elba occasionally, which gave him an opbeen fully cleared iup;" but ended with the insinu- portunity of desiring an audience, as he went away ation, that, by residing in England, he would have and returned. At such times as he remained on the easier comnmunication with France, where there were island, he was discountenanced, and all attention four of his party to every single Bourbonist. And withdrawn from him; but in a way so artfil, as to when le had exhausted these topics, he returned to render it impossible for him to make a formal comthe complaints of the hardship and cruelty of de- plaint, especially as he had no avowed official chapriving him of the society of his wife and child. racter, and was something in the situation of a guest, While Bonaparte, chafed by poverty, and these whose uninvited intrusion has placed himn at his other subjects of complaint, tormented too by the landlord's mercy. restlessness of a mind impatient of restraint, gave Symptoms of some approaching catastrophe could vent to expressions which excited suspicion, and not, however, be concealed fiom the British resiought to have recommended precaution, his court dent. Napoleon had interviews with his mother, began to assume a very singular appearance, quite after which she appeared deeply distressed. She the opposite of that usually exhibited in the courts of was heard also to talk of three deputations which petty sovereigns upon the Continent. In the latter lie had received from France. It was besides acthere is an air of antiquated gravity, which pervades counted a circumnstance of strong suspicion, that the whole establishment, and endeavours to supply discharges and furloughs were granted to two or the want of splendour and of real power. The heavy three hundred of Napoleon's Old Guard, by the appiaratus designed for the government of an inde- medium of whom, as was too late discovered, the pendent state is applied to the management of a allegiance of the military in France was corrupted fortune not equal to that of many private gentlemen; and seduced, and their minds prepared for what the whole course of business goes slowly and cum- was to ensue. We cannot suppose that su1ch a brously on, and, so that appearances are maintained number of persons were positively intrlusted vith in the old style of formal grandeur, the sovereign the secret; but every one of'them was prepared to and his counsellors dream neither of expedition, sound forth the praises of tIe emperor in his exile, conquest, or any other political object. and all entertained and disseminated the persuasion, The court of Porto Feriajo was the reverse of all that he would soon appear to reclaim his rights. this Indeed, the whole place was, in one sense, At length Mariotti, the French consul at Legdeserving of the name of Cosmopoli, which Napo- horn, and Spannoki, the Tuscan governor of that leon wished to ilmpose on it. It was like the court town, informed Sir Niel Campbell that it was cerof a great barrack, filled with military, gendarmes, tainly determined at Elba, that Bonaparte, with his police officers of all sorts, refugees of every nation, guards, should embark for the Continent. Sir Niel expectants and dependents upon the court, do- was at Leghorn when he received this intelligence, mestics and adventurers, all connected with Bona- and had left the Partridge sloop of war to c'ruize parte, and holding or expecting some benefit at his round Elba. It was naturally concluded that Italy hand. Rumours of every kind were buzzed about was the object of Napoleon, to join with his brotherthrough this miscellaneous crowd, as thick as motes in-law Murat, who was at that time, fatally for him. in sunshine. Suspicious characters appeared, and self, raising his banner. disappeared again, without affording any trace of On the 25th of February, the Partridge hlaving their journey or object. The port was filled with come to Leghorn, and fetched off Sir Niel Caurspships from all parts of Italy. This indeed was ne- bell, the appearance, as the vessel approached cessary to supply the island with provisions, when Porto Ferrajo on her return, of the national guard crowded with such an unusual degree of population; on the batteries, instead of the crested grenadiers of and, besides, vessels of all nations visited Porto the Imperial Guard, at once apprised the British Ferrajo, from the various motives of curiosity or resident of what had happened. When lie landed, speculation, or being compelled by contrary winds. he found the mother and sister of Bonaparte in a The four armed vessels of Napoleon, and seventeen well-assumed agony of anxiety about the fate of belonging to the service of the miners, were con- their emperor, of whom they affected to know no LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 677 thing, except that lle had steered towards the coast parte; as if to allow the legitimate heir the credit of Barbary. They appeared extremely desirous to with his people, of' having at once saved their ho. detain Sir Niel Campbell on shore. Resisting their nour, and obtained for theim the most advantageous entreaties, and repelling the more pressing argu- terms. ments of the. governor, who seenled somewhat dis- The French readily caught at these indulgences, posed to use force to prevent him from re-embark- and, with the aptitude they possess of accommodating, the British envoy regained his vessel, and set ing their feelings to the moment, for a time seemed sail in pursuit of the adventurer. But it was too to intimate that they were sensible of the full adlate; the Pa:tridge only attained a distant sight vantage of the change, and were desirous to make as of the flotilliia, after Bonaparte and his forces had much of it as they possibly could. There is a story landed. of a French soldier in former timnes, who, having. The clhanges which had taken place in France, insulted his general in a fit of intoxication, was atlnd had encouraged the present most daring action, brought before him next morning, and interrogated, forml the subject of the next chapter. whether he was the person who had committed the offence. The accused replied he was not, for that the impudent rascal had gone awvay before four in the morning,-at Which hour the culprit had awaked Retrospect.-Restoration of the Bourbons displeasing to in a state of sobriety The French people, like the the soldiery, but satisfactory to the people. —Terms fa- arch rogue in question, drew distinctions between vourable to France granted by the a/lies.-Discontents their present and former selves, and seemed very abaout the mtanner of concedingy the charter - Other willing to deny their identity. They were no longer grounds of dissatis'actint. - Apprehensions lest the they said, either the republican French, who had chulrch anld crol lands should be resumed. -Resus- committed so many atrocities in their own country, ciltatiot of the jatcobinfaclie.-Increased dissatisfac- or the imperial French, who had made such devastions in the army. —'The claims f the emigrants mooted tation in other nations; and God forbid that the sins in the Chamber of Delegates - Marshal MIacdonald's proposal. —Finacial dtll2iculties. - Restricttions on the of either shlould be visited upon the present regenepress —Reflections on this subject. rate race of royalist Frenchmen, loyal to their native princes, and faithful to their allies, who desired only WE must now look back to the re-establishment to enjoy peace abroad and tranquillity at home. of the Bourbons upon the throne in 1814, an event These professions, which were probably serious which took place under circumstances so uncommon for the time, backed by the natural anxiety of the as to excite extravagant expectations of national monarch to make, through his interest with the felicity; expectations which, like a premature and allied powers, the best terms he could for his cournprofuse display of blossom, diminished the chance try, were received as clrrent without strict exaof the fruit ripening, and exasperated the disappoint- mination. It seemed that Bonaparte, on his retiremnent of over sanguine hopes. For a certain time ment to Elba, had carried away with him all the all had been gay and rose-coloured. The French offences of the French people, like the scape-goat, possess more than other nations the art of enjoying which the Levitical law directed to be driven into the present, without looking back with regret on the the Wilderness, loaded with the sins of the children past, or folrward to the future with unfavourable of Israel. There was, in all the proceedings of the anticipations. Louis XVIII., respectable for his allied powers, not only moderation, but a studied literary acquirerments, and the practice of domestic delicacy, observed towards the feelings of the virtues, amiable also fiom a mixture of bonuhoazie, French, whlich almost savonred of romantic geneand a talent for saying witty things, was received in rosity. They seemed as desirous to disguise their the capital of his Lkingdom with acclamations, in conquest, as the Parisians were to conceal their which the soldiers alone did not cordially join. They defeat. The treasures of art, those spoils of foreign inideed appeared with gloomy, sullen, and discon- countries which justice loudly demanded should be tented looks. The late Imperial, now Royal Guard, restored to their true owners, wvere confirmned to the seemed, fr'omu the dark ferocity of thleir aslpect, to French nation, in order to gratify the vanity of the consider themselves rather as the captives who metropolis. By a boon yet more fatal, announced were led in. triumtph, than the soldiers who partook to the public in one of those moments of romantic, of it. and more than questionable generosity, which we But the hIigher and middling classes in general, have alluded to, thle whole French prisoners of war excepting those who +were direct losers by the de- in the mass, and without inquiry comncerning their thronemenut of Napoleon, hailed with sincere satis- principles, or the part they were likely to take in faction the prospect of peace, tranquillity, and free- fuiture internal divisions, were at once restored to domn from ivexatious exactions. If they had not, as the bosom of their country. This was in fIhct treatthey conil hardly be supposed to have, any personal ing the French nation as a heedless nurse does a zeal for the representatives of a fanily so long spoiled child, lwhen she lputs into its hands the knife strlnDgers to France, itwas fondly hoped the absence which it cries for. The fatal consequences of this of thlis night be supplied by the unwonted prospect improvident indulgence appeared early in the subseof ease and security w hich their accession promised. qoent year. The allied mnonarchs, on their part, did everything The Senate of Napoleon, when they called the to favour the Bourbon family, and relaxed most of Bourbons to the throne, had not done so without tlhe harsh and unpalatable conditionas which they mnaking stipulations on the part of the nation, and had annexed to their proposed treaty with Bona-: also upon their own. For the first purpose they I.1s _...2 678 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. framed a decree, under which they " called to the the substantial principles of a firee constitution. But throne Louis Stanislas Xavier, brother of the last both parties were rather displeased at what tliey king," but upon condition of his accepting a consti- considered as lost, than gratified at what they gaintution of their framing.'This assumed right of dic- ed by this arrangement.'rlle royalists regarded tating a constitution, and naming a king for the the constitution, with its concessions, as a voluntary nation, was accompanied by another provision, de- abandonment of the royal prerogativ;e, while tile claring the Senate hereditary; and confirming to revolutionary party exclaimed, that the receiving themselves, and their heirs for ever,. the rank, ho- the charter from the king, as an act of his will, was nours, and emoluments, which in Napoleon's time in itselfa badge of servitude; and that the sanme they only enjoyed for life. royal prerogative which had granted these privileges The king refused to acknowledge the right of the might, if recognized, be supposed to reserve the Senate, either to dictate tile terms on which he power of diminishing or resumilng themi at pleasure. should ascend a throne, his own by hereditary de- And thus it is, that folly, party-spirit, pride, -and scent, and to which he had never forfeited his claim; passion, can misrepresent the best measures, and or to engross, as their own exclusive property, the so far poison the public mind, that the very glralting endowments provided to their order by Bonaparte. the object of their desires shall be made the sulbject He, therefore, assumed the crown as tile lineal and of new complaints. true representative of him by whom it was last The formation of the ministry gave rise to mlore worn; and issued his own constitutional charter serious grounds of apprehension and censure. The as a concession which the spirit of the times de- various offices oftadaliniistration were, upon the remanded, and which he had himself no desire to storation, left in possession of'persons selected from. withhold.; those who had been named by tile Provisional GoThe objections to this mode of proceeding were, vernment. All the members of the Provisional practically speaking, of no consequence. It signified State Council were called to be royal ministers of nothing to the people of France, whether the con- the state.'Many of these, though possessed of estitution was proposed to the king by thie national puted talents, were men hackneyed in the clianoes representatives, or by the king to them, so that it of the Revolution; and were not, and could not contained, in an irrevocable form, a full ratification be, intrusted with the king's confidence beyonod of the national liberties. But for the king to have the bounds of the province'which each adnini.steled. acknowledged himself the creature of the Senate's Talleyrand, minister for foreign afflils, shllose election, would have been at once to recognize talents and experience nsight hase given hiln cllim every ephemeral tyranny, which had started up and to the situation of priime minister, was unpopular firetted its part on the revolutionary stage; and to from his political versatility; and it was judged, have sanctioned all subsequent attempts at innova- after a timne, most expedient to send him to tihe tion, since they who make kings and authorities congress at Vienna, that his diplomattic skill migllht must have the inherent right to dethrone and annul be employed in arran"ging the exterior relations of them. It should not be forgotten how the British France with the other poweis of Europe. Yet the nation acted on the great occasions of the Restora- absence of this consummate statesinan was of' great tion and Revolution; recognizing, at either crisis, prejudice to the king's a-l'airs. Ibis having lprethe right of blood to succeed to the crown, whether served life, distinction, and fiequently p)ower, dulrinlr vacant by the murder of Charles I., or the abdica- so many revolutionary changes, proved, accordling tion of James II. In principle, too, it may be ob- to the phrase of the old Earl of' Pembroke, that lie served, that in all modern European nations, the was born of the wsillow, not of tile oak. B3t it swas king is nominally the source both of law and justice; the opinion of thle wisest meni in France, that it swas and that statutes are promulgated, and sentences not tiir, consiering thle tittles i swhllichl lie lived, executed in his name, without inferring that he has to speak of his attachlilent to, or (defection front iinthe. despotic right either to make thle one, or to alter dividuals, but to cornsider tule general coIlduct and the other. Although, therefore, the constitution of maxims vwhich tie recomnliended relative to thle inFrance emanated in the usual foirm of a royal char- terests of Framnce. It ihas been truly said, that, after ter, the king was no more empowered to recal or the first errors land ebulitions of republican zeal, if innovate its provisions, thllan King John to abrogate he were mleasured by thlis standalrd, he imust be those of the English Magna Charta. Monsieur, the judged favouraLly. Th'le councils which lie gave to king's brother, had promnised in his naine, upon his Napoleon were all calculated, it was said, for the solemn entrance to Paris, that Louis would recognize good of tile niatioii, and so wsere the measures which the basis of the constitution prepared by the Se- lie recomlmended to thle king. Muchm of this is nate. This pledge wvas fully redeemed by the really true; yet, when we think of tile political charter, and wise men would have been m.o.re an- consistency of the Prince of lenevemntunl, we cannot xious to secure the benefits whiich it bestowed, than help recollectiing the personal viitiie of a fleale scrupulously to cavil on the mode ii swhichll they fiollower ofthe camp, whllichl consisted in strict fidehad bieen conferred. lity to the grenadier colmpany. InI fact, Louis had adopted not only the form Duponlt swas promoted to tile situation of minister amost consonant to ancient-usage, but that which he at wvar, owving, )erhlaps, to tile persecution lie had thought most likely to satisfy both the royalists and undergone fi-ora Bonaparte, in consequienice of his the revolutionary party. He ascended the throne surrender at Baylen to tile Spaniards. Soulit wa as his natural right; and, having done so, he wil- afterwards called to this inmportant office; how relingly granted to the people, in an irrevocable form, comnended, it svould be sain to inquire.'When LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 679 Napoleon heard of his appointment from the Eng- no territorial loss during the whole period of hostililish resident, he observed, that it would be a wise ties. The war, which had nearly ruined most other and good one, if no patriotic party should show nations, had put Britain ill possession of all the coitself in France; bhut if such should arise, he inti- lonies of France, and left the latter country neither mated plainly that there would be no room for the a ship nor a port in the East or West Indies; and, to Bourbons to rest faith upon Soult's adherence to sum the whole, it was not in the power of united Eutheir cause; and so it proceed. rope to take fiom England by force any one of the To add still farther to the inconveniences of this conquests which she had thus made. The question, state of administration, Louis XVIII. had a fa- therefore, only was, what Britain was voluntarily to vourite, although lie had no prime minister. Count cede to an enemy who could give her no equivalent, Blacas d'Aulps, minister of the household, an an- excepting the pledge to adopt better principles, and cient and confidential attendant of the royal person to act no longer as the disturber of Europe. The du!ing his exile, was understood to be the channel cessions were such in number and amount, as to through which the king's wishes were communicated show that England was far above the mean and selfto the other ministers; and his protection was sup- ish purpose of seeking a colonial monopoly, or deposed to afford the surest access to the favours of siring to destroy the possibility of commercial rivally. the crown. All was restored to France, excepting only Tobago Without doing his master the service of a pre- and the Mauritius. mier, or holding either the power or the responsibi- These sacrifices, made in the spirit of peace and lity of that high situation, De Blacas had the full moderation, were not made in vain. They secured share of odium usually attached to it. The royalists, to Britain the gratitude and respect of other states, who pressed on him for grants which were in the and, giving to her councils that character of justice departments of other ministers, resented his declin- and impartiality which constitotes the best national ing to interfere in their favour, as if, having satis- strength, they placed her in a situation of more fled his own ambition, lie had become indifferent influence and eminence in the civilized world, than to the interest of those with whom he had been a the uncontroled possession of all the cotton-fields joint sufferer during the emigration. The opposite and sugar islands of the east and wrest could ever party, on the other hand, represented Count Blacas have raised her to. Still, with respect to France in as an absolute minister, an emigrant himself;, and particular, the peace was not recommended by the the patron of emigrants; a royalist of the highest eminence to which it had raised England. The riclass, and an enemy, of course, to all the constitu- valry, so long termed national, and which had been tional stipulations in favour of liberty. Thus far it so carefully fostered by every state paper or political is certain, that the unpopularity of Monsieur de statement which Bonaparte had permitted to be pubBlacas, with all ranks and parties in the state, had lished, rankled even in generous and honourable the worst possible influence on the king's afihirs, minds; and so prejudiced are the views of passion, and as his credit was ascribed to a blind as well as that by mistaking each other's national feelings, an obstinate attachment on the part of' Louis, the there were many Frenchmen induced to believe that monarch was of course involved in the unpopularity the superiority attained by Great Britain was to a of the minister of the household. certain degree an insult and degradation to France. The terms of the peace, as we have already Everything, indeed, which ought to have soothed hinted, had been studiously calculated to recom- and gratified the French people, was at last, by irmend it to the feelings of the French people. France ritated feelings and artful misrepresentation, conwas, indeed, stripped of that extended sway which verted into a subject of complaint and grievance. rendered her dangerous to the independence of The government of Napoleon had been as comother European nations, and reduced, generally pletely despotic as it could be rendered in a civilized speaking, to the boundaries which she occupied on country like France, where public opinion forbade the 1st of January, 1792. Still the bargain was not its being carried to barbaric extreme. On tile coiharshly driven. Several small additions were left trary, in the charter, France was endowed with with her on the side of Germany and the Nether- most of the elementary principles of a fiee and lilands, and on that of Savoy she had the considerable berai constitution. The king had adopted, in all towns of Chambhri, Annecy, Avignon, with the points of a general and national tendency, the prinComtat-Venaissin and Montbelliard, included in her ciples proposed in the rejected constitutional act of territories. But these concessions availed little; the Senate. and, looking upon what they had lost, many of-the The Chamber of Peers and Chamber of Deputies French lpeople, after the recollections had subsided were the titles applied to tile aristccratical and poof their escape from a dreadful war, were naturally, pular branches of the constitution, instead of the Sehowever unreasonably, disposed to murmur against nate and Legislative Body. Their public duties the reduiction of their territories, and to insist that were divided something like those of the Houses of Belgium, at least, should have remained svith them. Peers and Commons in England. The independence'This opinion was encouraged and pressed by the of the judicial order was recognized, and the miliBonapartists, who considered the cession of that tary were confirmed in their rank and revenues. country with the more evil eye, because it was un- The Chamber of Peers was to be nominated by the derstood to have been a point urged by England. king, with power to his majesty to create its meumYet if England played a proud, it was also a ge- hbers for life, or hereditary, at his pleasure. TIle nerous part. She ihad nothing to stipulate, nothing income of the suppressed Senate was resumed, and of which to demand restitttion, for she had sustained vested in the crown, excepting confiscated property, 4680 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. which was restored to the lawful owners. The catho- ment of achieving despotic power, the undisputed lic religion was declared to be that of the state, but command, namely, of the army, would be naturally all other christian sects were to be protected. The unwilling to risk the continuance of his authority by king's authority was recognized as head of the army, any attempt to innovate upon those conditions, and the power of making peace and war was vested which he had by his own charter assured to the in hiln exclusively. The liberty of the press was people. On the contrary, conditions formed and established, but under certain restraints. The con- decreed by the Senate of Bonaparte might, on the scription was abolished-the responsibility of minis- popular party's resuming the ascendancy, be altered ters recognized; and it may be said, in general, that or recalled by the Chambers with the same levity a constitution was traced out, good so far as it went, and fickleness which t'ie people of France, or at andsusceptible of receiving the flrther improvements least those acting as their representatives, had so which time and experience might recommend. The often displayed. To give permanence to the concharter was presented to the Legislative Body by the stitution, therefore, it was best it should emanate king in person, with a speech, which announced that from the party most interested in preserving it, and the principles which it recognized were such as had least able to infringe it; and that undoubtedly, as been adopted in the will of his unfortunate brother, France stood at the time, wvas the sovereign. In Louis XVI. Great Britain, the constitution is accounted more Yet though this charter contained a free surrender secure, because the king is the source of law, of of great part of the royal rights which the old race of honour, and of all ministerial and executive power; Bourbons had enjoyed, as well as of all the arbitrary whilst lhe is responsible to the nation through his power which Napoleon had usurped, we have seen ministers, for the manner in which that power is that it was unacceptable to an active aeldinfluential exercised. An arrangement of a different kind party in the state, who disdained to accept security would expose the branches of the legislature to a for property and freedom under the ancient forms of discordant struggle, which ought never to be cona feudal charter, and contended that it ought to have templated as possible. emanated directly from the will of the sovereign Thlle zealous liberalists of France were inrduced, people. We have no hesitation in saying, that this however, to mutiny against the name under which was as reasonable as the conduct of a spoiled child, their free constitution was assigned thenr, and to call who refuses what is given to him, because he is not back Bonaparte, who had abolished the very semsuffered to take it; or the wisdom of a hungry man, blance of freedom, rather than to accept, at the who should quarrel with his dinner, because he hands of a peaceful monarch, the degree of liberty does not admire the shape of the dish in which it is which they themselves had acquired. The advanserved ulp. tages which they gained will appear in the sequel. This is the common-sense view of the subject. If Thus setting out with varying and contradictory the constitution contained the necessary guarantees opinions of the nature and origin of the new consliof political fieedom, and security of life and pro- tution, the parties in the state regarded it rather as perty; if it was to be looked to as the permanent a fortress to be attacked and defended, than as a settlement and bulwark of the liberties of France, temple in which all men were called to wvorship. and considered as a final and decided arrangement, The French of this period might be divided into liable indeed to be improved by the joint consent of three distinct and active parties-royalists; liberals the sovereign, and the legal representatives of the of every shade, down to republicans; and Bonasubject, but not to be destroyed by any or alloftthese partists. And it becomes our duty to say a few authorities, it was a miatter of utter unimportance, words concerning each of these. whvcther the systemrn was constructed in the form of' The ROYALISTS, while they added little real a charter granted by the king, or that of conditions strength to the king by their numbers, attracted dictated to him by the subject. But if there was to much jealous observation from their high birth and be a retrospect to the ephemeral existence of all the equally hligh pretensions; embroiled his affairs by French constitutions hitherto, excepting that under their imprudtent zeal; embittered his peace by their which Bonaparte had enthralled the people, then just and natural complaints; and drew suspicion on perhaps the question might be entertained, whether his government at every effort which he made to the feudal or the revolutionary form vwas most likely serve and relieve themn. They consisted chiefly of tobe innovated; or, in other words, whether the condi- the emigrant nobles and clergy. tions attached to the plan of government now adopt- The former class wvere greatly reduced in numed were most likely to be innovated upon by the ber by war and exile; insomuch, that to the House king, or by the body who represented the people. of Peers, consistihg of one hundred and seventy, Assuming the fatal doctrine, that the party in and upwards, the ancient nobles of France supplied whose name the conditions of the constitution are only thirty. The rest were the fortunate marshals expressed, is entitled to suspend, alter, or recal and generals, whom the wars of the Revolution had them, sound policy dictated that the apparent power raised to rank and wealth: and the statesmen, many of granting should be ascribed to the party least of whom had attained the same station by less hoable and willing to recal or innovate upon the grant nourable means of elevation. The old noblesse, which he had made. In this view of the case. it after their youth had been exhausted, their fortunes might be reckoned upon that the kivg, unsupported destroyed, and their spirits broken, while following unless by the royalists, who were few in number, throug-h foreign countries the adverse fortunes of unpopular from circumstances, and for the present the exiled Bourbons, beheld the restoration, indeed, dvested, excepting nominally, of the great instru- of the monarchy, but were themselves recalled to LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 681 France only to see their estates occupied, and their the ecclesiastical establishment by force; we will hereditary offices around the person of the monarch starve it to death." Accordingly, all grants and filled, by. the fortunate children of the Revolution. bequests to the church had been limited and qualified Like the disappointed English cavaliers, they might by so many conditions and restrictions, as to inwell complain that though none had wished more tercept that mode of acquisition so fruitful in a caearnestly for the return of the legitimate prince, yet tholic country; while, on the other hand, the salary none had shared so little in the benefits attending it. allowed by the state to each officiating curate was By a natural, and yet a perverse mode of reasoning, only five hundred livres (~26 16s. 8d.) yearly. No the very injuries which the nobility had sustained, doubt each community were permitted to subscribe rendered them the objects of suspicion to the other what they pleased in addition to this miserable pitranks and parties of the state. They had been the tance; but in France, when the number of those conlpanions of thile king's exile, were connected who care for no religion at all, and of those whose with him by the ties of friendship, and had near zeal will not lead them the length of paying for it, access to his person by the right of blood. Could it is deducted,the remainder will afford but a small be in nature, it was asked, that Louis could see list of subscribers. The consequence was, that at their sufferings without attempting to relieve them; the period of the restoration, many parishes were, and how could he do so in the present state of and had been for years, without any public worship. France, unless at the expense of those who occupied Ignorance had increased in an incalculable degree. or aspired to civil and military preferment, or of " We are informed," was the communication fronm those who had acquired during the Revolution the Bonaparte to one of his prefects, "that dangerous national domains which those nobles once possess- books are distributed in your department."-" Were ed? Yet the alarm was founded rather on suspi- the roads sown with them," was the answer returned cion than on facts. Of the preferment of emigrants by the prefect, " your majesty need not fear their in the army, we shall speak hereafter: but in the influence; we have not a man who would or could civil departments of the state, few of the old no- read them."-W'Yhen we add to this the relaxed blesse obtained office. To take a single example, state of public morals, the pains taken in the beginin the course of eleven months there were thirty- ning of the Revolution to eradicate the sentiments seven prefects nominated to the departments, and of religion, and render its professors ridiculous, and the list did not comprehend a single one of those the prevalence of the military character, so conspiemigrants who returned to France with Louis; and cuous through France, and so unfavourable to debut very few of those whose exile had terminated votion; and when it is further remembered that all more early. The nobles felt this exclusion from the wealth of the church had fallen into the hands royal favour, and expressed their complaints, which of the laity, which were fast clenched to retain it, some, yet more imprudently, mingled with threaten- and trembling at the same time lest it should be ing hints, that their day of triumph might yet arrive. wrested from them,-the reader may, firom all these'This language, as well as the air of exclusive dig- causes, form some notion of the low ebb of religion nity and distance which they affected, as if, the and of the church in France. distinction of their birth being all that they had left The disposition of the. king and royal family to to them, they were determined to enforce the most restore the formal observances of the Romish punctilious deference to that, was carefully remarked church, as well as to provide the suitable means of and recorded against the king. educating in future those designed for the ministry,'The noblesse were supposed to receive particular and other religious institutions, excited among the encouragement from the princes of the blood, while, Parisians a feeling of hatred and contempt. It upon the whole, they were rather discouraged than must be owned, also, that though the abstract rtobrought forward or distinguishled by Louis, who, as tive was excellent, there was little wisdom in atmany of them spared not to say, was disposed to tempting to bring back the nation to all those mulmact upon the ungenerous maxim of courting his ene- meries of popish ceremonial, which, long before mies, and neglecting those who could not upon prin- the Revolution, only subsisted through inveterate ciple become anything save his friends. They did custom, having lost all influence on the public not, perhaps, make sufficient allowance for the great mind. difficulties which thle king incurred in governing This general feeling was increased by particular France at so critical a period. events. Alarming tumults took place, on the subThe state of the clergy is next to be considered. ject of enforcing a rule unworthy of christianity and They were, generally speaking, sincerely attached civilization, by which theatrical perfotrmers are deto the king; and had they been in possession of clared in a constant state of excommunication. their revenues, and of their natural influence upon The rites of sepulture being refused to Mademoithe public mind, their attachment would have been selle Raucour, an actress, but a person of decent of the utmost consequence. But without this in- character and morals, occasioned a species of flnence, and without the wealth, or at least the in- insurrection, which compelled from the governdependence, on which it partly rests, they wvere as ment an order for interring her with the usual useless, politically speaking, as a key which does not forms. fit the lock to which it is applied. This state of The enforcing of the more regular observation things, unfortunate in many respects, flowed from a of the Sabbath, an order warranted alike by relimaximn adopted during the Revolution, and followed gion and good morals, gave also great offience to the by Bonaparte, who had his reasons for fearing the inhabitants of the capital. The solemn obsequlies intluenone of thec clergy. " We will not put down performed for the death of Louis XVI. and his unVOL. VI. 86 _..~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ G6S' JLIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. fortunate queen, when their remains were trans- occasion. It cannot be denied, that, in the discusferred from their hasty gr'ave to the royal mauso- sion of' the original rights of humnanity, and constituleumr at Saint-Denis, —a fraternal. action, and con- tions of society, several of this party showed distinnected with the forms of the catholic churlch. —wa guished talent, and that their labours were calculated also construed to the king's, prejudice, aa it, by the to keep up a general love of liberty, and to promote honour paid to these poor relics, he had intended to inquiry into the principles upon which it is founded. mark his hatred of the Revolutioni, and his recollec- Unfbortunately, however, their theoretical labours in tion of'the injuries he had sustained fiom it. Some framing constitutions diverted their attention from honours and attention bestowed on the few stir- the essential points of government, to its mere exviving chiefs of La Vend3.e were equally the subject ternal form, and led them, for example, to prefer a of misrepresentation. In short, whatever Louis republic, where every species of violence was pracXVI1l. did, which had the least appearance of tised by the little dictator of the day, to a limited gratifying those who had lost all for his sake, was monarchy, under which life, person, and property, accounted an act (cf treason against fieedom and were protected. The chiefs of this party were men the principles of' thte Revolution. of that presumptuous and undoubting class, who, None of the circumstances we have noticed had, after having failed repeatedly in political experihowever, so nluch eifect upon the public feeling ments, were as ready as ever again to undertake as the fear wbhich prevailed, that Louis, in his ve- them, with the same unhesitating and self-deceptive neration for religion and its members, might be led confidence of success. Theywere never satisfied to form some 6chemne of resuming the church lands, even with what they themnselves had done; for as which, having been confiscated by the decrees of there is no end of aimling at an ideal perfection in the National Assembly, were now occupied by a any human establishmnent, they proceeded with alhost of proprietors, who watched, with vigilant terations on their own work, as if what Butler s;ays jealousy, incipient measures, which they feared of religion had been true in politic, aind that a form might end in resumption of their property. Im- of government prudent priests added to this distrust and jealousy, by denunciations against those who held church wasintended lands, and by refusing to grant them absolutionornothingelsebuttobemende. unless they made restitution or compensation for Danger did not appal the sages of this school. them. This distrust spread far wider than among Many of them had been faimiliar with, and hardened the actual proprietors of national domains. For if to the perils of the most desperate revolutionary these were threatened with resumption of the pro- intrigues, by their familiar acquaintance with the perty they had acquired tnder authority of the ex- springs which set each in motion, and were ready to isting government for the time, it was most pro- recommence their desperate labours with as little bable, that the divine right of' the clergy to a tithe forethought, as belongs to the labourers in a powderof the produce of the earth might next have been mill, which has exploded ten times during their rebroght forward,-a claim involving the interest of membrance, and destroyed the greater number of every landholder and farmer in France to a degree their comrades. In the character of these selfalmost incalculable. entitled philosophers and busy agitators, vanity as It is plain, froim what -we have stated, that the well as egotism were leading principles. The one royalist party, whether lay or clerical, were so quality persuaded them, that they nmight be able, by little in a condition to be effectually serviceable dint of management, to avert danger fiom thernto the king in the event of a struggle, that, while selves; and the other rendered them indifferent their adherence and their sufferings claimed his respecting the safety of others. attachment and gratitude, every mark which he During the government of Bonaparte, this jacoafforded thems of those feelings was calculated binical party was repressed by a strong hancl. le to render his government suspected and unpo- knew, by experience of every sort, their restless, pular. intriguing, and dangerous disposition. They also hihilst the royalists rather sapped and encum- knew and feared his strength, and his unscruputlous bered than supported the throne to which they ad- use of it. The return of the Bourbors called thern herxed, their errors were carefully pointed out, cir- into life, like the sun which thaws the fiozen adder; cllated, and exaggerated, by the jacobin, or, as but it was only to show how they hated the beanis they called themselves, the PATRIOTIC PARTY. This which revived them. The Bourbon dynasty, with faction, small in numbers, but formidable fiom their all the remembrances it combined, seemed to this audacity, their mnion, and the dreadful recollection faction the very opposite to their favourite revoluof their former power and principles, consisted of ex- tion; and they studied with malignant assiduity the generals, whose laurels had faded with the republic; degree of liberty afforded by the national charter, ex-ministers and functionaries, whose appointments not in order to defend or to enjoy it, but to discover and influence had not survived the downfal of the how it might be made the vantage-ground for overDirectory; men of' letters, swho hoped again to rule throwing both the throne and the constitution. the state by means of' proclamations and journals; Carnot and Fouch6, formnidable names, and revoand philosophers, to whose vanity or enthusiasm lutionists from their youth upward, were the ostenabstract principles of unattainable liberty, and tn- sible leaders of this active party, and most of the desirable equality, were clearer than all the oceans surviving revolutionists rallied under their standards. of btlood, and extent of guilt and misery, -which These agitators had preserved some influence over tXs,, liad already cost, and were likely again to the lees of the people, and were sure to find the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 683 meals of augmenting it in the moment of popular them. Their ranks were augmented by upwards of commotion. The rabble of a great town is demo- 150,000 prisoners of war, whose minds were in gecratical and revolutionary by nature; for their vanity ineral actuated by the desire of avenging the disis captivated with such phrases as the sovereignty honour and hardships of their defeat and cap)tivity, of the people, their sense of poverty and licentious and whose presence greatly increased the discontent fury tempted by occasion for uproar, and they re- as well as the strength of the French army. gard the restraints of laws and good order as their W7hile the king cultivated the aifections of the constant and natural enemies. It is upon this enve- common soldiers with very imperfect success, he nomed and corrupted mass of evil passions that the was more fortunate in attacliing to himself the marexperimental philosophers of the Revolution have shals, whom he treated with the utmost respect and always exercised their chemical skill. Of late, kindness. They were gratified by his attentions, however, the intercourse between the philosophers and, having most of them some recent reason to of the Revolution and this class of apt and docile complain of Napoleon, it is possible that, had they scholars had been considerably interrupted. Bona- possessed absolute, or even very extensive interest parte, as we have hinted, restrained with a strong'with the army, that disturbance in the state of the hand the teachers of the revolutionary school while, nation which ensued could not possibly have taken by the eclat of his victories, hislargesses, and his ex- place. But while Napoleon had preserved towards pensive undertakings, in which many workmen were the marshals the distance at which a sovereign keeps employed, he detached fiom them great part of subjects, he.was often familiar with the inllerior oftheir popular disciples, who may be said, with the ficers and soldiers, and took care to keep himself in inconsequence and mutability belonging to their their eye, and occupy their attention personally. habits, principles, and temper, to have turned impe- He desired that his generals should resemble the rialists, without losing their natural aptitude to be- hilt of the sword, which may be changed at pleacome jacobins again on the next tempting opportu- sure, while the army was the blade itself, and renity. tained the sanme temper notwithstanding sutch The party of imperialists, or BONaPARTISTS, if partial alteration. Thus, the direct and personal we lay the army out of view, was small and unim- interest of the emperor superseded, in the soldier's portant. The public functionaries, whom the king bosom, all attachment to his lieutenanlts. nad displaced fiom the situations ofeemolument which It would be wasting time to show reasons, whlly they held under the emperor,-courtiers, prefects, the French army should have been attached to Nacommissioners, clerks, and commissaries,-whose poleon. They could not be supposed to forget the present means and future hopes were cut off, were long career of success which they had pursued inmof course disobliged and discontented men, who der his banner, the pensions granted in foreign looked with a languishing eye towards the island of countries which were now retrenched, and the IiElba. The immediate family connexions, favourites, censed plunder of their emperor's unceasillg cainand ministers of the late emperor, confident in the paigns. At present, they conceived the king prowealthl which most of them had acquired, and re- posed to reduce their numbers so soon as he could senting the insignificance to which they were reduced with safety, and imagined their very existence uwas by the restoration of the Bourbons, lent to this party about to be at stake. the activity which money, and the habit of political Nor was it only the selfish interests of the army intrigue, can at all times communicate. But the real which rendered then discontented. The sense of and tremendous strength of the Bonapartists lay in honour, as it was called, or rather the vanity of the attachment of the existing army to its abdicated military ascendancy and national aggraudizemellnt, general. This wlas the more formidable, as the cir- had been inspired by Bonaparte into all classes oft cunestances of the times, and the prevailing military his subjects, though they were chiefly cherished by character of the French nation, had raised the sol- his companions in arms. According to their opinion, diers fiom their proper and natural character of the glory of France had risen with Bonat.arte, -and servants of the state, into a distinct deliberative body, sunk with him for ever; not, as they fondly conhaving interests of their own, which were in their tended, through the superior force of the enemy, hut nature incompatible with those of the common- by the treachery of Marmront, and the other genlerals wealth; since the very profession of arms implies whom Napoleon trusted. This sentiment passed an aptitude to a state of war, which, to all other from the ranks of the soldiers into other classes of ranks in the state, the army itself excepted, may society, all of which are in.France deeply suscepindeed be a necessary and unavoidable evil, but tible of what is represented to them as national never can be a real advantage. glory; and it was again echoed back to the soldiers The king could not be accused of neglecting to from fields, from workshops, from manulfictories. zultivate thie affections, soothe the prejudices, and All began to agree, that they had received the Bourgratify the wishes of the army. The fact is, that bons from the hands of foreign conquerors; and that the unprecedented difficulties of his situation forced the king's reign had only commenced, because him to study how to manage by flattery, and by the France had been conquered, and Paris surrendered. most imprudent indulgences and favours, the only They rememnbered that the allies had declared the part of his subjects, who, according to the rules of restoration of the ancient family was combined with all well-governed states, ought to be subjected to the restriction of France within the ancient limits; absolute authority. Every effort was made to gratify and that, accordingly, the first act of Monsieur, as th}e feelings of the troops, and the utmost exertions lieutenant of the kingdom, had been to order the were made to remount, re-establish, and re-clothe surrender of upwards of fifty fortresses beyond the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. frontiers, which Bonaparte, it was supposed, would or who have served only in the emigrant bands of t!ade rendered the means of reacquiring the con- Cond6, or among the insurgent Chouans and Venquests, of which fortune or treachery had for a time deans. What security have yoll against being disbereft hiim. The meanest follower of the camp handed on a day's notice? And if the obligations affected to feiel his share in thie national disgrace of of the government to you bind them, as it would losing provinces, to which France had no title save seemn, so slightly, will you consider yours to them that of'ilitary usurpation. The hope that the go- as of a stricter description?" Such insinuations, ernument would at least endeavour to reconquer and such reasoning, inflamed the prejudices of' the Belgiumln, so convenient for France, and which, as army; disaffection spread generally through their they contended, fell within her natural boundaries, ranks, and, long before the bold attempt of Naserved for a time to combat these feelings; but when poleon, his former soldiery were almost univerit was perceived plainly, that the government of sally prepared to aid him in the recovery of' his France neither could nor would engage in external power. wvar, for this or any other object, the discontent of The state of active political parties in France wve the army became universal, and they might be pro- have thus described; but, as is usual, the mass of nounced ripe for any desperate enterprise. the population were somewhat indifferent to their Anmong the soldiers, the late Imperial Guards principles, unless in moments of excitation. Parties were distinguished for their sullen enmity to the in a state are to the people at large what the winds nlew order of things, and deemed themselves in- are to tile ocean. That which predominates for the salted at the guard of the king's person being com- time rolls the tide in its own direction; the next day nitted to a body of household troops, selected as it is hushed, and the waves are. under a different approved loyalists. The army were also much influence. The people of France at large were disgusted, tthat the decorations of the Legion of averse to the republicans, or jacobins. They reHlonour had been distributed with a profusion, which rained too awful an impression of the horrors of seemed intended to diminish its value. But the the tyranny exercised by these political fanatics, to course of promotion was the deepest source of dis- regard them otherwise than with terror. l'lhey content. The princes of the blood royal had been were as little Bonapartists; because they dreaded early declared colonels-general by the king; and the restless tenmper of him who gave namie to this the army soon discovered, or supposed they dis- faction, and saw that while he was at the head of covered, that under their auspices the superior the French government, the state of war must be ranks of the army were likely to be filled by the perpetual. They could not be termed royalists, for emigrant nobility, whose military service was con- they colmprehended many with whom the name of sidered as having been continued, while they were Bourbon had lost its charms; and a very large proin attendance upon the king during his exile. The portion of the country had their fortune and prosplemost indecent competition was thus excited between perity so intimately connected with the Revolution, those whose claims were founded on their devoted that they were not disposed to afford any counteattachmlent to the house of Bourbon, and those who nance to the re-establishment of the monarchy on its had borne arms against that family, but still in the ancient footing. service of France. The truth is, that the derange- Upon the whole, this class of Frenchmen, who ment of the finances, and the jealousy of the mi- may be called moderates or constititionalists, and nisters, each of whom claimed the exclusive pa- who contained the great bulk of the men of protronage of his own department, left the king no perty, substance, and education, hoped well of the nleans so ready for discharging his debts of grati- king's government. His good sense, humanity, love ulde, and affbrding the means of subsistence to his of' justice, moderation, and other valuable qualities, ancient fiiends and adherents, as by providing for recommended him to their' esteem, and they thought them in tile army. The measure, though perhaps his restoration might be considered asthe guarantee unavoidable, was in many respects undesirable. of a lasting peace with the other nations of Europe. Old men, past the age of service, or young men But they dreaded and deprecated that counterwho had never known it, were, in virtue of these revolutionary re-action, as the established phrase clainms, placed in situations, to which the actual was, which was regarded as the object of the princes walrriors conceived they had bought a title by their of the blood, the nobility, and the clergy. The prolauirels and their scars. The appearance of the perty of many of the constitutionalists was vested superannuated emigrants, who were thus promoted in national domains, and they watched with doubt to situations ill-suited to age and infirmity, raised the and fear every step which the emigrant nobility and ridicule and contempt of Bonaparte's soldiers, clergy seemed disposed to take for recovery of their while the patrician haughtiness, and youthful pre- former rights. sumption, of the younger nobles, excited their in- On this subject the moderate party were sensidignation. The agents and friends of Bonaparte tively jealous, and the proceedings which took place suffered not these passions to cool. " There is a in the Chamber of Deputies threw striking light on plot of the royalists against you," was incessantly the state of the public mind. We must, therefore, repeated to the regiments, upon which these new turn the reader's attention in that direction. officers were imposed. "The Bourbons cannot A petty riot, concerning precedence, had arisen think themselves safe while those who shared the in a church called Durnac, between the se.,gneur of triumphs of Napoleon have either honour or exist- the parish and the mayor of the commune. T'he ence. Your ranks are slubjected to the command of mayor brought the affair before thle Chamil;er of dotards, who have never drawn a sword in battle, Deputies by a violent petition, in which he gene LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 685 ralized his complaint against the whole body of Bourbons, undertook to bring forward a plan for emigrants, whom he accused of desiring to place satisfying the emigrants, as far as the condition of themselves above the constituted authorities, and to the nation permitted; and giving, at the same tinme, treat France as a conquered country. The Chamber, some indemnity for the p ensions assigned by Bona20th November, 1814, treated the language of the parte to his veteran soldiers, which, during hi. petition as calumnious, and the squabble as mn- reign, had been paid from countlies beyond the worthy of their notice. But the debate called forth verge of France, until after the retreat fiom Mosexpressions which intimated a suspicion that there cow, when they ceased to be paid at all. The marexisted a dark and secret system, which tended to shal's statement of the extent of' the sale of the hasow the seeds of discord and anarchy among the tional domains shows how formidable the task of citizens, and to resuscitate pretensions incompatible undoing that extensive transference of property must with the laws. " t was," said the member who necessarily have been; the number of persons dimade this statement, " important to impress every rectly or indirectly interested in the question of class of Frenchmen with the great idea, that there their security, amrounting to nine or ten millions. was no safety for France, for the king, for every " Against this Colossus," continued the nmarshal, member of society, but in the maintenance of those " whose height the eye cannot measure, some impoconstitutional principles on which were founded the tent efforts would affect to direct themselves; but laws for protecting the whole." the wisdom of the king has foreseen this danger, The claims of the emigrants for restoration of even for tile sake of those imnprudent persons who their forfeited property were, abstractedly, as just might have exposed themselves to it." He proand indubitable as that of the king to the throne. ceeded, in a very eloquent strain, to eulogize the But the political considerations in which they were conduct of the emigrants, to express respect for involved rendered any general attempt to enforce their persons, compassion for their misfortunes, hothose claims the certain signal of civil war; a civil nour for their fidelity, and proceeded to observe, war almost certain to end in a second expatriation, that the existence of these old proprietors, as having both of the royal family and their followers. In claims on the estates which had been acquired by this dilemma, government seems to have looked others, placed them in a situation which ought not anxiously for some means of compromise which to exist. He therefore proposed that the nation might afford relief to the emigrants, withlout inno- should satisfy the claims of these unfortunate genvating on that article of the charter which ratified tlemen, if not in full, at least upon such telrmls of the sale of national domains. Monsieur Ferrand composition as bad been applied to other national brought forward in the Chamnber of Deputies, a obligations. Upon this footing, he calculated that motion for the restoration of such estates of eini- an annuity of twelve millions of livres yearly would grants as yet remained unsold. But this involved a pay off the claims of the various emigrants of all question respecting the rights of the muich niore descriptions. He next drew a picture of the disnumerous class whose property had been seized tressed veteran soldiers; pensioners of tile state upon by the state, and disposed of' to third parties, who had been reduced to distress by the discontito whom it was guaranteed by the charter. Since nuance of their pensions, boug'ht with their blood these gentlemen could not be restored ex jure, to in a thousand battles. Three millions more of livres their estates, as was proposed towards their more lie compated as necessary to discharge this sacred fortunate brethren, they had at least a title to the obligation. price which had been surrogated in place of their There was wvisdcm, manliness, and generosity in property, of which price the nation had still pos- the plan of Marshal Macdonald; and, could it have session. been carried ihto decisive execution, it would have These proposals called forward Monsieur Dur- greatly appeased the fears andjealousies of the probach, who charged Ferrand with the fttal plurpose plietors of national domains, and shown an imparof opening the door on the vast sutlbject of national tiality betwixt the claims of the emigrants and those domains. " Already," continued the orator, " tie of the army, which ought to hatve conciliated bot]h. two extremities of the kingdom have resotlnded with Unhappily, finds werev wanting, and the royal gothe words of the minister, as with the claps which verument, so fear from being able to incur a new precede the thunderbolt. Th'le effect which they expense of fifteen millions yearly, was not in a con-, have produced has been so rapid and so general, dition to discharge the various demands upon tlleml, i that all civil transactions have been at once sus-'without continuing the oppressive tax of les droits i pended. A general distrust and excessive fear have elnnis.. caused a stagnation, the effects of which even the It is, indeed, on the subjiect of finance and taxaroyal treasury has felt. The proprietors of national tion, that almost all revolutions among civilized naproperty can no longer sell or mortgage their estates. tions have been found to hinge; and there is scarce They are suddenly reduced to poverty in the very any judging how long actual oppression nimay be bosom of wealth. Whence arises this calamity? endured, so long as it spares the purse of indiviThe cause of it is the declaration of the minister, duals, or how early a heavy tax, even for the most ihat the property they possess does not legally be- necessary objects, will excite insurrection. lWithoutllong to them. For this is, in fact, the consequence the heavy taxation of the Spaniards, the Dutch would of his assertion, that the law recognizes in the emi- scarcely have rebelled against them; it was imposts grants a right to property which always existed." which fired the blood of the Swiss against the Aus-'I'bee celebrated Marshal Macdonald, a friend at trians; without the stanmp-act the American revo. once of monarchy and freedom, of France and the lution might have been long postponed; and but for lution migh~ have been long postponed; and bu~, 5~t,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. the disorder of the French finances, Louis XVI. others, who, devotedly attached to the welfare of need never have summoned together the National France, desired to see her enjoy, under the sway of Assembly. France was now again agitated by one a legitimate monarch, the exercise of national liberty. of those fever fits, which arise from the sensitive- They Ihad the misfortune to see that liberty attacked ness of the subject's purse. in the point where it is most sensitive, nanely, by A report on the state of the public finances, by imposing restraints upon the public press. the Ahbb de Montesquieu, had given a singular in- Bonaparte had made it part of his system to keep stance of Bonaparte's deceptive policy. Annual ex- this powerful engine in his own iron hand, wvell positions of national receipt and expenditure had aware that his system of despotism could not have been periodically published since he assumed the subsisted fobr six months, if' his actions had been exreins of government, which were, to outward ap- posed to the censure of the public, and his statepearance, unchallengeably accurate; and, as they ments to contradiction and to argument. The Bourseemed to balance each other, afforded the fair pros- bons having unloosed the chain by which the liberty pect that the revenues of the state being realized, of tle press was confined, the spirit of' literary and tile expenses could not fall into arrear. But in political controversy rushed out with such demoreality, a number of extraordinary expenses were niacal violence, as astonished and terrified those who withheld fiom the view of the public, while, on the had released it from confinement. The quantity of other hand, the produce of the taxes was over- furious abuse poured out against the Bourbons mright estimated. Thus tile two budgets of 1812and 1813, have authorized the authors to use tile words of upon close examination, exhibited a deficit of up- Caliban,wards of three hundred and twelve millions of francs, or thirteen millions sterling. Bonaparte was Y taught me language, and my profit on't not ignorant of this fact, but concealed it from the Is-I knw how to cane. eyes of the nation, in hopes of replacing it, as in his Eager to repress the spirit which displayed itself so more successful days, by foreign tribute, and, in the unequivocally, a mnotion was made on the 4th of, meantime, supplied himself by the anticipation of July, 1814, for establishing a censorship upon pamother funds; as an unfaithful book-keeper makes up phlets under a certain length, and placing all journals a plausible balance to meet the eye of his master, and newspapers under the direction of government. and covers his peculations by his dexterity in the This important subject was discussed with great use of ciphers. Upon the whole, the debts of' France manliness and talent in the assembly; bhut it is one aplpeared to have increased in the course of thirteen of the many political maxims which the British reyears to the extent of' 1,645,469,000 francs, or more ceive as theorems, that, without absolute freedom of than sixty-eight millions and a half of sterling money. the public press (to be exercised always on the peThese financial involvernents accorded ill with the ril of such as misuse it), there can neither be enlightaccomtpli'slment of an llnfortunate and hasty promise ened patriotism nor liberal discussion; and that, alof Monsieur, that the severe and pressing taxes thongh the forms of a free constitution may be called les droits rzunis should be abolished, which preserved where this liberty is restricted, they W;ill had been made when he first entered France, and i soon fail to have the necessary beneficial effects in while, betwixt hope and despair, he essayed every protecting the rights of the comumunity and the safety inducement for the purpose of drawing adherents to of individuals. The liberty of the press affords a the royal cause. On the other hand, the king, 1upon channel through which the injured may challenge his ascending the throne, Ihad engaged himself, with per- oppressor at the bar of the nation; it is the means haps too much latitude, to pay all the engagements by which public men may, in case of misconduclt, be which the state had contracted tunder the preceding arraigned before their own and succeeding ages; it government. To redeem both of these pledges was is the only mode in which bold and undisguised impossible, for without continuing this very obnoxious truth can prless its way into the cabinets of monarchs; and oppressi-ve tax, the crown could not have the anid it is the privilege, bly lileans of which he, who means of disclharging the national debt. A plan was vainly lifts hiis voice against the corrupltions or prein vain proposed by Jalabert to replace this oppres- i j!ldices of Ihis own tinie, nosy leave his counsels upon sive excise by a duty on wines; the motion was record as a legacy to ismpartial posterity. Tile referred to a committee of the Chamber of De- cruelty whllich wollld deafen tile ear arid extinguish pisties, but the substitution seenms to have been tile sightof an iniividual, resemsbles, in some similar fotind ilmpossible. Louis naturally made thie promise degrtee, his guilt, who, by restricting the freedom of of his brother give way to his own more deliberate tile press, would reduce a nation to the deafness of engagement. But it is not the less true, that by co- i prejudice anid the blindness of ignorance. The tinrnisg to levy les droits reunzis, many, rnot otherwise downif'l cf this species of freedom, as it is the first disinclined to the royal government than as it at- symptom of the decay of national liberty, has been fected their purses, were enabled to charge the kirng in all ages followed by its total destruction, arid it with breach of faith towards his subjects, and would may be justly prontounced-tisat they cannot exist selisten to no defence upon a topic on which few peo- parately;;or, as the elegiac poet has said of his hero ple are disposed to hear reason against their own and the country to which bhe belongedinterest. There remained yet another subject of-alarin and dread, to excite the minds not only of those who We must own, at the sawe time, that as no good ware desirous of revolution, or, according- to the comes to us unmixed-with evil, the unlimited freeSRoman phrase, cypidi nwovarurn reruns; but oof -dom of the press is attended with obvious nwnonve LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 6S7 niences, which, when a nation is in a certain state Thus split into parties, oppressed with taxes, vexed of excitation, render the exercise of it peculiarly with those nameless and mysterious jealousies and dangerous. This is especially the case when a fears, which form the most dangerous subjects of people, as then in France, are suddenly released disagreement, because alike incapable of being exfrom a state of bondage, and disposed, " like youth- plained and confuted, France was full of inIlamful colts broke loose," to make tile most extravagant mnable materials; and the next chapter sill show use of their liberty. With minds unprepared for that there was not wanting a torch to give kindling discussion; with that degree of political misinformna- to them. tion which has done this age more dire mischief than absolute ignorance itself could have effected; subject to be influenced by the dashing pamphleteer, CHAPTER CII. who soothes their prevailing passions, as the orations of their popular demagogues soothed those of the Carnot's mesnorial on public afairs. —Fotcmh fails to Athenians,-it has been the opinion of many states- obtain the favour of the king, and joins the jacobinsmen, that to withhold from such a nation the free- Various projects of that party; which finally joins the donl of the press, is a measure justifiable alike by Bfonapartists.-Active intrigtes conmenced.-Csngress reason and necessity. We proportion, say these of Vienna-Murat, alarmed at its proceedings, opens an intercourse with Napoleon.-Plans of the conspireasoners, liberty to the power of enjoying it. The a-iteronase ite' N leo.-Plts of t-e colsparators.-Bonaparte's escape J)'om Elba —He lands at considerate and the peaceful we suffer to walk at Crtoes, and advances throughz France-Is joined, at liberty, and armed, if their occasions require it; but Grenoble, by 3000 troops-Halts at Lyons, appoints a we restrain the child, we withhold weapons from ministry, and issues several decrees. - Disnleay of tIe the ruffian, and we fetter the maniac.. Why, there- royal government. -- Intrigues of FoucMh. — Treaciery fore, they ask, should a nation, when in a state- of of Ney. - Revolt of the Bourbon army at Melunt. - fever, be supplied, without restriction, with the The king leaves Paris, and Bonaparte arrives there indtlgences which must necessarily increase the -His reception. disorder? Our answer is ready,-that, granting the abuse of the liberty of the press to exist in the most CARNOT has been repeatedly mentioned in this fearful latitude (and we need not look to France for history as having been the associate and colleague of examples), the advantages derived from it are so Robespierre during the whole Reign of Terror. His inestimable, that, to deprive us of them, would be admirers pretend that, charging himself only with as if an architect should shut up the windows which the conduct of the foreign wvar, he left to his brethren supply light and air to a mansion, because a certain of the Coulmittee of Public Safety the sole charge proportion of cold, and perhaps of rain, may force of those measures, for which no human language aftheir way in at the apertures. Besides, we acknow- fords epithets of sufficient horror, through which ledge ourselves peculiarly jealous of the sentiments they originally rose to power, and by which they of the members of every governnent on-this delicate maintained it. According to these fond advocates, subject.'Their situation renders them doubtfiul their hero held his course through the PReign ef friends to a privilege, through which alone they caul Terror unsullied by a bloody spot, as Arethusa rolled be rendered amenable to the public for the abuse her waters through the ocean without mingling witll of their power, and thllrogh which also they often its wlaves! and the faith of most readers will swalsee their just and temlerate exercise of authority low the ancient miracle as easily as the noderr). maligled and misconstrued. Tro princes, also, the Carnot, however, had the independence of spirit tos license of the press is, for many reasons, distasteful. oppose Napoleon's seizure of the thlone, and e:lil inTo put it under regulation, seems easy and desir- ed in obscurity unitil 1814, when he employed his able, and the Ilardsllip on the community not greater talents as anl engineer in defence of Antwerp. -II(in thleir account), titan thle enforcing of decent re- gave in, late and reluctantly, his adhersele to tihspect and subordination,-of the sort of etiquette, restoration, and was confirmed in his rank,of ill ill sshort, rwhicll is established in all courts, and spector-general of engineers. But this did not il',.whvich forbids the saying, untder any pretext, what vent him from being extremssely actise ino clnspiring may be rude or disagl-eeable to a sovereign, or the downfal of the monarch to whose allegiance h!e even unpleasing to be heard. Under tlhese circum- had submitted himnself, and who afforded lhim sslbstances, and in the present state of France, men sistence and rank. ratler regretted than wondered that the ministers of Carnot gave his opinion upon public affiiirs isn a )Louis XVIII. were disposed to place restrictions memnorial, rnaide public in September, 1814, which on tle fieedom of the press, or that they effected was at once an apology for the jacobin party, and a their purpose of placing the light of nations under a direct attack on the reigning dynlasty. Tlhis docacensorial bushel. mellt we must necessarily consider at some lengtll, But the victory thus obtained brought additional as it conveys the ostensible reasons on which tIhe evils on the governlment. The law was evaded author, and many thosusands besides, having in their under various devices; the works which it was in- anxious consideration the interests of the freedonl of tended to intercept, acqusired circulation and im- France, thought these interests would be best propor.ance from the very circumstance of their being vided for by destroying the sway of a mild and someprohibited; while the, whole tenor of the measure what feeble monarch, whose reign was identified itnressed many who had otherwise been friendly to with peace and tranquillity, in order to recal to the the Bourbon fahlily, with distrust respecting their throne an absolute sovereign, ruling on mlilitary designs upon the national liberty. principles only, and whose first step under tohe t6b8 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. canopy of state must necessarily be followed by war with having termed himself king by the grace of with all Europe. God,-with resigning Belgium when Carnot was In this singular, and, as it proved, too effective actually governor of' Antwerp,-with preferring production, every fault committed by the restored Chouans, Vendeans, emnigrants, Cossacks, or Engfamily is exaggerated; and they, with the nobles, lishmen, to the soldiers whose victories had kept their personal adherents, are, under a thin and con- him in exile, and in consequence of whose defeat temptuous veil of assumed respect towards the king, alone he had regained the throne of his fathers. The treated alike as fouls, who did not understand how emigrants are represented as an exasperated, yet a to govern France, and as villains, who meditated contemptible faction. The people, it is said, care her ruin. The mnurder of the king is, with irony little about the right of their rulers,-about their as envenomed as iunjust, stated to have been occa- quarrels,-their private life, or even their political sioned, not by the violence and cruelty of his perse- crimes, unless as they affect themselves. All gocutors, but by the pisillanimity of his nobility, who vernment, of course, has its basis in popular opinion; first provoked the resentment of the nation, and then but, alas! in actual history, "the people are only fled from the kingdom, when, if they had loved their regarded," says Monsieur Carnot, "as the victims sovereign, they should have rallied around him. This of their chiefs; we witness nothing but the contest plea, in the mouth of a regicide, is as if one of a of subjects for the private interest of their princes, band of robbers should impute an assassination not -kings, who are themselves regicides and parrito their own guilty violence, but to the cowardice of cides,-and priests who incite mankind to mutual the domestics of the murdered, by whom that vio- slaughter. The eye can but repose on the generous lence might have been resisted. No one also knew efforts of some brave men who consecrate thembetter than Carnot by what arts Louis XVI. was selves to the deliverance of their fellow-countrymen; induced by degrees to abandon all means of defence if they succeed, they are called heroes,-if they fail, which his situ;tion afforded him, and to throw him- they are traitors and demagogues." Iln this and self upon the sworn faith and allegiance of those by other passages, the author plainly intinmated what whom Ihe was condemned to death. As whimsical spirits were at work, and what was the object of and unlogical were the examples and arguments- their machinations. The whole pamplhlet was dereferred to by Ca-lot in support of the condemnation signed as a manifesto to the French prblic, darkly, of Louis. Cicero, it seems, says in his Offices, " We yet distinctly, announcing the existence of a formidhate all those Nwe fear, and we wish for the death of able conspiracy, the principles on which its memthose we hate." On this comprehensive ground, bers proceeded, and their grounds for expecting Carnot vindicates the orator's approbation of the success. death of Caesar, notwithstanding the clemency of Carnot himself affected to say, that the mnemorial the usurper; and Cato, indeed (continues the col- was only designed for circulation among his prileague of Robespierre), went farther, and did not vate connexions. But it would not have answered think it possible there should be a good king. Of the intended purpose had it not been printed and course, not Louis XVI. alone, but all monarchs, dispersed with the most uncommon assiduity. Small might be justly put to death in Carnot's estimation; carts traversed the Boulevards, from which it was because they are naturally the objects of fear to hawked about among the people, in order to avoid their subjects-because we hate those we fear- the penalties wlhich booksellers and stationers might and because, according to the kindred authority have incurred by dealing in an article st inflanimaof Shylock, no mnan hates the thing le would not tory. Notwithstanding these evasions, the printers kill. The doc.trine of regicide is said to be con- and retailers of this diatribe were Iprosecuted by gofirmed in the Old T1'est;ament; families wxere Yruassa- vernment; but the juges d'instruction refulsed to cred,-monarcihs proscribed,-intolerance promnul- confirm the bill of indictnent, and this iaillnre served. gated, by the ministers of a merciful Deity: where- to encourage the jacobln farction.'I'The oflicial piro ibre, then, should not the jacobins put Louis XVI. ceedings, by which the mliiisters endeavoared to to death? If it wvas alleged, that the persons of suppress the plublication, irritated rather than intikings were inviolt;ble by tile laws of all civil govern-. midated those who took inter est in it. It argued, inents, those of' usurpers certaln!y were not so pro- they said, at once a timorous and a vintdictive spirit tected; and what mneans e ore there, said Calnot, to oppress the inferior agents in an alleged libel, for positively distinguishing between a ustrper while the ministers dared not bring to trial the avowand a legitimnate Icing-? The difficulty of making ed author. In this inqiiestionably they argued justly; such a distinction was no doubt a sufficient vindi- for the measures correspotlded with that paltry cation of the judges of Louis XVI. policy, which would rather assail the liberty of the Trash like this had scarce been written since the press, than biing to fair trial and open punishment club-room of the jacobins was closed. But the ob- those by whom it is misused. ject of Carnot's 1pnsftphlet was not to excuse a deed It would has-e been as impossible for Foouch6 to (whIich lie wvould probably have rather boasted of have lived amiid such a comsplicated scene of polias laudable), bhut by the exaggerations of his elo- tical intrigue, without mingling in it, as for the sparks qnence, and the vweight of his influence with thie to resist flying upwards. He was, however, illpublic, to animate the fury of the other parties placed for the clharacter he desired to act. After against the Bourbioils and their adherents. The king having lent Bonaparte hIis aid to betray and de, was charged with having been ungrateful to the throne the Directors, he had long meditated how to call of the nation (a1 call which assuredly he would dethrone and betray Bonaparte, arid substitute in his. never have heard but for the cannon of the allies),- place a regency, or some form of government under LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 689 which lie might expect to act as prime minister. in which he endeamoured to convince him, that the In this undertaking, he more than once ran the peril title ofsovereign in the paltry islet of Elba, did of liie, and was glad to escape with an honourahble not become him who had possessed an immense exile. We have alteady stated that he had missed empire. Hle remarked to Napoleon, that the situathe most favourlable opportunity for availing himself tion of the island was not suitable to his purpose of of his political knowledge, by his absence from retirement, being near so many points where his Paris when it was taken by the allies. Fouch6 presence might produce dangerous agitation. He endeavoured, however, to obtain the notice of the observed, that he might be accused, although he restored monarch and his government, and to render was not criminal, and do evil without intending it, his services acceptable to Louis. Vhen the cele- by spreading alarm. He hinted that the King of brated revoltutionist appeared in the ante-chamber France, however determined to act with justice, on his first attendance at court, he observed a sneer yet might be instigated by the passions of others to on the countenance of some royalists who were in break through that rule. He told the Ex-Emperor waiting, and took the hint to read them a lesson, of France, that the titles which lie retained were showing, that a minister of police, even when he only calculated to agment his regret for the loss of has lost his office, is not a person to be jested with. real sovereignty. Nay, that they were attended "Yotu, sir," said he to a gentlemen, "seem proud with positive danger, since it might he thought they of the lilies with wvhich you are adorned. Do you re-'were retained only to keep alive his pretensions. collect the language you held respecting tile Bourbon Lastly, he exhorted Napoleon to assume the chafamily some timne since in such a company?-And racter of a private individual, and retire to the you, madam," lie continued, addressing a lady, " to United States of America, the country of Franklin, whom I gave a passport to England, may perhaps Washington, and Jefferson. wish to be reminded of what then passed betwixt Fouch6 could scarcely expect that this monitory us on the subject of Louis XVIII." The laughers epistle should have much effect upon his once inrwere conscience-struck, and Fouch6 was introduced perial master; he knew human nature and Bonainto the cabinet. parte too well. But as it might tell to advantage The plan which Fouch6 recommended to the with the royal family, he sent a copy of' it to Monking was, as might have been expected, astucious sieur, with a corresponding commentary, the object and artificial in a; high degree. He advised the of which was to point out (what, indeed, circumking to assume the national cockade and three-co- stances had made evident), that the tranquillity of aotnred flag; to occupy the situltion of chief of the the countries and sovereigns of Europe could never Revolution. This, lie said, would he the same sa- be sectured while Napoleon remained in his present crifice by Lonis XVIII. as the attending on the condition, and that his residence in the Isle ofElba nmass by HEenry IV.-He might have added, it was was to France what Vesuvius is to Naples. The the sacrifice actually made by Louis XVI., who practical inference to be derived fiom this was, that lost his life in requital.-What Fouche aimed at by a gentle degree of violence to remove the person of this action is evident. He desired to place the king Napoleon would have been a stroke of state policy, in a situation where he must have relied exclusively in case the Ex- Emperor of France should not himon the men of tile Revolution, with whom he could self have the patriotic virtue to remove himrself to not have comilmunuicated save by the medium of the America. The honourable and generous piince, to )Dulke d'Otirllto, \who thus would become prime mi- whom Fouch6 had addressed himself, had too noble nister at the first step. But in every other point of a mind to adopt the hint; and this attempt to ingraview, tile f; lloning that advice nilst have placed tiate himself with the 3Bourbon family entirely failed. tile kiig itn a mean and hypocritical attitude, which But plotting was Fouchli's element; arind it seems to must have disg-sted even those whom it was adopted have signified little to him whom he had for lpartto conciliate. ners, providing he had a stake in tile political gainle. 1y assuiingn the colours of the Revolution, the He retired to his country-house, and engaged hinmKing cf France muist necessarily have stained him- self with his old friends of the jacobin party, who s,-lf nwithI tlhe variation of each of its numerous were not a little glad to avail thernselves of his excharnges. It is true, that the Revolution had pro- tensive acquaintance with all the ramifications of 1loced rnany excellent improvemrents in France, af- political intrigue. f;.ctinl? botl the theory and the.practice of govern- It was the policy of this party to insist upon tie tue it. IThese tile sovereign was bound carefully to faults ofthle royal faMily, and enlarge on their preli-eserve for tile advantage of the nation. B13ut while judices against the men and measures of that period we ale grateful fvcr the advantages of increased when France was successfil ii foreign war, against i.ealth and fertility that may follow a tornado, and the statesmen who directed, and thie soldiers who treasure tip thie valtable things which an angry ocean achieved, her gigantic enterprises. Thle king, they may cast upon the shore, none but a blinded heathen s said, had suffered misfortune without having learn. worships tile telmpest, or sacrifices to the filuious ed wisdom; he was incapable of stepping beyonl waves. The king, courting the ml;rderers of his the circle of his Gothic prejudices; France hlad rebr.:ther, could inspire, even in them, nothing save ceived him from the hand of foreign conquerors, disgust at his hypocrisy, while it would justly have surrounded by an emaciated group of menidicant forfeited the estenm and affection, not of the roy- nobles, whose pretensions were as antiquated and alists alone, tbut of all honest men. absurd as their decorations and manners. His goFourther to recommend himself to the Bourbons, vernment went to divide, they alleged, the Frencih Fouche acldressed a eingular epistle to Napoleon, into two classes, opposed to each other in merits as NOL. V. 690 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. in interests;-the emigrants, who alone were re- t the Revolutiop, and, on the other, that they would garded by Louis as faithful and willing subjects; conciliate both foreign powers and the constitutionand the rest of the nation, in whom the Bourbons alists at home, by chusing their sovereign out of the saw, at best, but repentant rebels. They asserted, famlily of Bourbon. The more cautious of those conthat, too timid as yet to strike an open blow, the cerned in the intligue recommended, that nothing king and his ministers sought every means to dis- should be attempted during the life of the reigning qualify and displace all who had taken any active monarch; others were more impatient and less canshare in the events of the Revolution, and to evade tions; and the prince alluded to received an intimathe general promise of amnesty. Under pretext of tion of their plan in an unsigned billet, containing national economy, they were disbanding the army, only these words,-" We will act it without you and reinoving the officers of governnient,-depriv- we will act it in spite of you; we will act it FOR ing thus the military and civil servants of France of YOU; "' as if putting it in his choice to be the the provision which their long serv ices hadl earned. leader or victim of the intended revolution. Louis, they said, had insulted the glory of France, The Duke of Orleans was too upright and honourand humiliated her heroes, by renouncing the ciolours able to be involved in this dark and mysterious and symbols under which twenty-five years had scheme; he put the letter which he had received into seen her victorious; he had rudely refused a crown the hands of the king, and acted otherwise with so offered to him by the people, and snatched it as his much prudence, as to destroy all the hopes which own right by inheritance, as if the dominion of mlen the revolutionary party had founded upon him. It could be transferred from father to son like the pro- was necessary to find out some other central point. perty of a flock of sheep. The right of Frenchmen Some proposed Eugene Beallharnais as the hero of to chase their own rauler was hereditary and impre- the projected movement; some projected a proviscriptible; and the nation, they said, must assert sional government; and others desired that the reit, or sink to be the contempt, instead of being publican model should be once more adopted. But the pride at once and dread, of Europe. none of these plans were likely to be favoured by Such was the language which nettled, while it the army. The cry of Vive la Rpzubliqlue had alarmed, the idle Parisians, who forgot at the mo- become antiquated; the power once possessed by ment that they had seen Napoleon take the clown the jacobins of creating popular comlmotion was from the altar at Notre Dame, and place it on his greatly diminished; and although the army was deown head, with scarcely anl acknowledgment to' voted to Bonaparte, yet it was probable that in a God, and not the shadow of any towards the nation. civil commotion in which he had no interest. they The departments were assailed by other arts of in- would follow the marshals or generals who connstigation. The chief of these was directed to excite rounanded them, in opposition to any insurrection mere.. the jealousy so often alluded to, concerning the se- ly revolutionary. If, on the contrary, the interests curity of the property of national domains. Not of Napoleon were put in the van, there vwas no fitar content with urging everywhere that a revocation of securing the irresistible assistance of tile standing of the lands of the church and emigrants was im. army. If he came back with tile samle principles pendling over the present proprietors, and that the of absolute power which he Mad forlmerly en'e:.clergy and nobles did not even deign to conceal tained, still the jacobins wool) get rid ol'Louis a d their hopes and designs, a singular device was in the charter, tile two chief objczts of their hatred mlany instances practised to enforce the belief of tile former as a king given by the law, the latter such assertions. Secret agents were dispatched into as a law given by tile king. the departments where property was advertised for These considerations speedily determined the sale. These emissaries made iinquiries as if in the jacobin party on a union with tile Bonapartists. The character of intending purchasers, and where the former were in the condition of a band of houseproperty appeared to have been derived fiom revo- breakers, who, unable to force an entrance into the lutionary confiscation, instantly objected to the se- house which they have the purpose to break into, curity as good for nothing, and withdrew their pre- renew their undertaking, and place at their head a tended otffers;-thus impressing the proprietor, and brother of the samne profession, because lie has the all in the same situation, with the unavoidable belief, advantage of having a crow-bar in his hand. When that such title was considered as invalid, owing to and how this league was'fbrmed,-what sanction the expected and menaced revocation of the Bour- the jacobin party obtained that Bonaparte, dethroned bon government. as a military despot, was to resume his dignity It is generally believed that Bonaparte was not under constitutional restrictions, wse have no oppororiginally the object designed to profit by these in- tunity of knowing. But, so soon as the coalition trigues. He was feared and hated by the jacobin was formed, his praises were sung forth on all sides, party, who knew what a slender chance his iron especially by many who had been, as jacobins, his government afforded of their again attempting to most decided enemies; and a great part of the rear their fantastic fabrics, whether of a pure re- French public were disposed to think of Bonaparte public, or a republican monarchy. It is supposed at Elba more favourably than Napoleon in the Tuitheir eves were turned in preference towards the leries. Gradually, even from the novelty and pecunDuke of Orleans. They reckoned probably oln the:lirity of his situation, he began to excite a very diffe-. strength of the temptation, and they thought, that rent interest from that which attached to the despot in supplanting Louis XVIII., and placing his kinsman in his room, they would obtain, on the one hand,, " Nous le ferons'sans vous; noss It ferons mnalgret a king who should -hold his power by and through.vous; s; os leferons poumr m-iS.' LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPAiRTE. 691 who levied so many conscriptions and sacrificed to tile nature of the materials amongst which it is his ambition so many millions of victims. Every thrown. From these places of rendezvouIs the agents instance of his activity, within the little circle of his of the plot sallied out upon their respective rounds, domlinions, was contrasted by his admirers with the furnished with every lure that could rouse the suisconstitutional inertness of the restored monarch. picious landholder, attract the idle Parisian, seduce Excelling as much in the arts of peace as in those the Ideologue, who longed to try the experiments of of war, it wanted but (they said) the fostering hand hIis Utopian theories upon real government, and and unwearied eye of Napoleon to have rendered above all, secure the military,-ti-om the officer, France the envy of the universe, had his military before whose eyes truncheons, coronets, and even aftairs permitted the leisure and opportunity which crowns, were disposed in ideal prospect, to the grethe Bourbons now enjoyed. These allegations, se- nadier, whose hopes only ainmed at blood, brandy, cretly insinuated, and at length loudly murmured, and free quarters. had their usual effects upon the fickle temper of the The lower orders of the populace, particularly public; and, as the temporary enthusiasm in favour those inhabiting the two great suburbs of St-Marofthe Bourbons faded into indifference and aversion, ceaul and St-Antoine, were disposed to the cause the general horror of Bonaparte's ambitious and from their natural restlessness and desire of change; tyrannical disposition began to give way to the re- from the apprehension that the king would disconcollection of his active, energetic, and enterprising tinue the expensive buildings in which Bonaparte qualities. was wont to employ them; fi-om a jacobinical disThis change roust soon have been known to him like to the lawful title of Louis, joined to some who was its object. All expression is said to have tender aspirations after the happy days of liberty escaped from him during his passage to Elba, which and equality; and lastly, from the disposition which marked at least a secret feeling that lihe might one the lees of society everywhere manifest to ged rid day recover the high dignity from which lie had of the law, their natural curb and enemy. The infallen. " If Marius," he observed, " had slain him- fluence of Richard le Noir was particularly useful self in the mlarshes of Minturnse, he would never to the conspirators. He was a wealthy cotton-mlahave enjoyed his seventh consulate." What was nufacturer, who combined and disciplined no less perhaps originally but the vague aspirations of an than three thousand workmen in his employment, ardent spirit striving against adversity, became, so as to be ready at the first signal of the conspirafi-onl the circumstances of France, a plausible and' tors. Le Noir was called by the royalists Sarterre well-grounded hope. It required but to establish the Second; being said to aspire, like that celecorlmunications among his numerous and zealous brated suburban brewer, to become a general of partisans, with instructions to hold out such hopes sans-culottes. Ile was bound to Bonaparte's interas might lure the jacobins to his standard, and to est by his daughter having married G(eneral Leprofit byr and inflame the growing disc.ontents and febvre Desnonettes, who was not the less the fadivisions of France; and a conspiracy was alrnost vourite of Napoleon that he had broken his parole, ready formed, with little exertion on the part of him and fled frolm England when a prisoner of war. who soon became its object and its centre. Thus agitated like a lake by a subterranean earthVanrious affiliations and points of'rendezvous were quake, revolutionary movements begtan to show now arranged to recruit for partisans. The ladies themselves amongst the populace. At times, under of the ex-emperor's court, who found themselves pretence of scarcity of bread or employment, tulhu:iliated at that of the king by the preference as- multuous groups assembled on the terrace of' the signed to noble birth, were zealous agents inthese Tuileries, with clamours which reminded the Dupolitical intrigues; for offended pride hesitates at no chess d'Angonldeme of those that preceded the irmrmeasures for obtaining vengeance. The purses of prisonrient and death of her parents. The police their husbands and lovers were of course open to dispersed them for the mroment; but if any arrests these fair intriguers, and many of them devoted their were made, it was only of such wretches as shouted jewels to forward the cause of revolution. The when.they heard others shout, and no efforts were chief of these female conspirators was Hortensia made to ascertain the real cause of symptoms so Beanharnais, wife of Louis Bonaparte, but now se- alarming. parated fiom her husband, and bearing the title of The police of Paris was at this time under the the Duchess of St-Leu. She was a person of con- direction of Monsieur Dandr6, formerly a financier. siderable talents, and of great activity and address. HIis loyalty does not seem to have been doubted, At Nanterre, Neuilly, and St-Leu, meetings 6f the but his prudence and activity are very questionable; conspirators were held, and. Madame Amrelin, the nor does he seem ever to have been completely confidante of tile duchess, is said to have assisted master either of the duties of his office, or the in concealing some of the principal agents. tools by which it was to be performed. These The Duchess of Bassano, and the Duchess of tools, in other words, the subordinate agents and Montebello (widow ofMarshal Lannes),were warmly officers: and clerks, the whole machinery as it were engaged in the same cause. At the mreetings held of the police, had remained unchanged since that in the houses of these intriguing females, the whole dreadful power was administered by Savary, Boartillery of conspiracy was forged and,put in order, naparte's head spy and confidential minister. This flrom tile political lie, which does its work if believed body,- as well as the army, felt that their honourFbalt for an hour, to the political song or squlib, which, able occupation was declined in emolument.and im-. like the:fire-work from which it derives its name, portance since the fall of Bonaparte, and looked expresses love of fi-olic or of mischief, according to back witll regret to the days when they were em 692 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. ployed in agencies, dark, secret, and well recom- negligence had existed elsewhere, no one admitted pensed, unknown to a peaceful and constitutional that the fault lay with himself This general infaadministration. Like evil spirits employed by the tuation surprises us upon retrospect; but Heaven, spells of a benevolent enchanter, these police-officers who frequently punishes mankind by the indulgence seem to have served the king grudgingly and un- of their own foolish or wicked desires, had decreed willingly; to have neglected their duty, when that that peace was to be restored to Europe by the excould be done with impunity; and to have shown termination of that army to whom peace was a state that they had lost their activity and omniscience, so so odious; and for that purpose it was necessary soon as embarked in the service of legitimate ano- that they should be successful in their desperate atnarchy. tempt to dethrone their peaceful and constitutional Under the connivance, therefore, if not with the sovereign, and to reinstate the despotic leader, who approbation of the police, conspiracy assumed a was soon to lead them to the completion of their more open and daring aspect. Several houses of destiny, and of his own. dubious fame, but especially the Caf6 Montansier, While the royal government in France was thus in the Palais Royal, were chosen as places of gradually undermined and prepared for an explorendezvous for the subordinate satellites of the sion, the rest of Europe resembled an ocean in the cause, where the toasts given, the songs sung, the act of settling after a mighty storm, when the partial tunes performed, and the language held, all bore wrecks are visible, heaving on the subsiding swell, allusion to Bonaparte's glories, his regretted ab- which threatens yet further damage ere it be entirely sence, and his desired return. To express their lulled to rest. hopes that this event would take place in the spring, The congress of representatives of the principal the conspirators adopted for their symbol the violet; states of Europe had met at Vienna, in order to and afterwards applied to Bonaparte himself the arrange the confused and complicated interests which name of Corporal Violet. The flower and the colour had arisen out of so prolonged a period of war and were publicly worn as a party distinction, before it alteration. The lapse of twenty-five years of conwould seem the court had taken the least alarm; stant war and general change had made so total an and the health of Bonaparte, under the name of alteration, not merely in the social relations and reCorporlal Violet, or Jean d'Epe, was pledged by lative powers of the states of Europe, but in the many a royalist without suspicion of the concealed habits, sentiments, and principles of the inhabitants, meaning. that it appeared altogether impossible to restore the Paris was the centre of the conspiracy; but its ra- original system as it existed before 1792. The Conmifications extended through France. Clubs were tinent resembled the wrecks of the city of London, formed in the chief provincial towns. Regular cor- after the great conflagration in 1666, when the respondences were established between them and boundaries ofindividual property were so completely the capital,-an intercourse much favoured, it has obliterated and confounded, that the king found been asserted, by Lavalette, who, having been long himself obliged, by the urgency of the occasion, to director-general of the posts under Bonaparte, re- make new, and in some degree arbitrary, distributained considerable influence over the subordinate tions of' the ground, in order to rebuild the streets agents of that department, none of whom had been upon a plan more regular, and better fitted to the displaced upon the king's return. It appears from improved condition of the age. That which proved the evidence of Monsieur Ferrand, director-general ultimately an advantage to London, may perhaps under the king, that the couriers, who, like the produce similar good consequences to the civilized soldiers and police-officers, had fou d more advan- world, and a better and more permanent order of tage under the imperial than under the royal govern- things may be expected to arise out of that which ment, were several of them in the interest of their has been destroyed. In that case, the next generaold master. And it is averred, that the correspond. tion may reap the advantages of the storms with ence relating to the conspiracy was carried on through which their fathers had to contend. WVe are, howthe royal post-office, contained in letters sealed with ever, far from approving some of the unceremonious the king's seal, and dispatched by public messengers appropriations of territory which were made upon wearing his livery. this occasion, which, did our limits admit of entering Such open demonstrations of treasonable practices into the discussion, carried, we think, the use of did not escape the observation of the royalists, and superior force to a much greater extent than could they appear to have been communicated to the mi- be justified on the principles upon which the allies nisters from different quarters. Nay, it has been acted: confidently stated, that letters, containing informa- Amid the labours of the congress, their attention tion of Napoleon's intended escape, were actually was turned on the condition of the kingdom of Nafound in the bureau of one minister, unopened and ples; and it was urged by Talleyrand, in particular, unread. Indeed, each of these official personages that allowing the existence of the sovereignty of seems scrupulously to have entrenched himself Murat in that beautiful kingdom, was preserving, at within the routine of his own particular department, the risk of future danger to Europe, an empire, so that what was only of general import to the whole founded on Napoleon's principles, and governed by was not considered as the business of any one in his brother-in-law. It was answered truly, that it particular. Thus, when the stunning catastrophe had was too late to challenge the foundation of Murat's happene.d, each endeavoured to shift the blame from right of sovereignty, after having gladly accepted himself, like the domestics in a large and ill-regulat- and availed themselves of his assistance, in the war edfanmily; and although all acknowledged that gross against Bonaparte. Talleyrand, by exhibiting to LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 693 the Duke of Wellington a train of correspondence envoy residing at his little court, and when he asbetween Bonaparte, his sister Caroline, and Murat, sumed the airs of inaccessible and imperial state, to endeavoured to show that the latter was insincere, I keep at a distance, as an inconvenient observer, Sir when seeming to act in concert with the allies. The Niel Campbell, to whom li he had before seemed duke was of opinion, that the letters id not prove rather partial. Htis motions after that time have treachery, though they indicated what was to be been described, so far as we have access to know expected, that Murat took part against his brother- them. It was on Sunday, 26th, February, that Nain-law and benefactor, with considerable reluctance. poleon embarked with his guards on board the The matter was now in agitation before the con- flotilla, consisting of the Inconstant brig, and six gress; and Murat, conceiving his power in danger, other small vessels, upon one of the most extraseems to have adopted the rash expedient of chang- ordinary and adventurous expeditions which was ing sides once more, and again to have renewed his ever attempted. The force, with which lie was once intercourse with Napoleon. The contiguity of Elba more to change the fortunes of France, amounted but to Naples rendered this a matter of little difficulty; to about a thousand men. To keep the undertaking and they had, besides, the active assistance of secret, his sister Pauline gave a ball on the night of Pauline, who went and came between Italy and her his departure, and the officers were unexpectedly brother's little court. Napoleon, however, at all summoned, after leaving the entertainment, to go on times resolutely denied that he had any precise board the little squadron. share or knowledge of the enterprise which Murat In his passage Napoleon encountered two great meditated. risks. The first was from meetings a royal French The King of France, in the meanwhile, recalled frigate who hailed the Inconstant. The guards by proclamation all Frenchmen who were in the were ordered to put off their caps, and go down Neapolitan service, and directed the title of King below, or lie upon the deck, while the captain of Joachim to be omitted in the royal almanack. the Inconstant exchanged some civilities with the Murat, alarmed at this indication of hostile in- comlmander of the frigate, with whom lie chanced to tentions, carried on a secret correspondence with be acquainted; and being well known in these seas, France, in the course of which a letter was inter- was permitted to pass on without farther inquiry. cepted, directed to the King of Naples, from Ge- The second danger was caused by the pursuit of Sir neral Excelmans, professing, in his own name and Niel Campbell, in the Partridge sloop of war, who, that of others, devoted attachment, and assuring him following from Elba, where he had learned Napothat thousands of officers, formed in his school and leon's escape, with the determnination to capture or under his eye, would have been ready at his call, sink the flotilla, could but obtain a distant view of had not matters taken a satisfactory turn. In conse- the vessels as they landed their passengers. quence of this letter, Excelmans was in the first place This was on the first of March, when Napoleon, put on half-pay and sent from Paris, which order causing his followers once more to assume the threehe refused to obey. Next he was tried before a coloured cockade, disembarked at Cannes, a small court-martial, and triumphantly acquitted. He was seaport in the gulf of Juan, not far fiom Fr6jus, admitted to kiss the king's hand, and swear to himn which had seen him land, a single individual, refidelity ci toutse kpreuve. How he kept his word turned from Egypt, to conquer a nlighty empire; had will presently appear. In the meantime the king beheld him set sail, a terrified exile, to occupy the had need of faithfil adherents, for the nets of con- place of his banishment; and now again witnessed spiracy were closing fast around him. his return, a daring adventurer, to throw the dice The plot formed against Louis XVIII. compre- once more for a throne or a grave. A sniall party hmended two enterprises. The first was to be achiev- of his guard presented themselves before Antibes, ed by the landing of Napoleon from Elba, when but were made prisoners by General Corsin, the the universal good-Nwill of the soldiers, the awe in- governor of the place. spired by his name and character, and the suspicions Undismayed by a circumstance so unfavourlable, and insinuations spread widely against the Boar- Napoleon instantly began his march at the head of bons, together with the hope of recovering what scarce a thousand men, towards the centre of a the nation considered as tile lost glory of France, kingdom from which he had been expelled with w\ere certain to insure him a general good reception. execrations, and where his rival now occupied in A second, or subolrdinate branch of the conspiracy, peace an hereditary throne. For some timie tile inconcerned the insurrection of a body of troops under habitants gazed on them with doubtful and astonished General Lallemand, who Awere quartered in the eyes, as if uncertain whether to assist them as fi-iends, north-east of France, and to whonm was committed or to oppose them as invaders. A few peasants the charge of intercepting the retreat of the king cried Vive l'emperesur! but the adventurers reand royal family from Paris, and, seizing them, to ceived neither countenance nor opposition from those detaimn them as hostages at the restored emperor's of the higher ranks. On the evening of 2d March, pleaslure. a day and a half after landing, the little band of invaIt is impossible to know at what particular period ders reached C6ranon, having left behind thenm their of his residence at Elba, Napoleon gave an express small train ofartillery, in order to enable theln to make consent to what was proposed, and disposed himself forced marches. As Napoleon approached Dauphine, to assume the part destined for him in the extra- called the cradle of the Revolution, the ieasants ordinary drama. XWe should suppose, hiowever, his greeted him with more general welcomne, but still no resolution was adopted about that time when his proprietors appeared, no clergy, no public functionrmalnnler changed co...pletely towards the British aries. But they were now neal to those by whom 694 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. the success or ruin of the expedition must be Lyons, and the Duke d'Angoulenle repaired to decided. Nismes. The legislative bodies, and most of the Soult, the minister at war, had ordered some large better classes, declared for the royal cause. The bodies of troops to be moved into the country be- residents of the various powers hastened to assure twixt Lyons and Chamb6ri, to support, as he after- Louis of tle support of their sovereigns. Corps wards alleged, the high language which Talleyrand of volunteers were raised, both among the royalists had been oflate holding at the congress, by showing and the constitutional or moderate party. The that France was in readiness for war. It'f the mar- most animating proclarriations called the people to shal acted with good faith in this measure, he was at arms. An address by the. celebrated Benjamin least most unfortunate; for, as he himself admits, Constant, one of the moot distinguished of the moeven in his attempt at exculpation, the troops were derate party, was remarkable for its eloquence. so placed as if they had been purposely thrown in It placed in the most striking light the contrast Bonaparte's way, and proved unhappily to consist of between the lawful government of a constitutional corps peculiarly devoted to the ex emperor's person. monarch, and the usurpation of an Attila, or GenOn the 7th of March, the 7th regiment of the line, ghis, who governed only by the sword of his Mainecommanded by Colonel Lab6doyere, arrived at lakes. It reminded France of the general detestaGrenoble. He was young, nobly born, handsome, tion with which Bonaparte had been expelled and distinguished as a military man. His marriage from the kingdom, and proclaimed Frencllmen to having connected himl with the noble and lo3al be the scorn of Europe, should they again stretch family of Damas, he procured preferment and active their hands voluntarily to the shackles which they employment fiom Louis XVIII. through their in- had burst and hurled from them. All were sumterest, and they were induced even to pledge them- moned to arms, more especially those to whom liselves for his fidelity. Yet Lab6doyere had been berty was dear; for in the triumph of Bonaparte, it engaged by Cambrone deep in the conspiracy of must find its grave for ever.-" With Louis," said Elba, and used the command thus obtained for the the address, " was peace and happiness;-with destruction of the monarch by whom he was trusted. Bonaparte, war, misery, and desolation." Even a As Napoleon approached Grenoble, he came into more animating appeal to popular feeling was made contact with the outposts of the garrison, who drew by a female on the staircase of the Tuileries, who out, but seemed irresolute. Bonaparte halted his exclaimed, "If Louis has not men enough to own little party, and advanced almost alone, ex- fight for him, let him call on the widows and childposing his breast, as he exclaimed," IHe who will less mothers who have been rendered such by Nakill his emperor, let him now work his pleasure." poleon." The appeal was irresistible-the soldiers threw Notwithstanding all these demonstrations of zeal, down their arms, crowded round the general who the public mind had been much influenced by the had so often led them to victory, and shouted causes of discontent which had been so artfully Vive l'empereur! In the meanwhile, Lab6doyere, enlarged upon for many months past. The decided at the head of two battalions, was sallying from the royalists were few, the constitutionalists lukewarlm. gates of Grenoble. As they advanced, he displayed It became every moment more likely, that not the an eagle, which, like that of Marius, worshipped voice of the people, but the sword of' the army, by the Roman conspirator, had been carefully pre- must determine tile controversy. Soult, whose served to be the type of civil war; at the same conduct had given much cause for suspicion, time, he distributed among the soldiers the three- which was augmented by his proposal to call out coloured cockades, which he had concealed in the the officers who since the restoration had been hollow of a drum. They were received with en- placed on half-pay, resigned his office, and was thusiasin. It was in this moment that Marechal de succeeded by Clarke, Duke of Feltre, less renowned camp Des Villiers, the superior officer of Lab6- as a soldier, but more trustworthy as a subject. A doyere, arrived on the spot, alarmed at what was camp was established at Melun —troops were astaking place, and expostuilated with the young mi- sembled there —and as much care as possible was litary fanatic and the soldiers. He was compelled used in selecting the troops to whoml the royal cause to retire. General Marchand, the loyal comman- was to be intrusted. dant of Grenoble, had as little influence on the In the meantime, Fortune had not entirely abantroops remaining in the place; they made him pri- donid the Bourbons. That part of the Bonapartist soner, and delivered up the city to Bonaparte.- conspiracy which -was to have been executed in Napoleon was thus at the head of nearly three the north was discovered and disconcerted. Lethousand soldiers, with a suitable train of artillery, fibvre Desnouiettes, discreditably known in Engand a corresponding quantity of ammunition. He land by his breach of parole, with the two Generals acted with a moderation which his success could Lallemand, were the agents in this plot. On the well afford, and dismissed General Marchand un- 1Oth MIarch, Lef6bvre Desnouettes marched forinjured. ward his regiment to join Bonaparte; but the ofliWhen the first news of Napoleon's arrival reached cers having discovered his purpose, lie wvas obliged Paris, it excited surprise rather than alarm; but to make his escape fromal tile arrest with which he when he was found to traverse the country without was threatened. The two Lallemands put the garopposition, some strange and combined treason he- rison of Lille, to the number of six thousand men, gan to be generally Taprehended.'hat the i3our- in nImotion, by nmeans of forged orders, declaring bons vmight not be wvantii, to their own cause, there was an inslrrection in Paris. But Marshal Monsieur, with tile DLtke of' Orleans, set out fir' Mortier, meeting the troops on the nlargh, detected LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 695 andcl defeated the conspiracy, by which, had it taken decrees issued forth, with a rapidity which showed.eflect, the king and royal family must have been how Bonaparte had employed those studious hou'rs made prisoners. The two Lallemands were taken, at Elba, which he was supposed to have dedicated and to have executed them on the spot as trai- to the composition of his Memoirs. They ran in the tors might have struck a wholesome terror into such name of Napoleon, by the grace of God, Emperor officers as still hesitated; but the ministers of the of France, and were dated on the 13th of March, king did not possess energy enough for stlch a crisis. although not promulgated until the 21st of that The progress of Bonaparte, in the meantime, was month. The first of these decrees abrogated all uninterrupted. It was in vain that, at Lyons, Mon- changes in the courts of justice, and tribunals, which sieur and the Duke of Orleans, with the assistance had taken place during the absence of Napoleon. of the advice and influence of Marshal Macdonald, The second displaced all officers belonging to the endeavoured to retain the troops in their duty, and class of emigrants, and introduced into the army by the inhabitants in their allegiance to the king. Tile the king.. Thle third suppressed the order of St latter, chiefly manufacturers, afraid of being under- Louis, the white flag and cockade, and other royal sold by those of' England in their own market, emblems, and restored the three-coloured banner, shouted openly, Vive l'empereur. The troops of the and the imperial symbols of Bonaparte's authority. line remained silent and gloomy. " How will your The same decree abolished the Swiss Guard and soldiers, behave?" said Monsieur to the colonel of the household troops of' the king. The fourth sethe 13th dragoons. The colonel referred him to the questered the effects of the Bourbons. A similar men themselves. They answered candidly, that ordinance sequestered the restored property of emithey would fight for Napoleon alone. MLonsieur grant families, and was so artfully worded as to redismounted, and addressed the soldiers individually. present great changes of property having taken place To one veteran, covered with scars, and decorated in this inanner. The fifth decree of Lyons suppressed with medals, the prince said, "A brave soldier like the ancient nobility and feudal titles, and formally you, at least, will cry, Vive le roi! "-"You de- confirmed proprietors of national domains in their ceive yourself," answered the soldier. "No one possessions. The sixth declared sentence of bahere will fight against his father-I will cry, Vive nishment against all emigrants not erased from the Napoyoluonz! The efforts of Macdonald were equally list previous to the accession of the Bourbons, to vain. fie endeavoured to nove two battalions to which was added confiscation of their property. oppose the entry of Bonaparte's advanced guard. The seventh restored the Legion ofH-lonotur, in every So soon as the troops came in presence of each other, respect as it had existed under the emperor, uniting they broke their ranks, and mingled together in the to its funds the confiscated revenues of the order general cry of Vive l'empereur! Macdonald would of St Louis. The eighth and last decree was the have been made prisoner, but the forces whom he most important of all. Under pretence that emigrants had just commanded would not.permit this consum- who had borne arms against France, had been inmation of revolt. Monsieur was obliged to escape troduced into the body of the peers, and that the from Lyons, almost alone. The guard of honour Chamber of Deputies had already sat for the legal formed by the citizens, to attend the person of the tinle, it dissolved both Chambers, and convoked the second of the Bourbon family, offered their services Electoral Colleges of the Empire, in order that they to Napoleon; but he refused them with contempt, might hold, in the ensuing month of May, an extrawhile he sent a cross of honour to a single dragoon, ordinary assembly of the Champ-de-Mai. This conwho had the loyalty and de votion to attend Monsieur vocation, fobr which the inventor found a name in in his retreat. the history of the ancient Franks, was to have two Bonaparte, now master of the ancient capital of objects: First, to make such alterations and reforthe Gauls, and at the head of' seven thousand men, mations in the constitution of the empire as circunmwas acknowledged by Macon, Chalons, Dijon, and stances should render advisable; secondly, to assist almost all Burgundy. Marseilles, on the contrary, at the coronation of the empress and of the King and all Proveuce, declared against the invader, and of Rome. the former city set a price upon his head. We cannot pause to criticise these various enactNapoleon found it necessary to halt at Lyons for ments. In general, however, it may be remarked, the refreshment of his forces; and, being joined by that they were admirably calculated to serve Napeosome of the civilians of his party, he needed time leon's cause. They flattered the army, and at the also to organize his government and administration. same time heated their resentment against the emiHitherto, the addresses which lie had pueblished had grants, by insinuating that they had been sacrificed been of a military character, abounding with the by Louis to the interest of these his followers. They oriental imagery which Bonaparte regarded as es- held out to the republicans a speedy prospect of conlsential to eloquence, promising that victory should fiscations, proscriptions, and revolutions of governmove at the charging step, and that the eagle should ment; while the imperialists were gratified with a fly with the national colours fiom steeple to steeple, view of ample funds for pensions, offices, and hone-: till she perched on the towers of Notre Dame. The rary decorations. To the proprietors of national present decrees were of a different character, and domains was promised security; to the Parisians, related to the internal arrangement of his projected the spectacle of the Champ-de-lai; and to all administration. France, peace and tranquillity, since the arrival of Caumbacerds was named his minister of justice; the empress and her son, so confidently asserted to Fouchl, that of police (a boon to the revolutionists); be at hand, lmust be considered as a pledge of the D)avoust was made minister of war. Decrees upon friendship of Austria. Russia was also said to be 696 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. friendly to Napoleon, and the conduct of Alexander At this moment of all but desperation, Fouchll towards the members of Bonaparte's family was offered his assistance to the almost defenceless king. boldy appealed to as evidence of the fact. England, It is probable, that the more he reflected on the chait was averred, befriended him, else how could he racter of his old master, Napoleon, the deeper behave escaped from an isle surrounded by her naval came his conviction, that they knew each other too force? Prussia, therefore, alone, might be hostile and well ever to resume an attitude of mutual confidence. unappeased; but, unsupported by the other bellige- Nothing deterred, therefore, by the communications rent powers, Prussia must remain passive, or would which he had opened with the imperialists, he now soon be reduced to reason. The very pleasure in demanded a secret audience of the king. It was mortifying one, at least, of the late victors of Paris, refused., but his comnmunications were received gave a zest and poignancy to the revolution, which through the medium of two confidential persous dethe concurrence of the other great states would, puted by Louis. Fouche's language to them was according to Bonaparte, render easy and peaceful. that of a bold empiric, to whom patients have reSuch news were carefully dissemlinated through course in a moment of despair, and who confidently France by Napoleon's adherents. They preceded undertakes the most utterly hopeless cases. Like his march, and prepared the minds of men to receive such, he exacted absolute reliance on his skill-the him as their destined master. most scrupulous attention to his injunctions-the On the 13th, Bonaparte recommenced his journey, most ample reward for his promised services; *lnd and, ad vancing through Macon, Cha'lons, and Dijon, as such, too, he spoke with the utmost confidence in he reached Auxerre on the 17th March. His own the certainty of his remedy, whilst observing a vague mnode of traveling rather resembled that of a prince, yet studious mystery about the ingredients of which who, weary of the fatigue of state, wishes to extri- it was composed, and the mode in which it would cate himself as much as possible fion its trammels, operate. He required of Louis XVIII., that he than that of' an adventurer coming at the head of an should surrender all the executive authority to the arrmy of inslrgents, to snatch a crown from the head Duke of Orleans, and all the ministerial offices to of the lawfiil monarch who wore i. He traveled himself and those whom he should appoint; which several hours in advance of his army, often without two conditions being granted, he undertook to put any, guard, or, at most, attended only by a few Polish a period to Bonaparte's expedition. The Memoirs lancers. The country through which he journeyed of this bold intriguer affirm, that he meant to as-was favourable to his pretensions. It had been se- semble all that remained of the revolutionary party, verely treated by the allies during the military and oppose the doctrines of liberty and equality to manceuvres of the last campaign, and the dislike of those of the glory of France, in the sense understood the s ffering inhabitants extended itself to the family by Bonaparte. What were the means that such who had mounted the throne by the influence of politicians, so united, had to oppose to the army of these strangers. When, therefore, they saw the late France, Fouch6 has not informed us; but it is proemperor aniong them alone, without guards, inquir- bable, that, to stop the advance of 10,000 armed ing, with his usual appearance of active interest, into men, against whom the revolutionists could now the extent of their losses, and mnaking liberal pro- scarce even array the mnob of the suburbs, the exinises to repair them, it is no wonder that they should minister of police must have meditated the short rather remember the battles he had fobught in their sharp remedy of Napoleon's assassination, for acbehalf against the foreigners, than think on the pro- complishing which, he, if any man, could have found bability that his presence amnong theim might be the trusty agents. precursor of a second invasion. The king having refused proposals, which went to The revolttionary fever preceded Bonaparte like preserve his sceptre by taking it out of his hands, an epidemic disorder. The 14th reginlent of lancers, and by further unexplained means the morality of quartered at Auxerre, trampled under foot the white which was liable to just suspicion, Fouch6 saw hirncockade at the first signal; the sixth reg;imnt of self obliged to carry his intrigues to the service of lancers declared also for Napoleon, and, without his old master. He became, in consequence, s:) rwaiting f,,r orders, drove a few soldiers of the nuch an object of suspicion to the royalists, thsat an holsehlllrl troops from Montereai, and secured that order was issued for his arrest. To the police important post, which comrmanlds the passage of agents, his own old dependents, who came to exethle Seine. cute the order, he objected against the informnility Tile dismay of the royal government at the revolt of their warrant, and stepping into his closet, as if' to of Lyons was mtuch increased by false tidings which draw a protest, he descended by a secret stair into had been previously circulated, giving an accotintof his garden, of which he scaled the wall. His next a pretended %victory obtained by the royalist party in neighbour, into whose garden he escapede, was the front of that town.'rhe conspiracy was laid so deep, Duchess of St-Leu; so that the fiugitive arrived.:; s and extended so widely through every branch of the if by a trick of the stage, in tile very mlidst (of a governinent, that those concerned contrived to send circle of chosen Bonapartists, who received hliri wit'i this false report to Paris in a deini-official form, by triumiph, and considered the mode of his c,Mln; means of the telegraph. It hand the expected effect, almiong them as a full warrant for his fidelity.*' first, in siispending the preparations of the loyal party, and afterwards in deepening tile anxiety t In the _iemoires de Fotctie, it is awvomwel thlal thi order whlich overwbhelmled them, when Monsieur, return- of arrest was upon no political groundl, but alro;e frl.io tle irg alnmost unattended. brought the news of his bad envy of Savary, who, foreseeing thart.'Folic; wcu'd be success. restored to the situation of minliister of police, whici lie l _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 697 Louis XVIII., in his distress, had recourse to rather to suppose that this was matter of mere illthe assistance of another man of the Revolution, vention, than to think that the protestations poured who, without possessing the abilities of Fouchb, out at the Tuileries, only five days before, were, on was perhaps, had he been disposed to do so, better the part of this unfortunate man, the effusions of qualified than he to have served the king's cause. premeditated treachery. Marshal Ney was called forth to take the command The marshal now published an order of the day, of an army destined to attack Napoleon in the flank declaring that the cause of the Bourbons was lost and rear, as he marched towards Paris, while the, for ever. It was received by the soldiers with rapforces at Melun opposed him in front. He had an ture, and Bonaparte's standard and colours were audience of the king on the 9th of March, when he instantly displayed. Many of the officers, however, accepted his appointment with expressions of the remonstrated, and left their commands. One, bemost devoted faith to the king, and declared his fore he went away, broke his sword in two, and resolution to bring Bonaparte to Paris like a wild threw the pieces at Ney's feet, saying, " It is easier beast in an iron cage. The marshal went to Be- for a man of honour to break iron than to infringe sancon, where, on the 11th March, he learned that his word." Bonaparte was in possession of Lyons. But he Ney was received by Napoleon with open arms. continued to make preparations for resistance, and His defection did incalculable damage to the king's collected all the troops he could from the adjoining cause, tending to show that the spirit of treason garrisons. To those who objected the bad dispo- which possessed the common soldiers had ascended sition of the soldiers, and remarked that he would to and infected the officers of the highest rank in have difficulty in inducing them to fight, Ney an- the army. swei ed determinedly, "They shall fight; I will take The king, in the meanwhile, notwithstanding these a musket from a grenadier and begin the action unpromising circumstances, used every exertion to myself; — will run my sword to the hilt in the first induce his subjects to continue in their allegiance. who hesitate' to follow my example." To the mi- He attended in person the sitting of the Chamber of nister at war he wrote, that all were dazzled by Deputies, and was received with such enthusiastic the activity and rapid progress of the invader; that marks of applause, that one woulkd have thought the Napoleon was favoured by the common people and most active exertions must have followed. Louis next the soldie's; butthat the officers and civil authorities reviewed the National Guards, about 25,000 mien, were loyal, and he still hoped "to see a fortunate who made a similar display of loyalty. He also close of this mad enterprise." inspected the troops of the line, 6000 in number, In these dispositions, Ney advanced to Lons le but his reception was equivocal. They placed their Saulnier. Here, on the night betwixt the 13th and caps on their bayonets in token of respect, but they 14th March, he received a letter from Napoleon, raised no shout. summoning him to join his standards, as " bravest Some of those about Louis's person continued to of the brave," a name which could not but awake believe that these men were still attached to the a thousand remembrances. He Ihad already sound- king, or that, at any rate, they ought to be sent to led both his officers and soldiers, and discovered the camp at Melun, which was the last remaining their unalterable determination to join Bonaparte. point upon which the royal party could hope to He therefore had it only in his choice to retain his make a stand. command by passing over to the emperor, or else to As a last resource, Louis convoked a general return to the king, without executing anything council at the Tuileries on the 18th March. The which might seem even an effort at realizing his generals present declared there could be no efboast, and also without the army over which he had fectual opposition offered to Bonaparte. T'he royalist asserted his possession of such influence. nobles contradicted them, and, after some exlpresMarshal Ney was a man of mean birth, who, by sions of violence had been uttered, much misbecomthe most desperate valour, had risen to the highest ing the royal presence, Louis was obliged to break ranks in the army. His early education had not up the meeting, and prepare himself to abandon a endowed him with a delicate sense of honour, or a capital, which the prevalence of his enemies, and high feeling of principle, and he had not learned the disunion of his friends, left him no longer any either as he advranced in life. He appears to have chance'of defending. been a weak man, with more vanity than pride, and Meantime the two armies approached each other who, therefore, was likely to feel the loss of power at Melun; that of the king was commanded by the more than the loss of character. He accordingly faithfil Macdonald. On the 20th,!his troops were resolved upon adhering to Napoleon. Sensible of drawn up in three lines to receive the invaders, the incongruity of changing his side so suddenly, he who were said to be advancing from Fontainebleau. affected to be a deliberate knave, rather than le There was a long pause of suspense, of a nature would content himself with being viewed in his real which seldom fails to render men more accessible to character, of a volatile, light-principled, and in- strong and sudden emotion. The glades of the considerate fool. He pretended that the expedition tbrest, and the acclivity which ascends to it, were of Napoleon had been long arranged between hinm- full in view of the royal army, but presented the self and the other marshals. But we are willing appearance of a deep solitude. All was silence, except when the regimental bands of music, at the himself desired, on account of the large sums which were command of the officers, who remained generally placed at the disposal of that functionary, hoped, in this faithful, played the airs of Vive Henri Quatre, — manner. to put his rival out of his road. 0 Richard,-La Belle Gcab'ielle, and( other tunes VOL. VI. -------—' 698 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. connected with the cause and family of the Bour- the white flag, which floated on the Tuileries and bons. The sounds excited no corresponding senti- replaced the three-coloured banner. mnents among the soldiers. At length about noon a It was late in the evening ere Napoleon arrived galloping of horse was heard. An open carriage in the same open carriage, which he had used since appeared, surrounded by a few hussars, and drawn his landing. There was a singular contrast betwixt by four horses. It came on at full speed; and Na- his entry and the de parture of the king. The latter poleon, jumping from the vehicle, was in the midst was accompanied by tile sobs, tears, and kind of the ranks which had been formed to oppose him. wishes of those citizens who desired peace and His escort threw themselves from their horses, tranquillity, by the wailing of the defenceless, and mingled with their ancient comrades, and the effect the anxious fears of the wise' and prudent. The of their exhortations was instantaneous on men, former entered amid the shouts of armed columns, whose minds were already half made up to the pur- who, existing by war and desolation, welcomed pose which they now accomplished. There was a with military acclamations the chief, who was to general shout of Vive.NTapoleon!-The last army restore them to their element. The inhabitants of of the Bourbons passed fromr their side, and no the suburbs cheered in expectation of employment filrther obstruction existed betwixt Napoleon and and gratuities, or by instigation of their ringleaders, the capital, which he was once more-but for a who were chiefly under the management of the pobrief space-to inhabit as a sovereign. lice, and well prepared for. the event. But among Louis XVIII. had anticipated too surely the de- the immense crowds of the citizens of Paris, who fection which took place, to await the consequence turned out to see this extraordinary spectacle, few of'its actual arrival. The king departed fiolm Paris, or none joined in the gratulation. The soldiers of' escorted by his household, at one in the morning of the guard resented their silence, commanded the the 20th March. Even at that untimely hour, the spectators to shout, struck with the flat of their palace was surrounded by the National Guards, and swords, and pointed their pistols at the multitude, many citizens, who wept and entreated him to re- but could not even by these military means extort main, offering to spend the last drop of their blood the expected cry of Liberty and Napoleon, though for him. But Louis wisely declined accepting of making it plain by their demeanour, that the last, it' sacrifices, which could now have availed nothing. not the first, was returned to the Parisians. In the Escorted by his household troops, he took the way court of the Carrousel, and before the Tuileries, all to Lille. Marshal Macdonald, returning fiom the the adherents of the old imperial government, and fatal position of Melun, assumed the command of those who, having deserted Napoleon, were eager this small body, which was indeed augmented by to expiate their fault, by now being first to acknowmany volunteers, but such as considered their zeal- ledge him, were assembled to give voice to their ous wishes, rather than their power of rendering welcome, which atoned in some degree for the siassistance. The king's condition was, however, lence of the streets. T'hey crowded around him so pitied and respected, and he passed through Abbe- closely, that he was compelled to exclaini,-" My ville, and other garrison towns, where the soldiers friends, you stifle me!" and his adjutants were obliged received him with sullen respect; and though indicat- to support him in their arms up the grand staircase, ing that they intended to join his rival, would neither and thence into the royal apartments, where lie reviolate his person nor insult his misfortunes. At ceived the all-hail of the principal advisers and Lille he had hoped to make a stand, but Marshal abettors of this singular undertaking. Mdrtier, insisting upon the dissatisfied and tumullt,- Never, in his bloodiest and most triumphant field ary state of tle garrison, urged him to proceed, for of battle, had the terrible ascendancy of Napothe safety of his life; amtl, compelled to a second leon's genius appeared half so predominant as durexile, lie departed to Ostenud, and from thence to ing his march, or rather his journey, fiom Cannes to Ghent, where le established his exiled court. Mar- Paris. He who left the same coast, dlisguised like shal Macdonald took leave of his majesty on the a slave, and weeping like a woman, for lear of asfi'ontiers, conlscious that by emigrating he must lose sassination, returned in grandeur like that of the every prospect of serving in future either France or returning wave, which, the farther it has retreated, her monarch. The household troops, about two is rolled back on the shore with the more terrific hunodedi excepted, were also disbanded on the and overwhelming violence. His looks seenled to firontiers. T'Illey had been harassed in their march possess the pretended power of northern magicians, thither by some light horse, and, in their attempt to anld blunted swords and spears. The Bravest of regain their homes in a state of dispersion, some the Brave, who came determined to oppose him as were slain, and almost all were plundered and in- he would a wild beast, recognized his superiority sulted. when confironted with him, and sunk again into his In the meanwhile, the revolution took full effect at satellite. Yet the lustre with which Napoleon Paris. Lavalette, one of Bonaparte's miost decided shone was not that of a planet duly movning in its adherents, hastened fronm a place of concealment to regular sphere, hbut that of a comet, inspiring toreassume the management of the post-office in the bodings of pestilence and death, and, name of Napoleon, an office which lie had enjoyed -with fear of change, during his former reign. 1ie was thus enabled to Perplexing nations. intercept the royal proclam;ations, and to annoulnce The result of his expedition was thus sunmmed to everiy dlepartment officially the restoration of the by one of the miost eloquent and best-informed Briemperor. Excelmlans, the oatli of' fealty to the irg, t ish statesnmen.* ai toute ipreuve, scarce dry upoln lhis lips, took dow i Sir James Mackintosh. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 699 _ _.. -......... -................. "Was it," said the accomplished orator, "in the The Duke of Bourbon had retired to La Vend6e power of langunge to desclibe the evil? Wars toraise the warlike royalists ofthat faithfil province. which had raged for twenty-five years throughout But it had been previously occupied by soldiers at. Europe; which had spread blood and desolation tached to Bonaparte, so judiciously posted as to fronl Cadiz to Moscow, and from Naples to Copen- render an insurrection impossible; and tile duke hagen; which had waste(l the means of human en- found himself obliged to escape by sea fiom N-antes. joyment, and destroyed the instruments of social The Duchess d'Angoulmnle, the only remairinv improvement; which threatened to diffise among daughter of Louis XVI., whose childhood and youth the European nations the dissolute and ferocious had suffered with patient firmness such storms of habits of a predatory soldiery,-at length, by one of adversity, showed on this trying occasion that she those vicissitudes -lwhich bid defiance to the foresight had the active as well as passive courage becoming of man, had been brought to a close, upon the whole the descendant of a long line of princes. She thiew happy beyond all reasonable expectation, with no herself into Bordeaux, where'the loyalty of Count violent shock to national independence, with some Lynch, the mayor, and of the citizens in general, tolerable compromise between the opinions of the promised her determined aid, and the princess herage and the reverence due to ancient institutions; self stood forth amongst them, like one of those hewith no too signal or mortifying triumph over the le- roic women of the age of chivally, whose looks and gitimate interests or avowable feelings of any nu- words were able in moments of peril to give double merlons body of men, and, above all, without those edge to men's swords, and double constancy to their retaliations against nations or parties which beget hearts. But unhappily there was a considerable new convulsions, often as horrible as those which garrison of troops of the line in Bordeaux, %who hlac they close, and perpetuate revenge and hatred and caught the general spirit of revolt. General Clause} blood from age to age. Emrope seemed to breathe also advanced on the city with a force of the same after her sufferings. In the midst of this fair pros- description. The duchess made a last effort, aspect, and of these consolatory hopes, Napoleon Bo- sembled around her the officers, and laid their dity naparte escaped from Elba; three small vessels before them in the most touching and pathetic manreached the coast of Provence; their hopes are in- ner. But when she saw their coldness, and heard stantly dispelled; the work of our toil and fortitude their faltering excuses, she turned fiom them in disis undone the blood of Europe is spilt in vain- dain:-" You fear," she said-" I pity you, arid release you from your oaths." She embarked on board Ibi omnis effusus labor!" an English frigate, and Bordeaux opened its gates to Clausel, and declared for the emperor. Thus, notwithstanding the return of Napoleon was far friom CHAPTER CIII. being acceptable to the French universally, or even generally, all open opposition to his government Various attempts to organize a defencefor the Boenrbons ceased, and he was acknowledged as emperor witafail. —Bonaparte, again reinstated ot the tArone of in about twenty days after he landed on the beach Fralnce, is desirous of continuing the peace with tAe at Cannes, with a thousand followers. allies-but?no anlsoer is returnsed to his letters.-'Treaty Bt thoug he as thus replaced on te hrone, of' Vien na. —Grievances alleged by Bonaparte in justification of the step /he had taken.-Debates in the Bri- Napoleon's seat was by no means secure, unless he tish Houtse of Commons, on the renewl of war-Aiurat could prevail upon the confederated sovereigns of occupies Romne weith 50,000 men —his proclanmation suni- Europe to acknowledge him in the capacity of wvlicl inoning all Italians to arms.-He adct-caices against the their united arms had so lately deprived hitm. It is Austrians - is repulsed at Occhio-Bello - defeated at true, he had indirectly promised war to his soldiers, Tolentino-flies to Naples, atld thence, in disguise, to by stigmatizing the cessions made by the Bourbons Frtance —where Napoleon ref2tses to receive htim. of what he called the territory of France. It is trne, also, that then, and till his death's day, lie contiWVHEN Paris was lost, the bow of the Bourbons nued to entertain the rooted idea that Belgium, a was effectually broken; and the attempts of indi- possession which France had acquired within twenlty viduals of the family to make a stand against thle yeas, was anl integral portion of that kingdom. It evil hour was hono-urable indeed to their own gal- is true, Antwerp and the five hundred sail of the lantry, but of to advantage to their cause. line which were to be built there, continued through l'he Duke d'Angoule'me placed himself at the his whole life to be the very Dalilah of Ihis imaginahead of a considerable body of troops, raised by the tion. The cause of future war was, therefore, blaztown of Marseilles, and the royalists of Provence. ing in his bosom. But yet at present he felt it n)eBat, being surrounded by General Gilly, he was cessary for his interest to assure the people of obliged to lay down his arms, on condition of am- France, that iis return to the empire would not dianesty to his followers, and fiee permission to him- turb the treaty of Paris, though it had given the' Low self to leave France. General Grouchy refilsed to Countries to Holland. He spared no device to confirm this capitulation, till Bonaparte's pleasure spread reports of a pacific tendency. was known. But the restored emperor, not dis- From the commencement of his march, it was uleased, it may be, to make a display of generosity, affirmed by his creatures that he brought witlh him a permitted the Duke d'Angoulmne to depart by sea treaty concluded with all the powers of Europe for fromt Cette, only requiring his interference with twenty years. It was repeatedly averred, that MaLoulis XVIII. for returning the crown-jewels which ria Louisa and her son were on the point of arriving the kling had removed with him to Ghent. in France, dismissed by her father as a pledge of LIFE OF NAPOLEON BO APARTE. aeconciliation; and when she did not appear, it was constantly in the field an army of 150,000 men cominsinuated that she was detained by the Emperor plete, with the due proportion of cavalry and artilFrancis, as a pledge that Bonaparte should observe lery. 3. They agreed not to lay down their arms but I his promise of giving the French a free constitution. by common consent, until either the purpose of the To such barefaced assertions he was reduced, ra- war should have been attained, or Bonaparte should tller than admlit that his return was to be the signal be rendered incapable of disturbing the peace of for renewing hostilities with all Earope, Europe. After other subordinate articles, the 7th Meantime Napoleon hesitated not to offer to the provided, that the other powers of Europe should be allied ministers his -willingness to acquiesce in the invited to accede to the treaty; and the 8th, that the treaty of Paris; although, according to his uniform King of France should be particularly called upon ~reasoning, it involved the humiliation and disgrace to become a party to it. A separate article Eproof France. He sent a letter to each of the sovereigns, vided, that the King of Great Britain should have expressing his desire to make peace on the same the option of furnishing his contingent in men, or principles which had been arranged with the Bour- of paying instead at lhe rate of ~30 sterling per'bons. To these letters no answers were returned, annutm for each cavalry soldier, and ~20 per annumll The decision of the allies had already been adopted. for each infiantry soldier, which should be wantinrg The ciongress at Vienna happened fortunately not to make utp his complement. To this treaty a deto be dissolved, when the news of Bonaparte's claration was subjoiled, when it was ratified by the -escape from Elba was laid before them by Talley- Prince Regent, referriing to the eighth article of tilhe rand on the lth March. The astonishing, as well treaty, and declaring that it should not be underas the sublime, approaches to the ludicrous, and it stood as binding his Britannic Majesty to prosecute is a curious physiological fact, that the first news of the war, with the view of forcibly imposing on an event which threatened to abolish all their la- France any particular government. The other conbours, seemed so like a trick in a pantomime, that tracting powers agreed to accept of the accession of laughter was the first emotion it excited fron almost his royal highness, under this explanation and limievery one. The merry mood did not last long; for tation. the jest wlas neither a sound nor a safe one. It was This treaty of Vienna may be considered in a necessary for the congress, by an unequivocal de- double point of view, first, upon principle, and, claration, to express their sentiments upon this ex- secondly, as to its mode of expression; and it was iraordinarvy occasion. This declaration appeared on commented upon in both respects in the British the 13th March, and, after giving an account of the House of Commons. The expediency of the war fact, bore the following denunciation:- was denied by several of the opposition members, "By thus breaking the convention which had on account of the exhausted state of Great Britain, established him in the island of Elba, Bonaparte but they generally admitted that the escape of Bodestroys the only legal title on which his existence naparte gave a just cause for the declaration of hosdepended; and, by appearing again in France with tilities. The great statesman and jurisconsult, whom projects of confusion and disorder, he has deprived we have already quoted, delivered an opinion for himself of the protection of the law, and has mani- himself, and those with whom he acted, couched tested to the universe, that there can be neither in the most positive terms. peace nor truce with him. " Sonie insinuations," said Sir James Mackintosh, "The powers consequently declare, that Napo- " had been thrown out, of differences of- opinion on leon Bonaparte has placed himself without the pale his side of the house, respecting the evils of this of civil and social relations, and that, as an enemy escape. He utterly denied them. All agreed in and disturber of the tranquillity of the world, he has lamenting the occurrence \which rendered the rerendered himself liable to public vengeance. They newal of war so probable, not to say certain. All declare at the same time, that, firmly resolved to his friends, with whose sentiments he was acquaintmaintain entire the treaty of Paris of the 30th May, ed, were of opinion, that, in the theory of public 1814, and the dispositions sanctioned by that treaty, law, the assumption of power by Napoleon had given and those which they have resolved on, or shall here- to the allies a just cause of war against France. It after resolve on, to complete and to consolidate it, was perfectly obvious, that the abdication of' Napothey wvill employ all their means, and will unite all leon, and his perpetual renunciation of the supreme their efforts, that the general peace, the object of authority, was a condition, and the most important the wishes of Europe, and the constant purpose of condition, on whichl the allies had granted peace to their labours, may not again be troubled; and to France. The convention of Fontainebleau, and the provide against every attempt which shall threaten treaty of Paris, were equally parts of the great comto replinge the world into the disorders of revo- pact which re-established friendship between lotion." France and Europe. In consideration of the safer This manifesto was instantly followed by a treaty and more inoffensive state of France, when sepabetwixt Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, rated from her terrible leader, confederated Europe renewing and confirming the league entered into at had granted moderate and favourable terms of peace. Chaurmlont. The first article declared the resolution As scon as France had violated this important consf the high contracting parties to maintain and en- dition, by again submitting to the authority of Napoforce the treaty of Paris, which excluded Bonaparte leon, the allies were doubtless released from their fiom the throne of France, and to enforce the decree part of the conmpact, and re-entered into their belof outlawry issued against hint as above mentioned. ligerent righLts."'2. Each of the contracting farties agreed to keep'The provocations pleaded by Bonaparte (which .LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 701 seem to have been entirely fanciful, so far as respects was so unanimous on the disastrous consequences of any design on his freedom), were, first, The sepa- Napoleon's quitting Elba, that the minority brought ration from his family. But this was a question with, charges against ministers for not having plrovided Austria exclusively; for what power was to compel more effectual means to prevent his escape. To these the Emperor Francis to restore his daughter, after charges it was replied, that Britain was not bin the fate of war had flung her again under his pa- keeper; that it was impossible to maintain a line of ternal protection? Napoleon's feelings in his sitna- blockade around Elba; and if it had been otherwise, tion were extremely natural, but those of the that Britain had no right to interfere with Bonaemperor cannot be blamed, who considered his parte's motions, so far as concerned short expedidaughter's honour and happiness as interested in i tions unconnected with the pr-pobe of escape; alseparating her from a man, who was capable of at- though it was avowed, that if a British vessel had tempting to redeem his broken fortunes by the most detected him in the act of going to France Awith an desperate means. Much would depend upon the armed force, for the purpose of invasion, the right of inclination of the illustrious person herself; but I stopping his progress would have been exercised at even if some degree of paternal restraint had been every hazard. Still, it was urged, they had no title exerted, could Napoleon really feel himself jasti- either to establish a police upon the island, the obfled in renewing a sort of Trojan war with all the ject of which should be to watch its acknowledged powers in Europe, in order to recover his wife, or emperor, or to maintain a naval force around it, to think, because he was sel arated from her society apprehend him in case lie should attempt an escape. by a flinty-hearted father, that he wvas therefore Both would have been in direct contradiction of the warranted in invading and subduing the kingdomn treaty of Fontainebleau, to which Britain had acof France? The second article of provocation, and ceded, though she was not one of the contracting we admit it as a just one, was that Napoleon was parties. left to necessities to which he ought not to have The style of the declaration of the allies was more been subjected, by France withholding his pension generally censured in the British Parliament than. till the year should elapse. This was a ground of its warlike tone. It was contended, that, by decomplaint, and a deep one; but against whom? claring Napoleon an outlaw, it invoked against him Surely not against the allies. unless Bonaparte had the daggers of individuals, as well as the sword of called upon thenm to make good their treaty; and justice. This charge of encouraging assassination had stated, that France had failed to make good was warmly repelled by the supporters of ministry. those obligations, for which he had their guarantee. The purpose of the proclamation, it was said, was England, who was only an accessary to the treaty, merely to point out Napoleon to the French nation, had nevertheless already interfered in Bonaparte's as a person who had forfeited his civil rights, by the behalf, and there can be no doubt that redress would act of resuming, contrary to treaty, a position in have been granted by the contracting parties, who which, from his temper, habits, and talents, lie must could notin decency avoid enforcing a treaty, which again become an object of suspicion and terror to all had been of their own forming. That this guarantee Europe. His inflexible resolution, his unbounded gave Napoleon a right to appeal and to complain, almbition, his own'genius, his power over the minds cannot he denied; hut that it gave him a right to of others,-those great military talents, in short, proceed by violence, without any expostulation pre- which, so valuable in war, are in peace so dangerous, viously made, is contrary to all ideas of the law of had afforded reasons foir making the peace of Paris, nations, which enacts, that no aggression can con- by which Napoleon was personally excluded from stitute a legitimate cause of war, until redress hats the throne. When Napoleon broke that peace, s.obeen refused. This, however, is all mere legal ar- lemnly concluded with Europe, he forfeited his gument. Bonaparte did NOT invade France, be- political rights, and in that view alone tile outlawry cause she was deficient in paying his pension. Hie was to be construed. In consequence of these reso. invaded her, because he saw a strong prospect of lutions, adopted at Vienlna and London, all Europe regaining the throne; nor do we believe that rail- rang with the preparations for war; and the numt er lions of gold would have prevailed on him to forego of troops withs which the allies propose(d to invade the opportunity. France were rated at no less than one million and I His more available ground of defence, however, eleven thousand soldiers.? was, that he was recalled by the general voice of the Before proceeding farther, it is requisite to say a nation of France; but the whole facts of the case few words on the subject of lMurat. He ladc been contradicted this statement. His league with tile for some time agitated by fears naturally arising revolutionists was made reluctantly on their part, from the attack made upon his government at the mor did that party form any very considerable for congress, by Talleyrand. Tlhe effect had not, it tion of the nation. "His election," according to was true, induced the other powers to decide against Grattan, "was a military election; and when the ar- hin; but he seems to have been conscious that the my disposed of the civil government, it was the march reports of General Nugent and Lord William Benof a nilitary chief over a conquered nation. The na- tinck, concurred in representing him as having tion did not rise to assist Louis, or resist Bonaparte, acted in the last campaign, rather the part of a because the nation could not rise against the army. trimmer betwixt two parties, than that of a conThe mind of France, as well as her constitution, had * The contingents of the variouss powers were as folcompletely lost, for the pre.sent, the power of resist- lows: - Austria 300 0UG men; Russia 225,000; Prussia ance. They passively yielded to sutperior filrce." 26.o000; States of Germany 150,000; Great Britain 50,00-' In short, the opinion of the 1House of Comtmons Hollan I t 5io,CO: in alt, 1,011,000 soldiers. 70'2 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. federate, sincere, as hie professed to be, in favour Mlrat's character as a tactician was far inferior,of the allies. Perhaps his conscience acknowledged to that which le deservedly bore as a soldier in ttie this truth, for it certainly seems as if Eugene mnight field ofbattle, and he was a still worse politician f have been more hardly pressed, had Murat been than a general. A repulse sustained in an attempt disposed to act with energy in behalf of the allies. to pass tile Po near Occhio-Bello seems to have disHe felt, therefore, that the throne of Tancred tot- concerted the plan of' his whole campaign, nor did tered under him, and rashly determined theat it was he finid himself able to renew the negotiations which better to brave a danger, than to allow tillie to see lie had rashly broken off. He seemed to acknowwhether it might not pass away. Murat had held ledge, by his military movenients, that he had atintercourse with the Isle of Elba, and cannot but tempted a scheme far beyond his strength and have known Bonaparte's purpose when lie left it; linderstanding. Ile retreated upon his whole line, but he ought, at the same time, to have considered, abandoning Parnma, Reggio, Modena, Flortence, and that if his brother-in-law met with any success, his all Tuscany, by which last mlovemnent he put the,own alliance would become essential to Austria, Austrians in possession of the best and shortest road who had such anxiety to retain the north of Italy, to Rome. In consequence, he was pressed on his and must have been purchased on his own terms. retreat in firont and rear, and compelled to give battle Instead, however, of waiting for an opportunity near Tolentino. It was siustained for two days (2d of profiting by Napoleon's attempt, which could not and 3d of' May), but the Neapolitans could not be have flailed to arrive, Murat resolved to throw him- brought into close action with the iron-nerved Ausself into the fray and carve for hinmself. He placed trians. It was in vain that Murat placed fieldhimself at the head of an army of 50,000 men, and, pieces in the rear of his attacking columns, with without explaining his intentions, occupied Rome, orders to fire grape on them should they, retreat; in the pope and cardinals flying before him; threat- vain that he himself set the example of the most ened the whole line of the Po, which the Austrian desperate courage. The Neapolitan army fled in force was inadequate to maintain; and on 31st of dispersion and discomfiture. Their guns, ammuniMarch, addressed a proclamation to all Italians, tion, treasure, and baggage, became the spoil of summoning them to rise in arms for the liberation of the Austrians; and in traversing the mountains of their country. It seemed now clear, that the pur- Abruzzo, Murat lost half his army without stroke of pose of this son of a pastry-cook amounted to no- sword. thing else, than the formation of Italy into one state, The defeated prince was pursued into his Neapo-. and the placing himself on the throne of the Ciesars. litan dominions, where he learned that the Calabrians The proclamation was signed Joachim Napoleon, were in insurrection, and that an English fleet, which last name, formerly laid aside, he re-assumed escorting an invadingarmy from Sicily, had appearat this critical period. The appeal to the Italians ed in the bay of Naples. His army, reduced to a was in vain. The feuds among the petty states are handful by repeated skirmishes, in which he had so numerous, their pretensions so irreconcilable, behaved with such temerity as to make his followers and their weakness has made them so often the prey think he desired death, was directed to throw itself of successive conquerors, that they found little in- into Capua. He hinmself, wvho had left Naples viting in the proposal of union, little arousing in the splendidly appareled, according to his custom, and sound of independence. The proclamation, there- at the head of a gallant army, now entered its gates fore, had small effect, except upon some of the attended only by four lancers, alighted at the palace, students at Bologna. Murat niarched northward, and appeared before the queen, pale, haggard, dihowever, and, being nmuch superior in numbers, shexeled, with all the signs of extreme fatigue and defeated the Austrian general Bianchi, and occupied dejection. His salutation was in the affecting words, Modena and Florence. "Madamn, I have not been able to find death." He Murat's attitude was now an alarming one to presently fotuid, that remaining at Naples, which Europe. If hlie should press forward into Lombardy, was about to fall into other hands,would compromise he might co.operate with Bonaparte, now restored his liberty, perhaps his life. He took leave of hlis to his crown, and would probably be reinfo.ced by queen, whiomi circumstances were about to depri\e thousands of the veterans of the Viceroy Eugpine's of that title, cut off his hair, and, disguising himself army. Austria, therefore, became desirous of peace, in a grey fiock, escal;ed to the little island of Ischia, and oH'ered to guarantee to him the possession of the and reached, on 25th May, Cannes, wijich had rekingdom of Naples, with an addition lie had long ceived Napoleon a few weeks before. His wile, coveted, the marches, nanlely, of' the Romtan See. immediately aflterwarcs, alarmed by the tendency Britain, at the same time, intinmated, that, having of the Neapolitan mob to insurrection, surrendeled miiade truce with Joachim at the instance of Austria, herself to Commodore Campbell, of the Tremendous, it was to last no longer than his good intelligence and was received on board his vessel. wvith her ally. Murat refused the conditions of the A courier announced Murat's arrival in France to one power, and neglected the remonstrances of the Bonaparte, who, instead of sending consolation to other. " It was too late," he said; " Italy deserves his unhappy relative, is said to have asked with freedom, and she shall be fiee." Here closed all bitter scorn, "Whether Naples and France had hopes of peace; Austria declared war against Murat, made peace since the war of 1814?" The answer and expedited the reinforcements sent into Italy; seems to iimply, that although the attempts of Joaand Britain prepared a descent upon his Neapolitan chlim and Napoleon coincided in,time, and in other domniuiions, where Ferdinand still continued to have circumstances, so punctually as to make it evident many adherents. they had been undertaken in concert, yet that there LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 763 had been no precise correspondence, far less any I yet he might have gained us the victory; for there formal treaty, betwixt the adventurous brothers. In- were moments during the battle (of YW'aterloo), whel deed Napoleon at all times positively denied that he to have forced two or three of the English squarelo had the least accession to Murat's wildly-concerted might have insured it, and Murat was just the iman project (levue de bouclier), and affirmed that it was for the work. In leading a charge of cavalry, never essentially injurious to him. Napoleon's account was there an officer more determined, more brave, was, that when he retired to Elba, he took farewell and more brilliant." of Murat by letter, forgiving all that had passed Murat was thus prohibited to come to the court of between them, and recommending to his brother-in- the Tuileries, where his defection mnight have been law to keep on good terms with the Austrians, and forgiven, but his defeat was an inexpiable offence. only to check them if he saw them likely to advance He remained in obscurity near Toulon, till his fate on France. He offered also to guarantee his king called him elsewhere, after the decisive battle of dom. Murat returned an affectionate answer, en- Waterloo.* Fro.m this episode, for such, however gagingr to prove himself, in his conduct towards Na- important, it is in the present history, we return to poleon, more an object of pity than resentment, France and our immediate subject. declining any other guarantee than the word of the emperor, and declaring that the attachment of his C futulre life was to make amends for the past defection. " But it was Murat's fate to ruin us every way," Bonaparte's attempts to conciliate Britain. —Plot to carry continued Napoleon; "once by declaring against us, off AMaria Louisafails. —State of'feeling in,~France icit and again by unadvisedly taking our part." He regard to Bonaparte's retuert —the army-the jacobis,s encountered Austria without sufficient means, and, -the constitutionalists.-Fouchd and Sie'yes 7made peers. being ruined, left her without any counterbalancing -Freedom of the press granted, and outraged.-Indepower in Italy. From that time it became impossible pendent contuct of Comie, editor of le Censeur-Disfor Napoleon to negotiate vith her. affections among the lower orders - Part of themn atReceiving the emperor's account as correct, and tached to Bonaparte-These nssenomle before the'T'allo'ving that the brothers-in-law played each his leries, and applaed the emperor.-Festival of the Federates.-New constitution —It is received scith disown part, it was not to be supposed that they acted satisfaction - Meeting of the Champ-de-liai to ratijtc entirely without a mutual understanding. Each, it. - Bonaparte's address to the Chaombers of Peers indeed, was willing to rest on his own fortunes, well and Representatives- The spirit of jacobinism predoliknowing that his claim to the other's assistance itant in the latter. would depend chiefly upon his success, and unwilling,,, besides, to relinquish the privilege of making WHILE Murat:was struggling and sinking under peace, should it be necessary, at the expense of his evil fate, Bonaparte w\as actively preparing for disowning the kindred enterprise of his brother- the approaching contest. His first'attemrpt, as we in.law. Notwithstanding the splendid details which have already seen, was to conciliate the allied the lMosnitezus- gave of Murat's undertaking, while it powers. To satisfy Great Britain, he passed an yet seemed to promise success, it is certain that act abolishing thle slave trade, and made some reBonaparte endeavoured to propitiate Austria, by gulations concerning national education, in which the offer of abalndotling Mlurat; and that Murat, he spoke highly of the systems of Bell and Lancould his offers have obtained a hearintg after the caster. These measures were favourably construed repulse of Occhio-Bello, was ready once more to have deserted Napoleon, whose namne he had so * It is well known that Joachiln Mlurat, escaping with lately reassumed. Involved in this mnaze of selfish difficulty from France, fled to Corsica, anti might have policy, Mlurat had now the mnortification to find him- obtained permission to reside upon parole in thle Austrian self contenlned by Napoleon, when he might, indeed, territories, safe and unmolested. He nourished a wi'ci be a bharden, bitt could afford maimo no aid. Had he idea, however, of recovering his crown, which induced arrirmed at Milan as a victor, aid extended a frliendly him to rej.ect these terms of safer y, and invade the Neahamd across the Alps, lhow' different woumld have politan territories at the head of about two hundred teen. been his reception! Bitut Botnaparte reftised to see That his whole expedition might be an accurate parody. on that of Bonaparte to Cannes, I:e published swoggeriing hinm in his distress, or to permnit him to come to Pa- trochat o ons, tglod with a ropr liuhed sttim of flseproclamtmati'ons, mimigled withl a proper quanmtum of thiseris, satisfied that the sight of his misery would be a hood. A storm dispersed his flotilla. He himnself, Ottobitter contradiction to the fables which the French ber 8th, landed at a little fishing- town near Monte Leotle, jollrnals had, for somse tiumme, pubtlished of his success. He was attacked by the country people, fought as he ias Fouchl sent him a message, mtich like that which wont, but was defeated and made prisoner, tried by maremtjoined tile dishonoltred ambassadors of Solomon tial law, and condemned. The Sicilian royal fam:illy hae to tarry at Jericho till their beards grew. It recom- shown tllemselves no forgivinlg iace, otherwise mercy mended to Murat to remain in seclusion, till the re- might lave beem extenddd to ome, who, tlicegh now a collection of his disgrace should be abated by newer private person, had been so lately a king, that he might obje.cts of general interest. be pardomned for forgetting that lhe had no longer the Bonapar-te had sometimes entertained tlhoughts of power of making peace and war without personal responsibility. Murat met his fate as became le beau sabremtr..bringing urat to t.me ar,.y,.hmt was afraid of He fastened his wife's pictture on his breast, refused to shocking the French soldiers, who would have felt have his eyes bandaged, or to use a seat, received six balls disgust and horror at seeintg the nman who had be- tltrough his heart, and met the death which he- had bravedt trayed France. " I did not," he said to his followers with impunity in the thick of many conflicts, anld sought is at St Helena, " think I could carry himm through, and vain in so many others. 701.: LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. by some of our legislators, and that they were so, is to a change of government, may, on hearing quoted a complete proof that Bonaparte understood the names of respectability and celebrity who adopted temper of our nation. To suppose that, during his the latter alternative, exclaim against French verten months of retirement, his mind was actively satility, a glance at J3ritain during the frequen:t employed upon the miseries of the negroes, or the changes of the 17th century may induce us to exdeplorable state of ignorance to which his own change the exclamation of poor France! for that of measures, and the want of early instruction, had re- poor hunian nature! The professors of Cromwvell's duced the youth of France, would argue but little days, who piously termed themselves followers of' acquaintance with his habits of ambition. To be- Providence, because they complied with every lieve, on the contrary, that he would, at his first change that came uppermost; and the sect of timearrival in France, make any apparent sacrifices servers, including the honest patriot, who complainwhich might attract the good-will of his powerlfl ed at the Restoration that he had complied with and dangerous nleighbours, is more consonant with seven forms of government during the year, but lost his schemes, his interest, and his character. The his office by being too late of adhering to the last,path which he chose to gain the esteem of Britain would have made in their day a list equally ]ong, was by no means injudicious. The abolition of and as entertaining, as the celebrated Dictionnaire negro slavery, and the instruction of the poor, have des Girouettes. In matters dependent upon a sudden (to the honour of our legislature) been frequent and breeze of sentiment, the mercurial Frenchman is anxious subjects of deliberation in the House of more apt to tack about than the phlegmatic and Commons; and to mankind, whether individually or slowly-moved native of Britain; blt when the steady collectively, no species of flattery is more pleasing trade-wind of interest prevails for a long seadon, than that of assent and imitation. It is not a little men in all nations and countries show the same irto the credit of our country, that the most avowed resistible disposition to trim their sails by it; and enemy of Britain strove to cultivate our good opi- in politics as in morals, it will be well to pray nion, not by any offers of national advantage, but by against being led into temptation. appearing to concur in general measures of bene- Besides those attached to him by mere interest, volence, and attention to the benefit of society. Yet, or from gratitude and respect for his talents, Napoupon the whole, the character of Napoleon was too leon had now among his adherents, or rather allies, generally understood, and tile purpose of his ap- not as a matter of choice, but of necessity, the'aparent approximation to British sentiments too ob- cobin party, who had been obliged, though anl\ ilviously affetcted, for serving to make any general or lingly, to adopt him as the head of a goverlnnelt, serious impression in his favour. which they hoped to regenerate. To these;erue to WVith Austria, Napoleon acted differently. He be added a much larger and more respectable bdy,l was aware that no impression could be made on the who, far from encouraging his attempt, Iad testified Emperor Francis, or his minister Metternich, and themselves anxious to oppose it to the last, but wlho, that it had become impossible, with their consent, conceiving the cause of the Bourbons entirely lost, that he should ful.fil his promise of presenting his were willing to adhere to Bonaparte, on condition of wife and son to the Feople on the Champ-de-Mai. obtaining a free constitution for France. Many of Stratagem remained the only resource; and some these acted, of course, on mixed motives; but if Frenchmen at Vienna, with those in Maria Louisa's we were asked to form a definition of them, vwe train, formed a scileme of carrying off the Empress should be induced to give the same, lwhich, layilng of France and her child. The plot was discovered aside party spirit, we would ascribe to a right Engand prevented, and the most public steps were irn- lish whig, whomn we conceive to be a mean of sense mediately taken, to show that Austria considered and moderation, a lover of laws and liberty, whose all ties with Bonaparte as dissolved for ever. Maria chief regard to particular princes and fitnilies is Louisa, by her father's commands, laid aside the founded on what he apprehends to be the public arms and liveries of ler husband, hitherto displayed good; and who differs from a sensible tory so little, by her attendants andl carriages, and assumed those that there is no great chance of their disputing u1pon of the housef of Austria. This decisive event put an any iinl)ortant constitutional question, if it is fltiily end to every hoipe so lung cherished by Napoleon, stated to both!. Such, we believe, is the difference that lie mighlt find sonme means of regaining the betwixt rational constitutionalists and royalists in friendship of his lither-in-law. France; and undoubtedly, vhile all the feelings of Nor did the other powers in Europe show thein- the latter induced them to eye with abhorrence the selves mllore ac'cessible to his advances. He was, domiination of a usurper, there must have been nalny therefore, educed to his own partisans in the of the former, who, fearing danger to the independFrench nation, -and those won over from other par- ence of France from the intervei tion of foreiggn ties, iwhoim lie miighlit be able to add to them. powers, conceived, that by advocating the cause The arniy ihad sufficiently shown themselves to be of Napoleon, they were in sonie degree makilng a his own, 1upon grounds which are easily appreciated. virtue of necessity, and playing an indifferent ganlle The ost of pIublic oflficial persons, to whonm the with as much skill as the curds they held wiotld inline tlnder which they exercised their offices was permit. Many patriotic and sensible mreln, whto hlid indilfferent, provided the salary continued to be at- retained a regard for liberty during all tile goserltltached to theua, formlled a large and influential body. ments and all the anarchies which had subsisted lbr And although we, whlo have never, by such nuta- twenty years, endeavoured now to frarne a systu in tinUs (f our political system, been put to the trial of of government, grounded upon something like I;e. — ejitier abanriiotiiiu our meains of living, or submitting dom, upon the diffilculties of Bonaparte. t1r. ss, 1..... LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 705i as lie was from abroad, and unsupported at home, ciued to the imperial government; and both the save by the soldiery, he would, they conceived, ancient republicans condescended to exchange tl:e be thrown by necessity under the protection of the bonnet royuge for a coronet, which, considering their nation, and obliged to recruit his adherents by corn- former opinions, sate somewhat awkwardly upon plying with public opinion, and adopting a free go- their brows. vernment. Under this persuasion a great number But although the union of the imperialists and poof such characters, more or less shaded by attach- pular party had been cemented by mutual hiatred of ment to a moderate and limited monarchy, were the Bourbons, and was still kept together by appreprepared to acknowledge Bonaparte's re-established hension of the king's adherents within, and his allies authority, in so far as lihe should be found to deserve on the exterior, seeds of discord were soon visible it, by concessions on his part. between the emperor and the popular leaders. While The conduct and arguments of another portion of the former was eager once more to wield with full tile friends of the constitution rather resembled that energy the sceptre he had recovered, the latter were Which ntighit have been adopted in England by mo- continually reuminding him, that lie had only assumrred derate and intelligent tories. Such nmen were not it in a limited and restricted capacity, as the head prepared to resigtn the cause of their lawful monarch, of a free government, exercising, indeed, its execubecause fortune had fbr a timne declared against him. tive power, but under the restraint of a popular They were of opinion that, to make a constitution constitution. Napoleon, in the frequent disputes permanent, the monarch nmust have his riglhts ascer- which arose on these important points, was obliged tained and vindicated, as well as those of the peo- to concede to the demagogues the principles which pie; and that if a usurper were to be acknowledged they insisted upon. But then, for the safety of the upon any ternls, however plausible, so soon as he state, involved in foreign and domestic dangers, had cut his way to success by his sword, the nation he contended it was necessary to invest the chief would be exposed to p)erpetual revolutions. Louis, magistrate with a vigour beyond the law, a dictathese nlen might argue, had committed no crime tolial authority, temporary in its duration, but Iwtiatever; he a.s only placed in circumstances nearly absolute in its extent, as had been the nanner whicll made some persons suppose he might pos- in the firee states of antiquity, when the republic sibly be tenmpted to meditate changes on the consti- was in imminent danger. Carnot and Foiich, on the ttitioii, and on the charter whliich confirmed it. There other hand, considered, that although it seemed was meanlness in deserting a good and peaceable natural, and might be easy, to confer such power at king at the colmansnd of a revolted army, and a dis- the present monment, tile resumption of it by the carded usurper. They regretted that their prince nation, when it was once vested in the hands of Bomust be relplaced by foreign bayonets; yet it was naparte, would be a hopeless experimnent. The emperhaps better that a moderate and peaceful govern- peror, therefore, and his ministers, proceeded to ment should be restored even thus, than that the their mutual tasks with no mutual confidet.ce; but, French nation should continue to stiffer under the on the contrary, with jealousy, thinly veiled by an despotic tyranny of their own soldiery. Those rea- affectation of deference on the side of Bonaparte, soners ridiculled the idea of a firee constitution, which and respect on that of his counsellors. was to be,geterated betwixt Bonaparte, who, in his The very first sacrifice which the emperor gave to former reignl never allowed freedom of thought, fieedoin proved an inconvenient one to his governword, or action, to exist utlrepressed, and tile old ment. This was nothing less than the freedom of revolutionists, wvho, dluring their period of power, the press. Itis true, that the influence of his mixister could be satisfied with no degree of liberty, until of police managed by indirect means to get possesthey destroyed every compact which holds civil sion of most of the journals; so that of sixty writers, society together, andl made the country resemble one employed generally, if not constantly, in periodical great bedlam, set on fire by the patients, who re- composition, five only were now found friendly to inained dancing in the midst of the flames. the royal cause. The other pens, vwhich a few days Such we* conteive to have been the principles on before described Napoleon as a species of ogre, who whliCht wise and moderate men on either side acted had devoured the youth of France, now wrote him during this distracted period. It is easy to sup- down a hero and a liberator. Still, whlen the liberty pose, that their opinions must have been varied by of the press was once established, it was soon found ilany more and less nminulte shades, arising from tenl- impossible to prlevent it from assertilng its righlt of perament, )predilecti6ns, prejudices, passions, and utterance; and there were found authors to advocate feelings of self-interest, and that they were on either the cause of the Bourbons, fron principle, from casile liable to be ptushed into exatggeration, or, ac- price, froml the love of contradiction. cording to thle word which was formned to express Napoleon, who always showed himself sensitively tilat exaggreration,-into ultraism. alive to the public censure, established inspectors of Mleantimne, Napoleon dlid all that was possible to the booksellers. The minister of police, a friend of conciliate the peol)les affeclion, and to show himlself liberty, but, as Comte, the editor of le Censeur,.sincerely desirous of gis ing France the free constitu-. neatly observed, only of liberty after the ftshion of tion which he 1uad promlised. lie used the advice Monsieur Fouch6, used every art in his power to of Carnot, Sieyes, and Fouchtl, and certainly pro- prevent the contagion of freedom from spreading too fited by seelral ol their lessons. HF-e made it, not- widely. This Monsieur Comte was a loud, and prowithstanding, a condition, that Carnot and Si6yes bably a sincere advocate of freedom, and had been should accept each a title and a seat in his House a promoter of Bonaparte's return, as likely to ad|'f Peers, to show that they were completely reoon- vance. the good cause. Seeing the prevailing influe vOL. VI. 5 — _ - - 706 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. ence of the military, he published some severe side of the party they espoused. They invented, or remarks on the undue weight the army assumed in some loyal rhymer composed for them, a song, 4 the public affairs, which he hesitated not to say, was burden of which demanded back the king, as their bringing France to the condition of Rome, when the father of Ghent. They ridiculed, scolde.d and emnpire was disposed of by the Pretorian guards. mobbed the commissaries of police, who endeavoured This stung to the quick-the journal was seized by to stop these musical expressions of disaltection; thle police, and the minister endeavoutred to palliate surrounded the chief of their numniber, danced arournd tihe fact in the Moniteur, by sayinlg that though him, and chaunted the obnoxious burden, until seized, it had been instantly restored. But Comte Fouch6 being ashamed to belie the new doctrines was not a nman to be so silenced; lie published a of liberty of' thought, speech, and publication, his contradiction of the official stateiment, an(l declared agents were instructed to leave these Amazons unthat his journal had not been restored. He was surn- disturbed on account of their political sentimllents. ntoned the next day before tihe prefect, alternately While Bonaparte was unable to form an interest threatened and wheedled, upbraided at one momellt in the saloons, anld found that even the dames de la wvith ungrateful resistance to the cause of the emlpe- halle were becoming discontented, he had upon his ror, and requested the next to think of solnething in side the militia of the suburbs; those colunmns of which government might serve hiii. Steeled against'pikemen so famous in the Revolution, whose furliols every proffer and entreaty, Comte only required to and rude character added to the terrors, if not tlhe be permitted to profit by the restored liberty of the dignity, of his reign. Let us not be acciused of a press; nor could the worthy magistrate make hitm wish to depreciate honest inldustry, or hold lup to rightly understand that when the enmperor gave all conltempt the miseries of poverty. It is not the iienr liberty to publish what pleased themselves, it poverty, but the ignorance and the vice of the rabble was under thle tacit condition that it should also of great cities, which render them always disagreeplease the prefect and ninister of police. Comnte had able, and sometimes terrible. They are entitled to the spirit to publish the whole affair. protection from the laws, and kindness fio om the In the meanwhile, proclamtationls of Louis, forbid- government; but he who would use them as politic al ding the payment of taxes, and annotuncitng the arrival engines, invokes the assistanice of a blatant beast of 1,200,000 tOell under the walls of Paris, covered with a thousand heads, well furnished vwith fangs to these walls every nligllt iil spite of the police. A tear and throats to roar, but devoid of' tongues to newspaper, called the Lily, was also secretly but speak reason, ears to hear it, eyes to see, or judg. generally circulated, which advocated the royal iment to conlprehend it. cause. In the better classes of society, where Bo- For a little tinle after Bonaparte's returln, crewds naparte was feared and hated, lampoons, satires, of artisans of the lowest order assembled under the mpasquinades glided from hand to hand, tulrning his windows of the Tuileries, and demanded to see the person, ministers, and government, into the mlost emperor, whom, on his appearance, they greeted bitter ridicule. Others attackend himn with eloquent with shouts, as le yrand elntreprleneur, or general invective, and demanded what lie had in coniiiTon employer of the class of artisans, in language where with the word Liberty, which lie now pretended to the coarse phraseology of' their rallk was adorned connect with his reign. HIe was, they said, the with such flowers of rhetoric as the times of terror sworn enemy of liberty, the assassin of the Republic, had coined. Latterly the numbers of this assembly the destroyer of French freedom which had been so were maintained by a distribution of' a few sous to dearly bought; the show of liberty which he held the shonters. was a trick of legerdemain, executed under protec- However disgustedl with these degrading exhilbition of his bayonets. SLIchI was his notion of liberty tions, Bonaparte felt lie could niot dispense with when lie destroyed the national representation at this species of fbrce, and was compelled to institute St-Cloud —Such was the freedom he gave when lie a day of' procession, and a solemn festival, in faestablished all oriental despotism in the enlightened vour of this description of persons, who, fiom tile kingdom of France-such, when abolishing all free mode in which they were enrolled, were termed communication of sentiments among citizens, and Federates. proscribing every liberal and philosophical idea On 14th May, the motley arnd ill-arranged ranks under the nicklnamne of Ideology. " Can it be for- which assembled on this nlemorable occasion exhigotten," they continued, " that heaven and hell are bited, in the eyes of the disgusted and frightened not more irreconcilable ideas, than Bonaparte and spectators, all that is degraded lby habitual vice, Liberty? —The very word Freedom," they said, arld hardened by stupidity and profligacy. Tile " was proscribed under his iron reign, and only first portentous procession moved oi along tile Bomulegladdened thle ears of Frencllhmen after twelve years vards to tile court of the Tuileries, wiAt shouts, in of humiliation and despair, oil thle happy restioration which the praises of tile emtperor were mlingled of Louis XVIII.-Ah, miserable impostor!" they with imprecations, anld with thie revolutionary songs exclaimed, " when would he have spoke of liberty, (long silenced in Paris),-the MINarseillaise Hymnl, had not tile return of Louis familiarized ms with the Carmlagnole, anld the chant duz dmZyart. T7'he freedonm and peace." The spirit of disaffection appearance of tle men, the refiise of manufactories, spread aumong certain classes of tihe lower rank. The of work-houses, of jails; their rags, their filth, their market-women (dames de la halle), so formidable drunkenness; their ecstasies of blasphemous rage, during tie tirlme of thle Fronde, and in the early years of the Revolution, for their opposition to the court, + Donnez-noues motre paire de gants, equivalent in p1owere now royalists, and, of course, clamorous on the nunciation to notre Pere de Gamud. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 707 and no less blasphemous joy, stamped them with ill received by all parties, hut especially by those the character of the willing perpetrators of the who expected froIn Napoleon a constitution more worst horrors of the Revolution. Bonaparte him- free than that which they had dissolved by driving self was judged by close observers to shrink with Louis XVIII. from the throne. There were other abhorrence from the assembly lie had himself con- grave exceptions stated against this scheme of goyoked. His guards were tinder arms, and the field- vernment. artillery loaded, and turned on the Place du Car- First, The same objection was stated against this rousel, filled w.ith the motley crowd, who, from the imperial grant which had been urged with so much contrasted colour of the corn-porters and charcoal- vehemence against the royal charter, namely, men distinguished in the group, were facetiously that it was not a compact between the people and called his Grey and Black Monsquetaires. He the sovereign, int which the former called the latter hasted to dismiss his hideous minions, with a suffi- to the throne under certain conditions, but a recogcient distribution of praises and of liquor. The nition by the sovereign of tile liberties of the peoNational Guards conceived themselves insulted on pie. The meeting of the Champ-de-Mai had inthis occasion, btecanse compelled to give their at- deed been summoned,-as intimated in the decrees tendance along with the federates. The troops of from Lyons,-chiefly with the purpose of forming the line felt for the degraded character of the and adopting the new constitution; but, according emperor. The haughty character of the French to the present system, they were only to have the soldiers had kept them fronm fraternizing with the choice of' adopting or rejecting that which Naporabble, even in the cause of Napoleon. They had leon had prepared for thein. The disappointment been observed, on the march from Cannes, to cease was great among those philosophers who desired their cries of Vive l'eumpereur, when, upon entering "better bread than is made of wheat;" and could any considerable town, the shout was taken up by not enjoy liberty itself, unless it emallated. directly the mob of the place, and to suspend their accla- from the will of the people, arnd was sanctioned by mations, rather than mingle them with those of the popular discussion. Buit Napoleon was determined pekirns, whom they despised. They now muttered ihat the convention on the 10th May should have no to each other, on seeing the court which Bonaparte other concern in the constitution, save to accept it seemed compelled to bestow on these degraded when offered. He would not intrust such an asartisans,-that the conqueror of Marengo and Wa- sembly with the revision of the laws by which he grant had sunk into the mere captain of a rabble. was to govern. In short, the disgraceful character of the alliance Secondly, This new constitution, though presentthus formed between Bonaparte and the lees of ing an entirely- new basis of government, was pubthe people was of a nature incapable of being'lishied under the singular title of an "Additional glossed over even in the flattering pages of the Act to the Constitutions of the Empire," and thereMoniteur, which, amidst a flourishing description by constituted a sort of appendix to a huge mass of this memorable procession, was conmpelled to of unrepealed organic laws, many of them inconadmit, that, in some places, the name of the em- sistent with the additional act in tenor and in peror was incongruously nlingled with expressions spirit. and songs, which recalled an era unfor-tunately too Those who had enjoyed the direct confidence of fcunvmous. the emperor while the treaty was framing, endeaFretted by external dangers and internal disturbances, and by the degrading necessity of appearing Their number is unlimited. every night before a mob. who familiarly hailed The Second Chamber is elected by the people, and is to ilnm as Pire la Violette, and, above all, galled by consist of 629 members -none are to be under 25 years. the suggestions of his philosophical counlsellors, The president is appointed by the members, but approved ewho, amnong other innovations, wished him to lay of by the emperor. aside the style of emperor for that of President, Members to be paid at tie rate settled by the Constituent or Grand General of the Republic, Napoleon, to Assembly. rid himself at once of occupations offensive to his It is tobe reneed every five years. The emperor may prorogue, adjourn, or dissolve the haurghty disposition, withdrew firom the Tuileries to house of representatives. / the inmore retired palace of the Elys6e Bourbon, Sittings to be public..and seermed on a sudden to become once more the The electoral colleges are maintained. emllperor he had been before his abdication. Here Land tax and direct taxes to be voted only for a year; he took into his own hands, with the assistance of indirect may be for several years. Berijamin Constant and other statesmen, the con- No levy of men for the army, nor any exchange of terstruction of a new constitution. Their system in- ritory, but by a law. cluded all those checks and regulations which are Taxes to be proposed by tie Chamber of Representaunderstood to form the essence of a free govern- tives. ment, and greatly resembled that granted by tile Miisters to beresposible. Judges to be irremovable. royal charter.* Nevertheless, it was extremely Juries to be established. Right of petition is established-freedom of worship* The following is an abridgment of its declarations: — inviolability of property. The legislative power resides in the emperor and two The last article says, that "the French people declare Cbambers. that they do not mean to delegate the power of restoring The Chamber of Peers is hereditary, and the emperor the Boulrbons, or any prince of that family, even in case names them. j of the exclusion of the imperial dynasty. l 708 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONA.PARTE. voured to persuade thenmselves that Napoleon meant fantastic robes, in the Champ-de-Mai; he as emfairly by France, yet confessed they had found it peror, and they as princes of the blood,-another difficult to enlighten his ideas on the subject of a subject of discontent to republicans. The report of' limited monarchy. They felt, that though the em- the votes was made, the electors swore to the a4diperor might be induced to contract his authority, tional act, the drums rolled, the trumpets flourished, yet what remained in his own hand would be wield- the cannon thundered. But the acclarmations were ed as arbitrarily as ever; and likewise that lie would few and forced. The emperor seenled to view the never regard his ministers otherwise than as the ir- scene as an empty pageant, until he was sinmone:l mediate executors of his pleasure, and responsible to the delivery of the eagles to the various newto himself alone. He would still continue to transport raised regiments; and then, amid tile emblems of his whole chancery at his stirrrp, and transmit seal- past, and, as might be hoped, the aug'uries of future ed orders to be executed by a minister whom he *victories, he was himself again. But, on the Awhole, had not consulted on their import.* the Champ-de-Mai was, in the language of Paris, The royalists triumphed on the publication of this smne piece tornhbe, a condemned farce, which was additional act: " Was it for this," they said, " you soon to be succeeded by a bloody tragedy. broke your oaths, and banished your monarch, to The meeting of the Chambers was the next subget the same, or nearly similar laws imposed on ject of interest. The Chanmbher of Peers did not you by a Russian ukase or a Turkish firman, which present, like the corresponding assembly in Britain, you heretofore enjoyed by charter, in the same iman- members of long descent, ample fortunes, indener as your ancestors, called freemen by excellence, pendence of principle, and education corresponding held their rights fiomn their limited sovereigns; and to their rank of hereditary legislators. It consisted for this have you exchanged a peaceful prince, in the princes of Napoleon's blood royal, to whom whose very weakness was your security, for an am- was added Lucien, long estranged from his brother's bitious warrior, whose strenigthl is your weakness? councils, but who now, instigated by firaternal affecFor this have you a second time gone to war with tion, or tired of literary leisure, having presented all Europe-for the additional act and the Champ-, his epic poem to a thankless and regardless public, de-Mai?" endeavoured to save his brother in his present The more determined republicans, besides their difficulties, as by his courage and presence of' mind particular objections to an Upper House, which the he had assisted him during the revolution of Bruemperor could fill with his own minions, so as ef- maire. There were about one hundred other dignifectually to control the representatives of the peo- taries, more than one half of whom were military ple, found the proposed constitution utterly devoid men, including two or three old jacobins, such as of the salt which should savour it. There was no Si6yes and Carnot, who had taken titles, decoraacknowledgment of abstract principles; no disserta- tions, and rank, inconsistently with the tenor of their tion concerning the rights of government and the whole life. The rest had been the creatures of governed; no metaphysical discussions on the origin Bonaparte's former reign, with some men of letters of laws; and they were as much mortified and dis- devoted to his cause, and recently ennobled. This appointed as the zealot who hears a discourse on body, which could have no other will than that of practical morality, when he expected a sermon on the emperor, was regarded by the republicans d.td the doctrinal points of theology. The nnfortunate constitutionalists with jealousy, and by the citizens additional act became the subjec.t of attack and rail. with contempt. Bonaparte himself expressed his lery on all sides; and was esteemed to possess in opinion of it with something approaching the latter so slight a degree the principle of durability, that sentiment. Hie had scarce formed his tools, before a bookseller being asked for a copy by a customer, he seems to have been convinced of their inefficacy, replied, He did not deal in periodical pzublica- and of the little influence which they could exercise tions.t on the public mind.+ Under these auspices the Champ-de-Mai was It was very different with the second Cliamber, opened, anld that it might be in all respects inconi in which were posted the ancient men of the Revozruous, it was held on the 1st of June. Deputies lition, and their newer associates, who looked forwvere supposed to attend from all departments, not, ward with hope that Bonaparte might yet assume as it had been latterly arranged, to canvass the new the character of a patriot sovereign, and by his constitution, but to swear to observe it; and not to military talents save France for her sake, rnot for his receive the Errpress Maria Loi isa and her son as own. The latter class comprehended many men, the pledge of twenty years' peace, but to behold not only of talent, but of virtue and public spirit; the fatal eagle, the signal of instant and bloody with too large a proportion, certainly, of those who war, distributed by the emperor to the soldiers. vainly desired a system of republican liberty, which Napoleon and his brothers, whom he had once so many years of bloody and firuitless experiment more collected around him, figured, in quaint and should have led even the most extravagant to abandon, as inconsistent with the situation of the country, * Lettersfrom Paris, written during the Last Reign of and the genius of the French nation. t It nvas s tpoleonding, witvolh 1t i. usuc The dispute of the Chamber of Representatives t It was subiected, notwithstanding, with the usual sue- ith cess to the electoral bodies, whose good-nature never re-tive government co fused a constitution which was recommended by the existi:g government. The number of those who gave their' The pulnsters of Paris selected Lahbdtybro, Drouot, votes were more than a million; being scarce a tenth part, Ney, and Lallemand, as the quatre pairs fides (perfides), however, of those who had qualifications. while Vandamme and others were termed thie pairs siais. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 70'9 June 4th, the filrst day of their sitting; and, like enemy; hbut they announced their intention to take I those of their predecessors, upon points of idle under their consideration the constitution, as recogetiquette. They chose Lanjainais for their presi- nized by the additional act, and to point out its dent; a preferment which, alighting on one who had defects and imperfections, with the necessary remebeen the defender of Louis XVI., the active and dies. They also added a moderating hint, directed determined resister of the power of Robespierre, against the fervour of Napoleon's ambition. "The and, especially, the statesman who drew tup the list nation," they said, " nourishes no plans of aggranof critmes in conseqluence of which Napoleon's for- dizement. Not even the will of a victorious prince. teiture had been declared in 1814, could not be will lead them beyond the boundaries of self-deacceptable to the emperor. Napoleon being applied fence." In his rejoinder, Napoleon did not suffer to ibr confirmation of the election, referred the these obnoxious hints to escape his notice. HIe committee for his answer to the chamberlain, who, endeavoured to school this refractory assembly into le stated, would deliver it the next day by the page veneration lor the constitution, whlich he declared to in watiting. The Chamber took fire, and Napoleon be " the pole-star in the tempest;" and judiciously was compelled to return an immediate though re- observed, "there was little cause to provide against Iactant approval of their choice. Thle next remark- the intoxications of triumph, when the were about able indication of tile temper of the Chamber, was to contend for existence. He stated the crisis to be the extemipore effusion of a deputy, named Sibuet, imminent, and cautioned the Chamber to avoid the against the use of the epithets of duke, count, and conduct of the Roman people in the latter ages of other titles of hornour, in the Chamriber of Repres'en- the empire, who could not resist the temptation of tatives. Being observed to read his invective from en-aging furiously in abstract discussions, even notes, which was contrary to the form of the Chanm- while the battering-rams of the common enemy were her, Sibuet was silenced bor the momlent as out of shaking the gates of the capital." order; but the next day, or soon afterwards, having Thus parted Bonaparte and his chambers of legisgot his speech by heart, the Chamber was under the lature; he to try his fortune in the field of battle, necessity of listening to himn, and his imotion was got they to their task of altering and modifying the laws, rid of with difficulty. Ont tlme same day, a list of and inspiring a more plopular spirit and air into the the persons appointed to the peerage was demanded enactments he had made, in' hopes that the dictatorfirom Carnot, in his capacity of' minister, which lie ship of the jacobins might be once again substituted declined to render till the session had commenced. for the dictatorship of the emperor. All men saw This also occasioned much uproar and violence, that the imperialists and republicans only waited till which the president could scarce silence by the the field was won, that they might contend fobr the incessant peal of' his bell. The oath to be taken by booty; and so little was the nation disposed to symthe deputies was next severely scrutinized, and the pathize with the active, turbulent, and bustling imperialists carried with diffictlty a resolution, that demagogues by whom the contest was to be mainit should be taken to the emperor and the constitu- tained against the emperor, that almost all predicted tion, without mention of the nation. with great unconcern their probable expulsion, either The second meeting, on June 7th, was as tumul- by the sword of Bonaparte or the Bourbons. tuous as the first. A motion was made by FMlix Lepelletier, that the Chamber should decree to Napoleon the title of Saviour of his Country. This was CHAPTER CV. resisted on the satisfactory ground, that the country was not yet saved; anll the Chamber passed to the Preparations to renew the vwar.-Positions of the allied order of the day by acclamation. forces, amnoulnting in thle whole to one million of men.Notwithstanding these open intimations of the ROlcpcctesforce not more tlan 200,00. - Conscription sot ventured upon,-National Guard-their reluctance reviving spirit ofjacobinism, or at least of opposition ot sertree.-Jin.-proviaces hostile to N apoleon's cance to the imlperial sway, Napoleon's situation obliged -Fonitchs report makes knaowt the woide-spread cisafhinrr for the tiime to address the unruly spirits which fection-Insurrection in La Vende quelled.-ilitary he had called together with the confidence which it resources of France.-Napoleon's platn of caompaiqn.was said necromtancers found it needful to use to- Paris placed ini a complete state of-defence-ThefrJ'onwards tile dargerous fiends whom they had evoked. tier-passes altd touts forti;ied also. - Generals who His address to both Chamber.s was sensible, manly, accept cormmand under NaTpoleon.-le announces his and becoiminig his situation. Ile surrendered, in purpose to measure himlself with Wellinytgion. their presence, all his pretensions to absolute power, and professed himself a fiiend to liberty; deatlnded WrE are now to consider the tpreparations made the assistance of the Chamblers in matters of finance, fo)r the invasion of France along the whole eastern intiirmated a desire of soine regulations to check the I frontiers-the means of the resistance which the tslicense of the press, and required trom the represen- lents of the emperor presented to his numerous tatives an example of confidence, energy, and patriot- enenies-and the internal situation of the cotntry isin, to encounter the dangers to which the country itself. was exposed.'he peers replied in correspondingr While the events now commenmorated were passterms. Not so the Second Clamrnber; for notwith- ing in France, the allies made the most gigantic standit)ng tile utmnost efoirts of the impelialists; their prepalations for thle renewal of aver. The chancellor reply bore a strong tincture of the sentiment's of the of the exclequer of England had achieved a loan opposite party. The Chlamber prnmised, indeed, of thirty-six millions, upon terms surprisingly imotheir iunanilollts s-ipport in repelliing the ftreigii derate, and the command of this treasure had put l~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | 71i LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. the whole troops of the coalition into the most active peremptory as those relating to the conscription, advance. though bearing another name, spread a general soiThe seat of the congress had been removed from rit of disgust through many tepartments in the north'lienna to Frankfort, to be near the theatre of war. of France.'There and in Brittany, the disaflection The Emperors of Russia and Austria, with the of the inhabitants appeared in a sullen, dogged1 King of Prussia, had once more placed themselves stubbornness, rather thian in the form of active resistat the head of their respective armies. The whole ance to Napoleon's decrees. The National Guards eastern fiontier was menaced by immense forces. refused to parade, and, if cotmpelled to do so, took One hundred and fifty'thousand Austrians, disen- every opportunity to desert and return home; so that gaged fiom Murllat, might enter France through it often happened that a battalion, which hlad niusSwitzerland, the Cantons having acceded to the coa- tered six hundred men, dwindled down to a fifth lition. An army equal in strength menaced the before they had marched two leagues. higher Rhine. Schlwartzenlberg comnlanded the In the departmrents of La Sarthe, Maine et Loire, Austrians in chief, having under lhim Bellegarde, and and Loire-Inf6rieure, the whlite flag was displayetl, Fritnont, Bianchi, and Vincent. Two hundred-thou- and the tree of liberty, which had been replanted in sand Russians Were pressing towards the frontiers oif niany places after tle political regeneration of BonraAlsace. The Archduke Constantine was nominated parte, was cut down. The public niind in mainy generalissimo, but Barclay de Tolly, Sackenl, Lan- provinces displayed itself as higlhly untavourable to geron, etc., were the efficient commanders. One Napoleon. hundred and fifty thousand Prussians, under 1Dl- A report, drawl tip by Fouche, stated in highcher, occupied Flaniders, and were united with about coloured language the general disaftlctitn. Napo- eighty thousand troops, British, or inl British pay, leon always colnsideredt this colmmunication as pubunder the Duke of Wellington. There were also to lished with a view of prejudicing his aftilts; ilnd be reckoned the contingents of the different princes as that versatile statesman was already inl secret of Cermany, so that the allied forces were grossly correspondence with the allies, it was probably ilcomputed to antount to upwardls of one million of tended as much to encourage the royalist., as to dismen. The reader must not, however, suppose, that may the adherents of Napoleon. This arch-intliguer, such an inimense force was, or could be, brought whlorn, to use an expression of Junius, treachery forward at once. They were necessarily disposed itself could not trust, was at one moment neealy on various lines for the convenience of subsistence,' caught. in his own toils; and although he carried tlre and were to be brought up successively inl support matter with infinite address, Napoleon would iave of each other. made him a prisoner, or caused him to be shot, but To meet this immense array, Napoleon, with his for the intimation of Carnot, that if lie did so his own usual talent anti celerity, hall brought forward means reign would not last an hour longer.? of sntrprising extent. The regular army, diminished by the Bourbons, had been, by calliing out the re- * The particulars of this intrigue show with wsluat anldatired officers, and disban(led soldiers, increased city, and at rhat risk, Fouche waded, swam, or dived, from something rather uinder 100,000 mnen, to (louble aunong tle troulled waters which were hs eletieit. An agent of Prince Mretteritich had been dispatched to Paris, that number of experienced troops, of the first qua- to ope on ti l1ty. But this was dust in the balane; and tile to open a communication with FouchM ol the part of thle lity. 1But this was dust in the balance; and the Austrian goverumelt. Falling undersuspicion, fo sote hnode Of CODS~ripti~n was so ultimatel connected Austrian govertyment. Falling under suspicion, from soatie modle o~f conscription was so itltilnately connected banking transaction, this person was denoullced to Bonawith Napoleon's wars of conquest and disaster, that parte as a suspicious person, and arrested by his intterior he dared not propose, nor would the Chamber of police, which, as there cannot be too mtuch precautiol Representatives have agreed to have recourse to the in a well-inaiaged state, watched, and were spies upon, old and odious resource of conscription, which, how- the general police under Fouch6. The egent was broi(ght ever, Bonaparte trusted he might still findl effectual before Bonaparte, who threatened to cause him be slct in the month of June, to tlhe number of 300,000. In to death tn the ver spot, ultess he teldhiun hle ovliole the meantime, it was proptosed to rellder mruovable, ruti. The Inan tliie coitessed that Mettellici sent hii for active service, two hindredl battalio ns of tlhe to Fouclh6, to reqitest.the latter to send a secure agent to Natiou al Gluard, chusiug those most fit fir duta, Bfle, to mIeet with a confidential person otl the part t of the Austrian minister, whomin Fouchl6's envoy was to recegn'.ce which would make a force of 112,000 men. It was- by a by a reculiar siga, which thle illf(rmnle-r also mlade knowun. also proposedl to levy as manly federates, that is, vo- - haove vou fullilletl yoer cotinission so far as concerns lunteers of the lower orders, as could be brought Foutrcl:?" said the emnperor. -"I hIave," aswsSered ti.e together in the different departments., Thte levy of Austrian agent. — "And has aLe dispatched ally onie to the National Guards was or(lered by an imperial Bale?" —"'hat I cannot tell." —TI'e agent was detainled decree of the 5th April, 1815, and connmmissioners ill a secret prison. Baron Fleury tie Clhaboulon, an nuchielly of the jacobin faction, were sent down inh) ditor, was instantly disspalclied to lBile, to represent the the difi'rent departmuents, Bonaparte being well aetent wlinhom Foill(:h shoul I;ave sent tlither, anld fatlci pleased at once to emlploy themi in their own sphere, tle lepth all(l c:haracter of the itltrigue lbetsixt thle Fietlch stued Austan i:ha'ater of che intrig uebet [lie tre and to get rid of their presence at Paris. Their d Ausia uliuiisters. Folcli tsutli diseeveleul lsl the efforts were, however, unable to excite the spirit of egelt sent to Iiuti ly iletterlli sas uiSSitl COlljeCtUtet tile country; fr ey ad either srvived their ow. his fate, ard instantly went to seek an audience of the thme counutry; fOr they had either survived tlhein, own exnperor. iHaviltg Mneutioled otlher matters, lie seemed to energies, or the nation had been too long accustonled recllect hiunself. and lcggetl tiutelon, seitl afected anconto their mode of oratory, to feel any respolisive im- ce-ni, fur ilot hlavitng lprevioulsly mentilonletl an affair of pulse. Liberty an(l fraternity was no lortuger a rally- se-tie conlsequenlce, shlichi, nevertheless, lie had forgotteln ing sound, nand the suimmoins to arins, bly decrees as amitid the hurry of business. " An agent had come to hitu I-~ ~~ ~~~~~~ LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 711 Thus Bonaparte was already in a great measure million. The Imperial Guards, who were termed the reduced to the office of generalissimo of the state; country's brightest ornament in time of peace, and and there were not wanting many, who dared to its best bulwark in time of war, were recruited to entreat him to heal the wounds of the country by a the number of 40,000 mien. second abdication in favour of his son,-a measure Stupendous efforts had repaired, the report stated, which the popular party conceived might avert the the losses of the artillery during the three disastrous impending danger of invasion. years of 1812,1813, 1814. Stores, ammuni tion, a-rms In the meantime, about the middle of May, a short of every kind, were said to be provided in abuninsurrection broke out in La Vendee, under d'Auti- dance. The renounting of the cavalry had been champ, Suzannet, Sapineau, and especially the brave accomplished in such a manner as to excite tile [La Roche-Jacquelin. The war was neither long surprise of every one. Finally, there was, asa body nor bloody, for an overpowering force was directed in reserve, the whole mass of sedentary National against the insurgents, under. Generals Lamarque Guards, so called, because they were not am1ong the and Travot. The people were ill prepared for re- chosen bands which had been declared movable. sistance, and the government menaced them with the But the bulk of these were either unfit for service, greatest severities, the instructions of Carnot to the or unwilling to serve, and could only be relied on military having a strong tincture of his ancient edu- for securing the public tranquillity. Corps of fedecation in the school of terror. Yet the Chamber of rates had been formed in all the districts where Deputies did not in all respects sanction the seve- materials could be found of which to compose them. rities of the government. When a member, called From these forces Napoleon selected a grand arlmy Leguevel, made a motion for punishing with pains to act under his personal orders. They were chosen and penalties the royalists of the west, the assembly with great care, and the preparation of their mat6riel heard him with patience and approbation propose was of the most extensive and complete description. that the goods and estates of the revolters (whom The numbers in gross might armount to 150,000; as lie qualified as brigands, priests, and royalists) should great a number of troops, perhaps, as can convebe confiscated; but when lie added, that not only niently move upon one plan of operations, or be subtlhe insulrgents themselves, but their relations in the jected to one generalissimo. A large deduction is direct line, whether ascendants or descendants, to be made to attain the exact amriount of Ihis effecshould be declared outlaws, a general exclamation tive force. of horror drove the orator from the tribune.' Thus prepared for action, no doubt was made After a battle near La Roche Serviere, which cost that Bonaparte would open the campaign, by asthe brave La Roche-Jacquelin his life, the remaining suming offensive operations. To wait till the enemy chiefs signed a capitulation, by which they disbanded had assembled their full force on his friontier, would their followers, anld laid down their arms, at the have suited neither the man nor the moment. It very time when holding out a few days would have was most agreeable to his system, his disposition, made them acqueainted with the battle of Waterloo. and his interest, to rush upon some separate army Released from actual civil war, Napoleon now had of the allies, surprise them, according to his own leisure to prepare for the external conflict. phrase, in delict, arid, by its dispersion or annililaThe means resorted to by the French government, tion, give courage to France, animate her to fr-esh which we have already alluded to, had enabled exertions in his cause, intimidate thle confederated Carnot to represent the national means in a most powers, and gain time for sowing in their league the respectable point of view. By his report to the two seeds of disunion. Even the royalists, whose inchambers, lie stated., that on 1st April, 1814, tile terest was so immediately connected with the dlefeat arrmy had consisted of 450,000 men, who had been of Bonaparte, were dismlayed by witnessing hIis reduced by the Bounbors to 175,000. Since the re- gigantic preparations, and sadly anticipated victories taurn of Napoleon, the number had been increased to as the first result, though they trusted that, as in 375,000 combatants of every kind; and before the 1814, he would be at length worn out, by force of Ist of August, was expected to amount to half a numbers and reiterated exertions. from the Austrian government," he said, "requesting him jected with horror, as a thing not to be thought of by to send a confidential person to Bale, to a correspon- Metternich or the allies. They appointed a second meetdent of Mletternich, and he now came to ask whether it ing, but in the interim, Fouchr made the Austrian aware would be his majesty's pleasure that he should avail him- of the discovery, and Baron Fleury, on his second journey self of the opening, in order to learn the secret purposes to Bale, found no Mr Werner to meet him. of the etnemy." Napoleon was not deceived by this trick. Bonaparte gives almost the same account of this intrigue There were several mirrors Alr the room, by which he could in his St Helena Conversations, as Fonch6 in his Mleinoirs. perceive and enjoy his perfidious minister's ill-concealed But Napoleon does not mention Carnot's interposition to embharrassment. "Monsieur Fouch6," he said, "it may prevent Fouch6 froum being put to death without process be dningerous to treat me as a fool; I have your agent in of law. "You may shoot Fouch6 to-day,;' said the old safe custodly, and penetrate your whole intrigue. Have jacobin, hbut to morrow you will cease to reign. Trle you sent to Buale!"-"No, sire."-" The happier for you; people of the Revolation permit you to retain the throne had you done so, yot should have died." -Fleury was only on condition you respect their liberties. They acunable to extract anything of consequence from WVerner, count Fouch6 one of their strongest guarantees. If he is the confidant of Metternichl, who tnet him at Bale. The guilty, ihe Inust be legally proceeded against." Bonaparte, Austriasn seemed to expect communications from Foucld, therefore, gaining no proof against Fouchl by the mission without being prepared to make them. Fleury touched on of Fienry, was fain to shut his eyes on what he saw aul the plan of assassinating Bonaparte, which IWerner re- too well. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 71'2 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. But though all guessed at the mode of tactics leon summoned around him his best and most exwhich Napoleon would employ, there was a differ- perienced generals. Soult, late minister of war for ence of opinion respecting the point on which his Loutis XVIII.. was named major-general. He first exertions would he made; and in general it was obeyed, he says, not in any respect as an enemy of augured, that, trusting to the strength of Lille, Va- the king, but as a citizen and soldier, whose duty lenciennes, and other fortified places on the, frontiers it was to obey whosoever was at the head of the of Flanders, his first real attack, whatever diversion gov eniment, as that of the Vicar of Bray subjected might be made elsewhere, would take place upon hini in ghostly submission to each head of the church Manheim, with the view of breaking asunder the pro tempore. Ney was ordered to repair to the Austrian and Russian armies as they were forming, army at Lille, "if he wished," so the command was or rather of attacking them separately, to prevent expressed, "to witness the first battle." Macdotheir communication in line. If he should succeed in nald was strongly solicited to accept a command, thus overwhelming the advance of the Austrians but declined it with disdain. Davoust, the minister and Russians, by directing his main force to this at war, undertook to remove his scruples, and spoke one point, before they were fully prepared, it was to him of what his honour required. "It is not suppose(l he might break up the plan of the allies from you," replied the marshal, " that I am to learn for this campaign. sentiments of honour," and persisted in his refusal. But Bonaparte was desirous to aim a decisive D'Erlon, Reille, Vandamnme, G6rard, and Mouton blow at the most enterprising and venturous of the Davernet, acted as lieutenant-generals. The cainvading armies. RIe knew Blucher, and had heard valry was placed under the command of Grouchy of' \Vellington; lie therefore resolved to move against (whom Napoleon had created a marshal). Pajol, those generals, while he opposed walls and fortified Excelrnans, Milhaud, and Kellermanin, were his seplaces to the more slow and cautious advance of the conds in command. Flahaut, Dejean, Labddoyere, Austrian general, Schwartzenberg, and trusted that and other oflicers of distinction, acted as the emdistance might render ineffectual the progress of the peroter's aides-de-camp. The artillery were three Russians. hundred pieces; the cavalry approached to twentyAcccording to this general system, Paris, under five thousand men; the Guard to the same nuto-the direction of General flaxo, was, on the northern ber; and there is little doubt that the whole army side, placed in a complete state of defence, by a amounted in effective force to nearly 130,000 soldouble line of fortifications, so that, if the first were diers,'in the most complete state as to arms and forced, the defenders might retiretvithin the second, equipment, who now marched to a war which they instead of being compelled, as in the preceding themselves had occasioned, under an emperor of year, to quit the heights, and fall back upon the city. their own making, and bore both in their hearts and Montmartre was very strongly fi-rtified. The south- on their tongues the sentiments of death or victory. elmn part of' the city on the opposite side of the Seine For the protection of the rest of the frontier durwas only cuvered with a few field-works; time, and ing Napoleon's campaign in Flanders, Sluchlet was the open character of the ground, permitting no intrusted with the command on the fiontiers of more. But the Seine itself was relied upon as a Switzerland, with directions to attack MIontmellian barrier, having proved such in 1814. as soon as possible after the 141h of Juine, which On tlhe frontiers, sitnilar precautions were ob- day Bonaparte had -fixed for the comminencemrnent of served. Et1renchmlnents were constructed in the hostilities. Mass6na was ordered to relpair to Metz, five principal passes of the Vosgesian mountains, to assume the government of that important fortress, and all the natural passes and strong-holds of Lor- and the conrm.and of the 3d and 4th divisions. All raine were put in the best possible state of defence. preparations being thus made, Napoleon at length The posts on the inner line were strengthened with announced what had long occupied his secret the greatest care. Tlhe fine military position ugnder thoughts. "I go," he said, as he threw himself thile walls of Lyons was iniproved with great expense into his carriage to join his army, " I go to measure and labour. A tdte-de-pont was erected at Les nmyself with Wellington." Brottearux; a draw-bridge and barricade protected But although Napoleon's expressions were those the suburb La Guillotiere; redoubts were erected of confidence and defiance, his internal feelings between tile SaOne and Rhone, and upon the hleights were of a different complexion. " I no longer felt," of Pierre-en-Cise and the Qtarterof St John. Guise, as he afterwards expressed himself in his exile, Vitry, Soissons, Cha'teau-Thierry, Langres, and all "that compnllete confidence in final success, which the towns capable of any defence, were rendered as accompanied me on former undertakings. Whether strong as posts, palisades, redoubts, and field-works, it was that I was getting beyond the period of life could make th;em. The Russian armies, though when inen are usually favoured by fortune, or whepressing fist forward, were not as yet arrived upon ther the impulse of my career seemed impeded in the line of operations; and Napoleon doubtless my own eyes, and to mty own imagination, it is certrusted that these imnpediments, in fiont of the Aus- tain that I felt a depression of spirit. Fortune, trian line, would arrest any hasty advance on their which used to follow my steps to load me with her part, since the well known tactics of that school bounties, was now a severe deity, from whom I declare against leaving in their rear fortresses or might snatch a few favours, but for which she towns possessed by the eneniy, however insignificant exacted severe retribution. I had no sooner gained or slightly garrisoned, or howevrer completely they an advantage than it was ftllowed by a reverse." might be masked. With such feelings, not certainly unlwarranted by About now to commence his operations, Napo- the circumstances under which the campaign was LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 723 undertaken, nor disproved by the event, Napoleon the steadiness of the Belgian troops. Discontents undertook his shortest and last campaign. had prevailed among them, which, at one period, had broken out in open mutiny, and was not subdued without bloodshed. Most of them had served in the CHAPTER CVI. French ranks, and it was feared some of them might preserve predilections and correspondencies danArmy of Wellington covers Brussels-that of Blucher gerous to the general cause. Bonaparte was under concentrated on the Sambre and Meuse. - Napoleon the same belief. He brought in his train several ocfiews his grand arny on; 14th June.-Advances upon Belgian officers, believing there would be a moveC.arleroi-His plan to separate the armies of the twois favour so soon as he entered t merit in his favour so soon as he entered the Neopposing generals fails.-Interview of Wellington and therlands. But the Flemings are a people of sound Blucher at Brie.-British army concentrated at Quatre-. Braps.-Noleon's plal of altack.-Battle of Liyny, sense and feeling. Whatever jealousies might have atnd defeat of Blucher on 16th June-Action at Quatre- been instilled into theni for their religion and priBras on the same day —the British retain possession vileges under the reign of a protestant and a DUttc'h of the field.-Blucher eludes the French pursuit.-Napi, sovereign, these were swallowed up in their appreleon joins Ney.-Retreat of the British upon Waterloo, hensions for the returning tyranny of Napoleon. where the Duke of Wellington resolves to make a stand. Some of these troops behaved with distinguished -Localities of that celebratedfield. valour; and most of them supported the ancient military character of the Walloons. The Dutch TaE triple line of strong fortresses possessed by corps were in general enthusiastically attached to the French on the borders of Belgium served Na- the Prince of Orange, and the cause of independpoleon as a curtain, behind which he could prepare ence. his levies and unite his forces at pleasure, without The Prussian army had been recruited to its highany possibility of the allies or their generals being est war establishment, within an incredibly short able to observe his motions, or prepare for the at- space of time after Bonaparte's' return had been tack which such motions indicated. On the other made public, and was reinforced in a manner stirhand the frontier of Belgium was open to his observ- prising to those who do not reflect, how much the ation,, and he knew perfectly the general disposal resources of a state depend on the zeal of the inhaof the allied force. bitants. Their enthusiastic hatred to France, foundIf the French had been prepared to make their ed partly on the recollection of former injuries, meditated attack upon Flanders in the month of' partly on that of recent success, was animated at May, they would have found no formidable force to once by feelings of triumph and of revenge, and oppose them, as at that time the armies of the Prus- they marched to this new war, as to a national crusian general, Kleist, and the hereditary Prince of sade against an inveterate enemy, whom, when at Orange, did not, in all, exceed 0,000 men. But their feet, they had treated with injudicious clethe return of Napoleon, which again awakened mency. Blucher was, however, deprived of a vathe war, was an event as totally unexpected in luable part of his army by the discontent of the France as in Flanders, and, therefore, that nation Saxon troops. A mutiny had broken out among was as mu!ch unprepared to make an attack as the them, when the congress announced their intention allies to repel one. Thus it happened, that while of transferring part- of the Saxon dominions to Napoleon was exertinghimself to collect a sufficient Prussia; much bloodshed had ensued, and it was army by the means we have mentioned, the Duke judged most prudent that the troops of Saxony of Wellington, who arrived at Brussels fiom Vienna should remain in garrison in the German fortresses. in the beginning of April, had leisure to garrison Prince Blucher arrived at Liege, with the Prusand supply the strong places of Ostend, Antwerp, sian army, which was concentrated on the Sambre and Nieuport, which the French had not dismantled, and Meuse rivers, occupying Charleroi, Namur, and to fortify Ypres, Tournay, Mons, and Ath. Hie Givet, and Liege. The Duke of Wellington cohad also leisure to receive his reintorcements from vered Brussels, where he had fixed his head-quarEngland, and to collect the German, Dutch, and ters, communicating by his left with the right of the Belgian contingents. Prussians. There was a general idea that NapoThus collected and reinforced, the Duke of Wel- leon's threatened advance would take place on lington's army might contain about thirty thousand Namur, as he was likely to find least opposition at English troops. They were not, however, those ve- that dismantled city. teran soldiers who had served under him during The Duke of Wellington's first corps, under the the Peninsular war; the flower of which had been Prince of Orange, with two divisions of British, two dispatched upon thile American expedition. Most of Hanoverians, and two of Belgians, occupied Enwere second battalions, or regiments which had been ghien, Braine le Comte, and Nivelles, and served lately filled tp with new recruits. The foreigners as a reserve to the Prussian division under Ziethen, were fifteen thousand HI-anoverians, with the cele- which was at Charleroi. The second division, brated German Legion, eighlt thousand strong, which commanded by Lord Hill, included two British, two had so often distinguished itself ip Spain; five thou- Hanoverian, and one Belgian, divisions. It was sand Brunswickers, under their gallant duke; and cantoned at Halie, Oudenarde, and Grammont. about seventeen thousand Belgians, Dutch, and The reserve, under Picton, who, at Lord WelN assau troops, commanded by the Prince of Orange. lington's special request, had accepted of the situatreat and jllst reliance was placed upon the Ger- tion of second in command, consisted of the remainnlans; but some apprehensiors were entertained for ing two British divisions, with three of the HanoVOL. VI. 0 714 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. verians, and was stationed at Brussels and Ghent. to push onwards upon a part of the British advance, Thle cavalry occupied Grammont and( Nieve. which occupied the position of Quatre-Bras, and the The Anglo-Belgic army was so disposed, there- yet more advanced post of Frasnes, where some of fore, as might enable the divisions to combine with the Nassau troops were stationed. But the extreme each other, and vwith the Prussians, upon the earli- rapidity of Napoleon's forced marches had in some est authentic intelligence of the enemy's being put measure prevented the execution of his plan, by disin motion. At the same time, the vaiious corps persing his fi),ces so much, that, at a time when were necessarily, to a certain degree, detached, every htor was of' consequence, lie was compelled both for the purpose of being more easily maintained to remain at Charleroi until his wearied and over(especially the cavalry), and also because, fiom the marched army had collected. impossibility of foreseeing in what direction the In the meantime, Ney was detached against French Emperor might make his attack, it was ne- Frasnes and Quatre-Bras, but the troops of Nassau cessary to maintain such an extensive line of defence kept their post on the evening of the 15th. It is as to be prepared for his arrival upon any given point. possible the French marshal might have succeeded This is the necessary inconvenience attached to a had he attacked at Frasnes with his whole force; defensive position, where, if the resisting general but hearing a cannonade in the direction of Fleurus should concentrate his whole forces upon any one (which was that of Ziethien's action), he detached a point of the line to be defended, the enemy would, division to support the French in that quarter. For of course, chuse to make their assault on some of this exercise of his own judgment, instead of yielding the other points, which Such concentration must ne- precise obedience to his orders, Ney was repricessarily leave comparatively open. manded; a circumstance curiously contrasted with In the meantime, Napoleon in person advanced tile case of Grouchy, upon whotm Napoleon laid the to Vervins on 12th June, with his Guard, who had whole blaine of the defeat at Waterloo, because he marched fi-rom Paris. The other divisions of his did follow his orders precisely, and press the Prusselected grand army had been assembled on the sians at Wavres, instead of being diverted from that frontier, and the whole, consisting of five divisions object by the cannonade on tile left. of infantry, and four of cavalry, were combined at The manoeurvre meditated by Napoleon thus Beaumont on the 14th of the same month, with a failed, though it had nearly been successful. —le degree of secrecy and expedition which showed the continued(, however, to entertain the same purpose usual genius of their commander. Napoleon re- of dividintg, if possible, the British army from the viewed the troops in person, reminded them that Prussians. the day was the anniversary of the great victories''he British general received intelfliVnce of the of Marengo and Friedland, and called on them to advance of the French, at Brussels, at six o'clock remember that the enemies whom they had then on the eveniig of the 15th, but it was not of sufficient defeated were the same which were now arrayed certainty to enable him to put his army in mnotion, against them. "Are they and we," he asked, "no on an occasion when a false movement might have longer the same men?" The address produced the been irretrievable ruin. About eleven of thle same sltrongest effect on the minds of the French soldiery, night, the certain accounts reached Brutssels that the always sensitively alive to military and national glory. advance of thle French was upon the line of the Upon the 15th June, the French army was in Sambre. Reinforcements were hastily moved on motion in every direction. Their advanced guard Quatre-Bras, and the Duke of Wellington arrived of light troops swept the western bank of the there in person at an early hour on the 16th, and inSambre clear of all the allied corps of observation. slantly rode fiom that position to 1rie, where he had They then advanced upon Charleroi, which was a meeting with Blucher. It appeared at this time well defended by the Prussians under General Zie- that the whole Fren.ch force was about to be directed thenl, who was at length compelled to retire on the against the Prussianis. large village of Gosselies. Here his retreat was cut Bliucher was prepared to receive them. Three off by the second division of thle French army, and of his divisions, to the number of 80,000 men, had Ziethen was compelled to take the route of Fleurus, been got into position on a chain of gentle heights, by which he united himself with tile Prussian force, running from Brie to Sombref; in front of their line whvbich lay about the villages of Ligny and St-Amand. lay thie villages of the Greater and Lesser St-'fTe Prussian general had, however, obeyed his Armand, as also that of Ligny, all of which were orders, by making such protracted resistance as gave strongly occupied. From the extremnity of his timne for the alarm being taken. In the attack and right, Blucher could conimunicate with the Br3itish retreat, he lost four or five guns, and a considerable at Quatre-Bras, upon which the Duke o-,of 200,000 men, who were advancing on the Rhine. lish army did not exceed that number, at the highest The hopes, therefore, that the battle of Waterloo, computation. Each army was commanded by tile,if gained by the French, would have finished the chief, under whom they had offered to deft tile war, must be abandoned as visionary, whether we world. So far tile forces were equal. But the regard the firm and manly character of the great French had the very great advantage of being trainled personage at the head of the British monarchy, the and experienced soldiers of the sanle nation, whereas state of parties in the House of Commons, where the English, in the Duke of Wellington's ariy, did many distinguished members of the opposition had not exceed 35,000; and although the Germanl Lejoined the ministry on the question of the war, or gion were veteran troops, tile other soldiers under the general feeling of the country, who saw with his command were those of the German contingents, resentment the new irruption of Napoleon. It lately levied, unaccustomed to act together, and in cannot, however, be denied, that any success gained sonme instances suspected to be lukewarm to the by Napoleon in this first campaign would have cause in which they were engaged; so that it vouldl greatly added to his influence both in France and have been imprudent to trust more to their asother countries, and might have endangered the sistance and co operation than could not possibly possession of Flanders. The Duke of Wellingtonl be avoided. In Bonaparte's mode of caculatilat)g, resolved, therefore, to protect Brussels, if possible, allowing one Frenchman to stand as equal to one even by the risk of a general action. Englishman, and one Englishman or Frenchllman By the march from Qtatre-Bras to Waterloo, the against two of any other nation, the inequality of duke had restored his communication with Blucher, force on the Duke of Wellington's side was very which had been dislocated by the retreat of the considerable. Prussians to Wavres. When established. there, The British army thus composed, was divided Blucher was once more upon the same line with the into two lines. The right of the first line consisted British, the distance between the Prussian right of the second and fourth English divisions, the third flank, and the British left, being about five leagues, and sixth flanoverians, and the first corps of' Belor five leagues and a half. The ground which lay gians, under Lord Hill. The centre was complosedl between the two extreme points, called the heights of the corps of the Prince of Orange, with the ofSt-Lambert, was exceedingly rugged ard wooded; Brunswickers and troops of Nassa'u, having the and the cross roads which traversed it, forming the Guards, under General Cooke, on the right, and the sole means of communication between the English division of General Alten on the left. The left wing and Prussians, were dreadfully broken tip by the consisted of the divisions of Picton, Lambert, and late tempesttuous weather. Kempt. The second line was in most instances The duke dispatched intelligence of his position formted of the troops deemed least worthy of conlin front of Waterloo to Prince Blucher, acquaint- fidence, or whlich had suffered too severely in the ing hini at the same tinie with his resolution to give action of the 16th to be again exposed until extreNapoleon the battle which he seemed to desire, mity. It was placed behind the declivity of the providing the plritnce wotld afford hirrl the support heights to tile rear, in order to be sheltered from the of two divisions of the Prussian army. The answer cannonade, bitt sustained much loss from shells was worthy of the indefatigable andindomitable old during the action. The cavaliy were stationied in man, who vcas never so much disconcerted by de- the rear, distributed all along the line, but chiefly feat as to prevent his being willing and ready f;:r posted on the left of the centre, to the east of thle combat on the succeeding day. He sent for reply, Charleroi causeway. The farm-house of La -laye that he would move to the Duke of Wellilgton's Sainte, in the front of the centre, was garrisoned, support, riot with two divisions only, but with hlis but there was not time to prepare it effectually for whlole army; and that lie asked no time to prepare defence. The villa, gardens, and farm-yard of for the movement, longer than was necessary to Hongournmont, formed a strong advanced post tosupply food and serve out cartridges to his soldiers. wards the centre of the right. The whole British It was three o'clock on the afternoon of the 17th, position formed a sort of curve, the centre of which when the British came on the field, and took tip w, as nearest to the enemy, and the extremities, partitheir bivouac for the night in the order of battle in cularly on their righ', drawn considerably backnard. whiclh they were to fight the next day. It was much ~ The plans of these two great generals were ex. later before Napoleon reached the heights of La tremely simple. The object of the Duke of,'elBelle Alliance in person, and his armly did not lington was to nmaintain his line of defence: until the come up in fill force till the tnorninlg of the 18th. Prussians, comiig up, should give him a decided Great part of the French had passed the night in superiority of fowe. They were expected about the little village of Genappe, and Napoleon's own eleven or twelve o'clock; but the extreme badhect LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 719 of the roads, owing to the violence of the storm, de- Meantime, the fire of artillery having become cetained them several hours later. neral along the line, the force of the French attack Napoleon's scheime was equally plain and decided. was transferred to the British centre. It was made lie tiusted, by his usual rapidity of attack, to break with the most desperate fury, and received with the and destroy the British army before the Prussians most stubborn resolution. The assault was here should arrive on the field; after which, he calculated made upon the farm-house of St-Jean by fourcolumns to have an opportunity of destroying the Prussians, of infantry, and a large mass of cuirassiers, who took by attacking them on their march through the broken the advance. The cuirassiers came with the utmost ground interposed betwixt them and tile British. intrepidity along the Genappe causeway, where they In these expectations he was the more confident, were encountered and chalrged by the English heavy that he believed Grouchy's force, detached on the cavalry; and a combat was maintained at the sword's17th in pursuit of Blucher, was sufficient to retard, point, till the French were driven back on their own if not altog,ether to check, the march of the Prls. position, where they were protected by their artilsians. His grounds for entertaining this latter opinion lery. The four columns of French infantry, engaged were, as we shall afterwards show, too hastily in the same attack, forced their way fdrward beadopted. yond the farm of La Haye Sainte, and, dispersing a Commencing the action, according to his usual Belgian regiment, were in the act of establishing system, Napoleon kept his Guard in reserve, in themselves in the centre of the British position, order to take opportunity of charging with them, when they were attacked by the brigade of General whlen repeated attacks of column after column, and Pack, brought up from the second line by General squadron after squadron, should induce his wearied Picton, while, at the same time, a brigade of British enemy to show some symptoms of irresolution. But heavy cavalry wheeled round their own infantry, Napoleon's movements were not very rapid. His and attacked the French charging columns in flank, army had suffered by the storm even more than the at the moment when they welre checked by the fire English, who were in bivouac at three in the after- I of the musketry. The results were decisive. The noon of the 17th Jlne; while the French were still I French columns were broken with great slaughter, under march, and could not get into line on the and two eagles, with more than 2000 men, were heights of La Belle Alliance until ten or eleven made prisoners. The latter were sent instantly off o'clock of the 18th. The English army had thus for Brussels. some leisure to take food, and to prepare their arms The British cavalry, however, followed their sucbefore the action; and Napoleon lost several hours cess too far. They got involved amongst the French ere he could commence the attack. Time was, infantry, and some hostile cavalry which were deindeed, inestimably precious for both parties, and tached to support them, and were obliged to retire hours, nay, minutes, were of importance. But of with considerable loss. In this part of the action, this Napoleon was less aware than was the Duke of the gallant General Picton, so distinguished for enWiellington. terprise and bravery, met his death, as did.General The telpest, which had raged with tropical vio- Ponsonby, who commanded the cavalry. lence all nighlt, abated in the morning; but the wea- About this period the French made themselves ther continued gusty and stormy during the whole masters of the farm of La Haye Sainte, cutting to day. Betwixt eleven and twelve, before noon, on pieces abouttwo hundred Hanoverian sharp-shooters, the memorable 18th June, this dreadful and decisive by whom it was most gallantly defended. The action commenced, with a cannonade on the part of French retained this post for some time, till they the French, instantly followed by an attack, ccm- were at last driven out of it by shells. manded by J&60'me, on the advanced post of Hon- Shortly after this event, the scene of conflict avain goimont. The troops of Nassau, which occupied shifted to the right, where a general attuck of French tile wood around the chateau, were driven out by cavalry was made on the squares, chiefly towards the French, bat the utmiost efforts of the assailants the cenltre of the British right, or between that andl wvere unable to force the house, garden, and farm- the causeway. They came tip with the most dauntoffices, which a party of the Guards sustainied with less resolution, in despite of the continued fire of the most dauntless resolution. The French re- thirty pieces of artillery, placed in front of the doubled their efforts, and precipitated themselm es in line, and compelled the artillerymen, by whom numbers on the exterior hedge, which screens the gar- they were served, to retreat within the squares. den wall, not perhaps aware of the internal defence The enemy had no means, however, to secure the aflbrdled by the latter. They fell in great numbers on guns, or even to spike them, and at every favourthis point by the fire of the defenders, to which they able moment the British artillerymen sallied firom were exposed in every direction. The number of their place of refuige, again manlned their pieces, and their troops, however, enabled them,by possession of fired on the assailants,-a manounlvre which seems the wood, to naskHougoumont for a time, and to pnsh peculiar to the British service.* The cuirassiers, on with their cavalry and artillery against the Bri- arn Muffling, speaking f, tish right, which formed in squares to receive them. ThIe fire was incessant, but without apparent advan- The sb rtilery e a rule not to remove their le nire wasincesa. nT btvth wapalength a - guns, when attacked by cavalry in a defensive position. tage on either side. The attack was at length repel- The field-pieces are worked till the last mnoment, and the led so far, that the British again opened their comn- men then throw themselves into the nearest square, bcar- munication with Hougouimnlot, and that important ing off the implements they use for servintg the guns. If garrison was reinforced by Colonel Hepburn and a tihe attack is repulsed, the artillerymen hurry back to their body of the Gluards. pieces, to fire on the retreating enemy. This is an ex 79.0 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. however, continued their dreadful onset, and rode rations of the Prussians on their right flanlk; and the up to tie squares in the full confidence, apparently, secret of the Duke of Wellington was disclosing itof sweeping them before the impetuosity of their self by its consequences. Blucher, faithful to his charge. Their onset and reception wvas like a furious engagement, had, early in the morning, put in motion ocean pouring itself against a chain of insulated Bulow's division, which had not been engaged at rocks. The British squares stood unmoved, and Ligny, to communicate with the English army, and never gave fire until the cavalry were within ten operate a diversion on the right flank and realr of the yardls, when men rolled one way, horses galloped French. Butalthotgh there wereonly abolt twelve another, and the cuirassiers were in every instance or fourteen miles between Wavres and the field of driven back. Waterloo, yet the march was, by unavoidable cirThe French authors have pretended, that squares cumstances, much delayed. The rugged face of the were broken, and colours taken; but this assertion, country, together with the state of the roads, so ofupon the united testimony of every British officer ten referred to, offered the most serious obstacles to present, is a positive nlntrllth. This was not, how- the progress of tile Prussians, especially as they ever, the'filult of tile cuirassiers, who displayed an moved with an unusually large train of artillery. A almost frantic valour. They rallied again and again, fire, also, which broke out in Wavres, on the mornand returned to the onset, till the British could re- ing of the 18th, prevented Bulow's corps from cognize even the faces of individuals among their mlarchling through that town, and obliged them to enemies. Some rode close up to the bayonets, fired pursue a circuitous and inconvenient route. After their pistols, and cut with their swords with reck- traversing, with great ditficulty, the cross-roads by less and useless valour. Some stood at gaze, and Chapelle-Lamlbert, Bulow, with the 4th. Prussian were destroyed by the musketry and artillery. corps, who had been expected by the Duke of WelSome squadrons, passing through the intervals of lington about 11 o'clock, announced his arrival by a the first line, charged the squares of Belgians posted distant fire, about half-past four. Tile first Prussian there, with as little success. At length the cuiras- corps, following the same route with Bulow, was siers sufiered so severely on every hanOd, that they yet later in cmning up. The second division made a were comrnpelled to abandon the attempt, which they lateral movement in the sanme direction as the fourth had made with such intrepid and desperate courage. and first, but by the Irainlet of Ohain, nearer to the In this unheard-of struggle, the greater part of the English flank. The emperor instantly opposed to Frenchl heavy cavalry were absolutely destroyed. B13low, who appeared long before the others, the Bonaparte Ihints at it in his bulletin as an attempt 6th French corps, which he had kept ill reserve for made without orders, and continued only by the that service; and as onlly tile advanced guard was desperate courage of the soldiers and their officers. come up, they succeeded in keeping, the Prussians It is certain, thlat in the destruction of this noble in check for the moment. The first and second body of cuirassiers, he lost the corps which might Prussian corps appeared on the field still laiter than have been most elffectual in covering his retreat. the fourth. The thlird corps had put themselves in After thile broken remains of this fine cavalry were motion to follow in the same direction, when they drawn off, tile French confined themselves for a were fiuriously attacked by the Frenchl under Martime to a heavy cannonade, from which tile Br:itish shal Grouchy, who, as already stated, was detached sheltered themselves in part by lying down on the to engage the attention of Bluchler, whose whiole ground, while the enenmy prepared for an attack on force he believed he had before him. another quarter, and to be codlucted in a different Instead of heing surprised, as an ordinary general manner. might have been, with this attack upon llis rear, It was now about six o'clock, and during this 3luchler contented himself withl sending back orders long slccession of the most furious attacks, tile to'hielmann, who commanded tile thlird corps, lo FIench had gained no success, save occupying for a defenld himself as well as lihe could upon tile line of time tile wood around Hougoumont, firolr which the Dyle. In the meantimne, withiout weakening the they had been expelled, and the farm-house of La army tunder his own commnand, by detaching any Hlaye Sainlte, which had been also recovered. Tile part of it to support Thlliellmann, the veteran rather British, on the other hand, had slffered very severe- hastened than suspended his narcil towards tile ly, bat had not lost one inch of ground, save the field of battle, where lie was aware that the war two posts now regained.'Ten thousand men were, was likely to be decided in a me;naer so complete, however, killed and wounded; some Of the foreign as would leave victory or defeat on every other regiments had given wa;y, though others had shown point a matter of subordinate consideration. the most desperate valour. And the ranks were At half-past six, or thereabouts, the second grand tlinned, both by the actual fugitives, and by the division of the Prussian tllmy begun to enter into absence of individuals, who left tile bloody field for communication with tile British left, by the village the purpose of carrying off the wounded, and some of Olhain, u-hile Bulow pressed forward from Cha-.. of whom might naturally be in no hurry to return to pelle Lanibert on the French right and rear, by a so fatal a scene. hollow or valley called Frischenlont. It became But the French, besides losing about 15,000 men, now evident th.t thle Prussians were to enter setogether wvith a columnr of prisoners more than1 2000 rlously into the battle, and with great force. Na. in number, be0gn nlOW to be disturbed by the ope- poleon had still tile means of opposing them, and. of achieving a retreat, at the certainty, however, tremely laudable practice, if the infantry be properly ar- of being atltacked upon the ensuing day by the cor. rangr;d to corresplod with it. | bined armies of Britain and Prussia. His celebrated LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 721 Guard had not yet taken any part in the conflict, having had his horse killed, fought sword in hand, and would now have been capable of affording him and on foot, in the front of the battle, till the very protection aser a battle, which hitherto he had last. That marshal, whose military virtues at least fought at disadvantage, but without being defeated. cannot be challenged, bore personal evidence against But the circumstances by which he was surrounded two circumstances, industriously circulated by the must lhave pressed on his mind at once. He had no friends of Napoleon. One of these fictions occurs sIIuccours to look for; a reunion with Grouchy was in his own bllletin, which charges the loss of the the only resolurce which could strengthen his forces; battle to a panic fear, brought about by the treachery the Russians were advancing upon the Rhine with of some unknown persons, who raised the cly of forced marches; the republicans at Paris were agi- "Saurve q2i pect." Another figment, greedily cretating schemes against his authority. It seemed as dited at Paris, bore, that four battalions of the Old if all must be decided on that day, and on that field. Guard, the last who maintained the semblance of Surrounded by these ill-omened circumstances, a order, answered a summons to surrender, by the desperate elfort for victory, ere the Prussians could magnaninous reply,' The Guard can die, but canact effectually, might plerllaps yet drive the English not yield." And one edition of the story adds, that from their position; and he determined to venture thereupon the battalions made a half wheel inwalds, on this dr.riing experiment. and discharged their muskets into each others' boAbout seven o'clock, Napoleon's Guard were soms to save themselves from dying by the hands of formed in two columns, under his own eye, near the English. Neither the original reply, nor the pre. the bottom of the declivity of La Belle Alliance. tended self-sacrifice of the Guard, have the slightest They were put under command of the dauntless foundation. Cambrone, in whose mouth the speech Ney. Bonaparte told the soldiers, and indeed im- was placed, gave up his own sword, and remained posed the same fiction on their commander, that the prisoner; and the military conduct of the French Prussians whom they saw on the right were retreat- Guard is better eulogised by the undisputed truth, ilg before Grouchy. Perhaps he might himself that they fobught to extremity, with the most unyieldbelieve that this was true.''The Guard answered ing constancy, than by imputing to themn an act of for the last tinme, with shouts of Vive l'empereur, regimental suicide upon the lost field of battle. and -moved resolutely forward, hiaving for their Every attribute of brave imen they have a just right suptport four battalions of the Old Guard in reserve, to claim. It is no compliment to ascribe to them who stood prepared to protect the advance of their that of madmen. Whether the words were used comrades. A gradual change had taken place in by Cambrone or no, the Guard well deserved to the English line of battle, in consequence of the have them insclibed on their monument. repeated repulse of the French. Advancing by slow Whilst this decisive movement took polace, Bilow, degrees, the right, which, at the beginning of the who had concentrated his troops, and was at length conllict, presented a segment ofa convex circle, now qualified to act in force, carried the village of Planresembled one that was concave, the extreme right, chenois in the French rear, and was now firing so whichl had been thrown back, being now rather close on their right wing, that the cannonade anbrought forward, so tlat their fire bothof artilleryand noyed the British who were in pursuit, and was infanimtry fell upon the flank of the French, who had also suspended in consequence. Moving in oblique lines, to sustain that whichil as Iolured on their front irom the British and Prussian armies canme into contact the heights.'The Br-itish were arranged in a line of' with each other on the heights so lately occupied by fotbur inea deep, to iieet the advancing columns of the French, and celebrated the victory with loud the French Gtiard, and poured upon them a storm shouts of mutual congratulation. of'lusketry which iever ceased an instant. Thile The French army was now in total and inextrisoldiers tired independently, as it is called; each cable confiusion and rout; and when the victorious nin loadling and disclhaiging his piece as fast as lie generals met at the farm-lhouse of La Belle Alliance, could. At length the British moved forward, as if it was agreed that the Prussians, who were fiesh in to close round the heads ofthle columns, and at the comparison, should follow up the chase, a duty for samiie tilue continlled to pour their shot Upon the vwhich the British, exhausted by the fitigues of a enemy's flanks.'Tlhe French gallantly attempted to battle of eight hours, wvere totally inadequate. deploy, for the purpose of returning the discharge. During the whole action, Napoleon maintained But in their effort to do so, under so dreadful a fire, the uitniost serenity. He remimained on the heights of they stopt, staggered, became disordered, were La Belle Alliance, keeping pretty near the cectre, blended into one ilmass, and at length gave way, re- from which ihe had a fiull view of the field, which tiring, or rather flying, in the utmost confusion. does not exceed a mile and a half in length. He This was the last effort of the enemy, and Napoleon expressed no solicitude on the fate of the battle for gave orders for the.retreat; to protect which, he a long time, noticed the behaviour of particular had now no troops left, save the last four battalions regiments, and praised the English several times, of the Old Guard, which had been stationed in the always, however, talking of them as an assured prey. rear of the attacking columris. These threw them- When forming his guard for the last fatal effort, he selves into squares, and stood firm. But at this descended near them, half down the causeway from mnoment the Duke of WVellington commanded the La Belle Alliance, to bestow upon them what whole British line to atlvance, so that, whatever proved his parting exhortation. He watched intentthe bravery and skill of these gallant veterans, they ly their progress with a spy-glass, and refused to also were thrown into disorder, and swept away in listen to one or two aides-de-camp, who at that the general rout, in spite of the efforts of Ney, who, moment came from the right to inform him of the VOL. VI. | -.... S... _. 6. _,.... A_. _ ___ —` —---- c"I~U 2 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. appearance of the Prussians. At length, on seeing by Napoleon to Gourgaud, so severely exposed by the attacking columns stagger and become con- General Grouchy, as a mere military romance, fall filsed, his countenance, said our inforaler, became of gratllitous supptositions, misrepresentations, and pale as that of a corpse,, and muttering to himself, absolute falsehoods, accuses the subordinate generals "They are mingled together," he said to his att and- whlo fought under Bonaparte of llai ing greatly degeants, "All is lost fobr the present," and rode off the nerated fiom their original character. Ney and field; not stopping or taking refreshment till he Grouclly are particularly aimed at; the former by reached Charleroi, whlere lie paused for a moment name, tile latter by obvious implication. It is said in a meadow, and occupied a tent which had been they had lost that energy and enterprising genius by pitched for his accommodation.* which they had formerly been distinguished, and tc Meantime the pursuit of' his discomfited army which France owed her triumphs. They had become was followed up by Blucher, with tlre most deter- timorous and circumspect in all their operations; nminedl perseverance. He accelerated the marchl of and although their personal bravery rerained, their the Prussian advanced guard, and dispatched every greatest object was to compromrise theurselves as man and horse of his cavalry upon the pursuit of little as possible. This general remark, intended, the fulgitive French. At Ger.appe they attempted of course, to pave the w-ay for transferring from thle something like defence, by barricading the bridge emperor to his lieutenants tile blame of the mniscarand streets;but the Prussians forced them in a riage of the campaign, is both unjulst and ungratefiul. moment, and although the French were sufficiently IHad they lost energy, who struggled to the very last nmelous for resistance, their disorder was so irre- in the field of Vaterloo, long after tile emperor had mediable, and their moral courage was so absolutely left the field? WVsas Grouchy undecided in his opequell d obr the moment, that in many cases they rations, who brought his own division safe to Paris, were slaglltered like sheep. They were driven in spite of all the obstacles opposed to hrinl by a Ifiom bivouac to bivouac, without exhibiting even victorious army, three times tile amount of his own the shadow of their usual courage. One hundred in numbers? Both these officers had g;ven up, for and fifty grins were left in the hands of the English, the sake of Napoleon, the rank and appointments and a like number taken by the Prutssians in course which they might have peacefully borne runder the oft the pursuit. The latter obtained possession alsu Bourbons. Did it indicate the reluctance to comrnmit ot' all Napoleon's baggage, and of his carriage, themselves, with which they are charged, that they where, amnongst many articles of curiosity, was ventured on the decided step of joining his desperate found a proclamation intended to be made public at career, not only abandoning all regard to theil inBrussels the next day. terest and their safety, but compromiising their chaThe loss on the British side during this dreadfil racter as men of loyalty in the face of all Euilope, battle was, as the Duke of Wellington, no user of and exposing thernselves to certain death, if the iexaggerated expressions, truly termed it, immense. Bourbons should he successfil? T'hose who fight Ote hundred officers slain, five hundred wounded, with the cord around thleir lck, whlich was demany of them to death, fifteen thousand nien killed cidedly the case with Grouchy and Ney, muist have and wounded (independent of tIle Pru-ssian loss at headed the forlorn hope; arnd is it consistent wvith WIVavres), thriew half' Britain into mourning. Many human natire, in such circumstances, to bIelrite officers of distinction fell. It required all the glory, that they, whose fortune and salfetv deenlded on the and all the slid advantages of' this im!mortal day, victory, personally brave as they are admitted to be, to reconcile the nmind to the high price at vwhich should have loitered in the rear, when their fite it was purchased. The cominalnder-in-chief, corn- was in the balance? pelled to be on every point of dangel, was repeatedly He wlho was unjust to his own ftllowers can in tihe greatest jeopardy. Only tIle duke hiimself, scarce be expected to be candid towvardls an enemy. and one gentlemlan of hIis numerous staff, escaped'hle Duke of \VVellington has, upon all occasions, unwounded in horse and person. been willing to render the nilitalry character of NaIt woild be difficult to form* a guess at the extent polleon that justice which a geeierols amind is scrruof the French loss. Besides those w-Io fell in the pulously accurate in dispensirng to an adversary, alni battle and flight, great nuiirbers deserted. We do has readily -admlitted that the conduct of Bonarparte not believe, that of 75,000 mnen, tIhe half wvere ever and his army on this rnineordable occasion, was flilly again collected under arms. adequate to the support of their high reputation. It may be said, that tile victor can afford to hestow Having finished our account of this memoralle praise on trle vanquished, hilt that it requires a suaction, we are led to notice tile comnunications and perior degree of candour in thle vaniqnlislred to do criticisrrs ofNapoleoDn himself on the subject, parltly justice to the conqueror. Naloileon, at any rate, as illutstrative ofthe narrative, but mIruch tnore as in- does not seem to have attained, in this particular, to dicatnlg his own character. the pitch of a great or exalted'- nind, sinc.e both he The account of the battle of Waterloo, dictated and the various persons whom lihe employedl as tire ~ Our informer on these points was Lacoste, a Flemish means of circulating his statements, colctir in a very peasant, who was compelled to act as Bonaparte's guide, futile attempt to exclse tile defeat at Vatetloo, by remained with him during the whole action, and accom- a set of apologies fonrded iii a great degree upon!paniedt him to Charleroi. He seemea a shirevd sensible misrepresentation. The reader will find these scienmanl in his way, and told his story with the utmost sirn- tifically discussed in a valuable article in the Ap. pl icity. The author saw him, atd heard his narrative very pendix.~ But it may be necessary; at the risk of stlortly after the action. + Vile (Appendlix, No. 8) an account of the action of kI — LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 723 I nome repetition, to take some notice of them here in vance to the support of Blucher duriing the action a -lopular forml. The allegations, whllich a-e designed of Ligny.* to prove the incapacity of tlle British general, and to The choice of the field of Waterloo is also charged showv that the battle of Waterloo was only lost by a against the Duke of Wellington as an act of weak comblination of extraordinary fatalities, may be con- judgmnent; because, although possessed of all the sidered in their order. requisites for maintaining battle or puirsuing victory, Thle first, and most fiequently repeated, is the and, above all, of the facilities for communicating charge, that the Diuke of \WYellington, on the 15th, with the Prussian arlmy, it had not, according to the was surprised in his cantonments, and could not imperial critic, the means of affording security in collect his army fhst enough at Quatre-Bras. In case of a retreat, since there was only one conramnI this his grace would have been doubtless highly nication to the rear-that by the causeway of Birscensurlable, if Napoleon had, by express informna- sels, the rest of the position being screened by the tion, or any distinct movement indicative of' his pur- forest of Soignies, in front of which the British army pose, show\n upon iwhich point he meant to advance. was formed, and through which, it is assumned, reBut the chii all-os pi actice of fixing a field of combat treat was impossible. has been lon'g out of date; and Napoleon, beyond Taking the principle of this criticism as accurate, all generals, )ossessed thle art of masking his ov-wn it nmay be answered, that a general would never halt!movements, and misleading his enemy concerning or fight at all, if he were to refuse combat on every the acttial point on which lie meditated an attack,. other save a field of battle which possessed all the The duke and Prince Blucher were, therefore, various excellencies which may be predicated of obliged to provide for the concentration of their one in theory. The commander nmust consider wheforces upon dilielent points, according as Bona- ther the ground suits his present exigencies, without parte's selection should be manifested; and in'order looking at other circumstances which may be less to be ready to assemble thleir forces upon any one pressing at the tilie. Generals have been known position, they must, by spreading their cantonments, to chuse by preference the ground fiom which there in some degree delay the movement upon all. The could be no retiling; like invaders' who burn their duke could not stir from Brussels, or concentrate ships, as a pledge that they will followv their enterhis forces, until lihe had certain information of those prise to the last. And although provision for a safe of the enemy; and it is said that a French states- retreat is certainly in most cases a desirable cirmran, who had promised to send him a copy of the cumstance, yet it has beent dispensed with by gbod plan of Bonaparte's campaign, contrived by a trick generals, and by none mllore frequently thal hby Naof policy to evade keeping his word.? We do not poleon hiimselfh Was not tile battle of Essling mean to deny the talent and activity displayed by fought without any possible mode of letreat save Bonaparte, who, if he could have brought forward the fiail bridges over the Danube? —WTas not that his whole army npon the evening of the 15th of of Wagrain debated lunder similar circumstances? June, might probably have succeeded in preventing -And, to complete the whole, did not Naloleon, the meditated junction of Blucher and Wellington. while censuring the Duke of WTellington fior fighlting Btit the celebrated prayer for annihilation of time in fi-ont of a forest, himself enter upon conflict with and space would be as little reasonable in the mouth a defile in his rear, foirmned by tile narrow streets of a general as of a lover, and, fettered by the li- and narrower bridge of Genappe, by which alone, siitttions against which that modest petition is di- if defeated, he could cross the Dyle — It might, rected, Bonaparte failed in bringing firwvard in due therefo)re, be presaumed, that if the Duke of -Veltirie a sufliczient body of forces to carry all before lington chose a position fioiom which retreat was difhirn at Quiatre-Bras; while, on the other hand, the ficnlt, he must have considered the necessity of reD1)ike of Wellington, fiolm the same obstacles of treat as unlikely, and reckoned' with confidence on tilile and space, coltld not assemble a force sufficient being able to make good his stand until the Prusto drive Ney before him, and enable him to ad- sians shlould come up to join him. Even this does niot exhaust the question; for the tWaterloo, equally intelligible and scientific, drawn utp by English general-officers unite ina considering tile Carptiln Pringle of the arlillery, which wvill amply supply forest of Soitnies as a very advantageous feature the le'.iciencies of our narrative. in the field; and, far froma apprehending the lemast' Th'is was Foucbh, who seems to have been engaged inconvenience fronm its existence, the Duke of ill secret correspondence with all and sundry of the belligerenrt powers, while lie was minister of police under Na-' Some people have been silly enough to consider the poleon. In his Memoirs, he is made to boast that he con- Duke of Wellington's being surprised as a thing indisputtrived to keep his word to the Duke of Wellington, by able, because the news of the French advance first reachsending the plan of Bonaparte's caimpaign by a female, a ed him in a hall-room. It must hle sipposeh that these Flernish post-inistresswhom he laid wait for on the frontierj good men's idea of war is, that a general should sit sentinel atid caused to be arrested. Thus he with his truncheon in his hand, like a statue in the mlidst of a city market-place, until the tidings come rbich call him -kept the word of promise to the ear, to the fiel(l. And broke it to the sense. Free is his heart who for his country fights.; This story, we have some reasorn to believe, is true. One He on the eve of battle may resign of the marvels of our times is how Fouche, after having Himself to social pleasrure-sweetest then, been the mainspring of such a complication of plots ard When danger to the soldier's soul endears counterplots, revolutionary arid counter-revolutionary in- The human joy that never may return. trigues, contrived after all to die in his bed. Homne's Dou9tsa. 724 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, Wellington regarded it as affording a position trevented their making a lateral march to relieve whicll, if his first and second line had been un- Blucher at that critical period. Othier'wise, the happily forced, he llight lhave nevertheless made paits of the ldoody dranma, as afterwardls acted, good against the whole French army.''he hamllet would have been reversed, and the British army of Mont St-Jean, in fiont, alfords an excellent key would have moved to support the iarussiins at to tihe position of' an army compelled to occupy the Ligny, as the Prussians came to thle aid of tihe Iriforest. Tile wood itself' is everywhere passable tish atVWaterloo. fbor men and horses, the trees being tall, and with- Napoleon ibad the merit of disconcertinm thli. pa1ln out either lowv boughs or underwood; anld, singular for the time; but lie did not, and coilid not, disas the discrepancy between tile opinions of dis- cover that the allied generals retained, aft er the tinguished so.dit-rs may seem, we have inever met loss of the battle of Ligny, thle same purpose an English otlicer who did not look on the fi- which they had adopted on tile commnencemllnt of rest of Soignies as affording an admirable position the campaign. He imagineid, as did all around him, for naking a final stand. In support of their opi- that Blucher must retreat on Naimur, or in sl:ch a nion, they refer to the defence of the Bois de Bos- direction as would eftctually accomillish a seluarasueS, near Quatre-Bras, against the reiterated at- tion betwixt him and the English, as it vwas natural tacks of Marshal Ney. This impeachment of the to think a defeated army should approach towards Dtlke of Wellington may therefore be set aside, its own resources, instead of attempting tlurther ofas inconsistent with the principles of. British war- fensive operations. At all events, Nialpoleon was filre. All that can be added is, that thlere are in this respect so imuch mistaken, as to believe cases in which national habits and manners may that if Blutcher did retire on the saime line with tmhe render a position advantageous to soldiers of one English, the means which the Prussian retained for country, which is perilous or destructive to those of co-operating with his allies were so limited, and another. (perhaps he might think) the spirit of the general so The next subject of invidious criticism is of a subdued, that lMarshal Grouchy, with 32(,000 mlen, nature so singular, that, did it not originate with a would be sufficient to keep the whole Priussian great man, in peculiar circumstances of adversity, obrce in check.'The marshal was accordingly, as it might be all-nost termed ludicrous. Napoleon we have seen, dispatched much too late, withoint exi;resses hiniseif as dissatisfietd, because lie was any other instructions than to follow and engage the deflated in the co1mmDon and vulgar proceeding of attention of the Prussians. Misled by the demlondosnright fightimlg, anid by sno special manemivrers stration of Blucher, he at first toolk the road to or peculiar display of military art on the part of Namur, and thus, without any fault on his part, the victor. But if it can atlord any consolation to lost time,,which was inconceivably precious. those who cherish his farme, it is easy to show, that Bonaparte's subsequent accounts of' this action Napoleon fell a victim to a scheme of tactics early blame Marshal Grouchy for not discovering Binconceived, and persevered in under circumstances cher's real direction, which he had no means oh which, in the case of ordinary men, would have ascertaining, and for not obeying orders which ivere occasioned its being abandoned; resuimed after never given to him, and which could not be given,er events which seemied so adverse, that nothing save because Napoleon was as ignorant as the marshal, dauntless courage and pnlinmited confidence could that Blucher had forniel tie determinatiin at all have enabled the chiefs to proceed in their pur- events to unite himself with Vellilrgton. This pirpose; anid carried into execution, without Napo-?ose of acting in co-operation, firnled and pelseleon's being able to penetrate the. purpose of the vered in, was to the French Enlmperor the riddle of allied generals, until it was impossible to prevent the Sphinx, and he was destroyed because he could thIe annihiila;tion of his arnmy;-tthat lie till, in not disoover it. Indeed he ridiculed even thle itlea short, by a grand plan of strat6gie, worthy of being of such an evenit. One of his ollicers, according to compared to that of ally of his own adiimirable Baron Muftling, having hinted at tile miiere possibility campaigns. of a junction between the Prussian ariiiv and that of To pro;ve what we have said,it is only necessary Wellington, he smiled contemptuously at lie tlloighlt. to remark, that the natural bases and points of "The Prussian army," lie salid, "is deleatedl-it retreat cjf the Prussian and English armies were cannot rally for three days-I have 75,000 nmen, thle different; the. formuer being directed oim Mae- English oily 50,000. Thme town of Brussels awaits stricht, tile other on Antwerp, where each ex- use with open arnis. The English opposilion waits pected their reimiforcemneants. Regardless of this, but for my success to raise their heads.'lThen adieu and with full confidence in each other, the Prince subsidlies, and farewell coalition!" In like manner, Marshal Blucher, and the Duke of Wellington, Napoleon frankly acknowledged, whlile on board tle agreed to act in conjulnction against the French Northumberland, that he had no icea that t(le Duke army. The nmrion of their forces, for which both off WVellington meant to fight, and thereftore omnitted were prepared, was destined to have taken place to reconnoitre the ground with sufficient accuracy. at Ligny, where the duke designed to have s up- It is well known, that when he observed thelll still ported the Prussians, and where Blucher hazarded in their position on the morning of thile 8lth, he exan action in expectation of his ally's assistance. claimed, "I have them, then, these Emghlish!" The active movements of Napoleon, and the im- It was half past eleven, just about thie time that possibility of the English force being sufficiently the battle of Waterloo commenced, that Grouchy, concentrated at Quatre-Bras to afford the means of as already hinted, overtook the rear of the Prosoverpowering Ney and the force in their front, sians. A strong force, appearing to be the whole LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 725 of the Prussian army, lay before the French mar- till night, and then but partially; for the Prussians shal, who, from the character of the ground, had no continued to hold the mill of Bielge, and remained means of ascertaining their numbers, or of discover- in force within a cannon-shot of Grouchy's position. ing the fact, that three divisions of Blucher's army In the morning, the marshal, anxious to learn were already on the march to their right, through with certainty the fate of Napoleon, though believthe passes of St.Lambert; and that it was only ing, according to Soult's letter, that he was victoThielmann's division which remained upon the Dyle. rious, sent out reconnoitring parties. When he Still less could he know, what could only be known learned the truth, he commenced a retreat, which to the duke and Blucher. that the English were he conducted with such talent, that, though closely determined to give battle in the position of'Water- pursued by the Prussians, then in all the animation loo. He heard, indeed, a heavy cannonade in that of triumph, and though sustaining considerable loss, direction, but that might have proceeded from an he was enabled to bring his corps unbroken under attack on the British rear-guard, the duke being, in the walls of Paris. Weighing all these circumthe general opinion of the French army, in full retreat stances, it appears that Bonaparte had no right to upon Antwerp. At any rate, the marshal's orders count upon the assistance of Grouchy, far less to were to attack the enemy which he found before throw censure on that general for not coming to his hini. He could not but remember, that Ney had assistance, since he scrupulously obeyed the orders been reprimanded for detaching a part of his force he received; and when at four o'clock, that of aton the 16th, in consequence of a distant cannonade; tacking and pressing the Prussian rear was qualified and he was naturally desirous to avoid censure for by the directions of Soult, to close up to Bonaparte's the self-same cause. Even if Napoleon was seriously right wing, Grouchy was engaged in an obstinate engaged with the English, it seemed the business of engagement with Thielmann, whom he must necesGrouchy to occupy the large force which he observed sarily defeat before he could cross the Dyle, to acat Wavres, and disposed along the Dyle, to prevent complish the junction proposed. their attempting anything against Napoleon, if, con- The movement of Blucher, therefore, was a mastrary to probability, the emperor should be engaged terpiece of courage and judgment, since the prince in a general battle. Lastly, as Grouchy was to fobm marshal left one division of his army to maintain a his resolution under the idea of having the whole doubtful onset against Grouchy, and involved himPrussian force before hirn, which was estimated at self with the other three in that flank movement 80,000 men, it would have been impossible for him through the woods of St-Lambert, by which he paid to detach fronm an army of 32,000 any considerable with interest the debt which he owed Napoleon for body, to the assistance of Napoleon; and in attack- a similar movement, previous to the affairs of ing with such inadequate numnbers, lie showed his Champaubert and Montmirail, in 1814. devotion, at the risk of being totally destroyed. The same system which placed Blucher in motion, He engaged, however, in battle without any hesi- required that the Duke of Wellington should maintation, and attacked the line of the Prussians along tain his position, by confining himself to a strictly the Dyle on every accessible point; to wit, at Wa- defensive contest. The British, as they were to vres, at the nill of Bielge, and at the village of keep their place at all risks, so on no temptation of Limlale. The points of attack were desperately partial success were they to be induced to advance. defended by the Prussians under Thielmann, so that Every step which they might have driven the French Grouchy could only occupy that part of Wavres, backward, before the coming uip of the Prussians, which was on his own side of the Dyle. About four would have been a disadvantage as far as it went, o'clock, and consequently when the fate of the battle since the object was not to beat the enemy by the of Waterloo was nearly decided, Grouchy received efforts of the English only, which, in the state of the from Marshal Soult the only order which reached two armies, might only have amounted to a repulse, him during the day, requiring him to manoeuvre so but to detain them in the position of La Belle Alas to unite himself to the right flank of tle emperor, liance, until the army of Blucher should come up. but at the same time acquainting him with the (false) When Napoleon, therefore, objects to the conduct intelligence, that the battle was gained upon the line of the Duke of Wellington on the 18th, that he did of Waterloo. A postscript informed Grouchy, that not manoeuvre in tile time of action, he objects to Bulow was appearing upon Napoleon's right flank, the very circumstances which rendered the victory and that if he could come up with speed, he would of the day so decisive. I-e was himself decoyed take the Prussianflayrazte delicto. into, and detained in a position, until his destruction These orders were quite intelligible. But two awas rendered inevitable. things were necessary to their being carried into It has been a favourite assertion with almost all execution. First, that Grouchy should get clear of the French, and some English writers, that the EngThielmaann, the enemy with whom he was closely lish were on the point of being defeated, when the engaged, and who would not fail to pursue the Prussian force came up. The contrary is the truth. French marshal if lie retreated or moved to his left The French had attacked, and the British had reflank, witshout having repulsed him. Secondly, it sisted, from pasteleven until near seven o'clock; was indispensable he should pass the small river and though the battle was most bloody, the former Dyle, defended by Thielmnan's division, since the had gained no advantage save at the wood of Houroad leading through the woods of Chapelle Lam- gounmont, and the farm-house of La Haye Sainte; bert, was that by which he could best execute his both they gained, but speedily lost. Baron Muifiing march towards Waterloo. Grouchy redoubled his has given the most explicit testimony, "that the efolrts to force the Dyle, but he could not succeed battle could have afiforded no fhvourable result to 72G LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. the enemy, even if the Prussians had never come up." He was an eye-witness, and an unquestionable judge, and willing, doubtless, to carry the immediate CIAPTER CVIII. glory acquired by his countrymen on this memorable occasion, and in which he had a large personal Bolaparte arrivClat Paris.-he two Cannters assinble, and adopt resolutions, indicating a wtish for Natstake, as high as truth and honour will permit. At, 0 o7 ^. -.. ~~~~polPeon's abdlicaltion.-Bo naparfe hoElds a general cow w07Ri. the time when Napoleon uade the last effort, Bulow's p dOn a t o Bonpa te8 ho/io a Peeacs the time en Naoleon ade the last e t, ul ow's Fouche presents to the representatives Napoieon's troops were indeed upon the field, but had not made abdication, wChich stipulates that his soto shull succeed any physical imlpression by their weapons, or excited hiim.-OCarnot's exaggerated report to the Peers, ]J' the any moral dread by their appearance. Napoleon meneis ojf'defence-coniitradicteltby Ney. —Stormy debate announcetd to all his Guard, whonmihe collected and in the Peers on the abdication act. Both Chamibeas formed for that fi;lal exertion, that the PIrussians evade Jlot ncaly recosgizing /capoleon II.-Pr osisiosd i whom they saw were closely pursued by thle French Govre ssnet apointed. —Tapoleon requited to 1etire of Grouchy's army. He himself, perhaps, had that to.rlrisH-lis ojhr l his sett ices in the mtefesce persuasion; for the fire of Grouchy's artillery, sup- of Patis rejectce-He is plccl nudea tmesurveilltce posed to be a leaguie and a half, but in reality nearly ol Geleral Becker - Ieans provided at Rovhelomft for three lon-tis d t.a d y h; his departure to the United States - ie arrives at three leagues distant, was distinctly heard; andi Bochefort oal 3d, July.-'The IProvisiondal Got er inent some one of Napoleoni's suite sawv thle smoke from atteimpt iz vaiin to treat witsh the calli.s, or to excite the heights above Wavres. " The battle," he said, the French to resistance.-T'l e allies advance to Piaris, " is won; we muist force the English position, and adtl, atR atrmistice being conclluided, enter it ons 7th Julj. throw them upon the defiles.-Allons! La Garde -Chamber of' Peers tisperse, anstd the niesmbers l' the en avant!"' Accordingly, they then made the at- other ChamJber are excleuded J'ont -the place oJf meeting. tack in the evening, when they were totally repulsed, -Louts XVIII. re-etttrs Pat-is oi 8th Jitly.-Rflecand chased back upon, and beyond, their own posi- tiets ti0pi this second restoratisst of tle Botus bels. tion. Thus, befo)re the Prtssians came into serious action, Napoleon had done his utmost, and had not IMaIENSE as the direct and immediate consea corps remaining in order, excepting four battalions quences of the battle of WTaterloo certainly were, of the Old Guard. It cannot be therefore said that being the total loss of the carmpaign, and tle entire our allies afforded the British army protection friom destruction of Napoleon's fine army, the nmore remiiote an enemy that was totally disorganized; but that contingencies to wlhich it gave rise wlere so mnlch Ibr which the Prussians do deserve the gratitude of more important, that it niay be doubted whether Britain and of Europe, is the generous and coura- there was ever in the civilized world a great battle geous confidence with which they marched at so followed by so many and such extraordinary results. many risks to assist in the action, and the activity That part of the French army which escaped fruomt and zeal with which they completed the victory. the battle of Waterloo, fled in the most terrible It is universally acknowledged, that the British disorder towards the frontiers of Franc. Naipoleon army, exhausted by so long a conflict, could not have himself continued his flight from CLah'leroi, il tihe availed themselves of the disorder of their enemy at neighbourhood of which was his fitst place of haltits conclusion; while, on the contrary, nothing could exceed the dexterity and rapidity with whichl the skirmislles; accordingly, they do not practise that service Prussians conducted the pursuit.'The laurels of themnselves. The Egiilish army in Spain firmed Ilie stanldWaterloo must be divided,t-the British wvon the iug force round vwhicll the Spaniardls atld Portruagese rtlbattle, the Prussians achieved and rendered avail- lied. The Duke of Wrellington iicted wisely in reserving able the victory. his English troops for regular battles, and in keepilig Iup that idea in his army. u He gave the sanme explanation'when on board oT the "If, on the one hand, a country is worthy of envy whllich Northumberland. General Gourgaud had iniaccurately possesses an army consisting entirely cf grelnaliers, thllt stated that the emperor had mistaken the corps of Bulow army might, on the other ihaind, experienice grieat (d'sadfor that of Grouchy. Napoleon explained that this was vantage if forced to colilhat nnassisted against an abl!e not the case, but that he had opposed a sufficient force to general, who understands their peclliartities, andl can avoid those Prassians whom lie saw in the field, and collc:uded giving tlhem battle excepting on advantageous grollndl. that Gronchy was closing up on their flank and rear. However, itl is to he supposid tliat tile Ev>glish will se'dolm t Baron Muffling's accountt of the British army must make war o flthe Contlinent without allies, nnd it appiears int erest our readers: —" There is not, perhaps, in all Eu- their system is estabilished on thlat pl)inciple. Besides, sllc rope, an army superior to the English in the actual field of an army as tie English is most preciouis fuir tl;ose they battle. That is to say, an arimy in which military instruc- may act with, as the most difliknlt task of thle mcderiln,lt tion is entirely directed to that point, as its exclusive ob- of twar is to fiermn an army firo pitched bat les." The iar n ject. The English soldier is strongly formed and well-fed, adds in a note upon the last sentence, —" The people lloo and nature has endowsed him -with much courage and intre- iinhlabit other quarters of tile wcorld, antd ace inot co)sle to pidity. He is accustomed to severe discipline, and is thle same state of civilizations with uts, aflfli d a prof of this. very well vrmed. The infantry opposes with coufidenoee Most of themn know better thlan Euiropeatis hbow to fight the attack of cayalry, and shows more indiffeience thlan man to man, but can tneser alttail the point of gaiilng a any other European army when attacked in tile flaik or battle over us. Discipline, in the full ex!ent of the vord, rear. These qualities explain why the English have never is the fi'uit of mnoral and religious instruction."-Histoire been defeatel in a pitched field stince they were command- cle la CampaC)ra (le l'Acruee Aia/laise f tc., SmuS les orldres ed by the Duke of Wellington. ei t D'cC de tVetlimyztot-., et tie I'Armie Prtssiemzie so7,i nOn the other hand, there are no troops in Europe less les ordre/s etu Pritnce B/llche de WtVa/ilstadt, 1815, 1iar. experienced than the Englishl in the light service and in 6 de 10. Sfutgart et Tubingue, 1817. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 727 ing, and hurried on to Philippeville. From this first shock of the tidings was past; so soon, that is, point he designed, it was said, to have marched to as men had time to consider the probable conseplace himself at the head of Grouchy's army. quence of the success of tile allies. It seemed as if But no troops of any kind having been rallied, public credit revived upon any intelligence, however and Charleroi hasing been almost instantly oc- disastrous otherwise, which promised to abridge the clupied by the Prussian pursuers, a report becarme reign of Bonaparte. current that the dsiision was destroyed, and Grouchy The anticipations of Napoleon did riot deceive him-self made prisoner. Napoleon,.therefore, pur- him. It was plain, that, whatever deference the sued his own retreat, leaving orders, which were not jacobins had for him in his hour of strength, they attended to, that the relics of' the armt-y should be had no compassion for his period of weakness. They rallied at Avesnes. Soult could only succeed in felt the opportll.ity favourable to get rid of him, and g;thering together a few thousands, as far within did not disgise their purpose to do so. tile French territory as Laon. Meanwhlile Bona- The twooChambers hastily assembled. La Fayette parte, traveling post, had reached Paris, and addressed that of the Representatives in the chabroughlt thither the news of his own defeat. racter of an old fiiend of liberty, spoke of tile sinister OV, the 19th of June the public ear of the capital reports that were spread abroad, and invited thle had been stinnetl by the report of a hundred pieces members to rally under the three-coloured banner of of cau;on, which announced the victory at Ligny, liberty, equality, and public order, by adopting and the public prints had contained the most gas- five resolutions. The first declared that thle indeolnading accounts of that action; of the forcing the pendence of the nation was menaced. The second pa.ssage of the Sambre, the action at Charleroi, and declared the sittings of the Chalnbers permanent, the battle of Qaatre-Bras. The imperialists were and denounced the pains of treason against whosoin tile highest state of exultation, the republicans ever shorldl attempt to dissolve them. The third ldoubtl'ul, and the royalists dejected. OnI the morn- announced that the troops llad deserved well of their ing, of the 21st, th!e ti!ird day after the fatal action, coatry.'Thlle fourth called out tile National Guard. it was at first whispered, and then openly said, that The fifth invited the ministers to repair to the'Napoleon had returned alone fromI the army on the assembly., preceding night, and was now in the palace of Elys6 e These propositions intimated the apprehensions of Boeurbon. The fatal truth was not long in transpiring the Chanmber of Representatives, that they nright be — he had lost a dreadful and decisive pitched battle, a second time dissolved by an armed force, and, at and the French army, which had left the capital so the samne time, announced their purpose to place confident, so full of hope, pride, and determination, themselves at the head of affairs, without fur'ther was totally destroyed. respect to the emperor. They were adopted, all Many reasons have been given for Napoleon's but the fourth concerning the National Guard, which not remaining with his ar'my on this occasion, and was considered as premature. Regnault (le St Jean endeavouring at least to bring it into a state of reor- d'Angely attempted to read a bulletin, giving an ganization; but the secret seems to be explained by imperfect and inconsistent account of what had his apprehension of the faction of republicans and passed on the frontiers; but the Representatives constitutionalists in Paris. He must have remem- became clamorous, and demanded the attelndance of bered that Fouch6, and others of that party, had the ministers. At length, after a delay of three or advised him to end the distresses of France by his four hours, Carnot, Caulaincoart, Davoust, and abdication of the crown, even befiore he l-laced him- Fouch6, entered the hall with Lucien Bonapa;te. self at the head of his arimy. He was aware, that The Chamber formed itself into a secret cornwhat they had ventured to sulggest in his moment of niittee, beftbe which tile ministers laid the full extent strengti, they would not hesitate to demand and of the disaster, and announced that the emperor had extoit fi;om hirn in tile hour of his weakness, and named Caulaincoirt, Foucleh, and Carnot, as conlthiat the Chamber of Representatives would endea- missioners to treat of peace with the allies. T'he vo-:r to obtain peace for themselves by sacrificing ninisters were bluntly reminded by the iepublican him.' He is known," says an author already quoted, members, and particularly by Henry Lacoste, thlat fiiendly to his fame, " to have said, after the disasters they had no basis for any negotiations which could of the Russian campaign, that he vould confound be proposed in the emperor's name, since the allied thle Parisians by his presence, and fall among them powers had declared war against Napoleon, wvI;o like a tl: iderbcl t. But there are things wliich siuc- was now in plain terms pronounced, by nore tihan ceed only because they hIave never been done before, one member, the sole obstacle betwixt the nation and f'or thlat reason oullit never to be attempted and peace. Universal applause followed, fi'on all agaRin. His fifth flight friolt his army occasioned the parts of the hall, and left Lucien no longer in cdlobt entire abandonment of himself and his cause by all that thle Representatives intendesd to separate their Nsho might have forgiven him his misfortune, but cause from that of his brother. He omitted no art reqtired that he should be tile first to arise flioin the of conciliation or entreaty, and, —more eloquent problowv."* bably in prose than in poetry,-appealed to their It was a curious indication of public spirit in love of glory, their generosity, their fidelity, ansd tlhe Puris, that, upon the news of this appalling rnisfor- oaths which they had so lately stvorn. "V \e Taz'e tunie, the national frunds rose, imminediately after the been filithfill," replied La Fayette; "we lave followed your brother to the sandls of Egypt —to tle * letmterf.rrom Parcs, wrilten teduring tile Last Reiguz of snows of Russia. The bones of Frenchmen, scatNaporteon. tered in every region, attest our fidelity." All LIFE OF NAPOLEON BON APARITE. seemed to unite in one sentiment, that the abdication Some idea was held out by Fouch6 to Napolhon, of of Bonaparte was a measure absolutely necessary. his being admitted to the powers of a dictator; out Davoust, tile minister at war, arose, and disclaimed, this coulld be only thrown tout as a proposal for the with protestations, any intention of acting against purpose of anmusing hint. In the meantime arrived the freedom or independence of the Chamber. This thle news of the result of thte meeting of the reprewas, in fact, to espouse their cause. A committee sentatives in secret committee. of five inembers was appointed to concert measures The gauntlet was now thrown down, and it was with ministers. Even the latter official plersons, necessary that Naloleonsholld resist or yield, dethough namled by the emperor, were not sulpposed clare hirnself absolute, and dissolve the Chambers to be warmly attached to hint. Carnot and Fouch6 by violence, or abdicate the authority he had so were the natural leaders of the popular party, and lately resumned. Lucien, finding hilm still undeCaulaincourt was supposed to be on indifferent termtined, hesitated not to say that the stmoke of the terms with Napoleon, whose ministers, therefore, battle of Mont St-Jean had turned his brain. In fact, seemed to adopt the interest of the Chamber in his conduct at this crisis was not that of a great man. preferencie to his. Lucien saw thiat his brother's He dared neither venture on the desperate measures authority was ended, unless it could be maintained which might, for a short time, have preserved his by violence. The Chamber of Peers might have power, nor could he bring himself to the dignified been more friendly to the imperial caause, but their measure of an apparently voluntary resignation. He constitution gave them as little confidence in them- clung to wlat could no longer avail hini, like the disselves as weight with the public. They adopted the tracted criminal, who, wanting resolution to meet his three first resolutions of the lower Chamber, and fate by a voluntary effort, mrust be pushed from the narmed a committee of public satety. scaffold by the hand of the executioner. The line of conduct which the Representatives Bonaparte held, upon the night of the 21st, a sort meant to pursue was now obvious; they had spoken of general council, comprehending the ministers of out, and named the sacrifice which they exacted every description, the president and four members frlol Bonaparte, being nothing less than abdication. of the Chamber of Peers, the president and four It remnained to be known whether the emperor would vice-presidents of the Representatives, with other adopt measures of resistance, or submit to this en- official persons and counsellors of state. The emcroachmlent. If there could he a point of right, peror laid before this assembly the state of the where both were so fiar wrong, it certainly lay with nation, and required their advice. Regnault (who Napoleon. These very representatives were, by was the imperial orator in ordinary) seconded the voluntary consent, as far as oaths and engagements statement wite a proposal, that measures be taken cain bind men, his subjects, convoked in his name, to recruit wvith heroes the heroic army, and bring and having no political existence excepting as a succours to what. by a happily selected phrase, he pait of lis new constitutional government. However termed the " astonished eagle." He opined, theregreat his faults to tile people of France, he had com- fobre, that the Chambers should mlake an appeal to rritted none towards these accomplices of his usurp- Frenlch valour, while the emperor was treating of ation, nor were they legislators otherwise than as peace in the most steady and dignified manner. he vas,their emperor. Their right to discard and La Fayette stated, that resistance would but aggratramnple upon himt in his adversity consisted only in vate the calamities of France. The allies stood their having the power to do so; and the readiness pledged to demand a particular sacrifice when they wvhich tlley showed to exercise thatpower spoke as first engaged in the war; they were not likely to little obr their faith as for their generosily. At the recede fromnit after this decisive victory. One mensamise time, our commiseration for:allen greatness is sure alone he saw betwixt the country and a bloody lost in our sense of that justice, which makes the and ruinous conflict, and he referred to the great amS1 associates and tools of a usurper the readiest iniple- generous spirit of the emperor to discover its n-ature. ments of his ruin. Maret. Duke of Bassano, long Bonapafite's most hVllen Bonaparte returned to Paris, his first inter- confidential friend, and fattally so, because (more view was with Carnot, of whoon he demanded, ii, a courtier than a statesman) lie attended ratlier to Ihis usual tone of authority, an instant supply of tiea- sooth his hutiour than to guide his coutncils, took sure, and a levy of 300,000 men. Thle minlister re- fire at this suggestion. He called for severe mleasures plied, that lie could have neither the one nor the against the royalists and disaffected; a revoltiother. Napoleon then sumnmoned Maret, Duke of tionary police, and revolutionary punishiments. "L-lad Bassano, and other confidential persons of his court. stch," lie said, " been earlier resorted ti s a person But when his civil counsellors talked of defence, the (meaning probably Fouche) wl1o now hears Iue, svord wnrung fromr him the bitter ejaculation, "A h, would nut be now smiling at the misfortunes of his rty Old GOUard, could they but defend themselves cotlnty, and Wellington would not be marching like you!"' A sad confession that the inilitary trun- upon Plaris." This speech was received vwith a burllst cheon, his best emblem of command, was broken in of disapprobation, which even the presence of the his gripe. Lucien urged his brother to maintain his elmlperor, in whose cause Maliet was thus vehement, authority and dissolve the Chambers by force; beut lprloed unable to restrain; hisses and clamour Nalpoleon, aware that the National Guard might drowviined the voice of the speaker. Carnot, wvho had take the part of the Representatives, declined an juster viewss of tile military strength, or rather acliori so futll of hazard. Da-oiist svas, howeever, veakniess, of France at the mlomnent, was desirous, sounded concerning his willintgness to act aaairnst d(leilocrt as lie \vtas, to retain the advantage of Nathe Chambers., but lie positively refused to rlo so.: ii.eov's thlents. lie is said to hlave wept when the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 729 abdication was insisted upon. Lanjuinais and Ben- the council of the government. The interest which janin Constant supported the sentiments of La I take in my son induces me to invite the Chambers Fayette. But the emperor appeared gloomy, dissa- to form, without delay, the regency by a law. tisfied, and uncertain, and the council broke up "Unite all for the public safety, in order to without coming to any determination. remain an independent nation. For another anxious night the determination of (Sigied) NAPOLEON." Bonaparte was suspended. Had the nation, or even the ministers, been unanimous in a resolution to de- The republican party having thus obtained a fend themselves, unquestionably France might have victory, proposed instantly several new models for been exposed to the final chance of war, with some settling the form of a constitution, in the room of prospect of a struggle on Napoleon's part; though, that, which, exactly three weeks before, they had when it is considered within how short a time the sworn to in the Champ-de-Mai. This was judged allies introduced, within the limits of France, an something premature; and they resolved for the armed force amounting to 800,000 effective men, it present to content themselves with nominating a does not appear how his resistance could have even- provisional government, vesting the executive powtually proved successful. It would be injustice to ers of the state in five persons-two to be chosen deny Napoleon a natural feeling of the evils which from Bonaparte's House of Peers, and three fiom must have been endured by the nation in such a that of the representatives. protracted contest, and we readily suppose him un- In the meanwhile, to preserve the decency due willing to have effected a brief continuation of his to the late emperor, the Chamber named a comnreign, by becoming the cause of total destruction to mittee to wait on him with an address of thanks, in the fine country which he had so long ruled. Like which they carefully avoided all mention and remiost men in difficulties, lie received much more cognition of his son. Napoleon, for the last time, advice than offers of assistance. The best counsel received the committee delegated to present the was, perhaps, that of an American gentleman, who address, in the imperial habit, and surrounded by advised him instantly to retreat to the North Ame- his state officers and guards. Hle seemed pale and rican States, where he could not indeed enjoy the pensive, but firm and collected, and heard with a royal privileges and ceremonial, to which he was steady indifference the praises which they bestowed more attached than philosophy warrants, but where on his patriotic sacrifice. His answer recommended that general respect would have been paid to him, unanimity, and the speedy preparation of means of which his splendid talents, and wonderful career of defence; but at the conclusion he reminded them, adventure, were sowell calculated to enforce. But that his abdication was conditional, and comprenow, as at Moscow, he lingered too long in form- hended the interests of his son. ing a decided opinion; for, though the importunity Lanjuinais, President of the Chamber, replied, of' friends and opponents wrung fiom him the re- with profound respect, that the Chamber had given signation which was demanded at all hands, yet it him no directions respecting the subject which Nawas clogged by conditions which could only be poleon pressed upon. " I told you," said he, turnIimade in the hope of retaining a predominant interest ing to his brother Lucien, " they would not, could in the government by which his own was to be not do it.-Tell the assembly," he said, again adsucceeded. dressing the president, " that I recommend my son On tile morning of the 2'2d June, only four days to their protection. It is in his favour I have abafter the defeat at Waterloo, the Chamber of Re- dicated." presentatives assembled at nine in the morning, and Thus the succession of Napoleon II. came to be expressed the utmost impatience to receive the act now the point of debate between the abdicated of abdication. A motion was made by Duchesne, emperor and the legislative bodies. It is certain, that it should be peremptorily demanded from the the appointment could not have been rendered acemperor, when this degree of violence was rendered ceptable to the allies; and the influence which Bounnecessary by his compliance. It was presented naparte and his friends were likely to have in a by Fouch6, whose intrigues were thus far crowned regency were strong arguments for all in France with success, and was couched in the following who had opposed him in the struggle, uniting to set terms: aside his family and dynasty. Upon the same 22d June, a strange scene took "Frenchmen!-In commencing war for maintain- place in the Chamber of Peers. The government ing the national independence, I relied on the union had received intelligence that Marshal Grouchy, of all efforts, of all wills, and the concurrence of whom we left on the banks of the Dyle, near all the national authorities. I had reason to hope Wavres, and who continued his action withl Thielfor success, and I braved all the declarations of the mann, to whom he was opposed till deep in the powers against me. night, had, on hearing the loss of the battle at "Circumstances appear to nie changed. I offer Waterloo, effected a most able retreat through myself as a sacrifice to the hatred of the enemies of Namur, defended himself against several attacks, France. May they prove sincere in their declarations, and finally made his way to Laon. This good news and have really directed them only against my encouraged Carnot to render a brilliant account to power! My political life is terminated, and I pro- tl;e Chamber, of Grouchy being at the head of an claim my son, under the title of Napoleon II., Em- untouched uarmy of upwards of 60,000 men (GI'roperor of the French. chy's whole force at WVavres having been only "The preselnt ministers will provisionally form 32,000)' of Soult collecting 20,000 of the Old Guard VOL. V. 730) LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. at Mezieres; of 10,000 new levies dispatched from residing in a different kingdom; and Lab'doyere, the interior to join the rallied forces, with 200 pieces observing the hesitation of the assembly, started up, of'cannon. Ney, half frantic at hearing these ex- and, demeaning himself with fury, exhihited the aggerated statements, and his mind galled with the same. blind and devoted attachment to Napoleon sense of Napoleon's injustice towards him, as ex- which had prompted him to show the example of pressed in the bulletins, started up, and spoke like defection at Grenoble. a possessed person under the power of the exorcist. "The emperor," he said, " had abdicated solely There was a reckless desperation in the manner of in behalf of his son. His resignation was null, if his his contradicting the minmster. It seemed as if lie son was not instantly proclaimed. And who were wished the state of the world undone in his own they who opposed this generous resolution? Those undoing. "The report," he said, " was false- whose voices had been always at the sovereign's false in every respect. Dare they tell eye-witnesses devotion while in prosperity; who had fled from him of the disastrous day of the 18th, that we have in adversity, and who were already hastening to reyet sixty thousand soldiers embodied? Grouchy ceive the yoke of foreigners. Yes," continued this cannot have under him twenty, or five and twenty impetuous young man, aiding his speech with the thousand soldiers, at the utmost. Had he pos- most violent gestures, and overpowering, by the sessed a greater force, he might have covered the loudness of' his tone, the lmllrmnrs of the assembly, retreat, and the emperor would have been still in "if you refuse to acknowledge the imperial prince, command of an army on the frontiers. Not a man I declare that Napoleon must again draw his sword of the Guard," he said, "will ever rally more. I -again shed blood. At the head of the brave myself commnianded them-I myself witnessed their Frenchmen who have bled in his cause, we will total extermination, ere I left the field of battle- rally around him; and woe to the base generals who They are annihilated-The enemy are at Nivelles are perhaps even now meditating new treasons! I with 80,000 men; they may, if they please, be at demand that they be impeached, and punished as Paris in six days-There is no safety for France, deserters of the national standard-that their names but in instant propositions of peace." On being be given to infamy, their houses razed, their families contradicted by General Flahant, Ney resumed proscribed and exiled. We will endure no traitors his sinister statement with even more vehemence; among us. Napoleon, in resigning his power to save and at length striking at once into the topic which the nation, has done his duty to himself, but the naall felt, but none had ventured yet to name, he said tion is not worthy of him, since she has a second in a low, but distinct voice,-" Yes! I repeat it- time compelled him to abdicate; she who vowed to your only course is by negotiation-you must recal abide by him in prosperity and reverses." The the Bourbons; and for me, I will retire to the ravings of this daring enthusiast, who was, in fact, United States." giving language to the feelings of a great part of the The most bitter reproaches were heaped on Ney French army, were at length drowned in a general for this last expression. Lavalette and Carnot espe. cry of order. "You fiorget yourself," exclaimed cially appeared incensed against him. Ney replied, Mass6na. "You believe yourself still in the corps with sullen contempt, to those who blamed his con- de garde," said Lameth. Lab6doyere strove to go duct, "I am not one of those to whom their interest on, but was silenced by the general clamour, which is everything; what should I gain by the restoration at length put an end to this scandalous scene. of Louis, except being shot for desertion? but I The Peers, like the deputies of the Lowel Chammust speak the truth, for the sake of the coun- her, having eluded the express recognition of Napotry." leon II., the two Chambers proceeded to name the This strange scene sunk deep into the minds of members of the Provisional Government. These thinking men, who were in future induced to view were Carnot, Fouch6, Caimlaincourt, Grenier, and the subsequent sounding resolutions, and bustling Quinette. In their proclamation, they stated thnat debates of the Chambers, as emptynoise, unsupport- Napoleon had resigned, and that his son had been ed by the state of the national resources. proclaimed (which, by the way, was not true); After this debate on the state of the means of calling on the nation for exertions, sacrifices, and defence, there followed one scarce less stormy, in unanimity, and promising, ift' not an actually new the Chamber of Peers, upon the reading of the act constitution, as had been usual on such occasions, of abdication. Lucien Bonaparte took lip the ques- yet such a complete revision and repair of that which tion of the succession, and insisted upon the instant was now three weeks old, as should make it in every recognition of his nephew, according to the rules of respect as good as new. the constitution. The Count de Pontecoulant inter- This address had little effect either on the troops rupted the orator, 4emanding by what right Lucien, or the federates, who, like Lab6doyegre, were of an Italian prince, and an alien, presumed to name opinion that Napoleon's abdication could only be a sovereign to the French empire, where he himself received on his own terms. These men assembled had not even the privileges of a denizen? To this in armed parties, and paraded iunder Bonaparte's objection,-a strange one, certainly, coming from lips windows, at the palace of Elysee Bourbon. MIoney which had sworn faith but twenty-two days before and liquor were delivered to them, which increased to a constitution, recognizing Lucien not only as a their cries of Vive Napoleon! Five l'emlsereur. denizen, but as one of the blood-royal of France,- They insulted the National Guards, and seemed the prince answered that he was a Frenchman by disposed to attack the residence of Fouch6. On his sentiments, and by virtue of the laws. Ponte- the other hand, the National Guards were 30,000 coulant then objected to accept as sovereign a child men in number, disposed in general to support order, LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 731 and many of them leaning to the side of Louis XVIlI. them to vengeance. There seems to have been little A moment of internal convulsion seemed inevitable; to prevent Napoleon from still placing himself at the fonrit was said, that if Napoleon If. was not instantly head of a small but formidable army. To remove acknowledged, Bonaparte would come down and him from this temptation the Provisional Governmment dissolve the Chamber with an armed force. required him to retire to the palace of Malmaison, On the meeting of the 24th June, the important near St-Germain, so long the ifvourite abode of the question of succession was decided, or rather evaded, discarded Josephine. Napoleon had not been within as follows:-Mantlel, generally understood to be its walls a single day, before, surrounded by Eouchd's the organ ot Fouche in the House of Representatives, police, he found that he, who, not a( mlonth since, made a long speech to show that there was no occa- had disposed of the fate of myriads, was no longer sion for a formal recognition of the succession of the free master of his own actions. He was watched Napoleon II., since he was, by the terms of the and controled, though without the use of actual constitution, already in possession of the throne. force, and now, for the first time, felt what it was to When the orator had given this deep reason that lose that free agency, of which his despotism had their sovereign should neither be acknowledged nor for so many years deprived so large a portion of proclaimed, purely because he was their sovereign, mankind. Yet he seemed to submit to his fate with all arose and shouted, Vive Napoleon II.! But indifference, or only expressed impatience when when there was a proposal to swear allegiance to beset by his, personal creditors, who, understanding the new emperor, there was a general cry of " No that he was not likely to remain long in France, atoaths! No oaths!" as if there existed a conscious- tempted to extort from him a settlement of their ness in the Chamber of having been too lavish of claims. This petty persecution was given way to these ill-redeemed pledges, and a general disgust by the government, as one of several expedients to at commencing a new course of peijury. abridge his residence in France; and they had the The Chamber of Representatives thus silenced, means of using force, if all should fail. if they did not satisfy, the imperialist party, by a Short as was the time he lingered at Malmaison, sort of incidental and ostensible acknowledgment of incredible as it may be thought, Napoleon was althe young Napoleon's right to the crown; while at most forgotten in Paris. "No one," says a well-inthe same time, by declaring the Provisional Go- formed author, living in that city during the crisis, ve rnment to be a necessary guarantee for the liber- " except the immediate friends of government, preties of the subject, they prevented the interference tends to know whether he is still at Malmaison, or either of Napoleon himself, or any of his friends, in seems to think it a question of imnportance to ask. the administration of the country. Yet, notwith- On Saturday last, Count M- saw him there: he standing the simulated nature of their compliance was tranquil, but quite lost. Iis fiiends now prewith the especial condition of Napoleon's resigna- tend, that, since his return from Elba, he has never tion, the Chambers and Provisional Government been quite the man he was."* There was, however, were as strict in exacting from the abdicated sove- a reason for his protracting his residence at Malmaireign the terms of his bargain, as if they had paid son, more honourable than mere human reluctance him the stipulated value in current, instead of coun- to submit to inevitable calamity. terfeit coin. Thus they exacted from him a procla- The English and Prussian forces were now apmation, addressed in his own name to the soldiers, proaching Paris by rapid marches; every town fallin order to confirm the fact of his abdication, which ing before them which could have been reckoned the troops were unwilling to believe on any autho- upon as a bar to their progress. When Paris was rity inferior to his own. In this address, there are, again to be girt round with hostile armies, honourable however, expressions, which show his sense of the as well as political feelings might lead Napoleon to compulsion with which he was treated. After an hope that the Representatives might be inclined to exhortation to the soldiers to continue in their career wave all personal animosity, and having recourse of honour, and an assurance of the interest which he to his extraordinary talents and his influence over should always take in their exploits, follows this the minds of the army and federates, by which alone passage:-" Both you and I have been calumniated. the capital could be defended, might permit him Men, very unfit to appreciate our labours, have once more to assume the sword for protection of seen in the marks of attachment which you have Paris. He offered to command the army as general given me, a zeal of which I was the sole object. in chief, in behalf of his son. He offered to take Let your future successes tell them, that it was the share in the defence, as an ordinary citizen. But country, above all things, which you served in the internal discord had gone too far. The popular obeying me; and that, if I had any share in your party which then prevailed saw more danger in the affections, I owed it to mly ardent love for France, success of Napoleon, than in the superiority of the our common mother." allies. The latter they hoped to conciliate by treaty. These expressions were highly disagreeable to the They doubted, with good reason, the power of resistChamber of Representatives, who at the same time ing them by force; and if such resistance was or regarded the presence of Napoleon in the capital as could be maintained by Napoleon, they feared his dangerous to their own power, and to the public supremacy, in a military command, at least as much tranquillity. The suburbs, with their fierce inmates, as the predominance of the allies. His services were continued to be agitated, and soldiers, the strag- therefore declined by them. gling relics of the field of Waterloo, were daily gathering under the walls of Paris, furious at their Scubstance of Letters written by an Englishmanm red. recent defeat, and calling on their emperor to lead deat at Paris, etc., vol. 1I. I t 732 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Like skilful anglers, the Provisional Government the world, and were silent where they could not had been gradually drawing their nets around Na- applaud. poleon, and it was now time, as they thought, to Thus, the reign of the Emperor Napoleon was drag him upon the shallows. They proceeded to completely ended. But, before adverting to his place him under a sort of arrest, by directing Ge- future fate, we must complete, in few words, the neral Becker, an officer with whom Napoleon had consequences of his abdication, and offer some rebeen on indifferent terms, to watch over, and, if marks on the circumstances by which it was exnecessary, to restrain his movements in such a man- torted and enforced. ner, that it should ble impossible for him to make The Provisional Government had sent commishis escape, and to use measures to induce him to sioners to the Duke of Wellington, to request leave Malmaison for Rochefort, where the means passports for Napoleon to the States of America. were provided for his departure out of France. The duke had no instructions firom his government Orders were at the same time given for two frigates to grant them. The Prussian and English gener-als to transport him to the United States of America; alike declined all overtures made for the establishand the surveillance of General Becker and the ment, or acknowledgment, either of the present police was to continue until the late emperor was provisional administration, or any plan which they on board the vessels.'his order was qualified by endeavoured to suggest, short of' the restoration of directions that all possible care should be taken to the Bulrbons to the seat of government. The proinsure the safety of Napoleon's person. A cor- visional commissioners endeavoured, with as little responding order was transmitted by Davoust, who, success, to awaken the spirit of national defence. giving way to one of those equivocal bursts of feel- They ha'd lost the road to the soldiers' hearts. The ing, by which men compromise a conflict between thoughts of patriotism had in the army become intheir sentiments and their duty or their interest, re- dissolubly united with the. person and tile qualities of fused to sign it himself, but ordered his secretary Napoleon. It was in vain that deputies, with scarfs, to do so, which, as he observed, would be quite the and proclamations of public right, and invocation of same.+ the ancient watchwords of the Revolution, endeaNapoleon submitted to his destiny with resigna- voured to awaken the spirit of 1794. The soldiers tion and dignity. He received General Becker and federates answered sullenly, "Wily should we with ease, and even cheerfulness; and the latter, fight any more? we have no longer an emperor." with feelings which did him honour, felt the task Meanwhile, the royalist party assumed courage, committed to him the more painfthl, that he had and showed themselves in arms in several of the experienced the personal enmity of the individual departments, directed the public opinion in many who was now intrusted to his custody. About others, and gained great accessions from the constiforty persons, of different ranks and degrees, ho- tutionalists. Indeed, if any of the latter still connourably dedicated their services to the adversity tinued to dread the restoration of the Bourbons, it of the emperor, whom they had served in pro- was partly from the fear of reaction and retaliation sperity. on the side of the successful royalists, and partly Yet, amid all these preparations for departure, because it was apprehended that the late events a longing hope remained that his exile might be might have made on the mind of Louis an impression dispensed with. He heard the distant cannonade nnfhvourable to constituttional limitations, a disgust as the var-horse hears the trumpet. Again lie to those by wrhorn they were recommended and supoffered his services to march against Blucher as a pot-ted, and a propensity to resume the arbitrary simple volunteer, undertaking that, when he had measures by which his ancestors had governed their repulsed the invaders, he would then proceed on kingdomn. Those who nourished those apprehensions his journey of expatriation. He had such hopes could not bout allow, that they were founded in the of' his request being granted, as to have his horses fickleness and ingratitude of the people themselves, brought out and in readiness to join the army. who had shown themselves unworthy of, and easily But the Provisional Government anew declined induced to conspire against, the mild and easy rule an offer, the acceptance of which would indeed of a limited monarchy. But they involved, neverhave ruined all hopes of treating with the allies. theless, tremendous consequences, if the king should Fouch6, on hearing Napoleon's proposal, is said be disposed to act upon rigorous and vindictive to have exclainied, "Is he laughing at us!" Indeed principles; and it was such an apprehension on the his joining the troops would have soon made part of some, joined to the fears of others for perhim master of the destiny of the Provisional Go- sonal consequences, the sullen shame of a third vernment, whatever might have been the final party, and the hatred of the armytothe princes whom result. they had betrayed, which procured for the ProviOn the 29th of June, Napoleon departed from sioinal Government a show of obedience. Mailmaison; on the 3d of July he arrived at It was thus that the Chambers continued their Rochefort. General Becker accompanied, him, resistance to receiving their legitimate monarch, r-r does his journey seem to have been marked though unable to excite any enthusiasm save that by any circumstances worthy of remark. Where- expressed in the momentary explosions discharged ever he came, the troops received him with within their own place of meeting, rwhich gratified acclamation; the citizens respected the misfor- no ears, and heated no brains hut their own. In the tunes of one who had been well nigh master of meanwhile, the armies of Soult and Grouchy were driven und(er the walls of Paris, where they were V JMmorial de Ste-HelIle, vol. I, p. 10.-Note. speedily followed by the English and the Prussians. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 733 The natural gallantry of the French then dictated a' acclamations, the legitimate monarch; and the feresistance, which was honourable to their arms, males were observed to be particularly eager is though totally unsuccessful. The allies, instead of their expressions of joy. Thus was Louis again inrenewing the doubtful attack on Montmartre, crossed stalled in the palace of his ancestors, over which the Seine, and attacked Paris on the undefended the white banner once more floated. Here, thereside. There was not, as in 1814, a hostile army to fore, ended that short space, filled with so much endanger the communications on their rear. The that is wonderfill, that period of a Hundred Days, French, however, showed great bravery, both by an in which the events of a century seem to be conattempt to defend Versailles, and in a coup-de-main tained. Before we proceed with the narrative, of General Excelmans, by which he attempted to which must in future be the history of an individual, recover that town. But at length, in consequence it may not be improper to cast a look back upon the of the result of a council of war held in Paris, on the events comprised within that period, and offer a few nig.ht betwixt the 2d and 3d of July, an armistice remarks on their political nature and tendency. was concluded, by which the capital was surren- It is unnecessary to remind the reader, that Nadered to the allies, and the French army was drawn poleon's elevation to the throne was the combinedf off behind the Loire. work of two factions. One comprehended the army, The allies suspended their operations until the who desired the recovery of their own honour, sulFrench troops should be brought to submit to their lied by recent defeats, and the restoration of the destined movement in retreat, against which they emperor to their head, that he might save them from struggled with vain enthusiasm. Permitting their being disbanded, and lead them to new victories. violence to subside, they delayed their own occupa- The other party was that which not only desired tion of Paris until the 7th of July, when it had been that the kingdom should possess a large share of completely evacuated. The British and Prussians practical freedom, but felt interested that the docthen took military possession in a manner strictly trines of the Revolution should be recognized, and regular, but arguing a different state of feelings on particularly that which was held to entitle the peoboth parts, from the joyous procession of the allies pie, or those who might contrive to assume the right along the Boulevards in 1814. The Provisional of representing them, to alter the constitution of the Government continued their sittings, though Fouch6, government at pleasure, and to be, as was said of the chief among them, had been long intriguing (and, the great Earl of Warwick, the setter rip and puller ever since the battle of Wraterloo, with apparent down of kings. This party, availing themselves of sincerity) for the second restoration of the Bourbon some real errors of the reigning family, imagining family, on such terms as should secure the liberties more, and exciting a cloud of dark suspicions, had of France. They received on the 6th of July the instigated a general feeling of dissatisfaction against final resolution of the allied sovereigns, that they the Bourbons. But though they probably might considered all authority emanating from the usurped have had recourse to violence, nothing appears power of Napoleon Bonaparte as null, and of no ef- less probable than their success in totally overturn. fect; and that Louis XVIII., who was presently at ing royalty, had they been unsupported by the sol — Saint-Denis, would on the next day, or day after at diers. The army, which rose so readily at Bonafarthest, enter his capital, and resume his regal parte's snmmons, had no community of feeling with authority. the jacobins, as they were called; and, but for his On the 7th of July, the Provisional Commission arrival upon the scene, would have acted, there can dissolved itself. The Chamber of Peers, when they be little doubt, at the command of the marshals, heard the act of surrender, dispersed in silence; but who were almost all attached to the royal family. that of the Representatives continued to sit, vote, It was, therefore, the attachment of the army to their and debate, for several hours. The president then ancient commander which gave success to the joint prorogued the meeting till eight the next morning, in enterprise, which the jacobinical party alone would defiance of the cries of several members, who have attempted in vain. called on him to maintain the literal permanence of The republican, or jacohin party, closed with their the sitting. The next morning, the members who powerful ally; their leaders accepted titles at his attended found the hall sentineled by the National hands; undertook offices, and became members of Guard, who refused them admittance, and heard the a Chamber of Peers and of Representatives, slumexclamations and complaints of the deputies with moned by his authority. They acknowledged hitmc great disregard. Nay, the disappointed and in- as their emperor; received as his boon a new condignant legislators were subjected to the ridicule of stitution; and swore in the face of all France the the idle spectators, who accompanied the arrival oath of fealty to it, and to him as their sovereign. and retreat of each individual with laughter and On such terms the emperor and his legislative body acclamation, loud in proportion to the apparent parted on the 7th of June. Suspicion there existed excess of his mortification. between them certainly, brut, in all outward apOn the 8th of July, Louis re-entered his capital, pearance, he departed a contented prince from a attended by a very large body of the National contented people. Eleven days brought the battle Guards and Royal Volunteers, as well as by his of Waterloo, with all its consequences. Policy of household troops. In the rear of these soldiers came a sound and rational sort should have induced the a numerous etat-major, among whom were distin- Chambers to stand by the emperor whom they had guished the-Marshals Victor, Marmont, Macdonald, made, to arm him with the power which the occaOudinot, Gouvion St-Cyr, Moncey, and Lefebvre. sion required, and avail themselves of his extraorAn immense concourse of citizens received, with dinary military talent, to try some chsance of arrest 734 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE,. ing the invaders in their progress. Even shame monarchical constitutions, is borrowed from the mlight have prevented them from lending their analogy of private life, wheretheeldestson becomes shoullders, to overthrow the tottering throne before naturally the head and protector of the family upon which they had so lately kneeled. They dleter- the decease of the father. While states, indeed, mined otherwise. The instant he became unfor- are small, before laws are settled, and when much tullate, Napoleon ceased to be their emperor, the depends on the personal ability and talents of the source of their power and authority. They could monarch, the power, which, for alight we know, may see nothing in him but the hurt deer, who is to be exist anmong the abstract rights of man, of chusing butted fromn the herd; the Jonas in the vessel, who each chief magistrate after the death of his predeis to be flung overboard. Wlen Napoleon, there- cessol, or perhaps more frequently, may be exercisfore, talked to them of men and arms, they answered ed without much inconvenience. But as states behim, with " equality and the rights of man; " every come extendled, and their constitutions circumiscribed chance of redeeming the consequences of Waterloo and bonnded. by laws, which leave less scope and was lost, and the emperor of their choice, if not os- less necessity for the exercise of the sovereign's tensibly, was in effect at least arrested, and sent magisterial fulnctions, men become glad to exchange to the sea-coast, like a felon for deportation. Their the licentious privilege of a Talrtarian couroultai, or conduct, however, went clearly to show, that Napo- a Polish diet, for the principleof legitimacy; because leon was not the free choice of the French pIeople, the chance of a hereditary successor's proving adeand especially that he was not the choice of those quate to the duties of his situation is at least equal who termed themselves exclusively the friends of to that of a popular election lighting upon a worthy freedom. candidate; and because, in the former case, the naHaving thus shown how easily they could get rid tion is spared the convulsions occasioned by preof the monarch who had called them into political vious comnpetition and solicitation, and succeeding existence, the Chambers applied to the allies, invit- heart-burnings, factions, civil war, and ruin, Uniing them to give their concurrence to the election of forrnmly found at last to attend elective monarchies. another sovereign, and assist them to buildl another The doctrine of legitimacy is peculiarly valuable throne on the quicksand which had just swallowed in a limited mlonarchy, because it affords a degree that of Napoleon. In one respect they were not of stability otherwise unattainable. The principle unreasonahly tenacious. They cared little who the of herleditary monarchy, joined to that which desovereign should be, whether Orleans or Orange, dares that the king can dlo no wrong, provides for the Englishman Wellington or the Cossack Platoff, the permanence of the executive government, and providing only he should derive no right from any represses that ambition which would animate so one but themselves; and that they should be at mlany bosoms, were there a prospect of the supreme liberty to recal that right when it might please sway beconling vacant or subject to election from them to do so. And there can he little doubt, that timde to time. The king's ministers, on the other any new sovereign and constitution which could handl, being responsible for his actions, remain a have been made by the assistance of such men, would check, for their own sakes, upon the exercise of his have again occasioned the commencelnent of the power; anrid thus provision is made for the correcwild dance of revolution, till, like so many mad tion of all ordinary evils of administration, since, to delrvises, dizzy with the whirl, the French nation use an expressive though vulgar simile, it is better wvould once more have sunk to rest lndler the iron to rectify alnyoccasional deviation from the regular sway of despotism. course by changing the driver, than by overturning The allied sovereigns viewed these proposals with the calrriage. an evil eye, both in respect to their nature, and to Such is the principle of legitimacy, which was those by whom they were proposed. Of the an- invoked by Louis XVITII., and recognized by the thorities, the most prudent was the Duke of Otranto, allied sovereigns. But it must not be confoullded and he had been Foulch6 of Nantes. Carnot's name with thle slavish doctrine, that the right thus vested was to be found at aV the bloody rescripts of Ro- is by divine origin indefeasible. The heir-at-law bespierre, in which the conscience of the old de- in private life may dissipate by his folly, or forfeit cemvir and young count had never found anything by his crimes, the patrimony which the law conveys to boggle at. There wvere many others, distinguished to him; and the legitimnate monarch mlay most unin the revolutionary days. The language which they qullestionably, by departing from the principles of held was already assuming the cant of democracy, the constitution under which he is called to reign, and though there was among them a large propor- forfeit for himself, and for his heirs, if the legislation of good and able men, it was not to be forgot- ture shall judge it proper, that crown whllich the ten how many of such existed in the first assembly, principle of legitimacy-bestowed on him as his birthfor no purpose but to seal the moderation and ration- ight. The penalty of forfeiture is an extreme case, ality of their political opinions with their blood. It provided, not in virtue of the constitution, which was a matter of imperious necessity to avoid what- recognizes no possible delinquency in the sovereign, ever might give occasion to renew those scenes of but because the constitution has been attacked and shameful recollections, and the sovereigns saw a infringed upon by the monarch, and therefore can guarantee against their return, in insisting that no longerbe permitted to afford him shelter. The Louis XVIII. should remount the throne as its le- crimes by which this high punishment is justlyl in-.giitimate owner. curred must therefore be of an extraordinary nature, The right of legitimacy, or the right of succession, and beyond the reach of those correctives for which a regulation adopted into the common law of most the constitution provides, by the punishment of ni LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 735 nisters and counsellors. The constitutional bnckler To these arguments, an unprejudiced eye could of impeccability covers the monarch (personally) scarcely see any answer; yet the popular Iparty 1nfor all blameworthy use of his power, providing it deavoured to found a pleading against the second is exercised within the limits of the constitution; it is restoration of Louis, upon the declaration of the when he stirs beyond it, and not sooner, that it af- allies. This manifesto had announced, they said,. fords no defence for the bosom of a tyrant. A King that the purpose of the war was directed against of Britain, for example, may wage a rash war, or Bonaparte personally, and that it was the purpose make a disgraceful peace, in the lawful though inju- of the allied sovereigns, when he should be dethrondieions andi blameworthy, exercise of the power ed, to leave the French the free exercise of choice vested in him by the constitution. His advisers, not respecting their own internal government. The he himself, shall be called, in such a case, to their Prince Regent's declaration, in particular, wvas reresponsibility. But if, like James II., the sovereign ferred to, as announcing that the treaty of Vienna, infringes upon, or endeavours to destroy, the con- which resolved on the dethronement of Napoleon, stitltion itself, it is then that resistance becomes should not bind the British government to insist upon lawful and honourable, and the king is justly held to the restoration of the Bourbon family as an indishave forfeited the right which descended to him from pensable condition of peace. Those who urged this his forefathers, by his attempt to encroach on the objection did not, or would not, consider the nature rights of the subject. of the treaty which this explanatory clause referred The principles of hereditary monarchy, of the to. That treaty of Vienna had for its express object inviolability of the person of the king, and of the the restoration of Louis XVIII., and the Prince responsibility of ministers, were recognized by the Regent adhered to it with the same purpose of makconstitutional charter of France. Louis XVIII. ing every exertion for bringing about that event. was, therefore, during the year previous to Bona- The restrictive clause was only introduced, because parte's return, the lawful sovereign of France, and it his royal highness did not intend to bind himself to remains to be shown by what act of treason to the make that restoration alone the cause of continuing constitution he had forfeited his right of legitimacy. the war to extremity. Many things might have hapIf the reader will turn back to Chapter CI. (and we pened to render an absolute engagement of this naare not conscious of having spared the conduct of ture highly inexpedient; but since none of these did the Bourbons), he will probably be of opinion with happen, and since the re-establishment of the throne use, that the errors of the restored king's government of the Bourbons was, in consequence of the victory were not only fewer than might have been expected of Waterloo, a measure which could be easily acin circumstances so new and difficult, but were of complished, it necessarily followed that it was to be such a nature as an honest, well-meaning, and up- accomplished according to the tenor of the treaty of right opposition would soon have checked; he will Vienna. find that not one of them could be personally attri- But, even bad the sovereigns positively announced buted to Louis XVIII., and that, far from having in their manifestoes, that the will of the French peoincurred the forfeiture of his legitimate rights, lie pile should be consulted exclusively, what right had had, during these few months, laid a strong claim the legislative body, assembled by Bonaparte, to to the love, veneration, and gratitude of his subjects. assume the character of the French people? They I-e had fallen a sacrifice, in some degree, to the hu- had neither weight nor influence with any party in mours and rashness of persons connected with his the state, except by the momentary possession of an family and household-still more to causeless jea- authority, which was hardly acknowledged on any lousies and unproved doubts, the water-colours side. T'he fact, that Napoleon's power had ceased to which insurrection never lacks to paint her cause exist, did not legitimate them. On the contrary, lowwith; to the fickleness of the French people, who ing from his commission, it must be held as having became tired of his simple, orderly, and peaceful fallen with his authority. They were either the government; but, above all, to the dissatisfaction of Chambers summoned by Napoleon, and bol.und to him a licentious and licensed soldiery, and of clubs of as far as oaths'and professions could bind them, or moody banditti, panting for a time of pell-mell they were a body without any pretension whatever havoc and confusion. The forcible expulsion of to a political character. Louis XVIII., arising from such motives, could not La Fayette, indeed, contended that the present break the solemn compact entered into by France representatives of France stood in the same situation with all Europe, when she received her legitimate as the Convention Parliaments of England, and the monarch fiom the hand of her clement conquerors, army encamped on Hounslow-heath, at the time of and with him, and for his sake, obtained such con- the English Revolution. To have rendered this paditions of peace as she was in no condition to de- rallel apt, it required all the peculiar circumstances mand, and would never otherwise have been granted. of justice wl{ich attended the great event of 1688.'rhe king's misfortune, as it arose from no fault of The French should have been able to vindicate the his own, could infer no forfeiture of his vested right. reason of their proceedings by the aggressions of Europe, the virtual guarantee of the treaty of Paris, their exiled monarch, and by the will of the nation had also a title, leading back the lawful king in her generally, nay, almost Tunanimously, expressed in armed and victorious hand, to require of France his consequence thereof. But the English bistory cdid re-instatement in his rights; and the termination uttord one example of an assembly, exactly rewhich she thus offered to the war was as just and sembling their own, in absence of right and e slherequitable, as the conduct of the sovereigns during this ance of pretension; and that precedent exist, d whoa brief carnpaign had been honourable and successful. the Rump Parliament contrived to shutlle the cacdta 736 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. out of the hands of Richard Cromwell, as the pro- checks against arbitrary sway, and all the suitable vis;onal commissioners at Paris were endeavouring provisions for ameliorating and extending the adby legerdemain to convey the authority from Napo- vantages of liberal institutions, as opportunity shall leon II. This Rump Parliament also sat for a little offer, and the expanding light of' infiolmation shall time as a government, and endeavoured to settle the recommend. constitution upon their own plan, in despite of the The allies, though their treaty with France was whole people of England, who were longing for the not made in the same humour of romantic generosity restoration of their lawful monarch; as speedily was which dictated that of 1814, insisted upon no articles shown to be the case, when Monk, with an armed which could be considered as dishonourable to that force, appeared to protect them in the declaration of nation. The disjoining from her empire three or their real sentiments. Whis was the most exact pa- four border fortresses was stipulated, in order to rallel afforded by English history to the situation of render a rapid alnd favourable invasion of Germany the provisional commissioners of France; and both or the Netherlands more difficult in fiuture. Large they and the Rump Parliament, being equally in- sums of money were also exacted in recompense of trusive occupants of the supreme authority, were the heavy expenses of the allies; but they were alike deprived of it by the return of the legitimate not beyond what the wealth of France could readily monarch. discharge. A part of her fortresses were also deWhile the allied powers were thus desirous that tained by the allies as a species of pledge for the the king of France should obtain possession of a peaceable behaviour of the kingdom; but these throne which he had never forfeited, they, and were to be restored after a season, and the armies England in particular, saw at once the justice and of Europe, which for a time remained cwithin the the policy of securing to France every accession of French territories, were at the same period to he well-regulated freedom, which she had obtained by withdrawn. Finally, that splendid Museum, which and thlrough the Revolution, as well as such addi- the right of conquest had collected by the stripping tional improvements upon her constitution as expe- of so many states, was transferred by the same rience had shown to be desirable. These were right of conquest, not to those of the allies who pointed out and stipulated for by the celebrated had great armies in the field, but to the poor and FouchU, who, on this occasion, did much service to small states, who had resigned their property to his country. Yet he struggled hard, that while the the French under the influence of' terror, and reking acknowledged, which he was ready to do, the ceived it back from the confederates with wonder several advantages, both in point of public feeling and gratitude. and public advantage, which France had derived These circumstances were indeed galling to France from the Revolution, the sovereign should make for the-moment; hut they were the necessary consome steps to acknowledge the Revolution itself. sequence of the position in which, perhaps rather He contended for the three-coloured banners be- passively than actively, she had been placed by ing adopted, as a matter of the last importance;-in the Revolution of the Hundred Days. All the prothat somewhat resembling the arch-fiend in the phesies which had been circulated to animate the legends of necromsnancy, who, when the unhappy people against the allies, of their seeking selfish persons with whoni he deals decline to make over and vindictive objects, or endeavouring to destroy their souls and bodies according to his first request, the high national rank which that fair kingdom ought is humble enough to ask and accept the most petty to hold in Europe, were proved to be utterly falsacrifices-the par-ing of the nails, or a single lock of lacious. The conquered provinces, as they are hair, providing it is offered in symbol of homage and called, the acquisitions of Louis XIV., were not devotion. But Louis XVIII. was not thus to be rent from the French empire-their colonies were drawn into an incidental and equivocal hoinolo- left. as at the peace of Paris. Thie English did not gation, as civilians term it, of all the wild work of a impose on them an unfavourable treaty of consperiod so horrible, which must have been by impli- rnerce, which Napoleon affirmed was their design, cation a species of ratification even of the death of and the omission to insist on which he afterwards his innocent and murdered brother. To preserve considered as a culpable neglect of British interests and cherish the good which had flowed from the Re- by the English ministers. France was left, as she volation, was a very ditterent thing fi-om a ratifi- ought to be, altogether independent, and splendidly cation of the Revolution itself. A tempest may cast powerful. rich treasures upon the beach, a tornado nlay clear Neither were the predictions concerning the stathe air; but while these benefits are suitably prized bility of the new royal government less false than had and enjoyed, it is surely not requisite that, like igno- Ieen the vaticinations respecting the purposes of the rant Indians, we should worship the wild surge, and allies. Numbers prophesied the dowullal of the Bourerect altars to the ilowling of the wind. bon dynasty. It was with difficulty that the political The King of' France having steadily refused all augurs would allow that it might last as long as the proposals which wvent to assign to the government life of Louis XVIIL He now sleeps with his fathers; all authority founded on the Revolution, the consti- and his successor, generally beloved for his courteous tuition of France is to be recognized as that of a he- manllers, and respected for his integrity and honour, re-ditary n.onarchy, limited by the royal charter, and reigns over a free and flourishing pi~ople. Time, that by the principles of freedom. It thus affords to the grand pacificator, is daily abating the rancour of parother existing monarchies of Europe a guarantee ty, and removing fromi the scene those of all sides, against sudden and dangerous commotion; while in who, unaccustomed to the general and impartial fsvour of the subject, it extends all the necessary exercise of the laws, were ready to improve every i LIFE- OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 7371 *dvantage, and debate every political question, sword This state of advancement cannot, indeed, be reIn Nand, or, as they themselves express it, par voie gular-it must have its ebbs and flows. But on the die fait. Thlle guarantee for the permanence of their whole, there seems more reason than at aly former freedom is the only subject on which reasonable period of the world, for hoping that there- wvill be a Frenchmen of the present day are anxious. We general peace of some lengthened endurance; and trust there is no occasion for their solicitude. Fatal that Britain and France, in particular, will satisfy indeed would be the advice which should induce the themselves with enjoying in recollection the laurels French government to give the slightest subject for each country has won in the field, and be contented justcomplaints. The ultra royalist, the jacobin en- to struggle for the palm of national superiority by rage, are gradually cooled by age, or fate has re- the arts of peaceful and civilized industry. moved thenm fiom the scene. Those who succeed, having never seen the sword drawn, will be less apt to hurry into civil strife; and the able and well-in- CHAPTER CIX. tentioned on either side, while they find room in the Disposition of the British fleet along the western coast Chambers fibr expressing their difference of opinion, of France, in ardor to prevent Bonaparte's escape.will acquire the habit of enduring contradiction with The Bellerophon appointed to the station off Rochefort. candour and good humour, and be led to entertain the — Orders under which Captain aitland acted. —Plans wholesome doubt, whether, in the imperfect state of agitatedfor Napoleon's escape.-Circumnstances which the human intellect, it is possible for one class of show that his surrender, if made, coculd not be a matter statesmen to be absolutely and uniformly right, and of choice.-Savary and Las Cases open a lnegotiationo their opponents, in all instances, decidedly wrong. with Captais Maitland- Captain Maitland's Account The French will learn that it is from freedom of de- of what passed at their interviews-Las Cases' acbate-from an appeal not to the arms, hbut to the count -The two statements compared, and preference understandings of the j eople-by the collision of in- given to Captain Maitland's.-Napoleon's letter to the Prince Regent - He surrenders himself on board the tellect, not the strife of lbrutal violence, that the po- Bellerophos, on 15th inly-His behavio ar the litical institutions of this ingenious people are in future passage-His armv off' T orbay-off Plymouth-Great to be) irage —Hs arSval ofv erbadof Plymouth.-Great to be iumprovedl. curiosity prevails among the English people to see him. The aspirations of France after glory in the field -All approach to the ship prohibited.-Final determihad -been indulged, during the period of which we nation of the English government that Bonaparte shall have treated, dreadfully for other countries, and the be sent to St Helena, communicated to himn-His protest requital to herself' was sufficiently fearful. A sen- and remonstrances against it. tinlent friendly to peace and good order has of late years distinguished even those two nations, which, OUR history returns to its principal object. Bonaby a rash and wicked expression, have been some- parte arrived at Rochefort upon the 3d July; so short tinles termed natural enenies. The enlarged ideas had been the space between the bloody cast of the of commerce, as they spread wider, and become die at Waterloo, and his finding hiniself an exile. better understoodl, will atford, perhaps, the strongest Yet even this brief space of fifteen days hal mlade and most irresistible motive for amicable intercourse, his retreat dilfficult, if not itnmpracticable. Means, — that, namtely, which arises fronm nutual advantage; indeed, were provided fior his transportation. The for commerce keeps pace with civilization, and a two French fiigates, the Saale and the Medusa, nation, as it becomes wvealthy from its own industry, together with the Bayadere, a corvette, and the acquires more and more a taste for the conveniences Epervier, a large brig, waited Bonaparte's presence, anld luxuries, which are the produce of tie soil, orof and orders to sail for America from their station the industry, of other countries. Britain, of whon under the Isle d'Aix. But, as Napoleon himself all that was selfish was expected and predicated by said shortly afterwards, wherever there was water Napoleon arld his fiiends-Britain, who was said to to swim a ship, there lie was sure to find the British meditate enchaining France by a commercial treaty flag. (which would have ruined her own manufactures), The news of the defeat at Waterloo had been the has, by opening her ports to the manufactures of her signal to the admiralty to cover the western coast of neighbour, had the honour to lead the way in a new France with cruizers, ii order to present the possiand more honourable species of traffic, which has in bility of Napoleon's escaping by sea from any of the some degree the property ascribed by thie poet to ports in that direction. Admiral Lord Keith,. a Mercy,- officer of great experience and activity, then cornIt blesseth him who gives, and ains who takes. mander-in-chief of the Channel fleet, had made a[ most judicious disposition of the fleet lmnder h.is To the eye of a stranger, the number of new build- command, by stationing an inner line of cruizers) of lugs established iii Paris, and indeed throughout various descriptions, off the principal ports between. France, are indications of capital and enterprise, of Brest and Bayonne, with an exterior line, necesa nature much more satisfactory than the splendid sarily more widely extended, betwixt Ushant anad but half-finished public edifices, which Najpoleon so Cape Finisterre. The commanders of these vessels bastily undertook, and so often left in an incomplete had the strictest orders to suffer no vessel to pass state. The general improvement of ideas may be unexamined. No less than thirty ships of different also distinctly remarked, on comparing the French descriptions maintained this blockade. According people of 1815 and 1826, and observing the gradual to this ar-angement, the British line-of-battle shilp extinction of long-cherished prejudices, and the no the Bellerophon, cruized off Rochefort, with tie less gradual improvement and enlargement of ideas. occasional assistance of the Slauey, the PhIlebe, aid SUL,.,i... 95 738 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. other small vessels, sometimes present, and some- might have failed by accident, but it was so jwl, - times detached, as the service might require. Cap- ciously laid as to have every chance of being suc. tain Maitland, who commanded the Bellerophon, is cessfid; and it seems that Napoleon received no a man of high character in his profession, of birth, encouragement from the commanders of the frigates of firmness of mind, and of the most indisputable to try the event of a forcible escape. honour. It is necessary to mention these circum- The scheme of a secret flighlt was next meditated. stances, because the national character of England A chasse-mar6e, a peculiar species of vessel, used herself is deeply concerned and identified with that only in the coasting trade, was to be fitted up and of Captain Maitland, in the narrative which follows. manned with young probationers of the navy, equivaThe several orders under which this officer acted, lent to our midshipmen. This, it was thought, might expressed the utmost anxiety about intercepting elude the vigilance of such British crizers as were Bonaparte's fight, and canvassed the different pro- in shore; but then it must have been a suspicious b)abilities concerning its direction. His attention was object at sea, and the possibility of its being able to at a later date particularly directed to the frigates in make the voyage to America, was considered as Aix Roads, and the report concerning their destina- precarious. A Danish corvette was next purchased, tion. Admiral Hotham writes to Captain Maitland, and as, in leaving the harbour, it was certain she 8th July, 1815, the following order:- would be brought to and examined by the English, " The lords commissioners of the admiralty having a place of concealment was contrived, being a cask every reason to believe that Napoleon Bonaparte supplied with air-tubes, to be stowed in the hold of meditates his escape, with his family, from France the vessel, in which it was intended Napoleon to America, you are hereby required and directed, should lie concealed. But the extreme rigour with in pursuance of orders from their lordships, signified which the search was likely to be prosecuted, and to me by Admiral the Right IEonourable Viscount the corpulence of Bonaparte, which would not perKeith, to keep the most vigilant look-out, for the mit him to remain long in a close or constrained posipurpose of intercepting him; and to make the strictest tion, made them lay aside this as well as other search of any vessel you may fall in with; and if hopeless contrivances. you should be so fortunate as to intercept him, you There were undoubtedly at this time many proare to transfer him and his family to the ship you posals made to the ex-elmperor by the army, who, command, and there keeping him in careful custody, compelled to retreat behind the Loire, were still return to the nearest port in England (going into animated by a thirst of revenge, and a sense of inTorbay in preference to Plymouth), with all possible jured honour. There is no doubt that they would expedition; and, on your arrival, you are not to per- have received Napoleon with acclamation; but if mit any communication whatever with the shore, he could not, or would not, pursue a course so desexcept as hereinafter directed; and you will'be held perate in 1814, when be had still a considerable responsible for keeping the whole transaction a army, and a respectable extent ofterritory remaining, profound secret, until you receive their lordships' it must have seemed much more ineligible in 1815; further orders. when his numbers were so much more dispropor" In case you should arrive at a port where there tioned than they had formerly been, and when his is a flag-officer, you are to send to acquaint him with best generals had embraced the cause of the Bourthe circumstances, strictly charging the officer, sent bons, or fled out of France. Napoleon's condition, on shore with your letter, not to divulge its contents; had he enlbraced this alternative, would have been and if there should be no flag-officer at the port that of the chief of a roving tribe of warriors where you arrive, you are to send one letter express struggling for existence, with equal misery to themto the secretary of the admiralty, and another to selves and the countries through which they wan Admiral Lord Keith, with strict injunctions of se- dered, until at length broken down and destroyed clecy to each officer who may be the bearer of by superior force. them." Rejecting this expedient, the only alternative iVe give these orders at full length, to show that which remnaitned was to surrender his person, either they left Captain Maitland no authority to make to the allied powers as a body, or to any one of:ollditions or stipulations of surrender, or to treat them in particular. The former course would have Napoleon otherwise than as an ordinary prisoner of been difficult, unless Napoleon had adopted the idea war. of resorting to it earlier, which, in the view of his C(aptain Maitland proceeded to exercise all the escape by sea, he had omitted to do. Neither had vililance which an occasion so interesting demanded; he time to negotiate with any of the allied soveir,.d it was soon evident, that the presence of the reigns, or of traveling hack to Paris for the purpose, lBtelerophon was an absolute bar to Napoleon's with any chance of personal safety, for the royalists escape by mneans of the frigates, unless it should be were now everywhere holding the ascendancy, and attempted by open force. In this latter case, the snore than one of his generals had been attacked British officer had formed his plan of bearing down and killed by themn. upon and disabling the one vessel, and throwing on He was cooped up, therefore, in Bochefort, alboard of her a hundred men selected for the purpose, though the white flag was already about to be hoisted while the Bellerophllon set sail with all speed in pur- there, and the commandant respectfully hinted the suit of her consort, and thus made sure of both. He necessity of his departure. It must have been anhad also two small vessels, the Slaney and Phoebe, ticipated by Napoleon, that he might be soon devwhich lie could attach to the pursuit of the frigate, htrived of the cover of the batteries of the Isle d'Aix. No as at least to keep her ill view. This plan The fact is (though we believe not generally known), LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 739 that on the 13th July, Lord Castlereagh wrote to to the same expense of blood and treasure that has Admiral Sir Henry Hotham, commanding off Cape just been incurred?' Finisterre, suggesting to him the propriety of attack- "General Savary made the following reply:ing, with a part of his force, the two frigates in the'When the emperor first abdicated the throne of roads of the Isle d'Aix, having first informed the France, his removal was brought about by a faction, commandant that they did so in the capacity of allies at the head of which was Talleyrand, and the sense of the King of France, and placing it upon his re- of the nation was not consulted: but in the present sponsibility if he fired on them from the batteries. instance he has voluntarily resigned the power. The Napoleon could not indeed know for certain that influence he once had over the French people Is such a plan was actually in existence, and about to past; a very considerable change has taken place in be attempted, bhut yet must have been aware of its their sentiments towards him, since he went to Elba; probability, when the royalist party were becoming and he could never regain the power he had over everywhere superior, and their emblems, were as- their minds; therefore, he would prefer retiring into sumed in the neighbouring town of La Rochelle. It obscurity, where he might end his days in peace and is, therefore, in vain to state Bonaparte's subsequent tranquillity; and were he solicited to ascend the conduct, as a voluntary confidence reposed by him throne again, he would decline it.' in the honour of England. He was precisely in the "'If that is the case,' said Captain Maitland, condition of the commandant of a besieged town,'why not ask an asylum in England?' Savary anwho has the choice of surrendering, or encountering swered,'There are many reasons for his not wishthe risks of a storm. Neither was it open for him ing to reside in England; the climate is too damp to contend, that he selected the British, out of' all and cold; it is too near France; he would be, as it the other allied powers, with whom to treat upon were, in the centre of every change and revolution this occasion. Like the commandant in the case that might take place there, and would be subject above supposed, he was under the necessity of sur- to suspicion; he has been accustomed to consider rendering to those who were the immediate besie- the English as his most inveterate enemies, and they gers, and therefore he was compelled to apply for have been induced to look upon him as a monster, terms of safety to him who alone possessed the di- without one of the virtues of a human being."' rect power of granting it, that is, to Captain Frede- Captain Knight of the Falmouth was present rick Maitland, of the Bellerophon. during the whole of this conversation, fioni which Napoleon opened a communication with this offi- Captain Maitland, like an able diplonmatist, drew a cer on the 10th July, by.two of his attendants, conclusion respecting the affairs of Napoleon, exactGeneral S vary and Count Las Cases, under pre- ly opposite from that which they endeavoured to tence of inquiring about a safe-conduct; a passport impress upon him, and concluded that he must be which Napoleon pretended to expect from England, in extremity. and which, he said, had been promised to him, On the 14th July, Count Las Cases again came without stating by whom. Under this round asser- on board the Bellerophon, now attended by General tion, for which there was not the slightest grounds, Count Lallemand. The pretext of the visit was, to Messrs Savary and Las Cases desired to know, learn whether Captain Maitland had received any whether Captain Maitland would permit the frigates answer from the admiral. Captain Maitland observ. to sail with him uninterrupted, or at least give him ed, the visit on that account was unnecessary, as he leave to proceed in a neutral vessel. Captain Mait- would have forwarded the answer so soon as reland, without hesitation, declared that he would not ceived; and added, he did not approve of frequent permit any armed vessel to put to sea from the port communication by flags of truce; thus repelling of Rochefort. " It was equally out of his power," rather than inviting them. The conference was he stated, " to allow the emperor to proceed in a resumed after breakfast, Captain Maitland having, neutral vessel, without the sanction of Admiral Ho- in the meantime, sent for Captain Sartorius of the tham, his commanding officer." He offered to write Slaney, to be witness of what passed. In this most to that officer, however, and the French gentlemen important conference, we hold it unjust to Captain having assented, he wrote, in their presence, to the Maitland to use any other words than his own, admiral, announcing the comlmunication he had re- copied from his journal, the original of which we ceived, and requesting orders for his guidance. have ourselves had the advantage of seeing: This was all but a prelude to the real subject of ne-, "When breakfast was over, we retiled to the gotiation. The Duke of Rovigo (Savary) and Count after-cabin. Count Las Cases then said,'The emLas Cases remained two or three hours on board, peror is so anxious to spare the fuirther effusion of and said all they could to impress Captain Mait- human blood, that he will proceed to America in land with the idea, that Napoleon's retirement was any way the British government chuses to sanction, a matter of choice, not of compulsion, and that it either in a French ship of war, a vessel armed en was the interest of Britain to consent to his going to flzte, a merchant vessel, or even in a British ship of America; a measure, they said, which was solely war.' To this I answered,'I have no authority to dictated to him by humanity, and a desire to save agree to any arrangement of that sort, nor do I behuman blood. Captain Maitland asked the natural lieve my government would consent to it; but I question, which we give in his own words: think I may venture to receive him into tlis ship, "' Supposing the British government should be and convey him to England: if, however,' I added, induced to grant a passport for Bonaparte's going to' he adopts that plan, I cannot enter into any America, what pledge could he give that he would promise, as to the reception he may meet with not return, and put England, as well as all Europe, as, even in the case I have mentioned, I shall 6e T71V LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. actinq on my own responsibility, and cannot be rity used on the Continent, and that the English sure that it would meet with the approbation of people had a liberality of opinion, and genero:sity the British government.' of sentiment, superior to that entertained by sove"There was a great deal of conversation on this reigns." Count Las Cases states himself to have subject, in the course of which Lucien Bonaparte's replied to the panegyric on England, by an oration name was mentioned, and the manner in which he in praise of Bonaparte, in which he described himr had lived in England alluded to, but I invariably as retiring from a contest which he had yet the assured Las Cases most explicitly, that I had no means of supporting, in order that his name and authority to make conditions of any sort, as to Napo- rights might not serve as a pretext to prolong civil leon's reception in England. In fact, I could not war. The count, according to his own narrative, have done otherwise, since, with the exception of concluded by saying, that, " under all the circumthe order [inserted at page 738], I had no instruc- stances, he thought the emperor might come on tions for my guidance, and was, of course, in total board the Bellerophon, and go to England with ignorance of the intention of his majesty's ministers Captain Maitland, for the purpose of receiving as to his future disposal. One of the last observa- passports for America." Captain Maitland desired tions Las Cases made, before quitting the ship, was, it should be understood, that he by no means war-'Under all circumstances, I have little. doubt that ranted that such would be granted. you will see the emperor on hoard the Bellerophon' " At the bottom of my heart," says Las Cases, and, in fact, Bonaparte must have determined on "I never supposed the passports would be granted that step before Las Cases came on board, as his to us; but as the emperor had resolved to remain letter to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent is in future a personal stranger to political events, we dated 13th July, the day before this conversation." saw, without alarm, the probability that we might The Count Las Cases gives nearly a similar be prevented from leaving England; but to that detail of circumstances, with a colouring which is point all our fears and suppositions were limited. exaggerated, and an arrangement of dates which is Such, too, was doubtless the belief of Maitland. I certainly inaccurate. It must also be noticed that do him, as well as the other officers, the justice to Count Las Cases dissembled his acquaintance with believe, that he was sincere, and of good faith, in the English language; and therefore, if any mistake the painting they drew us of the sentiments of the had occurred betwixt him and Captain Maitland, English nation." who spoke French with difficulty, he had himself The envoys returned to Napoleon, who held, so far to blame for it. Of the visit on board the according to Las Cases, a sort of council, in which Bellerophon on the 10th, after giving the same they considered all the chances. The plan of the statement as Captain Maitland, concerning the ap- Danish vessel, and that of the chasse-mar6e, were plication for the passports, the count states, "It was given up as too perilous; the British cruizer was suggested to us to go to England, and we were as- pronounced too strong to be attacked; there resured we had no room to fear any bad treatment." * mained only the alternative of Napoleon's joining On the 14th, being the date of his second visit, the troops, and renewing the war, or accepting he states that there was a repetition of the invita- Captain Maitland's offer by going on board the tion to England, and the terms on which it was re- Bellerophon. The former was rejected; the latter commended. " Captain Maitland," he says, " told plan adopted, and " THEN," says M. Las Cases, him, that if the emperor chose immediately to eml- "Napoleon wrote to the Prinoe Regent." * The bark, he had authority to receive him on board, and letter follows, but it is remarkable that the date is conduct him to England." This is so expressed, as omitted. This is probably the reason why Count to lead the reader to believe that Captain Maitland Las Cases did not discover that his memory was spoke to the count of some new directions or orders betraying him, since that date must have reminded which he had received, or pretended to have re- him that the letter was written before, not after, ceived, concerning Bonaparte. Stch an inference the conference of the 14th July. would be entirely erroneous; no new or extended From this narrative two things are plain; 1. That authority was received by Captain Maitland, nor no terms of capitulation were made with Captain was he capable of insinuating the existence of such. Maitland. 2. That it is the object of Count Las His sole instructions were contained in the orders Cases to insinuate the belief, that it was in conseof Admiral Hotham, quoted at p. 738, directing him, quence of the arguments used by Captain Maitland, should he be so fortunate as to intercept Bonaparte, supported by the British officers present, that Las to transfer him to the ship he commanded, to make Cases was induced to recommend, and Napoleon sail for a British port, and, when arrived there, to to adopt, the step of surrendering himself on board communicate instantly with the port-admiral, or the Bellerophon. But this whole inference is diswith the admiralty. proved by two small ciphers; the date, namely, of Count Las Cases makes Captain Maitland pro- 13th of July on the letter addressed to the Prince ceed to assure him and Savary, that, " in his own Regent, which, therefore, could not, in the nature'private opinion, Napoleon woulll find in England of things, have been written in consequence of a all the respect and good treatment to which he conference betwixt Las Cases and Captain Maitcould make any pretension; that there, the princes land; and a consultation betwixt Napoleon and his and ministers did not exercise the absolute autho. followers, which conference and consultation did It nous sfut sugygr de nons rendre en Angleterre, et ajfrmn qu'on ne potait y rainIdre aucttn mauvais traite. * "Alors Napoleon 6crivit anu Prince R6gent." Mie — mnent." Mgmorial de Ste-lIEline, vol. I, p. 43. rial de Ste-Helne, vol. I, p. i5. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 741 not takeplace till the 14th I:f July. The resolu- For the information of the lords commissioners tion was taken, and the letter written, the day be- of the admiralty, I have to acquaint you that the fore all those glowing descriptions of the English Count Las Cases and General Lallenmand this day people put into the mouth of Captain Maitland; came on board his majesty's ship under my command, and the fiith of Napoleon was grounded upon the with a proposal from Count Bertrand fo)r mle to reimpersonal suggestion to go to England,* made to ceive on board Napoleon Bonaparte, for the purLas Cases and Savary on their first visit to the Bel- pose of throwing himself on the generosity of the lerophon. The visit of the 14th, doubtless, confirnmed Prince Regent. Conceiving myself authorized by the resolution which had been adopted the preced- their lordships' secret order, I have acceded to tie ing day. proposal, and he is to embark on board this ship toNo delay now intervened. On the same 14th of morrow morning. That no misnnderstanding might July, General Baron Gourgaud was sent off with the arise, I have explicitly and clearly explained to letter, so often mentioned, addressed to the Prince Count Las Cases, that I have no authority whatever Regent, which was in these well-known terms: for granting terms of any sort, but that all I can do is to carry him and his suite to England, to be recefr, July 3, 1815. ceived in such manner as his royal highness may "YOUR ROYAL HIGHNaESS, deem expedient." "A victim to the factions which distract my coun- Is it in human nature to suppose, that a British try, and to the enmity of the greatest powers of officer, with two others of the same rank as witnesses Europe, I have terminated my political career, and of the whole negotiation, would have expressed himI come, like Thelnistocles, to throw myself upon the self otherwise than as truth warranted, in a case hospitality of the British people. I put myself under which was sure to be so strictly inquired into? the protection of their laws, which I claim from your On the 15th July, 1815, Napoleon finally left royal highness, as the most powerful, the most con- France, to the history of which he had added so stant, and the most generous of my enemies. much of victory and so much of defeat; the country " NAPOLEON." which his rise had saved from civil discord and foreign invasion, and which his fall consigned to both; Captain Maitland informed Count Las Cases, that in a word, that fair land to which he had been so lie would dispatch General Gourgaud to England, long as a deity, and was in future to be of less imby the Slaney, and prepare to receive Napoleon and port than the meanest peasant on the soil. He was his suite. General Gourgaud proposed to write to accompanied by four of his generals-Bertrand, SaCount Bertrand instantly, when, in presence and vary, Lallemand, and Montholon, and by Count Las hearing of his brother officers, Captains Sartorias and Cases, repeatedly mentioned as counsellor of state. Gambier, Captain Maitland gave another instance Of these, Bertrand and Montholon had their ladies of his anxiety not to be misunderstood on this imn-;on board, with three children belonging to Count portant occasion. Bertrand, and one of Count Montholon's. The son " When General Gourgaud was about to write of Las Cases accompanied the emperor as a page. the letter, to prevent any future misunderstanding, I There were nine officers of inferior rank, and thirtysaid,'Monsieur Las Cases, you will recollect that I nine domestics. The principal persons were reamn not authorized to stipulate as to the reception of ceived on board the Bellerophon, the others in the Bonaparte in England, but that he must consider corvette. himnself entirely at the disposal of his Royal High- Bonaparte came out of Aix Roads on board of ness the Prince Regent.' He answered,' I am per- the Epervier. $Wind and tide being against the brig, fectly aware of that, and have already acquainted Captain Maitland sent the barge of the. Bellerophon the emperor with what you said on the subject.'" to transport him to that ship. Most of the officers Captain Maitland subjoins the following natural and crew of the Epervier had tears in their eyes, and just remark:- and they continued to cheer the emperor while their " It might, perhaps, have been better if this de- voices could be heard. Hie was received on board claration had been given in an official written form; the Bellerophon respectfuilly, but withont any salute and could I have foreseen the discussions which or distinguished honours. As Captain Maitland afterwards took place, and which will appear in the advanced to meet him on the quarter-deck, Naposequel, I undoubtedly should have done so; but as leon pulled off his hat, and, addressing him in a I repeatedly made it in the presence of witnesses, it firm tone of voice, said, " I come to place myself did not occur to me as being necessary; and how inder thie protection of your prince and laws." tiis could a stronger proof be adduced, that no stipulla- manner was uncommonly pleasing, and he displayed tions were agreed to respecting the reception of much address in seizing upon opportunities of saying Bonaparte in England, than the fact of their not things flattering to the hearers whomn lie wished to being reduced to writing? which certainly would conciliate. have been the case had any favorable terms been As when formerly on board Captain Usher's vessel, demanded on the part of Monsieur Las Cases, and Bonaparte showed great curiosity concerning the agreed to by me." discipline of the shipn, and expressed considera;ble To conclrude the evidence on this subject, we add surprise that the British vessels shoulld so easily Captain Maitland's letter, addressed to the secretary defeat the French ships, which were heavier, larger, of the adlniralfy on 14th July: and better manned than they. Captain Maitland ~ See, atOve, p. 740, where Las Cases says, It Cwas Sug- accounted for this by the greater experience of tile gesterd toazs tso go t; Elgbutrd." men and otficers. The ex-erlmeror examined the 742 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. marines also, and, pleased with their appearance, In the meantime, the newspapers which were said to Bertrand, "How much might be done with brought on board tended to impress anxiety and a hundred thousand such men!" In the manage- consternation among the unhappy fugitives. Tile inent of the vessel, he particularly admired the si- report was generally circulated by these periodical lence and good order of the crew while going publications, that Bonaparte would not be permitted through their manceuvres, in comparison to a French to land, but would be presently sent off to St He-;essel, " where every one," he said, "talks and lena, as the safest place for detaining him, as a prigives orders at once." When about to quit the soner of war. Napoleon himself became alarmed, Bellerophon, he adverted to the same subject, say- and anxiously desirous of seeing Lord Keith, who ing, there had been less noise on board that vessel, had expressed himself sensible of some kindness with six hundred men, in the whole passage from which his nephew, Captain Elphinstone of the 7th Rochefort, than the crew of the Epervier, with only Hussars, had received fiom the emperor, when one hundred, had contrived to mnake between the wounded and made prisoner at Waterloo. Sucnh an Isle d'Aix and Basque Roads. interview accordingly took place betwixt the noble He spoke, too, of the British army in an equal admiral and the I te emperor, upon the 28th July, style of praise, and was joined by his officers in but without any results ofiimportance, as Lord Keith doing so. One of the French officers observing that was not then possessed of the decision of the British the English cavalry were superb, Captain Maitland government. observed, that in England, they had a higher opi- That frenzy of popular curiosity, which, predomlinion of the infantry. " You are right," said the nating in all free states, seems to b!. carried to the French gentleman; " there is none such in the world; utmost excess by the English nation, caused such there is no making an impression on them; you numbers of boats to surround the Bellerophon, that, might as well attempt to charge through a wall, and notwithstanding the peremptory orders of the admnitheir fire is tremendous." Bertrand reported to ralty, and in spite of the efforts of the man-of-war's Captain Maitland that Napoleon had communi- boats, which maintained constant guard round the cated to him his opinion of the Duke of Wellington vessel, it was almost impossible to keep them at the in the following words; —" The Duke of Vrelling- prescribed distance of a cable's length from the ship. ton, in the management of an army, is fuilly equal to They incurred the risk of being run down,-of being, myself, with the advantage of possessing more pru- as they might apprehend, shot (for muskets were dence." This we conceive to be the genuine un- discharged for the purpose of intimidation), of all biassed opinion of one great soldier concerning the dangers of a naval combat, rather than lose the another. It is a pity that Napoleon could on other opportunity of seeing the emperor whom they had occasions express himself in a strain of deprecia- heard so much of. When he. appeared he was tion. which could only lower him who used it, to- greeted with huzzas, which he returned with bows, wards a rival in the art of war. but could not help expressing his wonder at the During the whole passage, notwithstanding his eagerness of popular curiosity, which he was not situation, and- the painful uncertainty under which accustomed to see in such a pitch of excitation. he laboured, Napoleon seemed always tranquil, and On the evening of the 30th of July, Major-general in good temper; at times, he even approached to Sir Henry Bunlbury, one of the under secretaries of cheerfulness. He spoke with tenderness of his wife state, arrived, bringing with him the final intentions and family, complained of being separated from of the British government, for the disposal of Bonathem, and had the tears in his eyes when he showed parlte and his suite. Upon the 31st, Lord Keith and their portraits to Captain Maitland. His health Sir Henry waited upon the ex-emperor, on board of seemed perfectly good; but he was occasionally the Bellerophon, to communicate to him the unsubject to somonolency, proceeding, perhaps, fron pleasing tidings. They were accompanied by Mr the exhaustion of a constitution which had gone Aleike, the secretary of Lord Keith, whose presence through such severe service. was deemed necessary as a witness to what passed. On 23d July, they passed Ushant. Napoleon re- Napoleon received the admiral and under secretary mained long onl deck, and cast many a melanlcholy of state with becomingf dignity and calmness. Tile look to the coast of France, but made no (observa- letter of Lord Melville (first lord of the admiralty) tions. At day-break on 24th, the Bellerophon was was read to the ex-emperor, announcing his future off Dartmouth; and Bonaparte was struck, first destination. It stated, that "it would be inconsistent withl the boldness of the coast, and then, as he en- with the duty of the British ministers to tkcir sovetered Torbay, with the -weil-known beauty of the reign and his allies, to. leave General Bonzaparte scenery. "It reminded him," he said, "of Porto the means or opportunity of again disturbing the Ferrajo, in Elba;" an association which must at the peace of Europe-announ.ced that the island of St moment have wakened strange remembrances in- Helena was selected for his futllre residence, and the mind of the deposed emperor. selected as such, because its local situation wouid The Bellerophon had hardly anchored, when or- permit his enjoying more freedom than conuld be ders came from the admiral, Lord Keith, which compatible with adequate security elsewhere-thli,. were soon ait:r seconded by others from the ad- with the exception of Generals Savary and Lallemiralty, enjoining that no one, of whatever rank or mand, the general might select thlee officers, toge station, should he permitted to come on board the ther with his surgeon, to attend hini to St Helen — B3ellerophon, excepting the officers and men belong- that twelve domestics wotld also be allowved."'I'le ing to the ship. On the 26th, the vessel received same document stated, "that the peseons whvlo lliglt orders to mlo\e rounrld to Plymouth Sound. attend upon him would be liable to a certain degree LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 743 of restraint, and could not be permitted to leave the gone to my father-in-law, or to the Emperor Alexisland without the sanction of the British govcrn- ander, who is my personal friend? We have bement. Lastly, it was announced that Rear-admiral come enemies, because he wanted to annex Poland Sir George CockbLrn, appointed to the chief cornm- to his dominions, and my popularity among the Poles mand of the Cape of Good Hope, would be presently was in his way. But otherwise he was my firiend, ready to sail for the purpose of conveying General and lie *ould not have treated mne in this way. If Bonaparte to St Helena, and therefore it was desir- your government act thus, it will disgrace you in able that he should without delay make choice of the the eyes of Europe. Even your ownM people will persons who were to form his suite." blame it. Besides, you do not know tile feeling The letter was read in French to Bonaparte by that my death will create both in France and Italy. Sir HIenry Bunbury. Hle listened without impa- There is, at present, a high opinion of England in tience, interruption, or emotion of any kind. When these countries. If you kill me it will be lost, and he was requested to state if he had any reply, he the lives of many English will be sacrificed. What began, with great calmness of manner and mildness was there to force me to the step I took? The triof countenance, to declare that he solemnly protest- coloured flag was still flying at Bordeaux, Nantes, ed against the orders which had been read —that the and Rochefort.* The army has not even yet subBritish ministry had no right to dispose of him in mitted. Or, if I had chosen to remain in France, the way proposed —that he appealed to the British wvat was there to prevent me from remaining conpeople and the laws-and asked what was the tri- cealed for years amongst a people so much attached bunal which he ought to appeal to. "I an come," to me?" he continued, " voluntarily to throw myself on the He then returned to his negotiation with Captain hospitality of your nation-I am not a prisoner of Maitland, and dwelt on the honours and attentions war, and if I was, have a right to be treated ac- shown to him personally by that officer and Adcording to the law of nations. But I am come to this miral Hotham. ".'And, after all, it was only a country a passenger on board one of' your vessels, snare for rie!"'t He again enlarged on the disgrace after a previous negotiation with the commander. If' to England which was impending. " I hold out to he had told me I was to be a prisoner, I would not the Prince Regent," he said, "the brightest page have come. I asked him if lie was willing to re- in his history, in placing myself at his discretion. ceive me on board, and convey me to England. I have made war upon you for twenty years, and I Admiral Maitland said he was, having received, or give you the highest proof of confidence by voluntelling me had received special orders of' government tarily giving myself into the hands of my mos t ilveconcerning me, Itwas a snare then that had been terate and constant enemies. Remember," lie conspread for me. I came on board a British vessel as tinned, " what I have been, and hovw I stood among I would have entered one of their towns —avessel, the sovereigns of Europe. This courted my pro-, a village, it is the same thing. As for the island of tection —that gave me his daughter-all sought for St Helena, it would be my sentence of death. I my friendship. I was emperor, ackn.owledged by demand to be received as an English citizen. How all the powers in Europe, except Great Britain, muany years eititle me to hbe dorniciliated?") and she had acknowledged me as chief consul. Sir Henry Bunbury answered, that lie believed Your government has no right to term me Genzeral four were necessary. "XWell, then," continued Bonaoparte," he added, pointing with his finger to Napoleon, " let the Prince Regent during that time the offensive epithet in Lord Melville's letter. " I place me under any superintendence he thinks pro- am prince, or consul, and ought to be treated as per-let me be placed in a country-house in tle such, if treated with at all. When I was at Elba, centre of the island, thirty leagues from every seaport * The white flag was flying at La Rochelle and the Isle -place a cormmissioned officer about me, to examine of O16ron. It was hoisted on the 12th, hauled down aftermy correspondence and superintend my actions; or, wards, and again hoisted on the 13th July, to the final exif the Prince Regent should require my word o cil usin ofthe tiree-roloured ensgn. honour, perhaps I might give it. I might then enjoy t Admiral Hotham and Captain Maitland had no partiIzl~~~~~~~ *I 1- T cular orders how this uncommon person was to be tlreated, a certain degree of personal liberty, and I should have te > feemles of literat ure.', Ind St Helena and were naturally desirous of showing respect under mis-:have the freedom of litelature. In StIHelena I fortunes to one who had been so great. Their civilities could nrot live three months; to my habits and con- went no farther than manning the yards when he entered stitution it would be death. I am used to ride twenty the Superb on a breakfast visit, and when he returnled to aniles a-day,-wwhat am I to do on that little rock at the Bellerophon on the same occasion. Captain Maitland the end of the world? No! Botany Bay is better also permitted Napoleon to lead the way into the dining than St Helena-I prefer death to St Helena-And cabin, and seat himself in the centre of the table; an howhat good is my death to do you? I am no lonlger nour which it would have been both ungracious and una sovereign. What danger could result from nry called for to have disputed. Even these civilities could living as a private person in the heart of England, not have been a portion of the snare of which Napoleon and ~restricted in any way which the g~ov~er~naent complains, or have had the least effect ill inducing him to take his resolution of surrendering to the English, as the Hs erefeou rr t renlnK prop tothemanner of9 his cor- argument in the text infers; for that resolutionl had been He referred repeastedly to the manner of his corn- taken, and the surrender mlade, before the attentions Napoug onl board the Bellerophon, insisting upon his leon founds upon could have been offered and received. eing perfectly free in his choice, and that he had This tends to confirm the opinion ofNelson, that the French, preferred confiding to the hospitality and generosity when treated with ceremionial politeness, are apt to form of the British nation. pretensions upon the conlcessiorns made to th, in in ordinary " Otherwise," lie said, ",hy bllold I ncit hrave.... t~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ —-- - 744 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. I was at least as much a sovereign in that island Napoleon opened the conversation, by asking Lord as Louis on the throne of France. We had both Keith's advice how to conduct himself: Lord Keith our respective flags, our ships, our troops —Mine, replied, that he was al officer, and had discharged to be sure," he said, with a smile, " were rather his duty, and left with him the heads of his instracon a small scale-I had six hundred soldiers, and tions. If he considered it necessary to renew the he had two hundred thousand. At length; I made discussion, Sir Henry Bunbury must be called in. war upon him, defeated him, and dethroned hinl. Bonaparte said that was unnecessary. "Can you," But there was nothing in this to deprive me of my said he, "after what is passed, detain me until I rank as one of the sovereigns of Europe." hear fi'om London?" Lord Keith replied, that must During this interesting scene, Napoleon spoke depend onl the instructions brought by the other adwith little interruption from Lord Keith and Sir miral, with which he was unacquainted. "Was Henry Bunbury, who declined replying to his re- there any tribunal," lie asked,-' to which he could monstrances, stating themselves to be unauthorized apply?" Lord Keith answered, that he was no cito enter into discussions, as their only duty was to vilian, but believed that there was none whatever. convey the intentions of government to Napoleon, lIe added, that he was satisfied there was every and transmit his answer, if he charged them with disposition on the part of the British government to i any. He repeated again and again his determination render his situation as comfortable as prudence not to go to St Helena, and his desire to be suffered would permit. "How so?" said Napoleon, lifting to remain in Great Britain. the paper from the table, and speaking with animaSir -Ienry Bunbury then said, he was certain tion. Upon Lord Keith's observing, "tllat it was that St Helena had been selected as the place of surely preferable to being confined to a smalier'his residence, because its local situation allowed space in England, or being sent to France, or perhaps freer scope for exercise and indulgence, than to Russia,"-" Russia," exclaimed Bonaparte, " God could have been permitted in any part of Great preserve me from it!"* Britain. During this remarkable scene, Napoleon's manner "No, no," repeated Bonaparte, with animation, was perfectly calm and collected, his voice equal "I will not go there-You would not go there, sir, and firm, his tones very pleasing. Once or twice were it your own case-nor, my lord, would you." only he spoke more rapidly, and in a harsher key. Lord Keith bowed and answered,-" He had been He used little gesticulation, and his attitudes were already at St Helena four times." Napoleon went ungraceful; but the action of the head was dignified, on reiterating his protestations against being im- and the countenance remarkably soft and placid, prisoned, or sent to St Helena. "I will not go without any marks of severity. He seelmed to have thither," he repeated; " I an not a Hercules (with made up his mind, anticipating what was to be ana smile), but you shall not conduct me to St He- nounced,, and perfectly prepared to reply. In exlena. I prefer death in this place. You found pressing his positive determination not to go to St me free, send me back again; replace me in the Helena, he left it to his hearers to infer, whetlier he condition in which I was, or permit mle to go to meant to prevent his removal by suicide, or to resist America." it by force.t He dwelt much on his resolution to die rather than to go to St Helena; he had no great reason, he said, to wish for life. lie urged the admiral to' CHAPTER CX. take no farther steps to remove him into the Northumbelland, before government should have been Napoleon's real view of the mneasure of sensding him to St informed of what he had said, and have signified Hele-na.-Allegation that Captain Maitlald matde terms their final decision. He conjured Sir Henrly Bun- with hims-disproved-Probability that the insinuation bury to use no delay in communicating his answer rose with Las Cases, who was isppointed that aeto government, and referred himself to Sir Henr otietioh wAich he had coNalcted f;aes not sBeleSSJhoC.t ut it into flnl. After some csory qestions Scheme of removilng Napoleon from the Bellerophon, by to pat it into forum. After souse cursory questions cithg him as witness in a case of libel.- Threats of selfand pauses, he again returned to the pressing sub- sc as wilness in - cas of lbe. s ot selfdestruction by Napoleon — by his followers that they ject, and urged the same arguments as before. would put him to death-only made to intimidate the "lie had expected," he said, "to have had liberty governlment. - Napoleon goes on board tC/e Northucmto land, and settle himself in the country, some berland, cwhich sails for St Helena.-His behaviour on commissioner being named to attend him, who would the voyage. - Meanner in wlich he cwas treated by Sir be of great use for a year or two to teach him swhat George Cockburn. —He arrives at St Helena, and rlands he had to do. You could chuse," he said, " some on 16th October. respectable mIan, for the English service must have officers distinguished for probity and honour; and TEsE interest attaching to the foregoing interview do not put about me an intriguing person, who would betwixtNapoleon and the gentlemen sent to announce only play the spy, and make cabals." He declared his doom loses much, when we regard it in a great again his determination not to go to St Helena; anud this interesting interview was concluded. 0"Rlussie-Dieu meen garde!' After the admial ad Sir Hey B ad Having had the inestimable advanltge of comparing Sir After the admial and Sir Heny br had Henry Bunbury's minutes of this striking transaction with left the cabin, Napoleon recalled Lordl Keitll, whosn, those of Mr Aleike, eho acconpanied Lord Keith in the in respect of his former attesitiosi to Iiis lorl(sliis's capacily of secretary, the author has been enabled to lay relative, Captain Elphinstone, he lighlt c,,nsider as before the tmblic the moso ample and exact accotint of tile mnore favourable to his person. iinterview of 31st July, which has yet appeared. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 745 measure as an empty personification of feeling, a! in Russia. lie might, in the first-named country, be well-painted passion which was not in reality felt. kept in custody, more or less severe; hut he would Napoleon, as will presently appear, was not serious be at least secure from perishing of some political in averring that he had any encouragement from disease. Even while at St Helena, he allowed, in Captain Maitland to come on board.his ship, save in an interval of good-tempered candour, that, cornthe character of a prisoner, to be placed at the paring one place of exile to another, St HIelena Prince Regent's discretion. Neither had he the was entitled to the preference. In higher latitudes, most distant idea of preventing his removal to the he observed, they would have suffered firom coll, Northumberland, either by violence to himself, or and in any other tropical island they would have any one else. Both topics of declamation were been burned to death. At St Helena the country only used for show,-the one to alarm the sense of was wild and savage, the climate monotonous, and hononr entertained by the Prince Regent and the unfavourable to health, but the temperature was people of England, and the other to work upon their mild and pleasing.+ humanity. The allegation on which Napoleon had insisted so There is little doubt that Napoleon saw the pro- much, namely, that Captain Maitland had pledged bability of the St Helena voyage, so soon as he himself for his good reception in England, and resurrendered himself to the captain of the Bellero- ceived him on board his vessel, not as a prisoner, but phon. He had affirmed, that there was a purpose as a guest, became now an important subject of of transferring him to St Helena or Ltlcie, even investigation. All the while Napoleon harl been on before he left Elba; and if he thought the English board the Bellerophon, he had expressed the greatcapable of sending him to such banishment while he est respect for Captain Maitland, and a sense of his was under the protection of the treaty of Fontaine- civilities totally inconsistent with the idea, that he bleau, he could hardly suppose that they would conceived himself betrayed by him. He had even scruple to execute such a purpose, after his own sounded that officer, by the means of Madame Berconduct had deprived him of all the immunities with trand, to know whether he would accept a present which that treaty had invested him. of his portrait set with diamonds, which Captain Nevertheless, while aware that his experiment Maitland requested might not be offered, as he was might possibly thus terminate, Napoleon may have determined to decline it. hoped a better issue, and conceived himself capable On the 6th of August, Count Las Cases, for the of cajoling the Prince Regent and his administration first time, hinted to Captain Maitland, that he had into hazarding the safety and the peace of Europe, understood him to have given an assurance, that in order to display a quixotic generosity towards an Napoleon should be well received in England. individual, whose only plea for deserving it was, Captain Maitland replied, it was impossible the that he had been for twenty years their mortal count could mistake him so far, since he had exenemy. Such hopes he may have entertained; for pressly stated he could make no promises; but that it cannot be expected that he was to acknowledge he thought his orders would bear him out in reeven to himself the personal disqualifications which ceiving Napoleon on board, and conveying him to rendered him, in the eyes of all Europe, unworthy England. He reminded the count, that he had of trust or confidence. His expectation of a fa- questioned him (Captain Maitland) repeatedly, as vourable reception did not go so far, in all likeli- to his private opinion, to which he could only answer, hood, as those of the individual among his followers, that he had no reason to think Napoleon would be who expected that Napoleon would receive the ill received. Las Cases had nothing to offer in reply. Order of' the Garter fiorn the Prince Regent; but Upon the same 6th August, Napoleon himself spoke he might have hoped to be permitted to reside upon the subject, and, it will he observed, how very in Britain on the same terms as his brother Lu- different his language was to Captain Maitland, friom cien. that which he held in his absence. " They say," he Doubtless he calculated upon, and perhaps over- remarked, " that I made no conditions. Certainly rated, all these more favourable chances. Yet, if I made no conditions. How could an individual the worst should arrive, he saw even in that worst, enter into terms with a nation? I wanted nothing that Island of St Helena itself, the certainty of per- of them but hospitality, or, as the ancients would sonal safety, which he could not be assured of in any express it, air and water. As for you, captain, I despotic country, where, as he himself must have have no cause of complaint; your conduct has been known pretty well, an obnoxious prisoner, ordetenu, that of a man of honour." may lose his life par nagligence, without any bustle The investigation of this matter did not end here, or alarm being excited upon the occasion. Upon for the ungrounded assertion that Captain Maitland the 16th August, while on his passage to St Helena, had granted some conditions, expressed or implied, he frankly acknowvledged, that though he had been was no sooner repelled than it again revived. deceived in the reception he had expected from the On the 7th, Count Las Cases, having a parting English, still, harshly and unfairly as he thought interview with Lord Keith, for the purpose of' dehimself treated, lie found comfort from knowing that livering to him a protest on the part of Bonaparte, he was under the protection of British laws, which "I was in the act of telling him," said the count, he could not have enjoyed had he gone to another " that Captain Maitland had said he was authorized country, where his fate would have depended upon to carry us to London, without letting us suspect the caprice of an individual. This we believe to be that we were to be regarded as prisoners of war; the real secret of his rendition to England, in preference to his father-in-law of Austria, or his friend * Akmorialde Ste-HRlene, vol. II, p. 303. VUL. VI. 9 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. and thiat tile captain could not deny that we calne Bonaparte should be well received in Engla.d, r freely and ill good faith; that the letter from the indeed made promises of any sort. I have endeaemperor to the Prince of Wales, of the existence of voured to conduct myself with integrity and honour whichll I had given Captain Maitland information, throughout the whole of this transaction, and theremust necessarily have created tacit conditions, since fore cannot allow such an assertion to go nncoitrahe had imade no observation on it." Here the ad- dieted.''Oh!' said Count Montholon,'Las Cases tiiral's inpatience, nay, anger, broke forth. He said negotiated this business; it has turned out very difto him sharply, that in that case Captain Maitland ferently from what he and all of us expected. He was a fool, since his instructions contained not a attributes the emperor's situation to himself, and is word to such a purpose; aind this lie should surely therefore desirous of giving it the best countenance know, since it was le, Lord Keith, who issued them. he can; but I assure you, the emperor is convinced Count Las Cases still persevered, stating that his your conduct has been most honourable;' then lordship spoke with a hasty severity, for which lie taking my hand, he pressed it, and added,' and that might be himself responsible; since the other ofli- is umy opiniion also.'" cers, as well as Rear-admiral Hothain, had ex- Lord Keith was, of course, perfectly convinced pressed themselves to the same effect, which could that the charge against Captain Maitland was not not have been the case had the letter of instructions only totally unsulpported by testimony, but that it been so clearly expressed, and so positive, as his was disproved by the evidence of impartial witlordship seemed to think.+ nesses, as well as by the conduct and public exLord Keith, upon this statement of Count Las pression of sentiments of those who had the best Cases, called upon Captain Maitland for the most right to complain of that officer's conduct, had it ample account he could give of the communications been really deserving of censure. The reason why which he had had with the count, previous to Napo- Count Las Cases should persist in grounding hopes leon's coming on board the Bellerophon. Captain and wishes of his own framing, upon supptosed exMaitland of course obeyed, and stated at full length pressions of encouragement from Captain Maitland, the manner in which the French frigates lay block- has been probably rightly treated by Count Monaded, the great improbability of their effecting an tholon. Napoleon's conduct, in loading Captain escape, and the considerable risk they would have Maitland with the charge of " laying snares for llim," run in attempting it; the application to him, first by while his own conscience so far acquitted that brave Savary and Las Cases, afterwards by Las Cases officer, that he pressed upon him thanks, and yet and Gourgaud; his objecting to the frequent flags nimore substantial evidence of his favourable opinion, of truce; his refusal to allow Bonaparte to pass to can, we are afraid, only be imputed to a predominant sea, either in French ships of war or in a neutral sense of his own interest, to which he was not unvessel; his consenting to carry to England the late willing to have sacrificed the professional character emperor and his suite, to be at the disposal of the and honourable name of an officer, to whom, on Prince Regent, with his cautions to them, again and other occasions, he acknowledged himself obliged. again renewed, in the presence of Captain Sartorius As Captain Maitland's modest and manly narrative and Captain Gambier, that he could grant no stipu- is now published, the figment, that Napoleon came lations or conditions whatsoever. These officers on board the Bellerophon in any other character gave full evidence to the same effect, by their than as a prisoner of war, must be considered as written attestations. If, therefore, the insinuation silenced for ever. of Count Las Cases, for it amounts to no more, is to Having prosecuted this interesting sublject to a be placed against the express and explicit averment conclusion, we return to the train of circumstances of Captain Maitland, the latter must preponderate, attending Napoleon's departure fioom England, so were it but by aid of the direct testimony of two far as they seem to contain historical interest. other British officers. Finally, Captain Maitland The inconvenient resort of immense numbers, mentioned Napoleon's acknowledgment, and that of sometimes not less than a thousand boats, scarce his suite, that though their expectations had been to be kept off by absolute force by those who rowed disappointed, they imputed no blame to him, which guard within the prescribed distance of' 300 yards he could not have escaped, had he used any unwar- from the Bellerophon, was rendered a greater anranted and fallacious proposals to entice them on noyance, when Napoleon's repeated expressions, board his vessel. As the last piece ofevidence, he that he would never go to St Helena, occasioned mentioned his taking farewell of Montholon, who some suspicions that he meant to attempt his escape. again reverted to Napoleon's wish to make him a Two fiigates were therefore appointed to lie as present, and expressed the emperor's sense of his guards on the Bellerophon, and sentinels awere civilities, and his high arnd honourable deportment doubled and trebled, both by day and night. through the whole transaction. An odd incident, of a kind which could only have Captain Maitland, to use his own words, then said, happened in England (for though as many bizarre "' I feel much hurt that Count Las Cases should whims Ina arise in the minds of foreigners, they are have stated to Lord Keith, that I bad promised much more seldom ripened into action), added to the cares of those who were to watch this important' The reader may judge for lhirself, by turning to p. 738, prisoner. Sonie lnewspaper, which was not possessed -here the instructions are printed, acting under which no of a legal adviser to keep them right in point of man but a foel, as the admiral truly said, could have e;i- i form, had suggested (in tenderness, we suppose, to tered into such a treaty, as Count Las Cases pretentls I public curiosity), that the person o)fNapoleon Bt3owC'aptain Maitland to have engaged in. |parte should be reti(ived to shore by agency of a LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 74? w' it if flabeas Corpus. This magical rescript of amid their wrath, as to take the opinion of thile late the iOid Bailey, as Smnollet terms it, loses its influ- distinguished lawyer and statesman, Sir Satmuel enre over an alien and prisoner of war, and therefore Roinilly. As the most effectual mode of serving such an absurd proposal was not acted upon. But these unfortunate gentlemen, Sir Samuel, by peran individual, prosecuted for a libel upon a naval sonal application to the lord chancellor, learned that officer, conceived the idea of citing Napoleon as an there were no thoughts of delivering up his clients evidence in a court of justice, to prove, as he pre- to the French government, and thus became able to tended, the state of the French navy, which was put their hearts at ease upon that score. On the necessary to his defence. The writ was to have subject of the resistance, as to the legality of' which been served on Lord Keith; but he disappointed they questioned him, Sir Samuel Romilly acquainted the litigant, by keeping his boat off the ship while lie them, that life taken in an affray of the kind, would was on board, and afterwards by the speed of his be construed into murder by the law of England. twelve-oared barge, which the attorney's panting No greater danger, indeed, was to be expected rowers toiled after in vain. Although this was,a from an assault, legalized upon the opinion of an mere absurdity, and only worthy of the laughter, eminent lawyer, than fiom a suicide adjusted with with which the anecdote of the attorney's pursuit the advice of a counsellor of state; and we suppose and the admiral's flight was generally received, yet neither Napoleon nor his followers were mnore serious it might have given rise to inconvenience, by sug- in the violent projects which they announced, than gesting to Napoleon, that he was, by some process they might think necessary to shake the purpose of or other, entitled to redress by the common law of the English ministry. In this they were totally unEngland, and might have encouraged hinm in re- successful, and their intemperate threats only occasisting attempts to remove him friom the Belleropllon. sioned their being deprived of arms, excepting NaOn the 4th of August, to end such inconvenient poleon, who was left in possession of his sword. occurrences, the Bellerophon was appointed to put Napoleon and his followers were greatly hurt at this to sea and remain cruizing off the Start, where she marked expression of want of confidence, whllicI must was to be joined by the squadron destined for St also have been painful to the English officers who Helena, when Napoleon was, with his immediate executed the order, though it was explained to the attendants, to be removed on board of the Northurn- French gentlemen, that the measure was only one berland. of precaution, and that their weapons were to be His spirit for some time seemed wound up to some carefully preserved and restored to them. During desperate resolve, and though he gave no hint of his last day on board the Bellerophon, Napoleon suicide before Captain Maitland, otherwise than by was employed in composing a protest, which, as it expressing a dogged resolution not to go to St Helena, contains nothing more than his address to Lord yet to Las Cases, he spoke in undisguised terms of Keith and Sir Henry Bunbury, we have thrown into a Roman death. We own we are not afraid of such the Appendix.* He also wrote a second letter to resolutions being executed by sane persons, when the Prince Regent. they take the precaution of consulting an intelligent On the 4th of August, the Bellerophon set sail, friend. It is quite astonishing how slight a backing and next morning fell in with the Northumberland, will support the natural love of life, in minds the and the squadron destined for St Helena, as also most courageous, and circumstances the most des- with the Tonnaut, on board of which Lord Keith's perate. We are not, therefore, surprised to find flag was hoisted. that the philosophic arguments of Las Cases deter- It was now that Napoleon gave Captain Maitland mined Napoleon to survive and write his history. the first intimation of his purpose to submit to his Had he consulted his military attendants, he would exile, by requesting that Mr O'Meara, surgeon of have received other counsels, and assistance to the Bellerophon, might be permitted to attend him execute them if necessary. Lallemand, Montholon, to' St Helena, instead of his own surgeon, whose and Gourgaud, assured Captain Maitland, that the health could not stand the voyage. This made it emperor would sooner kill himself than go to St clear that no resistance was designed, and, indeed I-Helena, and that even were he to consent, they so soon as Napoleon observed that his threats had three were determlined thenlselves to put him to produced no effect, he submitted with his usual death, rather than lie should so far degrade himself. equanimity. He also gave orders to deliver up his Captain Maitland, in reply, gave some hints indi- arms. His baggage was likewise subjected to a cative of the gallows, in case such a scheme were form of search, but without unpacking or disturbing prosecuted. any article. The treasure of Bonaparte, amounting Savary and Lallemand were, it must be owned, only to 4000 gold Napoleons, was taken into custody, under circumstances peculiarly painful. They had to abridge him of that powerful means of effecting been among the list of persons excluded from the his escape. Full receipts, of course, were given, aninesty by the royal government of France, and rendering the British government accountable for now they were prohibited by the British ministry the same; and Marchand, the favourite valet-defirom accompanying Napoleon to St Ieleena. They clambre of the emperor, was permitted to take entertained, not minaturally, tile greatest anxiety mhatever money he thought might be immediately about their fate, apprehensive, thoughll entirely with- necessary. out reason, that they might be delivered ulp to the About eleven o'clock on the morning of the 7th Filench goverlinent. They resolved uipon personal August, Lord Keith came in his barge to transfer resistance to prevent their being separate(l from their emuperor, but flmrtunlately were so considerate * See Appendix, No. 9 —" Bonaparte's protet." i748 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Napoleon from the Bellerophon to the Northumber- passed, and disregarded other particulars of etiland. About one o'clock, when Bonaparte had an- quette observed towards crowned heads; yet stiuch nounced that he was in full readiness, a captain's circumnstances only occasioned a little temporary guard was turned out; Lord Keith's barge was coldness, which, as the admiral paid no attention to prepar-ed; and as Napoleon crossed the quarter- his guests' displeasure, soon gave way to a French. deck, the soldiers presented arms under three ruffles man's natural love of society; and Sir George of the drum, being the salute paid to a general officer. Cockburn (ceasinlg to be the Requin, as Las Cases His step was firm and steady; his farewell to Cap- says the French termed him when they were in the tain Maitland polite and friendly. That officer had pet) became that mixture of the obliging gentleman no doubt something to forgive to Napoleon, who had and strict officer for which Napoleon held him endeavoured to fix on him the stignla of having laid whenever he spoke candidly on the subject. a snare for him; yet the candid and manly avowal It may be mentioned as no had instance of this of the feelings which remained on his mind at parting line of conduct, and its effects, that, upon the Norwith him ought not to he suppressed. They add thumberland crossing the line, the emperor desiring credit, were that required, to his plain, honest, to exhibit his munificence to the seamen, by presentunvarnished narrative. ing them with a hundred louis-d'or, under pretext of " It may appear surprising, that a possibility could paying the ordinary fine, Sir George Cockburn conexist of a British officer being prejudiced in favour sidering this tribute to Neptune as too excessive in of one who had caused so many calamities to his amount, would not permit the donatise to exceed a country; but to such an extent did he possess the tenth part of the suim; and Napoleon, oflended by power of pleasing, that there are few people who the restriction, paid nothing at all. Upon another could have sat at the same table with him for nearly occasion, early in the voyage, a difference in naa month, as I did, without feeling a sensation of pity, tional manners gave rise to one of those slight rnisallied perhaps to regret, that a man possessed of so understandings which we have noticed. Napoleon many fascinating qualities, and who had held so high was accustomed, like all Frenchmen, to leave the a station in life, should be reduced to the situation table immediately after dinner, and Sir George in which I saw him." Cockburn, with the English officers, remained after Napoleon was received on board of the Northum- him at table; fobr, in permitting his French guests berland with the same honours paid at leaving the their liberty, the admiral did not chase to admit the Bellerophoen. Sir George Cockburn, the British ad- right of Napoleon to break up the party at his, Sir mirm to whiose charge the late emperor was now George's, own table. This gave some discontent.? coamtftted, was in every respect a person highly Notwithsanding these trilling slbjects ofdissatisfacqualified to discharge the task with delicacy towards tion, Las Cases informs us that the admiral, whom Napoleon, yet with fidelity to the instructions he he took to be prepossessed against them at first, had received. Of good birth, accustomed to the became, every day nore amicable. The emperor first society, a handsome person, and an agreeable used to take his arm every evening on the quarteraddress, lie had yet so much of the firmness of his deck, and hold long conversations with him upon profession as to be able to do lnpleasing things nlaritir.e subjects, as well as past events in gewhen necessary. In every particular within the neral. t circle of his orders, lie was kind, gentle, and accom- While on board the Northumberland, the late modating; beyond them, he was inflexible. This emperor spent his mornings in reading or writing; mixture of courtesy arid firmness was particularly his evenings in his exercise upon deck, and at cards. necessary, since Napoleon, and still more his at- The game was generally vinygt-zn. But when the tendants on his behalf, were desirous upon several play became rather deep, he discouraged that occasions to arrogate a degree of royal rank for the amusement, and substituted chess. Great tactician prisoner, which Sir George Cockburn's instructions, as he was, Napoleon did not play well at that milifor reasons to be hereafter noticed, positively for- tary game, and it was with difficulty that his antabade himn to concede. All that he could give, he gonist, Montholon, could avoid the solecism of gave with a readiness which showed kindness as beating the emperor. well as courtesy; but aware that, beyond the fixed Duling this voyage, Napoleon's jozr de fete limiut, each admnitted claim would only form the occurred, which was also his birthday. It was foundation for another, he made his French guests the 15th August; a day for which the pope had exsensible that ill-humour or anger could have no ef- pressly canonized a St Napoleon to be thle enipefect upoun his conduct. ror's patron. And now, strange revolution, it was The consequence was, that though Napoleon, celebrated by him on board of an English man-ofwhen transferred to the Northumberland, was, by the orders of the admiralty, deprived of certain Las Cases, Mliorial de Ste-HMlse, vol. I, p. 135, gives marks of deference which he received on board of somewhat a different account of this trifling matter, which the Bellerophon (where Captain Alaitland had no appears to have been a misunderstanding. Las Cases supprecise orders on the subject, and the withholding poses the admiral to have been offended at Napoleon's of which in him would have been a gratluitolus in- rising, whereas Sir George Cockburn was only desirous to hictionh of humiliation), yet Do positive quartrel, far show that he did not conceive himself obliged to break up fliction of humiliation), yet no positive quarrel, far the party because lil French guests withdrew. It seems, less any rooted ill-will, took place betwixt Napoleon however, to have dwelt on Napoleon's mind, and was always and the admiral. The latter remnained at the prin- quoted when he desired to express dissatisfaction with the cipal place of his own table, was covered when on admiral. the quarter-deck, after the first salutations had t Mmnsorial de Ste-Hilnie, vol. L p. 193. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 79ig war, which was conducting him to his place of least entitled to security of life, by his surrender to imprisonment, and, as it proved, his tomb. Yet Na- the British flag. poleon seemed cheerful and contented during the As needless would it be to go over the firequaetly whole day, and was even pleased with being for- repeated ground, which proves so clearly that in tunate at play, which he received as a good omen. other respects the transaction with Captain Maitland Upon the 15th of October, 1815, the Northum- amounted to an unconditional surrender. Napoleon berland reached St Helena, which presents but an had considered every plan of escape by force or unpromising aspect to those who design it for a address, and none had seemed to him to present residence, though it may be a welcome sight to the such chance of a favourable result, as that which sea-worn mariner. Its destined inhabitant, from upon fill consideration he adopted. A surrendeer to the deck of the Northumberland, surveyed it with England insured his life, and gave him the hope ol his spy-glass. St James' Town, an inconsiderable taking further advantages from the generosity of the village, was before him, enchased, as it were, in a British nation; for an unconditional surrender, as it valley, amid arid and scarped rocks of immense secures nothing, so it excludes nothing. General height; every platform, every opening, every gorge, Bertrand, when on board the Northumberland, said was bristled with cannon. Las Cases, who stood by that Napoleon had been much influenced in taking him, could not perceive the slightest alteration of the step he had done by the Abb6 Siryes, who had his countenance. The orders of government had strongly advised him to proceed at once to England, been, that Napoleon should remain on board till a in preference to taking any other course, which proves residence could be prepared suitable for the line of that his resolution must of course have been formed life he was to lead in future. Bat as this was likely long before he ever saw Captain Maitland. Even to be a work of time, Sir George Cockburn readily Monsieur Las Cases, when closely examined, comes undertook, on his own responsibility, to put his pas- to the same result; for he admits that he never hoped sengers on shore, and provide in some way for the that Napoleon would be considered as a free man, security of Napoleon's person, until the necessary or receive passports for America; but only that he habitation should be fitted up. fie was accordingly would be kept in custody under milder restrictions transferred to land upon the 16th October; and thus than were inflicted upon him. But as he nmade no the Emperor of France, nay well nigh of Europe, stipulation of any kind concerning the nature of these sunk into the Recluse of St Helena. restrictions, they must of course have been left to the option of the conquering party. The question, CHAPTER CXI. therefore, betwixt Napoleon and the British nation, was not one of justice, which has a right to its due, Causes which justify the English government in the mea- though the consequence should be destruction to sure of Napoleon's banishmeLnt-He was a prisoner of the party by which it is to be rendered, but one of war, and had already shown, by breach of the treaty of generosity and clemency, feelings which can only be Fontainebleau, that no confidence could be reposed in wisely indulged with reference to the safety of those hint. —The government was eveut censuredfor not taking who act upon them. stronger precautions to prevent his escape from Elba. Napoleon being thus a prisoner, surrendered at -Napoleon's wish to retire to England, in order that discretion, became subjected to the common laws of being near France, he might again interfere in her af- war, which authorize belligerent powers to shut tip fairs.-Reasons for withholding from him the title of prisoners of war in Ilaces of confinement, from emperor.-Advantages of St Helena, as a place of ba- Which it is only usual to except such whose honour nishment.-Sir George Cockburn's instructions for the treatment of Napoleon.-Lo7ywoodflxed on as the place may be accounted as a sufficient guarantee for their of residence of the ex-emperor.-Temporary accommo- good faith, or whose power of doing injury is so small dation prepared for hint at Briars. —He removes'to that it might be accounted contemptible. But BonaLongwood.-Precautions taken for the safe custody of parte was neither in the one situation nor the other, the prisoner.-Regulations concerning the vessels per- His power was great, the temptation to use it po-wermitted to enter the harbour. ful, and the confidence to be placed in his resolution or promise to resist such temptation, very slight indeed. WE are now to touch upon the arguments whlich There is an unautlhorized report that Lord Castleseem to justify the administration of Eingland in the reagh, at the time of the treaty of Fontainebleau, strict course which they adopted towards Napoleon asked Caulaincourt, why Napoleon did not chuse to Bonaparte, in restraining his person, and abating the ask refuge in England, rather than accept the almost privileges of rank which lie tenaciously claimed. ridiculous title of Emperor of Elba. WVe doubt And here we are led to observe the change produced much if Lord Castlereagh said so. But if, either in men's feelings within the space of only twelve tipon such a hint, or upon his own free motion, Nayears. In 1816, when the present author, however poleon had chosen, in 1814, to repose his confidence inadequate to the task, attempted to treat of the in the British nation, or even had he fallen into our same subject, there existed a considerable party in hamnds by chance of war, England ought certainly, Britain who were of opinion that the British govern- on so extraordinary an occasion, to have behaved ment wvotld best have discharged their duty to with magnanimity; and perhaps ought either to have France and Europe, by delivering up Napoleon to permitted Napoleoni to reside as an individual within Louis XVIII.'s government, to be treated as he him- her dominions, or suffered him to have departed to self had treated the Duke d'Enghien. It would he America. It might then have been urged (though at this time of day needless to throw away argumnent cautious persons might even then hesitate), that the upon this subject, or to show that Napoleon was at pledged word of a soldier, who had been so lately a 759 Lr oLIFE OP NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. sovereign, ought to be received as a guarantee forhis by escaping from England, yet were received in the observance of treaty. Nay, it might then have been Tuileries with favour and preferments. Neither held, that the talents and activity of a single indi- have we alluded to the great state maxim, whichl vidual, supposing them as great as human powers erected political necessity, or expediency, into a can be carried, would not have enabled him, how- power superior to moral law. WVere Britain to vinever desirous, to have again disturbed the peace of dicate her actions by such instances as the above, Europe. There would have been a natural desire, it would be reversing the blessed rule, acting totherefore, to grant so remarkable a person that li- wards our enemy, not according as we woauld have berty, which a generous nation might have been desired he should have done, but as be actually had willing to conceive would not, and could not, be done in regard to us, and observing a crooked and abused. But the experiment of Elba gave too ample criminal line of policy, because our adversary had proof atonce how little reliance was to be placed set us the example. in Napoleon's engagement, and how much danger But Bonaparte's former actions must necessarily was to be apprehended firom him, even when his have been considered, so far as to ascertain what fortunes were apparently at the lowest ebb. His confidence was to be reposed in his personal chabreach of the treaty of Fontainebleau altered en- racter; and if that was'found marked by gross intirely his relations with England and with Europe; stances of breach of faith to others, ministers would and placed him in the condition of one whose word surely have been inexcusable had they placed him could not be trusted, and whose personal freedom in a situation where his fidelity was what the nation was inconsistent with the liberties of Europe. The had principally to depend on for tranquillity. The experiment of trusting to his parole had been tried fact seems to be admitted by Las Cases, that while:and failed. The wise may be deceived once; only he proposed to retire to England, it was with the fools are twice cheated in the same manner. hope of again meddling in French afflirs.* The It may be pleaded and admitted for Napoleon, example of Sir Niel Campbell had shown how little that he had, to instigate his returning from Elba, as restraint the mere presence of a commissioner would strong a temptation as earth could hold out to an have had over this extraordinary sman; and his ambitious spirit like his own,-the prospect of an resurrection after leaving Elba, had distinctly deextraordinary enterprise, with the imperial throne monstrated that nothing was to be trusted to the for its reward. It may be also allowed, that the second political death which he proposed to subBourbons, delaying to pay his stipulated revenue, af- mit to as a recluse in England. forded him, so far as they were concerned, a cer- It has, however, been urged, that if the character tain degree of provocation. But all this would argue of the times and his own rendered it an act of stern against his being again trusted within the reach of necessity to take from Napoleon his personal freesuch temptation. While France was in a state of dom, his captivity ought to have been at least acsuch turmoil and vexation, with the remains of a companied with all marks of honourable distinction; disaffected army fermenting amid a fickle population, and that it was unnecessarily cruel to hurt the -while the king (in order to make good his stipu- feelings of his followers and his own, by refulsing tated payments to the,allies) was obliged to impose him the imperial title and personal observances, heavy taxes, and to raise them with some severity, which he had enjoyed in his prosperity, and of wlh ich mnany opportunities might arise, in which Napoleon, he was tenacious in adversity. either complaining of some petty injuries of his own, It will be agreed on all hands, that if anything or invited by the discontented state of the French ntation, might renew his memorable attempt of 28th * This, to be sure, according to Las Cases, was only in February. It was the business of the British mi- order to carry through those great schemes of estalulishilog I nlistry to prevent all hazard of this. It was but on the peace, the honour, and the union of the country. He the 20th April before, that they were called upon by had hoped to the last, it seems, in the critical moment, I the opposition to account to the House of Commons "That, at the sight of the public danger, the eyes of the for not taking proper precautions to prevent Bona- people of France would be opened; {hat they would re-, rte's escape fronn Elba. For what then would turln to him, and enable him to save the country of France. they have rendered themselves respwtnsibhe had.It was this which made hin prolong the time at Mahnalison-it was this which' induced him to tarry yet longer at tihey placed him in circumstances w~hich admitted of Rochefort. If he is now at St Helena, lie owes it to that a second escape?-at least for the fiull extent of all sentiment. It is a train of thought from which he could the confusion and bloodshed to which such an event never be separated. Yet more lately, when the-e was no muast necessarily have given rise.'he justice, as other resource than to accept the hospitality of the Bellewell as the necessity of the case, warranted the rophon, perhaps it was not without a species of satisfaction abridgment of Bonaparte's liberty, the extent of that he found himself irresistibly drawn on by the course of whi.ach had been made, by his surrender, udependent events towards England, since being there was being near upon the will of Britain. France. He ]knew well that he would not be free, but he In dedacing this conclusion, we have avoided hoped to make his opinion heard; and then )how many having any recourse to the argument ad 1honzisnem. chances would open themselves to the new direction which he wished to inspire" —iMrtorial dte Ste-tItlene, vol 1II, We have not mentioned the dungeon of Teossaint, he e not mentioned A the d eungeon offoussaint, pp. 444-5. We cannot understand the meaning of this, nnon tuhe frontier of the Alps, or the detention of Fer- less it implies that Napoleon, while retiring into England, dinand, a confiding and circumnvetnted ally, in the on condition of abstaining from politics, entertained hopes Chateau of Valencey. We have not adverted to of regaining his ascendancy in French affairs, by and the instances of honours and appointments bestowed through the influence which he expected to exercise over |o officers who had broken their parole of honlour, those of Britain. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. could have been done consistent with the main George Cockburn proceeded on his arrival to arexigencies of the case, to save Napoleon, in his range this upon the system recommended by his unfortunate situation, a single pang, that measure final instructions, which run thus: should have been resorted to. But there could he " In committing so important a trust to British no reason why Britain, in compassionate courtesy, officers, the Prince Regent is sensible that it is not should give to her prisoner a title which she had necessary to impress upon them his anxious desire refuised to him de jure, even while he wielded the that no greater measure of severity with respect to empire of France de facto; and there were argu- confinement or restriction be imposed, than what ments, to be hereafter stated, which weighed power- is deemed necessary for the faithful discharge of fully against granting such an indulgence. that duty, which the admiral, as well as the GoThe place of Napoleon's confinement, also, has vernor of St Helena must ever keep in mind,-the been the subject of severe censure; but the question is perfect security of General Bonaparte's person. entirely dependent upon the right of confining him at'Whatever, consistent with this great object, can be all. If that is denied, there needs no further argu- allowed in the shape of indulgence, his royal highment; for a place of confinement, to be effectual, ness is confident will be willingly shown to the must connect several circumstances of safety and general; and he relies on Sir George Cockburn's seclusion, each in its degree aggravating the suffer- known zeal and energy of character, that he will ings of the person confined, and inflicting pain which not allow himself to be betrayed into any improviouht only to be the portion of a legal prisoner. dent relaxation of his duty."' But if it be granted, that a person so formidable as It was in the spirit of these instructions that Sir Napoleon should be debarred from the power of George Cockburn acted, in selecting a place of remaking a second avatar on the earth, there is per- sidence for his important prisoner, while, at the haps no place in the world where so ample a degree same time, he consulted Napoleon's wishes as of' security could have been reconciled with the much as the case could possibly admit. same degree of personal freedom to the captive, as The accommodation upon the island was by no St Helena. means such as could be desired in the circumThe healthfllness of the climate of that island will stances. There were only three houses of a public he best proved by the contents of a report annexed character, which were in any degree adapted for to a return made on 20th March, 1820, by Dr Tho- such a guest. Two, the town residences of the mas Shortt, physician to the forces; from which it governor and lieutenant-governor of the island, appears, that among the troops then stationed in St were unfit for the habitation of Napoleon, because Helena, constantly employed in ordinary or on fa- they were within James Town, a situation which, tigne duty, and always exposed to the atmosphere, for obvious reasons, was not advisable. The third the proportion of sick was only as one man to thirty, was Plantation House, a villa in the country, beeven including casualties, and those sent to the longing to the governor, which was the best dwellhospital after punishment. This extraordinary de- ing in the island. The British administration had gree of health, superior to that of most places in the prohibited the selection of this house for the residworld, Dr Shortt imptltes to the circumstance of the ence of the late imperial captive. WeA differ from island being placed in the way of the trade winds, their opinion in this particular, because the very where the continued steady breeze carries off the best accommodation was due to fallen greatness; superfluous heat, and with it such effluvia noxious to and, in his circumstances, Napoleon, with every the human constitution, as it may have generated. respect to the authority of the governor, ought to The same cause, bringing with it a succession of have been the last person on the island subjected vapours from the ocean, affords a cloudy curtain to to inconvenience. We have little doubt that it intercept the sun's rays, and prevents the occurrence would have been so arranged, but for the disposiof those violent and rapid forms of disease, which tion of the late French emperor and his followers present themselves throughout the tropics in general. to use every point of deference, or complaisance,. Checked perspiration is noticed as an occasional exercised towards them, as an argument for pushcause of disease, but which, if properly treated, is ing their pretensions farther. Thus, the civility only fatal to those whose constitutions have been shown by Admiral HIotham and Captain Maitland, previously exhausted by long residence in a hot in manning the yards as Napoleon passed fron one climate. It should also be observed, that the cli- vessel to the other, was pleaded upon as a proof mate of the island is rerlarkably steady, not varying that his free and regal condition was acknowledged upon an average more than nine or ten degrees in by these officers; and, no doubt, the assigning, for the course of the year; which equality of tempe- his use the best house in the island might, accorldrature is another great cause of the general health- ing to the same mode of logic, have been assumeed filness.? The atmosphere is warm, indeed; but as to imply that Napoleon had no superior in St tIeNapoleon was himself horn in a hot climate, and lena. Still there were means of repelling this spiwas stated to be afraid of the cold even of Britain, rit of encroachment, if it had shown itselfi and we that could hardly in his case be considered as a think it would have been better to risk the consedisadvantageous circumstance. qnences indicated, and to have assigned Plantation In respect to Napoleon's personal treatment, Sir House for his residence, as that which was at least * See Appendix, No. 10- "State of thermometer, as the best accommodation which the island afforded. taken at Deadwood, Island of St Helena, during 12 calen- * Extract of a dispatch from Earl Bathurst, addressed dar months, viz. from Ist Sept., 1820, to 31st Aug., 1821, to the lords commissioners of the admiralty, dated 30th inclusive.* July, t815. 7h52 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Some circumstances about the locality, it is be- from the house.,Of course, his freedom, unless lie ved, had excited doubts whether the house could when accompanied by a British field-officer, was be completely gularded. But this, at any rate, was limited to the small garden of the cottage, the rest a question which had been considered at home, of the precincts beiug watched by sentinels. Sir where, perhaps, the actual state of the island was George Cockburn felt for the situation of his priless perfectly understood; and Sir George Cock- soner, and endeavoured to hurry forward the imburn, fettered by his instructions, had no choice in provements at Longwood, in order tihat Napoleon the lmatter. might remove thither. He employed for this parBesides Plantation House, there was another re- pose the ship-carpenters of the squadron, and all sidence situiated in the country, and occupied by the artificers the island could afford; "and Longthe lieutenanlt-governor, called Longwood, which, wood," says Dr O'Meara, " for nearly two months, after all the dliferent estates and residences in the exhibited as busy a scene as had ever been witnessed island had been examined, was chosen by Sir during the war in any of' his majesty's dock-yards, George Cockburn as the futtare residenIce of Na- whilst a fleet was fittinlg out under the personal poleon. It lies detached from the generally-inha- direction of some of our best naval commanders. bited places of the island, consequently none were The admiral, indefatigable in his exertions, was frelikely to frequlent its neighbourhood, unless those quently seen to arrive at Longwood shortly after who came there on business. It was also distant sumlise, stimulating by his presence the St Helena fiomn tlhose points which were most accessible to workmen, who, in general lazy and indolent, beheld boats, which, until they should be sufficiently de- with astonishment the dispatch and activity of a fended, it was not desirable to expose to the obser- man-of-war succeed to the characteristic idleness, vation of Napoleon or his military companions. At which until then they had been accustomed both to Longwood, too, there was an extent of level witness and practise." ground, capable of being observed and secured by During the ex-emperor's residence at Briars, he sentinels, presenting a space adapted for exercise, remained much secluded from society, spent his whether on horseback or in a carriage; and the si- mornings in the garden, and in the evening played tulation, being high, was Inore cool than the con- at whist for sugar-plums, with Mr Balcombe, the fined valleys of the neighbourhood. The house it- proprietor, and the members of his fiamily. The self was equal in accommlodation (though that is not Count Las Cases, who seems, among those of his saying much) to any on the island, Plantation House retinue, to have possessed the most various and exexcepted. tensive information, was naturally selected as the To conclude, it was approved of by Napoleon, chief, if not the only companion of his studies and who visited it personally, and expressed himself so recreations in the morning. On such occasions he much satisfied, that it was difficult to prevail on was usually gentle, accessible, and captivating in him to leave the place. Ilmediate preparations his manners. were therefore made, for making such additions as The exertions of Sir Ge)rge Cockburn, struggling should render the residence, if not such a one as with every difficulty which want of building-matecould he wished, at least as commodious as the cir- rials, means of transport, and everything which curnstances admitted. - Indeed it was hoped, by as- facilitates such operations, could )ossibly interpose, sistance of artificers and frames to be sent from at length enabled him to acconl)iisil the translnutaEnigland, to improve it to any extent required. In tion of Longwood into such a dwelling-house, as, the meanwhile, until the repairs immediately ne- though it was far below the former digaity of its cessary could be niade at Longwood, General Ber- possessor, might sufficiently accommodate a captive trand, and the rest of Napoleon's suite, were quar- of thle rank at which Napoleon was rated by the tered in a firnished house in Janles' Town, while he British government.+ himself, at his own request, took up his abode ait On the 9th December, Longwood received NaBriars, a snlmll house, or cottage, roimantically si- poleon and part of his household; t the Coun.t and tasted, a little way from the town, in which lie Countess of Moiotholon and their chlildren; the could only have one spare roomn for his own accom- Couint Las Cases and his son. General Goargaud, modation. Sir George Cockburn would have per- Doctor O'Meara, who had been received as his suaded himr rather to take up his temporary abode medical attendant, and such other of Napoleon's in the town, where the best house in the place was attendants as could not he lodgedl within the house, provided for him. Napoleon declined this proposal, were, for the timle, accommodated with tents; and pleading his natrmal aversion to expose himself to the Count and Countess Bertrand were lodged in a the public gaze. Besides the solitude, the pleasing small cottage at a place called Hlt's-gate, jlust on landscape, agreeable especially to those whose per- the verge of what might be called the privileged sons have been lately confined to a ship, and whose grounds of Longwood, whilst a new house was eyes have long wandered over the waste of ocean, determined the ex-emperor in favour of Briars. * The suite of apartments destined for his own peculiar Whilst dwelling at Briars, Napoleon limited him- use consisted of a saloon, an eeting-room, a library, a self more than was necessary; for, taking exception small study, and a sleeping apartment. This;ias a strange at tihe senltinels, who were visible from the windows contrast with the palaces which Napoleon hadl lately of the houlse,;nd objectinlg more reasonably to the inhabited; but it was preferable, in the same proparresort ofl visitorls, he sequtlestered himiself in a small lion, to the Tower of the Temple, and thle dungeon. of Vincennes. pavilim)n, commeastibg of fone good room, and two sminall cne t See Appenudix, No. I l- Memorandum of the Establislh. attic opimt' c;-;e:, which stootl about twenty yards msent at Longwood.* LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 553 building for their reception. Upon the whole, as it the entrance of the house double sentinels were is scarcely denied, on thcb one hand, that every placed, and patrols were continually passing backeffort was made to render.Longwood House as i ard and forward. After nine, Napoleon was not cormmodious for the prisoner as time and means Iat liberty to leave the house, unless in company could possibly permit; so, on the other, it must in with a field-officer; and no person whatever was fairness be considered, that the delay, however allowed to pass without the counter-sign. This inevitable, must have been painfilly felt by the ex- state of aflairs continued until day-light in the emperor, confined to his hut at Briars; and that morning. Every landing-place in the island, and, the house at Longwood, when finished as well as indeed, every place which presented the semblance it could be in the circumstances, was far inferior! of one, was fuirnished with a picket, and sentinels in accommodation to that which every English- were even placed upon every goat-path leading man would have desired that the distingnished to the sea; though in truth the obstacles presented prisoner should have enjoyed whilst in English by nature, in almost all the paths in that direction. ctisto(ly. would, of' thernselves, have proved insurmotuntable It had been proposed to remedy the deficiencies to so unwieldy a person as Napoleon." of Longwood by constructing a habitation of wood The precautions taken by Sir George Cockburn, upon a suitable scale, and sending it out in pieces to avail himself of the natural character and pecufrom England, to be put together on tile sijot; the liarities ofthe island, and to prevent the possibility only mode, as the island can scarce be said to of its new inhabitant making his escape by sea, aflbrd any building materials, by swhich the desired were so strict, as, even without the assistance of a object of Napoleoin's fitting accommodation could, i more immediate guard upon his person, seemed to it,was thought, be duly attained. Circumnstances, I exclude the possibility, not only of an escape, but however, prevented this plan fiom being attempted even an attempt to commuinicate with the prisoners:o be carried into execation for several rrmonths; fuonm the sea-coast. and a series of unhappy disputes betwixt the go- "Froni the various signal-posts on the island," vernor and his prisoner added years of delay; which continues the account of 1)r O'Meara, "ships are leads us again to express our regret that Plantation firequently discovered at twenty-four leagues' disHouse had not been at once assigned to Napoleon tance, and always long before they can approach for his residence. the shore. Two ships of war continually cruized, We have already said, that around the house of one to windward, and the other to leeward, to Longwo.od lay the largest extent of open ground in whom signals were made as soon as a vessel was the neighbourhood, fit for exercise either on foot or discovered from the posts on shore. Every shlp, upon horseback. A space of twelve miles in cir- except a British man-of war, was accompanied down ctmference was traced off, within which Napoleon to the road by one of the cruizers, who renmained m;ght take exercise without being attended by any with her until she was either permitted to anchor, one. A chain of sentinels surrounded this domain or was sent away. No fioreign vessels were allowto prevent his passing, unless accompanied by a ed to anchor, unless under circumstances of great British officer. If he inclined to extend his exctr- distress; in which case, no person from them was sions, lie tight go to any part of the island, pro- permitted to land, and an officer and party from viding the ofticer was in attendance, and near enough one of the ships of war was sent on board to take to observe his motions. Such an orderly officer was charge of them as long as they remained, as well always in readiness to attend him when required. as in order to prevent any improper conlmunication. Within the limited space alhready mentioned, there Every fishing-boat belonging to the island was numwere two camps, that of the 53d reginlent at Dead- bered, and anchored every evening at sunset, under wood, about a mile firom Longwood; another at the superintendence ofalieutenant in the navy. No ltut's gate, where an officer's guard was mounted, boats, excepting guard-boats from the ships of war, that being the principal access to Longwood. which pulled about the island all night, were allowWe are now to consider the means resorted to ed to be down after sunset. The orderly officer was for the safe custody of this iniportant prisoner. The also instructed to ascertain the actual presence of I old poet has said, that "every island is a prison;" Napoleon, twice in thle twenty-four hours, which bult, in point of difficulty of escape, there is none was done with as much delicacy as possible. In fact, which can compare with St Helena; which was no every human precaution to pievent escape, short doubt the chief reason for its being selected as the of actually incarcerating or enchaining him, was place of Napoleon's detention. adopted by Sir George Cockburn." Dr O'Meara, no fiiendly witness, informs us that the guards, with attention at once to Napoleon's feelings, and the security of his person, were posted CHAPTER CXII. in the fiollowing manner:-" A subaltermi's gruard was posted at the entrance Bonaparte's alleged grievances conusidered.- Right of sif xngood aOllt six hundr'ed paces from the Great Britain to restrict his liberty.-Propriety of with-,of Longwood, abouit' ix. undred paces. rn the.holding the title of emperor.- The right of ilmspecting house, and a cordon of sentinels and pickets was his correspondemce might have been dispensed with.placed rouLnd thle limits. At nine o'clock the senplaced round tie limits. At nine o'clock the sen-.. Regulation that a British orderly officer should see Natinels were drawnl in and stationed in communication poleon at certain times in the day-its izmportance.with each otlier. surrounding the house in such Limits allowed Napoleon for his walks and rides.pos tions, tllat no person could come in or go out Complaints -urged by Las Cases against Sir George without being seen and scrutinized by them. At Cockburn. —Measures adopted by the European powers vo.. vi. 95 751 LIFE OF NAIPOLEON BONAPARTE. to secure Napoleon's safe custody.-Sir Huudson Lowe riously anticipateed a reception very different from:l appointed Governor of St Helena —his qualifications what he experienced; at least lie testified little or Jfor the office considered.-Istformation given by General no surprise when infornmed of his destiny. Iait, at Goulrygad to governlment.-Agitation Qf various plans any rate, lie was a prisoner of war, havinlg acquired fur Bonaparte's escape.- Writers on the subject ol Na- by his surrender no right save to claim safety of life pcleon's residence at St Heiena.-Natuoleon's, irritating i treatnet of Sir Huadoo Lowe.- Intervews beiweeiirl~ and limb. If the English nation had inveigled Natreatment of Sir Hudson Lowe. - Interviews' betweenp thenm. poleon into a capitalation, untler colndlitiolns xlicb they had subsequently broken, le Nwould have been in the condition of Toussaint, whoni, nevertheless, HITHERTO, as we have prosecuted our task, each he immurled in a dungeon. Or, if lhe had been inyear has been a history which we have found it dif- vited to visit the Prince Regernt of England in the ficIlt to contain within thelimits we had prescribed character of an ally, had been at fi.st received with to ourselves; remaining besides conscious, that, in courteous hospitality, and tllenl commnitted to collnthe necessary compression, we have been obliged to finement as a prisoner, his case would hIave apdto injustice to the importance of our theme. But proached that of Prince Ferdinand (of Spain, trethe years of imprisonment which pass so much more panned to Bayonne. But we should be asham ed to slowly to the captive, occupy, with their melan- vindicate our country by quoting the evil example of choly monotony, only a small portion of the page of our enemy. Truth and Falsehood remnain inammutable history; arid the tale of five years of St Helena and irreconcilable; and the worst criminal ought not mlight, so far as events are concerned, be sooner to be proceeded against according to his own extold than the history of a single campaign, the short- ample, but according to the general rules of justice. est which was fought under Bonaparte's auspices. Nevertheless, it greatly diminishes outr interest ill a Yet these years were painfully marked, and indeed complaint, if le who prefers it has himself been in embittered, by a train of irritating disputes betwixt the habit of meting to others with the same unlftir the prisoner and the officer to whoml was committed weight and measure, which he coimplains of when the important, and yet most delicate, task of re- used towards himself. straining his liberty, and cutting off all prospect of Napoleon, therefore, being a prisoner of war, and escape, and whose duty it was, at the same time, to be disposed of as such (a point which adnits of no to mix the necessary degree of vigilance with as dispute), we have, we conceive, further proved, mnuch courtesy, and, we will add, kindness, as that his residence within the territories (of Great Napoleon could be prevailed on to accept. Britain was what (ould hardly take place consisWe have had considerable opportunity to collect tently with the safety of Europe. To have deliveriinformation on this subject, the correspondence of ed him lup to any of the other allied powers, whose Sir Hudson Lowe with his majesty's governnient government was of a character similar to his own, havingbeenopened toourresearches by the liberality would certainly have been highly objectionable; of Lord Bathurst, late secretary of state for the co- sinlce in doing so Britain would have so flar broken lonial department. This communication has enabled faith with him, as to part with the power (of protectus to speak with confidence respecting the general ing his personal safety, to which extent the coulntry principles by which the British government were to which lie surrendered himself stood undeniiably gulided in their instructions to Sir Hudson Lowe, pledged. It only remained to keep this imnportant and the tenor of these instructions themselves. We prisoner in sulch a sfate of restraint, as to insure his therefore propose to discuss, in the first place, the not having the means of making a second escape, alleged grievances of Napoleon, as they arose out and again involving France and Europe in a bloody of the instructions of the British government; re- and doUbtfill war. St Helena wvas selected as the serving, as a second subject of discussion, the farther place of his detention, and, we think, with imuch complaints of the aggravated mode in which these propriety; since the nlature of that seqeestered island instructions are alleged to have been executed by afforded the means for the greatest certainlty of sethe Governor of St Helena. On the latter subject ciirity, wvith the least restriction on the personal our information is less perfect, from the distance of liberty of the distiniguished prisoner. WVaves and Sir Hudson Lowe from Europe precluding personal rocks aro'und its shores afliorded the security of inqairy, and the inipossibility of producing impartial walls, ditches, bars', and bolts, in a citadel; alid evidence on the subject of along train of minute and his hiours of exercise mnight be safely extended petty incidents, each of which necessasrily demands over a space of many miles, inlstead of being reinvestigationm, and is the subject of inculpation and strained within the narrow and guarded limiits of defence. WVe have, however, the means of saying a fortress. something upon this subject also. The right of imprisorning Napoleon being conWe have already discassed the circumstances of ceded, or at least proved, and the selection of St Napoleon's surlrender to the British without reserve, Helena, as his place of residence, beiing vindicated, qialification, or condition of any kind; and we have we have no hesitation in avowing the principle, that seen, that if he sustained any disappointment in everything possible ought to have been done to albeing detained a prisoner, instead of being consider- leviate the painful feelings, to which, in every p,,int ed as a guest, or free inmate of Britain, it arose of view, a person so distinguishield as Napoleon from the failure of hopes which he had adopted on must have been subjected, by so heavy a change of his own calculationl, without the slightest encou- fortune. We would not, at that moment, have reragemlent from Captain Maitland. We doubt greatly, mrembered the lives lost, fortunes destroyed, and indeed, if his most sanguine expectations ever se- hopes blighted, of so many hundreds of our cnountry LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 755 men, civilians traveling in France, and detained andi in relation to the government from whom it was there against every rule of civilized war; nor have claimed. thought ourselves entitled to avenge upon Napoleon, Napoleon, it cannot be denied, had been not only in his nlisfortunes, the cruel inflictions, which his an emperor, but perhaps the most powelful that has policy, if not his inclination, prompted him to awYard ever existed; and he had been acknowledg ed as against others. WYVe would not have made his dun. such by all the continental s(overeigns. But he had geon so wretched, as that of tile unhappy Negro been compelled, in 1814, to lay aside and abdicate chief, starved to death amidst the Alpine snows. the empire of France, and to receive in exchange TWe wvoldl not have surrounded him, while a pri- the title of Emperor of Elba. His breach of the soner, with spiesi as in the case of the Earl of Elgin; treaty of Paris was in essence a renunciation of the or, as in that of Prince Ferdinand, have spread a empire of Elba; and the reassumption of that of trap for himn by means of an' emissary like the false France was so far from being admitted by the allies, Baron KIlij whoj in protffeing to assist his escape, that he was declared an outlaw by the congress at should have had it for an object to obtain a pretence Vienna. Indeed, if this second occ.upation of the for treating him more harshly. These things we French throne were even to be admitted, as in any would not then have remeieib;ed; or, if we could respect re-establishing his forfeited claim to the not ballish them from our recollection, in considering imperial dignity, it must he remembered that he how far filaud and ignoble violence can debase ge- himself a second time abdicated, and formally renils, and render power odious, we would have nounced a second time the dignity he had in an nnremenibered them aus examples, not to be followed, happy hour reassumed. But if Napoleon had nojust but shunned. To prevent the prisoner from resum- pretension to the imperial title or honours after his ing a'power which he had used so fatally, we would second abdication, even from those who had before have regarded as a duty not to Biitain alone, but to acknowledged him as Emperor of Franc e, still less Europe and to the world. To accompany his'deten- bad he any right to a title which he had laid downl tion with every alleviation which attention to his from a nation who had never acquiesced in his safe custody'would permit, was a debt due, if not taking it up. At no time lhad Great Britain recogto his personal deserts, at least to our own noble- nized him as Emperor of' France; and Lord Casness. W-ith such feelings upon the subject in gene- tlereagh had expressly declined to accede to the ral, we proceed to consider the most prominent treaty of Paris, by which he was acknowledged as subjects of complaint, which Bonaparte and his ad- Emperor of Elba. Napoleon, indeed, founded, or vocates have brought against the administration of attempted to found, an argument upon the treaty of Great Britain, for their treatment of the distinguished Amiens having been concluded with him, when he exile. held the capacity of First Consul of France. But The first loud subject of complaint has been al- lie had himself destroyed the consular government, ready touched upon, that the imperial title was not of which he then constituted the head, and his given to Napoleon, and that hlie was only addressed having been once first consul gave him no more title and treated with the respect ldue to a general officer to the dignity of emperor, than the directorship of of the highest rank. On this subject Napoleon was Iairas invested ]inm with the same title. On no particularly tenacious. He was not of the number occasion whatsoe et, wvhether directly or by iipliof those persons mentioned by the Latinl poet, who, cation, had Great Britain recognized the title of her in poverty and exile, stited their titles and their prisoner to be considered as a sovereign prince; language to their conrdition.* Oii the contraly, he and it wvas sulrely too late to expect acquiescence in contended with great obstinacy, from the timhe he claims in his present situation, which had not been came to Portsmouth, on his right to be treated as a aitmhitted wvhen he was actually master of half the crowned head; nor was there, as we ha -e noticed, world. a more fertile source of dicord betwvixt hiiim and the But it may be urged that, admitting that Napogentlemen of his suite oni one side, aniil the Goverlnor leon's claim to be treated with royal ceremonial was of St Helena on the other, than the pertinacious in itself groundless, yet, since he ihad actually enclaim, on Napoleon's part, for honoiirs anrd fiorms joyed the throne for so many years, the British miof address, which the orders of the Bri.itish govern- nisters ought to have allowed to him that rank which ment had prohibited the governor fi-ronm granting, he had certainly possessed defacto, thou1gh not de and which, therefore, Napoleon's knowledge of a jutcrs. Tile trilling points of rank and ceremonial soldier's duty should have prevented his exacting. oulght, it may be thought, according to the princitples But, independently of the governor's instructions, which we h'ave endeavoured to express, to'have Bonaparte's claim to the peculiar distinction of a been conceded to eclipsed sovereignity and dlo;vnsovereign prince was liable to question, botl in fallen greatness. respect of the party by whom it was insisted on, To this it may be replied, that if the concession recommended could have had no further conse-' Et tragicus plerumque dolet sermone pedestri qu.ences than to mitigate the repinings of Napoleon Telephus et Peleus, cum pauper et exul utterque, -if he could have found comfort in the empty sound Projicit ampullas et sesquipedalia verba. of titles, or if the observance of formal etiquette Heor. Ars Poeticai could have reconciled his feelings to his melanPrinces will sometimes mourn their lot in prose. choly and dethroned condition, without altering the Peleus and Telephuis, brrke down by woes, relative state -of the question in other respectsIn indigence and exile forced to roam, such concession ought not to have been refused to Leave sounding phrase, and longsthil'd words, at home. him. 756 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. But the real cause of his desiring to have, and of Stuarts by Louis XIV., yet it must have been tihe the British government's persisting in refitusing to saub.ject of serious complaint; the rather that a conhim, the name and honours of a sovereign, lay a duct tending to indicate England's acquiescence in great deal deeper. It is true, that it was a foible of the imperial title claimed by Napoleon, could not Bonaparte, incident, perhaps, to his situation as a but keep alive dangerous recollections, and encouparvenu amongst the crowned heads of Europe, to rage a dangerous faction in the bosom of France. be at all times peculiarly and anxiously solicitous Yet, notwithstanding all we have said, we feel that the most strict etiquette and form should be there was an awkwardness in approaching the observed about his person and court. But granting individual who had been so pre-eminently powerthat his vanity, as well as his policy, was concerned ful, with the familiarity applicable to one who in insisting upon such rigid ceremonial as is fie- had never stood more high above others than he quently dispensed with by sovereigns of ancient would have done merely as General Bonaparte. A descent, and whose title is unquestionable, it will compromise was offered by Sir Hudson Lowe, in not follow that a person of his sense and capacity proposing to make use of the word Napoleon, as could have been gratified, even if indulged in all the a more dignified style of addressing his prisoner. marks of external influence paid to the Great Mogul, But an easy and respectable alternative was in the on condition that, like the later descendants of Ti- prisoner's own power. Napoleon had but to imitate tnur, he was still to remain a close prisoner. His other sovereigns, who, either when upon foreign purpose in tenaciously claiming the name of a sove- travel, or when other circumstances require it, reign, was to establish his claim to the immunities usually adopt a conventional appellative, which, belonging to that title. He had already experienced while their doing so waves no part of their own at Elba the use to be derived firom erecting a barrier claim of right to royal honours, is equally far from a of etiquette betwixt his person and any inconvenient concession of that right on the part of those who visitor. Once acknowledged as emperor, it follow- may have occasion to transact with them. Louis ed, of course, that he was to be treated as such in XVIII. was not the less the legitimate King of every particular; and thus it would have become France, that he was for many years, and in various impossible to enforce such regulations as were abso- countries, only known by the name of the Count de lutely demanded for his safe custody. Such a status, Lille. The conveniency of the idea had struck once granted, would have furnished Napoleon with Napoleon himself; for at one time, when talking of a general argument against every precaution which the conditions of his residence in England, he said Iight be taken to prevent his escape. Who ever hle would have no objection to assume the name of ]heard of' an emperor restricted in his promenades, or Muiron, an aide-de-camp who had died by his side subjected, in certain cases,.to the surveillance of an at the battle of Arcola. But it seems that Napoleon, officer, and the restraint of sentinels? Or how could more. tenacious of form than a prince who had been those precautions against escape have been taken, cradled in it, considered this vailing of his dignity without irreverence to the person of a crowned as too great a concession on his part to be granted Ihead, which, in the circumstances of Napoleon Bo- to the Governor of St Helena. Sir Hudson Lowe, naparte, were indispensably necessary? Those at one time, desirous to compromise this silly sub. readers, therefore, who may be of opinion that it jectof dispute, would have been contented to render was necessary that Napoleon should be restrained Napoleon the title of excellency, as due to a field of his liberty, nmst also allow that the British go- marshal, but neither did this meet with acceptation. vernment would have acted imprudently if they had Napoleon was determined eitherto be acknoNwledlged gratuitously invested him with a character which by the governor as emperor, or to retain his grievance they had hitherto refused hlim, and that at the very in its full extent. No modifications could be devised moment, when their doing so was to add to the diffi- by which it could be rendered palatable. culties attending his safe custody. Whether this pertinacity in claiming a title which Tihe question, lowvever, does not terminate even was rendered ridiculous by his situation, was the rehere; for not only was Great Britain at full liberty sualt of some feelings which led him to doubt his own to refuse to Bonaparte a title which she had never title to greatness, when his ears were no longelr flatrecognized as his due-not only would her granting tered by the language of humility, or whether the it have been attended with great practical inconve- political considerations just alluded to, rendered him nience, but farther, she could not have complied obstinate to refuse all epithets, except one, which with his wishes, without affording the most serious might found him in claims to those indemnities and cause of complaint to her ally the King of France. privileges with which so high a title is intimate, an(d If Napoleon was called emperor, his title could from which it may be said to be inseparable, it is apply to France alone; and if he was acknowledged impossible for us to say; vanity and..policy might as Emperor of France, of what country was Louis combine in recommending to him perseverance in XVIII. king? Many wars have arisen fiom no other his claim. But the strife should certainly, fr.l his cause than that the government of one country has own sake, have been abandoned, when the point given the title and ceremonial due to a sovereign to remained at issue between the governor and hiln a person pretending to the throne of the other, and only, since even if the former had wished to comply it is a ground of quarrel recognized by the law of with the prisoner's desires, his instructions folb;ldle nations. It is true, circumstances might have pre- him to do so. To continue an unavailing struggle, vented Louis from resenting the supposed recogni- was only to invite the mortification of defeat and tion of a royal character in his rival, as severely as repulse. Yet Napoleon and his followers retained Britain did the acknowledgment of the exiled so much sensibility on this subject, that though they LIFE OF NAPOLEON BON-APARTE. 757 -must have been aware that Sir Hudson Lowe only less such had been previously communicated to and used the language prescribed by his government, read by the governor of the island. and indeed dared use no other, this unfortunate It is no doubt true, that this is an inconvenience phrase of General Bonaparte occurring so often in to which prisoners of war are, in all cases, subjecttheir correspondence, seemed to rendel every at- ed; nor do we know any country in which their tempt at conciliation a species of derogation and parole is held so sacied as to induce the government insult, and made such overtures resemble a coarse to dis,.ense with the right of inspecting their letters. cloth tied over a raw wound, wvhich it frets and in- Yet the high place so lately occupied by tlhe fallen jures more than it protects. monarch iniglht, we think, have claimed for him Whatever might be the merits of the case, as be- some dispensation from a restriction so humniliating. tween Napoleon and the British ministry, it was If a third person, cold-blooded at best, perhaps inclear that Sir George Cockburn and Sir Hudson clined to hold up to scorn the explressions of our Love were left by their instructions no option in the grief or our affection, is permitted to have the issatter at issue. These instructions bore that Napo- review of the effiusions of our heart towards a wife, Iton, their prisoner, was to receive the style and a sister, a brother, or a bosomn-fiiend, the correti eatmnent due to General Bonaparte, a prisoner of spondence loses half its value; and, forced as we are wVar; and it was at their peril if they gave him a to keep it within the bounds of the most discreet hiigher title, or a different style of attention from cautiol, it becomes to us rather a new source of!what that title implied. No one could know better mortification, than tile opening of a colnmunion with thanll Napoleon how strictly a soldier is bound by those absent persons, whose friendship and attachhis consigne; and to upbraid Sir Hudson Lowe as ment we Ihold to be the dearest possession of our ungenerous, unmanly, and so forth, because lie did lives. Wie the rather think that some exercise of not disobey the instructions of his government, was this privilege might have been left to Napoleon, as unreasonable as to hope that his remonstrances without any risk of endangerinag the safe custody of could have any effect save those of irritation and his person; because we are pretty well convinced annoyance. He ought to have been aware that per-. that all efforts strictly to enforce this regulation did, sisting to resent, in rough and insulting terms, the and must have proved, ineffectual, and that in some deprivation of his title on the part of an officer who cases by imeans of money, and at other times by the was prohibited from using it, might indeed fret and mere influence of compassion, he and his fobllowers provoke one with whom it would have been best would always acquire the means of' transmitting to keep upon civil terms, but could nlot bring him private letters firom tie island without regard to the one inch nearer to the point which he so anxiously Irestriction. Whatever, therefore, was to be apdesired to attain. prellended of danger in this species of intercourse In fiict, this trivial but unhappy subject of dispute by letter, was much more likely to occur in a clanw\as of a character so subtle, that it penetrated into destine correspondence, than in one carried on even the whole correspondence between the emperor and by sealed letters, openly and by permission of the tle governor, and tended to mix with gall and vine- goternment. We cannot help expressing our opia all attempts made by the latter to cultivate some- nion, that, considering the accurate attention of the tlh ng like civil intercourse. This unlucky barrier of police, which would nattrally have been turned in eftitlette started tip and poisoned the whole effect of f;reign countries towards letters ifrom St Helena, any intended politeness. W~hile Sir George Cock- there was little danger of the public post being 1b in zrenained on the island, for example, lie gave msade use of for any dangerous nachinations. SupHmre than one ball, to which General Boslaparte posing, therefore, that the exile had been permitted ndll his suite were regularly invited. In sirmilar cil. to use it, it would 1have been too dangerous to have c.)lustlances, Henry IV. or Charles II. would have risked any proposal for his escalpe throulg]l that;:tendrd the ball, and to a certainty would have medium. A secret correspondence must have been d(1!ced witih tile prettiest young woman present, resorted to for that purpose, and that under circimIwithout drearling that, by so doing, they derogated stances which would have put every well-meaning froml; pretensions derived from a long line of royal person, at least, upon his guard against being aiding anclestors. Bonaparte and Las Cases, on the con- in it; since, if the ordinary cliannels of communicatlarv, took offence at the familiarity, and wrote it tion were open to the prisoner, thlere could have down as a wilful and flagrant affiont on the part of been no jtlstifiable reason for his resorting to private the admniral. These were not the feelings of a mnarl ileans offolrwarding letters fiom thie island. At the of conscious dignity of mind, but of an upstart, who same time, while such is our opinion, it is founded conceives the honour of preferment not to consist in upon reasoning totally incoinnected with the clainl having enjoyed, or in still possessing, a high situla- of right urged by Napoleon; as his situation, contiols, gained by superiority of talent, so much as in sidering hiln as a prisoner of war, and a most irmwearing the robes, or listening to the sounding titles, portant one, unquestionably entitled the governlient which are attached to it. of Britain to lay him under all thle restrictions inciA subject, upon which we are called upon to ex- dent to persons in that situation. press much more sympathy with the condition of Another special sulbject of complaint pleaded Napoleon, than moves us upon the consideration of upon by Napoleon and his advocates, arose tfiol a ihis abrogated title, is, the screen which was drawn regulation, which, we apprehend, was so essential lbetwixt him, and, it nmay be said, the living world, to his safe custody, that Awe are rather surprised to thlrough which he was not permitted to penetrate, by find it was dispensed with Jupon anly occasion, or to letter, eve'n to his dearest friicnds and relatives, un- any extent; as, if fully and regularly complied'with, I - - - -' 758 LLIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. it would have afforded the mleans of relaxing a they chiefly arose out of private discussions with considerable proportion of other restrictions of a Sir Hudson Lowe-out of by-laws enacted by that harassing and ilrritating character, liable to be officer-and restrictions of a more petty description, changed, from time to time, and to be removed and we'limit ourselves for the present to those of a genereplaced in some cases, without any very adequate or ral character, which, however inconvenient and disintelligible motive. The regulation which we allude tressing, were, it is to be observed, such as naturally to is that which required that Bonaparte should be attached to the condition of a prisoner; and which, visible twice, or at least once, in the.day, to the like the fetters of a' person actually in chains, are British orderly officer. If this regulation had been less annoying when submitted to with f;lrtitude and submitted to wvith equanimity by the ex-emperor, it equanimity, than when the captive struggles in vain would have given the strongest possible guarantee to wrench himself out of their gripe. We are iar-, against the possibility of his attempting an escape. nevertheless, from saying, that the weight of tlhe From the hour at which he had been seen by the fetters in the one case, and the hardship of the perofficer, until that at which lie should again become sonal restrictions in the other, are in themselves visible, no vessel would have been permitted to evils which can be easily endured by those who leave the island; and supposing that he was missed sustain them. WVe feel especially how painfiul the by the officer at the regular hour, the alarm would loss of liberty must have been to one Nhllo had not have been general, and, whether concealed in the only enjoyed the freedom of his own actions, but town, or on board any of the vessels in' the road- the uncontroled right of directing those of others. stead, he must necessarily have been discovered. Impatience, however, in this, as in other installces, Indeed, the risk was too great to induce him to has only the prerogative of injurling its master. In have tried an effort so dangerous. It might easily the many hours of meditation which wlere all;,rded have beei arranged, that the orderly officer should to Bonaparte by his residence in St Helena, wxe can have the opportunity to execute his ditty with never perceive any traces of the refllection, that lhe every possible respect to Napoleon's privacy and owed his present unhappy situation less h,1 the iloconvenience, and the latter might himself have mediate inflenc;e of those vlwho wvere agents in his chosen the time and manner of exhibiting himself defeat and imprisonment, than to the course of aiiifor an instant. In this case, and considering how bitioii, whlich, sparing neither the liberties of France, many other precautions were taken to prevent es- nor the independence of Euroi;e, had at length rencape-that every accessible path to the beach was dered his personal freedom inconsistent with thle closely guarded-and that the island was very much rights of the world in general. He felt the distresses in the situation.of a citadel, of which soldiers are of his situation, but Lie did inot, or could not, reason the principal inhabitants-the chance of Napoleon's on their origin. It is inlpossible to reflect upon him attempting to fly, even if permitted tile unlimited without the idea being excited of a noble lion, irarange of St Helena, was highly improbable, and the prisoned within a narlrow anid glooniy den, and venting chance of his effectinig his purpose next to an im- thle wrathl which once made the forest tremble, upon possibility. But tills security depended upon his the petty bolts anid bars, whiich, insignlificant as they submitting to see a British officer at a fixed hour; are, defy his lordly strenigth, and detain him captive. and, resolute in his plan of yielding nothing to cir-'he situation was in every respect a painfill one cumstances, NapoleonI resisted, in every possible nor is it possible to refuse our sympathy, not only to msanner, the necessity of complying with this very the prisoner, but to the person whose painfiul duIty important regulation. Indeed Sir Hudson Lowe, on it became to be his superintendant. His duty of his part, was on many occasions contented to wink at detaining Napoleon's person was to be done imost its being altogether neglected, when thle orderly offi- strictly, and required a mnan of tliat extraordcinary cer could not find tile means of seeing Napoleon by fir Itiness of ittind, who slhould never yield fbor oile instealth while engaged iin a walk, or in a ride, or, as stalt his judgment to his feelings, aiid should ble,ble it sometimes happened, through the caseilent. lThis at once to detect and reilly to all such tlllse argniwas not the way in which this important reg!llation nlents, as ml)iilt be usedl to dtter himn fromli tiie ought to have been acted upon and efobrced, and downright anid taifulil discllharg of his oflice. l)it, the governor did not leap a great iarvest ofgratitude then, there onllut to hiave been combined with those fi'on his conduct in dispensing with this act of super- rare qualities a calminess of teiper aliiiost cqtilly intendence upon his own responlsibility. ralre, and a generosity of mind which, cOmlfideiit ili WVe have seen that a circuit of twelve miles and its owrn hioinour i nid ilitegrity, could look withl sit eiiity upwards was laid off for B[onaparte's private exer- and comipassion upon the daily and hiurly el -ect.s iA' cise. No strangers entered these precincts without the maddeiing canses, whicih tortured into a state a pass from Bertrand; and the emperor lad unin- of constant alid unenldurable irritability tle extrlol-i terrupted freedonm. to walk or ride wvitin them, dinary beinig subjected tothieiriintluence. Bonapart.e, unaccompanied by any one save those in his ovwn iliieed, lin the fbllooers Xliio reflected his p issioll, famtily. Beyond these privileged bounds, he was were to be regalded on all occasionis as len i act.iig not perlnitted to move, without the attendance of a 1;ld spleakling unlder the feverish tand dtliriolls i]nI ritish officer; but uinder the escort of such a 1person flnerice of thiigs long past, arid allog'etlier destitiite lie wts at liberty to visit every part of the island. of thle power of cool or clear reuisonillg, oil ayiv' o this arranlgeti: ent Napoleon was ninre averse, it g-riollis thei;t exclusively reterred to tiings presenit. possible, tl;tn to thit selhichl a;lpoiitei. tht a British'T'he elllitltroll c1iti 11tllt flotet his ei:lpire. tie ltisbland officer shoinld see himit onrite a-d;sv. ci(1l1d iIt f;,-.);'t lhis wife. the iat ll lr Lis:111t1(l, tile Oiter s ibjects of comlaitit tlere were, but as ihero his trit:plhs, the le-gislaror Is J)U\Ocf. It was LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 759 scarce in nature, that a brain agitated by such recol- Briars, as being the residence which he himself lections should remain composed under a change so preferred.-3d,'ile a:dmiral placed sentinels utnder fearful, or be able to reflect calnlly on what he now Napoleon's windows. Replied, it is the ustal prat:was, when agitated by the extraordinary contrast of ti:ce when prisoners of importance are to be secured, his present situation with what he had been. To especially if they do not even offer their parole tliht have soothed him would have been a vain attempt; they will make no attempt to escape.-4th, Sir but the honour of England required that he should George did not permit any one to visit Napoleon have no cause of' irritation, beyond those which se- withoat his permission. Replied, it seemed a nieverely enough attached to his condition as a captive. cessary consequence of his situation, until Sir George From the character we have given of Sir George should be able to d:stinguish those visitors, who Cockburn, it may be supposed that hlie as attentive, might be with propriety adumitted to an unlimited as far as his power extended, and his duty permittedl, privilege of -visit;ing the impertant prisner.-5th, to do all that could render Napoleon's situation more Ile invited Napoleon to' a ball, by the title of Geneeasy. The various authors, Dr O'Meara, Las Cases, ral Bonaparte. The subject of the title has been Santini, and others, \hlo, have written with mutch al-eady discussed; and it does not appear how its violence concerning Sir Hudson Lowe's conduct, being used in sending an invitation to a convivial have mentioned tlhat of Sir George as fair, honour- party, could render the r:ame by which the admiral able, and conciliatory. No doubt there'were many wvas instructed to address his prisoner more offensive occasions, as the actual inconveniences of the place than on other occasions.-6th, Sir George Cockburn, weis experienced, and as thle rays of undefined pressed by Bertrand's notes, in which he qualified hope vanished fiom their eyes, when Napoleon and the prisoner as an emperor, replied sarcastically, his followers became unreasonably captious in their that he knew of no emperor, at St -lelena, nor had discussions with the admiral. On such occasions heard that any European emperor was at present he pursued with professional bluntness the straight- traveling abroad. Replied, by referring to the forward path of duty, leaving it to the French gentle- admiral's instructions, and by the fact, that if' an men to be sullen as long as they would, and entering emperor can abdicate his quality, certainly Napoleon into communication again with them whetlever they was no longer one.-7th, Sir George Cockburn is appeared to desire it. It was probably this equani- said to have influenced the opinions of others upon mity, wthich, notwithstanding varios ackl;novledg- this subject, and punished with arrest sonme suborments of his good and honourable conduct towards ditlate persons, who used the phrase of emperor. them, seemed to have drawn upon Sir George Cock- Answered as before, lie had orders from his governbutil the censure of Monsieur Las Cases, and some- ment not to suffer Bonaparte to be addressed as thing thlat was meant as a species of insult firol emperor, and it was his duty to cause theml to be Napoleon himself. As Sir George Cockburn is ac- obeyed. He could not, howeverl, have been very knowledged on the whole to have discharged his rigorous, since Monsieur Las Cases informis us that daty towards them with mildness and temper, we the officers of the 53d used the mezzo-tesrnine are the rather tempted to enter into their grounds of Napoleon, apparently without censure firom the cIiiiplaiut against him, because they tend to show governor. —Lastly,'tlhere relmains only to be added tile exaslperated and ulcerated state of imind with the complaint, that there was an orderly officer which these unfortunate gentlelien regarded those, appointed to attend Napoleon when he went beyond vlwho, in their tlresent office, had no alternative but to certain liminits, a point of precaution which must be discharge thle lduty w\hichl their sovereign and coun- very usefiul, it not indispensable, where vigilant try had iunlmsed uti;on theln. custody is required. At the risk of being thought trifling with our From this summairy of offences, it must be plain reader's atience, we shiall recapitulate. the griev- to the reader, that the resentmlenlt of Las Cases ances complained of by Las Cases, who fiankly and his tiaster was not so much against Sir George adlllits, that tile bald hlm.llluir, arising (umit of his si- Cockburn personally, as against his office; alnd that tutation, Imay have in somie degree iifiluenced his the admiral wvould have Ibeen very acceptable, if Tmilld in judging of Sir George Cockburnl's conduct, he could have reconciled it to his duty to treat and shall subjoin to each charge the answer which Napoleon as an emperor and a free man, stffered seems to corr espond to it. himself, like Sir Niel Canmitell, to be admitted or 1st, l'lhe admiral is accused of having called the excluded fromn his presence, as the etiquette of anl Emliperor Napoleon, Generacl Bomaparte; and to imperial courlt might dictate, and ruan the risk of ll;ave pronounced the words with an air of self satis- being rewarded for ilis complaisance by learning, faction, vwhich showed the expression grat:fied him. when he least looked for it, that Napoleon hlad It is replied,that Sir George Cockburn's instructions sailed for America, or perhaps for France. The were to ddrlress Napoleon by that epithet; and the question, how far Britain, or rather Europe, had comnnmentary on tle looks or tone with whlicl lhe did a right to keep Nal oleon prisoner, has alealy so is hypercritical.-2d, Napoleon was quartered in been discussed. If they had no such right, amid if a Briars for two mlonths, while the admirial himself secolnd insurrection in France, a second field of resided in Planltation Houise. Answered, that the Waterloo, should be hlazardel, rather than that instructions of governrnent were, that Napoleon Napoleoni Bonaparte should suffer dimilution of should renmain on board till his abode was prepared; dignity, or restraint of fteedlonm, then Napoleoni had but fiunding that wvould occullpy so muich lmore tinme a right to complain of the mlinistry, but not of' the than was expected, Sir George Cockburn, on his officer, to whom his instrnctions were to be at once, own responsibility, placed him on shore, and at the guide and vindication of his conduct. 1760 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. j While these things passed at St Helena, the mi- Several months before the arrival of the comilistry of Great Britain were employed in placing missioners, Sir George Cockburn was superseded the detention of the ex-emperor nnder the regulation in his anxious and paintlil office by Sir Hudson Lowe, of an Act of Parliament, which interdicted all in- who remained Governor of St Helena, and had the tercourse and commerce with St Helena, excepting charge of Napoleon's person, until the death of that by the East India Company's regular chartered remarkable person. The conduct of this officer has vessels. Ships not so chartered, attempting to trade been censured, in several of the writings which or touch at St Helena, or hovering within eight have treated of Napoleon's'confinement, with such.eagues of the island, were declared subject to extremity of bitterness as in some measure defeats seiz!lre and confiscation. The crews of the vessels its own end, and leads us to doubt the truth of who came on shore, or other persons visiting the charges which are evidently brought forward under island, were liable to be sent on board, at (tle go- strong feelings of personal animosity to the late vernor's pleasure; and those who night attempt to Governor of St Helena. On the other hand, it conceal themlselves on shore were declared subject would require a strong defence on the part of Sir to punishment. Ships wvere permitted to approach Hudson Lowe himself, refuting or explaining many tipon stress of weather, but it was incumllbenlt ol things which as yet have neither received contrathemr to prove the indispensable necessity, and, diction norcommentary, to induce us to consider him wlhile they remained at St Helena, they were watch- as the very rare and highly exalted species of chaed in the closest manner. A clause of indemnity racter, to whom, as we have already stated, this protected the governor and commnissioners fionl any important charge ought to have been intrusted. act transgressintg the letter (,f ihe law, which they Sir Hudson Lowe had risen to rank in the army migbht already have committed, while detaining wvhlile serving chiefly in the Mediterranean, in a foNapoleon in custody. Such was the act, 56 George reign corps, in the pay of England. In this situation Ill. cli. 23, which legalized tile confinement of lie became miister of the French and Italian lanNapoleon at St Helena. guages. circumstances which highly qualified him Another convention betwixt the principal powers for the situation to which lie was appointed. In the of 1Elurjope, at Paris, 26th August, 1815, had been campaign of 1814, lie had been attached to thile army also entered into upon the sutbject of Napoleon, and of the allies, and carried on a correspondence with the custody of his person. It set forth, 1. That, in the English government, describing the events of order to encder impossible any falther attempt on the campaign, part of which was published, and ilthe part of' Napoleon Boniaparte against tile repose timates spirit and talent in the writer. Sir Hudson of tile world, lie should be considered as prisoner Lowe received from several of the allied sovereigns to the high contracting powers, the King of Great and generals the most honourable testimonies of his Britain and Ireland, the Emperor of Austria, the services tliht could be rendered. He had thms the Emperor of Russia, and the King of Prussia.'2. That opportunity and habit of mixing with persons of the custody of his person was coummitted to tile distinction in the discussion of affairs of importance; British government, and it w-as remnitted to them to and his character as a gentleman and a man of chuse tilhe most secure place and mnode of detaining honour was carefully inquired into, and highly hlim in security. 3. That the courts of Austria, vouched, ere his nomination was made out. These Russi;a, and Prussia, were to name commissioners were points on which precise inquiries could be who were to inhabit the same place which should made, and distinct answers received, and they were be assigned for Napoleon Bonaparte's residence, all in favour of Sir Hudson Lowe. and who, without being responsible fr his deten- But there were other qualifications, and those not tion, should certiorate themselves that lie was ac- less imlportant, his possession of which could only be tually present. His most Christian Majesty was known hy putting hlni upon tuial. The indispensable also invited to send a commissioner. 4. l'he King attribute, for example, of an irnperturbable temper, of Great Britain engaged faithfully to comply was scarce to be ascertained, until his proceedings with the conditions assigned to hims by this con- in the office intrusted to him should show vwhether vention. he possessed or wanted it. Tile same must be said Of these powers, only three availed themselves of that firmness and decision, which dictate to an of the power, or privilege, of sending conlmissioners official person the exact line of his dtuty —prevent all to St Helena. These were, Count Balmain, on the hesitation or wavering in the exercise of his paurpart of Russia, Baron Sturmer for Austria, and an pose-render him, when itis discharged, boldly and old emigrant nobleman, the iMarquis de Montchenu, fitrlnly confidenlt that lie has d)one exsactly that whiich for France. Prussia seems to have thought the he ought-and enable hiim fearlessly to resist all expense of a resident conmmiissioner at St Helena imlportunity which can be used to indlice him to unnecessary. Indeed, it does not appear that any change his conduct, and contemn all nisrepresentaof these gentlenlen had an imlnl-rtant part to play tiols and obloquy which miay arise firom his adwhile at St Helena, but yet their presence was ne- hiering to it. cessary to place what should pass there under the Knowing nothing of Sir Hludson Lowe personally, vigilance of accredited represenltatives of the high and allowing hlim to possess the qualities of an powers who had engaged in the Convenution of' honouirable, and the accomplishments of a wellParis. Th'le imprisonment of Napoleon was now informed man, we are inclined, fromi a review of his not the work of England alone, but of Europe, conduct, divesting it so far as we can of the exadopted by her most powerfill states, as a measure aggerations of his personal enemies, to think there indispensable for public tranquillity. remain traces of a warm and irritable temper, wh)ch LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 7'61 seems sometimes to have overborne his discretion, doned on Napoleon's return at the period of the and induced him to forget that his prisoner was in Hundred Days. As he was in attendance upon the a situation where he ought not, even when his con- ex-emperor at the moment of his fall, he felt it his duct seemed most unreasonable and most provoking, duty to accompany him to St Helena. While upon to be considered as an object of resentment, or as that island, he took less share in Napoleon's combeing subject, like other men, to retort and reta- plaints and quarrels with the governor, than either liation, Napoleon's situation precluded the possi- Generals Bertrand or Montholon, or Count Las bility of his inflicting an insult, and therefore the Cases, avoided all appearance of intrigue with the temper of the person to whom such was offered, inhabitants, and was regarded by Sir Hudson Lowe ought, if possible, to have remained cool and unruf- as a brave and loyal soldier, who followed his emfled. It does not seem to us that this was uniformly peror in adversity, without taking any part in those the case. proceedings which the governor considered as preIn like manner, Sir Hudson Lowe appears tohave judicial to his own authority. As such, he is chabeen agitated by an oppressive sense of the im- racterized uniformly in Sir Hudson's dispatches to portance and the difficulties of his situation, to a his government. nervous and irritating degree. This over-anxiety This officer had left in France a mother and led to frequent changes of his regulations, and to the sister, to whom he was tenderly devoted, and who adoption of measures which were afterwards aban- loved him with the fondest affection. From attachdoned, and perhaps again resumed. All this uncer- ment to these beloved relatives, and their affecting tainty occasioned just subject of complaint to his desire that he should rejoin them, General Gourprisoner; for, though a captive may become gra- gaud became desirous of revisiting his native coundually accustomed to the fetters which he wears try; and his resolution was the stronger, that condaily in the same manner, he must be driven to siderable jealousies and misunderstandings arose impatience if the mode of adjusting them be altered betwixt him and Count Bertrand. In these circumfriom day to day. stances, he applied for and obtained permission It is probable that the warm temper of Sir HIud- firom the governor to return to London direct. Beson Lowe was in some degree convenient to Napo- fore leaving St Helena, he was very communicative leon, as it afforded him the means of reprisals upon both to Sir Hudson Lowe and Baron Sturmer, the the immediate instrument of his confinement, by Austrian commissioner, respecting the secret hopes making the governor feel a part of the annoyance and plans which were carrying on at Longwood. which he himself experienced. Sir George Cock- When he arrived in Britain in the spring, 1818, he burn had been in seipso totus teres, atque r-oten- was no less frank and open with the British governdus. He did what his duty directed, and cared ment, informing them of the various proposals for little what Napoleon thought or said upon the sub- escape which had been laid before Napoleon; the ject. The new governor was vulnerable; he could facilities and difficulties which attended them, and be rendered angry, and might therefore be taken at the reasons why he preferred remaining on the isadvantage. Thus Napoleon might enjoy the vin- land, to making the attempt. At this period, it was dictive pleasure, too natural to the human bosom, of supposed that General Gourgaud was desirous of giving pain to the person who was the agent, though making his peace with the King of France; hut not the author, in the restrictions to which he him- whatever might be his private views, the minutes of self was subjected. But Napoleon's interest in pro- the information which he afforded to Sir Hudson voking the governor did not rest upon the mere gra- Lowe and Baron Sturmer at St Helena, and aftertification of spleen. His views went far deeper, wards at London to the under secretary at war, and were connected with the prospect of obtaining are still preserved in the records of the Foreign his liberty, and with the mode by which he hoped Office. They agree entirely with each other, and to accomplish it. And this leads us to inquire upon their authenticity cannot be questioned. The comwhat these hopes were rested, and to place before munications are studiously made, with considerable our readers evidence of the most indisputable cre- reserve as to proper names, in order that no indidit, concerning the line of policy adopted in the vidual should be called in question for anything council of Longwood. which is there stated; and in general they bear, as It must be premised that the military gentlemen, was to be expected, an air of the utmost simplicity who, so much to the honour of their own fidelity, and veracity. VVe shall often have occasion to alhad attended on Bonaparte, to soften his calamity lude to these documents, that the reader may be by their society and sympathy, were connected by enabled to place the real purposes of Napoleon in no other link than their mutual respect for the opposition to the language which he made use of same unhappy master. Being unattached to each for accomplishing them; but we have not thought other by any ties of friendship, or community of feel- it proper to quote the minutes at length, unless as ings or pursuits, it is no wonder that these officers, far as Napoleon is concerned. We (inderstand given up to ennui, and feeling the acidity of temper that General Gourgaud, on his return to the Contiwhich such a situation is sure to cause, should have nent, has resumed that tenderness to Napoleon's had misunderstandings, nay, positive quarrels, not memory, which may induce him to regret having with the governor only, but with each other. In communicated the secrets of the prison-house to these circumstances, the conduct of General Gour- less friendly ears. But this change of sentiments gaidl distinguished him from the rest. After the can neither diminish the truth of his evidence, nor peace of Paris, this officer had been aide-de-camp affect our right to bring forward what we find re1o the Duke de Berri, a situation which he aban- corded as commnrnicated by him. vol. vt. 9i LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Having thus given an account of the evidence we able for his return; and the probability of such an mean to use, we resmnle the subject.of Napoleon's event, and the consequences which would flow from quarrels with Sir Hudson Lowe. it, were urged by him as an argument to dissuade It was not, according to General Gourgaud, for General Gourgaud from quitting him until after that want of means of escape, that Napoleon continued to period.:" remain at St Helena. There was one plan for car- General Golurgaud's communications further bear, ryilg him out in a trunk with dirty linen; and so what indeed can be collected from imany other cirgeneral was the opinion of the extreme stupidity of cumnstances, that as Napoleon hoped to obtain his tile English sentinels, that there was another by liberty from the impression to be made on the minds w!hich it was proposed he should slip through the of the English nation, he was careful not to suffer camp in disguise of a servant carrying a dish. his condition to be forgotten, and most anxious When the Baron Sturmer represented the impossi- that the public mind should be carefully kept bility of such Nwild plans being in agitation, Gourgaud alive to it; by a succession of publications comlanswered, " there was no impossibility to those who ig out one after another, modified according to had millions at their command. Yes, I repeat it,? the different tempers and information of the various he continued, " he can escape from hence and go to autlhors, but bearing all of them the stamp of having America whenever hlie has a mind." i-" Why, then, issued in wNhole orin part from the interior of Longshould he remain hele?" said Baron Stunner. vood. Accordingly,thevarious worksof Warden, Gourgaud replied, "that all his followers had urged O'Meara, Santini, the Letter of Montholon, and him to make the experiment of escape; but he pre- other publications upon St Helena, appeared one ferred continuing onl the island. He has a secret after another, to keep the subject awake, which, pride in the consequence attached to the custody of although seenmingly discharged by various hands, his person, and the interest generally taken in his bear the strong peculiarity of being directed at idenfate. lie has said repeatedly,'I can no longer live tically the same mark, and of being arrows from as a private person. I would rather be a prisoner the same quiver. Gourgaud mentioned this species on this rock. than a free but undistinguished indi- of file-firinrg, and its purpose. Even the Manuscrit vidualin the United States.'"t cle Ste.-Hdline, a tract, in which dates and facts General Goulgaud said, therefore, that the event wel:e misplaced and confounded, was also, accordto which Napoleon trusted for liberty, was some ing to General Gourgaud, the work of Bonaparte, change of politics in the court of Great Britain, and composed to puzzle and mystify the British which should bring into administration the party public. He told Sir Hudson Lowe that he was not who were now in opposition, and who, he rather too to consider the abuse in these Various pamphlets as rashly perhaps conceived, would at once restore to leveled against him personally, but as written upon him his liberty. The British ministers received the political calculation, with the view of extorting same assurances from General Gourgaud with those some relaxation of vigilance by the reiteration of given at St Helena. These last are thus expressed complaints. The celebrated Letter of Montholon in the original: was, according to the same authority, written in a "' Upon the subject of General Bonaparte's escape, great measure by Napoleon; and the same was the Monsieur Goargaud stated confidently,.that although case with Santini's, though so grossly over-colotrLongwood was firom its situation capable of being ed that he himself afterwards disowned it. Other well protected by sentries, yet he was certain that papers, he said, would appear under the names of there would be no difficulty in eluding at any time captains of merchantmen and the like, for Napoleon the vigilance of the sentries posted round the house was possessed by a mania for scribbling, which had and grounds; and, in short, that escape from the no interruption. It becomes the historian, therefore, island appeared to him in no degree impracticable. to receive with caution the narratives of those who The subject, he confessed, had been discussed at have thus taken a determinedly partial part in tile Longwood amongst the individuals of the establish- controversy, and concocted their statements from ment, who were separately desired to give their the details afforded by the party principally conplans for effecting it. But he expressed his belief cerned. If what General Gourgaud has said be to be, that General Bonaparte was sofully impressed accurate, it is Napoleon who is pleading his own with the opinion, that he would be permitted to leave cause under a borrowed name, in the pages of' St Helena, either upon a chamige of ministry in O'Meara, Santini, Montllolon, etc. Even wlhein England, or by the unwillingness of the English to the facts mentioned in these works, therefore, are bear the expense of detaining him, that he would undeniable, still it is necessary to strip them of exnot at present ran the.hazard to.which an attempt aggeration, and place them in a fair and just light to escape might expose him. It appeared, -however, before pronouncing on them. from the statement of General Gotrgaud, and from The evidence of O'Meara, as contained in A other circumstances stated by him, that Bonaparte Voice fi'om St Helena, is that of a disappointed had always looked to the period of.the removal of i malan, bitterly incensed against Sir Hudson Lowe, the allied armies from France, as that most.favour- as the Cause of his disappointment. He had no need aJe le rnphte, il peat stvnder seal, et aller en A - to kindle the flame of his own resentment, at that of fique quand ille voudtra." Taken from a report of Baron Bonaparte. Bet it may be granted that their vinSturmer to Prince Metterich, giving an account of Gel- dictive feelings must have strengthened each other. aeral Gourgaud's communicationrs, d;lted 14th -March, i188. The qutarrel was the more irreconcilable, as it apt "Je ne pliUs plts vire ent perticulier. J'aime mieux pears that Dr O'Meara was originally on great habits Itreprisonaaier ici, qeulreIlc ux= Elats-U Gris.a t of intimacy with Sir Hudson Lowe, and in the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 73 custom of repeating at Plantation House the gossip sent two circumstances,-the one imposed on bSir which he had heard at Longwood. Some proofs of Hudson Lowe by his instructions; the other being this were laid before the public, in the Quarterly what decency and propriety, and respect to the deReview; and Sir Hudson Lowe's correspondence ceased, imperatively demanded? with government contains various allusions to Mr The mass of evidence shows, that to have re. O'Meara's authority,+ down to the period when mained upon good, or even on decent terms witls their mutual confidence was terminated by a violent the governor, would not have squared with the poquarrel. litics of one who desired to have grievances to colnCount Las Cases is not, in point of impartiality, plain of; and who, far from having the usual motives to be ranked much above Dr O'Meara. He was which may lead a captive and his keeper to a toleroriginally a French emigrant, a worshiper by pro- able understanding, by a system of mutual accomfession of royalty, and therefore only changed his modation, wished to provoke the governor, if posidol, not his religion, where he substituted the sible, beyond the extent of human patience, even at idol Napoleon for the idol Bourbon. He em- the risk of subjecting himself to some new infliction, braces with passive obedience the interests of which might swell the list of wrongs which he was his chief, real or supposed, and can see nothing, accumulating to lay before the public. wrong which Napoleon is disposed to think right. VVhat we have stated above is exemplified by He was also the personal enemy of Sir Hudson Napoleon's reception of Sir Hudson Lowe, against Lowe. WVe have no idea that he would falsify the whom he appears to have adopted the most violent truth; but we cannot but suspect the accuracy prejudices at the very first interview, and before of'his recollection, when we find he inserts many the governor could have afforded him the slightest expressions and incidents in his Journal, long after disrespect. We quote it, because it shows that the the period at which it was originally written, and it mind of the prisoner was made up to provoke and is to be presumed fiom memory. Sir Hudson Lowe insult Sir Hudson, without waiting for any provocahad the original manuscript for some time in his tion on his part. possession, and we have at present before us a The governor's first aggression (so represented) plrinted copy, in which Sir Hudson has, with his was his requiring permission of General Bonaparte own hand, marked those additions which had been to call together his domestics, with a view to their made to the Journal since he saw it in its primitive taking the declaration required by the British governstate. It is remarkable that all, or almost all, the ment, binding themselves to abide by the rules laid additions which are made to the Journal, consist of down for the custody of Bonaparte's person. This passages highly injurious to Sir Hudson Lowe, permission was refused in very haughty terms. If which had no existence in the original manuscript. Napoleon had been at the Tuileries, such a request These additions must therefore have been made could not have been more highly resented. The under the influence of recollection, sharpened by servants, however, appeared, and took the necesangry passions, since they did not at first seem im- sary declaration. But the affront was not canportant enough to be preserved. When memory is celed; " Sir Tnudson Lowe had put his finger put on the rack by passion and prejudice, she will betwixt Napoleon and his valet-de-chambre." This recollect strange things; and, like witnesses under: was on 27th July, 1816. the actual torture, sometimes avow what never took Upon the 30th, the governor again paid his replace. spects at Longwood, and was received with one of Of Dr Antommarchi it is not necessary to say those calculated bursts offfurious passion with which much; he was a legatee of Bonaparte, and an an- Napoleon was wont to try the courage, and shake nuitant of his widow, besides being anxious to pre- the nerves, of those over whom he desired to acquire serve the countenance of his very wealthy family. influence. lie spoke of protesting against the conHe never speaks of Sir Hudson Lowe without ran- vention of Paris, and demanded what right the sorecour. Sir Hudson's first offence against him was reigns therein allied had to dispose of their equal inquiring for clandestine correspondence; his last always, and often their superior. He called upon was, preventing the crowd at Napoleon's funeral the governor for death or liberty,-as if it had been from pulling to pieces the willow-trees by which the in Sir Hudson Lowe's power to give him either the grave was sheltered, besides placing a guard over one or the other. Sir Hudson enlarged on the conthe place of sepulture. What truth is there, then, veniencies of the building which was to be sent from to be reposed in an author, who can thus misrepre- England, to supply the present want of accommodation. Bonaparte repelled the proposed consolation * Sir Hudson Lowe writes, for example, to Lord Ba- with fury. It was not a house that he wanted, it thurst, 13th May, 1816;-" Having found Dr O'Meara, who was an executioner and a line. These he would was attached to Bonaparte's family on the removal of his esteem a favour; all the rest was hut irony and inFrench physician, very useful in giving information in sult. Sir Hudson Lowe could in reply only hope many instances, and as, if removed, it might be difficult that he had given no personal oitence, and was to find another person who might be equally agreeable to General Bonaparte, I have deemed it advisable to suffer him to remain in the family on the same footing as before reproach he listened to in silence. iy arrival." On the 2(9th of March, 1817, Sir Hldson Presently afterwards, Napoleon fell on a new and writes:-"Dr O'Meara had informed me of the conversa- cutting method of exercising Sir Hudson's patience. tions that had occurred, and, with that readiness which he A book on the campaign of 1814 lay on the table. always manifests upon such occasions, immediately wrote Napoleon turned up some of the English bulletins, lhem down for me." and asked, with a tone which was. perfectly intel LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. ligible, whether the governor had not been the writer by commanding in battles. You have never consof these letters. Being answered in the affirumative, manded in battle. You have never commanded arny Napoleon, according to Dr O'Meara, told Sir Huid- but vagabond Corsican deserters, Piedmontese, and son they were fill of folly and falsehood; to which Neapolitan brigands. I know the name of every the governor, with more patience than most men English general who has distinguished himself; but could have commanded on such an occasion, replied, I never heard of you, except as a scrivano * to "I believe I saw what I have stated;" an answer Blucher, or as a commandant of brigands. You certainly as temperate as could be returnedl to so have never commanded, or been accustomed to gratuitous an insolt. After Sir Hudson had left the men of honour.' He said, that he had not sought room in which he had been received with so much for his present situation. I told him that such eamunprovoked incivility, Napoleon is described as ployments were not asked for; that they were given having harangued upon the sinister expression of his by governments to people who had dishonoured countenance, abused him in the coarsest manner, themselves. He said, that he only did his duty, and even caused his valet-de-chambre throw a cup and that I ought not to blame him, as lie only acted of coffee out of the window, because it had stood a according to his orders. I replied,'So does the moment on the table beside the governor. hangman; he acts according to his orders. But Every attempt at conciliation on the part of the when he puts a rope about my neck to finish moe, is governor seemed always to furnish new subjects of that a reason that I should like that hangman, beirritation. He sent fowling-pieces to Longwood, and cause he acts according to his orders? Besides, I Napoleon returned for answer, it was an insult to do not believe that any government could be so give fowling-pieces where there is no game; though mean as to give such orders as you cause to be exeSantini, by the way, pretended to support the family cuted.' I told him that, if he pleased, he need not in a great measure by his gun. Sir Huldson sent a send up anything to eat; that I would go over and variety of clothes and other articles from England, dine at the table of the brave officers of the 53d; which it might be supposed the exiles were in want that I was sure there was not one of them who of. The thanks returned were, that the governor would not be happy to give a plate at the table to an treated them like paupers, and that the articles old soldier; that there was not a soldier in the regiought, in due respect, to have been left at the store ment who had not more heart than he had; that in or governor's house, while a list was sent to the the iniquitous bill of parliament, they had decreed emperor's household, that such things were at their that I was to be treated as a prisoner; but that he command if they had any occasion for them. On a treated me worse than a condemned criminal or a third occasion, Sir Hudson resolved to be cautious. galley slave, as they were permitted to receive He had determined to give a ball; but he consulted newspapers and printed books, of which he deprivDr O'Meara whether Napoleon would take it well ed me. I said,'You have power over my body, to be invited. The doctor foresaw that the fatal but none over my soul. That soul is as proud, fierce, address, GeneralBonaparte, would make shipwreck and determined at the present moment, as when it of the invitation. The governor proposed to avoid commanded Europe.' I told him that he was a this stumbling-block, by asking Napoleon verbally sbirro Siciliano (Sicilian thief-taker), and not an and in person. But with no natne which his civility Englishman; and desired him not to let me see him could devise for the invitation, could it be rendered again until he came with orders to dispatch me, acceptable. A governor of St Helena, as Napoleon when he would find all the doors thrown open to himself observed, had need to be a person of great admit him.'" politeness, and at the same time of great firmness. It is not surprising that this extreme violence met At length, on 18th A ugust, a decisive quarrel took with some return on Sir Hudson's part. He told place. Sir Hudson Lowe was admitted to an au- Napoleon that his language was uncivil and ungendience, at which was present Sir Pulteney Malcolm, tlemanlike, and that he would not remain to listen the admiral who now commanded on the station. to it. Accordingly, he left Longwood without even Dr O'Meara has preserved the following account of the usual salutation. the interview, as it was detailed by Napoleon to his Upon these occasions, we think it is evident that suite, tile day after it took place. Napoleon was the wilful and intentional aggressor, "'That governor,' said Napoleon,'came here and that his conduct proceeded either firom the yesterday to annroy mne. He saw me walking in the stings of injured pride, or a calculated scheme, garden, and, in consequence, I could not refuse to which made him prefer being on bad rather than see him. He wanted to enter into soine details good terms with Sir Hudson Lowe. On tile other with me about reducing the expenses of the esta- hand, we could wish that the governor had avoided blishment. He had the audacity to tell me that entering upon the subject of the expenses of his dethings were as lihe found them, and that he came up tention with Napoleon in person. The subject was to justify himself; that lie had come up two or ill-chosen, and could produce no favourable result. three times before to do so, but that I was in a They never afterwarlds met in friendship, or even bath.' I replied,'No, sir, I was not in a bath; but on terms of decent civility; and having given this I ordered one on purpose not to see you. In en- account of their final quarrel, it only remains for us deavouring to justify yourself you make matters to classify, in a general manner, the various subjects worse.' lie said, that I did not know hinl; that, if of angry discussion which took place betwixt them, I knew hlinl, I shrould change my opinion.'Know placed in such uncomfortable relative circumstances, you, sir!' I answered;'how could 1 know you? People make therlJselves known by their actions — Clerk. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 765 and each determined not to give way to the other's who, of all others, wats likely to be most impatient arguments, or accommodate himself to the other's of restraint, and, at the same time, to treat him wishes er convenience. with such delicacy as mnight disguise his situationl from himself, if it could not reconcile him to it. If CHAPTER CXI1J.T Sir Hudson failed in doing so, he may be allowed to plead, that it was in a case in which few could, Instructions to Sir Hudson Lowe for his treatment of Na- have succeeded. Accordingly, Napoleon's compoleosn.-Sum allowed by the British governmentfor the plaints against the governor were bitter anti claex-emperor's expenses. - The allegations that his table morous. was not szfficiently supplied, considered.-Napoleon's The first point of complaint on the part of the proposal to defray his own expenses.-Sale of his plate family at Longwood respected tile allowance as-made in order to produce a false impression of the signed by the British government for their support state to which he was reduced.-The fact, that he had at which they alleged to be insufent to their wants, that telrsmfoyhi s which they alleged to be insufficient to their wants. that time a large sum ofmoney in his strong-box, stated. This was not a point onwhich Napleon hoght it -Wooden house costrcte inThis was not a point on which Napoleon thought it - Wooden house construzcted in London for Bonaparte, and transported to St Helena.-Interview between Sir proper to express his feelings in his own person Hudson Lowe and Napoleon ont its arrival. -Delays His attention was apparently fixed upon obtaining in the erection of it.-Whenz finished, Bonaparte's ill- concessions in certain points of etiquette, which health prevented his being removed to it. —The regyzlation might take him from under the condition in which he that a British officer should attend Napoleon in his was most unwilling to allow himself to be placed, in rides, a subject of much displeasure to him.-Free cont- the rank, namely, of a prisoner at war. The theme, munication with Europe carried on by the inmates of of the inadequacy of the allowance, was not, howLongwood, without the knowledge of the governor. - ever, left untouched, as those concerned were well Regulation respecting Napoleon's intercourse with the aware that there was no subject of grievance which inhabitants of St Helena. - General reflections on the would come more home to the people of England ~disputes betvween him and Sir Hludson;'Lowe. than one which turned upon a deficiency either in BEFORE entering upon such brief inquiry as our the quantity or quality of the food supplied to the bounds will permit, upon the conduct of the new exiles. Montholon's letter was clamant on the subgovernor towards Napoleon, it may be necessary to ject; and Santini intimated that the emperor must show what were his, Sir Huldson Lowe's, instruc- sometimes have gone without a meal altogether, had tions fi-om the English government on tile subject of he (Santini) not been successful with his ginm. the custody of the ex-emperor:'The true state of the case was this. The British government had determined that Napoleon's table l Downing Street, 12th September, 1816. should be provided for at the rate of a general of the "You will observe that the desire of his majesty's first rank, together with his military family. The government is, to allow every indulgence to General expense of such an establishment was, by the reguBonaparte which may be compatible with the entire lations furnished to Sir Hudson Lowe, dated 15th security of his person. That he should not by any April, and 22d November, 1816, supposed to reach means escape, or hold communication with any per- to ~8000 a-year, with permission, however, to exson whatsoever, excepting through your agency, tend it as far as ~12,000, should he think it necesmust be your unremitted care; and those points sary. The expenses could not, in Sir Hudson being made sure, every resource and amusement, Lowe's opinion, be kept within ~8000; and indeed which may serve to reconcile Bonaparte to his con- they were instantly extended by him to ~12,000. finement, may be permitted." paid in monthly instalments to the purveyor, Mr Balcombe, by whom it was expended in support of A few weeks later, the secretary of state wrote the establishment at Longwood. If; however, even to Sir Hudson Lowe a letter to the same purpose ~12,000, the sum fixed as a probable ultimatum, with the former, 26th October, 1816: should, in the governor's opinion, be found, from dearth, high price of provisions, or otherwise, prac" With respect to General Bonaparte himself, I tically insufficient to meet and answer the expense deem it unnecessary to give you any farther instruc- of a general's family, calculated on a liberal scale, tions. I am confident that your own disposition Sir Hudson Lowe had liberty from government to will prompt you to anticipate the wishes of his Royal extend the purveyor's allowance without limitation. Highness the Prince Regent, and make every al- But if, on the other hand, the French should desire lowance for the effect which so sudden a change of to add to their housekeeping anything which the situation cannot fail to produce on a person of his governor should think superfluous, in reference to irritable temper. You will, however, not permit the rank assigned to the principal person, they were your forbearance or generosity towards him to inter- themselves to be at the charge of such extraordinary fere with any regulations which may have been esta- expenditure. blished for preventing his escape, or which you may It is apprehended that the British governmert hereafter consider necessary for the better security could not be expected to do more for Napoleon V of his person." liberal maintenance, than to give the governor an unlimited order to provide for it, upon the scale apThe just and honourable principle avowed by go- plicable to the rank of a general officer of the first vernment is obvious. But it was an extraordinary rate. But yet the result, as the matter was managed, and most delicate tax upon Sir Hudson Lowe, which was not so honourable to Great Britain, as the inenjoined him to keep fast prisoner an individual, tentions of the government really designed. The |66 t~ LIFE'OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. fact is, that virtues as well as vices have their day and that as to provisions there will never be anny of fashion in England; and at the cornclusion of the complaints, or, if there are, they will be made peace, when the nation were cloyed with victory, against the government, not against the governor, tmen began, like epicures after a feast, to wrangle upon whom the matter does not depend."' He about the reckoning. Every one felt the influence adds, " that such were the sentiments of the emof the Quart d'heusre de Rabeltiis. It ascended peror. That indeed they had been under some into the Houses of Parliament, and economy was difficulties when the plate was broken up, but that tle general theme of the day. There can he no doubt ever since then they had been well supplied, and that a judicious restriction upon expenditure is the had no complaint whatever to make." Such is the evionly permnanent source of national wealth; but, like denuce of Count Bertrand, when deliberately writing all other virtues, parsimony may he carried to an to the governor through his military secretary. extreme, and there are situations in which it has But we have also the opinion of the ex-emperor all the meanness of avarice. The waste of a few himself, transmitted by Dr O'Meara, who was at pounds of meat, of a hundred billets of wood, of a that time, as already noticed, in the habit of sending few bottles of wine, ought not to have been made to the governor such scraps of information as he the shadow of a question between Britain and Na- heard in conversation at Longwood: poleon; and it would have been better to have winked at and given way to the prodigality of a fa- 5th June, 1817. lmily, which had no motives of economy on their own' He (Bonaparte) observed that Santini's was a part, than to be called upon to discuss such petty foolish production, exaggerated, full of coglionerie, domestic details in the great council of the nation, and some lies: truths there were in it, but exagsitting as judges betwixt England and her prisoner. gerated. That there never had existed that actual A brief answer to those who might in that case have want described by him; that there had been charged the government with prodigality might have enough to eat supplied, but not enough to keep a been found in referring the censors to the immense proper table; that there had been enough of wine sumas saved by the detention of Napoleon in St He- for them; that there certainly had been sometimes Aena. It is something of a different scale of expense, a deficiency of necessary articles, but that this which is requisite to maintain a score of persons might he accounted for by accidents; that he beeven in the most extravagant manner, and to support lieved frequent purchases had been made, at the an arnmy of three hundred thousand men. camp, of bread and other provisions, which might But although such disputes arose, we think, from also have occasionally arisen from the same cause. the governor mistaking the meaning of the British He added, he was convinced some Englishman had ministers, and descending, if he really did so, to de- written it, and not Santini." tails about the quality of salt or sugar to be used in the kitchen at Longwood, there is no reason to en- There is something to the same purpose in Dr tertain the belief that the prisoners had any actual O'Meara's printed book, but not so partictlar. restriction to complain of, though it might not always What mriakes Napoleon's confilutation of Santini's happen that articles of the first quality could be work the more amusing is, that, according to Geprocured at St Helena so easily as at Paris. The neral Gourgaud's communication to the British goEast India Company sent out the supplies to the vernment, Napoleon swas himself the author of the purveyor, and they consisted of every luxury which whole, or greater part, of the work in question. could be imagined; so that delicacies very unusual The difference between the prisoner and governbii, in St Helena could, during Napoleon's residence, so far as it really existed, may have had its rise in be obtained there for any one who chose to be at the original dispute; for a table, which suited the the expense. The wine was (generally speaking) rank of a general must have been considerably inexcellent in quality, and of the first price;* and ferior to one kept for an emperor; and while the although there was rather too tlmuch said and thought former was what the governor was directed to about the quanitity consumed, yet it was furnished, maintain, the latter was what Napoleon conceived as we shall hereafter see, in a quantity far beyond himself entitled to expect. the limits of ordinary conviviality. Indeed, althiougi The permission given to Bonaparte, and which the French officers, while hunting for grievances, indeed could not be well refused, to purchase made complaints of their treatment at table, and from his own fiunds what additional articles hie decirculated, in such books as that of Santini, the sired beyond those supplied by the British gove2rngrossest scandal on that subject, yet when called on ment, afforded peculiar facilities to the French, as men of honour to give their opinion, they did jus- which they did not fail to make use of. Napoleon's tice to the governor in this respect. money had been temporarily taken into custody In a letter of General Bertrand to the governor, when he left the Bellerophon, with a view to prehe expresses himself thus:-~" Be assured that we vent his having the means of facilitating his escape are well persuaded of the good intentions of the by bribery. The permitting him to draw upon the governor to supply us With everything necessary, I Continent for money, was in a great measiure reThe claret, for example, was that of Carbonelli, at storing to him the golden key, before which prisonX6 per dozen without duty. Each domestic of superior gates give way, and also tended to afford him the rank was allowed a bottle of this wine, which is as choice, means of secret correspemudence with those fi'lends as dear certainly, as could be brought to the table of sove- abroad, who might aid him to arrange a scheme of reigns. The labourers and soldiers had each, daily, a bottle flight. of Temeriffie wine of excellent quality. Indeed, the advantages of this species of corre LIFE OF NA.POLEON BONAPARTE. 767 spondt.nce were of such evident importance, that government to have access to his funds in Europe, Napoleon, through General Montholon, made the he had no other means left than to dispose of his following proposal, which was sent to Lord Ba- property here; and that if the emperor was obliged thurst by the governor, 8th September, 1816.- to defray those expenses of the establishment, which "The emperor," he said, " was desirous to enter- went beyond the allowance made by Britain, he into arrangements for paying the whole of his ex- must dispose of his plate. penses, providing any house here, or in England, This proposal was too rashly assented to by Sir or on the continent of Europe, to be fixed on with Hudson Lowe, whose instructions of 22d November the governlor's consent, or even at his own choice, empowered him to have prevented a circumstance were appointed to transact his money matters; so glaringly calculated to accredit all that had ever under assurance from him, General Bonaparte, that been said or written respecting the mean and sordid all letters sent through his hands would be solely manner in which the late Emperor of France was on pecuniary affairs. But provided always, that treated. Napoleon had an opportunity, at the sasuch letters should pass sealed and unopened to crifice of a parcel of old silver plate, to amuse his their direction." ovwn moments of languour, by laughing at and turnIt is probable that Napoleon concluded, from the ing into ridicule the inconsistent qualities of the ferment which was at that time taking place in English nation, —at one time sending him a house parliament on the subject of economy, that the and furniture to the value of t60,000, or ~70,000; English nation was on the point of bankruptcy, and at another obliging him to sell his plate, and disa.d not doubt that an offer, which promised to re- charge his servants, and all for the sake of a few lieve them of ~12,000 a-year, would be eagerly bottles of wine, or pounds of meat. Sir Hudson eaugiht at by Sir Hudson Lowe, or the British mi- Lowe ought not to have exposed his country to such distry. But the governor saw the peril of a inea- a chliarge; and even if his instructions seemed insure, which, in its immediate and direct tendency, explicit on the subject, he ought, on his own interIvent to place funds to any amount at the command pretation of them, to have paid the extra expense, of the ex-emperor, and might, more indirectly, without giving room to such general scandal as lead the way to private correspondence of every was sure to arise from Napoleon's disposing of his kind. Napoleon, indeed, had offered to plight his plate. word that the communication should not be used But if the governor to6ok too narrow a view of his for any other than pecuniary purposes, but Sir duty upon this occasion, what are we to say of the Hudson liked not the security. On his: part, the poor conduct of Napoleon, who, while he had specie governor tendered a proposal that the letters to in his strong-box to have defiayed three times the the bankers should be visible only to himself, and sum wanted to defray the alleged balance, yet preto Lord Bathurst, the secretary for the colonial de- ferred making the paltry sale alluded to, that he partment, and pledged his word that they would might appear before Europe in forma pauperis, observe the most inviolable secrecy on the subject and set up a claim to compassion as a man driven of the contents; but this arrangement did not answer to such extremity, as to be obliged to part with the Napoleon's purposes, and the arrangement was al- plate from his table, in order to be enabled to cover together dropped. it with the necessary food! He was well aware It was about the same time that Sir Hudson Lowe that little compassion would have been paid to him, was desirous to keep the expense of the establish- had he been thought possessed of ready money suf ment within ~12,000. A conferenceon this subject ficient to supply any deficiencies in the tolerably was hell betwixt General Montholon, who took ample allowapce paid by England; and that it was charge of the department of the household, and only the idea of his poverty, proved, as it seemed, Major Gorrequer, belonging to Sir Hudson's staff, by a step, which even private individuals only take who acted on the part of the governor. It appears in a case of necessity, which made his case appear that Sir Hudson had either misapprehended the in- strong and clamant. The feeling of compassion must structions of the government, and deemed himself have given place to one of a very different kind, had rigidly bound to limit the expenses of Longwood the actual circumstances of the case been fully and within ~12,000 yearly, mlot adverting that he had an fairly known. option to extend it beyond that sum; or else that he The communications of General Gourgand, upon considered the surplus above ~1000 per month, to parting with Sir Hudson Lowe, put the governor in consist of such articles of extra expenditure as the possession of the curious fact, that the breaking up French might, in a free interpretation of his instruc- of the plate was a mere trick, resorted to on account tions, be required to pay for themselves, as being of the impression it was calculated to produce in beyond the limits of a general officer's table, pro- England and Europe; for that at the time they had vided upon the most liberal plan. General Mon- at Longwood plenty of money. Sir Hulldson Lowe tholon stated, that the family could not be provided, conjectured, that General Gourgaud alluded to the even after many reductions, at a cheaper rate than sale of som'e stock belonging to Las Cases, the value ~15,194, and that this was the minimum of mini- of which that devoted adherent had placed at Namunzs, the least possible sum. He offered that the poleon's disposal; but General Gourgaud replied, emperor would draw for the sum wanted, providing "No, no; before that transaction they had received he was permitted to send a sealed letter to the 240,000fr., chiefly in Spanish doubloons." HI-e furbanking-house. This, Major Gorrequer said, could ther said, that it was Prince Emngene who lodged not be allowed. Count Montholon then declared, the money in the hands of the bankers. In London that as the emperor was not permitted by the British General Gourgaud made the same conmmunication. 7{i6 LIFE OF NAPOLEON'BONAPARTE. We copy the words in which it is reported to Lord qztisitefor a general oficer of distinction, you will Bathurst: have no difficulty in mntkiny wsrat you deem to be "General Gourqgald stated himself to have been a requisite addition. But, on the other hand, if aware of General Bonaparte having received a con- the expenses which General Bonaparte has himself siderable sum of money in Spanish doubloons, viz. defrayed are beryond what, on a liberal construc~ 10,000, at the very time he disposed of his plate; tion, might be proper for a general officer of distincbut, on being pressed by me as to the persons privy lion, you will permit them, as heretofore, to be deto that transaction, he contented himself with as- frayed from his own funds." suring me, that the mode of its transmission was These positive and reiterated instructions serve one purely accidental; that it could never again to show, that there was never a wish on the part of occur; and that, such being the case, he trusted Britain to deal harshly, or even closely, with Nathat I should not press a discovery, which, while it poleon; as the avowals of General Gourgaud prove betrayed its author, could have no effect, either as on the other hand, that if the governor was too rigid it regarded the punishment of the offenders, or the on the subject of expense, the prisoner possessed prevention of a similar act in future. The actual means sufficient to have saved him from any pospossession of money was, moreover, not likely, in sible consequences of self-denial, which might have his view of the subject, to afford any additional accrued from being compelled to live at so low a means of corrupting the fidelity of those whom it rate as twelve thousand pounds a-year. might be advisable to seduce; as it was well known, The subject of the RESIDENCE of Napoleon contlhat any draught, whatever might be its amount, tinued to furnish great subjects of complaint and drawn by General Bonaparte on Prince Eugene, or commotion. We have recorded our opinion, that, on certain other members of his family, would be firom the beginning, Plantation House, as the best scrupulously honoured." HIe further stated, thatit residence in the island, ought to have been set was Napoleon's policy to make a moyen, a fund for apart for his use. If, however, this was objected execution of his plans, by placing sums of money at to, the building a new house from the foundation, his, General Gourgaud's, command; and that he even with the indifferent means which the island had sustained ill-treatment on the part of Napoleon, affords, would have been far more respectable, and and much importunity on that of Bertrand, because perhaps as economical, as constructing a great lie declined lending himself to facilitate secret cor- wooden frame in London, and transporting it to St respondence. Helena, where it arrived, with the furniture desWhatever sympathy Bonapalrte may claim for tined for it, in MIay, 1816. It was not, however, his other distresses at St Helena, it was made plain, a complete parapluie house, as such structures from this important disclosure, that want of funds have been called, but only the materials for concould be none of theml; and it is no less so, that the structing such a one; capable of being erected setrick of selling the plate can now prove nothilig, parately, or, at Napoleon's choice, of being emexcep!titlg that Napoleon's systenm was a deceptive ployed for making large and commodious additions one; and that evidence of any sort, arising either to the mansion which he already occupied. It befrom his word or actions, is to be received with cau- came a matterofcourtesy to inquire whether it would tion, when there is an apparent point to be carried best answer Napoleon's idea of convenience that ai by it. entirely new edifice should be constructed, or When Sir Hudson Lowe's report reached Eng- whether that end would be better attained by sufland, that the excess of the expenditure at Long- fering the former building to remain, and constructwood, above twelfe thousand pounds, had been de- ing the new one in the form of ain addition to it. frayed by Napoleon himself, it did not meet the We have recounted an interview betwixt Napoleon approbation of the ministry; who again laid before and the governor, in the words of the fornmer, as the governor the distilctionl which he was to draw be- delivered to O'Meara. The present we give as twixt expenses necessary to maintain the table and furnished by Sir Hudson in a dispatch to Lord household of a general officer, and such as might be Bathurst, dated 17th May, 1816: of a nature different firom, and exceeding, those attendant on the household of a person of that rank; * " It becoming necessary to come to some decision which last, and those alone, the French might be call- in respect to the house and furniture which had ed on to defiray. The order is dated 24th Oct., 1817: been sent fronm England for the accommodation of "As I observe from the statement contained in General Bonaparte and his followers, I resolved on' your dispatch, No. 84, that the expense of General waiting upon hin, communicating to him the arrival Bonaparte's establishment exceeds ~12,000 per of the various materials, and asking his sentiments annum, and that the excess beyond that sum has, with respect to their appropriation, before I made up to the date of that dispatch, been defrayed front any disposition of them. I previously called on Geris own funds, I deem it necessary again to call neral Bertrand, to ask if he thought General Bonayour' attention to that part of my dispatch, No. 15, parte would be at leisure to receive me; and on his of the 22d Novenlber last, in which, in limiting the reply, which was in the affirmative, I proceeded to expense to ~12,000 a-year, I still left you at liberty Longwood House, where, having met Count Las to inculr a farther expenditure, should you consider Cases, I begged he would be the bearer of my nresit to be necessary for the comlfort of General Bona- sage to the general, acquainting him with my being parte; and to repeat, that, if you should consider there, if his convenience admitted of being visited the sum of ~12,000 a-year not to be adequate to by me. I received a reply, saying,'The emperor maintain such an establishment as would be re- would see me.' LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 769 "1 passed through his outer dining-room into his I answered,'Sir, I am a soldier according to the drawing-room. He was alone, standing with his fashion of my own country, to do my duty to her hat under his arm, in the manner in which he usually accordingly, and not according to the fashion of fopresents himself' when lie assumles his imperial reigners. Besides, if you conceive you have any dignity. He remlained silent, expecting I woald reason to complain of tle, you have only to put your address him. Finding him not disposed to coin- accusation upon paper, and I will send it to England mence, I began in the following words:-' Sir, you by the first opportunity.' will probably have seen by our English newspapers, "' To what good purpose?' he said;' my coimas well, perhaps, as heard through other channels, plaints will not be more public there than here.' of the intention of the British government to send "'I will cause themu be published,' I answered, out hither for your accommodation the materials for'in all the gazettes of the Continent, if you desire it. the construction of a house, with every necessary I do my duty, and everything else is indifferent to firniture. Tl'ese articles have now for the first iie.' Then, adverting for the first tie to the matter tinle arrived. TIn the imeantime, governmlent has which had brought me to himn, lie said,' Your goreceived infobrniation of the building prepared for vernment has tnade tile no official communication of your reception at tlis pllace, and I have instructions the arrival of this house. Is it to be constructed for appropriating the articles as imay seem best, where I please, or where you may fix it to be?' whether for making a new building, or adding to "' I am now comle, sir, for the express purpose of the conveniences of your present one. Before announcing it to you. I have no difficulty in replying imaking ally disposition on the subject, I waited to to the other point. If there is any particular spot, know whether you had any desires to comlmunicate vhich you mnight have thought of to erect it upon, to nie regarding it.' -le stood as before, and made I will examine it,. and have it erected there, if I see no reply. no objection to it. If I see any objection to it, I will "Observing his silence continue,'I again com- acquaint you with it. It was to conmbine this matter illerced by saying,' I have conceived, sir, that in some degree of concert with you that I aim now porssibly the addition of two or three good roomns- come.' (cdeux ou trois salonta)-to your present house, with "'Then you had better speak to the grand marshal other improvements to it, might add to your con- about it, and settle it with him.' venience in less time than by constructing a new "'I prefer, sir, addressing you upon it. 1 find so building.' Ile then commenced, but spoke with many amzsintelligences happen, when I adopt thle such rapidity, such intemperance, and so much medium of other persons (particularly as in the inwarmth, that it is difficult to repeat every word lie stance of the orders which you mention I had given used. Without apparently having lent an ear to for forcing an entrance into your private apartments), what I said, he began-' I do not at all understand that I find it more satisfactory to address yourself.' the conduct of your government towards me. Do "He made no particular reply to this, walked they desire to kill mie? And do you come here to about for a moment, and then working himself up be niy executioner, as well as my gaoler? —Poste- apparently to say something which lie thought would rity xwill judge of the manner in which I have been appal me with extraordinary surprise or dread, he treated.'Th'le misfortunes which I suffer will recoil said,-' Do you wish me, sir, to tell you the truth? upon your nation. No, sir; never will I suifer any Yes, sir, I ask you if you desire me to tell you the Ierson to enter into the interior of my house, or pene- truth? I believe that you have received orders to trate into my bed-chamber, as you have given orders. kill me —yes, to kill me-yes, sir, I believe that you When I beard of your arrival in this island, I be- have received orders to stick at nothing-nothing.' lieved that, as being an officer of the army, you IIe then looked at me, as if expecting a reply. My would be possessed of a more polite character than answer was —'You were pleased to remark, sir, in the admiral, wvho is a navy-officer, and might have our last interview, that you had miscalculated the more harsh manners. I have no reason to complain spirit of the English people. Give me leave to say, of his heart. But, you, sir-in what manner do you at present calculate as erroneously the spirit of you treat rue? It is an insult to invite me to din- an English soldier.' ner by the name of General Bonaparte. I amn not " Our interview here terminated; and, as if neiGeneral Bcnaparte-I ain the Emperor Napoleon. ther of us had anything more to say, we mutually I ask you again, —have you come hither to be my separated." gaoler —my hangman?' Whtilst speaking in this manllner, his rigllt artm moved backward and for- Sir Hudson received a letter in reply to his account war(; his person stood fixed; his eyes and coun- of this strange and violent scene, in which his fortenance exhibiting everything which could be sup- bearance and firmness are approved of. But we posed in a person who meant to intimidate or irritate. quote it, chiefly because it marks the intention of the I "I suffered him to proceed throughout, not with- British governiment with respect to Bonaparte, and out a stronlg feeling of restraint on myself, until he shows the consideration which they had for his pecnwas really out of breath, when, on his stopping, I liar condition, and the extent of forbearance which said,' Sir, I am niot come here to be instulted, but to it was their desire should be extended towards him treat of an affair which regards you more than me. by the Governor of St Helena: if you are not disposed to talk upcon the subject —' "' I have no interntion to insult you, sir,' he re- "There is a wide distinction between the conduct plied;'but in what sort of manner have you treated which you ought to hold towards General Bonaparte, me? is it in a soldier-like fashion?' and towards those who have chosen to follow his vol. v,. 9 7 770 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. fortunes, by accompanying him to St Helena. mitting to indifferent accommodation, rather than "It wduld be a want of generosity not to make communicate with a man whom he seemed to hold great allowance for the intemperate language into in abhorrence, Napoleon only acted upon his general which the former may at times be betrayed. The system, of which this was a part, and sacrificed his height from wlhence he has been precipitated, and convenience, as lhe afterwards did his health, rather all the circumstances which have attended his fail, than hend his mind to comply with the regulatiens. are sufficient to overset a mind less irritable than of his place of captivity. Mr Ellis, an unprejudic.d his; and it is to be apprehended tthat he can find witness, declares that the original house seerred to little consolation in his reflections, either in the him commodious and well furnished. means by which he obtained his power, or his man- The fate of the new house was singular enough. ner of exercising it. So long, therefore, as his vio- It was at last erected, and is said to he a large and lence is confined to words, it must be borne with- comfortable building. But it happened, that tilhe always understanding, and giving him to understand, plan directed the building to be surrounded, as is that any wilful transgression, on his part, of the common in England, with something like a sunk rules which you may think it necessary to prescribe ditch, surrounded by cast-iron railing of an ornafor the security of his person, will place you under mental character. No sooner had Napoleon seen the necessity of adopting a system of restraint, which these preparations, than the idea of a firtification it will be most painful to you to inflict. and a dungeon entered into his head; nor was it "With respect to his followers, they stand in a possible to convince him that thIe rails and sunk very different situation; they cannotbe too frequently fence were not intended as additional men'ns of sereminded, that their continuance in the island is an act curing his person. When Sir Hudson Lowe learned of indulgence on the part of the British government; the objection which had been started, he ordered and you will inform them that you have received the ground to be leveled, and the palisade removed. strict instructions to remove them from the person But before this was accomplished, Napoleon's of General Bonaparte, and to transport them out of health was too much broken to permit of his being the island, if they shall not conduct themselves with removed, so that he died under the same roof which that respect which your situation demands, and with received him after his temporary residence at Briars. that strict attention to your regulations which is the Another subject of complaint, which Napoleon indispensable condition on which their residence in greatly insisted upon, was, that the Governor of St the island is permitted." Helena had not been placed there merely as a Iministerial person, to see duly executed the instructions The stormy dispute which took place on the,17th which he should receive fromn Britain, but as a legisAMay, 1816, left everything unsettled with respect lator, himself possessing and exercising the power to the house; and indeed it may be conjectured, to alter the regulations under which his prisoner was without injustice, that Napoleon preferred the old to be confined, to recal them, to suspend them), and and inconvenient mansion, with thie right to com- finally, to replace them. To this it must be answered, plain of it as a grievance, to the new and commo- that in such a situation, where the governor holding dious one, the possession of which must have shut so important a charge was at so great a distance his lips upon one fertile subject of mlisrepresentation. from the original source of his power, some discreRepeated and equally nugatory discussions on the tionary authority must necessarily be lodged in him, swubject took place during the course of two or three since cases must occur where he was to act on the years, all which time Napoleon complained of the event as it arose, and it was indispensable that he want of the promised house, and the governor, on should possess the power to do so. It must also be his side, alleged, there was no getting Napoleon to remembered, that different constructions might posexpress a fixed opinion on the situation or the plan, sibly be given to the instructions firom the secretary or to say whether he would prefer a thorough repair ofstate; and it would, in that case, have been equally of the old house, occupying Monsieur Bertrandrs anomalous and inconvenient, should the governor not apartments in the meanwhile, until the work should have had it in his power to adopt that explanation be accomplished. Sometimes Napoleon spoke of iwhich circumstances demanded, and not less so if changing the situation of the house, hbt he never, he had been obliged to litigate the point with his according to Sir Hudson Lowe's averment, intinmated prisoner, and, as a mnere ministerial person must any specific Iish upon that subject, nor wo'lld con- have done, wait till a commentary oil the disputed descend to say distinctly in what place it should be article should arrive fromi EDngland. erected. Napoleon on his part maintained, that he It is a different question, and on which we are far was confined for three years in an unhealthy barn, firom having so clear an opinion, whether Sir hiudson during which time the governor was perpetually Lowe, in every case, exercised this high privilege talking about a house which had never been com- with sound discretion. It would be unjust to conmenced. While the blame is thus reciprocally demn him unheard, who has never fairly been put retorted, the impartial historian can only say, that upon his defence, and the evidence against whom' bad Sir Hudson Lowe delayed willingly the build- is, we must again say, of a very suspicious naturel ing of the house, he must have exposed himself to Still it appears, that alterations of the existing reguse'ere censure from his government in consequence, lations were, as far as we have information, more since his dispatches were daily urging the task. frequent than necessity, the best if not the only apoThere was nothing which the governor could place logy for varying the manner of such proceedings, againstthis serious risk, except the malicious purpose seems to have authorized. of distressing Napoleon. On the other hand, in sub- For example, one of the heaviest of Napoleon's t-_ _ LIFE OF NAPOLE()N BONAPARTE. 771 complainit;s isade against the restriction of the time to time, his rambles through tile whole of the limits wil, thk'ich he might take exercise vithout island mighlt have been permitted, even without the the companb;.f a British officer, which, instead of presence of a tuilitary officer. extending twv-elv miles in cirlcumference, were This regulation was another circumstance, otf contracted'o lwv-tilds of that space. Everything which Napoleon most heavily complained. lie rein this wor14 izi re.tiive, and we call conceive the garded the company of such attendant as a mark of loss of one-third of In1i exercising ground to have his defeat anrd imprisonment, and resolved, therebeen, at this ai.cicent, a more sincere subject of dis- fore, rather to submit to remain within thIe limits of tress to Napo tloi, tha.; tble loss of a kingdom while the grounds of LongWood, narrow as they were, h e yet governe Eurlope The apology alleged for than, by stirring without them, to expose himself to this was the disposition which Napoleon seemed to the necessity of admitting the company of this odious show, to cultivate the acqua.iotance of the inhabitants guardian. It may be thought, that in thus judging, of St Helena more than it was advisable that he Napoleon did not adopt the most philosophical or should have the opportunity of doing. We can even the wisest opinion. Misfortune in war is no easily conceive this to be truea for not only might disgrace; and to be prisoner, has been the lot beNapoleon be disposefd, from p;, icy, to make friends fore now both of kings and empelols. Tie orderly among the better classes by hi: irresistible concilia- officers, also, who were ready to accompany Napotion of manners, and of the lowe, class by fainliliarity leon in his ride, might be often men of information and largesses; but lhe muit also be supposed, with and accomplishment; and their society and converthe feelings natural to humanity in distress, to seek sation could not but have added sonme variety to days some little variety from the monotony of existence, so little diversified as those spent by Napoleon. some little resumption of connexion with the human The prisoner, however, was incapable of de-ivrace, from which, his few followers excepted, he ing amusement from ally such source. It might be wvas in a manner excluded. But this aptitude to as well expected that the occupant of a dungeon mingle with such society as chance threw within his should amuse himself with botanizing in the ditches reach, in his very limited range, might perhaps have which moat it round. Napoleon could not forget been indulged without the possibility of his making what he had been and what Ihe was, and plainly any bad use of it, especially since no one could enter confessed by his conduct that he was contented rather these grounds without passes and orders. The limits to die, than to appear in public, wearing the badge were shortly after restored by Sir Hudson Lowe to of his fate, like one who was sitting down resigned their original extent, Napoleon having declared that to it. unless this were the case, he would not consent to While so averse to this regulation, Napoleon had take exercise, or observe the usual means of keeping not taken the proper mode of escaping fron its inhimself in health. fluence. Sir George Cockburn, upon his reinonThe injunction requiring that Bonaparte should strance after his first arrival, had granted to him a daily be seen by an orderly officer was, under Sir dispensation firom tihe attendance of all orderly offil1udson Lowe's authority, as it had been tunder that cer, at least in his immediate company or vicinity. of Sir George Cockburn, the subject of Bonaparte's This privilege was suddenly -withdrawn while the most violent opposition. He affected to apprehend admiral was yet upon the island, and both Napoleon that it was to be enforced by positive violence, and and the various St lIelena authors, Las Cases in carried this so far as to load fire-arms, with tile idea particular, make the most bitter complaints on the of resisting by force any attempt of an orderly officer tantalizing conduct of Sir George Cockburn, who to insist upon performing this part of his duty. Ile gave an indulgence, as it would seem, only with the alludes resentfully to the circumstance in his angry cruel view of recalling it the next morning. The interview with Sir Hudson Lowe upon the 17th truth is here told, but not the whole truth. NapoMay, 1816. Yet, of all unpleasant regulations to leon had engaged to the admiral, that in considerawhich a prisoner is subjected by his captivity, that tion of this indulgeuce, he would not enter into any appears the least objectionable, which, assurilg us intercourse witht any of the inhabitants whom he from space to space that the person of the prisoner might meet d(luring the time of his excursion. He is secure, enables us, in the interval, to leave him chose to break through his promise the very first a much greater share of personal freedom than time that he rode out alone, or only with his suite; otherwise could be permitted, because the shortness and hence Sir George Cockburn, considering faith of each interval does not allow him time to use it in as broken with him, recalled the permission altoescape. Nevertheless, Sir Hudson Lowe, as al- gether. It was not, therefore, with a good grace, ready hinted, was content in this case to yield to that Napoleon complained of the want of inclination, the vwiolenut threats of Napoleon, and rather suffer on the part of the governor, to restore an indulgence the dity to-beexercised imperfectly and by chance, to him, which he had almost instantly made a use than run the risk of his prisoner perishinginn the af- of that was contrary to his express engagement. fray which:his obstinacy threatened. Perhaps the The truth is, that the ex-emlperor had his own pegovernor:may be in this case rather censured as culiar manner of viewing hsis own case. lie consihaving given up:a point impressed upomn him by his dered every degree of leniiency, which was at any original.instructions, than blamed for executing timne exercised, as a restoration of some small porthem too strictly against the remarkable person who tion of that liberty, of which he conceived himself was his prisoner. Wee cannot but repeat the opinion to be deprived illegally and tyrannically; and scruwe have been led to forum, that. could Bonaparte's pled no more to employ what he got in endeavouring bodily }ve.seace have been exactly ascertained from to attain a farther degree of freedom, than the pai 772 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. stner whose hand is extricated from fetters would smuggled ashore at St Helena, under the disguise ismitate to employ it in freeing his feet. There can of' tracts distributed by a religious society. Another b1 no doubt, that if by means of such a privilege as instance is mentioned by Count Las Cases, who, riding without the attendance of an officer, he could when removed from Longwood, and debarred firom have arranged or facilitated any mode of final personally communicating with his master, felt conescape, he would not have hesitated to use it to siderable difficulty in discovering a mode of conveythat effect. ing to him a diamond necklace of great value, which But on the other hand, such being his way of had been intrusted to his keeping, and which Napothinking, and hardly disguised, it put the governor leon might want after his departure. He addressed strongly on his guard against granting any relaxation at hazard the first decent-looking person he saw of the vigilance necessary for effectually confining going to Longwood, and conrjured himn, in the most him. Indulgences of this nature are, so far as they pathetic manner, to take charge of the packet. Th'Ile go, a species of confidence reposed in the captive stranger slackened his pace without speaking, and by the humanity of his keeper, and cannot, in per- pointed to his coat-pocket. Las Cases dropj in the fect good faith, be used to purposes, which must packet; and the jewels, thus consigned to the faith lead to the disgrace, or perhaps the ruin, of the of an unknown person, reached their owner in party who grants them. If, therefore, Napoleon safety. showed himself determined to hold a closer and It is honourable to humanity, that distress of more fiequent intercourse with tile natives of St almost any kind, but especially that which affects Helena, and the strangers who visited the island, than the imagination by exciting the memory of fallen Sir Hudson Lowe approved, it only remained for greatness, should find assistants even among those the latter to take car4 that such interviews should who were enemies to that greatness when in prosnot occur without a witness, by adhering to the re- perity. But it was the duty of the governor to strictions, which required thataBritish officer should take heed, that neither overstrained notions of attend upon the more distant excursions of the hard- romantic compassion and generosity, nor the temptaruled captive. tion of worse motives, should lead to any combinaIt is to be remarked, that this intercourse with tion which might frustrate his diligence; and Napothe inhabitants, and others who visited St Helena, leon, having at once avarice and the excess of was no imaginary danger, but actually existed to a generosity to solicit in his favour, the governor considerable extent, and for purposes calculated to naturally secluded him as much as he could from alarm Sir Hudson Lowe's watchfulness, and to those individuals, who might be liable to be gained transgress in a most material respect his instructions over to his interest by such powerful seductions. from government. The disclosures of General Upon the 7th January, 1818, the governmentn of Gourgaud are on these points decisive. That officer Britain intimated their approbation of' the en.alrge. "had no difficulty in avowing, that there has always ment of Napoleon's bounds of exercise to tie ordiexisted a free and uninterrupted communication be- nary limits, which had been for a time restricted; twixt the inhabitants of Longwood and the country, and, in order to preserve for him the opportunity of' without the knowledge or intervention of the go- keeping up society with such of the people of' the vernor; and that this has been made use of, not only island as he might desire to receive on business, or for the purpose of receiving and transmitting letters, as visitors, the following regulation was adopted:-I but for that of transmitting pamphlets, mnoney, and other articles, of which the party in Longwood " Respecting the intercourse with the inhabitants, might firom time to time have been in want; and that I see no material objection to the placing it upon the correspondence was for the most part carried the footinig recently suggested by Count Bertrand, on direct with Great Britain. That the persons as it is one which he represents would be more conemployed in it were those Englishmen who from sonantto General Bonaparte's wishes. The count's time to time visit St Helena, to all of whom the proposition is, that a list of a given number of' attendants and servants of Bonaparte have free ac- persons, resident in the island, should be made out, cess, and who, generally speaking, are willing, who shall be at once admitted to Lonigwood on the many of them without reward, and others for very general's own invitation, without a previous applicasmall pecuniary considerations, to convey to Europe tion being made to your excellency on each inviany letter or packet intrusted to their charge. It tation. You will, therefore, consider yourself at would appear also, that the captains and others on liberty to accede to the suggestions of Count Berboard the merchant ships touching at the islanld, trand; and you will for this purpose direct him to whether belonging to the East India Company, or to present to you, for your approbation, a list of perother persons, are considered at Longwood as be- sons, not exceeding fifty in number, resident in the ing peculiarly open to the seduction of Bonaparte's island, who may be admitted to Longwood at reasontalents; so much so, that the inhabitants of Long- able hours, without any other pass than the invitawood have regarded it as a matter of small difficulty tion of General Bonaparte, it being understood to procure a passage on board one of these ships for that they are on each occasion do deliver in the inGeneral Bonaparte, if escape should at any time ble vitation as a voucher, with their names, at the barhis object." rier. In giving your approbation to the list, you In corroboration of what is above stated, of the will, as far as is consistent with your duty, consult free communication betwixt St Helena arid Europe, the wishes of General Bonaparte; but you will let occurs the whimsical story told by Dr Antomnmarchi, it be clearly understood, that you reserve to yourof a number of copies of Dr O'Meara's book being self a discretionary power of erasing from the list, at LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 773 any time, any of those individuals, to whom you may might have found means, in some happy moment, of have fibtnd it inexpedient to continue such extra- re-establishing a tolerable and ostensible good unordinary facility of access; and you will take special derstanding, if not a heartfelt cordiality, which, care, that a report be always made to you by the could it have existed, would so much have lessened orderly officer, of the several persons admitted to the vexations and troubles, both of the captive and Longwood upon General Bonaparte's invitation." of the governor. All this is very easily conceived. But in order to form the idea of such a man, we *We have touched upon these various subjects of must suppose him, in the case in question, stoically grievance, not as being the only causes of dispute, impassive to insults of the grossest kind, insults or rather of violent discord, which existed betwixt poured on him before he had done anything which the Ex-Emperor of France and the Governor of' St could deserve them, and expressed in a manner Helena, for there were many others. It is not in which plainly intimated the determination of Napoour purpose, however, nor even in our power, to leon to place himself at once on the most hostile give a detailed or exact history of these particular terms with him. This must have required the most quarrels, but merely to mark,-as our duty, in this uncommon share of calmness and candour. It is a very painful one, demands,-what was the cha- more natural that such a functionary as the Governor racter and general scope of the debate which was of St Helena, feeling the impulse of ill-usage fiom so violently conducted on both sides. Of course it a quarter where no regular satisfaction could be follows, that a species of' open war having been de- had, if he did not use the power which he held dared betwixt the parties, every one of the various for the time, to the actual annoyance and vexation points of discussion which must necessarily have of the party by whom he had been deliberately inarisen betwixt Sir Hudson Lowe and Napoleon, or suited, would be apt at least to become indifferent through their respective attendants and followers, how much, or how little, his prisoner was affected was turned into ratter of offence on the one side or by the nleasulres which he adopted, and to go forthe other, and as such warmly contested. It is ward with the necessary means of confining the thus, that, when two armies approach each other, person, without being so solicitous as he might otherthe most peaceful situations and positions lose their wise have been to spare the feelings. An officer, ordinary character, and become the subjects of at- termed to his face, a liar, a brigand, an assassin, a tack and defence. Every circumstance, whether of robber, a hangman, has few terms to keep wvith him busin ss or of etiquette, which occurred at St He- by whom he has been loaded with such unworthy letna, was certain to occasion some dispute betwixt epithets; and who, in using them, may be considered Nal)oleon and Sir Hudson Lowe, the progress and as having declared mutual war, and disclaimed the termiination of' which seldom passed without ar courtesy, while he defied the power, of the person iaggra vation of mutual hostilities. It is beneath the to whom he addressed them. dignity of history to trace these tracasseries; and In the same manner, judging with the coolness of beyond possibility, unless for one present on the a third party, we should be inclined to say, that the spot, and possessed of all the minute information at- immediate attendants and followers of Napoleon itending each subject of quarrel, to judge which had might have here served their master more effectually, the right or the wrong. by endeavouring to accommodate the subjects of It would be, indeed, easy for us, standing aloof dispute with Sir Hudson Lowe, than by aggravating and remote from these agitating struggles, to pass a and carrying them still farther by their own suborsweeping condemnation on the one party or the dinate discussions with the governor and his aidesother, or perhaps upon each of them; and to show de-camp, and thus heating their master's passions that reason and temper on either side would have by their own. But while that was the line of conled to a very different proceeding on both, had it duct to be desired, it is impossible to deny that been permitted by those human infirmities to which, another was more naturally to be expected. Geneunhappily, those who have power or pretensions rals Bertrand, Montholon, and Gourgaud, were all are more liable than the common class, who never soldiers of high reputation, who, rising to fame under possessed the one, and make no claim to the other. Napoleon's eye, had seen their own laurels flourish Neither would it be difficlllt for us to conceive a alongr with his. In the hour of adversity, they had Governor of St Helena, in the abstract, who, treating most laudably and honourably followed him, and the reviling and reproaches with which he was on were now sharing with him the years of solitude all occasions loaded by Bonaparte, as the idle and exile. It was not, therefore, to be wondered at, chidings of a storm, which must howl around what- that they, wearied of their own restrained and soliever it meets in its course, would, with patience and tary condition, enraged, too, at everything which equlanimnity, have suffered the tempest to expend its appeared to add to the calamitous condition of their rage, and die away in weakness, the sooner that it fallen master, should be more disposed to increase found itsflf unresisted. WVe can conceive such a the angry spirit which manifested itself on both sides, person wrapping himself up in his own virtue, and, than, by interposing their niediation, to endeavour while lie discharged to his country the duty she had to compose jars which might well render Napoleon's intrusted to him, striving, at the same time, by such state more irritable and uncomfotrtable, but could acts of indulgence as might be the more gratifying not, in any point of view, tend to his comfort, peace, because the less expected, or perhaps merited, to or even respectability. melt down the sullenness which the hardship of his But perhaps we might have been best entitled to situation naturally imposed on the prisoner. We hope, from the high part which Napoleon had llayed can even conceive that a man of stich rare temper in the world, from the extent of his genius, and the 774 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. natural pride arising from the consciousness of talent, ter, form, unhappily, the most marked events of some indifference towards objects of mere form and Napoleon's latter life. For the five years and seven ceremony, some confidence in the genuine character months that he remained in the island of St Helena, of his own natural elevation, and a noble contempt few circumstances occurred to vary the melancholy of the change which fortune could make on circum- tenor of his life, excepting those which affected his stances around him. We might have hoped that one temper or his health. Of the general causes inwhose mental superiority over the rest of his species fluencing the former we have given some account; was so undeniable, would have been the last to seek the latter we shall hereafter allude to. Our present with eagerness to retain the frippery and feathers of object is a short and general view of his personal which the wind of adverse fortune had stripped him, and domestic habits, while in this melancholy and or to be tenacious of that etiquette, which now, if secluded habitation. yielded to him at all, could only have been given by Napoleon's life, until his health began to give way, compassion. We might have thought the conqueror was of the most regular and monotonous character. in so many bloody conflicts would, even upon pro- Having become a very indifferent sleeper, perhaps vocation, have thought it beneath him to enter on a firom his custom of assigning during the active part war of words with the governor of an islet in the of his life no precise time for repose, his hours Atlantic, where foul language could be the only of rising were uncertain, depending upon the rest weapon on either side, and held it a yet greater de- which he had enjoyed during the earlier part of the rogation, so far to lay aside his high character, as to night. It followed from this irregularity, that durbe the first to engage in so ignoble a conflict. It ing the day-time he occasionally fell asleep, for a might, we should have supposed, have been antici- few minutes, upon his couch or arm-chair. At pated by such a person, not only that calmn and pa- times his favourite valet-de-chambre, Marchand, tient endurance of inevitable misfortunes is the read to him while in bed until hle was composed to noblest means of surmounting them, but that, even rest, the best remedy, perhaps, for that course of with a view to his liberty, such conduct would have "thick-coming fancies," which must so oft have been most advisable, because most politic. The disturbed the repose of one in circumstances so sinpeople of Europe, and especially of Britain, would gular and so melancholy. So soon as Napoleon have been much sooner apt to unite in the w:sh to arose from bed, he either began to dictate to one see him removed from confinement, had he borne of his generals (Montholon or Gourgaud generally), himself with philosophical calmness, than seeing and placed upon record such passages of his rehim, as they did, still evincing within his narrow markable life as he desired to preserve; or, if the sphere the restless and intriguing temper which had weather and his inclination suited, he went out for so long disturbed the world, and which now showed anhour or two on horseback. He sometimes break. itself so engrained in his constitution, as to lead him fasted in his own apartment, sometimes with his on to the unworthy species of warfare which we suite, generally about ten o'clock, anrdalmost always have just described. lBut the loftiest and proudest & la fouzrchette. The fore part of the day he beings of mere humanity are like the image which usually devoted to reading, or dictating to one or the Assyrian monarch beheld in his dream,-blended other of his suite, and about two or three o'clock of various metals, uniting that which is vile with received such visitors as had pernmission to wait those which are most precious; that which is frail, upon him. An airing in the carriage or on horseweak, and unsubstantial, with what is most per- back usually succeeded to this species of levee, on durable and stlong. Napoleon, like many an em- which occasions he was attended by all his suite. peror and hero before him, sunk under his own Their horses, supplied from the Cape of Good Hope, passions after having vanquished nations, and be- were of a good race and handsome appearance. came in his exile the prey of petty spleen, which On returning from his airings, he again resumed racked him almost to frenzy, and induced him to the book, or caused his aimanuensis take upl the plen hazard his health, or perhaps even to throw away until dinner time, which was about eight o'clock at his life, rather than submit witll dignified patience night. Iie preferred plain food, and eat plentito that which his misfortunes had rendered un- fllly, and with an apparent appetite. A very few avoidable. glasses of claret, scarce amnounting to an English ECHAPTER CXIV. pint in all, and chiefly drank during tile tile of dinner, completed his meal. Somletimles he drank Naolpoeon's domestic -habitsu-Mz aner in which he spent champagne; but his constitutional sobriety was the day-is dress-Ntre' efrgets o Me- such, that a large glass of' that more generous wine moirs he dictated to 1lessrs Gozurgaud and Montholon. I -His particular taste in belles lettrgts lad M to adle inmnediately brought a degree of colour to his cheek. Ossian.- His attachine.nt to the drama —prefers Racine No man appears to have been i-n a less degree tha.l and Corneille to Voltaire.-Dislike of Tacitus. —His vin- Napoleon subject to' the influence of those appedication of the character of Caesar.-His behaviour to- tites which man has in common with the lawer wards tie persons os of his AousehoIld- - musements aid range of nature. lie never took more than two earercises. —His character of Sir Pulteiey Malcolm. — meals a-day, and concluded each with a small c,:p Degree of his intercourse with the islanders, anld with of clee. After dinner, chess, cards, a volume of visitors to the island.-Intervieu' witkh Captain Bacsil light literature, read aloued for the benefit of his suite, lall-4vith Lord Amherst aeul tle gentlemne attached to or general conversation, in which the ladies of his the Chinese embassy. the Chinese embassy. sui-te occasionally joined, served to consume the TrE unpleasant and discreditable disputes of evening till ten or elevens, about whichl time he re.. which we have given some account in the last chain- tired to his apartment, and went imtnmediately t, bed. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 775 We may add to this brief account of Napoleon's ruling powers; but the same principle induced him domestic habits, that he was very attentive to the to spare his friends, and to afford no handle against duties of the toilet. He usually appeared in the them for their past efforts in his favour, and no momorning in a white night-gown, with loose trowsers tive for taking from them the power of rendering him and stockings joined in one, a chequlered red Madras farther service, if they should be in a capacity to do handkerchief round his head, and his shirt collar so. open. When dressed, lie wore a green uniform, These considerations operated as a check upon the very plainly made, and without ornament, similar to pen of the historian; and it may be truly said, that that which by its simplicity used to mark the sove- no man who has written so much of his own life, and reign amlong the splendid dresses of the Tuileries, that consisting of such singular and important events, white waistcoat, and white or nankeen breeches, has told so little of himself which was not known with silk stockings, and shoes with gold buckles, a before firom other sources. But the present is not black stock, a triangular cocked lihat, of the kind to the less valuable; for there is sometimes as much be seen in all the caricatures, with a very small information derived from the silence as from the astri-coloured cockade. He usually wore, when in sertions of him whoaspires tobe his own biographer; full dress, the ribbon and grand cross of the Legion and an apology for, or vindication of, the course of of Honour. a remarkable life, however -partially written, perSuch were the personal habits of Napoleon, on haps conveys the most information to tile reader, next which there is little for the imagination to dwell, to that candid confession of faults and errors, which after it has once received the general idea. The is so very seldom to be obtained in autobiography. circumstance of the large portion of his time em- Napoleon's Memoirs, together with the labour ployed in dictation alone interests our curiosity, and apparently bestowed upon his controversial panmmakes us anxious to know with whv-at he could have phlets written against Sir Hudson Lowe. seem to found means to occupy so many pages, and so many have furnished the most important part of his occuholurs. Tile fragmnents upon nmilitary subjects, dic- pation whilst at St Helena, and probably also of tated firom time to time to Generals Gourgaud and his amusement. It was not to be expected that in Montholon, are not voluminous enough to account sickness and calamity lie could apply himself to for the leisure expended in this manner; and even study, even if his youth had furnished hinir with when we add to them the number of pamphlets and more stores to work upon. It must be remembered works issuing from St Helena, we shall still find that his whole education had been received at the room to suppose, either that manuscripts remain Military School of Brienne, where. indeed he diswhich have not yet seen the light, or that Napoleon played a strong taste for the sciences. But the was a slow composer, and fastidious in the choice studies of mathematics and algebra iwere so early of his language. The last conjecture seems most connected and carried on with a view to the milil probable, as the French are particularly scrupulous tary purposes in which he employed them, that it in the punctilios of composition, and Napoleon, em- may be questioned whether he retained any relish peror as lie had been, mulst have known that he would for prosecuting his scientific pursuits in the characleceive no mercy from tile critics upon that parti- ter of an inquirer into abstract truths. The praccular. tical results had been so long his motive, so long Tlhe avow-ed works themselves, fragments as they Ihis object, that he ceased to enjoy the use of the are, are extremely interesting in a military point of theoretical means, when there was no siege to be viewv; and'those in which the campaigns of Italy are formed, no complicated mlanoeuvres to he alrranged, d&scribed coLqain niany most inv-aluable lessons on no great military purpose to be gained by the disthe art of war. Their political value is by no means play of his skill,-but when all was to begin and sO considerable. Goargaud seems to have formed end with the discussion of a problem. a trule estimation of them, when, in answer to Baron That Napoleon had a natural turn for belles letStulrier's inquiries whether Napoleon was writing tres is unquestionable; but his leisure never perhIis histtry, lie expressed himself thus: "He writes mitted him to cultivate it, or to refine his taste or disjoinlted i'agrants, which he will never finish. judgment on such subjects. The recommendation, \Vllen asked why he will not put history in possession which, in 1783, described him as fit to be sent to of the exact fact, he answers, it is better to leave the Military School at Paris, observes, that lie is something to be guessed than to tell too much. tolerably acquainted with history and geography, It would also seem, that not considering his extra- but rather deficient in polite accomplishments, and ordinary destinies as entirely accomplished, he is in the Latin language. At seventeen years of age unwvilling to detail plans which have not been exe- he joined the regiment of La Fere, and thus ended curted, and which he Ynay one day resume with o-re all the opportunities afforded him of regular educasuccess." To these reasons for leaving blanks and tion. He read, however, very extensively, but, imperfections in his proposed history, should be like all young persons, with little discriminat;on, added the danger which a faithful and unreserved and more to amuse himself than for the purpose of narrative niust have entailed upon many of the instruction. Before he had arrived at that more actors iin the scenes firom wl;ich he was lifting the advanced period when youth of such talent as veil. It is no doubt tlrue, that Napoleon seems sys- his, and especially when gifted with such a powertematically to have painted hlis enermies, more espe- ful memory, usually think of arranging and classicially such as had been once his adherents, in the fying the information whieh they have collected most odious colours, and particularly in such as during their earlier course of miscellaneous reading, seemed likely to render them nlost obnoxious to the the tumults of Corsica, and subsequently the siege 776 LIFtE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. ofToulon, carried him into those, scenes of war and while away the tedious hours of his imprisonrnent. business which were his element during the rest This was an indication that he still retained the nai' his life, anld down to the period we now speak of. tional taste of France, where few neglect to attend The want of informration which we have noticed, the spectacle, in one form or another, during the he supplied, as most able men do, by the assistance space betwixt dinner and the reunion of society in derived friom conversing with persons possessing the evening. Next to seeing his ancient favourite knowledge, and capable of communicating it. No Talma, was to Napoleon tile reading some of those one was ever more dexterous than Napoleon at chefs-d'oeuvre to which he had seen and heard him extracting from individuals the kind of informlation give life and personification. He is himself said to which each was best qualified to impart; and in have read with taste and effect, which agrees with many cases, while in the act of doing so, he con- the traditions that represent him as having been trived to conceal his own ignorance, even of that early attached to theatrical representations. It was which lie was anxiously wishing to know. But al- in the discussions following these readings, which though in this manner he might acquire facts and Las Cases has preserved with so much zeal, that results, it was impossible to make himself master, Bonaparte displayed his powers of conversation, and on such easy terms, of general principles, and the expressed his peculiar habits and opinions. connexion betwixt them and the conclusions which Corneille and Racine stood much higher in his esthey lead to. timation than Voltaire. There seems a good reason It was no less certain, that though in this manner for this. They wrote their immortal works for the Napoleon could obtain by discoursing with others meridian of a court, and at the command of the the insulated portions of information which he was most monarchical of monarchs, Louis XIV. Their desirous of acquiring, and though the knowledge productions, therefore, contain nothing that can so acquired served his immediate purpose in public wound the ear of the most sensitive sovereign. In life, these were not habits which could induce him the King of Denmark's phrase, they "have no ofto resulme those lighter subjects of study so interest- fence in them." ing and delightful in youth, but which an advanced With Voltaire it is different. The strong and age is unwilling to undertake, and slow to profit by. searching spirit, which afterwards caused the French [le had, therefore, never corrected his taste in the Revolution, was abroad at his time, and though unbelles lettres, but retained his admiration for Os- aware of the extent to which it might lead, the phisian, and other books which had fascinated his losopher of Ferney was not the less its proselyte. early attention. The declamatory tone, redun- There were many passages, therefore, in his works, dancy of expression, and exaggerated character, which could not but be instantly applied to the of the poetry ascribed to the Celtic bard, suit the changes and convulsions of the period during which taste of very young persons; but Napoleon conti- Napoleon had lived, to the despotic character of nued to retain his relish for them to the end of his his governnlent, anti to the plans of fieedom which life; and, in soine of his proclamations arid bul- had sunk under the influence of his sword. On this letins, we can trace the hyperbolical and bombas- account Voltaire, whose composition recalled paintic expressions which pass upon us in youth for the ful comparisons and recollections, was no favolurite sublime, but are rejected as taste and reason become with Napoleon. The Mah.omnet of that autlhm, lie refined and improved. There was indeed this apo- particularly disliked, avowing, at the same tihee, ldi. logy for Napoleon's lingering fondness for Ossian, respect for the Oriental impostor, whom lhe acrcllsel that the Italian translation, by Cmasarotti, is said to the poet of traducing and misrepresenting. Perhaps be one of the most heautiful specimens of' the Tus- he secretly acknowledged a certain degree of recan language. The work was almost constantly semblance between his own career and that of time beside hin. youthful camel-driver, who, risinag fiom a Ilneoal Historical, philosophical, or moral works, seem origin in his native tribe, became at once thet c(imore rarely to have been resorted to for the aliuSe- qtueror and the legislator of so many nationlls. Perrments of Longwoc;d. We have, indeed, been inform- haps, too, he remembered his own procla:namiliins ed, that the only books of this description for which while in Egypt, in the assumed character of a.nusNapoleon showed a decided partiality, were those lem, which he was wont to term by the ttrue liphr;se of Machiavel and Montesquieu, which he did not of charlatanerie, bult adding that it was chulrllataperhaps consider as fit themes of public recitation; nerie of a high and elevated character. Tacitus, who holds the mirror so close to the features The character of Cmsar was another which Napoof sovereigns, he is said always to have held in leon always strove to vindicate. The French geneaversion, and seldom to have mentioned without ral could not be indifferent to the Roinan leadler, termts of censure or dislike. Thus will the patient who, like himself, having at first risen into notice by sometimes lo'ath the sight of the most wholesomre his victories over tlhe enemies of the republic, had, medicine. The French novels of the day were also like himself, ended the struggles between the somnctimnes tried as a resource; but the habits of patricians and plebeians of ancient Rome, by reorder and decency which Napoleon observed ren- ducingo both parties equally under his own absolute dered their levities andindelicacies unfitted for such dominion; who would have proclaimed himself society. their sovereign even by the proscribed title of king, There remainedl another departmlent of literatture, had lie not been prevented by conspiracy; and who, from which the party at Longwood derived frequent when he had conquered his country, thought of noresources. Thie dratla occlrpied a col:sideralble part thing so much as extending an empire, already much of those readings with which Napoleon used to too large, over tile distant regions of Scythia arnd LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 777 Parthia. The points of personal difference, indeed, vation. lie appears to have had none of the fanatiwerfe considerable; for neither did Napoleon'n- cism for music which characterizes the Italians; and dulge in the gross debauchery and sensuality iniput- it is well known that in Italy he put a stop to the ed to Caesar, nor can we attribute to him the Roman's cruel methods which had been used in that country powers as an author, or the gentle and forgiving to complete their concerts. character which distinguished him as a man. Neither was Napoleon, as we have heard Denon Yet, although Napoleon had something vindictive reluctantly admit, a judge or an admirer of painting. in his temper, which he sometimes indulged when He had some pretence to understand sculpture; and Csesar would have scorned to do so, his intercourse there was one painting in the Museum, before wvhich with his familiar friends was of a character the most he used to pause, terming it his own; nor would he amiable. It is true, indeed, that determined, as he permit it to be ransomed fobr a very large sum by its expressed himself, to be emperor within Longwood proprietor the Duke of Modena.* But he valued and its little demesne, he exacted from his followers it, not on account of its merit, though a master-piece the same marks of severe etiquette which distin- of art, but because he had himself' been the means gutished the Court of the Tuileries; yet in other of securing it to the Museum at a great sacrifice. respects, he permitted them to carry their freedom Tile other paintings in that immense collection, in disputing his sentiments, or replying to his argu.. however great their excellence, he seldom paid munch ments, almost beyond the bounds of ordinary de- attention to. He also shocked admirers of painting cornm. He seemed to make a distinction between by the contempt he showed for the durability of the their duty towards him as subjects, and their privi- art. Being informed that a first-rate picture would leges as friends. All remained uncovered and not last above five or six hundred years, he exclaimstanding in his presence, and even the person who ed, " Bah! a fine immortality!" Yet by using Deplayed at chess with him sometimes continued for non's advice, and that of' other savans, Napoleon hours without sitting down. But their verbal inter- sustained a high reputation as an encourager of the course of language and sentiments was that of free arts. His medals have been particularly and demen, conversing with a superior indeed, but not servedly admired. with a despot. Captain Maitland mentions a dispute In respect of personal exercise at St Helena, he betwixt Napoleon and General Bertrand. The walked occasionally, and, while strong, did not shun latter had adopted a ridiculous idea that ~30,000 a- steep, rough, and dangerous patlhs. But although year, or some such extravagant sum, was spent in there is some game on the island, he did not avail maintaining the grounds and establishment at Blen- himself of the pleasure of shooting. It does not inheim. Napoleon's turn for calculation easily de- deed appear that he was ever much attached to field tected the improbability. Bertrand insisted upon sports, although, when emperor, he replaced the his assertion, on which Bonaparte said, with quick- hunting establishment upon a scale still more magniness, " Bahk! c'est impossible."-" Oh!" said Ber- ficent, as well as better regulated, than formerly. trand, much offended, "if you are to reply in that It is supposed he partook of this princely pastime, manner, there is an end of all argument;" and for as it has been called, rather out of a love of magnisome time would not converse with him. Bonaparte, ficent display than any real attachment to the sport. so far from taking umbrage, did all he could to XVe may here mention, in his own words, the danger soothe him and restore him to good humour, which in which he was once placed at a boar-hunt. The was not very difficult to effect. picture will remind the amateur of' the pieces of But although Napoleon tolerated freedoms of this Rubens and Schneider. kind to a considerable extent, yet he still kept in " Upon one occasion at Marly," said the emperor, his own hands the royal privilege of starting the' at a boar-hunt, I kept my ground with Soult and topic of conversation, and conducting it as he should Berthier against three enormous wild-boars, who think proper; so that, in sonme respects, it seemed charged us up to the bayonet's point. All the huntthat, having lost all the substantial enjoyment of ing party fled:'twas a complete military rout. VWe power, he had become more attached than ever to killed the three animals dead; but I had a scratch the observance of its monotonous, wearisome, unpro- from mine, and had imigh lost my finger " (on which fitable ceremonial. Yet there might be a reason for a deep scar was still visible). "But the jest was to this, besides the gratification of his own pertinacious see the numbers of men, surrounded with their dogs, temper. The gentlemen who inhabited Longwood concealing themselves behind the three heroes, and had followed him fi-om the purest motives, and crying at top of their throats-'to the emperor's there was no reason to suppose that their purpose assistance! save the emperor! help the emperor!'would waver, or their respect diminish. Still their and so forth; but not one coming forward." mutual situation compelled the deposed sovereign, While on the subject of Napoleon's exercises, we and his late subjects, into such close familiarity, as may mention another danger which he incurred by might perllaps beget, if' not contempt, at least an in- following an amusement more common in England conver.ient degree of freedom betwixt the parties, than in France. He chose at one tinme to undertake the'eeiy possibility of which it might be as well to the task of driving a carriage, which he overturned, exz Iln(le by a strict barrier of etiquette. and had a severe and dangerous fall. Josdpline;We return to Napoleon's habits of amusement. and others were in the vehicle. Tile English reader Music was not one of the number. Though horn an cannot fail to recollect that a similar accident hapItalian, and possessing something of a musical ear, pened to Gromwell, who, because, as the historian so far, at least, as was necessary to enable him to hum a song, it was probably entirely without culti- See p. 193. ~VoUIL.. 98 778 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. says, he could manage three nations, took upon him and boldly what he thinks, without being afraid to to suppose that he could drive six fiery horses, of look you in the face at the time. His physiognomy which lie had just received a present; and, being as would rmake every person desirous of a further acunsuccessfal as Napoleon in later days, overturned quiaintance, and render the most suspicious confident the carriage, to the great damage of the Secretary in him." Thurlow, whom he had placed inside, and to his Sir Pulteney Malcolm was also nmuch recomown double risk, both from the fall, and. from the mended to Napoleon's favourable judgment by the explosion of a pistol, which hle carried privately circumstance of having nothing to do with the reabout his person. Bonaparte's sole observation straints imposed upon his person, and possessing was, "I believe every man should confine himself to the power neither of altering or abating any of the his own trade." restrictions lie coinplained of. He was fortunate, The chief resource of Napoleon at St Helena was too, in being able, by the calmness of his temper, to society and conversation, and those held chiefly with turn aside the violent language of Bonaparte, withthe gentlemen of his own suite. This need not have out either granting the justice of his complaints, or beenl the case, had he been able in the present in- giving him displeasure by direct contradiction. stance to command that temper which had not failed "Does your government mean," said Napoleon one him under great misfortunes, but seemed now to day to the English admiral, " to detain me upon give way under a series of petty quarrels and mor- this rock until my death's day?"-" I am sorry to tifications. say, sir," answered Sir Pulteney, " that such I apThe governor and the staff belonging to him were prehend is their purpose."-" Then the term of my of course excluded from the society of Longwood, life will soon arrive," said Napoleon. " I hope not, by the terms on which Napoleon stood with Sir sir," answered the admiral; " 1 hope you will surHudson Lowe. The officers of the regiments which vive to record your great actions, which are so nulay in the island might most probably have afforded merlus that the task will insure you a term of long some well-informed mIen, who, having been engaged life." Napoleon bowed, and was gratified, proin the recent war, w.ould have occasionally supplied bably both as a hero and as an author. Nevertheless, amusing society to the emperor and his suite. But before Sir Pulteney Malcolm left the island, and they did not in general frequent Longwvood. Dr while he was endeavouring to justify- the governor O'Meara observes that the governor had exerted against some of the harsh and extravagant charges. his influence to prevent the oflicers fiom culti- in which Napoleon was wont to indulge, the latter vating the acquaintance of the French; whichl Sir began to appeal from his judgment as being too Hudson Lowe repels as a calumny, confuted by the much of an Englishman to be an impartial judge. declarations of the officers of the 53d themselves. They parted, however, on the best terms, and NaButt admitting that no intimations were used of set poleon often afterwards expressed the pleasure purpose to keep asunder the British officers from which he had received from the society of Sir Pultlhe French prisoners, suchs estrangemnent naturally teney Malcolm. followed firom the unwillingness of military mlen to The colonists of St Helena did not, it maybe well go iwhere they were sure to hear not only their com- supposed, filrnish many individuals, sufficiently quamanding offic6r fbr the timle, but also their country lified, by rank and eduication, to be admitted into and its ministers, treated with the grossest explres- the society of the exile. They too, lay under the sions of disrespect, while there was no mode of same awkward circumstances, which prevented the calling tile person who used them either to account British officers fiorn holding intercourse with Longor to explanation. o nod and its inhabitants. The governor, should lie The rank and character of Sir Pulteney Malcolmn, be displeased at tile too frequent attentions of any who commanded tile squadroii upon the station, set individlul, or should he conceive any suspicion arislili above the feelings which might influence iitierior ing out of such an intercourse, had the powver, and, of'ficers, whether of the arnly or navy. He visitedl it) the opinion of' tle colonists, might not want tile Napoleon frequently, and was eulougized by him in inclination, to make his resentmient severely felt. a (lescription, which (though we, who haive tile. Mlr 1;Alcotmbe, however, who held the situation of' advantage of seeing in the features of Sir Pillteney purveyor, with one or twvo other ilnhabitants of tile those of an honouired firiend, can vouch for its being island, sometimes visited at Longwood. The general just) may have been painted the nmore willingly, be- intercourse betweein the French prisoners and the cause it gave the artist an opportunity of discharging colonists was carried on by means of the French his spleen, while contrasting the appearance of the domestics, vwhio had the privilege of visiting Jarnmes' adlmiiral with that of the governor, in a manner most'Town as often as they pleased, and whose doing so unftvourable to the latter. Nevertheless we tran- could infer no disadvantageous suspicions. But the I scribe it, to prove that Bonaparte could occasionally society of Longwood gained no advantage by the (lo justice, anid see desert, even in a Briton. intercourse with James' Town, although unquestion"lIle said lie had seen the new admiral.'Ali! ably the facility of foreign comlmunication was conthere is a man with a counitenance really pleasing, siderably increased to the exiles. Their corresponopenll, firank, anlld sincere. There is the faee of an deuce was chiefly maintained by the way of Bahia Englislhman. His countenance bespeaks his heart, and it is certain they succeeded in sending many anid I ar sure le is a good man: I never yet hei- letters to Europe, although they are believei to have held a man of whiomn I so iiimmediately foromed a been less fiortulnate in receiving a'nswers. good opiinioi, as of that fine soldier-like old lmal. It was to be, expected, that some accession to the ile carries his head erect, and speaks out openly.society of Longwood muight have accrued, from the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 779 residence of three gentlemen of rank, two of them,! clothed himself whilst holding these levees; and we believe, having ladies and a fanlily, the corn- which scarce left the spectators permission to benlissioners of Austria, Russia, and France. But lieve that, when surprised by a fit of passion, or here also ceremonial interposed one of those bars, when chusing to assume one for the purpose of which are effectual, or otherwise, according to the effect, be. cotld appear the rude, abrupt, anil savage opinion of those betwixt whoml they are erected. despot, which other accounts described him. His The commissioners of the allied powers had re- I questions were uniformly introduced with great tact, quiested to be presented to Napoleon. On their so as to put the person interrogated at his ease, by vish being announced, he peremptorily declined to leading to some subject with which he was acreceive them in their official capacity, disclaiming quainted, while, at the same time, they induced him the right which the princes of Europe had to inter- to prodluce any stock of new or curious information fere with and countenance the custody of his person. which he possessed. On the other hand, the commissioners, finding their The Journal of Captain Basil Hall of the Royal public flnction disowned, refused to hold any corn- Navy, well-known by his character both in his promunication with Longwood in their private capacity; fession and in literature, affords a pleasing example and thus there were excluded from this solitary spot of what we ilave been endeavouring to express, and three persons, whose manners and habits. as fo- displays at tlre same time the powerful extent of reigners, might have assorted tolerably with thos.~ of Bonaparte's memory. He recognized the name of the exile and his attendants. Captain IHall instantly, from having seen his father, The society of St Helena receives a great teni- Sir James Hall, Bart., when lie was at the military porary increase at the seasons when vessels touch academy of Brienne, to which visit Sir James had there on their way to India, or on their return to been led by tIhe love of science, by which he was Europe. Of course, every officer and every pas- allways distinguished. Bonaparte explained the cause senger on such occasions was desirous to see a of hIis recollecting a private individiual, after the inperson so celebrated as Napoleon; and there might tervention of such monmentous events as lie riad hiemsometimes occur individuals among them whom lie self been concerned in. " It is not," he said, "suirtoo might have pleasure in receiving. The regula- prising. Your father was the first Elnglishman that I tion of these visits to Loingwood seems to have been ever saw; and I have recollected him all my life on one of the few parts of the general system of which that account." He was afterwalrds minute in his Napoleon made no complaints. He had a natural inquiries respecting the Royas Society of Edinburgh, reluctance to gratify tIhe idle curiosity of strang.rs, of which Sir James Hall was long presidlet. He then and the regulations protected him eflectually against came to the very interesting subject of thle nekvlytheir intrusion. Such persons as desired to await discovered island of Loo-Choo; and Captain Hall upon Napoleon were obliged to apply, in the first gives an account of the nature of the interrogations place, to the governor, by whom their nares were which be underwent, which we will not risk spoiling transilmitted to General Bertrand, as grand mnarshal by an attempt at condensing. of the household, who communicated Napoleon's " Having settled where t-he island lay, he crossrepl y, it favourable, and assigned an hour at which questioned rle about tire inhabitants with a closeness lie was to receive their visit. — I may call ita severity of investigatiun —which fiar Upon such occasions, Napoleon was particularly exceeds every thing I have met with in any other anxious that the etiquette of an imperial court should instance. His questions were not by any Iseans put be observed, while the visitors, on the contrary, at random, but each one had some definrite reference were strictly enjoined by the governor not to go to that which preceded it, or was aboult to follovw. beyond the civilities diue to a general of rank. If, I felt in a short time so conpletely exposed to his therefore, as somietimes happened, the introduction view, that it would have been impossible to have took place in the open air, the French part of the concealed or qualified the smallest particular. Such, company attenrdant on Bonaparte remained inco- indeed, was tire rapidity of hiis apprehension of the vered, while the English replaced their hats after subjects which interested him, and the astonishing the first salutation. Napoleon saw tile incongruity ease with which le arranged and generalized the of this, and laid his orders oln his attendants to imi- few points of inforrmation I gave him, that lie so,mnetate the English in this particular point. It is times outstripped my narrative, saw the conclutsion said, that they did not obey without scruples and I was coming to before I spoke it, and fairly robbed mirmturs. me of nmy story. Those visitors who were adnmitted to pay their "'Several circumstances, however, respecting tie respects at Longwood were chiefly either persons Loo-Choo people surprised even him a good deal of distinguished birth, officers of rank in the arrmiy and I lad the satisfaction of seeing him more than and navy, personrs of philosophical inquiry (to whom once completely perplexed, and unable to accournt lie vas very partial), or travelers from foreign re- for the phenoniena which I r'elated. Nothing struick gions, xnho could repay, by some information, the hirn so niuich as their having no arms.'Point p,leasnlre whicli they received fromr being admitled d'arnes!' le exclaimed,'c'est-ia-dire point de cato tile presence of a man so distinguished. Of these nons-ils ont des fusils?' Not even muskets, I interviews. some who enljoyed the benefit of them replied.' El bien donmc-des lances, ou, au moins, have published an account; and the,nemoranda of des arcs et desfiEches?' I told him they had neiothers n-e have seen in manuscript All agree in thier one nor other'.'Ni poignards?' cried lie, with extolling the extremie good grace, propriety, and ap- increasing vehemence. No, none.'Matis!' said I pearanlce of benevolence, with which Napoleon Bonaparte, clenching his first, and raising his voice LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE., to a loud pitch,'Mais! sans armi-es, comment se conversation. The brilliant anld sometimes dazzling &(d-o~0?g'. expression of his eye could not be overlooked. It "1I could only reply, that, as far as we had been was riot, however, a permanent lustre, for it was able to discover, they had never had any wars, but only remarkable when he was excited by some remained in a state of internal and external peace. point of particldlar interest. It is impossible to irna-'No wars!' cried he, with a scornful and incredul- gine an expression o'f more entire lnrildness, I may otis expression, as if the existence of any people un- almost call it of Ibenignity arid kindliness, than that der the sun without wars was a monstrous anomaly. which played over hIis features (luring the whole in" In like manner, but without being so much mov- terview. If, therefore, lie Nwere at this tinie oLt of ed, lie seemed to discredit the account I gave him health and in low spirits, hlis power of selt-coralttltand of their having no money, and of their setting no i intst have been even more extraordiniarv than is value upon our silver or gold coins. After heatling generally supposed; for hIis whole deportment, his tthese lacts stated, lie lmused for some tire, mititter- conversation, and thie expression of his counteniance, ilg' to iiriself; in a low tone,'Not know tile use of indicated a fiamle in pjrfect health, and a mind at nronrey-are careless about gold and silver.' Then ease." looking iup, he askedl, sharply,'How then dild yol The (late of this meeting was 13th August, 1817. contrive to pay these strangest of all people for the Irs the above interview, Bonaparte played a nabulllocks and other good things which they seeln to j trral part. Upon another remarkable occlasioln, lave sent on board in such quantities?''When I lstJuly, 1817, when he received Lord Amrhest and inforired him that we could not prevail upon the the gentlemen composing arid attached to tile enripeople of Loo-Choo to receive payment of any kind, bassy, then returning firom China, his behaitirur a!:d he exprlessed great surprise at their liberality, and conversation were of a nmuchll uore sturdied, conmade r;e repeat to him twice the list of things strained, arnd ermpirical character. He had obviously with which we were supplied by these hospitable a part to play, a statemirent tio make, arid pruopositionis islandrlers." to anrnounce, not certainly witl the view that tile The conversation proceeded withsequal spirit, in seed which lie sowed. inight fall into barren ground, wlhici it is sinlgular to remrark the acuteness of Na- but that it might be retained, gathere tip, alld poleonl, in seizing upon tile monst renlarkable and carried back to Britain, there to take root il purl:lic interesting facts, notwithstanding the hurry of a credulity, and bear fruit seven-fold. He rushled at casua;l conversation. The low state of thle priest- once into a tide of politics, declaring that tIhe illshood in Loo-Choo was a shbject which lie dwelt on sian ascendancy was to be the destruction of Europe; without conming to any satislactoryexplanation. Cap- yet, in the same moment, proclainled the Frenchl tain Hall illustrated thle ignorance of the people of and English to be the only effective troops deservinlg Loo-Choo with respect to all tile world, sase Japan notice for their discipline and moral qualities. Pireand Chlina, by saying they knew lnothing of Europe sently after, he struck the English out of the fieldl, at all-knew nothintl of France and England-and on account of the smallness of tile army, and insistnever had even heard of his najesty; at which last ed that, by trusting to our military forces, we Nvere proof of their absolute seclusion froni the world, endangering our naval ascendancy. He tren enteredi Napoleon laugh.lled heartily. During the whole in- upoi a favourite topic-the extreme negligence of terview, Napoleon waited with tle utmnost patience Lord Castlereagh in failing to stipulate, or rather until his questions were replied to, inquired with extort, a commercial treaty from France, and t;i -earnestness into every subaject of interest, and made wrintg out of Portugal reimnbursement of our expenses. nrattnranlly a most ftuvourable impression on his vi- He seemed to consider this as sacrificing the intly, (sts sitor anrd wvelfare of his country, an(t stated it as sllichl' Bonaparte," says the acute traveler, "struck with a confidence which was calcurlatedi to ilnipr-ss me as differing considerably from the pictures and upon the hearers that he was completely seriolus in bursts I had seen of him. His face and figure look- the extravagalnt doctrines which he annuunced. ed muclh broader and more square, larger, indeed, HEe failed, of course, to make any imnpression on inn every way, than any representation I had riet Lord Amherst, or on MIr Henry Ellis, third cotllriniswith. His corpulency, at this time universally re- sioner of the embassy, to whomi a large poi tion of ported to be excessive, was by no mneans remark- this violent tirade wvas addressed, and who llas a:ble. His flesh looked, on the ccnfrary,. firmll and pernlitted lus to have the perulsal of llis private mmuscular. There was nrot the least trace of colour journal, which is mrech lnlore full on tire subnhject of in Iris cheeks; in fact, his skin was niore like mar- this interview tilan the account given in tIle pirinted ble than ordinary flesh. Not tile smallest trace of narrative of tIle enmbassy which appeared ill 18172. a wrinkle was discernible on his brow, nor an ap- Having stated Loud Castlereagi's sil-posed errors proach to a falrrow onl any part of his coruntenance. towards the state, Napoleon was inot silent upon his His health and spirits,judging from appearances, own injuries. It was chiefly in hIis conversatinon were excellent; though at this period it Hwas gene- with Lord Arnherst that he dwelt. with great bitterrally.believed in Enlgland, that lre was fast sinking ness onl Sir Hudson Lowe's conduct to him in,arious nluIder a coImplicationl of diseases, arid that his spirits respects; but totally failed in producing the convic. wer(le entirely gone. His manner of speaking was tion which l he aimed at. It seenied, on the contrary, rather slow than otherwise, and perfectly distinct: he. waited with grueat patience aind kindness for nly' See Appendix, No 12, for one of the best and mont I answers to his questions, aind a reference to Count aulthentic accounts of Napoleon's conversation aud ino.e l Bertrand was necessary only once during the whole of reasoning. __-_ LIFE OF NAPOLEON 1BONAPAITE. 78to the ambassador and his attendants, that there but had been growing upon21 hoin since 1817.-The dlinever, perhaps, was a prisoner of importance upon position which mlight have obtained a relaxation ofj thi whose personal liberty fewer actual restraints had restrictionls by which Napoleon wans guarded, 6ot scra been imposed, than on that of the late sovereign of nlfested by him.-Removal of Las Casesfroos his ho'ws -, France. Mr Ellis, after personal inspection, was tord.-MOthollS rion sono plcints broclngtforloc ld induced to regard his complaints concerning provi- by Lord Ho tland in the ofhze fe Lodcs, and replded sions and wine as totally undeserving of considera- to ay Lo rst.-i Ect of naeJ re - f S ors Hol-,.0.....lasd's motion utpon, Bonaptrte. — Symptoms,' hiLZs tion, and to regret that real or pretended anger illness increase- his refusal to take exercise or mcdishould have induced so great a man to countenance cine.-Renmoval of Dr O'Afeara fro(m his attendance such petty misrepresentations. The house at Long- on Bonlaparte- cho refises to permit the?visits of any wood, considered as a residence for a sovereign, other English physiciatn-Twoo Roman Catholic priests Mr Ellis allowed to be small and inadequate; but, sPent to St Helena at his detsive.-Napoleos's opinions on, on the other hand, regarded as the residence of a the subject of relig/ion. -Dr Anton2lmarchi arrives to person of rank living in retirement, being the view snLpply the place of O'hteara. —Contdiotned disputes betaken in England of the prisoner's condition, it was, tiUeen Napoleon and Sir Hudson Lowe.-Plans for efin his opinion, both convenient and respectable. fectisig Bonaparte's escape. - Scheme of Johnstone, a' Reviewing, also, the extent of his limits, Mr Ellis dariny sliggler, to approach St Helena in a sbhnarine observes that greater personal liberty, consisteut vessel, and receive the prisoner one board —firstratetd with any pretension to security could not be granted by the seizure of thte vressel. - The disturbed state of, with any pretension to security, could not be granted Italy andethos' cnoes rendenfresh vigilance i the ensto a* individ- al supposed to be under any restaInt' Italy and other causes renderfresh vigilanze in the custo anl individual supposed to be under any restraint tocly of Napoleonl's person nlecessary. - His disease at all. His intercourse with others, he observes, increases.-Letter expressing his majesty's isterest in was certainly under immediate surveillance, no one, the illness of Napoleon.- Consent oj' fthe latter to admi-t being permitted to enter Longwood, or its domaiins, the visits of Dr Arnott. - Napoleon employs hinmsef' without a pass from the governor; but tilis pass, lie in. makinit his will —and gives other' directions cosnnectedl affirms, was readily granted, and had never formed noith his decease.-Extreme unction administered to hint.. any check upon such visitors as Napoleon desired -His Death, on 5th JIay, 1821.-Anatonization of the to see. The restraint upon his correspondence is body.-Hisfisreral. admitted as disagreeable and distressing to his feelings, but is considered as a " necessary conseqlence REPORT S had been long current concerning the of that which he now is, alld had formerly been." decline of Bonaparte's health, even before the "Two motives," said Mr Ellis, " may, I think, be battle of' Waterloo; and many were disposed to assigned for Bonaparte's unreasonable complaints. impuzte his failure in that decisive campaign, less to The first, and principal, is to keep alive public the superiority of his ellemies than to the decrease interest in Europe, but chiefly in England, where he of his own habits of activity. There seems no roomn flatters himself that he has a party; and the seconll, for such a conclusion: the rapid manner in which I think, may be traced to the personal character he concentrated hlis armny upIon Charleroi ought to and habits of Bonaparte, who finds an occupation in have silenced such a report for ever. He was subthe petty intrigues by which these complaints are ject occasionally to. slight fits of sleepiness, such as brought forward, and an unworthy gratification in are incident to most nmen, especially after tile age the tracasseries and annoyance which they produce of folrty, who sleep ill, rise early, and work hard. on the spot." WVhen he landed at St Helena, so far did he seeim The sagacity of Mr Ellis was not deceived; for fron showing any appearance of declining health, General Gourgaud, among other points of informa- that one of the BIiitish grenadiers, who s;yw him, tion, mentions the interest which Bonaparte had exclaimed, with his national oath, " They told us taken in the interview with the ermbassy which re- lie was grolwing old;-he has forty good calmpaigns isa turned to Britain from China, anti conceived tlshat his belly yet, d —nhim!" Aspeech which theFench his arguments had made a strong impression upon gentlemen envied, as it oight, they said, to have them. The publication of Mr Ellis's account of the belonged to one of the Old Gialrd. We hlave menembassy dispelled that dreanm, and gave rise to tioned Captain HIall's account of his appareit state proportional disappointment at St -Helena. of health in summer, 1817; that of Mr Ellis, about Haxing now given somne account of the general the sanre period, is sinilar, and lhe expresses lis circumstances attendiing Bonaparte's residence in belief that Bonsaparte was never more able to nnSt Helena, while he enjoyed a considerable portion dergo the fatigues of a campaign than at the moment of health, of his mode of living, his studies, and he saw him. Yet at this time, viz. July, 1817, amusements, and having quoted two renlarkable in- Napoleon was alleging the decline of lhis health as stances of his intercoulrse with strangers ofo bserva- a reason for obtaining more indulgence, while, on tion and intelligence, we have to resutme, in tile the other hand, he refused to tale the exercise next chapter, the melancholy particulars of his judged necessary to preserve his constitltion. unless decline of health, and tile few and urinimportanlt in- a relaxation of superintendence should be granted cidents which occurred betwixt the commencement to himn. It is probable, however, that he himnself of his sickness and its final termination. felt, even at that period, the symptoms of that internal malady which consumed his life. It is now Cell known to have been the cruel comnplaint of which his father died, a cancer, namely, in the Napoleon's illness-viz. Cancer in the stomach.-Dr stomach, of which he had repeatedly expressed his Arnott's opinion that it was not the effect of climlate, apprehensions, both in Russia and elsewheere.'Tfe l782 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. progress of this disease, however, is slow and in- Europe. " I can therefore safely assert," continues sidiouis, if indeed it had actually commenced so the physician, "that any one of temperate habits, early as 1817. Gonrgaud, at a much later period, who is not exposed to much bodily excsrtiov; night avowed himself a complete disbeliever in his ill- air, and altmospherical changes, as a soldier mustbe, ness. He allowed, indeed, that he was in low may have as much immunity frorm disease in St 1-espirits to such an extent as to talk of destroying lena as in Europe; and I may iherefore farther ashimself and his attached followers, by shutting hin- sert, that the disease of which Napoleon Bonapatte self and them up in a small apartment with burning died was not the effect of climate." charcoal-an easy death, which Bertlhollet the In support of Dr Arlnott's statement, it may be chlelnst had, it seems, recommended. Neverthe- observed, that of Napoleon's numerous family of less, " on the subject of General Bonaparte's health, nearly fifty persons, English servants inlcluded, only General Gourgaud stated that the English were one died during all their five years' residence on:tle muach imposed upon; for that he wvas not, as far as island; and that person (Cypriani, the major-domi o) bodily health was concerned, in any degree ma- had contracted the illness which carried hinm off, terially altered, and that the represenittions upon being a species of consumption, before he left this subject had little, if any, truth in them. Dr Europe. O'iMeara was certainly the dupe of that influence Dr Arnott, to whose opinion we are induced to which General Bonaparte always exercises over give great weight, both from the excellence of his those with whom he has frequent intercourse, and character and his having the best opportunities of though lie (General Gourgatud) individually had only infbriation, states that the scirrhus, or cancer of the reason de se loner de A. O'AMeara, yet his intimate stomach, is an obscure disease, the syimptoins which knowledge of General Bonaparte enabled him con- announce it being comnnmon to, and characteristic of. fideutly to assert that his state of health was not at other diseases, in the same region; yet lie early all worse than it had been for some time previous conceived that somle morbid alteration of the -structo his arrival at St Helena." ture of the stomach had taken:place, especi.ally Yet, as before hinted, notwithstanding the dis- after he learned that his patient's fithlel- hkiad. did if belief of fiiends and foes, it seems probable that the scirrlius of the pylorus. He believed, as already dreadfill disease of which Napoleon died was al- hinted, that the disease was in its incimpieit state, ready seizing upon the vitals, though its character even so far back as the end of the year 1817, when was not decisively announced by external symptoms. the patient was affected with pain in the stomach, Dr Arnott, surgeon to tile 20th regiment, who attend- nausea, and vomiting, especially after taking food ed on Napodeon's death-bed, has made the following which symptoms never left him from that period, ubservations upon this important subject: but increased progressively till the day of his death. "We are given to understand, from great autho- From this period, therefore, Napoleon was in a rity,* that this affection of the stomach cannot be situation which, considering his great actions, alnd produced without a considerable predisposition of the'height of his former fortunes, deserved tile conlthe parts to disease. I will not venture an opinion; passion of his most bitter enemies, and the sylmpatJly but it is somewhat remarkable, that he often said of all wnho were disposed to take a moral lesson that his father died of scirrhus of the pylorus; that from the most extraordinary vicissitude of human ite ot ody was examined after death, and the fact affairs which history has ever presented. Not can asettoined. His faithful followers, Count and Coun- we doubt that such reflections might have eventually tess E~eitrand, and Count Montholon, hase repeat- led to much relaxation in the severity with whict edly (ldeared the same to me. the prisoner was watched, and, it mnay be, at lergthl "If, the., it should be adamitted that a previous to his entire emancipation. But to attain this enid, disposition at' the parts to this disease did exist, it would have been necessary that Napoleon's coiimight not thul depressing passions of the mind act as duct, while tinder restrictions, should have been of ain exciting caise? It is more than probable that a very different character frorm that wlich lhe thoughllt Napoleon Lloraairte's mental stilferings in St He- it most politic, or felt it most nattural, to adopt. lena were very 1;cignant. By a man of such un- First, to obtaini the sympathy and( privileges due to bounded arnbiticn, lad vwho once ainmed at mniver- an ins alid, lie ought to have pernmitted the visits of sal dominion, cap:'vity must have been severely some medical person, whose report might be held felt. as completely immupartial. T'his could not be the case " The climate of st Helena I consider healthy; with that of Dr O'Meara, engaged as he was in thei the air is pure and teiperate, and Europeans einjoy prisoner's intimnate and even secret service alnd on their health, and retain dhe vigour of their constitu- the. worst terms with the governor; and Napoleon's tion, as in their native csuurtry." positive rejection of all other assistance seemed to Dr Arnott proceeds to state, that notwithstanding countenance tile belief, however unjumst, that he wvas this gemieral assertion, dysenstery, and other acute either feigning indisposition, or mlaking ise of some diseases of the abdominlal viscera, prevailed amnong slight symptoms of it to obtain a relaxation of the the troops. This he imputes to the carelessness and governlor's vigilance. Nor was it to be supposed intemperance of the English soldiers, and the fatigume that Dr Antommarchi's evidence, being that of an of the working parties; as the ofliters, who hIad little individual entirely depenldent on Napoleon, could night duty, retained their health atr strergtfh as in be considered as more authentic, till corroborated b. some indifferent, and, at the same time, com"See Dr Baillie's inestimlable book ona lierbit: gn;- tent medical authority. Awmny, pp. 141, 142.''seco,,dly, It is to be remenlbered that the fuimn LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 83 damental reason on which Napoleon's confinement unwearied assiduity. And, like the author of one was vindicated, was, that his liberty was inconsistent of the most entertaining books in thile English lanwith the tranquillity of' Europe. To prove the con- guage (Boswell's Life of Johnson), Count Las Cases trary, it would have, been necessary that the ex- thought nothing trivial that could illustrate his subemperor should have evinced a desire to retreat ject. Like Boswell, too, his veneration for his firom political disputes, and shown symptoms of principal was so deep, that he seems to have lost, having laid aside or forgotten those ambitions pro- in sonme cases, the exact perception of right and jects which had so long convulsed Europe. Com- wrong, in his determination to consider Napoleon passion, and the admiration of great talents, might as always in the right. But his attachment, if to a then have led the states of Europe to confide in the certain degree tending to blind his judgment, came resigned dispositions of one, whom age, infirmities, warm firom his heart. The count gave a substantial and sufferings, appeared to incline to dedicate the mark, also, of his sincerity, in dedicating to his remainder of his days to ease and retirement, and master's service a sum of~X4000, or thereabout, his in vwhlso they might seem a sure guarantee for his whole private fortune, which was vested in the pacific iltentions. But so far were such feelings English funds. tr,oil being exhibited, that everything which ema- For our misfortune, as also for his own, since he hated fi'rol St Helena showed that the ex-emperor must have considered his separation from Bonaparte nourlished all his firmer plans, and vindicated all his as such, Count Las Cases had been tempted into a f'in llr actions. He wvas not satisfied that the world line of conduct inconsistent with the engagement he shoilld adol, t the olpinion that his ambition was al- had come under with the other attendants of tile exlayed, and his pretensions to empire relinquished. emperor, not to hold secret communication beyond On the contrary, his efforts, and those of the works the verge of the island. The opportunity of' a serinto which lie breathed his spirit, went to prove, if vant of his own returning to England, induced him they proved anything, that lie never entertained to confide to the domestic's charge a letter, written ambition of a culpable character-that his claims upon a piece of white silk, that it might he the more of sovereignty were grounded upon national law and readily concealed, which was stitched into the lad's justice-that lie had a right to entertain them for- clothes. It was addressed to Prince Lucien Bonamerly, and that he was disposed and entitled to parte. As this was a direct transgression, in a most assert them still. He was at pains to let the world material point, of the conditions which Count Las know that he was not altered in the slightest degree, Cases had promised to observe, he was dismissed was neither ashamed of his projects, nor had re- from the island, and sent to the Cape of Good I-ope, nounced them; but, if restored to Europe, that he and from thence to Europe. His Journal remained would be in all respects the same person, with the for some time in the hands of Sir Hudson Lowe; but, same claims, and little diminished activity, as when as we had formerly occasion to mention, alterations lie landed at Cannes to recover the empire of France. and additions were afterwards made, which, in geThis mode of pleading his cause had the inevitable neral, are more vituperative of the governor, than consequence, of'confirming all those who had deemed the manuscript as it originally stood when the count restrictions on his freedom to be necessary in the left St Helena. The abridgment of the count's outset (and these were the great majority of Europe), stay at the island was much to be regretted, as his in thi, belief that the same reasons existed for con- Journal forlms the best record, not only of Napoleon's tinning the restraint, which had originally caused it real tlloughts, but of the opinions which he desired to be imposedr. We are unwilling to revert again to should be received as such. Unquestionably, the the hackneyed sitnile of the imprtisoned lion; but separation firom this devoted follower added greatly certainly, if' the royal animal which Don Quixote to thie disconsolate situation of the Exile of Longdesired to set at liberty had, instead of demeaning wood; but it is impossible to suppress the remark, himself peaceably and with urbanity, been roaring, that, when a gentleman attached to Napoleon's suite ramping, and tearing the bars of his cage, it may be found himself at liberty thuls to break through a qitestioned whether the Great Redresser of Wrongs plighted engagement in his chief's behlalf, it sullihinmself would have advocated his freedom. ciently vindicated Sir Hudson Lowe for putting little In Noveniher, 1816, Naioileon sustained a loss to faith in the professions made to him, and declining which he must have been not a little sensible, in the to relax any reasonable degree of vigilance which removal of Count Las Cases front his society. Tile tile safe custody of his prisoner seemed to demand. devoted attachment of the count to his person could The complaints of Napoleon and his followers not be doubted, and his age, and situation as a ci- produced, as they ought to have done, an inquiry vili'an, made him less apt to enter into those feuds into the personal treatment of the ex-emnperor, in the and quarrels, which sometimes, notwithstanding British Parliament; when the general reasonirE their general attachment to Napoleon, seemed to which we have hinted at, joined to the exposure have arisen among the military officers of the house- which ministers afforded of the exaggerated reprehold of Longwood. He was of a literary turn, and sentations that had been made in the statements qualified to converse upon general topics, both of which had come fronm St Helena, were found greatly history and science. He had been an emigrant, to preponderate over the arguments of Napoleni's and, understanding all the manocnvres and intrigues compassionate and accomplished advocate, Lord of the ancienit noblesse, had many narrations which Holland. Napoleon was not unwilling to listen to. Above The question came before the House of Lords, all, he received and recorded everything which on 18th March, 1817. Lord Holland, in a speech was said by Napoleon, with undoulbting faith and of great good sense and moderation, disowned all ,84 LIFE OF NAPOLEON IBONAPAIRTE. attempts at persnading the House, that tile genleral list into the hands of an eminent French bookseller, line of policy adopted with respect to Napoleon who had supplied as many as could be obtained in shouldl be changed. It had been adopted in con- London and Paris, bultseveral of them, chiefly works tradiction to his (Lord Holland's) sentiments, but it on military nlatters, could not bIe procured. The had been confirmed by Parliament, and he did not volumes which colld be )rocutred, had been sent, hope to obtain a reversal of their judg.ment. But, with an apology for the omlission of those which if thle confining Napoleon was, as had been alleged, were not to be gotten; but the residents of Longa measure of necessity, it followed that necessity wood had not admitted the excuse. Respecting mtIst limit what necessity had created, and of course the permissinn of a free subscription by Napoleon that the prisoner should be treated with no unne- to journals, Lord Bathurst deemed it his duty to cessary harshness. His lordship did not. presume to place some restriction upon that species of indulstate the reports which had reached him as abso- gence, attempts having been detected to establish a lute matters of fAct, but only as rumours which (le- correspondence with Napoleon through the medium malnded an inquiry,.where the honour of the country of newspapers. On the subject of intercourse with was so nearly *concerned. Most of the allegations Europe by letter, Lord Bathurst st.ated that it was on which Lord Holland grounded his motion were not interdicted, unless by the condition that Sir contained in a paper of complaints sent by General Hudson Lowe should previously be permitted to Montholon. The particulars noticed in this remon- read the letter, whether of business or otherwise. strance were circumstances which have been already This right, Lord Bathurst stated, had been exeradverted to, but may be here briefly noticed, as cised only by the governor in person, and with strict well as the answers by the British government. delicacy and feeling; and he repelledl, with tire First, the restrictions upon the exercising ground most flat contradiction, the assertions of Montholon, fol-tnerly allowed to Napoleon were alleged as a that thle Governor of St Helena had broken open grievance. The climate of St Helena, Lord Holland and detained letters, under pretence that they did i admitted, was good, but his lordship complained not come through the channel of the English mithat the tpper part of the island, where Lnngwood nister. Lord Bathurst said, that General Monwas situated, was damp and unhealthy. The incon- tholon had been challenged by Sir Hudson Lowe to venience of the house was also complained of. produce a single instance of such tyranny having Lord Bathurst, the colonial secretary of state, been permitted, but that the French general had replied to this charge, that the general accounts of remained silent, the assertion being absolutely false. Longvwood described it as healthy. It had been All the letters which the relatives of Napoleon tile usual country residence of the lieutenant-go- were disposed to send through his, Lord Bathurst's, vernor, which went far to show that the site could office, he said, should be instantly fbrwarded, but it not be ineligible. The situation had been preferred was a necessary preliminary that such should be by Napoleon himself, who was so impatient to take written. Now, a letter from his brother Joseph, possession of it, that he even wished to have pitched which was received in October last, and instantly a tent there till the house could be cleared for his forwarded, was the only one fi'om any of }his flamily reception. The restriction of the bounds of exer- or relatives which had reached the office. H-Iis lordcise, he explained to have been caused by Napo- ship then adverted to the regulation which enacted, leon's evincing some disposition to tamper with the that even a letter to the Prince Regent lmrast pass inhabitants. He still had a circuit of eight miles, through the Governor of St Helena's hands in an within which he might raune unattenrled and un- open state..Lord Bathuist ekplainied that the recontroled. If lie wished to go farther, he was at gllation gave the governor no autlhority or option as liberty to traverse the island, upon permitting an to transilitting the letter, vlichl lie was directed to orderly officer to join his suite. His refusal to take forward instantly. The rule only tequti.red that Sir exercise on such terms was not the fault of the IlHudson Lowe should be privy to the contents, in British government; and if Napoleon's health stif- order that, if it slorlld crontain any ilmpeachmnent of fered in consequence, it was the result not of the his conduct, his (efenice or apoulogy inight reach i regllations, which were reasonable and indispens- London as soon as the accusationi. This, his lordship able, hbut of his own wilfuilness in refuising to remarked, was necessary, ill order that no timne comply with them. might be lost in redressing a compluint of a grave The secondt class of exceptions taken by Lord character, or repellinr any fi-ivolous and unsubHTolland was againstt whatlhe considlered as the harsh stantial charge. He addedl that should any sealed and iniquitous restrictions upon the exile's conimu- letter be addressed to the Prince Itegent by Naponicatior woith Eulrope. He was not, his lordship leon, lie, Lord Bathurst, would htave no hesitation stated, perimitted to obtain books, or to subscribe to open it, if the governor had not previously doine so. for journals anid newspapers. All intercourse by He should conceive it to be his daty to forwarld it letter was interdicted to the distinguished prisoner, instantly as addressed whenever lie wvas acquainlted even wvithr his wile, h-is child, and hIis nearest and with the contents; buit being in his departimenrit redearest rela-tives. I-e was not allowed to write sponsible for the acts of hIesovereign, lie woiuld feel under seal to thie Prince Regent. it his duty to make himself previously acquainted Upon these several topics Lord Bathurst an- with tile natrire of the comnlrunication. swered, that a list of books, tile value of which Thirdly, Lord Holland touched on the irradequacy amorunted to ~1400 or ~1500 (whiclh General Monl- of the srum allowed for the maintenance of Napotholon ternmedr a few books), had been sent by Na- leon, anld onl the iunworthiness oif mlaking that pertsleon to Britain; that the commissioners put this sonage contribute to bear his own char.;es. The LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 785 nministers, lhis lordship stated, having placed him in revenge, but of security. It was a piece of political a situation where great expense was necessary, justice which we owed to Europe, and the defeat of turned round upon him, and insisted that he should which would never be forgotten in this or in any himself be in a great measure at the charge of sup- other state of the civilized world. porting it. The motion of Lord Holland does not appear to Lord Bathurst replied by stating the facts with have been seconded, and was negatived witlhout a which the reader is already acquainted. He men- division. tioned, that tile suni of ~8000 had been fixed upon There can be no doubt, that the failure of this as adequate, after the heavy expenses of the first effort in the British Senate had a deep effect on year; and that it was increased to ~12,000 on the Napoleon's spirits, and mlay, perhaps, have agremonstrance of Sir Hudson Lowe. This allowance, gravated that tendency to disease in the stomax'h, lie said, was the same given to the governor, who which was suspected to have already taken place. had to bear the cost of frequent entertainments. Nothing is better known, though perhaps few things It (lid not appear to government, that the family of are more difficult to be satisfactorily explained, Napoleon, which was to be maintained on the foot- than the mysterious connexion betwixt distress of ing of that becomning a general officer of distinction, mind and the action of the digestive powers. ought to cost more than that of Sir Hudson Lowe, Violent sickness is produced on many persons by who actually held that condition, with the necessity extreme and sudden affliction, and almost every of discharging the expenses of his staff, and all other one feels the stomach more or less affected by incumbent disbursements. Hle gave some details on that which powerfllly and painfully occupies the the subject of the provisions and the cellar, from mind. And here we may add, that Lord Holland's which it appeared, that, besides the inferior species kindness and compassion for so great a man, under of wine, the table of Napoleon was supplied at the such severe circumstances, were shown by a variety rate of two bottles daily of a superior quality for of delicate attentions on his part and that of his each individual. lady, and that the supplies of books and other articles Lord Holland concluded with stating, that, al- sent by them through the Foreign Office, where every though Queen AMary could be no otherwise regarded facility was afforded for the conveyance, continued than as the bitterest enemy of the illustrious Eliza-, from time to time to give Napoleon assurance of beth, yet the greatest stain upon the memory of the their sympathy. But though lie gratefully felt their latter sovereign was not the unjust, for unjust it attentions, his distress of body, and perhaps of vwas not, bult the harsh and ungenerous treatment of mind, assumed a character incapable of' receiving Mary. Hle iemiinded the House, that it would not consolation. be considered by posterity, whether Bonaparte had] This unhappy state was kept up and prolonged been justly punish.ed for his crimes, but whether! by the extent to which Bonaparte indulged in deGreat Britain had acted in that generous manner termined opposition to the various regulations rewhich becamie a great country. lie then moved for. specting the custody of his person; on which subthe prod;uction of suich pa[pers and correspondence ject, everything which occurred occasioned a betwixt St E-elena and the British government, as. struggle against the authority of' Sir Hudson Lo we, should seeml best fitted to throw light on the per- or a new effort to obtain the imperial distinctions sonal treatuiient of Napoleon. which he considered as due to his rank. It rimay he observ ed, that in the candid and liberal The last point seems to have been carried to the manner in wlhich Lord Holland stated the case, he length of childish extravagance. It was necessary, bwas led into a comparison unfavourable to his own for example, that Dr O'Meara should report to the argument.'lo have rendered the case of Mary governor of the island the state of the prisoner's (the justice of vwhich his lordship admitted, in ques- health, which began to give room for serious appretioning its generosity) parallel to that of Napoleon, hension. Napoleon insisted, that when this blltwo remarkable circumstances were wanting. First, letin was rendered in writing, O'Meara, whoin lie Mary, far from being at war with Queen Elizabeth, considered as in his own service, should give hinm was ostensibly on the most fiiendly terms with the title of emperor. It vas in vain that the doctor that sovereign viwhen she took refuige in England; remonstrated, pleading that the instructions of gosecondly, the British ministry testified no design vernment, as well as the orders of Lieutenantto finish Napoleon's confinement by cutting off his general Lowe, prohibited hiim fions using this forhead.- bidden epithet; and it was with difficulty that lie Lord Darnley, owho had concurred with Lord at last prevailed that the word personage or paHolland in desiring an inquiry, now consi lered the tient might be substituted for the offensive phrase relsorts alluded to as totally refuted by the candid of' GeneralBonraparte. Had this ingenious device and able statement of Lord Bathurst, and was not not been resorted to, there could have been no of opinion that L.rnd Holland should press the communication with the government on the subject motion atrther.'l'he Marquis of Buckingham's of Napoleon's health. opinion was founded on the broad ground of Napo- The physician of Napoleon had till now enjoyed leon's delinquencies towards Europe, and England an easy office. His health was naturally sound, inparticular. He was of opinion, that every deree and, like many persons who enjoy the same inestiof restraint necessay to prevelt -his escape, -should mable advantage, the ex-emperor doubted of the the imposed and enforced. The severe and close healing powers of medicines which he never needed duralce to which General Bonaparte was subjected to use. Abstinence was his chief resource against was not, his lordship said, dictated by motives of i stomach complaints, when these began to assail vOr,. vs. 99 786 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. him, and the bath was frequently resorted to when much that of the froward child, who refuses its the pangs became more acute. He also held it ex- food, or its physic, because it is contradicted. pedient to change the character of his way of liv- The removal of Dr O'Meara from Napoleon's ing, when he felt affected with illness. If it had person, which was considered by him as a great been sedentary, he rode hard and took violent exer- injaury, was the next important incident in the monocise; and if, on the contrary, he had been taking tony of his life. It seems, from quotations given more exercise than usual, he was accustomed to elsewhere in this volume, that Dr O'Meara had lay it aside for prolonged repose. But more re- been for some time a confidant of Sir Hudson Lowe, cently he had not the wish to mount on horseback, and was recommended by him to ministers as a or take exercise at all. person by whose means he could learn what passed About the 25th of September, 1818, Napoleon's in the family of Napoleon. But in process of time, health seems to have been seriously affected. IHe Dr O'Meara, growing perhaps more intinlate with complained much of nausea, his legs swelled, and the prisoner, became unwilling to supply the gothere were other unfavourable symptoms, which vernor with the information of which he had been induced his physician to tell him that he was of a formerly profuise, and a quarrel took place betwixt temperament which required much activity; that him and Sir Hudson Lowe. In describing the constant exertion of mind and body was indispens- scenes which passed betweeni hin and the governor, able; and that without exercise he must soon lose we have already said that Dr O'Meara writes with his health. He immediately declared, that, while a degree of personal animosity, which is unfavourexposed to the challenge of sentinels, he never able to his own credit. But his departure firom St would take exercise, however necessary. Dr Helena was occasioned by a warmer mark of the O'lMeara' proposed calling in the assistance of interest which he took in Napoleon's fortunes, than Dr Baxter, a medical gentleman of eminence on could be inferred from his merely refusing to inform Sir Hudson Lowe's staff. " He could but say the Sir Hudson of what was said at Longwood. same as you do," said Napoleon, " and recommend Dr O'Meara seems not only to have taken the my riding abroad; nevertheless, as long as the part of Napoleon in his controversies wvith the gopresent system continues, I will never stir out." vernor, but also to have engaged deeply in forwardAt another time he expressed the same resolution, ing a secret correspondence with a Mr Holmes, the and his determination to take no medicines. Dr ex-emperor's agent in London. This appears to O'Meara replied, that, if the disease should not be have been clearly proved by a letter receiv ed from encountered by remedies in due time, it would ter- the agent, relating to large remittances of money to minate fatally. His answer was remarkable: — St Helena, by the connivance of' the physician.+ " I will have at least the consolation that my death Under such suspicions Dr O'Meara was withdrawn will be an eternal dishonour to the English nation, by the governor's mandate from attending on the who sent me to this climate to die under the hands person of Napoleon, and sent back to England. of'-***." The physician again represented, that Napoleon had never obeyed his medical injunctions, by neglecting to take medicine, he would accele- but he complained severely when he was recalled rate his own death. " That which is written is from his household; expressing his-belief that the written," said Napoleon, looking up. "Our days depriving him of the medical attendant whose preare.reckoned." scriptions he had never followed, was a direct and This deplorable and desperate course seenis to bold step in the plan contrived for mlrdering hillm. have been adopted partly to spite Sir Itudson It is probable, however, he regretted Dr O'Meara's Lowe, partly in the reckless feelings of despondency secret services more than those which were profesinspired by his situation, and in some degree, per- sional. haps, was the effect of the disease itself, which Sir Hudson Lowe again offered the assistance must necessarily have disinlclined him to motion. of Dr Baxter, but t'his was comnstrued at Lon(wood Napoleon might also hope, that, by thlls threatening into an additional oflence. It was even treated as to injure his health by forbearing exercise, lie might an offer big itllh suspicion. The governor tried, it extort the governor's acquiescence in sc(iie points wvas said, to palm his own prlivate physician upon which were disputed betwixt them. When lhe the emperor, doubtless that lie mighlt Ihold his life governor sent to offer him sonme extension of his niore etectually in his power. Oti the other hand, riding ground, and Dr O'Meara wvislled hiln to profit the British ministers were anxious that everything by the permlission, he replied, that he should be in- should be done which could prevent complaints on salted by the challenge of the sentinels, and that he this head. " You cannot better fulfil the s ishes of did not c:huse to submit to the caprice of the go- his nlmajesty's government (says one of Lord Bavernor, who, granting an indulgence one (lay, thurst's dispatches to thegovernor), than by giving might recal it the next. Oin such grounds as these, effect to any measure which you may consider cal-which, after all, anmounted just to this, that being cldated to prevent any just ground of dissatisfaction a prisoner, and one of great imiportalce, he was oni the part of General Bonaparte, on account of placed under a systenl of vigilance, rendered more any real or supposed inadequacy of medical attendnecessary by the constant intrigues carried on for ance." his escape, —did he feel himself at liberty to neglect TIhe letter alluded to is quoted at full length in the those precautions of exercise alid medicine, which Quarterly Review, vol. XXVIII, p. 224, to p. 226. It was were necessary for the preservation of his health. received after Dr O'Meara's dislmission, which therefore hlis conduct on such occasions can scarce be termed must have been occasioned only by the suspicion of what worthy of his powerful mind; it resembled too was afterwards proved. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 787 Dr Stokoe, surgeon on board the Conqueror, was religion." He went on to state the terms on which next called in to visit at Longwood. But differences he would negotiate with the pope, and added, arose betwixt him and the governor, and after a "They will say I am papist-I am no such thing. few visits his attendance on Napoleon was dis- I was a mahomedan in Egypt-I will be a catholic charged. here, for the good of the people. I do not believe in After this period, the prisoner expressed his de- forms of religion, but in the existence of a God!" termination, whatever might be the extremity of his He extended his hands towards heaven-" Who is case, not to permit the visits of an English physi- it that has created all above and around us?" * This cian; and a commission was sent to Italy to obtain sublime passage proves that Napoleon (unfortunate a medical man of reputation from some of the semi- in having proceeded no farther towards the christain naries in that country. At the same time, Napoleon shrine) had at least crossed the threshold of the signified a desire to have the company of a catholic temple, and believed in and worshiped the Great priest. The proposition for this purpose came Father of the Universe. through his uncle, Cardinal Fesch, to the papal The missionaries were received at St Helena government, and readily received the assent of the with civility, and the rites of mass were occasionally British ministly. It would appear that this mission performed at Longwood. Both the clergymen were had been thoulght by his holiness to resemble, in quiet, unobtrusive characters, confining themselves some de.gree, those seat into foreign and misbelieving to their religious duties, and showing neither the countries; for two churchmen were dispatched to abilities nor the active and intriguing spirit which St Helena instead of one.' protestants are apt to impute to the catholic priestThe senior priest, Father Bonavita, was an el- hood. derly Inan, subject to the infirmities belonging to his The same vessel which arrived at St Helena on iperiod of life, and broken by a residence of twenty- the 18th September, in 1819, with these physicians six years in Mexico. His speech had been affected for the mind, brought with them Dr F. Antommarchi, by a paralytic stroke. His recommendation to the anatomic pro-sector (that is, assistant to a professor oflice which he now undertook, was his having been of anatomy) to the hospital of Saint Marie Neuve father confessor to Napoleon's mother. His compa- at Florence, attached to the University of Pisa, who nion was a young abbe called Vignali. Both were was designed to supply the place about the prisoner's pious, good men, well qualified, doubtless, to give person, occupied by Dr O'Meara, and after him Napoleon the comfort which their church holds out' provisionally by Dr Stokoe. He continued to hold to those who receive its tenets, but not so much so the office till Napoleon's death, and his Account of to reclaim wanderers, or confirm those who might his Last Moments, a work in two volumes, though doubt the doctrines of the church. less interesting, and showring fatr less acuteness than Argument or controversy, however, were not ne- that of Las Cases, or of O'Meara, is yet usefill and. cessary. Napoleon had declared his resolution to entertaining, as relating to the last days of so exdie in the faith of his fathers. He was neither an traordinary a person. Dr Antommarchi seems to infidel, he said, nor a philosopher. If we doubt have been acceptable to Napoleon, and the rather whether a person who had conducted himself to- that he was a native of Corsica. lie brought also wards the pope in the way which history records of news from his family. Thle Princess Pauline BorNapoleon, and who had at one time been excommu- ghese had offered to come to attend him. " Let her licated (if, indeed, the ban wras yet removed), could remain where she is," said Napoleon; " I would not be sincere in his general professions of catholicism, have her witness the degrading state which I am wve nmast at least acquit the exile of the charge of reduced to, and the insults to which I am subjected." deliberate atheism. Ot various occasions, he ex- It is needless to resume the subject of these alpressed, with deep feelingsofdevotion, his conviction leged insults. They consisted in the precautions of the existence of the deity, the great truth upon which Sir Htudson Lowe deemed himself obliged to which the whole system of religion rests; and this at take for the security of his prisoner; particularly in a tinie lwhen the detestable doctrines of atheism and requiring that a British officer should be regularly malerialismn were generally current in France. Im- made assured of his being at Longwood, and that an mediately after his elevation to the dignity of first officer, not under the rank of captain, should attend consul, lie meditated the restoration of religion; and him on the excursions which he proposed to imake thus, in a mixture of feeling and of policy, expressed through the island. On these subjects, Napoleon himself upon the subject to Thibaudean, then a coun- had made his mind up to a species of' passive resellor of state. Having comnbated for a long time sistance; and had, as we have seen, already exthe systems of modern philosophers upon different pressed himself determined to take no exercise, kinds of worship, upon deism, natural religion, and however indispensable to his health, unless the rege.so forth, he proceeded. "Last Sunday even in lations of his confinement were entirely dispensed the general silence of nature, I was walking in these with, or modified according to his own pleasure. grounds (of Alalmaisoni). The sound of the church- This was an argument ad nmisericordiam, which bejl of Rueil fell upon my ear, and renewed all the must have given the governor great distress and imLressions of my youth. I was profoundly affected, uneasiness, since, if the health of the prisoner should suct is the power of early habit and associations; fail, even though it was through his own wilftllness, and I considered, if such wvas tile case withll me, what Sir Itudson could not expect that his conduct would maust riot be the effect of such recollections upon escape censure. At the same time, if he yielded to the more simple and credulous vulgar? Let your * idfmoires sur le Consudat, 1]799 ml 1804, par aun anlen philosophers answer that. The people must have a C.onseiller d'ltat, pp. 151-3: 1 vol. 8vo, Paris, 1827. 788 LIFE OF NAPOLEON 1BONNAPARTE. this species of compulsory argument, it might be tainly engaged in a plot to deliver Napoleon fiomn carried to an extent altogether inconsistent with the St Helena, of a very singular kind. A submarine safe custody of the captive. His vigilance was also vessel, that is, a ship capable of being sunk unl(er sharpened by constant reports of plots for the li- water for a certain time, and of be'ng raised again beration of Napoleon; and the sums of money which: at pleasure by disengaging certain weights, was to he and his family had at their command, rendered it be the means of effecting this enterprise. It vas dangerous to trust to the natural securities of the: thought that, by sinking the vessel during the dayisland. It is remarkable, too, that in demanding, as time, she might escape the notice of' the British a matter of right, freedom from the restrlictions of cruizers, and, being raised at night, might approach which lie complained, Napoleon never proposed any the guarded rock without discovery. The vessel concessions onl his part, by olrer of his parole or: was actually begun in one of the building-yards otherwise,'which might tend to give any additional upon the Thames; but the peculiarity of' her conmoral assurance, in place of those limitations which struction having occasioned suspicion, she was seizhe desired to have removed. Yet, to accommodate: -ed by the British government. himself in'some degree to his prisoner's obstinacy,, These, and others which we could name, were Sir Hludson Lowe was content that the:British: very perilous and wild attempts, yet calculated to officer vhose duty it was to report on the presence keep vigilance alive; for in every case in which of Napoleon at Longwood, should only be required great natural difficulties have been surmounted by'to satisfy hiiself of it by such indirect opportunities such enterprises, it has been because these difficulties as his walking in the garden, or appearing at the have been too much relied upon. But while such window, permitted him to enjoy, and on such occa- precarious means of escape were presented from sions he-was enjoined to keep his own person con- time to time, the chance upon which Napoleon secealed. In this way there were days which passed cretly relied for release from his present situation, without any regular report on this most important was vanishing from his eyes. point, fbr'which Sir Hudson Lowe would' have been His case was mentioned in the House of Comhighly responsible if an escape had been effected. motis, but incidentally only, on the 12th July, 1819. We beg to refer to Dr Antommarchi's work for in- The subject was introduced into a debate on finance, stances of the peculiar and grossly indelicate oppor- when Mr C. H. iutchinson pointed out the yearly tunities, which, to compound between the necessity expense of detaining Napdoleons at St Helena, which'of the case and the obstinacy of Napoleon, his at- he stated to amount to'half-a-million sterling, as a tendants took to make his person visible when he'useless expenditure'of public money. In this statewas not aware of it. ment lie received no counternance from any one exSchemes for Napoleon's escape were not wanting. cept Mr Joseph flume.'It was answered by the A Colonel Latapie, distinguished as a partisan officer, chancellor of the exchequer; and the expense was was said to be at the head of an attenmpt to carry declared not to exceed a fifth part of' the sum alleghimn off from St Helena, which was tobe undertaken'ed. The leading members of opposition seemed to by a band of desperadoes fromi America, but Napo- take no interest in the question; and it was believed leon said, lie knew too well the character of such at St Helena, that Napoleon's disappointment in adventurers to hope to profit by thent. Government the hopes which he had entertained of their strong had other inf'ornatioin of attemripts to be made firom and overpowering interposition in his behallt first America, but none of them seemi to have Iproceeded led to his mental depression and total abandonment tto any serious length. of hope. It was different with the undertaking of John- The comlplexion of the times, indeed, lhad become stone, a smtnuggler of an uncommonly resolute cha- such as to strenrgthen every reason which existed racter, and whose life had been a tissue of desperate for detaining him in captivity. The state of Engrisks. Ile haid made a imemorable escape from land, owing to the discontent and sufferings of' the Newgate, and had al'terwards piloted Lord Nelson's manufactring tlistricts,-and more especially that vessel to the attack of Copenhagen, when the or- of Italy, convulsed by the short-lived revolutions of dinary masters of the fleet, and pilots, declined the Naples and Savoy,-rendered the safe custody of task. Johlnstone was also said to have meditated a Napoleon a matter of more deep ilnport than it had bold attempt to carry off Bonaparte on a former oc- been at any time since his fall. What the effect of casion, when he trusted'himself on the water for his name might have produced in that tromient of the purpose ofvisiting F'lushing.a And now lie cer- general commotion cannot be estimated, but the * Such at least was the report. The attempt was to have consequences of his escape must have been most been nmade by Johnstone and his desperate associates in a formidable. boat, which they were to row across the Scheldt towards The British ministry, aware of the power of such Flushing, just when Napoleon was proceeding thither. a spirit to work among the troubled elemrents, anxiThey were to board the imperial barge, throw every one ously enjoined additional vigilance to the Governor save Napoleon into the sea, anid removing him- to'their of St Helena: own light row-boat, were to pull out and deliver him up to The overthrow of the Neapolitan government, the British squadronl, then cruizing off the island. It is thThe overthrow of the Neapolitan governments added, that Napoleon took the alarm from seeing a boat e o rowing very swiftly towards him, and, ordering his crew t he dot state o rance itself, to pull harder, or give way, as it is called, the smuggler, must excite his attentio, and clearly show hat a instead of running athwart the barge, fell astern, and the crisis'is fast approaching, if not already arrived, opportunity was lost. We do not know that there is any when his escape would be productive of inmlrtant good authority for the story. consequences. That his partisans are active caunnot LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 789 be doubted; and if he be ever willing to hazard the five secretaries at once. " But then," he said, " I attempt, he will never allow such an opportunity to was Napoleon-now I am no longer anything-r-y escape. You will, therefore, exert all your atten- strength, my faculties, forsake me-I no longer live, tion in watching his proceedings, and call upon the I only exist." Often he remained silent for many admiral to use his utmost vigilance, as tupon the hours, suffering, ais may be supposed, much pain, and navy so much must ultimately depend."* I immersed in profound melancholy. The alarm was natural, but there was no real About the 22d January, 1821, Napoleon appeared cause for apprehension. Politics and war were to resume some energy, and to make some attempt never more to know the powerful influence of Napo- to conquer his disease by exercise. He mounted leon Bonaparte. His lost'hopes aggravating the his horse, and galloped, for the last time, five or progress of the cruel disease, which had its source six miles around the limits qf Longwood, but nain the stomach, it now affected the whole frame, ture was overcome by the effort. lie complained and undermined the strength of the constitution. that his strength was sinking under him rapidly. Death was now finally to terminate the fretful and. The governor had already transmitted to Britain degrading discussions, by which he inflicted, and' accounts of Napoleon's decay of health, without from which he received, so much pain, and to open having it, however, in his power to ascertain how the gates of a prison, for which Hope herself could far it was real, or how far the appearances wvere scarce present another key. The synmptoms of disor- assumed. The patient would neither receive the ganization in the digestive powers became more and visit of any English sulgeon or physician, nor would more apparent, and his reluctance to take any me- he authorize the communication of Dr Antommardicine, as if firom an instinctive persuasion that the chi with Sir Hludson Lowe. The governor was power of physic was in vain, continued as obstinate obliged to state accounts of the prisoner's declinas ever. On one of the many disputes which lie ing health as reports, the reality of which he had Inaint:hined on this subject, hle answered Antorr- no means of ascertaining. The generous feelings of marchi's reasoning thus:-"Doctor, no physicking. the great personage at the head of the British goW5,e ale, as I already told you, a machine made to vernnment were naturally deeply interested in the live. WTVe are orgranized for that purpose, and such fate of the prisoner, and prompted him, by every is oir nature. Do not counteract the living principle. means in his power, and especially bly expressions of L t it alone-leave it the liberty of defending itself his own sympathy, to extend such hope and comfort -it will do better than your drlgs. Our body is a to Napoleon as he could be supposed to receive, watclh, that is intended to go for a given time. The under the necessity of his continued captivity. The wavtchinaker cannot open it; and must, on handling following is Lord Bathurst's dispatch to Sir Hudson it, grope his way blind-folded and at random. For Lowe on this interesting subject, dated 16th Feonce that he assists and relieves it by dint of tor- bruary, 1821: menting it wvit!h his crooked instruments, he injures it ten times, and at last destroys it." This was on the' I am aware now difficult it is to make any com14th of October, 1820. munication to the general whichv will not be liable As the ex-emperor's health grew weaker, it to misrepresentation; and yet, if he be really ill, cannot be thought extraordinary that his mind be- he may derive some consolation by knowing, that came more and more depressed. In lack of other the repeated accounts which have of late been transmeans of amusing himself, he had been somewhat mitted of his declining health have not been reinterested in the construction of a pond and fountain ceived with indifference. You will, therefore, cornrin the garden of Longwood, which was stocked municate to General Bonaparte the great interest with small fishes. A mixture of copperas in the which his majesty has taken in the recent accounts mastick employed in cementing the basin, had af- of his indisposition, and the anxiety lwhich his mnafected the water.. The creatures, which had been jesty feels to afford him every relief of which his in a good measure the object of Napoleon's atten- situation admits. You will assure General Bonation, began to sicken and to die. He was deeply parte that there is no alleviation which can be deafftcted by this circumstance, and, in language rived front additional medical assistance, nor any strongly resembling the beautiful verses of Moore, arrangement consistent with the sate custody of his expressed his sense.of the fatality which seemed to person at St Helena (and his majesty cannot now attach itself to him. "Everything I love-every- hold out any expectation of his removal), which hIis tlhing that belongs to me,"' he exclaimed, "is inr- majesty is not most ready and desirous to afford. imediately struck. Heaven and mankind fnite to You will not only repeat the offer which has already afflict nie."t At other times he lamented his decay been more than once made, of such furither medical of energy. The bed, he said, was now a place of assistance as the island of St Helena rlffords, but luxury, which he would nlot exchange for all the you will give him the option of procuring the atthtrones in the universe. The eyes, which formerly tendance of any of the miedical gentlemen wvho are were so vigilant, could now scarcely be opened. at the Cape, where there is one, at least, of coasil-e recollected that he used to dictate to four or derable eminence in his profession; and in case of any wish being expressed by the general to receive ~ Dispatch to Sir Hudson Lowe, 30th September, 1820. such assistance, you wrill consider yourself authort'01!ever hlus-efrom childhood's hour, ized to make a communication to the Cape, and I're seen my fondest hopes decay; take such other measures as may be necessary to I never loved a tree or flower, secure the immediate attendance of the personwllom But't was the first to fade away, the general may name." 790 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Napoleon had not the satisfaction to know the natural enough to a sick-bed, le cnmlunicated to interest which his majesty took in his illness, which some of his retinue his sense of what disease afwould probably have afforded hims some gleaml of flicted him, though, afraid perhaps of some course of,consolation. The tenor of the letter might, perhaps, medicine being proposed, he did not desire that his have induced him to think, that his own system of surgeon should know his suspicions.* From tile pertinaciolus contest with the authorities under whose 15th to the 25th of April, Napoleon was cngaged, charge he was placed, had been so far injudicious, from time to time in making his testamentary beas to lead to doubts of thie reality of the disorder quests, of which we shall have occasion to mnake under which he was dying; and had therefore been soime mention hereafter, as illustrative of his peculiar one great caunt* of intercepting the sympathy, and character and sentiments. On the day last melperhaps the reliet which must otherwise have ex- tioned, lhe was greatly exhausted by the fatigue of tended itself to a situation so well deserving of writing, and slrowed symptoms of over-excitation. commiseration. Amnong these may he safely included, a plan which Towards the end of February the disease assumed he spoke of for reconciling all religious dissensions a character still more formidable, and Dr Antom- in France, which he said he had designed to carry Inarchi became desirous of obtaining a consultation into effect. with some of the English'medical men. The em- As the strength of the patient gradually sunk, the peror's aversion to their assistance had been in- symptoms of his disease became less equivocal, sincreased by a well-meant offer of the governor, an- til, on the 27th April, the ejection of a dark-colournotncing that a physician of eminence had arrived ed fluid gave farther insight into the nature of the at the island, whoin he therefore placed at General malady. Dr Antomlnarchi persevered in attributing Bonaparte's devotion.* This proposal, like every it to climate, which was flattering the wish of the other advance on the part of SirI-Iudson Lowe, had patient, who desired to lay his death upon his conbeen received as meditated injury; " He wants to fineinent at St Helena; while Dr Arnott expressed deceive Europe by false bulletins," said Napoleon; his belief that the disease was the sanme which cut " I will not see any one who is in communication off his father in the pure air of Montpell:er. Dr Anwith him." To refise seeing every physician but tommarchi, as usually happens to the reporter of a his own, was certainly an option which ought to have debate, silenced his antagonist in the argusment, albeen left in Napoleon's choice, and it was so left though Dr Arnott had bIy this tinme obtained the paaccordingly. But in thins obstinately declining to see tient's own authority for the assertion. Ulpon tie an impartial medical man, whose report must have 28th of April, Napoleon gave instructions to Anbeen conclusive respecting his state of health, Na- tommarchi, that after his dleath Iis body should be poleon unquestionably strengthened the belief; that opened, I-ut that no English medical man shoulld Ilis case was not so desperate as it proved to be. touch him, unless in tile case of assistance being At length the ex-emperor consented that Dr An- absolutely necessary, in which case he gave Anitontomlnarchi should consult with Dr Arnott, surgeon marchi leave to call in that of Dr Arnott. He diof the 20th regiment. But the united opinion of the rected that his heart should be conveyed to Parmla, medical gentlemen could not overcome the aversion to Maria Louisa; and requested anxiously that hlis of Napoleon to medicine, or shake the belief which stomach should be particularly examined, and the lie reposed in the gloomy doctrines of fatalism. report transmitted to his son. "The vomIitisugs," he'Quod scriptum scripturm;" he replied inl the lan- said, "which succeed one another without initerguage of a mnoslem, " All that is to happen is written rulption, lead mre to suppose that the stolnach is, of down. Our hour is marked, and it is not ili our all my organs, the most diseased; and I am inclined power to claim a momenlt longer of life than Fate to believe that it is attacked with the samlee disorder has predestined for us." which. killied my father,-I mean a scirrhus in thle Dr Antommarchi finally prevailed in obtaining pylorus." On the 21 May, time patient returned to admittance for Dr Arnott into the apartment and the sanle interesting subject, retlsinding Aurtosranarpresence of the patient, who complained chiefly of clii of his anxiety that the stonlach should be carehis stomach, of the disposition to vomit, and dle- frilly exanmined. "The physicians of Montpellier ficiency of the digestive powers. He saw hinm for had anlllnonced that the scirrlhus in tIhe pylorus would the first timne on 1st April, 1821, and continued his be hereditary in my family. Thlir report is, I bevisits regularly. Napoleon expressed his opinion lieve, inl tlhe hands of Louis. Ask for it, and cornthat his liver was affected. Dr Arnott's observa- pare it with your own observations, thlat I Isay save tions led hinm to think, that though the action of the Inv son frormi the su!ierings I now experience." liver might be imperfect, the seat of the disease was Du-ing the 3d May, it was seens thast tile life of to be looked for elsewhere. And here. it is to be Napoleon was drawinig evidently to a close; and his remarked, that Napoleon, when Dr Antomrnarcli fbllowers, and particularly his physician, became expressed doabts on the state of his stomach, had desisrous to call in more miedical assistance; —tlat repelled them with sharpness, though his iorwn pri- of Dr Shlortt, physician to the forces, and of Dr vate belief was, that he was afflicted with the disease Mitchell, surgeon of the flag-silip, was referred to. of his father. Thus, withs a capricious inconsistesncy, Dr, Shollrtt, howvever, thought it proper to assert tIle dignity helonging to his profession, and refiised to' Dr Shorlt, physician to the forces; who, at this time, replaced Dr BaxLer as principal mertdical otfcier tit St IHe-' M/alame Bertrand mentioned to Dr Sliortt, that NaRpo. lena, anid to whom wc have been obliged fi)r mIsuch valu- leon rconceivetd himself dying of cancer iiu thle stomach, able information. whlich she considered as a mere whim. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 791 give an opinion on a case of so much importance in sufficiently evident. A large ulcer occupied almost itself, and attended with so much obscurity, unless the whole of the stomach. It was only the strong he wvere permitted to see and examine the patient. adhesion of the diseased parts of that organ to the The officers of Napoleon's household excused them- concave surface of the lobe of the liver, which, selves, by professing that the emperor's strict com- being over the ulcer, had prolonged the patient's mands had been laid on them, that no English phy- life by preventing the escape of the contents of the sician, Dr Arnott excepted, should approach his stomach into the cavity of the abdonlen. All the (lying bed. They said, that even when he was other parts of the viscera were found in a tolerably speechless they would be unable to brook his eye, healthy state. The report was signed by the I3ritish should he turn it upon them in reproof for their dis- medical gentlemen present. Dr Antommarchi was obedience. about to add his attestation, when, according to inAbout two o'clock of the same day, the priest Vi- formation which we consider as correct, General gnali administered the sacrament of extreme unc- Bertrand interdicted his doing so, because tle report tion. Some days before, Napoleon had explained was drawn up as relating to the body of' General to him the manner in which he desired his body Bonaparte. Dr Antommarchi's own account does should be laid out in state, in an apartment light- not, we believe, greatly differ from that of the Bri. ed by torches, or what catholics call icze chambre tish professional persons, though he has drawn conardente. "'I am neither," he said, in the same clusions from it which are apparently inconsistent phrase which we have formerly quoted, "a philo- with the patient's own conviction, and the ghastly. soplher nor a physician. I believe in God, and am evidence of the anatomical operation. He continued of the religion of my father. It is not every body to insist that his late patron had not died of the who can be an atheist. I was born a catholic, and, cancer which we have described, or, in medical wvill fulfil all the duties of tile catholic church, and language, of scirrhus of the pylorus, but of a chronic receive the assistance which it administers." He gastro-hepatitis, a disease he stated to be endemic th. n turned to DrAntommarchi, whom he seems to in the island of' St Helena; although we do not obhave suspected of heterodoxy, which the doctor, serve it asserted or proved that the hospital of the however, disowned. "How call you carry it so island, at any time, produced a single case like that far'"' he said. " Can you not believe in God, whose of the deceased captive. existence everything proclaims, and in whom the The gentlemen of Napoleon's suite were desirous greatest minds have believed?" that his heart should be preserved and given to As if to mark a closing point of resemblance be- their custody. But Sir Hudson Lowe did not feel twixt Cromwell and Napoleon, a dreadful tempest himself at liberty to permit this upon his own authlloarose on the 4thll May, which preceded the day that rity. He agreed, however, that the heart shlould be was to close the mortal existence of this extraor- placed in a silver vase, filled with spirits, and interred dinary mnan. A willow, which had been the exile's along with the body; so that in case his instructions favourite, and tnder which he had often enjoyed from home should so permit, it might be afterwards the firesh breeze, was torn tip by the hurricane; and disilsutned and sent to Europe. almost all the trees about Longwood shared the The place of interment became the next subject same fate. of discussion. On this subject Napoleon had been Thie 5th of May camtle amid wind and rain. Na- inconsistent. His testamentarydisposition expressed poleon's passing spirit was deliriously engaged in a a wish that his remains should be deposited on the strife more terrible than thatof the elements around. banks of the Seine; a request which he could not The words " tete d'arnzse," the last which escaped for an instant suppose would be complied with, and his lips, intimated that his thoughts were watching which appeats to have been made solely for the sake the current ofa heady fight. About eleven minutes of producing effect. The reflection of an instant before six in the evening, Napoleon, after a struggle would hiave been sufficient to call to, recollection, which indicated the original strength of his constitu- that he would not, while in power, have allowed tion, breathed hIis last. Louis XVIII. a grave in the lamnd of his fathers; nor didhe permit the remnains of the Duke d'Enghien any other internlent than t!lat assigned to the poorest TIHE officers of Napoleon's household were dis- outcast, who is huddled to earth on tile spot on posed to have the body anatomized in secret. But which he dies. aBut neither did the agitated state Sir Hudson Lowe had too deep a sense of thile re- of the public mind, now general through Italy, responsibility under which he and his country stood, commend the measure. to permit this to take place. He declared, that even A grave for the Emperor of France, within the if he were reduced to make use of f)orce, he would limits of the rocky island to which his last years insure the presence of English physicians at the were limited, was thie alternative that remained; dissection. and sensible that this was likely to be the case, he Generals Bertrand and Montholon, with Mar- had himself indicated the spot where he wishetl to chand, the valet-de-chambre of the deceased, were lie. It was a smnall secluded recess, called Slane's present at the operation, which took place on the or IHaines' Valley, where a fountain arose, at which 6th of May. It was also witnessed by Sir Thoumas his Chinese domestics used to fill the silver pitchers Reade, and somle British staff-officers.' Drs Thomas which they carried to Longwood for Napoleon's use. Shortt, Archibald Arnott, Charles Mitchell, Matthew The spot had more of verdure and shade than any Livingston, and Francis Burtont, all of' them nledical in the neighbourhood; and the illustrious exile was men, were also present. The cause of death was often accustomed to repose under tile beautifltl 792 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. weeping willows whichl overhung the spring. The nose and mouth were beautifully formeed. The body, after lying in state in his small bed-room, upper lip was very short. The teeth were indifduring which time it was visited by every person of ferent, but were little shown in speaking.* His condition in the island, was on the 8th of May car- smile possessed uncommon sweetness, and is stated nied to the place of interment. The pall which to have been irresistible. The complexion was a covered the coffin was the military cloak which clear olive, otherwise in general colourless. The Napoleon had worn at the battle of Marengo. The prevailing character of his countenance was grave, members of his late household attended as mourners, even to nelancholy, but without any signs of seveand were followed by the governor, the admiral, rity or violence. After death, the placidity and and all the civil and military authorities of the dignity of expression which continued to occupy island. All the troops were under arms upon the the features, rendered them eminently beautiful, solemn occasion. As the road did not permit a and tIhe admiration of all who looked on them. lear approach of the hearse to the place of sepul- Such was Napoleon's exterior. His personal ture, a party of British grenadiers had the honour to and private character was decidedly amiable, exbear the coffin to the grave. The prayers were re- cepting in one particular. His temper, when he cited by the priest, Abb6 Vignali. Minute guns received, or thought he received, provocation, espewere fired frbm the adlmiral's ship. The coffin was cially if of a personal character, was uwarm and then let down into the grave, under a discharge vindictive. He was, however, placable in the case of three successive volleys of a rtillery, fifteen even of his enemies, providing that they submitted pieces of cannon firing fifteen guns each. A large to his mercy; but he had not that species of genestone was then lowered down on the grave, and rosity which respects the sincerity of a manly and Icovered the moderate space now sufficient for the fair opponent. On the other hand, no one was a man for whom Europe was once too little. more liberal rewarder of the attachment of his friends. He was an excellent husband, a kind relation, and, unless when state policy intervene(l, a CONCLUSION,. most affectionate brother. General Gourgaud, whose communications were not in every case to ARRIVED at the conclusion of this momentous Napoleon's advantage, states him to have been the narrative, the reader may be disposed to pause a best of masters, labouring to assist all his domestics moment to reflect on the character of that wonder- wherever it lay in his power, giving thelm tile highful person, on whom Fortune showered so many fa- est credit for such talents as they actually possessed, yours in the beginning and through the middle of and irmp)uting, in sonme instances, good qualities to his career, to overwhelmn its close with such deep such as had them not. and unwonted afflictions. There was gentleness, and even softness, in hIis Tile external appearance of Napoleon was not chiaracter. He was affected when lie rode over the imposing at the first glance, his staturle being only fields of battle, which his ambition had strewed with five feet six inches English. His person, thin in the dead and the dying, and seemed not only desiryouth, arid somewhat corpulent in age, was rather ons to relieve the victims,-issuring for tlhat purpose delicate than robust in outward appearance, but directions, which too often were not, and could not cast in tile mouhl nlost capable of enduring priva- be, obeyed,-brut showed himself subject to thre intionl and fatigure. He rode unogracefully, and with- fluence of that more acute and imaginative species out the commnand of his hobrse which distinguishes of sympathy which is termed sensibility. He mena perfect cavalier; so that he showed to disadvan- tions a circumstance which indlicates a deep sense tage whllen ridirng beside such a horseman as Murat. of feeling. As he'passed over a field of battle in But he was fearless, sat firm in his seat, rode withl Italy, with some of his generals, he saw a houseless rapidity, and was capable of endllring the exercise dog lying on the body of his slain imaster. The for a longer time than niost men. We have already creature came towards themn, then returned to tihe mentioned his indifference to thle quality of his dead body, moaned over it pitiftlly, and seemed Io food, an(d his pow er of enduring ablstinence. A ask their assistance. "'Whether it were the feeling morsel of food, and a flask of wine hunlla at his of the moment," continued Napoleon, "the scene, saddle-bow, used, in his earlier campaigns, to snp- thre hour, or the circumstance itself, I was never so port himi for days. In his latter wars, he more fre- deeply affected by anything which I hare seen Upon quently used a carriage; not, as has been surnlised, a field of battle. That mnan, I thought, has perhaps from anly particular illness, but from feeling in a had a house, friends, comrades, and here lie lies fianme so constantly in exercise the premature ef- deserted by every one but Ihis dog. How mysterious fects of age. are the imrpressions to which we are subject! I was The countenance of' Napoleon is familiar to al- in the habit, without emotion, of ordlering battles most every one fronm description, and the portraits which must decide the fate of a campaign, and could which are foriuld everywhere. The dlark-brown look with a dry eye on thle execution of mainoeuvres hair bore little marks of the attentions of the toi- which must be attended with much. loss; and hlere let. The shape of tihe countenance approached I uwas moved-nay, painfully affected —by thle cries more than is usual in the hummanl race to a square. and the grief of a dog.. It is certain that at tlhat His eyes were grey, and full rf expression, the pu- niorent I should have been more accessible to a pils rather large, andl thle eye-brows not very strongly mnarked. The brow and upper part of thie s When af St Ielenll, he was much troublel with tootllcountenance was rather of a stern character. His ache aind scurvy in the gurus. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 793 Puppliant enemy, and could better understand the Directory upon a footing approaching to equality conduct of Achilles in restoring the body of Hector His talents as a soldier, and situation as a victorious to the tears of Priam."' The anecdote at once general, soon raised him from equality to pre-emishows that Napoleon possessed a heart amenable to hence. humane feelings, and that they were usually in total These talents applied not less to the general subjection to the stern precepts of military stoicism. arrangements of the campaign, than to the disposiIt was his common and expressive phrase, that the tions for actual battle. In each of these great deheart of a politician should be in his head; but his partments of war, Napoleon was not merely a pupil feelings sometimes surprised him in a gentler mood. of the most approved masters of the art,-he was an A calculator by nature and by habit, Napoleon improver, an innovator, and an inventor. was fond of order, and a friend to that moral conduct In strat6gie, he applied upon a gigantic scale the in Which order is best exemplified. The libels of principles upon which Frederick of Prussia had the day have made some scandalous averments to acted, and gained a capital or a kingdom, when the contrary, but without adequate foundation. Frederick would have won a town or a province. Napoleon respected himself too much, and under- His system was, of course, that of assembling the stood the value of public opinion too well, to have greatest possible force of his own upon the vulnerplunged into general or vague debauchery. able point of the enemy's position, paralyzing, perConsidering his natural disposition, then, it may haps, two fourths of their army, while he cut the third be assumed that if Napoleon had continued in the to pieces, and then following up his position by vale of private life, and no strong temptation of pas- destroying the remainder in detail. For this purpose, sion or revenge had crossed his path, he must have he taught generals to divide their armies upon the been generally regarded as one whose friendship march, with a view to celerity of movement and was every way desirable, and whose enmity it was facility of supply, and to unite tlens at the moment not safe to incur. of contest, where an attack would be most feebly Blut the opportunity afforded by the times, and the resisted, because least expected. For this, also, he elasticity of his own great talents, both military — and first threw aside all species of baggage which could political, raised hinm with unexampled celerity to a possibly be dispensed with —supplied the want of sphere of great power, and at least equal temptation. magazines by the contributions exacted fron the Ere we consider the use which he made. of his as-. country, or collected from individuals by a regular cendancy, let us briefly review the causes by which system of'marauding-discontinued the use of tents, it was accomplished. and. trusted to bivouackino with his soldiers, where' The consequences c(f the Revolution, however hamlets could not be found, and there was no time fatal to private families, were the means of filling to erect huts. His system was ruinous in point of the camps of the nation with armies of a description lives, for even the military hospitals were often which Europe had never seen before, and, itis to be dispensed with; but although Moreau termed Nahoped, will never witness again. There was neither poleon a conqueror at the rate of ten thousand men safety, honour, nor almost subsistence, in any other a-day, yet the sacrifice for a length of time uniformprofession than the military; and accordingly it be- ly attained the object for which it was designed. came the refuige of the best and bravest of the youth The enemy who had remained in their extensive of France, until the army ceased to consist, as in cantonments, distracted by the reports of various most nations, of the miserable and disorderly class columns moving in different directions, were surof the community, but was levied is the body and prised and defeated by the united fbrce of the bosom of the state, and composed of the flower of French, which had formed a junction where and France, whether as regarded health, moral qualities, when it was least expected. It was not till they had or elevation of mind. Viith such men, the generals acquired the art of withdrawing friom his attack so of the Republic achieved many and great victories, soon as niade, that the allies learned to defeat the but without being able to insure corresponding ad- efforts of his moveable columns. vantages. This may have been in a great measure Napoleon was not less original as a tactician than occasioned by the dependence in whichthese leaders as a strategist. His manoeuvres on the field of were held by the various administrators of the Re- battle had the promptness and decision of the thunpublic at homse-a dependence accounted for by the derbolt. In the actual shock of conflict, as in the necessity of having recourse to those in power at preparations which he had made for bringing it on, Paris for the means of paying and supporting their his object was to amuse the enemy upon many armr.i:s. Fromn the time that Napoleon passed the points, while he oppressed one by an unexpected Alps, he inverted this state of things; and made the force of numbers. The breaking through the line, newly conquered countries not only maintain the the turning of a flank, which had been his object army by means of contributions and confiscations, from the commencement of the fight, lay usually but even contribLute to support the government. Thuls disguised under a great number of previous demonwar, which had hitherto been a burden to the Replb- strations, and was not attempted until both the lic, became in his hands a source of public revenue; moral and physical force of the enemy was impaired while the youthful general, contributing to the in- by the length of the combat. It was at this period come of tte state, on which his predecessors had that he brought up his guards, who, impatient of inbeen dependent. -was enabled to assert the freedom activity, had been held in readiness for hours, andl at which he speedily aimed, and correspond with the now, springing forward like wolf-dogs from the leash, had the glorious task, in which they rarely i Mdmorialde Ste-HMInle, vol. II, pp. 36 7. failed, of deciding the long-sustained contest. It io.. vi. *1900 VI.., _ _ _ _ 79431 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. may be added, as further characteristic of his tactics, towards power, he showed the certificate of superior that he preferred employing the order of the column efficacy guaranteed by the most signal success; and to that of the line; perhaps on account of the faith he assumed the empire of France under the proud which he might rest in the extreme valour of the title, Detec- dignissino. Neither did actions up French officers by whom the column was headed. to this point encourage any one to challenge the'The interest which Napoleon preserved in the defects or flaws of his title. In practice, his governFrench soldier's affection by a frequent distribution ment wvas brilliant abroad, and, with few exceptions, of prizes and listinctions, as well as by his familiar liberal and moderate at home. The abominable notice of their persons, and attention to their wants, murder of the Duke d'Enghien showed the vindictive joined to his possession of absolute and independent spirit of a savage; but, in general, the public actions command, rendered it no difficult matter fobr him of Napoleon, at the commencement of his career, to secure their support in the revolution of the were highly laudable. The battle of Marengo, with eighteenth Brumaire, and in placing him at the head its consequences,-the softening of civil discord, the of aflhirs. Most part of the nation wvere heartily reconciliation with the Church of Rome, the recal tired by this time of the continually unsettled state of the great body of the enigrants, and the reviviof the government, and the various changes which it fication of national jurisprudence,-wn ere all events had experienced, fi'om the visionary speculations of calculated to flatter the imagination, and even gain the girondists, the brutal and bloody ferocity of the the afflctions, of the people. jacobins, and the sordid and undecided versatility But, with a dexterity pleciliar to hlimself, Napoand imbecility of the Directory; and the people in leon proceeded, while abolishing the Relpulblic, to general desired a settled form of government, which, press into his service those very demrocratical prinif less free, should be more stable in duration, and ciples which had given rise to thbe Revolution, and better calculated to assure to individuals the protec- encouraged the attempt to found a commnonwnealth. tion of property and of personal freedon, than those His sagacity had not failed to observe, that the powhich had followed the downfal of the monarchy. pular objections to the ancient governmrient were A successful general, of a character more timid, or founded less upon any objection to the royal authoconscience more tender, than that of Napoleon, rity in itself, than a dislike, amounting to detestamight have attempted the restoration of the Bour- tion, of the privileges which it allotted to the nobles bons. But Napoleon foresaw the difficulties which and to the clergy, who held, from birth and office, wvoild occur by an attempt to reconcile the recal of the right to fill the superior ranks in every profession, the emigrants to the assurance of the national sales, and barred the competition of all others, however and aptly concluded, that the parties which tore above them in merit. When, therefore, Naipoleon France to pieces would be most readily amalgamat- constructed his new forms of mronarchical governed together under the authority of one, who was in a ment, he wisely considered that hle was not, like great measure a stranger to them all. hereditary monarchs, tied (lown to anly particular Arrived at the possession of supreme power, a rules arising out of ancient usage, but, being }himheighllt that dazzles and confounds so many, Napo- self creator of the power which he wielded, he was leon seemed only to occupy the station for which he at liberty to model it according to his own pleasure. was born, to which his peculiar powers adapted He had been raised;also so easily to the throne, by him, and his brilliant career of success gave him, the general acknowledgment of his mnerits, that lie under all circumstances, an irresistible claim. He had not needed the assistance of a party of Iis own; continrred. therefore, with a calm mind and enliglrt- consequently, being unlimited by pIre\ ious engageened wvisdorn, to consider the means of rendering mnents, and by the necessity of gratifying old partilis power stable, of destroying the republican iun- sarns, or acquiring new ones, hIis condulct was in a pulse, and establishing a monarchy, of which lhe very unusual degree fi!ee and unlimited. destined himrlself to be the monarch. To most men Having, therefare, attained the summit of human the attempt to revive, in favour of a military adven- power, hle proceeded, advisedly anid deliberately, to trrer, a fobri of government, which had been re- lay the foundation of hIis th1rone on that democratic jected by what seemed the voice of the nation with principle which had opened his own career, and universal acclairnm, would have seemed an act of' which was the throwing open to mrerit, though withdesperation. The partisans of thle Republic were out fiurther title, the road to success in every deable statesmren, and men of superior talent, accus- partment of the state. Tl'is was the secret Ley (f torned also to rule tile fierce democracy, and organize Napoleon's policy; and he was so well aided in tire those iitrigues which had overthrown crowin and use of it, by acute perception of chllaracter, as well altar; arnd it was hardly to be supposed tl-at such as by good nature and good feelilng (hotll of which, men Mwould, were it but for shame's sake, have seen in his cooler moments, he possessesed), thrat ihe never. their ten years' labour at once swelpt away by tile through all his vicissitudes, lost an opportunity of sword of a Soang thoigih successful general. conciliating and pleasing the multitude bly evincing But Nai oleon knew ilimrself and themr; and felt a well timed attentiln to distinguish and reward tatihe confidence, that those who had been associates lent. To tlis hIis conversation perpetuailly alluded; ilr the power acquired by former revolutions, must and for this he claimas, anid is entitled to, the Ihighest he now content to sink into the instruments of his praise. We have little hesitation in repeating, that adv;ancement, and the subordinate agents of his air- it was this opening a fill career to talent of every tllhority, contented with such a share of spoil as that kind, which was the key. stone of his reputation, and with whichl the lion rewards the jackalL the main fotindation of his power. Unhappily, his'To thle kilngdomrll at large, uplon every new stride love of merit, and disposition to reward it, were not LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 79,~ founded exclusively upon a patriotic-attention to the the magic tent in the Arabian Tales, his faculties' public welfare, far less on a purely benevolent de.- could expand to inclose half a world, with all its sire to reward what was praiseworthy; but upon a cares and destinies, or could accommodate themprinciple of selfish policy, to which must be ascribed selves to the concerns of a petty rock in the Media great part of his success, no small portion of his terranean, and his own conveniences when he remisfortunes, and almost all his political crimes. treated to its precincts. We believe that while We have quoted elsewhere the description given France acknowledged Napoleon as emperor, lhe of the emperor by his brother Lucien, in a moment would cheerfillly have laid down his life for her beprobably of spleen, but which has been nevertheless nefit; but we greatly doubt, if, by merely raising his confirmed by almost all the persons habitually con- finger, he could have made her happy under the versant with Napoleon, at whom we have had an Bourbons, whether (unless the merit of the action opportunity of making inquiries.'f His conduct," had redounded to his own personal fame) that finger said his brother, "'is entirely regulated by his policy, would have been lifted. In a word, his feelings of and his policy is altogether founded upon egotism." self-interest were the central point of a circle, the No man, perhaps, ever possessed (under the restric- circumference of which may be extended or contions to be presently mentioned) so intense a pro- tracted at pleasure, but the centre itself remains portion of that selfish principle which is so common fixed and unchanged. to humanity. It was planted by nature in his heart, It is needless to inquire. how far this solicitous, and nourished by the half monastic, half military and we must add, enlightened attention to his own education, which so early separated him from social interest, facilitated Bonaparte's ascent to the supreme ties; it was encouraged by the consciousness of power. We daily witness individuals, possessed of possessing talents which rendered him no mate for a very moderate proportion of parts, who, by intently the ordinary men among whom his lot seemed cast; applying themselves to the prosecution of some parand became a confirmed habit, by the desolate con- ticilar object, without being drawn aside by the dition in which he stood at his first outset in life, calls of pleasure, the seductions of indolence, or other -withoult friend, protector, or patron. The praise, interruptions, succeed ultimately in attaining the obthle promotion he received, were given to his genius, ject of their wishes. When, therefore, we conceive not to his person; and he who was conscious of the powerful mind of Napoleon, animated by an having forced his own way, had little to bind him in unbounded vivacity of imagination, and an unconquiergratitude or kindness to those, who only made room able tenacity of purpose, moving forward, without for him because they durst not oppose hinm. His deviation or repose, to the accomplishment of its ambition was a modification of selfishness, sublimne purpose, which was nothing less than to acquire the indeed in its effects and consequences, but yet, dominion of the whole world, we cannot be surprised when strictly analyzed, leaving little hut egotism in at the immense height to which he raised hiniselft the crucible. But the egotism which governed his actions-subOur readers are not, however, to suppose, that ject always to the exercise of his excellent sense, the selfishness of Napoleon was of that ordinary and ald the cultivation of his interest in the public opiodious character, which makes men miserly, oppres- nion,-if in a great measure it favoured the success sive, and fraudulent in private life; or which, under of his various enterprises, did him in the end mutch milder features, limits their exertions to such enter- more evil than good; as it instigated his most desprises as may contribute to their own individual perate enterprises, and was the source of his most profit, and closes the heart against feelings of patriot- inexcusable actions. ism, or of social benevolence. Napoleon's egotism Moderate politicians will agree that after the imand love of self was of a far nobler and more ele- perial system was substituted for the republican, the vated kind, though founded on similar motives;- chief magistrate ought to have assumed and exerted;'ist as the wings of the eagle, who soars into the a considerable strength of authority, in order to mainregions of the sun, move on the same principles with tain that re-establishment of civil order, that proteethlose which cannot bear the dunghill fowl over the tion of tile existing state of things, which was necespales of the poultry-yard. sary to terminate the wild and changeful recurrence To explain our meaning, we may addl, that Napo- of perpetual revolutions. Had Napoleon stopped leon loved France, for France was his own. He here, his conduct would have been unblameable, studied to confer benefits upon her, for the profit ard unblamed, unless by the more devoted follo)wers redoinded to her emperor, whether she received of the house of Blourbon, against whom Providence amended institutions, or enlarged territories. He appeared to most men to have closed the gate of represented, as he boasted, the people as well as restoration. But his principles of egotism would the sovereign of France; he engrossed in his own not be satisfied until he had totally destroyed every ierson her immunities, her greatness, her glory,' and vestige of those free institutions, which had been was boundl to conduct himself so as to exalt at the acquired by the perils, the blood, the tears of the same time the emperor anal the empire. Still, how- 1Revolution, and reduced France, save for the inever, the sovereign and the state might be, and at fluence of public opinion, to the condition of Conlength actually,vere, separated; and the egotistical stantinople or of Algiers. It was a merit to raise up character of Bonaparte could, after that separation, the throne, it was natural that. he who did so should eind amusement and interest in the petty scale ofElba, himself occupy it; since in ceding it to the Bourbons, I to which his exertions were then limnited.a Like he must have betrayed those at whose hands he accepted power; but to plunder the nation of their * See pp. 614, 671-2.' privileges as fiee-born men, was the act of a par 796 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. ricide. The nation lost munder his. successive en- success under the most disadvantageous circulacroachments, what liberty the ancient government stances, together with his implied belief in his I)eshad left them, and all those rights which had been tiny, conspired, with the extravagant sense of his acquired by the Revolution. Political franchises, own importance, to impress him with an idea, that individual interests, the property of municipalities, he was not "in the roll of common men," and inthe progress of education, of science, of mind and duced him to venture on the most desperate undersentiment, all were usurped by the government. takings, as if animated less by the result of reason France was one immense army, under the absolute than by an internal assurance of success. After authority of a military commander, subject to no great miscarriages, he is said sometimes to have control nor responsibility. In that nation, so lately shown a correspondiing depression; and thence lie agitated by the nightly assembly of thousands of resigned four times the charge of his army when lie political clubs, no class of citizens, under any sup- found his situation embarrassing, as if no longer posable circumstances, had the right of uniting in feeling confidence in his own mind,, or conceiving the expression of their opinions. Neither in the he was deserted for the moment by his guardian manners nor in the laws, did there remain any po- genius. There were similar alternations, too, ac-. pular meatns of' resisting the errors or abuses of'the cording to General Gourgaud's account, in his administration. France resembled the political car- conversation. At times, he would speak like a case of Constantinople, without the insubordination deity, at others, in the style of a very ordinary of the pachas, the underhand resistance of the tile. person. mats, and the firequent and clamorous mutinies of the To the egotism of Napoleon, wve nlay also trace janizaries.* vv the general train of deception which marked his,Whilst Napoleon destroyed successively every public policy, and, when speaking upon subjects in barrier of public liberty-while he built new state which his own character was implicated, his priprisons, and established a high police, which filled vate conversation. France waith spies and jailers-while lhe took the In his public capacity, he had so completely charge of the press so exclusively into his own hand prostituted the liberty of the press, that France -his policy at once, and his egotism, led him to could know nothing sllatever but through Napoundertake those immense public works, of greater or leon's own bulletins. The battle of Trafalgar was less utility or ornament as the chance might be, but not hinted at till several, months after it had been which were sure to be set down as monuments of fought, and then it was totally misrepresented; and the emperor's splendour. The name given him by so deep and dark was the mantle which covered the working classes, of the General Undertaker, was the events in which the people were most interested, by no means ill bestowed; but in what an incalcul- that, on the verly evening when the battle of Montably greater degree do such works succeed, when martre was fought, the Moniteur, the chief organ raised by the skill and industry of those who pro- of public intelligence, was occupied in a counmenpose to improve their capital by the adventure, than tary on nosoyrcaphie, and a criticism on a dramla -when double the expense is employed at the arbi- on the subject of the chaste Susannah. The hiding trary will of a despotic sovereign! Yet it had been the truth is only one step to the invention of' falsewell if bridges, roads, harbours, and public works, hood, and, as a periodical publisher of news, Nahad been, the only compensation which Napoleon poleon became so eminent for both, that, to " lie offered to the people of France for the liberties he like a bulletin," became an adopted expression, not took from them..But he poured out to them, and likely soon to lose ground in the French language, shared with them, to drown all painful and degrad- anti the more disgraceful to Napoleon, that he is ing recollections, the intoxicating and fatal draught well known to have written those official documents of military glory and universal domination. To lay in most instances himself. the whole universe prostrate at the nbot of France, Even this deceptive system, this plan of alterwhile France, the Nation of Camps, should herself nately keeping the nation in ingnorance, or abusitug it have no higher rank than the first of her own em- by falsehood, intimated a sense of respect for pubperor's slaves, was the gigantic project at which he lic opinion. Men love darkness, because their labotured with such tenacious assiduity. It was the deeds are evil. Napoleon dared not have submitted Sisypl-ean stone, which he rolled so high up the hill, to the public an undisguised statement of his perthat at length he was crushed tinder its precipitate fidions and treacherous attacks upon Spain, than recoil. wvlich a more gross breach of general good faith The main objects of that immense enterprise and existing treaties could scarce have been conwvere such as had been undertaken while his spirit ceived. Nor would he have chosen to plead at the I of amrbitionl was at its height; and no one dared, public bar, the policy of' his continental system, even in his councils, to interfere with the resolutions adopted in total ignorance of the maxims of political which lie adopted. Had these been less eminently economy, and the consequences of which were, successfill, it is possible lie might have paused, and first, to cause general distress, and then to enperhaps might have preferred the tratnquil pursuit courage universal resistance against the French of a course which might have rendered one kingdom yoke throughout the whole continent of Europe. free and happy, to the subjugation of all Europe. Nor is it more likely that, could the publlic have Butt Napoleon's career of constant and uninterrupted had the powver of forming a previous judgment upon the probable event of the Rumssian campaign, that * I.stoi. de la GuerLre de la Pinsistrle, par le OG- rash enterprise would ever have had an existence. nural to-. In silencing the voice of the avise and good, the LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 797 able and patriotic, and communicating only with on Holland; and he had thoughts of removing Jo such counsellors as were the echoes of his own in.- seph from Spain, when he saw of what a fair and clinations, Napoleon, like Lear, goodly realm he had pronounced him king. In his id his physician, and the fee estwd wild and insatiable extravagance of administering in Upon the foul disease, person the government of every realm lwhich he conquered, he brought his powerful mind to the level of This was the more injurioas, as Napoleon's know- that of the spoiled child, who will not be satisfied ledge of the politics, interest, and character of foreign without holding in its own hand whatever has caught courts was, excepting in the case of Italy, exceed- its eye. The system, grounded on ambition so inoringly imperfect. The peace of Amiens might have dinate, carried with it in its excess the principles of remained uninterrupted, and the essential good un- its own ruin. The runner who will never stop fbr derstanding betwixt France and Sweden need never repose must at last fall down with fatigue. lHad have been broken, if Napoleon could, or would have Napoleon succeeded both in Spain and Russia, he understood the free constitution of England, which would not have rested, until he had found elsewhere permits every man to print or publish what he may the disasters of Baylen and of Moscow. chuse; or if he could have been convinced that the The consequences of the unjustifiable aggressions institutions of Sweden did not permit their govern- of the French Emperor were an unlimited extent of ment to place their fleets and armies at the disposal slaughter, fire, and human misery, all arising front of a foreign power, or to sink the ancient kingdom the ambition of one man, who, never giving the least of the Goths into a secondary and vassal govern- sign of having repented the unbounded mischief, ment. seemed, on the contrary, to justify and take pride in Self-love, so sensitive as that of Napoleon, shun the ravage which he had occasioned. This ambition, ned especially the touch of ridicule. The gibes of equally insatiable and incurable, justified Europe in the English papers, the caricatures of the London securing his person, as if it had been that of a lunaprint-shops, were the petty stings which instigated, tic, whose misguided rage was not directed against in a great measure, the breach of the peace of an individual, but against the civilized world; which, Amiens. The laughter-loving Frenchmen were well nigh overcome by uirn, and escaping with diffiinterdicted the use of satire, which, all-licensed culty, had a natural right to be guaranteed against during the times of the Republic, had, even under repetition of the frantic exploits of a being who the monarchy, been only punished with a short and seemed guided by more than human passion, and easy confinement in the Bastille. During the time capable of employing in execution of his purpose of the consulate, Napoleon:was informed that a co- more than human strength. mic opera, something on the plan of the English farce The same egotism, the same spirit of self-decepof High Life Below Stairs, had been composed by tion, which marked Napoleon during his long and Monsieur Dupaty, and brought forward on the stage, awfil career of success, followed him into adversity and that, in this audacious plerformance, three valets He firamed apologies for the use of his little coinmimicked the manners, and even the dress, of the pany of followers, as he had formerly manufactured three consuls, and especially his own. He ordered bulletins for the Great Nation. Those to wvhomS that the actors should be exposed at the Greve, in these excuses were addressed, Las Cases antl the the dresses they had dared to assume, which should other gentlemen of Napoleon's suite, heingr too much be there stripped from their backs by the execl- devoted to him, and too generous to dispute, after tioner; and lie commanded that the author should his fall, doctrines which it would have been dangerbe sent to St Domingo, and placed, as a person ous to controvert during his power, received whatunder requisition, at the disposal of the commander- ever he said as truths delivered by a prophet, and in-chief: The sentence was not executed, for the set down doubtless to the score of inspiration what offence hadl not existed, at least to the extent al- could by no effort be reconciled to truth. The leged; + but the intention shows Napoleon's ideas horrid evils which afflicted Europe during the years of the liberty of the stage, and intimates -what would of his success were represented to others, and perhave been the fate of the author of' the Beggar's haps to his own mind, as consequences which the Opera, had lie written for the French Op6ra Co- emperor neither wished nor contemplated, but which mique. wvere necessarily and unalterably attached to the But no light, which reason or information could execution of the great plans which tile Man of' supply, was able to guide the intensity of a selfish Destiny had been called upon earth to perform, amubition, which made Napoleon desire that the resembling in so far the lurid and fear-inspiring train whole administration of the Awdhole world should not pursuing the rapid course of a brilliant comnet, which only remotely, but even directly and immediately, the laws of the universe have projected through the depend on his own pleasure. When lie distributed pathless firmanlent. kingdoms to his brothers, it was under the express SSome crimes he committed of a different claunderstanding that they were to follow in everything racter, which seem to have sprung, not like the the course of politics which li he should dictate; and general evils of war, from the execution of great and after all, he seemed only to create dependent states calculated plans of a political or military kind, but for the purpose of resuming them. He dethrc nedl must have had their source in a temper naturally his brother Louis, for refusing to countenance the passionate and vindictive. The Duke d'Enghien's oppressions which, in the naie ofFrance, lie imposed murder was at the head of this list; a gratuitous act of treachery and cruelty, which, being undeniable, + Amoires ser le Consulmat, 1799 a 1804, p. 148, 150. led Napoleon to be believed capable of other crimes X T78 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. of a secret and bloody character,-of the murder of dict him by other testimony. He bequeathed, ill Pichegru and of Wright,-of the spiriting away of like manner, a legacy to a villain who had attempted Mr VW indham, who was never afterwards heard the assassination of the Duke of Wellington; the of;-and of other actions of similar atrocity. We assassin, according to his strange argument, having pause before charging him with any of those which as good a right to kill his rival and victor, as the have not been distinctly proved. For, while it is English had to detain him prisonalr;r qt Helena. certain that he had a love of personal vengeance, This clause in the last will of' a dying tman,;s not proper, it is said, to his country, it is equally evident, striking from its atrocity merely, bat fro.o the llacthat, vehement by temperament, he was lenient and cnracy of the nioral reasoning which it exhibits. calm by policy; and that, if lie had indulged the Napoleon has drawn a parallel betwixt two cases, former disposition, the security with which he might which nllust be therefore both right, or both wrolig. have done so, together with the ready agency of his If both wvere wrong, why reward the ruffian with fatal police, wotld have.made his rage resemble a legacy? but if both were right, why complain that of one of the Roman emperors. FIe was made of the British government for detaining him at St sensible, too late, of the general odium drawn upon Helena? him by the murder of the Duke d'Enghien, and does But, indeed, the whole character of Napoleon's not seem to have been disposed to incur fai-ther austobiography marks his dcsire to divide mankild risks of popular hatred in prosecution of his indivi- into two classes, —his fiiends and his enemies; the dual resentment. The records of his police, however, former of whorn are to be praised and vindicated; and the persecultions experienced by those whoml the latter to be vilified, cenlsured, anld condemned, Napoleon considered as his personal enemies, show without any regard to truth, justice, or consistency. that, by starts at least, nature resumed her bent, To take a gross example, he stoutly affirmed, that and that he, upon whom there was no restraint, save the treasures which were removed from Paris, in his respect for public opinion, gave way occasionally April, 1814, and carried to Orleans, were seized to the temptation of avenging his private injuries. and divided by the rrinisters of the allied powers,Ile remarked it as a weakness in the character of Talleyrand, Metternich, Hardenberg, and Castlehis favourite Cesar, that he sultered his enemies to reagh; and that the money thus seized included the remanin in possession of the power to injure him; and marriage-portion of the Empress Maria Louisa.* Antommarchi, the reporter of the observation, ad- Had this story been true, it would have presented mitted, that when he looked on the person before Napoleon with a very simple means of avenging itim, he could not but acknowledge that he was un- himself upon Lord Castlereagh, by putting the Brilikely to fall into such an error. tish public in possession of the secret. When Napolec(, laid aside reserve, and spoke It is no less remarkable, that Napoleon, though what were probably his true sentiments, le endea- himself a soldier and a distinguished one, could voured to justify those acts of his government which never allow a tribute of candid praise to the troops transgressed the rulles of justice and morality, by and generals by whom he was successively opposed. political necessity, and reasons of state; or, in other In mentioning his victories, he frequently bestows words, by tile pressure of his own interest. This, commendations upon the valour and conduct of the however, was a plea, the full benefit of which he vanquished. This was an additional and more dereserved, to vindicate his own actions, never per- licate mode of praising himself and his own troops, mitting it to be Ilsed by any other sovereign. He by -whom these enemies were overthrown. But he considered himself privileged in transgressing the never allows any merit to those by whom he was law of nations, when his irnterests require(d it; but defeated in turn. lie professes never to have seen pleaded as warmlly upon the validity of public law, the Prussian troops behave wvell save at Jena, or when alleging it had been infringed by other states, the Russians buht at Austerlitz. Those armies of as if hlie himnself had in all instances respected its tile samle nations, %which he both saw and felt in doctriiies as inviolable. the campaigns of 1812 and 1813, and before whom But although Napoleon thus at times referred to lie made such disastrous retreats as those of Moscow state necessity as the ultimate source of actions and Leilsic, were, according to his expressions, otherwise unrjustifialble, he mole frequently erndea- mere canaille. voured to disguise his errors by denial, or excuase In the same manner, when lie details an action thben by apologies which had no foundation. His in w'hich lie triumplhed, lie is sure to boast, like the habits of concealing truth, and inventing ftlsehood, old Grecian (very justly perhaps), that in tills Forhad become so strong, that his very last wvill and tune had no share; wvhile his defeats are entirely testamnent bears the grossest marks of his deceptive and exclusively attributed to the rage of thle elesystemn. He avers, in his will,* tilat, by the con- Inents, tile comlbination ofsorne most extraordinary fession of the Duke d'Enigliiet, the Count d'Artois and unexpected circumstances, tile failure of somie maintained sixty assassins against his life; and that of his lieutenants or marshals, or, finally, tile ohfbr this reason the I)uke d'Enghien was tried, con- stinacy of the general opposed, who, by mere dint victed, and puit to death. The examination of the of stupidity, blundered into success through cirduke bears no such confession, but, on the contrary, cumstances which should have inslred his ruin. an express denial of the whole of the alleged sys- See Dr OMearas Voice rom St Heena, wlo seens tem; nor was the slightest attempt made to contra-,i,,,self to have been startled at the enormity of the fiction. Whlat makes it yet more extravagant is, that Napoleon's ~ See Appendix, No. 13-" Bonaparte's last stNT I n':d tes- will disposes of a part of tlhat very treasure, as if it NA ere tamieiit.? still iin the hands of Alaria Louisa. _f LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 799 In a word, from one end of Napoleon's works to hour, the name of Napoleon. It resembled what the other, he has scarcely allowed himself to. be sometimes happens in the catholic church, when a guilty of a single fault or a single folly, excepting wealthy and powerful sinner on his death-bed reof that kind, which, arising from an over-confidence ceives the absolution of the church on easy terms, and generosity, men secretly claim as merits, while and dies after a life. spent in licentious courses, they affect to) give them lip as matters of censure. wrapt up in the mantle, and gilrded with the cord, If we credit his own word, we must believe him to of some order of unusual strictness. Napoleon, have been a faultless and impeccable being. If iving a despot and a conqueror, has had his memory we do not, we must set him down as one that, consecrated and held up to admiration by men, where his own reputation was concerned, told who term themselves emphatically the friends of his story with a total disregard to candour and freedom. truth., The faults of Bonaparte, we conclude as we Perhaps it was a consequence of the same indif- commenced, were rather those of the sovereign ference to truth, which induced Napoleon to re- and politician, than of the individual. Wisely is ceive into his favour those French officers who it written, that if we say we have no sin we debroke their parole by escape from England. This, ceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. It was he alleged, he did by way of retaliation, the British the inordinate force of ambition which made hinm government having, as he pretended, followed a the scourge of Europe; it was his efforts to dissimilar line of conduct. The defense is false, in guise that selfish principle, that made him combine Ipoint of fact; but if it were true, it forms no apo- fraud with force, and establish a regular system logy for a sovereign and a general countenancing a for deceiving those whom he could not subdue.. breach of' honour in a gentleman and a soldier. Had his natural disposition been coldly cruel, The French officers who liberated themselves by like that of Octavius, or had he given way to the such means were not the less dishonoured men, warmth of his temper, like other despots, his priand unfit to bear command in the army of France, vate history, as well as that of his campaigns, must though they could have pointed with truth to simi- have been written in letters of blood. If, instead lar examples of infamy in England. of asserting that he never committed a crime, he But the' most extraordinary instance of Napo- had limited his self-eulogy to asserting, that in at. leon's deceptive system, and of his determination, taining and wielding supreme power, he had reat all events, to place himself under the most fa- sisted the temptation to commit many, he could vourable lighlt to the beholders, is' his attempt to not have been contradicted. And this is no small represent himself as the friend and protector of praise. liberal and free principles. He had destroyed His system of government was false in the exevery vestige of liberty in France-he had perse- treme. It comprehended the slavery of France, cuted as ideologists all who cherished its memory and aimed at the subjugation of the world. But to -he had boasted himself the restorer of monarch- the former he did much to requite them for the ical government-the war between the constitu- jewel of which he robbed them. He gave them a tionalists and him, covered, after the return from regular government, schools, institutions, courts *of Elba, by a hollow truce, had been renewed, and justice, and a code of laws. In Italy, his rule was the lbheralists had expelled him from the capital- equally splendid and beneficial. The good effects he had left in his testament, the appellation of which arose to other countries from his reign and traitor with La Fayette, one of their earliest, character, begin also to be felt, though unquestionnmost devoted, and most sincere chiefs —yet, not- ably they are not of the kind which he intended to witlhstanding all this constant oppc(s tion to the produce. His invasions, tending to reconcile the party which professes most to be guided by them, discords which existed in many states between the he has ventured to represent himself as a friend of governors and governed, by teaching them to tInite liberal ideas! I-le has done so, and he has been' together against a common enemy, have trnurled tc, believed. loosen the. feudal yoke, to enlighten the milnd h),tot Ther'e is but one explanation of this. The friends of prince and people, and have led t.t many ad:i irof revolution are Ulpon prillciple the enemies of able results, which will not be tile [ve.hi diirAilv;,Ilancient and established governments-Napoleon vantageons, that they have arisen, and are daiSil;, became the opponent of the established powers slowly, and without contest. fiomn circumstances; not because he disputed the In closing the Life of NAPOLEON IPONAPAT.li, character of their governmerit, hut because they we are called upon to observe, that lie was a ta;il,would not admit him into their circle; and though tried in the two extremities, of the most exaltcol there was not, and could not be, any real con- power and the most ineffahle calamity; and if Ile nexion betwixt his system and that of the liberal- occasionally appeared presumptuous when suplportists, yet both hadt the same opponents, and each ed by the armed force of halfa world, or unreasonloved in the other the enemy of their enemies. It ably querulous when imprisoned within the narr:ow was the business of Napoleon in his latter days to limits of St Helena, it is scarce within the calacity procure, if professions could gain it, the sympathy of those whose steps have never led them beyond and good opinion of any or every class of politi- the middle path of life, to estimate either the strength cians; while, on the contrary, it could not be in- of the temptations to which he yielded, or the t;,ce dilfelrent to tlat to which he made advances, to of mind which he opposed to those which he wvas number among their disciples, even in the twelfth able to resist. 800 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. No. 1. a federalist (or girondist), in which the latter is overwhelmed and silenced by the arguments and eloADD)ITIONAL NOTICES ON NAPOLEON'S EARLY CAREER. quence of the friend of the people." This is an inaccurate account of the Soutper de Beaucaire, of Page 167. which the editor had not been able to find a copy. It has been since republished, and is of a tenor conIT may be added to the meagre account given in siderably dlifferent from what is above described. the text, that Napoleon, though only a youth of Mlarat, for example, is not a personage in the diatwenty-four, was, on his returnl to Corsica in 1793, logue. The scene is laid at the period when the deeply insolved in the politics of that island. For federalists were making head against the jacobin some time he held the same course with his vene- government in several of the towns of France, and rated relative, Paoli, who, struck with his early particularly in Lyons and Marseilles. The date is talents and mode of expression, pronounced him to 29th July, 1793. The plan of the work is as foblbelong to those characters whom Plutarch records. lows:About the same time, another remarkable person, A miscellaneous party is supposed to meet at a the well-known statesman Count Pozzo di IBorgo, table-d'h6te at Beaucaire, during the last day of the was distinguished as a rising character in tile same great fair held at that place. The company consists island. He was the relation, and originally the friend of a military man, being the atthor himself, two merand companion, of Napoleon, and enjoyed, like him, cliants of Marseilles, a native of Nismes, and an great consideration among his countrymen. But artisan of Montpellier. They fall naturally into a when' civil dissensions arose, the friendship between train of conversation concerning the probable issue the two relatives was broken off. Pozzo di Borgo, of the civil war. The Marseillais, who have just w-ho already held an important situation in the corn- learned the bad success of their countrymen's attack minnity of Corsica, adhered to Paoli. Napoleon upon Avignon, from which they had been driven by embraced that side which espoused the cause of the the jacobins, after holding it for a short time (see French republican party. He was at this time p. 131), are inqulisitive to know the state of the artimy lienteniaiit-colonel of a regiment of the National of the democrats, -under Cartaux; and the inlbrmaGuard. The colonel of the same regiment enter- tion which they receive from the young soldier, is ofI tained different political sentiments from his young a nature to strike them with apprehension. assistant; and upon one occasion, Napoleon drew The Soldier. "The armry of Cartaux was four up a part of the regiment which adhered to him, and thousand men strong when it assaulted Avignon fired upon his commanding-officer and the rest. (then occupied by the Marseillaise army); it now After this skirmish, lie was engaged in others, until, amounts to six thousand, and withiin four days will the party of Paoli becoming superior, Napoleon was reach ten thousand men. It has never been resoleinly banished from his native island. pulsed fiom Avignon, since it iever made a formal He always blanied Pozzo di Borgo for having attack the troops only manoeuvred about the place, been active in procuring his exile; and with the in order to ascertain where an attempt to fiorce the strong love of revenge which is said to nmark his gates, by means of!petards, might be liade to advancountry, never, anlongst so many important affairs as tage; a few cannon were fired, to try the courage of afterwards required his attention, firgot his feud the garrison, and it was then necessary to draw with his early rival. VWlherever France obtained an back to the camp, to combine the attack for the ascendancy, an abode there became dangerous to next morning. The Marseillais were thi-ee thousand the object of Napoleon's hatred; to avoid which, six hundred men; they had a heavier and more Pozzo di Borgo was compelled to retreat fromn one numerous artillery, and yet they have been obliged kingdom to another, until at last he could only find to recross the Dturance. That surprises you, })tt it shelter in England. But the fate of these two early is only veteran troops who can endure the uncertain acquaintances seemed strongly connected and inter- events of a siege. We were masters of the Rhlone, woven. As Napoleon began to lose ground, the of Villeneuve, and of the open country; we ihad infortunes of!is relative appeared to advance, and tercepted all their communications. They were hlonolrs and advantages dropped nupon him, in pro- under the necessity of evacuating the town (Aviportion to Napoleon's descent from eminence. It gnon), were pursued by the cavalry, and lost many was even Ilis remarkabile (destiny to have, from his prisoners, and two guns." influence in the Ruissian councils, no small share in The Marseillais endeavour to contrast these bad decidinig upon the destiny of his powerful perse- news with what they had to expect from the procutor. When tle councils of the allies were waver- posed exertions of their city, in recruiting their army ing respecting the march to Paris, it was the argui- with nev levies andl with heavy cannon. Bllt the mrlelits of Count Pozzo di Borgo which suplported the younm- officer proceeds in a professional manner to Emperor of Russia in his resolution to adopt that show the inferiority of 18 and 24 pounders to fielhldecisive nleasure. artillery, whben armies were to engage in the field, In page 168, mention is made of a "smilall jacobia the superior skill of regular artillerymen in serving publication (by 13mionaparte), called le Souper de the guns, the advantages possessed by the disciplinleauncaire, a political dialogue between Marat and ed soluhiers of Cartaux, over the raw recruits which -3-~ —-----— ~~~~~~~~ e sotir of C atax over the ra re —c ruits which APPENDIX. b8i Marseilles might call into thile field, and the want of vertheless, even the colour of his vizard di usted the means of subsistence in the city in case of a close author oi recollection. Ile called in and destroyed siege. every coply of the Souper de Beaucaire which could the Marseillais, in reply, plays the part usually be found, so that only one remained, from which the ascribed to the interlocutor, in this species of dia- reprint of Monsieur Pancoucke has been executed. logue, who combats the opinions favoured by the author. IHe proposes various schemes of defence, one after another, the weakness of which is easily The Souper de Beaucaire is written in a dry, exposed by his victorious antagonist. He points out dispassionate, and constrained style; but there is to them, that there was the utmost folly in the ex- another and earlier wvork of Napoleon's youth, which tremity of resistance, and that the Marseillais pos- is much more worthy of commemoration, as indica- sessed no means which could ultimately lead to suc- tive of the temper of the man. This was his Letter cess. "LYour army," he said, "will be composed of to M. Matteo Buttafoco, one of the deputies for all the wealthy and well-educated of your city, for Corsica to the National Assembly. The history of the sans-culottes will readily turn against you. Thus, the work is given by M. J. B. Joly, printer at D6le, you will explose the flower of your youth, accustom- by whom one copy has been carefully preserved, ed to hold the commercial balance of the Mediter- corrected by the author in two places, and bearing ranean, and to enrich their country by mercantile to be his gift. Bonaparte caused a hundred and speculations, by confronting them with veteran sol- fifty copies to be thrown off and sent to Corsica. At diers, who have been dyed a hundred times in the the same time, Napoleon meditated other literary blood of the filrious aristocrat and ferocious Prus- labours. He was then a lieutenant of artillery, sian. Let poor countries fight to the last extremity. quartered at Auxonne, and had composed a work, The native of Vivarais, of the Cevennes, of Corsica, which might form two volumes, on the political, cimay expose himself without fear to the event of vil, and military history of Corsica. He invited battle. If he gain the fight, he has attained his Monsieur Joly to visit him at Auxonne, with a view purpose-if le loses, lie is in no worse situation than to print and publish this work. He came, and found before for making peace. Eut you-if you lose a the filture emtperor in a naked barrack room, the battle, the fruit of a thousand years of fatigue, of sole furniture of which consisted of a wretched bed labour, of firugality, of good fortune, become the prey without curtains, a table placed in the embrasure of of the soldier." a window, loaded with books and papers, and two In this tone the discussion proceeds, until the chairs. His brother Louis, whom he was teaching Marseillais merchants, driven out of the field of mathematics, lay on a wretched mattress, in an addispute, are compelled to acknowledge, that sub- joining closet. Monsieur Joly and the author agreed missioIn is the best chance they have of escaping on the price of the impression of the book, but Nadestruction. They agree to recommend it to their poleon wvas at the time in uncertainty whether he countrynmen, and treat the young soldier with a few was to remain at Auxonne or not. Shortly after, bottles of champagne, in grateful acknowledgment, he was ordered to Toulon, where his extraordinary that lie had been at the trouble to clear up their ideas career first commenced. The work on Corsica was on the subject. never printed, nor has a trace of it been discovered. From this analysis the reader will perceive that Monsieur July, naturally desirous of preserving every nothing can be more inaccurate than to term the recollection of this interview with the fiullre con-'oumper dle Beaucaire a jacobin pamphlet, although queror of nations, in the character and condition of a it is unqulestionably written to urge the federalists to Grub-street author, mentions that the clerical dress submrit to their inesitable fate, and avert extremity and ornaments of the chaplain of the regiment, whose by doing so in time, The wvork is entirely free from office had beenjust suppressed, were deposited with all the exaggerated and cant language of the day. Napoleon by the other officers. He showed them to'I'here is no mention of liberty, equality, or frater- his visitor, and spoke of the ceremonies of religion nity of the rights of man-no abstract discussion of without indecency, yet also without respect. "If political principles. The whole merits of the dis- you have not heard mass to-day, I can say it to you," puite betwixt Paris and the departments are hurried was his expression to Monsieur Joly. over with little or no argiument. Bonaparte urges The Letter to Buittafoco is a diatribe against that the Marseillais to submissioni, not because the prin- Corsican n.hobleman, who had been, during the wars tiples which dictated their insurnection were erro- with France, the fiiend of the latter ilation, and the neons, but because they had not means to maintain opponent of the liblerties of his country. He had successful resistance; not because they had been been, of course, the enemy of the family of Paoli, to confuted by the jacobiis in argument; but because which Napoleon at this time (winter 1790) was they were unequal to the task of contending with warmly attached. We have preserved the compothem by force. Notwvithstanding, therefore, what is sition entire, because, though the matter be uninsaid in the text, fronm erroneous information of the teresting, the rough and vivid style of invective is nature of this publication, there is nothing in it singularly characteristic of the fiery youth, whose inconsistent with Napoleon's own account of the bosom one of his teachers compared to a volcano origin of thle work, that it was written under the surcharged with molten granite, which it poured assumied character of a jacohin, with the friendly forth in torrents, whenever his passions were exintention of convincing the girondists that they were cited. chusing an unfit time for insurrection, and attempting it in a hopeless manner (see above, p. 168). NeVOn.. VI. 101. —~ —-. — _, _.. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. rity, had not a government, ill organized, and placed Letter of Napoleon Bonaparte to M. Matteo on an unsound basis, afforded still surer indications Buttafoo,.Deputy fronz Corszea to the Nation- oftthe misfortunes which were to happen, and of the al Assembly. total ruin into which everything was to fall. M. Paoli had dreamed of being a Solon, blt had SiR, been unsuccessfiul in his imitation. He had placed From Bonifacio to Cape Corso, from Ajaccio to everything in the ha'nds of the people or their leBastia there is one chorus of imprecations against presentatives, so that it was impossible even to exist you. Your friends keep out of sight, your relations without pleasing thern. A strange error! which disown you, and even the man of reflection, who places under the control of a brutal and mercenary does not allow himself to be swayed by popular plebeian, the man who alone, by his education, his opinion, is, for once, led away by the general effer- illustrious birth, and his fortune, is formed for goI,escence. verning. In the long run, so palpable a dereliction But what have you done? What are the crimes of reason cannot fail to bring on the ruin and dissoto justify such universal indignation, such complete lution of the body-politic, after having exposed it to desertion? This, sir, is what I wish to inquire into, every species of suffering. in the course of a little discussion with you. You succeeded to your wish. M. Paoli, conThe history of your life, since the time, at least, stantly surrounded by enthusiastic and hot-headed |twhen you appeared on the stage of public affairs, is persons, never imagined that there could le any well known. Its principal features are drawn in other passion than the devotion to liberty and indeletters of blood. Still, however, there are details pendence. Finding that you had some knowledge comparatively unknown. In these I may be mis- of France, he did not trouble himself to do more taken; but I reckon upon your indulgence, and hope than take your own word for your moral principles. for information from you. He got you appointed to treat at Versailles respectAfter having entered the service of France, you ing the accommodation which was negotiating under returned to see your relations; you found the tyrants the mediation of that cabinet. M. de Choiseul saw vanquished, the national government established, you, and knew you; minds of a certain stamp are and the Corsicans, entirely governed by noble senti- speedily appreciated. In a short time, in place of ments, vying with each other in daily sacrifices for being the representative of a free people, you trar.sthe prosperity of the state. You did not allow your- formed yourself into the clerk of a minister; youn self to be seduced by the general enthusiasm; far communicated to him the instructions, the plans, the from that, you looked with nothing but pity on the secrets of the cabinet of Corsica. nonsensical stuff about country, liberty, independ- This conduct, which is considered here as base ence, and constitution, which had got into the heads and atrocious, appears to me quite natural; but this of our meanest peasants. Deep reflection had taught is because, in all sorts of affairs, we should underyou to set a proper value on those artificial senti- stand one another, and reason with coolness. ments, the maintenance of which is a general evil. The prude censures tire coqrlette, and is laughed In fact, the peasant nlnst be taught to mind his at by her in return;-this, in a few words, is yourr work, and not play the hero, if it is wished that he history. The man of principle judges your harsllyv, should not starve, that he should bring up his fa- but you do not believe that there is a rlan of prinmily, and pay respect to authority. As to those ciple. The common people, who are always led who are called, by their rank and fortune, to occupy away by virtuous demagogues, cannot be apprestations of power, they cannot long remain such ciated by you, who do not believe in virtue. You dupes as to sacrifice their comforts and considera- cannot he condemned but by your own principles, tion in society for a mere chimera, or stoop to pay like a cririnal by the laws; but those who klnow court to a cobbler, that they may at last play the the refinement of your principles, find nothing in part of Brutrs. Still, as it was necessary for your your conduct but what is very simple. This brinrgs designs that you should gain the favour of Paoli, us back, then, to what we have already said, tl'hat, you had to dissemble;-M. Paoli being the centre in all sorts of affairs, the first thing" requisite is to of all the movements of the political body. We understand one another, and then argue coolly. You shall admit that he had talent-even a certain de- are also protected by a sort of sulb-defence, not less gree of genius; he had, in a short time, placed the effectual, for you do not aspire to the reputation of a affairs of the island on a good footing; he had found- Cato or a Catinat. It is sufficient for you to reed a university, in which, for the first time, perhaps, semble a certain class; and among this certain class, since the creation, the sciences which are useful for it is agreed that he who may get money, and does the development of reason were taught among our not profit by the opportunity, is a ninny; for money mountains. tie had established a foundery for can- procures all the pleasmures of sense, and the pleasures non, powder-mills, and fortifications, which in- of sense are the only pleasures. Now, M. de Choicreased the means of defence; he had formed har- seul, who was very liberal, made it impossible for bours, which, while they encouraged commerce, you to resist him-particularly as your ridiculous improved agriculture; he had created a navy, which. country paid you for your services, according to her protected our communication with other countries, laughable custom, by the hodour of serving her. while it injured our enemies. All these establish- The treaty of Compibgne being concluded, M. de ments, in their infancy, were a mere presage of what Chauvelin and twenty-four battalions landed on our he one day might have done. Union, peace, and shores. M. de Choiseul, to whom the celerity of liberty, seemed the precursors of national prospe- the expedition was most important, had uneasiness APPENDIX. 803 on the subject, which in his confidential communica- retired upon Bastia with your companions in adventions, he could not disguise from you. You sug- ture and their families. This little affair was not gested that he should sendl you there with a few much to your credit; your house, and those of your millions. As Philip took cities with his Mule, you associates., were burnt. But, in a place of safety, promised to nmake everything yield to him -without you laughed at these impotent efforts. opposition. No sooner said than done,-and there People here charge you with having endeavoured you are, recrossing the sea, throwing off the mask, to arm the Royal Corsicans against their brethren. and, with montey and your commission in your hand, They also wish to impeach your courage, from the Ipening negotiations with those who you thought small resistance you made at Vescovato. There is!would he most easily gained over. little foundation for these accusations; for the first Never imagining that a Corsican could prefer him- was an immediate consequence of yoear projects, inself to his country, the cabinet of Corsica had in- deed one of your means of executing them; and, as trusted you with her interest. Never dreaming, for we have already proved that your conduct was peryoiir part, that any Iman would not prefer money and fectly simple and natural, this incidental charge goes himself to his country, you sold yourself and hoped for nothing. As to your want of courage, I do not to by every body. Profound moralist as you were, see how this is settled by the action of Vescovato. yoll knew how nmuch the enthusiasm of each indi- You did not go there with the serious purpose of vidual vwas worth; some pounds of gold, inore or fighting, but for the sake of encouraging, by your eoxless, fdrmed, itn your eyes, all the shades which ample, those who were wavering in the opposite diversify characters. party. And after all, what right has any one to reYoul were nmistaken, however:-the weak-minded quire that you should have run the risk of losing the were certainly shaken, but they were terrified by the fruits of two years' good conduct, by being shot like horrible idea of mangling the bosom of their country. a common soldier? But you nmust have felt a good Th'lley thought they saw their fathers, their brothers, deal, say some folks, on seeing your own house, and their friends, who perished in defending her, raise those of your friends, become a prey to the flames. ftheir heads front the tomb to load them with curses. Good God! when will narrow-minded people give These ridiculous prejudices were strong enough to over trying to judge of everything? Your letting stop you in your career; you lamented having to do your house be burnt put M. de Choiseul under the wvith a people so childish in its notions. But, sir, necessity of indemnifying you. Experience proved this refinement of' sentiment is not bestowed on the the accuracy of your calculations; you received much multitude; and, therefore, they live in poverty and more than the value of whvat you lost. To be sure vwretchedness; while a man who has got proper no- you are accused of having kept all to yourself, and tions, if circumstances favour him ever so little, of having given nothing but a trifle to the poor crenknows the way to rise very speedily. This is pretty tures whom you had seduced. In order to justify exactly the moral of your story. your having acted in this way, it is only necessary XVhen you made your report of the obstacles to inquire if you could do it with perfect safety. whllich prevented you from realising your promises, Now, the poor people who were so dependent.n yout proposed that the Royal Corsican regiment your protection were neither in a condition to demand shouldfl he bought. You hoped that its example restitution, nor even to understand very clearly the wvould enlighten our too simple and honest peasants, injustice which was done them. They could not anod accustom them to things to which they felt so become malcontents, and rebel against your authoIlatch repugnance. But what happened? Did not rity; being held in detestation by their countrymen, Rlossi, Marengo, and some other madmen, inflame their return to their former sentiments could no the iminds of the regiment to such a pitch, that the longer be held as sincere. It was then very natural otircers it a body protested, by an authentic writing, that, when a few thousand crowns thus came in your thtat they wvould throw tip their commissions, sooner way, you should not let them out of your hands;than violate their oaths, or their dulties, which were to have done so would have been chleating yourself: still ntore sacred? The French, beaten in spite of their gold, their'Your thus fotund yourselfreduced to stand alone as commissions, the discipline of their nutnerous battaan example to others. WVithout being disconcerted, lions, the activity of their squadrons, the skill of their,at the head of a few friends and a French detach- artillerymen,-defeated at La Peata, Vescovato, nmelt, you threw yourself into Vescovato; but the Loretto, San-Nicolao, Borgo Barbag-io, Oletta,terrible Clement * unkenneled you froml thence. You entrenched themselves, excessively disheartened. C lement Paoli, elder brother of the general, a good sol- Winter, the time of their repose, was for you, sir, a d er, an excellent citizen, a real philosopher. At the be- period of the greatest labour; and if you coutld not,illning of an action he could not bring himself to engage tri(mph over the obstinacy of prejudices so deeply in persona! combat; be gave his orders with the sang- rooted in the nlinds of the people, you found means froid whiclh characterises the good officer. But he no to sedace some of their chiefs, whomn yott sicsooner saw his mnn begin to fall, than be seized his armns ceeded, though with some difficulty, it bringing with a conlvulsive movement of indignation, and made use to a right way of thinkint. This, along witl the of tlhemn, exctlaiminlg- j~ust~ men! why break down thirty battalions whomr M. de VauK brought with hin thle barriers of nature? why must you be enemies of your colilltl)'?" the following spring, forced Corsica to yield to the laystere in res manners, simple in higreat emergencies b anl- ishment. ways lived retired. It was only in great emergencies banishment. that he came forward to give his opinion, which was very One portion of thle patriots had died in the defence seldhm departed Iroain. of their independence, another had fled from a land 804 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. of proscription, and which, from that time, was a to risk everything for everything-but you played hideous den of tyrants. But a great number could your game skilfully. You married, to strengtien neither die nor take flight; they became the objects your interest. A respectable moan, who, reiying on of persecution. Minds, whom it had been found your word, had given his sister to your nephew, impossible to corrupt, were of such a stamp, that the found himself abused. Your nephew, whose patriempire of the French could only be established on mony you had swallowed up in order to increase an their total destruction. Alas! this plan was but inheritance which was to have been his own, was too punctually executed. Some perished, victims of reduced to poverty, with a numerous fhmnily. crimes unjustly imputed to them; others, betrayed Having arranged your domestic affairs, you cast by their own hospitality, and by their own confi- your eyes over the country. You saw it smoking fidence, expiated on the scaffold the sighs and tears with the blood of its martyrs, heaped with numerous into which they had been surprised by dissimulation. victims, and, at every step, inspiring only ideas of A great number, crowded by Narbonne Fridzelar vengeance. But you saw the ruffian soldier, the into the town of Toulon, poisoned by unwholesome insolent pettifogger, the greedy tax-gatherer, lord it food, tortured by their chains, and sinking under the without contradiction; and the Corsican, groaning most barbarous treatment, lived a short time in their under the weight of triple chains, neither daring to misery, merely to see death slowly approaching. think of what he was, nor to reflect on what he still -O God, witness of their innocence, why didst thou might be. You said to yourself, in the joy of your not become their avenger! heart, " Things go on well, and the only thing is to In the midst of this general calamity, in the midst keep them so." And straightway you leagued yourof the groans and lamentations of this unfortunate self with the soldier, the pettifogger, and the taxpeople,you, however, began to enjoy the fruit of gatherer. The only point now to be attended to your labours-honours, dignities, pensions, all were was, to procure deputies who should be animated showered upon you. Your prosperity would have by congenial sentiments; for, as to yourself, you. advanced still more rapidly, had not Du Barri over- could never suppose that a nation which was your thrown M. de Choiseul, and deprived you of a pro- enemy would chuse you for her representative. But tector, who duly appreciated your services. This you necessarily changed your opinion, when tile blow did not discourage you; you turned your atten- letters of convocation, by an absurdity which vas tion to the bureaux; you merely felt the necessity perhaps the result of design, determined that the of greater assiduity. This flattered the persons in deputy from the nobility should be appointed by an office, your services were so notorious. All your assembly composed of only twenty-two persons. wishes were granted. Not content with the Lake of All that was necessary was to obtain twelve votes. Bigueglia, you demanded a part of the lands of many Your associates in the higher council laboured with communities. Why, it is said, did you wish to de- activity. Threats, promises, caresses, money, all prive them of these lands'? I ask, in my turn, what were put in action. You succeeded. Your firiends regard ought you to have for a nation, by whom you were not so successful among the commons. The knew yourself to be detested? first president failed; and two men of exalted ideas Your favourite project was, to divide the island — the one the son, the brother, the nephew, of the among ten barons. How! not satisfied with having most zealous defenders of the common cause-the assisted in forging the chains with which your coun- other a person who had seen Sionville and Nartry was bound, you wished still further to subject bonne, and whose mind was full of the horrid actions her to the absurd feudal government? But I com- he had seen, while he lamented his own want of mend you for having done as much harm to the Cor- power to oppose thenm; —these two men were prosicans as you possibly could. You were at war claimed deputies, and their appointment satisfied the with them; and, in war, to do evil for one's own wishes of the nation. The secret chagrin, the sulpadvantage, is a first principle. pressed rage, which were everywhere caused by But let us pass over all these paltry matters-let your appointment, form the best eulogy on the skill us come to the present moment, and conclude a of your manceuvres, and the influence of your league. letter, which, from its frightfll length, cannot fail to When you arrived, at Versailles, you were a fatigue you. zealous royalist. When you now arrived at Paris, The state of aftfairs in France prognosticated ex- you must have seen with much concern, that the traordinary events. You became alarmed for the government, which it was wished to organize upon effect of theim in Corsica. The same madness with so many ruins, was the same with that which, in which we were possessed before the war, began, to our country, had been drowned in so mulch blood. your great scandal, to infect that amiable people. The efforts of the unprincipled were powerless; You comprehended the consequences; for, if noble the new constitution being admired by all Europe, sentiments were to gain an ascendancy in public and having become an object of interesL to every opinion, you would become no better than a traitor, thinking being there remained for you but one reinstead of being a man of prudence and good sense. source. This was, to make it be believed that this What was still worse, if eve;- noble sentiments were constitution was not adapted to our island; althlngh again to stir the blood of our ardent countrymen, it was exactly the same with that which had pl-oand if ever a national government were to he the duced such good effects, and which it cost s;. much result of such sentiments, what would become of blood to deprive us of. you? Your own conscience then began to terrify All the delegates of the former administration, you. Restless, however, and unhappy as you were, who naturally entered into your cabal, Ferved you you did not yield to your conscience. You resolved with the zeal arising from personal interest. Me APPENDIX. 805 meciials were wvritten, the object of which was to as far as Genoa, and who, to be a Tulenne, wanted prove how advantageous for us was the existing go- nothing but opportunity and a more extensive field, vernmnent. and to demonstrate that any change would reminded his companions in glory, that this was be contrary to the wish of the nation. At this time the time to acquire additional fame,-that their the city of Ajaccio obtained some knowledge of country in danger had need, not of intrigues, which what was going on. This city roused herself, form- he knew nothing about, but of fire and sword. At ed her national guard, organized her committee. the sound of so general an explosion, Gaffory reThis unexpected incldent alarmed you-the fermen- turned to the insignificance from which he had been tation spread in all directions. You persuaded the brought, so mal-a-prop)os, by intrigues;-he tremministers, over whom you had gained some ascen- bled in the fortress of Corte. Narbonne fled from dancy in relation to the affairs of Corsica, that it Lyons, to hide in Rome his shame, and his infernal was of importalnce to send thither your father-in- projects. A few days afterwards Corsica is united law, M. Gaffiry, with a command; and imlmedi- to France, Paoli recalled; and in an instant the ately we saw M. Gaffory, a worthy precursor of prospect changes, and opens to your view a course M. Narbonne, endeavouring, at the head of his of events which you could not-have dared to hope troops, to maintain by force that tyranny which his for. late father, of glorious memory, had resisted and I beg your pardon, sir; I took up my pen to deconfounded by his genius. Innumerable blunders fend you; but my heart revolts against so uniform a left no room fior concealing your father-in-law's me- system of treason and atrocity. What! did you, a diocrity of talent; he possessed no other art but son of the same country, never feel anything for that of making himself enemies. The people rallied her? What! did your heart experience no emotion against him on every side. In this imminent danger at the sight of the rocks, the trees, the houses, the you lifted up your eyes, and saw Narbonne! Nat- spots which were the scenes of your infant amuse bonne, profiting by a moment of favour, had laid meats? CWhen you calne into the world, your coun the plan of establishing firmly, in an island which try nourished you with her fruits; when you came he had wasted with unheard-of cruelty, the des- to the years of reason, she placed her hopes in you; potism which oppressed it. You laid your heads to- she honoured you with her confidence; she said to gether; the plan was determined on; five thousand you," My son, you see the wretched state to which men received orders; commissions for increasing I am reduced by the injustice of men;-through my by a battalion the provincial regiment were pre- native vigour, I am recovering a degree of strength pared; Narbonne set out. This poor nation, tn- which promises me a speedy and infallible recovery; armed and disheartened, without hope and without but I am again threatened! Fly, my son, hasten to resource, is delivered into the hands of her exe- Versailles; inform the great king of everything, cutioner. dissipate his suspicions, request his friendship." O unhappy countrymen! Of what odious trea- Well! a little gold made you betray her confichery were you to be the victims! You would not dence; and fobrthwith, for a little gold, you were perceive it till it was too late. How were you, seen, like a parricide., tearing open her bosom. Ah, without arms, to resist ten thousand men? You sir, I am far from wishing you ill; but there is an would yolurself have signed the act of your degra- avenging conscience! Your countrynmen, to whoml dation; hope would have been extinguished; and you are an object of horror, will enlighten France days of uninterrupted misfortune would have sac- as to your character. The wealth, the pensions, the ceeded. Emancipated France would have looked fruits of your treasons, will be taken fi-om you. In upon you with contempt; afflicted Italy with in- the decrepitude of old age and poverty, in the frightI dignation; and Europe, astonished at this unex- fill solitude of wickedness, you will live long enough anlpled degree of degradation, would have effaced to become a prey to the torments of conscience. from her annals the traits which do honour to your Thle father will point you out to his soin, the master character. But your deputies front the Coammons to his pupil, saying, " Young people, learn to repenetrated the design, and informled you of it in spect your country, virtue, fidelity, and hummanity.?1 time. A king, whose only wish was the happiness And you, respectable and unhappy woman, whose of his ipeople, being well informed on the subject youth, beauty, and innocence were vilely prostiby M. La Fayette, that steady friend of liberty, tuted, does your pure and chaste heart beat under dissipated the intrigues of a perfidious minister, a hand so criminal? In those moments in which nawho was certainly impelled by the desire of ven- ture gives the alarm to love, when, withdrawn from geantce to do you injury. Ajaccio showed resolution the chimeras of life, unmingled pleasures succeed in liher uaddress, in which was described with such each other with rapidity, when the mind, expanded energy the miserable state to which you were re- by the fire of sentiment, enjoys only the pleasure of duced ly the most oppressive of governments. causing enjoyment, and feels only the pleasure of Bastia, till then stupified as it were, awoke at the exciting feeling,-in those moments you press to s<)und of danger, and took up arms with that reso- your heart, you become identified with that cold lutioui for wvhich she has been always distinguished. and selfish man, who has never deviated from his Ardina came from Paris to B3alagne, full of those character, and who, in the course of sixty years, has senrtiments wvlich lead men to the boldest enter- never known anything but the care of his own inprises. With arms in one hland, and the decrees terest, an instinctive love of destruction, the most iof the National Assembly in the other, lie made infamous avarice, the base pleasures of sense! By tile Opubiic enenmies tremble. Achilles Meulrati, the and by, the glare of honours, the trappings of riches, conqueror o Caprlana, who hadl carried desolatiol will disappear; you will be loaded with general 806 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. contempt. Will you seek, in the bosom of' him who WTe have that sort of opinion of Citizen W'oefe is the author of your woes, a consolation indispens- Tone, which leads us to think he would have wept able to your gentle and affectionate mind? Will heartily had he been to witness the havoc of which you endeavour to find in his eyes tears to mingle he seems ambitious to be an instrument. The viowith yours? Will your failing hand, placed on his lence of his exlpressions only shows how civil war bosom, seek to find an agitation like that in your and political fury can deform and warp the moral own? Alas, if you surprise him in tears they will feelings. But we should have liked to have seen be those of remorse; if his bosom heave, it will be Pat's countenance when he learned that the Bande with the convulsions of the wretch, who dies ab- Noire had laid down their arms to a handful of horring nature, himself, and the hand that guides Welsh militia, backed by the appearance of a body him. of market women, with red cloaks (such was the O Lameth! O Robespierre! O Pation! O Vol- fact), whom they took for the head of a supporting ney! O Mirabeau! O Barnave! O Bailly! 0 La column. Even those attempts at pillage, in whichs Fayette! this is the man who dares to seat himself.: they were supposed so dexterous, were foiled by by your side! Dropping with the blood of his bre- the exertions of the sons of Owen Glendower. The thren, stained by every sort of vice, he presents only blood spilt was that of a French straggler, surhimself with confidence in the dress of a general, prised by a Welch farmer in the act of storming his the reward of his crimes! He dares to call himself hen-roost. Tile bold Briton knocked the assailant the representative of the nation-he who sold her- on the head with his flail, and, not knowing whom and you suffer it! He dares to raise his eyes, and he had slain, buhied him in the dunghill, until he listen to your discourse, and you suffer it! Is it the learned by the report of the country that he had voice of the people that sent him? He never had slain a French invader, when he was much astomore than the voice of twelve nobles. Ajaccio, Bastia, nished and delighted with his own valour. Stch and most of' the districts, have done that to his ef- was the event of the invasion; Mr Tone will tell us figy which they would have been very glad to do to what was expected. his person. But you, who are induced, by the error of the "Nov. stand2d,1796 (Best) moment, or perhaps temporary abuses, to oppose Colonel Shee tells me that General Quantin has any fresh changes, will you tolerate a traitor? a man been dispatched fiom Flushing with 2000 of the who, under the cool exterior of a man of sense, greatest reprobates in the French arny, to land in conceals the avidity of a lacquey? I cannot imagine England; and do as much mischief as possible, and it. You will be the first to drive him away with that we have 3000 of the same stamp, whorn iwe ignominy, as soon as you are aware of the string of' are also to disgorge on the English coast. - atrocities of which he has been the author. I have the honour, etc. Nov. 24th and 2"tli BONAPARTE. Colonel Tate, an American officer, has offered From my closet at Milleli, his services, and the general has given hinm the rank January, Year2. of chef-de-brigade, and 1050 men of the Legion Noire, in order to go on a buccaneering party into No. 2. England. Excepting soime little errors in the locl. lity, which, after all, may seem errors to me firoml DESCENT OF THE FRENCH IN SOUTH WALES, UNDER my own ignorance, the instructions are incomparably COLONEL TATE. well drawn; they are done, or at least correctedl, by the general himself; and if Tate be a daslling Page 246. fellow, with military talents, he may play the devil in Englaind before he is caught. His object is LiWE have found some curious particulars respect- ve pool; and I have some reason to think the scheme ing Tate's descent in the Memoirs of Theobald has resulted firoin a conversation I had a few days WVolJf Tone, one of the unfortunate and misguided since with Colonel Shee, wherein I told him that, Irish gentlemen who were engaged in the Rebellion, if we were once settled in Ireland, I thought we 1796, and who, being taken on his return to Ireland might make a piratical visit in that quarter; and, in with a French expedition, was condemned to be fact, I wish it was we that should have the credit executed, but died in prison, after an unsuccessful and profit of it. I should like, for example, to pay attempt at suicide. The author, for whom we en- a visit to Liverpool myself, with some of the gentletertain much coumpassion, seems to have been a gal- men from Ormond Qiiay, though I must say the lant light-hearted Irishman, his head full of scraps citizens of the LUgion Noire are very little behind of plays, and his heart in a high fever on account of umy countlrymen either in ajipearance or moralitrty, the supposed wrongs which his country had sustain. which last has been prodigiously cullltivated by three ed at the'hands of (Great Britain. His hatred, in- or four campaigns in Bretagne and La Vendbe. A deed, had arisen to a pitch which seems to hae thllosand of these desiperadoes, in their black ja(ksurprised himself, as appears from the conclusion ets, will edify Johin Bull exceedingly, if they get of the fillowing extracts, which prove that lnothing sall into Lancashire. less than the total destruction of Bristol was expected from Tate and his merry men, who had been indus- 7rv. 2fth. triously picked out as the greatest reprobates of the To-day, by the general's orders,. iuave made a French army. fair copy of Colonel'ate's instructlo!: wNlth sollre A. PPENDIX. 87 a'ferations from the rough draught of yesterday, instant to lose in having him brought before a concil particularly with regard to his first destination, of war. General Debel was instructed to make this which is now fixed to be Bristol. If he arrives safe, communication to a member of the Directory, who it will be very possible to carry it by a coup de main, was one of his friends. Colonel St-Martin, of the in which case he' is to burn it to the ground. I can- artillery, spoke to this Director to the same purpose. not but observe here that I transcribed, with. the, His answer was, "We are not strong enough." On greatest sang-froid, the orders to reduce to ashes its being said that Bernadotte was of opinion that the third city of' the British dominions, in which Bonaparte should be proceeded against according to there is, perhaps, property to the amount of the principles of military discipline, and that the op~6,000,000. portunity which occurred should be laid hold of, the Director replied, "Let us wait." No. 3. Bonaparte arrived at Paris. All the generals went to visit him. A public dinner to him was proposed, and HISTORICAL NOTES ON THE 18th BRUMAIRE. a list for that purpose handed about. When it awas presented to Bernadotte by two members of the Page 278. Council of Five Hundred, he said to them, " I would advise you to put off this dinner till he account satisTiE following facts, which have never been made factorily for having abandoned his army." ~ public, but with which we have been favoured from More than twelve days had elapsed before Beran authentic channel, throw particular light on the nadotte saw Bonaparte. At the request of Joseph, troubled period during which Napoleon assumed the his brother-in-law, and of Madame Leclerc, Bonasupreme power, the risks which ihe ran of being an- parte's sister, Bernadotte at length went to visit him. ticipated in his aim, or of altogether missing it. The conversation turned upon Egypt. Bonaparte In the end of July, 1799, when all those discon- having begun to talk of public affairs, Bernadotte altents were fermentilg, whlicli afterwards led to the lowed him to enlarge on the necessity of a change Revolution of the 18th Brumaire, General Augereau, in the government; and at last, perceiving that Bowith one of the most celebrated veterans of the re- naparte, aware of the awkwardness of his situation, publican army, attended by a deputation of six per- was exaggerating the unfavourable circumstances in sons, amronlgst whonl were Salicetti and other mnell- the situation of France,-" But, general," said Berbefs of Convention, came on a nlission to General nadotte, "the Russians are beaten in Switzerland, Bernadotte, then niinister at war, at an early hour and have retired into Bohemia; a line of defence is in the morning. maintained between the Alps and the Ligurian ApTheir object was to call the minister's attention to penines; we are in possession of Genoa; Holland a general report, which announced that there was is saved-the Russian army that was there is deto be a speedy alteration of the constitution and stroyed, and the English army has retired to Engexisting order of things. They accused Barras, land:-15,000 insurgents have just been dispersed Sidyes, and Fouchd, as being the authors of these in the department of the Upper Garonne, and conintrigues. It was generally believed, they said, that strained to take refuge in Spain;-at this moment one of the Directors (Barras) was for restoring the we are busied in raising two hundred auxiliary batBourbons; another (Sidyes is probably meant) was talions of 1000 nmen each, and 40,000 cavally; and for electing the T)uke of Brunswick. The deputation in three months at most, we shall not know what to made Bernadotte acquainted with their purpose of do with this multitude of men, unless we make them fulminating a decree of arliest against the two official rush into Germany and Italy like torrents. Indeed, persons. Having first inquired what proofs they if you had been able to bring the army of Egypt with could produce in support of their allegations, and you, the veterans who compose it would have been being, inforlmed that they had no positive proof to very usefill in forming our new corps. Though we ofter, the minister infolrmed them that he would not should look upon this army as lost, unless it return participate in the proposed act of illegal violence. by virtue of a treaty, I do not despair of the safety "I require your fword of honour,?' he said, " that you of the Republic, and I am cominiced she will withwill desist fiom this project. It is the only mode to stand her enemies both at home and abroad." While insure nmy silence on the subject."' One of the de- pronouncing the words enemies at home, Bernadotte putation, whomnl the nlinlister had reason to regard as unintentionally looked in the face of Bonaparte, a mamt of thle most exemplary loyalty, and with whom whose confusion was evident. Madame Bonaparte he had had connexions in military service, replied changed the conversation, and Bernadotte soon afto him, "Ouar intention was to have placed you in ter took leave. possession of great power, being well persuaded that Some days afterwards, M. R-, formerly chief you! would riot abuse it. Since you do not see the secretary to the minister of war, begged General matter as we do, the afair is at an end. WVe give up our scheme. Let the affair be buried in corn- * When Bernadotte calue into the ministry, it became a upoblivr ioan." ILess tha aftir be bi r- question wshether Bonaparte slould not be sent for fi'om plete obl vion. In less than two mlonthls after-.plete oblivion." ID less than two months after-Egypt.-" It is the army you mean," said the minister,wards, Bonaparte's arrival gave a new turn to the "for as to the genelal, you know he has an eye to tie dictastate of affailrs. torship; and sending vessels to bring him to France would He landed, as is well known, at Frljus, after hay- just be giving it to him." ing abandoned his army and broke the quarantine A French fleet was at that time cruizing in the Mediterlaws. W'Vhen this intelligence reached Bernadotte, ranean, —tlhe minister insisted that it sllould be ordered into he intimated to the Directory, that there was not an Toulon. I ts(r8 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Bernadotte to introduce him to Bonaparte. The ge- his power. On his return to Paris. hfe hlppened, neral carried him along with him. After the usual accidentally, to be in a house belonginu,- to a fellow complinments, they began to talk of the situation of countryman and filiend of Moreau's. Thlat gel.cal France. Bonaparte spoke much of the great excite- having inquired if he had been at the party at,Morment of feeling allong the republicans, and particu- fontaine, and if he had spoken with Bonaparte, and larly in the " club du qm~ansye." JBernadotte saidl, in Bernadotte having told him lie had, Moreau said, answer, " When an impulse is once given, it is not''lThat is the man who has dlone the greatest harm easily stopped. This you have often experienced. to the Republic."-" And,"'added Bernadotte, After having impressed on the army of Italy a move- " who is preparisng the greatest." " WXre shall premtent of patriotic enthusiasm, you could not repress vent hli" replied Mloreau. The two generals shook this feeling when you judged it proper to do so. The hands, and promised to stand by each other in resame thing happens now. A number of individuals, sisting the deserter from Egypt. So they called and your own brothers principally, have formed the him in presence of a number of persons, among club you speak of. I have never belonged to it. I whom was tbe ex-rlinister, Petiet. was too busy, and had too many duties to perform''The Directory, it is true, did not enjoy the public as minister, to be able to attend it. You have al- esteem. Si6yes stood first in reputation among the leged that I have favoured these meetinigs. This is five members, but he was looked upon as being not correct. I have indeed supported many respect- timnid and vindictive. tie was believed to be disable persons who belonged to this club, because their posed to call the Duke of Brunswick to the throne views vere honest, and they hoped to give preva- of France. Barras was suspected by some persons lence to a spirit of moderation and pruidence, which of being in treaty with the Count de Lille. Gohier, is generally thrown aside by amnbitiolIs nen. Sali- Moulins, and Roger Ducos, were very respectable cetti, a particular friend and secret confidant of your men, but considered to be unfit for tile government brothers, was one of the directors of that meeting. of a great nation. Gohier, however, was known to It has been believed by observers, and is believed be one of the first lawyers of that period, to be of still, that the state of excitement which you com- incorruptible integrity, and an ardent lover of' his plain of has originated in the instructions received country. by Salicetti." When Sidyes obtained a place in the Directory, Here Bomaparte lost termper, anld declared that he he had desired to have General Bernadotte for warwould ratler live inl the, woods, than continue to minister. Some confidential relations between them, exist in the nmidst of a society which gave him no and a certain degree of deference which Bernadotte security. paid to Si6yes, in consequence of his great cele" What security do you want?" answered Ge- brity, had flattered his self-love. Bonaparte's two erual Bernadotte. Madame Bonaparte, fearing that brothers, Josephi and Lucien, thinking they should the conversation woutld becorie too wvarm, changed find in Bernadotte a ready instrument for the exethe subject, addressing herself to M R —, wlo cution of the plans of their brother, wlholm they bewas known to her. General Bernadotte did not lieved to be on the point of landing in France, persist in his questions, and, after some general con- agreed with Sidyes in bringing Bernadotte into the versation, lie withdrew. ministry. Gohier, Moulins, and Roger Ducos joined A few days afterwards, Joseph had a large party the Bonapartes and Sieyes; Barras alone inclined at Mor-fonstaine. Bonaparte, meeting General Ber- towards Dubois Cranc6; buit he yielded with a good nadotte conling out of the Thlhatre Francais, in- grace to the opinion of his colleagues. quired if he wvas to be of the party on the following The proposal was mmade to Bernadotte at a dinner day. Being answered in the atlirmative-" WVill at Joseph's, in the Rue du Rocher. Jouhert, one of you,," said he, " give me mly coffee to-morrow morn- the party, who had recently formed an intimracy ing? I have occasion to pass near your house, and with the candidate for the place of minister, was shall be very glad to stop with you for a few mo- chosen by the Bonapartes to propose it to him. inents." Next morninig, Bonaparte and his wife The proposal'was refused, and the remionstrances arrived; Loulis followed thenm a mnonment afterwards. of Joulbert had no effect on the resolution of BerBonaparte made himself very agreeable.? In the nadotte, which at that timre appeared imnmoable. evenimng there was some conversation between Re- The Bonapartes, who were the prime movers of all gnautlt de St.Jean d'Angely, Joseph, and Lucien. the changes which took place, and enjoyed the disBonaparte conversed with Bernadotte, who saw, tribution of all the great posts, were astonished from his emmlbarrassed air, and frequent fits of ab- when they heard General Joubert's report. They senlce, that his mindl was deeply occupied. He had got several members of the council to enideavour to no longer any doubt that it was Bonaparte's deter- induce Bernadotte to accept. Their attempts were Inined purpose to save hirnself, by the overthrow of vain. Every solicitation was followed by a most tile constitution, fiomis the (langer with which li he was obstinate refiisal. But what could not be done by threatened in consequence of his leaving Egypt, Bernadotte's friends and partisans, duped by the abandoniig his armny, and violating the quarantine apparent friendship of the Bonapartes for hils, was laws He resolved to oppose it by every means in accomplished by his wife anld sister-in-law. After nmany days spent in entreaties, Bernadotte yielded,' It was by no meanls from friendship that Bonaparte went and received thse porte-feuille from the hands of to Bernadoltte's on this occasione; but really to render the General Millet-Mureau, who then had the charge IXirectomy and thie friends of the Republic suspicious as to of-that department. The Bonapartes were not siow that general's intentions. in showing a desire to exercise a direct influence APPENDIX. 809 in the war-department. Many of their creatures Joseph went away a few moments afterwards; and were raised, by the new minister, to higher situa- this conversation having proved to hinm that Bernations; but the number of fresh applications conti- dotte did not concur ill his opinions, it became an nually made to him, convinced him that they con- object to produce a breach between him (Bernasidered hint as holding his place merely to serve dotte) and Si6yes. their purl)oses, and prepare the way for their ele- Bernadotte retired fromn the ministry, and Bonavation. parte arrived about three weeks afterwards. Not The minister, who went regularly at five o'clock being able to doubt that the Dlirectors themselves in the morning to the office of the war-department, were either dupes of Bonaparte's ambition, or his where he had to repair heavy disasters, recruit the accomplices, and that they were meditating with army, put a s;op to dilapidations, organize two hun- him the overthrow of the established order of dred battalions of a thousand men each, bring back things, General Bernadotte persevered in offering to their corps 80,000 men, who had, in the course his counsels and services to those memlbers of the of a few years, absented themselves without per- government, or of the legislative body, who might mission, and accomplish an extraordinary levy of have opposed those designs. But the factious and 40,000 horse, did not return to his house, in the the intriguing went on at a mnore rapid pace; and Rue Cisalpine, till between five and six in the even- every day Bonaparte increased his party by the acing. Joseph and his wife were almost always there. cession of some distinguished personage. Joseph sometimes turned the conversation on the On the 16th Brumaire, at five o'clock, Bernadotte incapacity of the Directory, the difficulty of things went to General Bonaparte's, where he was invited remaining as they were, and the necessity of new- to dinner. General Jourdau was of the party. He modeling the administration. arrived after they had sat down to table. The-conBernadotte, on the contrary, thought that if the versation was entirely on military subjects; and five Direc:tors were reduced to three, one of whom Bernadotte undertook to refute the maxims which should go out of office every three years, the consti. Bonaparte was laying down relative to the system tltion would go on very well. He found in that of war by invasion. Bernadotte concluded nearly form of government the creation of a patrician or- in these words: —" There is more trouble in preder exclusively charged with the government of serving than in invading;" alluding to the conquest the state. The Roman republic was his model, of Egypt. The company rose alld went to the and he saw in the constitution of the year 111. a drawing-room. Immediately afterwards there argreat analogy to the consular privileges and the rived several very distinguished members of the rights of senators. By the 135th article of that Council, and a good many men of letters; Volney constitution, no one coulld aspire to become a Di- and Talleyrand were of tile number. The converrector, without having been first a member of one sation was general, and turned on the affairs of the of the two councils, a minister of state, etc. As west of France. Bonaparte, raising, his voice a little, that condition was already fulfilled in his case, it and addressing somebody near him, said-" All! was natural that he should incline towards the pre- you see a Chouan in General Bernadotte." The servation of a form of government which placed general, in answering him, could not refrain fi'oni him on an equality with kings, and gave him the smiling. " Don't contradict yourself," said lie; "it hopes of seeing many kings tributary to, or at least was but the other day that you complained of' my faprotected by, the Republic. These discussions vouring the inconvenient enthusiasmof the ftiends of sometimes became rather unreserved; and it was the Republic, and nIow you tell me that I protect the at such a time that Joseph intimated to Bernadotte, Chouans. This is very inconsistent." The comin a sort of half-confidence, the possibility of his pany continued to increase every minute; antd the brother's speedy return. TIle minister had suffi- apartments not being very spacious, Bernadotte cient presence of mind to conceal his indignation; went away. but his surprise was so visible that Joseph was Many persons have thought that the answers given alarmed by it. He endeavoured to diminish the by Bernadotte. to Bonaparte o)n thlls occasion had impression which his commusnication had produced. retarded fbr twenty-four houlrs the movement which He said, " That what he had advanced was merely had been prepared. Others, on the contrary, have a simple conjecture on his part, which might be- alleged that, the 17th being a Friday, Bonaparte, come a probability-perhaps, even (added he) a naturally superstitious, had deferred the execution reality; fbr lie has conquered Egypt-his business of the project till the 18th. is at an end-hlie has nothing more to do ill that On the 17th Brulmaire, between eleven and twelve quarter."- " Conquered!" replied Bernadotte- at night, Joseph Bonaparte, returning to his house in "Say rather, iszvacded. This conquest, if' you will the Rue du Rocher by the way of the Rile Ciscall it so, is far froln being secure. It has given alpine, called at the house of Bernadotte. lile, new life to the coalition whiich was extinct; it has being in bed, sent to request Joseph to return next given us all Europe for our enemies; and rendered day. He did so before seven o'clock on the sitornthe very existence of the Republic doubtful. Be- ing of the 18th. He told Bernadotte that his sides, your brother has no authority to quit the brolher desired to speak withi him; that the meaarmy. IRe knows the military laws, and I do not sures to be taken had been discussed the evening think that lie would be inclined, or would dare, to before, and that they wished to inform him of them. render himself liable to punishment under them. They both went immediately to Bonaparte's house Ssuh a desertion w suld be too serious a matter; in the Rue de la Victoire. The court, the vestihule, atld he is too well aware of its consequences." and the apartments, were filled with generals and onL. VI. 102 b1o10 LLIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. officers of rank. Many of tile officers had the air Bernadotte left the room; Bonaparte followed of persons in a state of excitation fromt wine. Ber- him into the lobby, and said to Joseph, with tu nadotte was shown into a smnall room; Joseph did agitated voice,-"Follow him." Bel-radotte passed not go in. Bonaparte was sitting at breakfast with through a crowd of generals, officere of rank, and one of his aides-de-camp, who, as far as can be re- soldiers, who filled the court of the house, and a membered, was Lemarrois. General Leftbvre, part of' the street, making some impression upon afterwards Duke of Dantzic, then commanding the them by his looks, which expressed his disapproba17th military division, of which Paris was the head- tion of their conduct. Joseph fitllowed Bernadotte, quarters, was standing. Bernadotte, seeing hinl in and came up to him ill the court of the house. He that attitude, did not doubt that he, was detained a 1 asked him to go to his house, in the Rue du Rochier, prisoner. He immediately took a chair, sat down, where he had assembled several members of the and made a sign to Lefgbvre to do the same. Le- legislative body. When he arrived at Joseph's he fIbvre hesitated, but a glance from Bonaparte re- found a dozen of persons, among whom were several assured him. tlle sat down respectfully, looking at deputies devoted to Bonaparte, and particularly Sa. Bonaparte. Tile latter, addressing himself to Ber- \icetti. Brealkfast was served. During the few nadotte, said, with embarrassment,-" Why, you moments they remained at table, they spoke of the are not in uniform!" On Bernadotte answering- resolutions which would be taken, and Joseph re"I am not on duty," Bonaparte replied-" You shall peated, that his brother wished for nothling but the be immediately." " I do not think so," said Ber- consolidation offieedom, that he mightthen have it in nadotte. Bonaparte rose, took Bernadotte by the his power to live like a philosopher at Mi;lmnaison. hand, and carried him into an adjoining room. Bernadotte went to the garden of the Tflileries, L' This Directory goverrns ill,'" said he; "it would and passed along the fiont of the 79th derii-brigade. destroy the Republic if we did not take care. The The officers having recognized him, though 1rot in Council of Anciepts has named me commandlant of uniform, came up to him, and iasked himi flr informParis, of the National Guard, atnd of all tile troops ation as to what was going to IhrXppen. Bernadotte in the division. Go anid put on your uniform, and answered in general terms, expresring his wish that join me at the Tuileries, where I am now going." the public tranquillity might not be endangered by Bernadotte having declined doing this, Bonaparte thle mrovement about to take place. The soldiers, said,-" I see you think you can count upon Moreal, having in their turn recognized tie g'eneral, who had Beurnonville, and other generals. Y;ou will see coammanlded them at tile siege and taking of Maesthem all come to me. —Moreau himrself;i" and, tricht, loudly expressed their astonishment at his speaking very fast, he named about thirty members not beirlg alongl with the generals, wlho, said thev, of the Council of tile Ancients, whom JBernadotte were then deciding, in the palace, the fate of France. had believed to be the greatest friends of the con- Bernadotte havitng observed what he might exstitution of the year I1I. "You don't know man- pect, in case of need, froni this corps, arid froli kind,' added he; " they promise much, and perform some detachrmenlts before whom lhe had presented little." himself on the Boulevard and on tile Pont de la teBerntadotte having declared that he did not chuse volution, went to General Jourdlan's, presuming that to be involved in a rebellion of this kind, nor to the Directory would send for him to take care of overturn a constitution which had cost the lives of a the safety ofthe government. He found at Jourdan's million of men,-" Well," said Bonaparte, " you a good mrany members of the Council of Five Eunwill stay till I receive the decree of the Coutncil of' dred, atmong others Augereau, afterwards Duke of Ancients; for till then I am nothing." Bernadotte, Castiglione. He ha(d scarcely arrived, when a great raising his voice, said-" I am a man whom you may number of thle memlbers came to announce the cornplt' to death, but whom you shall not detain against munications of tire decree of tile Council of Ancielts, his will." " Well, then!" said Bonaparte, softening which, in virtre of the 102d article of tle Constituhis voice, " give me your word that you will do tion, transferred the sitting of the Legislative Body nothing against me." " Yes, as a citize:.; but if I to St-Cloud. am called upon by thie Directory, or if the legisla- Bernarlotte, on his return honme, learned firon his live body gives me the command of its guard, I wife tlhat tIe Adjirtant-general Rapplpitel, attached shall oppose you, and you shall not have the uipper to General Moreau's staff, had just been there, hand." " What do youl mean by as a citizen?z" and that he had been senlt by Bonaparte and Mo-' I wvill not go to the barracks, nor places mof public reau, to persuade himn to join thenl at tie Tuileries. resort, to inflame thle minds of the soldiers and the Bonaparte had said to hin-"-' You have served lunpeople." der General Bernradotte. I knowv that lie has "I am quite easy," answered Bonai.arte; "I confidence in you.'rell him that all his fiiends are have taken mry measures; you will receive no ap- assembled at tihe Tuileries, and that they are depointlment; they are imore afraid of your ambition sirous ofseeingr him aniong' the-n; add that they love, than Otf mine. I wish merely to save the Reprublic; their country as uciclh as he, alln thlat they strongly I want nothing for myself; I shall retire to Malmai- wish to see him appear armong the numbl)er of those son, after having broughit about me a circle of fiiends. to whoil she this day owes her sfdety." If you wsrish to hre ff tle nimber, youI shall hIe uniade Sieyes and Rtoger Ducos hlla alreaddy joinedl Bovery welcorne." Bernadotte said in reply, as Ire naparte at the'irilelies. T'lle three directors. was goinlg away-" As to your being, a good friend, Goolier the presidlent, Momlins anld Ba:'-as, remained that may be; but I am convinced that you will al- at the Luxelmbourg. T'he secretary-general, Laways be the worst of masters." garde, was still faithiful to tile. mlajority of the Di APPENDIX. Si! rectory. As General Bernadotte had foreseen, that informed him that Salicetti had made them aware, majority cast their eyes on him for the ministry of on the part of Bonaparte, that Si6yes had proposed war, and the general command of the troops, and of to arrest a number of deputies of the two Councils, the National Guards of the 17th division. The re- in order to prevent their appearing at St-Cloud. signation of Barras, and the defection of the secre- They asked Bernadotte what he thought of the tary-general, put a stop to this nomination. Bona- events of the day. He saw nothing in the cominuparte, having no longer anything to fear, made a lication of Salicetti, but the desire of rendering new division of the different conmmands, and assigned these deputies favourable to Bonalparte. Some of to Moreau, with a hundred horse, that of the Luxem- these legislators seemed to feel grateful for the serbourg, where Gohier and Moulins were detained. vice which Bonaparte had done them the evening Moreau, dissatisfied with the indifference with before. Bernadotte did not appreciate this act of which he had been treated by Bonaparte, and ac- generosity as they did; but he agreed in their opiquainted with his intentions and projects, was al- nion as to the conciliatory measurles which they ready thinking of forsaking his cause, which he seemed to wish to adopt, and, entering into their regarded as unjust and traitorous to the nation. He,views, he explained himself in these terms:-" Let again desired Rappatel to go, towards evening, one of you mount the tribune; let him describe to Bernadotte's, to invite him, on the part of Mo- succinctly the internal situation of France, and her reau, to go to the Luxembourg, that they might con- successes abroad; let him say, that the departure suit together as to the measures to be taken for of an army for Egypt, while it has involved us in preventing Bonaparte from seizing the dictatorship. war, has deprived us of an army of more than Bernadotte's answer to these overtures was, that 30,000 veterans, and a great many experienced gehe was bound by the word of honqur which he had nerals; that, nevertheless, the Republic is triumgiven, not to undertake anything as a citizen; but phant; that the coalition is broken uip, since Suthat he was free to act if called on or summoned to warrow is returned to Russia;'that the English, do so by a public man; that if Mol eau would march with a prince of the blood at their head, have left out of the Luxembourg, at the head of the detach. the Batavian republic, and retired to England; that ment which he commanded, present himself at his the line of defence is maintained between the Alps door, and summon him, in the name of the public and the Ligurian Appenines; that200,000 conscripts good, to make common cause with him in the de- are hastening to arrange themselves into battalions fence of liberty and of the constitution which had to reinforce the armies, and 40,000 cavalry are been sworn to, he, Bernadotte, wculd mount his raising; that the insurrection of the west is reduced horse with his aides-de-camp, pult himself under to a few scattered bands, and that a royalist a rmny Moreau's command, address the troops, and cause in the Upper Garonne has been destroyed or disBonaparte to be immediately arrested and tried as persed; that, to obtain a peace quite as honourable a deserter from the army of Egypt, and as having as that of Campo Formio, it is only necessary for violated the constitution, by accepting a command France to maintain this formidable attitude; that, given him by a mere ftaction of the legislative in order to maintain it, union and mutual confidence body. Moreau, bound down by the duty of mili- are indispensable; that, although the Council of tary discipline, according to which he was under Ancients have violated the constitution, in naming the orders of' General Bonaparte, did not agree to Bonaparte general-in-chief of the 17th division, and Bernadotte's proposal; and the latter, therefore, in giving him tile command of the National Guard, did not think himself at liberty to go to the Luxem- and the Guard of' the Directory, the Council of bourg. Five Hundred is not now engaged in deliberating Bernadotte, from seven o'clock till ten, had con- on this violation of the constitution, but rather on ferences with Salicetti, Augereau, Jourdan, Gareau, the means of giving security to the French people, and a dozen of the most influential members of the the two Councils, and the government of the state; Council of Five Hundred. It was decided, that, that, for this purpose, the Council of Five Hundred next morning, Bernadotte should be named com- names General Bernadotte colleague to General mrandant of the guard of the legislative body, and Bonaparte; that these two generals shall underof all the troops in the capital, and they separated. stand each other in regard to the employment of Salicetti ran to the Tuileries to tell Bonaparte what the armed force, and the distribution of commands, had happened, and he, who dreaded so courageous in case of this force being employed; but that tile an adversary as Bernadotte, charged Salicetti to be tranquillity which prevails in Paris and the vicinity, present next morning at five o'clock, at the prepa- renders it certain that there will be no occasion for ratory meeting which was to take place before this force being put in motion. Send ile this going to St-Cloud, and to tell every one of the de- decree; in twenty minutes after receiving it I shall puties, that he, Bonaparte, had made the greatest be in the midst of you with my aides-de-camp; I efforts to prevent a decree of deportation being shall take the command of tile corps that I shall issued against the deputies who had formed the find on my way, and we shall see what is to be design of giving to Bernadotte the command of the done. If it is necessary to declare Bonaparte an armed force. outlaw, you will always have on your side a ge(On the 19th, at seven o'clock in the morning, neral, and a great proportion at least of the troops." generals Jourdan and Aulgerean, followed by eight The deputies immediately set off for St Clotud. or ten deputies of the Council of Five Hundred The unhappy custom of delivering set speeches from (amontl whom were Gareau and Talot), went to the tribune produced the loss of precioas time. Tl'h Geleral Bernadotte's, in the Rue Cisalpine. They debate became warm; and the taking individually { 12 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. the oath to the constitution caused a useless loss of assemble the 52d demi-brigade on its way to Toursnmore than an hour and a half. No other resolution to come before it followed by his staff and the cournwas taken. Bonaparte made his appearance, and cil of war; to miake the military penal code be the events which then happened at St-Cloud are read; to order the colonels to point tout one or two well known. men in each company, who had made themselves After having been repulsed from the Council of most remarkable in the revolt of the 28th; to deliver Five Hundred, Bonaparte, stammering with agita- these men to the council of war, and to have them tion, addressed the soldiers. "Are you for tile?"- tried on the spot, etc., etc. "~We are for the Republic," said they.-(It was at Bernadotte's orders were executed on the 4th this time that Lucien, President of the Council, Venddmiaire (25th September), when the 52d demiharangued the troops). What would have become brigade was drawn up on the parade at Tours, and of him had Bernadotte been there! Bonaparte felt the ringleaders of the revolt arrested in presence of this himself; for hlie said, at this period,-"I am not a great number of spectators, without the smallest afraid of Bernadotte's consenting to nmy being assas- disturbance taking place. sinated; but hie will harangue the troops, and that Bernadotte made a report of this event to the first is what I hlave to fear." consul, and to Carnot, the minister of war; but as 3Bonaparte was made aware, the same evening, of the result of the measures he had taken was not yet thile language which Bernadotte had used to the known, the consul put on the margin of the report: deputies at his house in the Rue Cisalpine. The ex- -" General Bernadotte has not done well in taking pressions he had really made use of, though they such severe measures against thle 52d demi-brigade, must have been disagreeable enough to Bonaparte, not having suflficient means to bring them to order in particularly in so far as related to his escape from the heart of a town where the garrison is not strong Egypt, and his ulterior designs against the liberty of enough to repress mntiny." France, were exaggerated, and represented to Bo- The result was different. The soldiers returned naparte so as to indicate personal hatred. to their duty, and themselves denounced the authors Bonaparte, though he never fotund an opportunity ofthe insurrection. Thedemi-brigade continued its of taking open revenge against Bernadotte, let slip route to Italy; and two days afterwards the consul no opportunity of injuring him, by placing him, as a was profuse in his encomiums on the prudence, foregeneral, in difficult situations, and leaving him, in sight, and firmness of the general whose conduct he the most perilous and delicate circumstances, with- had been so hasty in disapproving.-'The letter outinstructions or orders. The following occurrence, which he wrote to Bernadotte on this subject, was which took place soon afterwards, will give a correct in these terms:idea of this conduct onl the part of Bonaparte. The measures for restoring tranquillity in the lParis, 10th Vend6miaire, yearIX. west of France, in the month of January, 1800, had "I have read with interest, citizen-general, the never been entirely completed; for, at the same account of what you have done to restore order in moment that they were taken, several departments the 52d, and also the report of general Liebert of the were put out of the pale of the constitution.'The 5th Vend6miaire. Give this officer the assurance of Chotans of these departments were organized as the satisfaction of government with his conduct. militia, and as guerillas, who plundered the dili- Your promotion of the colonel of brigade to the rank gences, and murdered the persons who became pro- of general of brigade, is confirmed. I desire that prietors of the national domains. They were regu- thlis brave officer may come to Paris. He has given larly paid, and had communications with the enemies an example of firmness and energy most honourable of the Republic, by means of the English fleets to a military man. which threatened the coasts. At this critical to- "I salute you, ment, Bernadotte was invested with the civil and "BONAPARTE." military command of these departments. By his firm and prudent conduct, he repressed the seditious All men, doubtless, are liable to err; but the eagermovements, and re-established good order and obe- ness of the consul to attach blame to the conduct dience to the laws. Many free corps, numbers of of a military and political commander, charged with individuals belonging to which, for'vant of being the maintenance of discipline and obedience to the properly employed, were in the pay of thie Chouat laws, appears evidently to have proceeded more chiefs, were organized as regular troops; and by from private hatred than from any.duty which the this measure lie furnished government with the government had to lperform; for there was no occameans of drawing finom these departments troops for sion to give his judgment so precipitately, and he the army of Italy. Buit when these troops were to might have waited the final result of the measures begin their march to Dijon, a serious insurrection he censured, more especially as the scene had taken broke outatVannes, on the 28th Fructidor, year VIII place iu a district agitated by faction and civil war. (4th September, 1800). The 52d demii. brigade re- Bernadotte's friends, who were still in the ministry fhsed to march till they should rechive their arreairs of war, and even frequented the saloons of the conof pay. The commandant and officers, who wished sal, were anxious to make him acquainted with Boto restore order among thems, were maltreated. naparte's evil intentions towards him. Every disBernladotte being informed of this transaction, lns. patch which lie received informed him that the teled to Vannes to quell the insurrection; but tle police wvas formting secretintrigues and conspiracies: corps had left the place. He gave orders to General that agents were scattered among the army of the Liebert, commanding the 22'd mtilitary division, to West and the army of the Rhdine, to endeavour to APPENDIX. 813 make the staffs of those armies commit themselves, Whitworth's firmness, that Talleyrand, by reference in order to have a pretext for disgracing the generals to the pleasure of the first consul, should take care who commanded them. Reports were circulated to keep open the door for reconciliation. among the members of these staffs; one day the'rlThe various errors in orthography, as fait for fais consul was dying; next day the population of Paris or faites, dit for dis or dites, are taken from the had risen, and the constitution of the year II. was original. re-established with the necessary modifications. The persons employed in raising these reports St~Cloed, a 4heuresetdemie. watched the looks of the generals, and reported "Je reqois votre lettre qui m'a te6 renlise a la their slightest expressions. These snares roused Malmnaison. Je ddsire qle la conference ne se tourne the indignation of General Bernadotte, and the army pas en parlage. Montrez-vous y froid, altier, et he commanded; and it is not going too far to say, meme un pen fier. that it was in the army of the West and the army " Si la note comtient le mot ultimatcnm, fait* Illi of the Rhine, that plans for the preservation and sentir que ce mot renferme celui de gnerre, que security of constitutional freedom originated. Men, cette maniere de negocier est d'un supdrieur a nun who were obliged by profession and duty, to yield infdrieur. Si la note ne comtient pas ce mot, fiit-ito the force of military discipline, and who neither qu'il le Inette, en lui observant qu'il faut enfin savoir had, nor wished to have, anything to do with the a quoi nous en tenir-que nous sonrnoes las de cet intricacies of civil policy, were all at once inspired etat d'anxidt6-que jamais on n'obtiendra de nons with a new spirit, and tacitly formed an association ce qiue l'on a obtenue des dernZiies ananes des guided by their opinions; so much so, that, during Bourbons,-que noes ne sommes plus ce peuple the course of the year 1801, the consul perceived, qui recevra uaz Commissaire a Dunquerqze; que, from the reserve and behaviour of many of the ge- l'ultimatum remis, tout deviendra romptit. nerals towards him, that a change had taken place " Effrayez le sur les suites de cette remise. S'il in the confidence entertained as to his intentions on est in-branlable, accompagnez le dans votre sathe subjectofpublic liberty and individual security. lon........... de vons quitter, dittt lui, mais le This reserve, the cause of which he penetrated, Cap et l'isle de Goree, sent ils 6vacu6es?-radoucisdetermined him to make a set of new creatures, and sez un pen la fin de la conf6rence, et invitez le a bring around him men fromn whom he was sure, as he revenir avant d'ecrire a sa cour, enfin que votns said, to meet with no contradiction. His having laid puiqsiez lui dire l'impression qu'elle a flait sur moi, down this principle of action, and his well-known qu'elle pourrait etre diminme par les mesures de ces system of degrading everything, were the cause of evacuations du Cap et de l'isle de Gorie." the entry of foreign armies into France, and the fall of his dynasty. Translation. St- Cloud, half past four. No. 4. I received your letter, which was brought to me at Malmaison. I request that the conference do not INSTRUCTIONS BY NAPOLEON TO TALLEYRAND, go into dialogue. Show yotrself cold, lofty, even a PRINCE OF BENEVENTUMI. little haughty. Page 327. If his note contains the word ultimatum, make him sensible that that word imports wvar, since sucth'!'itis very singular memoranduml contains the in- a manner of negotiating only takes place betwixt a sl!,rctiopns given by Napoleon to Talleyrand, con- superior and an infelrior. If the note does not conc rnli;g the manner in which he wished him to tain that word, contrive to rmake him insert it, by ecc iv e Lor d \Vhitworth, then about to quit Paris, observing to hiln t hat it is necessary at length we under the immediate'prospect of the war again should know upon what *hoting we are to stand awith brleking out. I-He did not trust, it seems, to that respect to each other; that we are wealy of this accoinpllished statesman the slightest circumstance state of anxiety that they will never obtain from us of the conference; "although," as Talleyrand him- those advantages which they extorted during the self observed, as he gave to the Duke cf Wellington latter part of the reign of the Bourhons; that we are the interesting document, in Napoleon's own hand- no longer the same people who received an,En;lish writing, " if I could be trusted with anything, it Commissary at Dunkirkl; that the ultimatufz beilg nmust have been the node of receiving and nego- rejected, all treaty will be brolen off. tiatilg with an ambassador." From the style of the Alarm him upon the consequences of that rejecnote, it seems that the warnlth, or rather violence, tion. If he renlains still imtmovable, accompany which the first consul had thrown into the discussion him into your saloon.......... and at tie nmoment of at the levee, (lid not actually flow firom Napoleon's his departure, ask him incidentally, "By the way, irritated feelings, but vvas a calculated bturst of pas- the Cape and the Island of Goree, are they evasioii, designed to confound arid overwhelm the Eag- cuated?" Soften your tone a little towards the elnd lish nobleman, who proved by no means tile kind of of the conference, and invite hillm to return befor-e person to be shaken with the utmost vehemence. It writing to his court. At last, you may hint that the may be also remarked, that Napoleon, while he was unfilvourable impression he has made on me nlay desirous to try the effect of a cold, stern, and indif- possibly be dimninished by the evacuation of the ferent mode of conduct towards the English minis- Cape and the Isle of Goree. ter, was yet desirous, if that should not shake Lord * Faites. t Faites. * Illegible. ft Dites. 314 LIFE OF -NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. capable of violating his oath of fidelity, or overthrowNo. 5. ing the constitution to which he had sworn. " Make haste," he continued, " to convey my sentiments to him who sent you; tell hin they are sincere and unFURTHER PARTICULARS CONCERNING THE ARREST, sent you; tell hi TRIAL, AND DEATH OF THE DUKE D EN7GIJEN. alterable. But let him know, that for three days I will keep the secret which I have just learned, most Page 341. profoundly. During that time he must find means of placing himself in security, by repassing the fronTHIS most melancholy history appears to deserve tiers: but on the fourth morning, the secret will be farther notice than we had it in our power to bestow, mine no longer. This very morning, the term of without too long interrupting the course of our nar- three days will commence; make haste-and rerative. It has been, and must for ever remain, the member that the least imprudence on your part will most marked and indelible blot upon the character be attended with fatal consequences." of Napoleon Bonaparte. "A young prince," says It was afterwards ascertained that the deputy the autlor of a well-reasoned dissertation on this was mistaken, when he averred that the Duke d'Ensubject, "in the flower of his age, treacherously ghien was in Paris. It was pretty certain that he seized in a neutral country, where he reposed under had nevrer crossed the Rhine, and only waited the the protection of the law of nations, dragged into favourable reply of the minister at war to make the France, brought before judges, who had no preten- attempt. But in the light in which the case was sion to assume that character, accused of supposed presented to Bernadotte, his generous and firm conorimes, deprived of the assistance of a legal advocate duct does not the less honour that eminent person,,or defender, put to death by night in the ditches especially when contrasted with that of Napoleon. of a state-prison;-so many virtues misconstrued, so There might have been a strong tenptation, and many fond hopes crushed in the bud, will always even a show of right, to have seized on the unforrender that catastrophe one of the most revolting tunate prince, supposing him to be in Paris,negotiatacts which absolute power has been tempted to con- ing plans against the existing governmrat, and summate." tempting the fidelity of their principal ministers;The D1uke d'Enghien was one of the most active there could be none to kidnap him in foreign parts, and determined of the exiled princes of the house when, however it might be suspected, it could not of Bourbon, to whom the enigrants and the royalists be shown by proof, that the unfortunate duke was who remained within France were alike devotedly concerned in any of the political intrigues which attached. He was master of many of their secrets; were laid to his charge. The tottering state of public,and in July, 1799, when the affairs of the Republic affairs requiring so much vigilance and vigour on the were in a very perilous state, and the royalists part of the government, might also have been pleadwere adjusting a general rising through all the south ed in excuse of Bernadotte, had he delivered up the *of France, his name was used upon the following Duke d'Enghien to a dungeon or scaffold, while extraordinary occasion. Napoleon, on the contrary, took the unhappy prince's A former member of the representation, known as life at a moment when his own power was so firmly much by his character as a royalist, as by his worth established, as rather to incur danger than to acand probity, requested a private interview with Ge- quire safety by the indulgence of a cruel revenge.. neral Bernadotte, then minister at war. The audi- The above anecdote, not, we believe, generally ence being granted by the minister, with whom he known, may be relied upon as authentic. had some connexion, the representative entered into Napoleon, four years later, adopted towards the a long argument to prove what could not be denied Iunfortunate prince that line of severity with which -the disastrous and dangerous state of Fiance, and the world is acquainted. His broad vindication unithen proceeded thus: " The republican system being formly was stated to be, that the duke had offended no longer able to support itself, a general movement against the laws of the country, and that, to put a is about to take place for the restoration of the king, stop to conspiracies, he had, from the beginning, deand is so well organized, that it can scarce fail to be terumined to let the law take its course against him. sluccessful. The Duke d'Enghien, lieutenant-general He alleged, as we shall hereafter notice, various ot the royal army, is at Paris at this very mnoment pleas in palliation or excuse; but his chief defence while I speak to you, and I atn deputed by one of uniformly consisted in an appeal to the laws; and his miost faithlful adherents, to make known these cir- it is therefore just to the memory of Napoleon and emtnstances to General Bernadotte. The prince his victim, that we should examine whether, in a esteems you, colfides his safety to your loyalty, legal sense, the procedure against the Duke d'Enreckonrs on your assistance, and is ready to grant any ghien is vindicated in whole or in part. The laboars conditions which youl may attach to your services." of Monsieur Dupin, the learned author of a pamphlet Bernadotte replied to this unexpected comtmuinica- already quoted, has furnished us with an excellent tion, "Tlat the Duke d'Enghien should have no work on this subject. reason to repent the confidence whicb he had re- The case of the unfortunate duke must always be posed in him: but that the loyalty which the duke admitted to be a hard one. This is not denied by had ascribed to him prevented his complying with Bonaparte himself; and, on that account, it is tile the prince's wishes and request." I-e proceeded to more necessary to the vindication of those upl(n state, that his own fame and personal interest were whom his fate depended, to bring their procedure alike interested in his adherence to a govermnent within the pale of the law. We are not now tal'knlgI sprung from the will of the people; and that he was in- of reconciling the tragedy to the general rules of APPENDIX. 815.iustice, generosity, (or humanity; but, in resigning viving them in their ltmost severity against a single the arguments which these afford, we are the more individual, it was therefore doubly incumbent to entitled to expect that the procedure which we iln- show that the party arraigned fell within these I pugn should, however harsh or cruel, be at least in charges. strict conformity with the existing laws of France at By no force of construction could the Duke d'Enthe time, and such:as could be carried on and vin- ghien be brought under the influence ot these laws. dicated by day-light, and in an open court. This is He was not, properly speaking, an emigrant, nor did surely limiting our inquiry to the narrowest possible he possess the qualities of such. He was a prince ground; and we shall prosecute the subject by exa- of France,-as such declared an alien, and banished mining the process in detail. for ever from France. But, what is much more to the purpose, the Duke d'Enghien was neither fbund 1Arrl~est of tihe Duke dlfnghwien. within France, nor in the precincts of any hostile or Every arrest, to be legal, must be so in three conquered country; but brought by force firom a points of view: 1. as to the place where it is made; territory neutral to and friendly in its relations with 2. concerning the person whom it regards; 3. in re- France; and that without legal warrait, and by spect of the grounds on which it proceeds. main force. Bonaparte took credit to himself for Tl'he duke was residing in the territories of the having prevented the execution of those laws against Elector of Baden, a sovereign prince who had not emigrants who had been forced on the shore of ventured to afford him that refuige without consultitlg France by tempest, and had thereby come under the French governor on the subject, and who was the letter, though not the spirit of the law. How authorized to believe that his affording hospitality much more ought the Duke d'Enghien's case to have to the unfortunate prince would afford no cause of' been excepted, who was only within France by the rupture with his powerful neighbour. The acquies- force exercised on his person, and, instead of being, cence of the French government affords too much arrested within the territory, as the law required, reason to suppose, that the measure afterwards was arrested in a neutral country, and brought into adopted had been for some time premeditated; and France against his will? The arrest was therefore, that there was a secret design of detaining the victim so far as respected the person on whom it was used, within reach of the blow which they had already re- an act of illegal violence; and not less so considersolved to strike, when they should see convenient. ing the grounds on which it proceeded, since there Whether this was the case or no, the Duke d'En- was no charge founded on any existing law. ghien was residing under protection of the law of nations, which proclaims the inviolability of the ter-Inconpetency of the court. ritor-ies of one state by the soldiers of another, unless A military commission was assembled at Paris, in case of war openly declared. It would be wast- to take nnder trial the Duke d'Enghien, accused of ing arguments to show that the irruption of the having borne arms against the Republic-of having French troops into tile territory of Baden, and the been, and of still being, in the pay of England-and, seizure of the prince and his retinue, were directly lastly, of having taken part in the conspiracies contrary to public law, and could only be compared against the safety of the Republic, both external and to an incursion of Algerines or robbers. Thus the internal. place of arrest was highly and evidently illegal. Mons. Dupin, by the most decisive arguments and The charge onl which the arrest was granted did authorities, shows, that although the military comnot improve its legality. The only laws which could mission might possibly be competent judges in the be referred to as applicable to the occasion, are case of bearing arms against France, or receiving those of 28th March, 1793, and of 25 Brumaire, an pay from England, yet the trial of a crimninal accused III. tit. 5, sect. i. art. 7. By these, it is provided of political conspiracy was totally beyond the power that emigranzts, who have carried arms against of a court-martial, and could only be taken cogniFrance, shall be arrested, whether in France, or in zance of by the regular tribunals. He quotes deciany hostile or conzquered country, and judged sions of the minister of justice upon this point of within twenty-four heours, by a commission of five jurisprudence, and concludes by applying to thle members, to be named by the chief of the 6tat-major I military commission the well-known brocard of law, of the division of the army quartered in the district Nullus major defectus, quam potestalis. where they are founud. A third law extended this order to all emigrants of every description, arrestedarities in. within the territory of the Republic; but provided that the court should consist of seven persons, in- 1. The procedure took place at the dead of iight, stead of five, to be natned by the general conlmand- contrary to the laws of France and every civilized ing the division in which tile arrest was made. country. The worn-out arid exhausted crininal was These ferocious laws had in practice been so far roused at midnight from the first sleep lie had been modified, that it was laid down in the law books, permitted to enjoy for three nights, and called in to that although, speaking strictly, they continued to place himself on defence for his life, whilst, throughl exist, yet " the government always limited to depor- fatigue of body and mind, he could scarcely keep tation the sentence of such emigrants as were ar- himself awake. rested within the French territory."+ Before re- He answered to their interrogatories in a manly and simple manner; and, by the French order of' proYonTveau Rgpertoire de Jurisprudence, under the head cess, his answers ought to have been read over to euvmunssaio- him, and he should have been called upon fbr h;is re4 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ __ 816 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. marks upon the exactitude with which they had been which were irrelevant, and upon a third which wss taken down; but nothing of this kind was proposed incompetent. to thle Dulke d'Enghien. The mock trial, wllen brought on, was a mere re2. The French law enjoins, that after closing the petition of the interrogatory which the duke lad interrogatory, the reporter should require of the ac- been previously subjected to. We are now to give cased person to make choice of a friend for the iur- an abstract of both interrogatories, only prernisillg pose of' conducting his defence. The accused, it that within their limits must be found thle whole further declares, shall have the selection amongst all head and front of the ofiences charged. The guilt the persons priesent, and failing his making such a of the accused miust either be proved fron thence, choice, the reporter shall select a defender to act on or his innocence must be acknowledged; the sole his behalf. No such choice was allowed to the Duke evidence produced or attempted to be brought ford'Enghien; and, indeed, it would have been to ward on the trial being the answers of the duke. little purpose; nor was any legal assistant assigned Upon the first examination, the following admisto him in terms of the law. The law presumes an sions were made by tile accused. The duke avowopen court at a legal hour, and held in broad day- ed his name, birth, and quality; his exile irom light. It would have been but an additional insult France,'and the campaigns which he had niade with to have required the duke to select a friend or a de- the emigrant army under his grandfather, the Prince fender among the gendarmes, who alone were by- of Conde. He stated tile various countries which lihe standers in the Castle of Vincennes, or at the hour of had inhabited since the armny of Cond was disbandmidnight. Contrary, therefore, to the privilege of ed, and that he had resided at Ettenheimni for two accused persons by the existing law of France, the years and a half, by permission of the elector. Inaccused had no benefit either of legal defence or terrogated if he had ever been in England, or if that friendly assistance. government made him any allowance; he answered he had never been in that country, but that England. Defects of the sentence. did allow him an aniuity, which was his only means The trial itself, though it deserves not the name, of support. Interrogated, what were his reasons for took place on tile day after the interrogatory, or residing at Ettenheim; he answered that he had more properly on the night of that day, beinlg what thoughts of settling at Fribourg in fhe Brisgau, as a was then called the 30th Ventose;-like the pre- pleasanter place of residence, and had only remainvious interrogation, at the hour of midnight. The ed at Ettenheim on account of the elector's indulging whole Castle ofVincennes was filled with gendarmes, him with full liberty of hunting, to which amusement and Savary was in the actual command. He has he was very partial. Interrogated, if he kept up publish-ed that he was led there by curiosity, though any correspondence withi the French princes of his the hour was midnight, and the place so strictly family who were at London, and if hlie had seen them guarded against ev ury person, saving those who were lately, he replied, that he naturally kept tip a corto be officially concerned, that even one of the offi- respondence with his granditlltler ever since he had cers, who had been summoned, had considerable left him at Vienna, after the disbanding of his arny; difficulty iil procuring admission. We shall presently but hadl not seen him since that period; —that he also see if his presence and coiiduct indicated the part of corresponded with his fathller (Duke of Bourbon), a mere by-stander; for the vindication which lie but had not seen him since 1794 or 1795. Interwas plleased to publish, drew forth that of General rogated, what rank lie occupilied in thile arnly of Hulin, president of the military commission, who Condd; lie answered, commandant of tle van-guard, has informed us of several important circumstances and that when the arliiy wsas received into Plrussia, which had escaped the memory of the Duke of Ro- and divided into two corps, he was Ilnde colonel Aof vigo, but which bear, nevertheless, very muchion one of thenl. These adriissions might bhae been the point at issue. deduced or presumed froni tile simpnle tfict, thllt thle The court being conistituted duly, the warrant was individual before themn was til e Lke'Euglliell read, -vwhich contained the charge against tile pri- whose history and Mlilitary seN ices were sutiiciently soner, It accused him, 1. Of having fought against known. France; 2. Of being in the pay of Enlgland; 3. Of The subsequent part of the examination consisted plottin.g vith tile latter power against the internal in an atterlmpt to implicate the acculsed in the co,nand external safety of the Republic. Of the two spiracy of Georges, Pichegru, and Moreai Tll. e first counmts, as they milay be termled, of the indict- reader %will see how far his answers imake the chuar e ment, we have already shown that they could not good. be rendered cogunzable under anly law theu existing Interrogated, if he knew General Pichegru, and if in France, unless qualified by tile additional circum- lie had aily connexion or intercourse with hiil- stance, that the emigrant accused had been found Replied, " I do not know him; I have never, I either within France, or int a country hostile to, or believe, seen him; I have had no counersation with which had been subdued by France, which could him; I am glad I have not been acquainted withl, not be stated to be the case of the Duke d'Enghien. him, if the story told be true, respecting the 1vile Respecting file third count, the military commission means which he plroposed making use of:" were not legally conmpetent to try it; tile courts or- Interrogated, if he knew General Dumourier, dinary of France alone had the alleged crime within or had any connexion with him;-Answered, " that their julrisdiction. Nevertheless, in mockery of the he knew him no more than the other-he had never. form, as well as t(ie essence of law, the court pro- seen him." ceeded upon the trial upon two points ofaccusation, Interrogated, if, after the peace, he had not kept L-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ APPEND IX. 17 tip a correspondence in the interior of the Republic; councillor of state, Real, where the affair, with all -Replied, " I have written to some friends that are its ramifications, was rendered so interesting, that still attached to me, who had fought along with me, it seemed the safety of the state, and the existence both on their affairs and my own. These corres- of the government, depended on the judgment pondences were not of' the character which I con- which should he returned. Such a report could ceive to be alluded to." only argue the thirst of' the government for the poor The report further hears, that when the proces- young man's blood, and exhibits that open tamperverbal was closed, he expressed himself thus: " Be- ing with the court, which they were not ashamed to fore signing the procs-verbal, I make with urgency have recourse to, but certainly could not constitute the request, to have a private audience of the first evidence in the case. consul. My name, my rank, my manner of thinking, But both Savary and Hulin are disposed to rest and the horror of my situation, make me hope he the reason of the condemnation upon the frank and will not refuse mny desire." noble avowal of the prisoner, which, in their opiIn the second interrogatory, in presence of the nion, made it imperative on the court to condemn military commission, the duke adhered to what he him. Hle unifolmly maintained, that " he had only had said in his preceding examination, with the sole sustained the right of his family, and that a Conde additional circumstance, that he was ready to re- could never enter France save with arms in his new the war, and to take service in the approaching hands. My birth,' he said,' my opinions, must hostilities betwixt England and France. ever render me inflexible on this point.' The firmThe commission, as appears from record of their ness of his answers reduced the judges," continues proceedings, received no other evidence of any Hulin, " to despair. Ten times we gave him an kind whatever, whether written or oral, and under- opening to retract his declarations, but he still pertook the task which they knew was expected fiom sisted in them immoveably.' I see,' he saidl,' the them, of extracting reasons for awarding a capital honourable intention of the members of the compunishment out of a confession from which nothing mission, but I cannot resort to the means of safety could be drawn by any ordinary process of rea- which they indicate.'" And being acquainted that soning, save that the accused person had been in the military commissioners judged without appeal; arms against France, and was willing to' be so " I know it," he replied, " and I do not disguise again,-but in open warfare, and. in the hope of re- from myself the danger which I incur. My only covering what he considered as the rights of his request is to have an interview with the first confamily: a case which could not be brought under sul." It is sufficiently plain that the gallant bearing the penalty of death, except under the laws of 28th of the prince, so honourable to himself, brought Ma'ch, 1793, and of 25 Brumaire, an III.; where him under no law by which he was not previously the capital punishment is limited, as we have re- affected. But it did much worse for him in a pracpeatedly said, to emigrants taken within the limits tical sense: it avowed him the open enemy of Boof France, or of countries hostile to her, or sub- naparte, and placed each judge under the influence jected by her arms. The avowal that the duke had of such reasoning as encouraged Sir Piers Exton a pension from England did niot infer that he was in to the murder of a deposed prince at the hint of a her military pay; nor, indeed, did he in fact hold usurper.* that allowance on any other conditions than as an The doom of the prisoner had been fixed from alimientary provision allowed by the generous com- the moment he crossed the draw-bridge of that passion of the British nation. Neither could lie be gloomy state pl)isoni. But it required no small defound guilty upon his candid avowal that he was gree of dexterity to accommodate the evidence to willing, or even desirous, to enter into the English the law, so as to make out an ostensible case of service; fobr, supposing the actually doing so were guilt which should not carry absurdity and contraa crime, the mere intention to do so could not be diction on its very front. This was the more difconstrued into one, since men are in this world re- ficult, as it is an express legal form in French slponsible only for their actions, not for their courts-martial, that it shall express upon its record thoughts, or the unexecuted purposes of their mind, the exact fact for which death is to be inflicted, No other evidence was adduced excepting the re- and thie precise article of the law under which the port of an otlicer of police, or state spy, sent to sentence is awarded. The military commission had watch the Duke d'Enghien's moverents, who de- much more trouble in placing the record upon a clared trhat the Duke d'Enghien received many plausible footing, than they found in going through emnigrants at his table, andr that he was i'equemntly the brief forms of such a trial as they were pleased absent for several days without his (the spy's) be- to afford the accused. They experienced the truth ing able to discover where he went; but which of the observation, that it is much more easy to suspicious facts were sufficiently explained, by his commit a crime than to justify it. having the means of giving somne assistance to his distressed companions, and his loung hunting-parties the Black Forest, in whiche as wont to pass Didst thou not mark the king, what words he spokein the Black Forest, in which he was wont to pass many days at a time. A report from Shee, the HaveInofriendwili lmeofthisfearHave I no friend? quoth he-lhe spoke it twice,. Prefect of tthe Lower RShine, was also read; but And speaking it, looked wistfully on me, neither Savary nor Huhin mention its import, nor As who should say, I would thou wert the man how it was converted into evidence, or bore upon That would divorce this terror from my breamstthe question of the Duke d'Enghien's guilt or inno- Meaning the king at Pomfret -.Let us go; cence. Hulin also mentions a long report from the I am the king's friend, and will rid his foe. L VOL. vy. 103 $18 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Verdict. There is no mention of this charge in the accusation-there is no mention of it in the evidence. The first difficulty which occurred, was to apply 6. Unanimously guilty of being one of the favourers the verdict to the indictment, to which it ought to be and accomplices of the conspiracy carried on by the the precise answer, since it would be monstrous to English against the life of the first consul; and infind a man guilty of a crime different from that of tending, in the event of such conspiracy, to enter which he stood accused; as for example, to find a France. —There is no mention of this charge in man guilty of theft, when he had been charged with the act of accusation or i ndictment. The evimurder, or vice versa. The judges of this military dence on the subject goes distinctly to disprove commission had, at the same time, the additional the charge. The Duke d'Enghien said he did not difficulty of reconciling the verdict with the evidence know Pichegru, and had no connexion with him; which had been adduced, as well as with the accu- and added, that he rejoiced at the circumstance, sations laid. If the reader will take the trouble to if it was true that the general aimed at success peruse the following copy of the record, with our by means so horrible. observations, which we have marked by Italics, The result of the whole is, that this most liberal they will see how far the Military Court of Vin- commission, in answer to the three charges, brought cennes had been able to reconcile their verdict with in a verdict upon six points of indictment; and that, the act of accusation, and with the sentence. on applying the evidence to the verdict, not one of The verdict bears: The voices being collected the returns is found supported by evidence, the first on each of the underwritten questions, beginning excepted; of the other five, of which three at least with th'e younger, and ending with the president; are gratuitously introduced into the charge, four are the court declares Louis Antoine de Bourbon, Duke altogether unsupported by the evidence, and the d'Enghien, — sixth is not only unsupported, but disproved, being 1. Unanimously guilty of having borne arms against in direct contradiction to the only testimony laid the French Republic.-This is in conformity with before the commissioners. the act of accusation, and the evidence; therefore, so far regular. 2. Unanimously guilty of having offered his ser- Having drawn up their verdict, or answer to the vices to the English government, the enemy of the act of accusation, with so little regard either to the French Republic.-This is not in conformity to essence or forms of justice, this unconscientionu the charge. The duke only said he wuas willing to court proceeded to the sentence, which, according join the English in the new war, not that his ser- to the regular form, ought to bear an express refervices had been either offered or accepted. The ence to the law by which it was authorized. But to former was a matter of intention, the latter discover such a law, must be inevitably a work of would have been a point offact. some difficulty; and in the meantime, the devoted 3. Unanimously guilty of having received and victim still lived. The record of the court-martial accredited agents of the said English government, bore the date, two in the morning; * so that twco of having procured the means of intelligence in hours had already elapsed upon the trial and subseFrance, and of having conspired with them against quent proceedings, and it was destined the stlla the internal and external safety of the Republic.- should not rise on the devoted head of the young The facts alluded to in this clause of the verdict Bourbon. It was, therefore, necessary that lie should may be considered as coantainedby implication in be immediately found guilty and execated, as all the general charge in the accusation, that the that was considered the direct object for which the du]ke plotted with.England. But certainly they court was convened. It ld be tinie enogll to are not thei e stated in thie precise and articulate consider after lie was no morie, under what law he manner in awhich a charge which a man must had suffered, and to fill up the blanks in the sentence answer with his life ought to be brought against accordingly. One would have thought such a trahim. As to evidence, there is not, in the examin- gedy could never have taken place in a civilized age ation of the duke, the slightest word to justify and country, seven French officers, claiming to be the finding him guilty of such an qffience. Not a esteemed nmen of honour by profession, being the question was put, or an answer received, respect- slavish agents. It nmust, one vwould say, have ocing the plots with England, or the duke's acces- curued at Tripoli or Fez, or rather among the Galla sion to and encouragement of them. and Shangalla, the Agows, or the Lasta of Abys4. Unanimously guilty of having placed himself sinia. But here is the sentence to speak for itself:at the head of a large collection of French emigrants, "The prisoner having withdrawn, the court being and others, formed in the frontiers of France, in the cleared, deliberating with closed doors, the' precounty of Fribourg and Baden. paid by England.- sident collected the votes of the members;. beginThere is not a word of such a charge in the ac- ning with the junior, and voting himself the last, the cusation or indictment, nor weas the slightest prisoner was unaninlously found Guilty; and in purevidence of its existence brought forward before suance of the blank article of the law of the court, or inquired into upon the duke's exami- - -blank —to the following effect —[two nation. or three lines left blank for inserting the law which 5. Unanimously guilty of having had communica- * A sense of shame caused these words to be erased, but tions with the town of Strasburg, tending to excite the operation has left them still legible. The attempt at insurrection in the neighbouring departments, for concealment shows the sense of guilt, without hiding the the purpose of a diversion in favour of England.- crime. APPENDIX. 819 should be found applicable] condemned to To return to the new draught of this sentence. It sutier the punishment of death. Ordered that the agrees with the original draught, in so far as it finds judye-advocate should see the present sentence tile duke guilty of six criminal acts upon a charge executed IMMEDIATELY." which only accused him of three. But there is a Most laws allow at least a few days of interven- wide distinction in other respects. The new draught, tion betwixt sentence and execution. Such an in- though designed to rest (according to Hulin's account) terval is due to religion and to humanity; but in upon the report of the privy-councillor Real, and lFrance it was also allowed for the purpose of ap- the answers of the prince, takes no notice of either. ipeal. The laws 25 Brumaire, an VT., and 27 It does make an attempt, however, to fill up the Ventose, an VIII., permitted appeals from the blanks of the first copy, by combining the sentence judgments of courts-martial. The decree of the with the existing laws; but how far applicable to 17 Messidor, an XII., permitting no appeal from the case under consideration, the reader shall he military sentences, was not then in existence; but enabled to judge. if it had, even that severe and despotic enactment Article I. 1st Brumaire, an V. Every individual, allowed prisoners sonle brief space of time betwixt of whatever rank, quality, or profession, convicted this world and the next, and did not send a human of being a spy for the enemy, shall he purished with being to execution until the tumult of spirits, inci- death.-The Duke d'Enghien had neither been dental to a trial for life and death, had subsided, and accused nor convicted of being a spy Jbr the his heart had ceased to throb betwixt hope and fear. enemy. Twenty-four hours were permitted betwixt the court Article II. Every plot against the Republic shall of justice and the scaffold,-a small space in ordi- be punished with death.-There was no evidence nary life, but an age when the foot is on the brink of that the drlke swas engaged in any plot; he posithe grave. But the Duke d'Enghien was ordered tively denied it on his examination. for instant execution. Article III. All conspiracies or plots tending Besides the blanks in the sentence of this court, to disturb the state, by a civil war-to arm tile cias originally drawn up, which made it a mockery of tizens against each other, or againstlawfiul authority, all judicial form, there lay this fatal error to the sen- shall be punished with death.-Here the same fence, that it was not signed by the greffier, or clerk want of evidence applies. of court. Upon the whole, it appears that the law couhtl We do the judges the credit to believe that they neither be so moulded as to apply to the evidence, felt for the accused, and for themselves; saw with nor the evidence so twisted as to come under the pity the doom inflicted, and experienced shame and law,-the judges were obliged to suppress the one horror at becoming his murderers. A final attempt or the other, or to send their sentence bforth with a was made by General Hulin to induce the court to manifest contradiction on the face of it. transfer to Bonaparte the request of the prisoner. But this second draught of the sentence was so He was checked by Savary, " It will be inoppor- far conforming to the law, that it was signed by the tune," said that officer, who, leaning on the back of greffier or clerk of court, which was not the case the president's chair, seems to have watched and with tile former. It was also more indulgent towards controled the decisions of the court. The hint was the accused; fbr tihe order for immediate execution understood, and nothing more was said. was omitted, and its place supplied by the followWe have given one copy of the sentence of the ing details. courtl-martial. It was not the only one. "Many "Itis enjoined to the capitaine rapportetr instantly dratights of this sentence were tried," says Hulin, to read the present judgment to the condemned peramnong the rest, the one in question; but after we son in presence of the guard assembled under arms. hadr signed it, we doubted (and with good reason) "Ordered that the president and the reporter use whether it were regular, and, therefore, caused the their diligence according to the legal forms, in disclerk make out a new draught, grounded chiefly on patching copies of this procedure to the miinister at a report of the privy-councillor Real, and the an- war, the grand judge, minister of justice, and to the swers of the prince. This second draught was the general in chief;, governor of Paris." true one, and ought alone to have been preserved." By the interposition of these legal forms, the con;This second draught has been preserved, and af- missionersunqumestionably desired to gain some time, fiords a curious specimen of the cobbling and trump- to make interest with Bonaparte that he Mnight not ing up which the procedure underwent, in hopes carry his cruel purpose into execution. This has it rtight be rendered fit for public inspection. Not- been explained by the president of the court-martial, withstanding what the president says was intended, General Hulin himself, who, blindl, aged, and retired the new'draught contains no re erence to the report from the world, found himself obliged, on the apof Shee, or the arguments of R6al, neither of which pearance of Savary's vindication of his share'in the could be brought into evidence against the duke. murder of the Duke d'Enghien, to come forward, The only evidence against him, was his owning the not to vindicate his conduct, but, while expressing character of a prince of the blood, an enemy by his remorse for the share he really had in the trabirth, and upon principle, to the present government gedy, to transfer the principal charge to the superior of France. His sole actual crime, as is allowed by officer, who was present during the whole trial, to Monsieur Savary himself, consisted in his being the overawe, it would seemu, and to control the court. Duke d'Enghien; the sole proofwas his own avowal, His account is in these words:without which it was pretended the commissioners 6Scarcely was it (the sentence) signed, when I would not leave found him guilty. began a letter to Napoleon, in which I conveyed to 820 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. him, in obedience to the unanimous wish of the to him, and who had not been taken engaged in any court, the desire expressed by the prince of an in- active proceedings against him. The descendant of terview with the first consul; and farther, to con- the great Cond6 was condemned to a bloody death pjre the first consul to remit the punishment, which by a court, the judges of which were themselves the severity of our situation did not permit us to prisoners, at the hour when thieves and murderers elude. It was at this moment that a man interfered deal with their victims, upon an unproved accusa(Savary), who had persisted in remaining in the tion tried by incompetent judges. court-room, and whom I should name without hesi- The research of the lawyer must go beyond the tation, if I did not recollect that, even in attempting prince's nameless and bloody tomb to inquire into a defence for myself, it does not become me to ac- the warrant by which he was consigned to it. sWas cuse another.-' What are you doing there?' said it by virtue of the first or of the secon(l draught ot this person, coming up to me.' I am,' I replied, that sentence, which the military erudition folitnd soi'writing to the first consul, to convey to him the much difficulty in cobbling up into the folrm of a wish of the prisoner, and the recommendation of legal sentence? We suppose it must have been the court.''You have done your business,' said in virtue of the first draught, because that conm he, taking the pen out of my hand,'and what fol- mands instant execution. If this conjecture is allows is mine.' I confess that I thought at the mo- lowed, the Duke d'Enghien was executed in viltue ment, and so did several of my colleagues, that he of a document totally deficient in solemnity, since meant to say, that the conveying of these sentiments that first remains blank in its nmost essential pl)ats, to the first consul was his business. His answer, and is not signed by the greffier or clerk of courtthus understood, left us still the hope that the re- a formality expressly enjoined by law. commendation would reach the first consul. I only If, again, we suppose, that the seconcl, not the i recollect, that I even at the moment felt a kind of Jirst copy of the sentence, was the warrant nmde vexation at seeing thus taken out of my hands, tIhe use of, the proceeding to execution will be found only agreeable circumstance of the painful situation not less illegal. For that second draught, though it in which I was placed. Indeed, how could we ima- exhibits lno blanks, and is signed by the greflier, and gine, that a personhad been placed about us with is so far more formal than the first, gives no anthoan order to violate all the provisions of the law? rity for instant execution of the sentence. On the I was in the hall, outside the council-room, con- contrary, it enjoins the usual legal delays, until the versing about what had just occurred. Several copies should be made out and sent to the various knots of persons had got into private conversation. officers of state mentioned in the warrant itseif| I was waiting for my carriage, which not being per- The effect of this delay might hare probably been mitted (any more than those of the other members) the saving of the unfortunate prince's life *; for ift to come into the inner court of the castle, delayed Paris had not heard of his death at the samie tionme my departure and theirs. We were ourselves shut with his arrestment, it is not likely that Bonaparlte in, and could not communicate with those without, would have braved public opinion, by ventulring on when an explosion took place-a terrible sound, concluding his nocturnal tragedy by a day-light catawhich struck ns to the hearts, and froze them with strophe. But, laying that consideration aside, it is terror and fright. Yes, I swear, in the name of enough for a lawyer to pronounce, that such semnmyself and my colleagues, that this execution was tence, executed in a manner disconforming fi onl its not authorized by us; our sentence directed that warrant, is neither more nor less than A MURDER; copies of the sentence should be sent to the minister for as such are construed in the laws of every civiof war, the grand judge, and the general, governor lized country, those cases in which the prompt will of Paris. The latter alone could, according to law, of the executioner anticipates the warrant of tihe direct the execution; the copies were not yet made; judge. they would occupy a considerable portionl of the day. On my return to Paris, I should have waited Generalview of the procedure. on the governor-on the first consul; who knows what might have happened?-but all of a sudden, Lookingoverthis whole procedure, with the eyes of this terrific explosion informed us that the prince one accustomed tojuridical reasoning, it is inlpossible was no more. We know tiot whether he (Savary) to resist the convic;tion, that a train of nmore gross who thus hurried on this dreadful execution had inconsistencies, lractised with a more bareficed orders for doing so. If he had not, he alone is re- audacity, or for a worse purpose, does not stain and sponsible; if he had, the court, which knew nothing disgrace the page of history. The arrest was against of these orders, which itself was kept in confine- the law of nations; the constitution of the colrt was ment —the court, whose last resolution was in favour against the military law; the mode of conducting of the prince, could neither foresee nor prevent the the trial was against the law of France; the sentence catastrophe." was contrary to the forms of every civilized nation; the execution was a contravention of the laws of God and man. It would be absurd to term tile The gallant young prince, therefore, was cut off slaughter of the Duke d'Enghien a murder cornin the flower of his age, and, so far as we can see, on mitted by the sword of justice, unless we understanld no evidence whatever, excepting that he was a son Hogarth's parody of that allegorical figure, with of tile house of Bourbon, the enemy, by his birth, one eye open, one scale depressed with a bribe, and of the temporary governor of France, but his pub- a butcher's knife in her hand instead of the evenlic and declared enemy, who had never owed duty swayed sword. A PPENDIX. 821 Having enldeavoured to trace this bloody and should have assumed an air of contumacy and decruel proceeding in a legal point of view, we must, fiance towards the judges who were to report his before leaving the subject, consider what apologies conduct on his trial to the first consul. The existhave been set up against the black charge which ence of the letter, and the fact of its being interarises out of the details. cepted by Talleyrand, is, therefore, disproved as The first of these screens would have been doubly far as it can be, both by the character of' the alleged convenient, providing it could have been rendered writer, and of the minister for foreign affairs. plausible. It amounted to the transference of the But, farther, it is disproved not only by reasonmore active part of the guilt from Napoleon himself ing a priori, but directly and from the state of to Talleyrand, whom it would have been delicious facts, as far as negative evidence possibly can go. revenge to have overwhelmed with the odium of a The whole proceedings against the Duke d'Encrime which must have made an impassable gulf ghien took place under the councillor of state, between the ex-imlnerial minister and the restored R6al, and were managed entirely by the police; royal family. Napoleon therefore repeatedly hinted those safe, silent agents, cwho acted by immediate and expressed, that the measure of the Duke directions from the supreme head of the governd'Enghien's death had been thrust upon him by the ment, like the mutes of the seraglio, and were not advice of Talleyrand, and that without giving the liable to the control of any subordinate minister. matter due consideration, he had adopted the course Talleyrand never interfered, nor indeed had an recommended to himn. It was afterwards still more opportunity of interfering in it. broadly averred, that Talleyrand had intercepted a It was an officer of the police who was sent to letter written bry the prince from Strasburg, begging inquire into the state of things at Ettenheim; and his life, and ofering in grateful return to serve Na- his report was made, not to Talleyrand, not even poleon in his armies. This boon Napoleon intimates to his proper chief, RMal,-but to Bonaparte himhe might have granted if Talleyrand had delivered self. This is proved by Savary's own narrative, the letter; but by intercepting it, that statesman who says expressly, that " the first inspector of the became the actual murderer of the unfortunate gendarmerie received the report from the officer, prince. and carried it himself to the first consul, instead of There are two modes of considering every allega- giving it to M. Real." The troops employed in the tion, that is, according to the presumptive, or the act of seizing the Duke d'Enghien were also genpositive and direct evidence brought in support of darmes, that is policemen; and had a letter been it. If we look at the former, we cannot discern written by their prisoner at Strasburg, or anywhere the shadow of a motive why Talleyrand, however else, it would certainly have gone, like the report unprincipled we may suppose him, should have led above-mentioned, to tilhe first consul, and not to his master into the commission of a great and odious Talleyrand to the foreign department. 22ly, Ther&i crime, of which he was likely to have the whole is a sad but minute memorial of his imprisonment, unpopularity thrown upon himself, so soon as it kept by the duke as a sort of diary. In this record should be found too heavy for his principal. Tal- is no mention of his having written such a letter. leyrand was a politician; but so far as we have 3dly, As the Baron de St Jacques, secretary to the ever heard, possessed of no blood-thirsty disposi- unfortunate prince, was with his master constantly tion, and, being himself descended from a noble fa- until the duke was taken fiom Strasburg, lie was in mily, was unlikely, to say the least, to urge the a situation to offer a formal testimony against the catastrophe of a young prince, against whom, or his very allegation of such a letter having been written, family, he is never believed to have had any es- since he must have become acquainted with it, if it pecial enmity. On the other hand, if we suppose had any real existence. 4t/dy, The gendarmes who him guided to the step by foolish and misguided collected the duke's few papers, and made an inzeal for Bonaparte's own interest, we traduce Tal- ventory of them, would not have failed to secure leyrand's mental capacity as much in the one case, such a document, if, as we said before, there had as we should do his natural disposition in the-other. f been such a document to secure. Nomnan knew better than the Prince of' Beneventum, For all these reasons, the story of the suppressed that power is, in enlightened nations, dependent on letter must be considered, firom beginning to end, public opinion, and that the blood of an innocent as an absolute fiction, invented to absolve Naand high-spirited enemy might indeed stain his poleon of what he felt was generally considered master's throne, but could not cement its basis.- as a great crime, and to transfer the odium to TalAgain, if we regard the spirit displayed by the leyrand, whose active offices in behalf of the royal Duke d'Enghien upon his Inock trial, when he de- i family his former master could neither forget nor clared he would not recal his avowed enmity to the forgive. French, in conforumity to the hints thrown out by Buat the story of the letter was not the only one the court-martial, how is it possible that the same to which Napoleon had recourse to qualify the pubindividual can be supposed capable of having, two lic indignation, which was so generally directed days before, crouched to Bonaparte for his life; or against him as the author of this unhappy deed. how are we to reconcile his having offered to accept In the examination of the persons who were arservice under the first consul, with his declaration rested on account of accession to the conspiracy that it did not become a Cond6 to enter France of Pichegru an(d Georges, it appeared, according to save with arms in his hands? WVe must suppose a very apocryphal statement by Napoleon, that a him a madman, if, having endeavoared to creep to person occasionally appeared among the conspirators, Bonaparte's favour by the means of submission, he of noble mien and distinguished manners, to whom 822 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. the principal conspirators showed such symptoms of gnac and de Riviere, who, it is pretende.l, remained homage and deference as are paid only to princes. uncovered in his presence? Lastly, On the volu"' He appeared," says Savary, "36 years of age, his minous trial of Georges, which was pulblished in the hair was lair, his forehead open, of a middle stature Mlkoniteur, though several of his band were brought and size When he entered the apartment, all pre- to bear witness against him, there was no evidence sent, eve Messrs de Polignac and de Riviere, rose whatever of royal honours being rendered either to and remained standing in his presence." The police him or any one else. So that the vahole legend considered who this mysterious personage could be, seems to have been invented, ex postjaiect, as a and agreed it must be the Duke d'Enghien. To screen, and a very frail one, behind which Napoleon tihe impression this supposed discovery made on the might shelter himself. It is evident, indeed, even nind of the first consul, was to be imputed, accord- by his own most improbable account, tliat if' the ing to his own account and General Savary's, the Duke d'Enghien died in consequence of a blunder, mission of the police officer to Strasburg, as already it was one which a morniet's consideration must mentioned.'Phe report of the spy concerning the have led every one to doubt, and whlich a moment's fiequent absences of the Duke d'Enghien from Et- inquiry would have explained, and that Napoleon's tenheim, was held sufficient to identify hinm with the credulity can only be imputed to his determuinat'on mysterious stranger at Paris-the resolution to kid- to be deceived. How Talleyrand could have co;onap him was formed and executed; and although no tributed to it, is not intiqmated; bhlt General Savary circumstances occurred to show that he had been in informs us that the consul exclaiined-" All! wretchParis, or to identify him with the incognito above ed Talleyrand, what hast thou nmade me do!" This alluded to, and although they were not even at the apostrophe, if made at all, must halve been intended trouble of confronting the duke with the persons to support a future charge against his minister; for who described that individual, to see if they could as to being led by the nose by Talleyrand, in a maItrecognize them to be one and the same; yet he was ter where his own passions were so deeply interestput to death, we are called upon to believe, upon ed, it is totally inconsistent with all that is recorded the conviction that he was the visitor and friend of of Napoleon, as well as with the character, and even Georges Cadoudal and the person in whose presence the private interest, of his linister. all the world testified such profound respect. Hardly, After this tedious dissertation, the reader may however, had the duke been huddled into his bloody perhaps desire to know the real cause of the extr;agrave than we are told it was discovered that the ordinary outrage. Napoleon's interest seenmed ro vay, mysterious personage so often alluded to, was no or very slightly concerned, as the sufferer was, of other than Pichegru; and the blame of keeping up all the Bourbon family, the farthest removed fiom the mistake in the first consul's mind is imputed to the succession to the throne. Thie odium which the Talleyrand, who is destined to be the scapegoat in deed was to occasion, without any corresponding every version of the story which comes from Napo- advantage, was, it might have seemed, to the politic leon or his favourers. and calculating spirit which Napoleon usually evincWe submit that no author of a novel or romance, ed, a sufficient reason for averting an unnecessary when compelled, at the conclusion of his tale, to as- outrage; nor was his temper by any means of' that sign a reason for the various incidents which he has ferocious quality which takes delight in causing placed before the reader, ever pressed into his ser- misery, or in shedding blood. vice a string of such improbable and inconsistent cir- All these things admitted, we must remind our cumstances. Was it credible that a prince of the readers, that, as Napoleon was calmn and moderate blood, supposing him to have ventured to Paris by policy, he was also by temperament fierce and during tie consulate, and mingled with a band of ardent, and had in his blood a strain of the wild and conspirators, would have insisted upon, or would revengeful disposition, for whiclh his native Corsica have permitted, the honours of his rank, and thus has been fanlous since the days of the ancients. have betrayed his character to those who did not The temptation was strong on the present occasion. profess to know more.of hinm than from that circum- He felt himself exposed to the danger of assassinastance only? The very mention of a line of conduct tion, to which his nerves seem to have been peculiso improbable, ought to have made the legend sus- arly sensible; hlie knew that the blow would be aimed pected at tile very outset. Secondly, How could a by the partisans of the royal family; and lie suspectmistake possibly occur betwixt the person of the ed that they were encouraged by the exiled princes. Duke d'Enghllien and that of General Pichegru? In such a case, what is tile principle of the savage The former was fthir, with light-coloured hair; the state, or that which approachecs next to it? A North latter was dark, with a high coloured complexion, American Indian injured by one white trader who and dark hair. Tile duke was slight and elegant in escapes his vengeance, retaliates on the first Eurohis forl; Pichegru was stout-made, robust, and ath- pean who falls within his power. A Scotch Highletic. The prince was but just turned of thirty; Pi- lander, wronged by an individual of another clan, chegru was forty years of age and upwards. There took vengeance on the first of the sept whom he was scarcely a point of similarity between them. happened to meet. The Corsicans are not less Thirdly, Elow was it possible for those circumstances ruthless and indiscriminate in their feuds, which go to have occurred which occasioned the pretended from fhther to son, and affect the whole family withmistake? Under what imaginable character was out the resentment being confined to the particular Pichegru to have commanded the respects paid to a persons who have done thIe wrong. Upon this prinprince of the blood, and that not only from the ciple the first consul seems to have acted, when, Chounan Georges, but from the Messieurs de Poli- conceiving his life aimed at by the friends of the APPENDIX. 823 Bourbons, he sprung like a tiger at the only one of de Lagerbjelke, the Swedish minister at Paris, "that the family who was within his reach and his power. they had sacrificed an inno-,ent person." The law of nations and those of society were alike The emperor had expressed himself in the most forgotten in the thirst of revenge; and, to gratify an friendly manner to King Charles XTIII., as well as immediate feeling of vengeance, he stained his his- to the Prince of Ponte-Corvo, consenting that the tory with a crime of which no time can wash away prince should accept the succession to the throne of the infamy. Sweden. The act of election had been published The tendency to violence, arising out of a fierce in the Monitecr, and ten days had elapsed without and semi-barbaric resentment arnd love of revenge, the emperor's having said anything about the Prince might perhaps have slhown itself' in more instances Royal's departure. iHaing finished the preparations than actually occurred, had it not been for Napo- for his journey, and seeing that tile emperor still leon's policy, and his respect for public opinion, remained silent on the subject, the prince:determined which would not have borne many such acts of vin- to apply to him ft;r letters-patent, emancipating him dictive cruelty. But though lie was able in general (the prince) fromn his allegiance. to subdue this peculiar temper, he could not disguise To this formal application, the emperor replied, it from those by whom he was closely observed. that the expediting of these letters had been retarded When some one, in the presence of Monnier, pro- only by the proposal made by a menmber of' the privynounced a eulogium upon Napoleon, and concluded council, of a preliminary condition.-" What is it?" by defying any of the listeners to produce a parallel said the prince.-" It is, that you are to come under character —"I think I could find soniething like an engagement never to bear arms against me." him," said Mounier, " among the Alontenegrins." The Prince Royal, greatly surprised, answered, that his election by the Diet of Sweden, and the consent to it already given by the emperor, both to himself No. 6. and to King Charles XIII., had already made him RE:FLE;CTIONS ON THE; CONDUCT OF PNAPOLEON TO- a Swedish subject; and that, in that quality, lihe REFLECTIONS ON THE CONDUCT OF NAPOLEON TO- could not subscribe this engagement. — " Your majesty tells me," added le, "that this is the proposal Pages 504, 519. of a member of the council. I am very sure it never could have come from yourself, sire; it must have (Translated from the original French.) come from the arch-chancellor, or the grand judge, who were not aware to what a height this proposal IT was Napoleon himself, who, by his insupport- would raise me."-" What do you mean?" —" If able pretensions, forced Sweden to take a part in you prevent me from accepting a crown, unless I opposition to him. From the period of the election come under an engagement never to fight against of the Prince of Ponte-Corvo, the only discussions you, sire,-is not this, in fact, placing me in your the prince had with the emperor consisted in refuisals, line as a general?" on the prince's part, to enter into engagements hos- The emperor, after a moment's reflection, said to tile to the interests of the nation who had chosen him in a suppressed voice, and with a gesture which him to be her ruler. betrayed his agitation:When the first overtures respecting his election "Well, go; —our destinies are about to be acin Sweden were made to him by a Swedish noble- complished." nMan, and by General Count de Wrede, he went "I beg your pardon, sire, I did not hear you immediately to St-Cloud, to inform the emperor, rightly." who said to him:- "Go; —our destinies are about to be accomplish"I cannot be of any use to you-let things take ed," repeated the emperor, in amore distinct, but their course," etc. equally agitated voice.''lThe prince went to Plombieires. At his return, he When the report first became current that there paid his respects to the emperor, who, addressing him was an intention inr Sweden to elect the Prince of ini presence of a good many persons, asked if he had Ponte-Corvo Prince Royal, Marshal Davoust, thinklately had any news from Sweden? ing to please his master, said, in the emperor's "Yes, sire." chamber:-"The Prince of Ponte-Corvo suspects "What do they say?" replied the emperor. nothing." This piece of irony made Napoleon "That your majesty's charg6 d'affaires at Stock- smile. He answered in a low voice, —" He is not hiolm opposes my election, and says publicly, that yet elected." your majesty prefers the King of Denmark." The prince, who till then had been very undecidThe emperor answered with surprise, "It is not ed, intimated, that if the King and the States of possible;" and changed the subject. Sweden fixed their choice on him, lie should acIt was, however, in consequence of secret instruc- cept. tions given to M. D6saguiers, that he had presented During this interval, Napoleon, constantly wisha note in favour of the King of Denmark; but ing to preient him fromn becoming heir to the throne Napoleon, in order not to commit himself in an affair of Sweden, said to him one day:-" You will pro. of such delicacy, and in which a check would have bably be called to Sweden. I had forned the debeen a proof of the decline of his political ascen- sign of giving you Arragon and Catalonia; for Spain dancy, disavowed the conduct ofM. D6saguiers. is too great a country for my brother's strength iof When this agent was recalled a short time after- capacity." wards, the Duke de Cadore firankly confessed to M. * Here the emperor frowned, and appeared embarrassed. 1 824 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. The prince made no reply. For a considerable to have expected such a refusal, and that he ought time back, not wishing to be an object of inquietude not to have exposed himself to it. He had even to government, he had been considering what means endeavoured to efface any painful impression w hich he should use to gain Napoleon's confidence. The his proposal had made on the prince, by making him greatness of France, the victories gained by her the most fiiendly promises of an indemnity of two armies, and the eclat which they reflected upon millions for the cession of his principality of Pontethe commander, imposed on the prince the duty of Corvo, and his possessions in Poland, and leaving not endeavouling to emulate the power of the em- him all the others in property.? He had, besides, peror. permitted him to take with him all his aides-deJ1 his conversations with Napoleon, he endea- camp. voured to do away the impressions which the em- The prince knew not what was at the bottom of peror entertained against him. For this purpose he the emperor's thoughts, but when he left him he was took general views, spoke of the interests of great full of confidence in him; and Napoleon had no just states-of the fortunes of men who had astonished motive for imputing to him any designs hostile to his the world by their successes, of the difficulties and interest, and still less to the interest of France. obstacles which these men had had to surmount; This illusion, on the part of the prince, was of shoit and finally, of the public tranquillity and happiness duration. The reception he met with in all the which had been the result of these circumstances, places he passed through, and particularly when he from the moment that secondary interests had been arrived in Sweden,-the speeches addressed to him, satisfied. and the answers he made,-all contributed to dis|The emperor listened attentively, and seemed al- please the emperor. It seemed to him as if the most always to applaud the principles of stability prince attracted some share of that general attention and preservation which the prince enlarged upon. which should have been fixed on him alone. Thle At times, when the latter reminded the emperor of patriotic sentiments expressed by the speakers of the immensity of the means of recompense which he the four orders were no more to his taste than those had at his disposal, Napoleon, struck by what he of the prince in his answers. He and the Swedes said, held out his hand to him affectionately, when were equally the objects of the emperor',$ sarcasms, they separated, and seemed, by his manner, to say and even of his insults: he treated them as jacobins, to him,-" Reckon always upon my friendship and as anarchists; and it was chiefly against the prince support." that these attacks were leveled. To show the T'he prince used to return from these conversa- prince his displeasure, he annulled.all the promises tions, thinking himself no longer an object of suspi- he had made him; and took from hilm all thh lands cion to the emperor. Re expressed this belief to with which he had endowed him, and which he the members of Napoleon's family, in order that re-united to his own domains. He recalled all the they, in their turn, might assure the emperor, that as Prince Royal's French aides-de-camp. It was in the prince went entirely into his system, both from vain that the prince, in his correspondence, tried to duty and from interest, any mistrust of him should appease him, by writing, among others, the followbe laid aside. ing letter:There were individuals of Napoleon's family, on those occasions, who smiled at the prince's simpli- "At the moment when I was going to address city, and told him what the emperor had said the my thanks to your majesty, for your goodness in exevening before, immediately after the conversation tending for a year the leave granted to the French the prince and he had had together; and all that the officers who have accompanied me to Sweden, I am emperor said bore marks of the greatest insincerity, informed that your majesty has retracted that faand of an ill-will constantly founded on his ideas of vour. This unexpected disappointment, and, indeed, the extravagant ambition of the prince. This ill- everything that reaches me fiom Paris, makes me will seemed to be mitigated, when the time came sensible that your majesty is not well disposed for the prince's departure for Sweden. One of his towards me. What have I done, sire, to deserve friends was in high favour with Napoleon. On the this treatment? I suppose that calumny alone has very day the prince departed, Napoleon, seeing this been the cause of it. In the new situation in which fiiend come in, Went up to him and said:-" Well! fortune has placed mne, I should doubtless be more does not the prince regret France?"-" Yes, un- exposed to it than ever, were I not fortunate enough doubtedly."-" And I, for my part, should have to find a defender in your majesty's own heart. been very glad if he had not accepted the invitation; Whatever may be said to you, sire, I beseech you but there is no help for it —" And then, checking to believe that I have nothing to reproach myself himself,-" Besides, he does not love me." with, and that I am entirely devoted to your person, On its being answered, that Napoleon was mis- not merely through the strength of my old associataken, and that the prince had chosen his party, and tions, hbut from a sentiment that is unalterablle. If had been frankly and cordially attached to him for things are not conducted in Sweden entirely accorda long time past, the emperor replied,- ing to your majesty's wish, this is solely owing to "We have not understood each other: now it is the constitution. To infringe this constitution is not too late: he has his own interests, his own policy, in the power of the king, and still less in minle. and I have mine." There are still here many particular interests to be'Napoleon had acquiesced in the reasons given him I by the prince, for his refusal to engage not to take # The prince never received more than one million of the aruis against him. I-e saw very well that lie ought two which had been promised aim. APPENDIX. 825 m ted down in the great national crucible, —four [ie looked upon it as the effect of intrigues formed orders of the state to be tied up in one bundle,-and by the personal enemies of both, and by enemies of it is only by means of very prudent and measured France. Ile saw nothing in it, besides, bat a degree conduct, that I can hope to sit one day on the throne of personal animosity which might pass away, and of' Sweden. As M. Gentil de St-Alphonse, my which ought to have no influence on the political aide-de-camp, returns to France in conformity to determinations of Sweden. But Napoleon listening your majesty's orders, I make him the bearer of this to nothing but his hatred, knowing that the prince, letter. Your majesty may question him; he has being aware of his designs, would now be on his seen everything; let him tell your majesty the truth. guard, and having no longer any hope of surprising You will see in what a situation I am placed, and him, desired to place the prince in open hostility to how many measures I have to keep. He will tell him. He took the surest method to accomplish this your majesty whether or not I am anxious to please object by seizing Pomerania, because he thought you, and if I am not here in a state of continual that this insulting violation of public faith would torment between the pain of displeasing you and my force the Prince Royal to revenge the affront put new duties. upon Sweden, but at bottom directed against the'Sire, your majesty has grieved me by withdraw- prince personally. In order to leave no room for ing friom me the officers whom you had granted me doubt on this subject, the emperor had given orders tbr a year. Since you command it, I send them that the invasion should take place on the 26th of back to France. Perhaps your majesty will be in- January, the Prince Royal's birth-day; but this reclined to alter your decision; in which case, I beg finement, so much in character, was thrown away; that you yourself will fix the number that you may for the invasion could not be carried into effect till think proper to send me. I shall receive them from the morning of the 27th.' yol with gratitude. If, on the contrary, your ma- The news of this invasion did not reach Stockholm jesty retainus them in France, I recommend them to till the 11th of February. The prince immediately your goodness. They have always served with dis- wrote the emperor the following letter:tinction, and have had no share in the rewards which were distributed after the last campaign." "The accounts, which have just arrived, inform me that a division of the army under the orders of Napoleon's ill lmmour against the prince changed the Prince of Eckmuhl, has invaded the territory of to positive resentment. He repented that he had Swedish Ponlerania, in the night between the 26th agreed to his going, and he made no secret of it; and 27th of January; that his division has continued for he went the length of saying, before his courtiers, its march, entered the capital of the duchy, and -'" That he had a mind to make him finish his course taken possession of the island of Rugen. The king of the Swedislh language at Vincennes." expects that your majesty will explain the reasons While the prince refised to believe the informa- which have led you to act in a manner so diametritioni, which he had received from the Tuileries, of cally opposite to the faith of existing treaties. My such a threat as this, Napoleon was actually thinking former connexion with your majesty authorizes me ofputting it in execution, and of repeating, upon him, to beseech you to explain your motives without the capture of the DuIke d'Enghien. The prince at last delay, in order that I may be enabled to give the!vas convinced of the truth of what he had heard, king my opinion as to the fiuture policy which ought by the discovery of a plot formed by Napoleon's to be adopted by Sweden. This grattlitous outagents, fobr seizuig him in the neighbourhood of Haga, rage committed. against Sweden is deeply felt by the and carrying hinm on board a vessel which they had people, and doubly so, sire, by me, who am intrusted in readiness. The attempt failed through a mere with the honour of defending them. If I have conaccident. The conspirators, all foreigners but one, tributed to the triumphs of France; if I have unithought themsel ves discovered: they instantly em- formly wished to see her respected and happy, it barked, and sailed in the night.* never could enter into my thoughts to sacrifice the This conduct, odious as it was, made no change interests, the honour, and the national independence in the disposition of the prince towards Napoleon. f the country which has adopted me. Your majesty, so good a judge of what is right in the case lI. de Salazar, formerly aide-de-camp to the Duke of which has happened, has already penetrated my resolution. Thoigh not jealous of the glory and Ragusa, who had quitted the service, and retired into Eng- resolution. Though not jealous of the glory and land, was one of those who gave information respecting a power by which you ale surrounded, sire, I ann explan formed in France to carry off the Prince Royal. He tremely sensible to the disgrace of being looked made a full communication on this subject to an illustrious upon as a vassal. Your majesty rules the greater part personage in England, and to Baron de Rehausen, the of Europe; but your dominion does not extend to Swedish Minister at London, who immediately informed the country to whose government I have been called. Count d'Engestrom of what had been revealed by AI. de My ambition is limited to her defence: which I look I Salazar, as to the plots which Napoleon was laying against upon as the lot assigned me by Provideice. The the personal safety of the prince. In order to facilitate effect produced on the people by the-invasion which these communications, Baron de Rehausen was instructed oi hei to furnish M de Salazar with money to enable him to go to Sweden. He arrived at Orehro during the Diet of 1812, and was admitted to some private audiences, in which he' It was from a silnilar motive that the Prince Royal repeated to the prince the declarations which he had pre- opened the ports of Sweden to all nations on the 151th Au-viously made to Baron de Rehausen and Count d'Enges- gust, 1812, Napoleon's hirth-day, and that the peace with tron. England was signed at the same time. VOL. viL. 104 826i LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. quences; and though I am not a Coriolanus, nor Sweden having given him no motive for directly command Volscians, I have a good enough opinion attacking her, he saw no other way of regaining the of the Swedes to assure you, sire, that they are ca- mastery of the prince's fortunes, but by placing him i pable of daring and undertaking everything, to re- among the number of his enemies, whom he looked venge affronts which they have not provoked, and upon as already conquered, without suspecting that to preserve rights to which they are probably as he was going to force them at lastto conquer himself. miuch attached as to their existence." Meanwhile, still wishing to deceive the prince, he made proposals to him. The prince answered them I When the emperor received this letter, it was by the following letter, the bearer of' which was M. observed that he foamed with rage, and cried, Signeul: "Submit to your degradation, or die with arms in your hands!" " Notes have just reached me; and I cannot reThis, indeed, was the only alternative which he frain from expressing myself on the subject of them wished to leave the prince; knowing very well what to your imperial majesty, with all the frankness part would be taken by a man whom he himself which belongs to my character. had called, "A French head, with the heart of a " When the wishes of the Swedish people called Roman." me to succeed to the throne, I hoped, in leaving There was no receding. The prince declared to France, that I should always be able to reconcile the King of' Eagland and the Emperor of Russia, my personal affections with the interests of my new that he was at war with Napoleon; and wrote the, country. My heart cherished the hope that it might Emperor Alexander the following letter, dated from identify itself with the sentiments of this people, at Stockholm, the 7th of March, 1812: the same time preserving the remembrance of its first attachments, and never losing sight of the glory "The occupation of Swedish Pomerania by the of France, nor its sincere attachment to your French troops, induces the king to dispatch Count majesty-an attachment founded on a brotherhood de Lowenhielm, his aide-de-caump, to your imperial in arms, which had been distinguished by so many majesty. This officer, twho enjoys the entire confi- great actions. deuce of his sovereign, has it in charge to acquaint " It was with this hope'that I arrived in Sweden. your majesty with the motives which have served -- found a nation generally attached to France; but as a pretext for an invasion so diametrically in oppo- still more to its own liberty and laws:-jealous of sition to the subsisting treaties. your friendship, sire, but not desirous of ever ob" The successive annexation of the coasts of the taining it at the expense of its honour and its indeMediterranean, of Holland, and of the Baltic, and pendence-Your majesty's minister chose to disthe subjugation of the interior of Germany, must regard this national feeling, and ruined everything have pointed out, even to the least clear-sighted by his arrogance:-his communications bore no princes, that the laws of nations being thrown marks of that respect which crowned heads owe aside, were giving way to a systenl, which, destroy- each other.-While fulfilling, according to the dicing every kind of equilibrium, would unite a number tates of his own passions, the intentions of your of nations under the government of a single chief; — majesty, Baron Agguier spoke like a Roman prothe tributary monarchs, terrified at this constantly consul, without recollecting that he was not addressincreasing dominion, are waiting in consternation for ing himself to slaves. the development of this vast plan. "This minister, then, was the first cause of the " In the midst of this universal depression, men's distrust which Sweden began to show as to your eyes are turned towards your majesty; they are majesty's intentions with regard to her; subsequent alreasly raised to you, sire, with confidence and events were calculated to give it new weight.* hope; but suffer nle to observe to your majesty, "I had already had the honour, sire, by my letth;lt, in all the successes of life, there is nothing like ters of the 19th November and 8th December, 1810, the nlagical effect of' the first instant;-so long as its to make your majesty acquainted with the situation influence lasts, everything depends on him who of Sweden, and the desire which she felt, to find in chases to act. Minds struck with astonishment are your majesty a protector. She could attribute your incapable of reflection; and everything yields to the majesty's silence to nothing but unmerited indifferimtpulse of the charm which they fear, or by whicl ence; and it became incumbent on her to take prethey are attracted. cautions against the storm that was ready to burst Be pleased, sire, to receive with favour the ex- ol the Continent. pression of my gratituide for the sentiments which "Sire, mankind has already suffered but too your majesty has testified towards me. If I have much. For twenty years the earth has been destill any wish to form, it is for the continuation of a luged with human blood; and to put a period to happiness, of' which I shall always be worthy, in these sufferings is the only thing wanting to comconsequence of the value which I attach to it." plete your majesty's glory. " If your majesty desires that the king should It was not, then, the Emperor of Russia who pre- intilate to his majesty the Emperor Alexander the vailed upon Sweden to take up arms against Napo- possibility of an accommodation, I augur enough, leon.-It was himself-himself alone,-who irresist- from thle niagnanirmity of that monarch, to venture to ibly compelled the prince to throw himself among his assure you, that he will give a willing ear t.i overenmemries. In doing so, the prince imerely did what -Napt, io desired; and the latter wished it, because, * The invasion of Pomerania. APPENDIX. 827 tures equitable at the same time for your empire and movement made by the viceroy about Sonraj, nr, the Itbr the north. If an event, so unexpected, and so Dwina; and he countermanded the original plan of universally wished for, could take place, with what operations, with a view to extend his right fank; blessings would the nations of the Continent hail and for some days afterwards, the Russian army your majesty! Then gratitude would be increased made various false movements, and was in a consiin proportion to the terror they now feel for the re- derable degree of confusion. Whether Napoleonl's turn of a scourge which has already been so heavy plan was founded upon the march of the Russiatn upon them, and the ravages of which have left such army from Smolensk, as supposed by S&gar, or upoal cruel marks. their position at Smolensk in the first days of Au" Sire, one of the happiest moments which I have gust, he carried it into execution, notwithstanding experienced since leaving France was that in which that march. 1 became assured that your majesty had not alto- "Accordingly, he broke up his cantonments upon gether forgotten me. You have judged rightly as to the Dwina on the 10th of August, and marched his my feelings. You have been aware how deeply army by different columlns by corps across the front they must have been wounded by the painful pros- of the Russian army, from these cantoninents to pect of either seeing the interests of Sweden on the Rasassina, upon the Dnieper. The false movements eve of being separated from those of France, or of made by the Russian army firom the 7th to the 12th beirng constrained to sacrifice the interests of a of August prevented their obtaining early knowcountry by which I have been adopted with bound- ledge of this march, and they were not in a situa- I less confidence. tion to be able to take advantage of it. On the "Sire, though a Swede by honour, by duty, and other hand, Napoleon could have had no knowledge by religion, 1 still identify myself by my wishes, of the miscalculated movements made by the Rus- I with that beautifuill France, in which I was born, sian army. and which I have served faithfully ever since my "Being arrived at Rasassina, where he was joined childhood. Every step I take in Sweden, the hom- by Davoust, with three divisions of the first corps, age I receive, revives in my mind those bright re- he crossed the Dnieper on the 14th. The corps ofi collections of glory which were the principal cause Poniatowski and Junot were at the same time nmov of nay elevation; nor do I disguise from myself, that ing upon Smolensk direct from Mohiloff. Sweden, in chusing me, wished to pay a tribute of "Napoleon moved forward upon Smolensk. esteem to the French people." "The garrison of that place, a division of infantry under General Newerowskoi, had come out as far Napoleon blames all the world for his reverses. as Krasnoi, to observe the movements of the French When lie has no longer any one to blame, he accuses troops on the left of the Dnieper, supposed to be his destiny. But it is hinself only whom lie should advancing along the Dnieper from Orcsa. Murat blame; and the more so, because the very deser- attacked this body of troops with all his cavalry; tion on the part of his allies, which hastened his fall, but they made good their retreat to Smolensk, alcould have had no other cause but the deep wounds though repeatedly charged in their retreat. These he had inflicted by his despotic pride, and his acts charges were of little avail, however; and this operof injustice. He was himself the original author of ation affords another instance of the security with his nlisfortunes, by outraging those who had contri- which good infantry can stand the attack of cavalry. buted to his elevation. It was his own hands that This division of about 6000 infantry had no artificial i consummated his ruin; he was, in all the strictness defence, excepting two rows of trees on each side gof of the term, a political suicide, and so muclh tile the road, of which they certainly availed themselves. more guilty, that hlie did not dispose of himself alone, But the use made even of this defence shows how I but of France at the same time. small an obstacle will impede and check the operations of the cavalry. " It would probably have been more advisable No. 7. if Murat, knowing of the mlovement of Poniatowski and Junot directed from Mohiloff upon Smolenisk, EXTRACT FROM MANUSCRIPT OBSERVATIONS ON had not pushed this body of troops too hard. They NAPOLEON'S RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN, BY AN ENGLISH NAPOLEONS RUSSIAN, Y AN ENLISH must have been induced to delay on their retreat, OFF1CER OF RANK. in order effectually to reconnoitre their enemy. Page 535. The fort would undoubtedly in that case have fallen into the hands of Poniatowski. IIAVN(; examined into the probabilities of S&gur's " On the 17th of A igust, Napoleon assembled allegation, ithat Bonaparte entertained thoughts of the whole of the operating armIy before Smolensk, takiiig up his winter quartersat Vitepsk, the military on the leit of the Dnieper. It consisted as folcomnnieitator proceeds as follows:- lows:"Trhe Russian army at Smolensk, seeing the nman- The cavalry, under Mlrat.......... 40,000 ner in which the French army was dispersed in Guards,........................ 4 00 canltonments between the rivers Dwina and Dneister, First Corps..... Davoust2,....0... 00 moved, on the 7th of August, towards Rudneia, in Third Corps..... Ney,............ 30,O( order to beat tup their quarters. They succeeded Foutrh Corps,. the viceroy,. 4,000 in sulrprising those of Sebastiani, and (lid hini a good Fiflt Corps. Ponistowki.,000 deal of' mischief in an attack upon Inkowo. In the hth Crps, meantime, Barciay de Toliy was alarmed by a 29W,000 j;828 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. " These corps had, about. six weeks before, en- sian army, upon their communications with Moscow, tered tile country with the numbers above stated, and with the southern provinces of the Russian they had hadl no military affair to occasion loss, yet empire. This movement is much admired, and ISeiir says, they were now reckoned at 185,000. extolled by the Russian as well as the French The returns of the 3d August are stated to have writers upon this war; yet if it is tried by the only given the last numbers only. tests of and military movement-its objects com"The town had been attacked on the 16th, first, pared with its risks and difficulties, and its success by a battalion,-secondly, by a division of the third compared with the same risks and difficulties, corps —which troops were repulsed. In the mean- and with the probable hazards arid the probably time, Bagration moved upon Katani, upon the successfull result of other movements to attain the Dnieper, having heard of Napoleon's movement same objects,-it will be found to have ir:iled cornifiorn the Dwina; and Barclay de Tolly having au-'pletely. thorized the resumption of the plan of operations in " The risk has been stated to consist, first, itn the pursuance of which the Russian army had broken march of the different corps from their cantonients, up from S:olensk on the 17th. He moved thence on the Dwina, to Rasassina, on the Dnieper, across on the 16th, along the right of the Dnieper,. back the front of the Russian army, without the protection upon Smolensk, and immediately reinforced the of a body of troops formed for that pulpose; and, garrison. He was followed that night by Barclay next, in the hazard incurred in removing the corlde Tolly, who relieved the troops under the'com- munication of the arany from Vitepsk to M. ilsk. i mand of Bagration, which were in the town; and This will he discussed presently. the whole Russian army was collected at Smolensk, " In respect of the first object,-that of bringing on the right of the Dnieper. the Russian army to a general battle, —it must he " Bagration moved during the same night with obvious to every body, that the fort of Smolensk and his army on the road to Moscow. Barclay de Tolly the river Dnieper were between Napoleon and tile remained in support of the troops in Sn-olensk. Russian army when his movement was completed. "Napoleon, after waiting till two o'clock, in ex- Although, therefore, the armies were not only in pectation that Barclay would cross the Dnieper, sight, but within musket shot of each other, it was au] nd move out of Smolensk, to fight a general battle, impossible for Napoleon to bring the enemy to an attacked the town on the 17th with his whole army, action on that ground without his consent; and as and was repulsed with loss; and in the evening, the ground would not have been advantageous to the the Russian troo, s recovered possession of all the Russian army, and an unsuccessful, or even a outposts. Barclay de Tolly, however, withdrew the doubtful result, could not have saved Smolensk, and garrison in the night of the 17th, and destroyed the there was no object sufficiently important to induce bridges of communication between the French and the Russian general to incur the risk of au ullsucthe town. The enemy crossed the Dnieper by cessful result of a general action, it was not very fords, and obtained for a moment possession of the probable he would move into the trap which S&gur faubourr called Petersburg, on the right of that describes as laid for him. river, but were driven back. The Russian army, "Neither was it lilely that Napoleon would take after remaining all day on the right of the river op- Smolensk by any assault which this movement might posite Smolensk, retired on the night of the 18th; enable himn to make upon that place. He had no and tile French that night repaired the bridges on heavy artillery, and he tried in vain to take the place tihe Dnieper. by storm, first, by a battalion, then, by a division, " efore I proceed farther with the narrative, it and lastly, by the whole army. lIe obtained posis necessary to consider a littl.e this movenlent of session of Smolensk at last, only because the RusNapoleon, which is greatly adllmired by all the writ- sian general had made no previous arrangements for ers on the subject. occupying the place; and because Barclay de Tolly " Wlhen this movement was undertaken, the knew that, if he left a garrison there unprovided, it communnication of the army was necessarily re- must fall into Napoleon's hands a few days sooner joved altogether fiom the Dwina. Instead of! or later. The Russian general then thought proper proceeding firom Wilnla upon Vitepsk, it proceeded to evacuate the place; and notwithstanding the fioul WVilna upon Minsk, where a great magazine position of Napoleon on the left of the Dnieper, and was formed, and thence across the Beresi;na, his attempts to take the place by storm, the Russian upon Orcsa on the Dnieper, and thence upon Slno- general would have kept the possession, if he could lensk. The consequences of this alteration will have either maintained the position of his own armny appear presently, when we come to consider of the in the neighbourhood, or could have supplied the retreat. p place adequately hefilre he retired from it. "It is obvious, that the position of the great ma- " The possession of the place depended, then, on gazine at Minsk threw the communications of the the position of the 1Russian army; and what follows army necessarily upon the Beresina, and eventually will show, that other measures and movements than within the influence of the operations of the Ris- those adopted were better calculated to dislodge the sean arrlmies from the southward. Napoleon's oh- Russian army from Smolensk. jects by the movement might have been three:-| "There can be no doubt that, upon Napoleon's arFirst, to force the Russians to a general -battle; rival at Smolensk, Ihe had gained six marches upon his secondly, to obtain possession of Smolensk, without enemy. If Napoleon, when he crossed the Dnieper the loss or the delay of a siege; thirdly, to endea- at Rasassina, halh masked Smolensk, and marched vour again to obtain a position in rear of the Rus- direct upon any point of the Dnieper above that APPEND IX. 89)| place, he could have posted himself with his wvhole published by O'Meara, is perhaps the original from army upon the communications of his enemy with which tile greatest part of the other preoductions are Moscow; and his enemy could scarcely have at- derived. It is now generally acknowledged to tempted to pass across his front, to seek the road by have been, to a certain extent, composed by Vaona. Kalounga. Barclay de Tolly must have gone to the parte. northward, evacuating or leaving Smolensk to its These works have had one particular object,-the fate, and Napoleon might have continued his march defence of an unfortunate and a great man. The in. upon Moscow, keeping his position constantly be- dividual, however, is always held up to view; the tween his enemy and his comrmunications with that actions are softened or strengthened to suit this purcity, and with the southern provinces. The fate of pose, andin the extension of this design, the reputaSmnolensk could not have been doubtfill. tion of his own officers, and a strict adherence to " Here, then, a different mode, even upon the facts, are occasionally sacrificed. The military feasame plan of manoeuvring, would have produced two tures of the campaign have remained unanswered; of the three objects which Napoleon is supposed to whilst the wounded honour and fame of his generals have had in view by these movements. But these have called for some counter-statements, whichl were not the only movements in his power, at that throw curious light on the whole campaign, andl on time. The viceroy is stated to have been at Souraj the nlaohinery of a system which so long alarmed the and Velij. If, instead of moving by his right, Na- i orld. These last are little known in Britain. poleon had moved by his left, and brought the first, Whoever has perused the mass of military works fifth, and eighth corps from the Dnieper to form the by French officers, most of them ably written, and reserve; and had marched from Souraj upon any mlany artfully composed, must feel how much they point of the Upper Dnieper, he would equally have tend to encourage a peculiar feeling of national suput himself in the rear of his enemy, and in a position periority in young minds, in a country where only to act upon his communications. He would have their own military works are read. In these works effected this object with greater certainty, if he had they never find a French army beaten in the. field, ventured to move the first, and the filth and eighth without some plausible reason; or, as Las Cases corps through the country on the left of the Dnieper. terms it,* " a concurrence of unheard-of fatalities," And in this last movement there would have been to account for it. Upon the minds of young soldiers, no great risk, first, because Napoleon's manceuvres this has an effect of the most powerful description. upon the Dwina would have attracted all the enemy's Great care appears to have been taken in these attention; secondly, because these corps would all various works, to meet the accusations of military have passed Smcilensk, before the Russian generals men respecting the disposition and employment of could have known of their movement, in like manner the French army. Where a fault is admitted, the as Napoleon passed the Dnieper and arrived at error is at least transferred from Bonaparte to the Smolensk without their knowledge. By either of J incapacity or remissness of his generals. The talents these modes of proceeding, Napoleon would have and honour of the British commanders are rated at cut off his enemy from their communications, would a low state; their success attributed more to chsmce have obliged them to fight a battle to regain these than to military skill, and the important result c the comnunnications, and in all probability Smolensk battle, less to the courage of the British troops, than would have fallen into his hands wiithout loss, with to the opportune arrival of the Prussians, whom they its buildings entire-an object of the lastconsequence allege to have saved the British army fiom destrlcin the event of the campaign. I tion. What are now termed liberal ideas, seem to "Either of these last niodes of effecting the object have made it a fashion to assert, and give credence would have been shorter by two marches than the, to these accounts; and itis no uncormmon occurrence movement of the whole army upon Rasassina." to meet with Englishmen who doubt the glory and J success of their countrymen on that eventful day. i A wounded spirit of faction has contributed to this No. 8. i feeling, and in the indulgence of its own gratification, and under the mask of patriotism, endeavoured to' 1815; 1throw a doubt over the military achievements of our By Capt. John W. Pringlo, of the Royal Engineers. countrymen, eagerly laid hold of any faults or failures, Page 722. gaud, War of 1815: London, 1824.-Many passages in these works will be found quite parallel; for instance, Morntho THE following observations were hastily made, at Ion, vol. ii, p. 272-280, with liv. ix, p. 43. Grouchy, page 4, a time when much public interest was excited by the designates these works from St lIelena, as containing, various accounts of the campaign of 1815, edited "des instrnctionls et des ordres supposes; des moesveomens by several individuals, all claiming the peculiar dis- imaginaires," etc.; also, "des assertions erronnles, des tinction of having been dictated by Napoleon, or writ- hypothisesfaites apres coop;" see also p. 26. P. 22, he says, ten under his immediate direction. With some slight with justice, of these authors: " Des indivirds qui se perexceptions, and occasional anecdotes, they nearly scadent que 1'an1role de glisre d'un grand lhomone, en les correspond, as far as relates to the military de- iclairanmt un moment, les a tratsformes en d'irricesatdes tails.+ The 9th volume of the Memoirs of Napoleon, antoritis, et ne voyant pas q2u2n iclett d'emnprznt qui ve se re.fl cchit sur aocnmn fait d'armes con-nus, suer anznias ser-' Liv. ix, 3Iimoires Historiques de Napoleon: Sir R. vices emninens, ne sert qu'ai mie2xfaire ressortir la sprgPhiiips, London, 18t20.-lMontholon, Memoires de Napolion: sonmptueuse intlperitie desjugemens qu'ils prononcent.n (olbunr, London, 18M2.-Las Cases: London, 2 vols.-Gour- + Vol. II, p. 15. LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. palliating, at the same time, those of their enemies, siderations are treated of, which have not been perasInd often giving that implicit belief tothe garbled haps fully or fairly appreciated. Many charges of accoutnts of tile French, which they deny to the simple blam*e,have been broulght forward against the geneand manly dispatch of a British general. rals of the allied forces; and superior talent in proThere does appear in this a decay of that national fiting by their mistakes has been attributed to their feeling, and jealousy of our country's honour, the opponents, which miglt wvell be accounted for, as main spring of all great actions, which other nations, arising fiom the situations in which they were relaour rivals, cling to with renewed ardour. No man tively placed. In order to judge, Ibr instance, of the couid persuade a Frenchman that it was British credit given to Napoleon, of having surprised their valour which has conquered in almost every battle, arnies in their cantonrients, it is necessary to be from Cressy down to Waterloo; and it is impossible aware of the state of both countries:(France and to forget that national pride, so honourable to the Belgium), and the objects, besides the mere watchFrench name, which could make their unfortunate ing of the frontiers, to which the attention of the emigrants even forget for a while their own dis- alliedcommanders was necessarily directed previous tresses, in the glory wvhich crowned the arms of the to the commencement of the war, and whilst it may republicans at that Revolution, wllich drove them be supposed as still in somse measure doubtfiul. firom the-r homes. France, as is well known, is, on thie Belgian fronThe Blitish works on the campaign, with one ex- tier, studded with fortresses. Belgium, on the conception,' are incomplete productions, written by trary, is now defenceless. The numerous fortresses persons unacquainted with military afhairs, and has- in the Low Countries, so celebrated in our for'mer tily composed of rude materials, collected from im- wars, had been dismantled in the reign of the Emplerfect sources.t peror Joseph; and their destruction completed by Whoe ver has esdeavoured to analyse the accounts the French, when they got possession of the country of modern actions, and to separate in thema what can at the. battle of Fleurus, 1794, with the exception of bte proved to be facts, from what is affirmed to be Antwerp, Ostend, and Nieuport, which they had so, or to coimpare the private accounts (too often in- kept up on account of their marine importance. discreetly lpublished) with thle official documents, These circumstances placed the two parties in very and the information procured from proper sources, different situations, both for security alnd for facility -will not be surprised to find in these home-made ac- of preparing and carrying into execution the meacounts of this campaign, fulsome praises lavished on sures either for attack or defence. ilndividuals and regiments;** tales of charges, which The French had maintained their own celebrated one would itmagine must have annihilated whole triple line of fortresses; extending, on that part of corps, and yet find not more than fifty or sixty men the frontier, from Dunkirkto Philippeville, and which killed anld wounded in a whole regitment.tt had been put into a state of defence during the war Oar officers, whatever their corps may be, should in the preceding year *-these gave every facility be above thie idea of vain boasting or exaggeration. for the concentration and formation of troops-for It is much that we can claim, during a long period affording a supply of artillery, and every requisite of eight years, thile praise of having succesfully con- for taking the field, and for concealing their movetended with troops of the first military power in ments-particilarly fiom the French organization of Europe; vwhile our soldiers has e disputed the palm of their National Guards, which enabled the latter imnvalour; and our officers, with less trumpeted claims mediately to take the. garrison duties, or relieve and than their boasted marshals, have shown as great occupy the outposts along the frontiers-such was miilitary skill; and our armies, il thle rnoment of vie- thie relative situlation of tIle firontier at the pe,-iod of tory, a spirit of humanity and moderation, not fre- Napoleon's return from Elba. qulently evinced by their antagonists.'The necessity of re-estahlishing the principal forIll the following observations, it is not pretended tresses on the Belgian frtontier, which commanded that any new matter can be givel oun a subject al- the shlices and inundation of the country, had indeed ready so much discussed; still some thcts and con- already been evident. and decided 1)po01 whilst Napoatty. leon was yet in Elba. A coanmittee of British t Te tI account te ca is b a ineers had been employed in examining the t The byest account of the camp:,ign is by an anonymouis t t ant hor, C. (le W.. published at Stutgards, 1817, and is attriated to Barol IMuffling. It does hontlr to its illustrious and reports had been prepared, when Bonaparte's I aithor, from itscandourand manliness, though he naturally sudden return and rapid advance upon Paris, and wishes to gie nmore effect tothe Priussiani attack on tlie 18th, the probability of a speedy renewalof the war, called than was actually thc case; that is, lhe l-inqgs theml ito fat expeditirus andl immediate means of de!ence. actiiml, with their whlole force, considerably too early in the The declaration of the Congress of Vielnna, of the fday. 13th March, reached Paris on the samne dlay he a.r** It is well remarked, inliv. ix, p. 170-" Cesdetailsep rived there, which milst have convinced hitl he parlieneant plhts a'histoire de chaqae reZginten t qu'it Pistoi re ge crale d e a ataille." - would not be allowed quietly to repossess his throne. loire generorle de Ia batailleY~ It may be well supposed, that the general iimpres|tt Rogniat, p.147, speaking of charges, says,-"-S'lls mar. It may be well su, th at he gew eral iiprescheat e~la baionumvtte, ce n'est qu'e simulacre d'attaque; cfhent ci la baroxnetrc, ce nea1'e qu' simulacre d~attcaze; Ision in Belgium was, that lie would lose no thie to ils ne la croisent jamais avec celles d'uti encadli qut'ils end;eavour to regain a country which he considered craigqent d'aborder, parce qu'ils se set.teut sans iftense as almnost part of Franice; important to him from t.he contre ses corups, et tint des detex partis prend la fuite resources it would have afforded, and perhaps still evart d'ex venir atex mains. - Such is the case.in all clirges. * LIv. ix, p. 36. APPENDIX. 831 more so, as it would deprive his enemies of so con- are drains for the fresh water of the country to venient a base of operations, for the preparation of the sea. The sluice-gates are opened for its the means for attacking France. The discontent in egress at low water, and shut to prevent the ingress Belgium, and the Prussian provinces on the Rhine, of the salt water at the return of the tide. It is also amongst the Saxon troops who had served in evident, therefore, that we could have laid the his army, were known.* T'he mutinous spirit of country under water, and so covered their forthese troops appeared to he in concert with the tresses on two or three sides, which would premovements of the French forces on the frontiers; so vent the necessity of their having large garrisons much so, that they were disarmed and sent to the to defend themn.* But salt-water inundation ruins rear.t In the former, the discontent was particu- the soil for several years, and it was determinlarly favoured by the number of French?fficers and ed only to employ it as a last resource; and in soldiers, who had been discharged as aliens from the the meantime the sluice-gates were merely kept French army, in which they had served, nearly since shut to prevent the egress of the fresh-water, which the Revolution, and now gave themselves little care in that wet season soon accumulated; and tie fieshto conceal their real sentiments and attachments. water inundation only destroyed the crops of one The flight of Louis from Lille, through Flanders, season. added to this feeling in Belgium-such appeared to About 20,000 labourers, called in by requisitions be the prevailing spirit. The force the British had on the country, were daily employed on the works, to keep it in check, and resist an invasion, amounted in;addition to the working parties furnished by the only to 6 or 7000 men, tnder the orders of Sir Tho- troops. The necessary artillery and stores were mas Graham, consisting chiefly of second battalions, supplied from England and Holland. Troops arrived hastily collected, a great portion of our best troops daily and were immediately moved to the frontiers, not having yet returned from America. There were where, froln the movements that were constantly also in Belgium the German Legion, together with taking place, it is probable that exaggerated accounts 8 to 10,000 men of the new Hanoverian levies. The i were transmitted to the enemy. By these vigorous organization of the Belgian troops had been just and prompt measures, confidence became restored commenced, so that the force of the Prince of Orange — the panic amongst the people of Belgium was might amount to about 20,000 men. removed-they saw that their country was not to be The Prussian general, Kleist, who commanded given up without a severe struggle-It fixed the on the Rhine and Meuse, had 30,000 men, after- wavering, and silenced the disaffected. In less wards augmented to 50,000, which, however, in- than a month, most of the frontier places were safe cluded the Saxons.*' from a coup-de-main. These generals had immediately agreed to act in The Duke of Wellington had arrived at Brussels concert; but from what we have mlentioned, had froam Vienna, early in April, and immediately inNapoleon concentrated 36,000 men at Lille on the I spected the frontier and the fortresses; after which, 1st April, which he says was possible for him to he agreed on a plan of operations with the Prussians, thave done,tt and advanced into Belgium, it is cer- i by which they concentrated their troops along the tainly probable he might have obtained the most Sambre and Meuse, occupying Charleroi, Namur, important results; for the Prince of Orange, who I and Liege, so as to be in communication with his hIad united his troops at Ath, Mons, and Tournay, i left. The Prussians had repaired the works round wals not strong enough to have covered Brussels, Cologne, which assured their communications with and must have either fallen back on Antwerp, or Prussia, and gave them a t(te-de-pont on the Rhine. r;,lmed a julnction with the Prussian general, Kleist. The small fortress of Jaliers afforded them the Thie intelligence of Napoleon having landed at command of the Roer on the same line, and they Cannes on the 1st March reached Brussels on the held Maestricht on the Lower Meuse. It was 9:h. Preparations were immediately made for the important to occupy Liege and Nanmlr, though det-elnce of the country. The British troops under their fortifications had been destroyed. They afGeneral Clinton concentrated, with their allies, near forded a facility to act rapidly on either side of the Ath, Mons, anld rournay; and these places, with. Meuse, and a choice of the strong positions along Ypres, Ghent, and Oudenarde, were ordered to the banks of that river. The disaffection in the be put ill a state of defence consistently with the provinces on the Rhine, which had been recently exigence of the moment. To effect this, every use added to Prussia, was considered even greater than was miade of what remained of the old fortifications. in Belgilum. The fortress of Luxemloulrg was the New works were added, and by taking advantage great key which Prussia possessed for their preof the great system of defence in that country, which serration; and her interest would havs led her to is generally under the level of some canal, or the make thatbher dep6t and base of operations, for the sea, and cansequently capable of being inundated. invasion of France: but besides being so far distant The sluices which conmmanded the inundations were from Brussels, that armies occupying such distant cTrveired by strong redoubts. I points could not act in concert, the roads in that The inlndation of the country near the sea, admits part of the country, between the Meuse and the e f being made in two ways. The canals or rivers Moselle, were in a state almost impracticable fbr artillery, and for the general communication of an S Lir. ix, pp. 58 -61. army. On the other hand, the roads and commtuxfit MaOuing, p. 5. **Ibid. pp. 1-3. f The salt-water inundation could be raised at Ghent, so tt Moantholon, ol. ii, p. 281. Liv. ix, p. 53. as to place the Great Square five feet under water. L} 832 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. cations to cross the Rhine at Cologne are good, the troops in advance being able to keep tile enemy in town itself could be put in a state of defence, and check, so as to affolrd time for that concentration, have become the best and safest line of communica- which was certainly accomplished. The positions tion. Reference to the map will elucidate these on the different roads of approach friom the French observations, and show that the cantonments of' the fiontier had been attentively reconnoitred; that of Prtssians, along the Sambre and Meuse, enabled Mont St-Jean, or Waterloo, very particularly; and them to act in concert with our army; to rover their no precaution appears to have been omitted, by line of communication with Prussia; and to move which an offensive movement of the enemy was to rapidly into the provinces of the Moselle, in the be encountered. event of the enemy advancing from Mentz.* Some movements were observed on the French The Russians were to have come into the line at frontier, between Lille and Bergue, as if preparing Mentz, but they did not reach the Rhine until June, fbr oflensive operations, about the end of March, at and then only the first corps; so that, for the pre- which period the troops, cantoned near Menin, had sent, a gap existed from the Prussian left at Dinant, orders, after making due resistance, and destroyto the Alstro- Bavarian right at Manheim. ing the bridge on the Lys, to fall back on Courtrai, It was an important object to cover Brussels; and their point of assembling: and then, after such a it is to be considered, that this city forms, as it resistance as would not compromise their safety in were, a centre to a large portion of the French fron- retreat, to endeavour to ascertain the object of the tier, extending about seventy miles from the Lys to enemy's movements, and give time for the troops the Meuse, viz. from Menin to Philippeville or to assemble. They were to retire on Oudenarde and Givet; that it is about fifty miles distant from these i Ghent, opening the sluices, and extending the inunextreme points; and that it was necessary to guard dation. About the beginning of May similar movethe entry fiom France by Tournay, Mons, and Char- ments were also observed, but less was then to be leroi; and also to prevent Ghent, a very important apprehended, since, by the advanced state of the place, from being attacked firom Lille. The protec- works at Tournay, and the tete de pont at Oudenarde tion oif all these distant points, with the difficulty of I and Ghent, we then commanded the Scheldt, and subsisting troops, particularly cavalry and artillery, could have assumed the offensive. are sufficient causes to explain why the armies were Great credit is undoubtedly due to Napoleon. for not more united in their cantonments.t Bonaparte the mode in which he concealed his movements, and appears to have attached much importance to the I the rapidity with which he concentrated his arnmmy. occupation of Brunssels, as appears by the bulletins, The forced marches he was obliged to make, appear, found ready printed in his baggage, which was cap- however, to have paralysed his subsequent nimovetured. It was therefore of much importance in every ments, from the fatigue his troops underwet.'l'lle point of view, to prevent even a temporary occupa- nmnerous French fortresses favoured his plans in a tion of this city, and this could only be done by risk- very great degree, by afflrding bimn the means ui' etn ing an action in front of' it. The Duke of Wellington ploying the garrison and National Guialrds to oncct py and Marshal Blucher had also separate views in the advanced posts along the frontier,* and o}1,'irpreservingf their lines of operation,-the one by Co- tuity afterwards to make demonstrations acrl:ss tle logne, with Prussia; the other with England, by frontiers near Lille, whilst lie assenmbled!his altll, Brussels, which neither Nwere disposed willingly to on the Sambre. They were also somewhat -:vo! red abandon. This probably may have been the cause by the circumstance, tlhat hostilities were nut;e't;l wvhy Quatre-Bras and Ligny were chosen as posi- ally commenced, lwhich prevented our ads tai'el tions covering both. posts (even if they suspected a clhange inl the t,'opl,} It is evident, that an army placed in cantonrents, oplposed to them) from obliginlg the eneiiny to sia,u, so as to meet all these objects, could onily be cont- himiself, or, by bringing on a skiriiislh, to ohsilt:,. centrated in a position covering the city, by the fitomn risoners intelligence of their morvements. iI },ad another advantage of powelrhl conseqrlen'e.. Such, however, could only be: desultory attack, for the an o chaussoe by Charleroi and Givet was the nearest etryrn he ay e comanded ere mostly ol sl Frsn i his sidel. Te euy f.ns si jto Meuuiz~ f u'f the same Ination, under a single chief. The alliest France on this side. The i ounly lroom this to Menlz was ts then nearly imlpracticable for large armies. Good roals at-ilies vere comosed of different nations a nret have since, been made through it. portion young levies, and tader two generals,;. hi t Bonaiparte blames the allied generals for miot Ihaiieg of such reputation, as not likely to yiell great leformied a carp in front of Brussels, as he alleges might hlave ferlence to the other.t hbeen done inl the beginnling of May. The wet season, andll On the night of thle 14th June, the French ari, dificulty of subsistitg so large a body oftroops, is sonie rea- I bivouacked in three divisions, as near the fronlier s. son against it. Besides which, Boiiaparte iglt lue mamle possihle, without being observed by the PrussiaTs;s delonstrlations ii frost, aiid seiit,OO mnmi friom his ya"- the left at Harn-sur-Heure, the centre at Beaumllsst, risons to ravege Gheult at thle country beyond the Schellt, shere the ead-quarters were established, and thle and cut off our communications with Ostend. In 1811, right at Ihiippeville."" when the Prussians wsere concentrated near Brussels, this had been done with effect from Lille. Thoughlittle advantage might lave resulted to the enemy from such a measure,' Liv. ix, pp. f8 —85. Jfonthiolon, vol. ii, p. 132. much blame would have been attached for not taking pre- t Bonaparte himself has remarked, — L'ounit de cI1-scautions agalnst it. To cover Brussels, the capital of the vnalnderienit est la chose la pltcs iniportctfe de la gqi nere." country, was certainly of great importance; and had that, Bonaparte, liv. ix, p.69, rates his forces at 132,4rt,uen, been the only oblject, a camnp in its front would have cer- and350 guns.-Muffling, p. 1.7, at 130,(190. Other actounts taillly jeenl the lest means of effecting it. make it smaller, and Batty, 127,400, with 350 gamms. APPENDIX. 833 french army crossed the frionfier in three colunmns, Engilsh general to his right, at that period, could not directed on Marchiennes, Charleroi, and Chatelet. have been easily remedied in time to have fobght in The Prussian outposts were quickly driven in; front of Brussels, and to have e.fected his junction they, however, maintained their ground obstinately with the Prussians; and in such a case, as Marslal at three points, until eleven o'clock, when General Blucher only fought at Ligny, on the expectation of Ziethen took up a position at Gilly and Gosselies, in'being supported by the Duke of WVellingtoln, it is order to check the advance of the enemy, and then probable that that action wvould not have takr n place. retired slowly on Fleurns, agreeably to the orders He had, however, a safe retreat on Bulow's corps of Marshal Blucher, to allow time for the concen- and Maestricht, as had the Duke of Wellington on -tration of his army.? The bridge at Charleroi, not Ghent and Antwerp, or else the plan afterwards having been completely destroyed, was quickly re- adopted of concentrating at Waterloo and ~Wavres paired by the enemy. Upon Ziethen's abandoning could not have been easily executed. It is, illthe chaussde, -which leeds to Brussels througllh deed, a matter of surprise, that Bonaparte did n it Quatre-Bras, Marshal Ney, who commanded the make a more important demonstration on the side (if left of the French army, was ordered to advance by Lille and Mons. The duke, in deciding on these this road upon Gosselies, and found at Frasnes part I movements, was under the necessity of acting onrl te. of the Duke of Wellington's army, composed of intelligence given by spies or deserters, which can Nassau troops, under the command of Prince Ber- only be so far depended on, as it is confirmed by nard of Saxe-Weimnar, who, after some skirmishing, reports from the outposts, who may be themselves maintained lis position.t'he French army was deceived.* What was true at their departure, may formed on the light of the 15th, in three columns, be entirely changed at their arrival with thle inftormthe left at Gosselies, the centre near Gilly, and the ation; and, whatever may have been the case forright at Chdtelet. Two corps of the Prussian army!merly, few or no instances occur at present of a occupied the position at Sombref on the same night, person in the confidence of the cabinet, particularly where they wele.joined by the 1st corps, and occu- of a military officer, betraying the confidence placed pied St-Amand, Brie, and Ligny; so that, notwith- in him. standing all the exertions of the French, at a mo- Thie Duke of Wellington arrived at Quatre Brason mlent vwhere titme was of such importance, they had the 16th, at an early hour, and immnediately proceedonly been able to advance about fifteen English:ed to Brie, to concert measures -with Marshal Binmiles durinlg the day, with nearly fifteen hours of cher, for arranging the most efficient plan of support. day-light.*5'l'he corps of Ziethen had sufifered con- It appeared at that tinme, that the whole ]Frenchl siderably, bat he had effected his orders; so that attack would be directed against the Prussiats, as Marshal Blucher was enabled to assemble three considerable masses of the enemy were in movement corps of his arrmy, 80,000 men, in position early on in their fiont. Bluclher was at this titme at the wind.. the 15th, and his 4th corps was on its march to join mill of Brie, about five English miles firat Quatre-.- l hlim that evening. Bras. t The duke proposed to advance ulpon 1at r, The Duke of' Wellington seems to have expected nes and (osselies, -which would have been a dec.eidi& an attack by the Mons chauss6e,-t and, on his first movemtent, as acting on the Frencht eommun iCietons', receivingt inforimation of the eneimy's movements, and immediately in rear of their left'flank; but as merely ordered iris troops to hold themlselves in the troops could not' be ready to advance from readiness; this was on the evening of the 15th of Quatre-Bras before four o'clock, the attack must June, at six o'clock. HIaving oblained farther in- have been too late, and in the meantime tile prussians telligence about eleven o'clock, which confirmed the would have to sustain tile attack of neaoly the whole real attack of the enemy to be along the Sambre, French arumy. M.arls.hal llucher, therefore, judged orders were inmmediately given for the troops to it more desirable, that the duke shealt form a juncmarch upon Quatre-Bras; a false movement of tile i tion with the Prussian right, by msarebing. direct by the chaussee frorl Quatre-Bras to Brie. *" * Grlocliy, p. gE, speaks of lle rapidity with which Blucher The object of the enemy on the 16,th,,as may be seen. assembled his army. It is also adverted to by several by the general orders of Napoleon,. comusmnicated French military writers. by Soult to Ney and G-rouclly, was to turn the Prust:Ney might probably have driven back these troops, and sian right, by driving the British from Qpatro-Bras, occupied the imlportant position at Quatre-Bras; but and t and then to march down the ehauassee upon Brie, hearing a heavy cannonade onl his right flank, where hearinga esy caiod i his right lank, were and thus separate the two arimies.tt For. this purZiethen had laken up his position, lie thought it necessary:to halt, and detach a division in the direction of Fleurus. Thlis blirigs forwald a retlmarkable case, as hle was Mi/ffBing, p. 17. Yet a story is tald of Foua 6, uwho is severely censuret bly Napoleon, for not having literally fol- said to have sent intelligence of Bonaparte's movements to. lowed his orders, and puished on to Quatre-Bras. This *was Lord Wellington. The coulrier was attacked and. waylaid, done in. the presence of Mlarshal Grouchy-(see Grouchy's as supposed by Fouch6's contrihance, so thlathl-had. an Obseratliens sur la'Relation ce la Campag'ned e 1815, par. excuse ready for both parties. le Gisteral G'outrygatd.' publishled at I'hiladelphia 1818), who t 3Mffling, p. 10. gives' it as a reasons (pp. 32, 33, 61), for acting in the manner. uit.tlilg,, p. 64, allows that the position at, Lignywa ncS he did on the 18th, and not moving to his left to support too much extended to the left, but the object of this was to. Napoleon at Waterloo. have a line of communi.ation with the Meuse and'Cologne,; ** Rogniat, p. 311, says that a great portion of the French. a fault alluded to as arZsting frol having two armies, and[ army only reached Charleroi late on tlhe 15th, and Fleur-us two chiefs with diqerent'obiects in view. at 11hA. M. onl the llith-See Grouchy, p. 36. t See orders in the Appendix. to Batty, ix to x'ii; pp. 15 f, Official Dispatch. —Miling, pp.8, 10, 18. to 153. VOL. t'. 105 834 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. pose Ney was detached with 43,000 men. * Oil that village.+ A large body of French cavalry, reference to the above orders, it appears that not and another of infantry, then pushed forward to the much resistance was expected in getting possession height between Brie and Sonlbref, immediately in both of Sombref and Quatre-Bras. t Nevy has been the rear of Ligny, and quite in the heart of the accused of delaying to attack, but reference to those Prussian position, where they were attacked by orders will show, that Ney had not been commanded Blucher at the head of his cavalry; this attempt to to attack ** until two o'clock, M. P., in consequence re-establish the action failed, and the Prussian caof the allies having assembled in force at Quatre- valry were driven back upon the infantry.'t It was Bras. The plan was excellent, and if Ney had been now nine o'clock, about dark, which prevented the successful, would have led to important results. lFrench fromn advancing farther, and they contented After obtaining possession of Quatre-Bras, he was themselves with the occupation of Ligny. The to have detached part of his forces to attack the Prussians did not evacuate Brie before three o'clock Prussian right flank in rear of St-Amand, whilst Bo- A. M. on the 17th.+' In the course of the night, naparte was making the chief attack on that village, the Prussians fell back on Tilly and Gembloux. the strongest in the position, and at the same time The loss of the Prussians, according to their own keeping the whole Prussian line engaged. Half of account, amounted to 14,000 men, and fifteen pieces Ney's force was left in reserve near Frasnes, to be of artillery; the French official account in the Moin readiness either to support tile attacks on Quiatre- niteur, raises it to 15,000.it The French acknowBras or St-Amand, and in the event of both succeed- ledge to have lost 7000. It is evident that Bonaparte, ing, to turn the Prussian right by marching direct on in changing the point of attack fioin the Prussian Wagnele or Brie. it right at St-Amand, to the centre at Ligny, in a manner The village of St-Amand was well defended; it forced the Prussians, if defeated) to retreat upon formed the strength of the Prussian right, and, the British army, and give up their own line of' from the intersection of several gardens and hedges, operations; but still, at that hour in thie evening, was very capable of defence; although so nmuch in when the situation of the armies is considered, the advance of the rest of the Prussian position. The change of attack appears to be the only Ilope he f:ace of the country in front of this position possesses had of obtaining even a partial success; ulnder such no remarkable features; the slopes towards the circumstances it was perhaps the best course he stream are gentle, and of easy access. After a could pursue.'+* continued attack for two hours, the enemy had It is not easy to conceive that a defeat, in ary only obtained possession of half the village of St- case, would have been such as to lrevent their Amand, and a severe attack was made upon Ligny, junction, since each army had such colosider:l)le which was taken and retaken several titnes.*** At reinforcements moving up, and close upon thletit; this time Bonaparte sent for the corps of reserve but even in an extreme case, they could each a11se' left by Ney at Frasnes; before, however, it reached retired on their fortresses, and formed entrenchled St-Amand, in consequence of the check they had camps of perfect security, with every tmeans of resuistained at Quatre-Bras, it was countermarched, pairing the losses they sustained.-ttand fromn this circumstance became of little use either to Bonaparte or Ne*y. Bonaparte having Grouchy, p. 10, shows how little decisive tlie battle was. observed the masses of troops which Blucher had La batl aiile de LPeooi no li qte vers aeof' oers i le brought up behind St-Amand (and probably in col- eeme ors a r e es uss sequence of the corps above mentioned being neces- ste. t Here it was that Blucher was so nearly fal!ing into th;e sary at Quatre-Brasf —t-), appears to have change dvalry. the disposition of his reserves, who were nmarching ** Grouchy, p. 11, says, that, even on tihe 17th, it. was upon St-Arnand, and moved them towards the right supposed the Prussians had retired upon NatTur, so feebly to attack tile Prussian centre at Ligny, which they were they fol!owed; the light cavalry of General Pajol succeeded in forcing, and so obtained possession of pursuing thenl in this direction on thie 17th, capturel a ltwv gunsi which, with some stragglers, as are fontnd in &al Irr Liv. ix, p. 103, Official Papers. mies, was his whole success. t See Grouchay, p. 47. Golurgaucd, Liv. ix, p. 102. tt The St Helena productions raise tile amount to 20,00o0 ~* It is hardly to be supposed that an officer of Ney's bold men, 40 guns, standards, etc. See Grouchy on that smlmject, and enterprising character, with so much at stake, would in answer to Goulrgand, pp.48, 49.-Montholon says they lost bave hesitated to attack at Quatre-Bras, if he had had his 60,000.-Liv. x.,. 148, says that the Prussian alrmy was retroops in readiness, but it appears that he could not have duced to 40 000 mien by the loss they had,sustained; 30,000 had time to mmove to that point at the early hour stated by men killed and wounded, and 20,000 men, miho had disbandBonaparte. Ney had, also, too much experience of the ed, andl aaged the baiks of the Meuse, and by the denature of the troops he was opposed to, to act rashly. tachments sent to cover theirretreat, and that of the bagtt' The French did not attack until 3 P. M., the different gage, isn the direction of Namur. corps not being arrived to make the necessary arrangements Time intention of the allied marshals to remain togeat an earlier hour-G'rouchy, p. 30. Rogniat, p. 311. ther, whatever might be the issue, is known. Lord Welling*** Ney's letter to the Dtuke d'Otranto: Paris, 1815.- ton had ordered the inundations of Antwerp to be effected.tI/sffnlug, p. 14. to their utmost extent. The fortresses were to have been Ptt M'ffling, pp.15-64.-Blucher had emiployed his reserves abandoned to their own strength, and had the events c I to support his right at St-Amand, and was not prepared for the 16th been such as to necessitate a retreat, and give this change of attack. Muffling, however, considers, that, up Brussels, Maestricht is probably the point on which both instead of his cavalry, had he moved his infantry from St- armies would have retired. A mnand to retake Ligny, he would have succeeded and ftt Had earlier or more positive information of the onegained the action,. my's plans been received by Lord Wellington, and the APPENDIX. 835 The force of the enemy, at the time the Duke of tillery. It required great exertions to maintain tilhe Wellington left Quatre-Bras to communicate with important post of Quatre-Bras, in the present relaBlucher, appeared to be so weak, that no serious tive situations of the tuwo armies. It is certain that, attack was at that time to be apprehended; but oil if Ney had advanced as rapidly as Bonaparte says his return to that position, about three o'clock, he he might have done, he would have obtained his ibund they had assembled a large force at Frasnes, object. Ney, however, in his letter, contradicts the and were preparing for an attack, which was mlade possibility of his having done so, which seems to about half past three o'clock by two columns of in- be confirmed by Soult's letter to hirm, dated at 2 fantry, and nearly all their cavalry, supported by a o'clock P. M., where he tells him that Grouchy is to heavy fire of artillery. The force at that time attack Brie with the 3d and 4th corps, at half'past under his orders was 17,000 infantry and 2000 ca- 2 P. M., thlat he is to attack the corps in his fiolnt, valry, of which about 4500 were British infantry, and afterwards to assist Grouchy; but that if he the rest HIanoverians, and Belgians, and Nassau (Ney) defeats the troops in his front first, Grouchy troops.* They at first obtained some success, driv- would be ordered to assist his operations. It is ing back the Belgian and Brunswick cavalry; their most probable that the corps left at Frasnes, which cavalry penetrated amongst our infantry before they Ney complains was taken away without his knowhad quite time to form squares, and forced a part to ledge, was destined to assist either attack as might retire into the adjoining wood; they were, however, be found necessary. repulsed. At this period of the action, the third Even had Ney got possession of Quatre-Bras at British division, under General Alten, arrived about an early hour, he would scarcely have been able to ftur o'clock, soon after the action had commenced. detach any sufficient force against the Prussians,'they consisted of about 6300 men, and were com- seeing, as he must have done, or at least ought to posed of British, King's German Legion, and Han- have calculated, that the British forces were aroverians. They lihad solme difficulty in maintaining riving rapidly on the point which we suppose him to their ground, and one regiment lost a colour.t They have occupied. The British could have still retreat. succeeded, however, in repelling the enemy from ed on Waterloo, and been concentrated on the 17th the advanced points he had gained at the farm of at that position; and there wvas nothing to prevent Genlincourt and village of Pierremont. the Prussians retreating on Wavres, as they afterNey still, however, occupied part of the wood of wards did. Though Bonaparte says,t that on the Bossus, which extends from Quatre-Bras, on the 15th everything had succeeded as lie wished, and right of the road towards Frasnes, to the distance that the Duke of Wellington had manenvreed as he of about a mile. This favoured an attack on the would have wished him to do; yet one corps of the right of our position, which he accordingly made, Prussian army had so far kept him in check, that lihe after having been repulsed on the left. At this mo- was not able to reach Fleurus; and on the 16th, ment the division of General Cooke (Guards), 4000 could not commence the attack until three hours strong, arrived from Enghien, and materially as- after mid -day. HIe did not gain possession of Quatresisted to repel this attack, which, after considerable Bras until the forenoon of the 17th. HIe had sustainexertions, was done, and the enemy driven back ed a severe check with one part of his army, and upon Frasnes, in much confusion. This affair was gained an indecisive action with the other; the loss severely contested, and-though the enemy were re- of the allies not exceeding his own, whilst they had pulsed, the loss on each side was nearly equal, the advantage of retirilg leisurely on their resources owing to the superiority of the French in artillery. and reinforcements, anid by the retreat, gave up no The loss, however, inflicted on the French by the place or position now of consequence to tile pursuilng fire of ausketry, which their attacking columns were enemy. The result of the operations of the 16th exposed to, was very considerable, and counter- produced no important consequences to tlre French. balanced the advantage they derived from their ar- The celebrated engineer, General Rogniat, does not hesitate to term it an indecisive action. The success troops put in movement on the evening of the 15th, the coln- of the British in repelling the attack of Q uatle-Bras, bit:ations of the two allied chiefs would have been perfect. tended to make them meet the renewed attack at Nothing more is necessary to show how well their plans had terloo with more confidence, and robably been laid, but which were not carried into full effect, by a contrary effect on the enemy; wlilst th cune of those accidental occurrences which no human fore- ry effect on the enemy; whilst thm manner siglit can prevent. sighlt canl prevent, which the Prussian corps of Thielmann received * Liv. ix, p. 103, Bonaparte says, that Ney attacked the attack of Grouchy on the 18th, who had superior with 16,000 infantry, 3000 cavalry, and 44 guns, leaving forces, showed how little the confidence of the 16,000 infantry, 4500 cavalry, and 64 guns, in reserve at Prussians had been shaken by the action at Ligny. Frasnes. It may be observed, that the forces er'aged at Lit This belonged to the 69th regiment, not to the 42d, as gny were nearly equal, even deducting dl'Erlon's liv. ix; p. 1591, states, and was almost the only one captured corps, which was left at Frasnes, as not engaged. during the whole war. It may here be remarked, that if'he French passed tie fi-ontiers with about 125,000 the French had carried one quarter the number of eagles men-Blucher had 80,000-and at tie close of tie with their regiments that we have of colours, a much larger day Lord Wellington lied 30,000.a Tie cornproportion would now be found at Whitehall. A weak battalion of English infantry always carries two large co- * See Official Papers in the Appendix to Batty. lours, very heavy and inconvenient, whilst a French eagle, t Liv. ix, p. 209. about the size of a blackbird, was only given to a regiment E* Liv. ix, p. 60, Bonaparte remarks that the numbers of comnposed of several battalions, which was easily secured in the allied army must not be rated at their numerical force. case of defeat. F Parce qure l'armie des allies etait conmposCe de troupes 836 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. rnanders of the allied armies appear not to have over- how little of thle Prulssian position had been occupi-d rated what was to be expected from their troops, by the French. The Prussians had fillen bace which Nv,s not exactly the case with their opponents. very leisurely on Wavres, their rear-guard occuTilhe outline ot the operations, and the strategie on pying Brie, which they did not evacuate before three the part of Napoleon to separate the two armies, o'clock on the morning of the 17th. Bonaparte, in was no doubt finely conceived, and, as we have deceiving the French people, by the accounts hel seen, was nearly successful; yet it is presumed, that, gave of' the defeat of the Prussians at Ligny, seenms had it been so, even to the extent Bonaparte could almost to have deceived himself. lie miust have hope or expect, the allies had still a safe retreat, known that the action was not a decisive one-that and sufficient resources. On all sides, it was a cal- the enemy had retired in excellent order-that he culation of houls. It is hardly possible to know the had not been able to pursue them —and that his own point an enterprising enemy means to attack, espe- loss must have considerably weakened his arm-y, cially on so extended a line; and here the assailant whilst the Prussians were Ihlling back upon their has the advantage. Fault has been found with the reinforcements-and, above all, that IalrshalBliu her Duke of Wellington for having no artillery and very commanded them. The Prussian army Nwas concentew cavalry upon the 16th. No portion of either trated at Wavres at an early hour, and commlunicawere with the reserve at Brussels, which is remark- tion took place between the Duke of Wellington able, particularly as regards the artillery.* and Blucher, by which a junction of the army was The spirited manner in which the allied marshals arranged for the succeeding day at Waterloo.4 The adhered to their plans of defence previously agreed retrograde movement of the Prussians rendered a on, and extricated themselves from the difficulties corresponding one necessary on the part of the which they found themselves placed in, by the British, which was performed in the most leisurely sudden and vigorous attack they had to sustain, and manner, the duke allowing the men time to finish their which their distinct commands tended rather to in- cooking. About ten o'clock, the whole army retired, crease, must command admiration; and since war in three colunns, by Genappe and Nivelles, tois only a great game, where the movements are wards a position at Waterloo-a rear-guard wvas influenced by many events which occur during their left to occupy the ground, so as to conceal the execution and progress-events which human calcu- movement from the enemy, who, about mid-day, delation cannot foresee-it becomes easy to criticise ployed their troops in columns of attack, as if e'xwhen the operations are passed, when all the data pecting to find the English army in position there. on which they rested, or might have rested, are They imInmediately followed up the retreat witlh caknown; but to form a good plan of attack, or a cam- valry and light artillery. An affair of cava lry ocpaign-to act with decision and firmness, and with curred at Genappe, where the 7th hussars attacked a " coup d'oeil," so as immediately to profit by the a French regiment of lancers without success; upoin changes which incessantly take place, can be said which the heavy cavalry were brought up by the of very few men of the many who have ever arrived Marquis of Anglesea, who checked the enemy's ad. at the command of an army. vance by a vigorous and decisive charge. On the morning of the 17th, the British troops As the troops arrived in position in front of Mont remained in possession of Quatre-Bras, where the St-Jean, they took tip the ground they were to mainrest of' the army had joined the Duke of Wellington, tain, which was effected early in the evening. The who was prepared to maintain that position against weather began to be very severe at this period. the French army, had the Prussians remained in the The whole French army, under Bonaparte, with position of Ligny, so as to give him support. the exception of two corps under Grouchy (32,000 Marshal Blucher had sent an aide-de-camp to men, and 108 guns), took up a position immediately inform the duke of his retreat, who was unfortun- in front; and, after some cannonading, both arinies ately killed; and it was not until seven o'clock on remained opposite to each other during the night, the 17th, that Lord Wellington learned the direc- the rain falling in torrents. The duke had already tion which the Prussians had taken. A patrol, sent communicated with Marshal Bluchler, who proat day-lightto communicate with the Prussians, ad- mised to come to his support with the whole of his vanced beyond Brie and Sombref, which confirmed army, on the morning of the 18th. It was consequently decided upon to cover Brussels (the preservphlus o moins bonnes. Un Anglais pourrait etre compti ation of which was of such importance, in every pour lean Francais; et deux Hollandais, Prussiens, oe point of view, to the King of the Netherlands), by Ahomnmes de Ia colnfldration, pour anm Flraais. Les maintaining the position of Mont St-Jean. The inlarmees ennexmies itraient sattoennees seoas de coemmande- tention of the allied chiefs, if they were not attacked.ne.t de deix girax dts e teens IAet fe.rm eis de dex an- on the 18th, was to have attacked the enemy on the tions rieisles d'inztrets et de sentimelns." His armry, on 9 ]9th. the contrary, was under one chief, the idol of his soldiers, who were of the best description-veterans who had fought Since we are now arrived at the position of Mont in the brilliant campaign of 1813-l14, and draughts from the St-Jean, it may be necessary to offer a few remarks numerous garrisons who had since entered France from as regards the position itself, which has been consiAntwerp, Hamnburg, Magdeburg, Dantzic, Mentz, Alex- dered as a bad one by some writers,t and solme andria, Mantua, etc., with the numerous prisoners from England. Liv. ix, p. 201. t Muffing, p. 20, says, "that Blucher only asked for * Three brigades of iron eighteen-pounders were pre- tinle to distribute food and cartridges to his men." paring at Brussels, but not in a state of forwardness to be t Montholon, vii, p. 134. Liv. ix, pp. 123-'h)7. Gturyaud, sent to Waterloo. p. 131. APPENDIX. 837 loose allusions to its defects thrown out; but more is another farm-house and wood immediately behind particularly fixing upon its not affording a secure Mont St-Jean, and in front of the entrance of the retreat, in tile event of the enemy's attack having forest; which would have enabled us to keep open proved successfill. Previous, however, to entering that entrance. By occupying these points, we into any disquisition as to the merits of the position might have at any timle effected a retreat; and with of Mont St-Jean, it may be well to consider a few sufficient leisure to have allowed all the guns, that of the conditions that are judged essential in a were in a state to be moved, to file off into the fogreater or less degree, for every position taken up rest. Undoubtedly, had our centre been broken by by an army. The first requisite is, that the ground the last attack of the enemy,4 a considerable part in front, within cannon-shot, should be well seen; of our artillery must have been left behind, a numand every point of approach with musket-shot, well ber of guns disabled, and many men and horses discovered.-2d, That the ground which is occu- killed and wounded; these must have fallen into pied should admtnit of a free communication for the enemy's hands; also the brigades at. the points troops and guns, from right to left, and from front attacked, which were placed rather in firont of the to rear, in order to move supports wherever they infantry, and remained until the last, firing grapenlay be wanted; also that, by the sinuosities of the shot into theenemy's columns. The men and horses glound, or other cover, such movements may be would have saved themselves with the infantry, and made unseen by the enemy. —3d, That your flanks soon found a fresh equipment in the fortresses. rest on some support, secure from being turned- The troops at Hougounmont would have been cut And, lastly, that your retreat be insured, in the off had that attack succeeded, but their retreat was event of your position being forced or turned. open, either upon the corps of 16,000 men left at The site of the position of Mont St-Jean, and the Halle to cover Brussels, or upon Braine la Leud, features ofthe ground round it, have been so often which was occupied by a brigade of infantry, who and well described, that we may conclude it to be had strengthened their post; between which and familiar to most people; and hence the possession our right flank a brigade of cavalry kept a commuof these necessary conditions will be already evi- nication open. From Braine la Leud there is a very dent. The easy slope from our front into the valley, good road through the forest by Alenmbert to Brusfiom whence it rises in an ascent equally gentle and sels, by which the troops and artillery of our right regular, to the opposite heights, on which the enemy flank could have effected their retreat. If we now were posted at the distance of about a mile, or a suppose that the enemy, instead of our right centre, mile and a half, gave it, in an eminent degree, the had broken our left centre by the great attack he condition stated in the first remark. The two made on it at three o'clock, Ohain afforded nearly chauss6es, running nearly perpendicular to our line, the same advantage to the left of our army, that -the valley immediately in rear of our first line, Braine la Lend would have done on the right. A and parallel to it, with two country roads passing road leads from it through the forest to Brussels; in the same direction; also the openness of the or that wing might have retired on the Prussians at country,-gave the position the requisites men- Wavres: so that, had either of these two grand attinned in the second. Tile same valley afforded tacks succeeded, the retreat into the defiles of the cover for the support of the first line; also for its forest need not have been precipitated. It is no artillery, and spare ammunition-waggons; whilst fault of our troops to take alarm and lose confidence the second line and reserves, placed on and behind because they find themselves turned or partially the next ridge, and about 500 or 600 yards in rear beaten. 01' this many instances might be given. of the first, were tunseen from the enemy's position, The best proof, however, is, that the enemy can although certainly so far exposed, that many of his scarcely claim having made a few hundred prisonshot and shells, which passed over the first line, ri- ers during the whole of the last war, No success coched into the second, and amongst the reserves. on the part of the enemy, which they had a right to IThe third requisite, as far as regards the security calculate on, coull have then piecipitated us into of' the flankls, was completely obtained, by the oc- the forest in total disorder. The attacks we suscupation of thle village of Braine la Lent on its tained to the last on the 18th were as determiined right, whicli would have been entrenched, bhut for and severe as can he conceived. Still, to tile last, an accidental misunderstanding of orders; and La a part of the reserve and the cavalry had not sufLiaye and Ohain on the left; also by both flanks fered much; whereas the French cavally (heavy) being thriown back on the forest of Soignies. had all been engaged before five o'clock, and were That our retreat, in case of a reverse, was suf- lot in a state, from the severe losses they had sitficiently pIrovided for, we trust, notwithstanding the taimed, to take advantage of a victory.f criticism above noticed, to establish in a satisfac- * About half past seven. tory nmanner. Our position was sufficiently in ad- t See liv. ix, p. 1i6. uAitsi d cinq kerenes epr/s nidi, vance of the entrlance of the chaussee into the fos- En-rele se tron-sav sas cy ir one reserve de cevclerie. Si, rest, to give a free approach fi'om every part of the & ahti eteres et deai, cette reserve edt existM," etc., etc. field to that point; wvhic.h the uninclosed state of It is singular how great soldiers, in reporting military actions, will contradict each other. Napoleon ascribes the.the countryp afforded the troops every mean*s of pro- *loss of the battle in great measure to his cavalry being so fitring by. Had our first position been forced, the soon aldgenerally eugaged,that hehad not a reserve left no village of' AMont St-Jean, at the junction of the two protect his retreat. General Foy, on the contrary, affirms, chalrtss es, alorl-ded an excellent centre of support that it was not the French, but the British cavally, which for a second, vlhich the enemy would have had was annihilated at Waterloo.-CzGerre ce la Peninsule, equal difficulty in carrying;-besides which there p. 116, Note. 838 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. But suppose we had been driven into the wood in The morning of the 18th, and part of the forea state of deroute, similar to what the French were, noon, were passed by the enemy in a state of supinethe forest did not keep us hermetically sealed up, ness, for which it was difficult to account. Trhe as an impenetrable marsh did the defeated troops at rain had certainly retarded his movements, more Austerlitz. The remains of our shattered battalions particularly that of bringing his artillery into posiwould have gained the forest and found thenlselves tion; yet it was observed, that this,had been accoamin security. It colsists of tall trees without under- plished at an early hour. In Grouchy's publication, wood, passable alnost anywhere for men and horses. we find a reason which may have caused this delay; The troops could, therefore, have gained the chaus- namely, that Napoleon's ammunition had been so s6e through it, and when we at last canme to confine much exhausted in the preceding actions, that there ourselves to the defence of the entrance to the was only a sufficiency with the army for an action of' forest, every person, the least experienced in war, eight hours. Bonaparte states * that it was necesknows the extreme difficulty in forcing infantry froml sary to wait until the ground was suffliciently dried, a wood which cannot be turned. A few regiments, to enable the cavalry and artillery to manoeuvre;-t with or without artillery, would have kept the whole however, in such a soil; a few hours could make French army in check, even if they had been as very little difference, particularly as a drizzling fiesh as the day they crossed the frontiers.* Indeed, rain continued all the morning, and indeed after the the forest in our rear gave us so evident an advan- action had comnmenced. The heavy fall of rain on tage, that it is difficult to believe that an observa- the night of the 17thl to 18th, was no doubt more distion to the contrary was made by Napoleon. Could advantageous to the enemy than to the troops unlder he quite forget his own retreat? It little availed him Lord Wellington; the latter vere in position, and to have two fine chlaussdes, and an open country in had few movements to make; whilst the enemny's his rear; his matbriel was all abandoned, and not columns, and particularly his cavalry, were much even a single battalion kept together. fatigued and impeded by the state of the grounlld, The two farms in front of the position of Mont St- which, with the trampled corn, caused theni to adJean gave it its principal strength. That of Hou- vance more slo ly, and kept them longer under fire. goumont, with its gardens and inclosures, could con- On the other hand, the same causes delayed tile tain a force sufficient to make it a most important Prussians iin their junction, which tliey had propost. La laye Sainte was too small for that pur- mnised to effect at eleven o'clock; and obliged Lordtl pose; otherwise its situation on the Genappe chaus- Wellington to maintain the position alone, nearly see, in the centre of the position, rendered it better eight hours longer than had been calculated ul)tn. adapted for that purpose. These farms lay onl the About twelve o'clock, the enemy commnenced the slope of the valley, about 1500 yards apart, in front action by an attack upon lougoumtt ont, with several of our line; so that no column of the enemy could columns, preceded by numerous light troops, v; s1, pass between them, without being exposed to a after severe skirmishing, drove the Nassau trolops flank fire. Indeed without these posts, the ground from the wood in its front, and established themselves gave us little advantage over our enemly, except the in it. This attack was supported by the constant loss he must be necessarily exposed to in advancing -fire of a numerous artillery. A battalion of the in column upon a line already fixed. Guards occupied the house and gardens, with tle From these observations it will appear that our other inclosures, which afforded great faiciliies for retreat was well secured, and that the advantages defence; and after a severe contest, and immense of the position for a field of battle were very con- loss, the enemy -were repulsed, and a great part of siderable; so that there was little risk. but that it the wood regained.?* would have been successfully defended, evemn if the, Prussians hadl by " solmle fatality " been hsrevented and on an arena which may be considered as fair a one as fromn forming a junctione. fThe difculties of the could well have offered in the chances of war. The British roads, firom the sevele rlains, detatled tllern firon) troops, however, were not composed of our best regiments, at least our infantry, nor equal to that army which ha(d been joining tus, at least double the time that was calcu- in tie precedieg year in the south ofFr.nce. Many of the lated upon. WVe hand therefore to sustain the attack most efficien' regiments had been sent to America; first a of a superior army so much longer; yet thley were brigade fi'ron Bordeaux to Washington; another to Cal ada; not able to make any impression. Every attack had and afterwards a force fromn Portsmouth to New Orleans. been most successfilly repulsed; and we may safely None of these returned in time for Waterloo, thloughl they infer that, even if the Prussians had not joined in were oia their 7wa/.-Liv. ix, p. 203. It has been shlown how time, we would still have been able to maintain our the French army was olnposed. position, and repulse the enemy, but mighlt have been * Liv. ix. perhaps unable, as was tile case at Talavera, to t Iont'ol' liv. ii,. 136. profit by this advantage, or to follow up our sic- 55 Bonaparte, liv. ix,p 142, says, tha at he saw with pleasure that the English Guards were placed on our right, as they.cess. were our best troops, which rendered his prenmedilated ~ On the lGtlh, at Quatre-Bras, the 33d regiment (British), attack on our left more easy. Our Guards are not, as is the and afterwards two battalions of the Guards, when obliged case in other armies, the elite of our army; they are riot to give way to an attack of the enemy, and pursued by the selected, as in other services, from the hest soldiers ith French cavalry, saved themselves in the wood of Bossus, olher regiments, but are recruited exactly as troops of tihe formed along the skirts of it, and repelled the enemy, with line, except that they are required to be sosmeswhat tal er. severe loss. It may be here remnarked, the great superiority in a)l. ear+t ine armies wvere now placed under their favourite corn- ance, that the French and othler troops possesie:d over oanrs lmanders, as the mnilitary of both nations had long wished; at the close of the war. The node cf recruiting accounlts APPENDIX. 839 During the early part of the day, the action was cavalry (the Ist and 2d dragoons) wheeled round almost entirely confined to this part of the line, ex- the 92d regiment, and took the column in flank; a cept a galling fire of artillery along the centre, which total rout ensued; the French, throwing down their was vigoroulsly returned by our guns. This fire arms, ran into our position to save themselves fiom gradually extended towards the left, and some de- being cut down by the cavalry; many were killed, monstrations of an attack of cavalry were made by and two eagles, with 2000 prisoners, taken. But the enemy. As the troops were drawn up on the the cavalry pursued their success too far, and being slope of the hill, they suffered most severely from fired upon by one of the other columns, and at the the enemy's artillery. In order to remedy this, same time, when in confusion, being attacked by Lord Wellington moved them back about 150 or some French cavalry, who had been sent to support 200 yards, to the reverse slope of the hill, to shelter the attack, the British were obliged to retire with them from the direct fire of the guns; our artillery in considerable loss. In this attack the enemy had consequence remained in advance, that they might brought forward several pieces of artillery, which see into the valley. This movement was made be- were captured by our cavalry; the horses in the tween one and two o'clock by the duke in person; guns were killed, and we were obliged to abandon it was general along the front or centre of the posi- the guns. General Ponsonby, who commanded the tion, on the height to the right of La Haye Sainte. cavalry, was killed. The gallant Sir Thomas Picton It is by no means improbable, that the enemy con- also fell, leading on his division to repel this atsidered this movement as the commencement of a tack.* The number of occurrences which crowded retreat, since a considerable portion of our troops on the attention rendered it impossible for any indiwere withdrawn fronm his sight, and determined in vidual to see the whole action, and in the midst of consequence to attack our left centre, in order to noise, bustle, and personal danger, it is difficult to get possession of the buildings, called Ferrne de note the exact time in which the event happens.t Mont St-Jean, or of the village itself, which corn- It is only afterwards, in discussing the chances manded the point of junction of tile two chauss6es. and merits of each, that such questions become of The attacking columns advanced on the Genappe interest, which may in some measure account fobr the chaussee, and by the side of it; they consisted of discrepancy of the statements of officers present, as four columns of infantry (d'Erlon's corps, which was to the time and circumstances of some of the princinot engaged on the 16th), thirty pieces of artillery, pal events. ZFrom this period, half past two, until and a large body of cuirassiers (Milhaud's). On the the end of the action, the British cavalry were left of this attack, the French cavalry took the lead scarcely engaged, but remained in readiness in the of the infantry, and had advanced considerably, second line.** After the French cuirassiers had rewhen the Duke of Wellington ordered the heavy formed, and were strongly reinforced,tt they again cavalry (Life Guards) to charge them as they as- advanced upon our position, and made several descended the position near La Haye Sainte. They perate attacks upon our infantry, who immediately were driven back on their own position, where the formed into squares, and maintained themselves with chauss6e, being cut into the rising ground, leaves the most determined courage and coolness. Some steep hanks on either side. In this confined space time previous to this, about three o'clock, an attack they fought at sword's length for some minutes, until was made upon La Haye Sainte, which is merely the enemy brought down some light artillery from a small farm-house; it was occupied by two compathe heights, when the British cavalry retired to nies of the German Legion. The enemy had adtheir own position. The loss of the cuirassiers did vaunced beyond it, so that the communication was not appear great. They seemed immediately to re- cut off for some time, and it could not be reinfbrced. form their raks, and soon after advanced to attack The troops having expended their ammunition, the our infantry, who were formed into squares to receive post was carried. A continued fire was kept up at them, beings then unsupported by cavalry. The co- this point, and the enemy was soon afterwards lumns of infantry, in the meantime, pushed forward obliged to abandon it, without being able to avail on ozur left of the Genappe chaussee, beyond La himself of it as a point of support for his attackiJng Haye Sainte, which they did not attempt in this columns. The house was too small for a sufficient attack to take. A Belgian brigade of infantry, number of troops to maintain themselves so close to formed in front, gave way, and these columns crown- our position, under such a heavy fire. ed the position. When Sir Thomas Picton moved The French cavalry, in the attack on the centre of tip the brigade of General Pack from the second our line, above mentioned, were not supported by line (the 92d regiment in fi-ont), which opened a fire on the column just as it gained the height, and ad- * Rogniat, p. 231, blames both generals for the too early vanced upon it, when within thirty yards, the column employment of their cavalry. In the case here meatioesed, hle began to hesitate; at this moment a brigade of heasy says, the success was " contre toute probabi/it,2 as the cavalry charged ulnbroken infantry. The head of the attackAir this. Even our militia were much supel;ior in this ing columns lad, however, been already shaken ly the point of view to the troops of the line, and Inost of the best charge of the 92d regiment, which took place nearly at the men were obtained from them. Our recruits were in general moment the cavalry charged. composed of the population of large cities, or of manufac- t Muffling, p. 6(i, observes, " La ftSclee etait si petisse turing towns, certainly not the best specimens of our popu- que persontne sle 7oyait l'esenible de l'ctcionl." lation; the military service is not in any estimation amongst * Liv. ix, p.209, Bonaparte says, "L'ifanterie AnegIaise our peasantry, whilst the French army was composed of a ete/ferme et solidle. La carvaleie poun-ait amiettxfaire.' the picked men of thirty millions, and other nations in it Rogniat,. 231, says, they amoanted to 12,000, including proportion. other heavy cavalry. 840 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. infantry. They came on, however, with the greatest to result from their remaining in our position, was courage, close to the squares of our infantry; the preventing the fire of our guns on the columns which artillery, which was somewhat in advance, kept up afterwards fornled near La Belle Alliance, in order aswell-directed fire upon them as they advanced, but to debouche for a new attack. The galling fire of on their nearer approach, the gunners were obliged the infantry, however, forcing the French cavalry at to retire into the squares, so that the guns were length to retire into the hollow ground, to cover actually in possession of' the enemy's cavalry, who themselves, the artillerymen were again at their could niot, however keep possession of them, or even guns, and, being in advance of the squares, saw spike them, if they had the means, in consequence completely into the valley, and, by their well-directed of the heavy fire of musketry to which they were fire, seemed. to make gaps in them as they re-formed exposed. The French accounts say, that several to repeat this useless expenditure of' lives. Had squares were broken, and standards taken, which is Bonaparte been nearer thle front, he surely would decidedly false; on the contrary, the small squares have prevented this useless sacrifice of his best constantly repulsed the cavalry, whom they ge- troops. Indeed, the attack of cavalry at this period, nerally allowed to advance close to their bayonets is only to be accounted for by supposing the British before they fired. They were driven back with loss army to be in retreat; he had had no time to avail on all points, and the artillerymen immediately himself of his powerful artillery to make an impresresumed their guns in the most prompt manner, and sion on that part of tle line he meant to attack, as opened a severe and destructive fire of grape-shot had always been his custom, otherwise it was not on them as they retired. * availing himselfof the superiority lie possessed; and After the failure of the first attack, the French it was treating his enemy with a contempt, which had little or no chance of success by renewing it; from what he had experienced at Quatre-Bras, could but the officers, perhaps ashamed of the failure of not be justified.+ He allows, in liv. Ix, p. 156, such boasted troops, endeavoured repeatedly to that this charge was made too soon, — but that it bring them back to charge the squares: but they was necessary to support it, and that the Cuirassiers could only be brought to pass between them, and of Kellermann, 3000 in numberl, were consequently round them; they even penetrated to our second ordered forwvard to maintain the position. And at line, where they cut down some stragglers and pp. 196 and 157, liv. Ix, he allows that the Grenaartillery-drivers, who were with the limbers and diers-a-cheval, and Dragoons of the Guard, which amnlunition-waggous. They charged the Belgian were in reserve, advanced without orders; that he squares in the second line, with no better success, sent to recal them, but, as they were already enand upon some heavy Dutch cavalry showing them- gaged, any retrograde movement -would then have selves, they soon retired. been dangerous. Thus, every attack of the enemy If the enemy supposed us in retreat, then such an had been repulsed, and a severe loss inflicted. The attack of cavalry might have led to the most impor- influence this must have had on the " morale " of tant results; but by remaining so uselessly in our each army, was much in favour of the British, and position, and passing and repassing our squares of the probability of' success on the part of the enemy infantry, they suffered severely by their fire; so was consequently diminished from that period. much so, that, before the end of' the action, when The enemy now seemed to concentrate their arthey might have been of great use, either in the at- tillery, particularly on the left of' the Genappe tack, or in covering the retreat, they were nearly chauss6e, in ftont of La Belle Alliance, and corndestroyed.t The only advantage which appeared menced a heavy fire (a large proportion of his guns were 12-pounders) on that part of our line extending * The cavalry came up to one of the squares at a trot, and from behind La Haye Sainte towards Hougouloont. appeared to be hanging back as if expecting our fire: they Our infantry sheltered themselves, by lying down closed round two sides of it, having a front of seventy or behind the ridge of the rising ground, and bore it eighty men, and came so close to one angle, that they ap- with the most heroic patience. Several of our guns peared to try to reach over the bayonets with theirsswords. had been disabled, and mlany artillerymnen killed The squares were generally formed four deep, roundd at and wounded, so that this fire was scarcely returnthe angles; on the approach of the cavalry two files fire'd, ed; but when the new point of attack was no loner the others reserving their fire, the cavalry then turned, doubtful, two brigades were t from Lord and it is not easy to believe how few fell,-only one officer HillIs cors on the rigt, and vere ofmost essential and-tosso men; no doubt inainy were weounded, hut dl t Hill's corps on the right, and were of nost essential and-two men; no doubt many were wounded, but did not fall from their horses. Many squares fired at the distance serIce. of Ihirty paces, with no other effect. In fact, our t-roops may here he proper ti considel the si tuation of fired too high, which nlust have been noticed by the most the Prussian army, and the assistance they haid rencasual observer. dered up to this time, about six o'clock. t It has been said, that if the enemy had hromtg.ht up in- attack of Lord Hill's corps on the Nive; ile guns were fantry and light artillery, our squares must have given harnessed, so as to allow them to fire as they advanced, lut way. This would no doubt have been preferable; but then the horses were soon killed or disabled, and tie guns were our reserve and cavalry would have been moved forward to abandoned when the attack was repulsed. check the cavalry, and the squares would have probably re- $ This was what Marmont had done at the Aripiles, at pelled the attack of the infantry. The enemy had tried to the battle of Salamanca, and for which he suffered so seobring guns with the attacking columns, on our left., early verely. in the day; the consequence was, that the horses were t Muffling, p. 27, says, after this attack, which he states killed tbefore they had advanced far, so that they could not to be at four o'clock, " La bataille avait eWt trhs-sanglante, follow the movements of the infantry, and were left behlld. morais i ty avait poinrt de danger pour l'arsTze Anglaise.*A similar attempt was made in the south of France, in the Be says it was then five o'clock. APPENDIX. 841 The British army had sustained several severe of the French.* He was so far from the right of the attacks, which had been all repulsed, and no ad- French, that his fire of artillery was too distant to vantage of any consequence had been gained by the produce any effect, and was chiefly intended to give enemy. They had possessed part of the wood and us notice of his arrival.k It was certainly past five garden of Hougoumont, and La Haye Sainte, which o'clock before the fire of the Prussian artillery++ latter they were unable to occupy. Not a square was observed from our position, and it soon seemed had been broken, shaken, or obliged to retire. Our to cease altogether. It appears they had advanced, infantry continued to display the same obstinacy, the and obtained some success, but were afterwards same cool, calculating confidence in themselves, in driven back to a considerable distance by the their commander, and in their officers, which had French, who sent a corps under General Lobau to covered them with glory in the long and arduous keep them in check.tt About half' past six, the 1st war in the Peninsula. From the limited extent of Prussian corps came into communication with our the field of battle, and the tremendous fire their co- extreme left near Ohain. lunmns were exposed to, the loss of the enemy could The effective state of the several armies may be not have been less than 15,000 killed and wounded. considered to be as follows:Two eagles, and 2000 prisoners, had been taken, The army under the Duke of Wellington amounted, and their cavalry nearly destroyed. We still occu- at the commencement of the campaign, to 75,000 men, pied nearly the same position as we did in the morn- including every description of force, ~~~ of which ing, but our loss had been severe, perhaps not less nearly 40,000 were English, or the King's German than 10,000 killed and wounded. Our ranks were Legion. Our loss at Quatre-Bras amounted to 4500 fa rther thinned by the numbers of men who carried killed and wounded, which reduced the army to off the wounded, part of whom never returned to the 70,500 men; of these about 54,000 were actually field; the number of Belgian and Hanoverian troops, engaged at Waterloo; about 32,000 were composed many of whom were young levies, that crowded to of British troops, or the King's German Legion, inthe rear, was very considerable, besides the number eluding cavalry, infantry, and artillery; the reof our own dismounted,dragoons, together with a mainder, under Prince Frederick, took no part in proportion of our infantry, some of whom, as will al- the action, but covered the approach to Brussels ways be found in the best armies, were glad to es- from Nivelles, and were stationed in the neighbourcape from the field. These thronged the road lead- hood of IIalle. The French force has been variously ing to Brussels, in a manner that none but an eye- stated, and it is not easy to form a very accurate witness could have believed,* so that perhaps the statementof their strength. Batty gives it at 127,000; actual force tinder the Duke of Wellington at this that is the number which crossed the frontiers. tine, half past six, did not amount to more than Liv. Ix, p. 69, it is given at 12'2,000. Gourgand 34,000 men. We had at an early hour been in reduces it to 115,000; of these, 21,000 were cavalry, communication with some patrols of Prussian ca- and they had 350 guns. Let us, however, take the valry on our extreme left. A Prussian corps, under statement in liv. Ix, and say, Bulow, had marched from Wavres at an early hour to 122,000 inanoeuvre on the right and rear of the French army, 5,300 Deduct left at Charleroi. Liv. ix, p. 92.tfft but a large proportion of the Prussian army were still on the heights above Wavres, after thle action 116,700 had commenced at Waterloo.t The state of the 10,350 Loss adt Quatre-BrasandLigny. Liv. ix,pp 106. roads, and the immense train of artillery they carried, 106,35 detained Bellow's corps for a remarkably long time; 0 20 f Left at Ligny. (Grouchy, p. 8). Liv. ix, p. 193, they had not more than twelve or fourteen miles to 200 this is stated at 3,000. march. At one o'clock,** the advanced guard of 103,150 this corps was discovered by the French; about two 32,000 With Grouchy. (Groucshy, p. 8). o'clock the patrols of Bulow's corps were discovered from part of our position. The French detacheda some light cavalry to observe them, which was the This number, however, is certainly underrated; and only diversion that had taken place up to this time. there is little doubt but Bonaparte had upwards of At half-past four, Blucher had joined in person Bu- 75,000 men under his inlmediate commani d on the low's corps, at which time two brigades of infantr'y 18th June. ++** and some cavalry were detached to act on the right Bonaparte, liv. ix, pp. 117,162, states the Prussian * See Muffling, p. 32, who makes the number amount to * See Muffling, pp. 30, 31, near Frischemont. 10,000, and there is little doubt but that he is correct. A t Ibid. p. 31. regiment of allied cavalry, whose uniform resembled the r Bulow's corps. French, having fled to Brussels, an alarm spread that the tt Liv. ix, p. 155, Bonaparte says it was seven o'clock enemy were at the gates. Numbers of those who had wlhen Loban repulsed them. quitted the field of battle, and,-let the truth be spoken, — ** Of these about 12,700 were cavalry. Englishmen too, fled from the town, and never halted until ttt Liv. ix, p. 193, this force is stated a 4 rt 5000hommes." they reached Antwerp. This fact is too well attested to be,*"* Muffling, p.!58, mentions, that Bonaparte stated to doubted. some general officer on the morning of the 58th, that he had t Muffling, p. 29. At four o'clock, he says,; II a'avait 75,000 Inen, and the English only 50,000. Liv. ix, p. 193, by pas encore paru in hommded oette armce." taking Bonaparte's own account in this part of the book,'+ See Soult's letter to Grouchy, dated from the field of upon calculation it will be seen that he there allows that battle at half east one o'clock. he had upwards of74,000. VLO. AT.'106 84W2 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. force concentrated at Wavres to be 75,000 men. a much longer period than was calculated. Lord Grouchy, p. 9, makes it 95,000. It is, however, Wellington, however, showed no anxiety as to the generally understood that they had not above 70,000 result. The corps of Lord Hill, several Belgian with the army at Wavres. battalions, and a considerable portion of the caIt may be necessary here to refer to the operations valry, had been little engaged. He knew the of the corps under Grouchy, who were detached in troops he had under his command, and seemed pursuit of the Prussians. It appears, that at twelve confident to be able to maintain his position, even o'clock on the 17th, Bonaparte was ignorant of' the if the Prussians did not arrive before night. The direction the Prussian arnmy had taken. a It was army was not aware of their approachll, nor did lie generally supposed that it was towards Namur. think it necessary to animate their exertions by this At that hoilr, Bonaparte ordered Grouchy,' with intelligence. Bonaparte, on tile contrary, thought 32,000 rllen, to follow them. As the troops were proper to revive the drooping spirits of his troops, much scattered, it was three o'clock before they even of his Guards, who had not yet been engaged, were in movement, and they did not arrive at Genm- by sending his aide-de-camp Lab6doyere to iniform bloux before the night of the 17th, when Grouchy them, as they were about to advance,* that Groninformed Bonaparte of' the direction the Prussian chy had joined their right flank, and even deceived army had taken. Hle discovered the rear-guard of' Ney hinmself by this false intelligence. the Prussians near WVavres about twelve o'clock on The above detail has been entered into for the the 18th, and at two o'clock he attacked Wavres, purpose of showilg the state of the armies towards which was obstinately defended by General Thiel- the close of the day. Bonaparte was now aware of mann, and succeeded in obtaining possession of a tile powerful dliversion the Prussians were about to part of the village. By the gallant defence of this make, but at the same time seems to have imagined post by General Thielnmann, Grouchy was induced that Grouchy would be able to paralyse their moveto believe that the whole Prussian army was be- nients. He therefore resolved to make a last fore him. Blucher, however, had detached Bulow's desperate effort to break the centre of the British corps (4th) at an early hour upon Chapelle Lam- army, and carry their position before the attack of' bert, to act on the rear of the French army. The,the Prussians could take effect. movement of this corps was, however, much de- The Imperial Guard ihad been keit in reserve, layed by a fire which happened at Wavres, and by and had been for some tinle formled on the heights the bad state of the roads; so that they had great extending from La Belle Alliance, towards Houdifficulty in bringing up the numerous artillery they goumont, which supported their left flank They carried with this corps, which prevented them from had not yet been eligaged. attacking the enemy before half-past four o'clock. Y* About seven o'clock they advanced in two coThe 2d Prussian corps marched upon Chapelle luimns,t leaving four battalions in reserve. They Lambert and Lasne; and at a later period of the were commanded by Ney, who led lem on. At day, t- the 1st corps moved inthe direction of Ohain. tle same time, they pushed on some llght tloops il The 3d corps was also to have supported the 4th tihe direction of La Haye. The advance of these and 2d corps. Blucher was not aware of the large columns of the Guards was supported by a heavy force under Grouchy who attacked the 3d corps, as fire of artillery. Our infantry, who had been posted it was preparing to leave Wavres; and obliged it on the reverse of the hill, to be sheltered( froin the to take tup a position on the Dyle, between Limale fire of the guns, were instantly moved forward by and Wavres, whlere he afterwards ordered it to Lord Wellington. General Maitland's brigade of maintain itself' as well as it could. Guards, and General. Adam's brigade (52d alnd 71st The British army, at this eventfull period of tile regiments, and 95th rifles), met this fornlidable day, amounted to about 34,000 men (allowing 10,000 attack. They were flanked by two brigades of arkilled and wounded, and 10,000 more who had left tillery, who kept up a destructive fire on the adthe field); ** 18,000 of whom were English. The vancing columns. Our troops waited for their enemy may have had about 45,000 immediately op- approach with their characteristic coolness, until posed to us, allowing 20,000 killed, wounded, and they were within a short distance of our line, when taken prisoners; and 10,000 men detached to act they opened a well-directed fire upon them.'Thle against tile Prussians. line was formed four deep. The men fired indeThe assistance of tile Prussians had been expect- pendently, retirirg a few paces to load, and then ed it an early honulr,t+t which had indiuceul Lord advanced and fired, so that their fire never ceased Wellington to accept a battle; so that the British for a lmomnent. The French, headed by their gal. army hlad to bear the whole brunt of the action for lant leader, still advanced, notwithstanding thle severe loss they sustained by this file, which appa" Greolche, p. 13. -rently seemed to check their movement. They ft GrozcLchy. were now within about fifty yards of our line, when See Aleliug, pp. 22, 31,G2. Gourgatul, pp.9S and ), they attempted to deploy, ill order to return the says it was half past four when General Dumont informed e. Or line appeared to be closing rond them. 13onaparte of their arrival. fiie. Our line appeared to be closing round tlhem. tt aiv. ix, pp 1I, 1t6I9, Bonalparte makes 3ulow's attack They could not, however, deploy under such a after uismakes Blow's aet fire; and fiorn the miomeint they ceased to advance,.'* See Ahfiling,, p. 32. their chance of success was over. They now tt MIuiffling, p. 62, says it was hoped the Prussian army could have attacked at two o'clock, hut that it was iialf ipast' Liv. ix, p. 167. Ney's letter. four before a cannon was fired by themt. t See Lord Wellington's dispatches. APPENDIX. 843 formed a confused mass, and at last gave way, valry, and drove them back. They suffered more retiring in the utmost confusion. They were imme- severely, perhaps, than the first line, frlon the fire diately pursued by the light troops of General of the enemy's artillery, and, at the close of the ac Adam's brigade. This decided the battle. The tion, advanced in support of the first line withgreat enemy had now exhausted his means of attack. steadiness and regularity. He had still, however, the four battalions of the The Prussians, who had made only a short march Old Guard in reserve. Lord Wellington imme- during the day, pursued the enemy with such vigour, diately ordered the whole line to advance to attack that they were unable to rally a single battalion. their position, The enemy were already attempting The British army halted on the field of battle. They a retreat. These battalions forned a square to once attempted to make a show of resistance at cover the retreat of the flying columns, flanked by Genappe, where, perhaps, if they had had a chief a few guns, and supported by some light cavalry to direct them, they might have maintained them(red lancers). selves until day-light, the situation of the village The first Prussian corps had now joined our ex- being strong; this might have given them the means treme left. They had obtained possession of the of saiing at least the semblance of an army. The ivillage of La Haye, driving out the French light second Prussian corps was afterwards detached to troops who occupied it. Bulow, with the fourth intercept Grouchy, who was not aware of the result corps, had some time previous to this made an un- of the battle until twelve o'clock next day. He had successful attack upon the village of Planclienoit, in succeeded in obtaining some advantage over Gethe rear of the enemy's right wing, and being joined neral Thielmann, and got possession of Wavres. by the second corps (Pirch's), was again advancing He immediately retreated towards Namur, where to attack it.* In the meantime, the square of the his rear-guard maintained themselves against all the Old Guard maintained itself, the guns on its flank efforts of the Prussians, who suffered severely in firing upon our light cavalry, who now advanced, their attempt to take the place. This served to and threatened to turn their flank. Our light troops cover his retreat, which he executed with great were close on their front, and our whole line ad- ability, keeping in a parallel line to Blucher, and, vancing, when this body, the " lite," and now the having rallied many of the fuigitives, he brought his only hope of the enemy to cover their retreat, and army without loss to Paris. He had been consisave their army, gave way, and mixed in the gene- dered as lost, and his army made prisoners; this ral confusion and rout, abandoning their cannon and belief was a great cause of the resignation of Bonaall their materiel. It was now nearly dark. Bulow, parte; otherwise, with this army, he could have musupon being joined by Pirch's corps, again attacked tered 70 or 80,000 men; with the fortifications and Planchenoit, which he turned; and then the enemy resources of Paris, which was sufficiently secure abandoned it. He immediately advanced towards against a coup-de-main, it is not likely lie would the Genappe chaussde, and closed round the right have so easily submitted without another struggle, of the French,t driving the enemy before him, and after the brilliant defensive campaign he had made augmenting their confusion. His troops came into the preceding year. The great central d6podts of the high-road, or chauss6e, near Maison du Roi, and Paris and Lyons gave him great advantages, as is Blucher and Wellington having met about the same wvell shown in the introductory chap, liv. ix, and time near La Belle Alliance, it was resolved to p. 181. There are always some turns of fortune in pursue the enemy, and give him no time to rally. the events of war; he might at least have made The loss of the Prussians on the 18th did not exceed terms. The southern and eastern parts of France 800 men. The brunt of the action was chiefly sus- were certainly in his favour; he and his armynv had tained by the troops of the British and King's Ger- been well received there only a few weeks before. man Legion, as their loss will show. In stating this, That army, and a great part of the population, would it mlust be allowed, that much support was afforded still have been glad to make sacrifices to endearvour by the other contingents; burt they were chiefly raw to re-establish the sullied tlstre of his arms. At levies, newly raised, who could not be depended least, the honour of falling sword in hand was in his upon in a situation of importance. Some behaved power. ill, as is publicly known. None were in the first The time of the arrival and co-operation of the line, except the Nassau troops at Hoigoumont, and Prussians, has been variously stated.* The above some on our extreme left. They were placed in the account is perhaps as near the truth as can be. The second line, and in the valley behind the first line, French writers make it at an early hour, to account and on the right, at Braine la Lend. They had ge- more satisfactorily for their defeat. The Prussians nerally been formed with the British brigades of the also make it somewhat earlier than swas actually dilfferent divisions (in the manner Lord Wellington the case, in order to participate more largely in the found so advantageous writh the Portuguiese trools); honours of the day. Their powerfil assis ance has but these arrangements hadjustbeen made. The dif- been acknowledged to its fuill extent. They comferent brigades in a division had not any knowledge pleted the destruction of the French armyl, after of, or confidence iii each other. Many battalions, they had failed in all their attacks against the Briparticiularly somne Belgian troops, in the rear of the first line, stood with firmness against the French ca. Liv. ix, says it was eleven o'clock vller the 1'russi;lls joined. Gourgaud and Montholon copy this. The letter from Soult to Grouchy, dated half past one o'clock, stating ~ Gneisnau says, it was half past seven o'clock before that they were informed by a prisoner of Bunlow's march, Pirch's corps arrived.-See Bluciler's dispatches. and that they thought they discovered his advanced posts t Liv. ix, p. 169. at that hour, completely contradicts this. Liv. ix. i44 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Cish, which continued upwards of seven hours, after capitaine, qui a dit avoir des ordres du gotvernetheir cavalry had been destroyed, their Imperial inelt de me recevoir, et de me conduire en Angleguards driven back, and eagles and prisoners taken, terre, avec ma suite, si cela m'dtait agralhle. iJ and when their means of further attack may be me suis pr6sent6 de bonne foi pour venir me mettre considered as exhausted. The British arry had suf- sous la protection des lois d'Angleterre. Aeussit6t fered severely, and was not in a state to have taken assis A bord du Bellerophon, je fuis str le foyer dai great advantage of the retreat of the French. But peuple Britannique. Si le gouvernement, en donnant *ts safety was never for a moment compromised, des ordres au capitaine du Bellerophon de me reand no calculation could justify the idea, that we cevoir, ainsi que nma suite, n'a voulu que tendre utne would have been so easily defeated and driven from enibuche, il a forfaitA lIhlonneuret fltri son pavilion.,our position, but that the enemy would have been Si cet acte se consommait, ce serait en vain que les so much crippled, that he could not have taken Anglais voudraient parler al'Europe de leur loyaut6, much advantage of our reverses. Even in such a de leurs lois et de leur liberte. La foi Britanniquie case, the arrival of the Pruussians must have obliged se trouvera pyerdwe dans /'hospitalite du Belleaohim to have retired. Muffling has observed, that phon. J'enl appelle A l'histoire; elle dira ql'oln the bold movement of Blucher on the 18th has not ennemi, quifit vingtans la guierre an petuple Anglais, been sufficiently appreciated.' It was bold and vint librement, dans son iiifortune, chercher in asile masterly. Even when he was told that Grouchy sous ses lois. Quelle plus 6clatante prenve pouvritvas in" his rear witl a large force, his plans were il lui donner de son estime et de sa confiance! Mais not shaken, though this might have somewhat re- comment r6pondit-on en Angleterre a une telle rlag(aided his movements. The skilful veteran knew' nanimitd?-On feignit de tendre une omain hospitathat it was on the field of Waterloo where time fate liere a cet ennemi:et quand il se fut livr6 de bonlle of the day was to be decided, and if even Grouchy foi, on l'immola. had attacked Bulow's corps, there was nothing to (Signe) "NAPOLEON. prevent the first and second corps from joining the "A hbord du Belleropllmn, British army by Ohain. Grouchy could only, at 4 Aoit, 1815." farthest, have checked the third and fourth corps. There cannot be a moment's doubt of the anxiety Translation. and exertions of the Prussians to assist on the 18th. The cordiality and frliendship of the Prussians have "I hereby solemnly protest, in the face of Heaven been felt and acknowledged by every officer who and of men, against the violence done me, and against has had occasion to visit Prussia subsequently; this the violation of my amost sacred rights, in forcibly has been particularly the case with the military. disposing of my person and my liberty. This short campaign of "Hours" was a joint I came voluntarily on board of the Bellerophon; operation. The lhonoulrs must be shared. On the I am not a prisoner — am the g;lest of England. I 16th, the Prussians fought at Ligny under the pro- camne on board even at the instigation of the captain, mise of our co-operation, which could not, however, who told me he had orders from the government to be given to the exent it was wished or hoped. On receive me and my suite, and conduct me to En,the 18th, Lord W;Vellington fought at Waterloo, on land, if agreeable to me. I presented myself with the promise of the early assistance of the Prussians, good faith, to put myself under the protection of the which, though unavoidably delayed, was at last given English laws. As soon as I was on board the Bellewith an effect, which perhaps had never before rophon, I was under shelter of the British people. been witnessed. The finest army France ever saw, If the government, in giving orders to the captain of commanded by the greatest and ablest of her chiefs, the Bellerophon to receive me as well as my s!ite, ceased to exist, and in a moment the destiny of only intended to lay a snare for nme, it has forfeited Europe was changed, its honour, and disgraced its flag. If this act be consummrnnated, the English will in vain boast to Eu. rope their integrity, their laws and their liberty. No. 9. British good faithll will be lost in the hospitality of the BONAPARTs PROTEST. Bellerophon. I appeal to history; it will say that an enemiy, who for twenty years wtaged war against Page 747. thIe English people, came voluntarily, in his inisflrtunes, to seek an asylum tunder their laws. WVhat " Jp proteste solennellement ici, a la face du Ciel more brilliant proof could he give of his esteem arid et des hornmres, contre la violence qui m'est faite, his confidence? But what return did England make contre la violation de mes droits les plus sacr6s, en for so much magnanimity?-They feigned to stretch disposant par Ia force de ma personiie et de ma forth a friendly hand to that enemy; anl when he libert6. delivered himself up in good faith, they sacrificed' " Je suis venu lilhrement a bord dut Bellerophon; himil. Je ne suis point prisonnier;.je suis l'hote de I'An- (Signed) "'NAPoLEON. gleterre. J'y sis \enulu a l'instigation m6me du " On board the Bellerophon, 4th August, 1815." I Muffling, p. 61. "I noe s'agit pas de satoir ce quuC'tu gmdral ordinadre eturaitfcait; maais ioze iotrvele tie cette Latture auraif put eut.-rafter le yeleral le plus dislibigule a We have already, in the text, completely refuted perendre des prlcaultiouns, out la rlsolttliou de changer 1'of- the pretence that Bonaparte was ensnared on board feAS4ive viygorezese en simple desmolistration." the Bellerophon. Every expression of Captain APPENDIX. $45 Maitland went to disown any authority to treat with about seven A. M., the Count Las Cases and General Napoleon, or grant him conditions of any kind; nor Lallemand came on board, when, on being shown could lie say more when his private opinion was de- into the cabin, Las Cases asked me if any answer Inanded, than that he had no reason to suppose that had been returned to the letter sent by mie to Sir Napoleon would be ill received in England. This Henry Hotham, respecting Napoleon Bonlaparte was in presence of Captain Sartorius and Captain being allowed to pass for America, either in the Gambier, both of whom Captain Maitland ap- frigates or in a neutral vessel. I informed lhim no pealed to in support of his statement. We do not, answer had been returned, though I hourly expect. however, feel it too much, on the present occasion, ed, in consequence of those dispatches, Sir Henry to copy the letters which passed betwixt Lord Hothamn would arrive; and, as I had told Monsieur Keith, on the one hand, and Captain Maitland, Cap- Las Cases when last on board, that I should send tain Sartorius, and Captain Gambier, on the other. my boat in when the answer came, it was quite unnecessary to have sent out a flag of truce on that "Tonnant, at anchor under Berryhead, account: —there, for the time, the conversation ter7th A-gust, 1815. minated. On their coming on board, I had made " SIR, the signal for the Captain of the Slaney, being desir"Count Las Cases having this morning stated to ous of having a witness to all that might pass. me, that he understood from you, when he was on "' After breakfast (during which Captain Sartorius board the Bellerophon in Basque Roads, on a mission came on board) we retired to the after cabin, when from General Bonaparte, that you were authorized Monsieur Las Cases began on the same subject, and to receive the general and his suite on board the said,'The emperor was so anxious to stop the ship you command, for conveyance to England; and further effusion of blood, that he would go to America that you assured him, at the same time, that both the in any way the English government would sanction, general and his suite would be well received there; either in a neutral, a disarmed frigate, or an English you are to report for my information such observa- ship of war.' To which I replied,' I have no autions as you may consider it necessary to make upon thority to permit any of those measures; but if he these aksertions. chuses to come on board the ship I command, I "I am, Sir, think, under the orders I atn acting with, I may "Your most obedient humble servant, venture to receive him, and carry him to England; "6KEITH, Admiral. but if I do so, I can in no way be answerable for the "Capiaiti Maitland, reception. he may meet with:' (this I repeated Bellerophon.4 several times): when Las Cases said,'I have little doubt, under those circumstances, that you will see "H. M. S. Bellerophon, the emperor on board the Bellerophon.' After some LRD ymouth Sound, th August, 1815. more general conversation, and the above being " MY LORD, frequently repeated, Monsieur Las Cases and Gene" I have to acknowledge the receipt of your lord- ral Lallemland took their leave; and I assure your ship's letter of yesterday's date, informing me that lordship, that I never in any way entered into conCount Las Cases had stated to you, that he had un- ditions with respect to the reception General Bonaderstood fromn me, when he was on board the Belle- parte was to meet with; nor was it at that tinme rophon in Basque Roads, on a mission from General finally arranged that he was to come on board the Bonaparte, that I was. authorized to receive the ge- Bellerophon. In the course of conversation, Las neral and his suite on board the ship I command, Cases asked me, whether I thought Bonaparte for a conveyance to England; and that I assured would be well received in England? to which I him, at the same time, that both the general and his gave the only answer I could do in my situationsuite would be well received there; and directing'That I did not at all know what was the intention me to report, for your lordship's information, such of the British government; but I had no reason to observations as I may consider it necessary to make suppose he would not be well received.' It is here upon these assertions. I shall, in consequence, state, worthy of remark, that when Las Cases camne on to the. best of my recollection, the whole of the board, he assured sne that Bonaparte was then at transaction that took place between Count Las Rochefort, and that it would be necessary for him to Cases and me, on the 14th of July, respecting the go there to report the conversation that had passed embarkation of Napoleon Bonaparte, for the veracity between us (this I can prove by the testimony of of which I beg to refer your lordship to Captain Captain Sartorius, and the first lieutenant of this Sartorius as to what was said in the morning, and ship, to whom I spoke of it at the time), which stateto that officer and Captain Gambier (the Myrmidon ment was not fact; Bonaparte never having quitted having joined me in the afternoon) as to what passed Isle d'Aix, or the frigates, after the 3d. in the evening. " I was therefore much surprised at seeing Mon"' Your lordship being informed already of the sieur Las Cases on board again before seven o'clock flag of truce that came out to mne on the 10th of July, the same evening; and one of the first questions I as well as of everything that occurred on that oc- put to hill was, whether he had been at Rochiefort? casion, I shall confine myself to the transactions of He answered, that, on returning to Isle d'Aix, he the 14th of the same month. found that Napoleon had arrived there. "Early in the morning of that day, the officer of i' Monsiesur Las Cases then presented to me the the watch informed me, a schooner, bearing a flag letter Count Bertrand wrote concerning Bonaparte's of truce, was approaching: on her joining the ship, intention to come on board the ship (a copy of which &846 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. has been transmitted to your lordship by Sir Henry him very much,' she said.' If that is the case,' I Hotham); and it was not till then agreed upon that replied,'I request you will take measures to prevent I should receive him; when either Monsieur Las its being otffered, as it is absolutely impossible I can Cases, or General Gourgaud (I am not positive accept of it; and I wish to spare him the mortificawhich, as I was employed writing my own dispatch- tion, and umyself the pain, of a refusal.' There the es), wrote to Bertrand to inform him of it. While matter dropt, and I heard no more of it, till about paper was preparing to write the letter, I said again half an hour before Bonaparte quitted the Belleroto Monsieur Las Cases,' You will recollect I have phon, when Montholon came to me, and said he was no authority for making conditions of any sort.' desired by Bonaparte to express the hingh sense lihe Nor has Monsieur Las Cases ever started such an entertained of my conduct throughout the whole of idea till the day before yesterday. That it was the transaction: that it had been his intention to not the feeling of Bonaparte, or the rest of his present me with a box containing his portrait, but people, I will give strong proof, drawn from the that he understood I was determined not to accept conversations they have held with ne. it. I said,'Placed as I was, I felt it impossible to "As I never heard the subject mentioned till two receive a present firol himn, though I was highly I days ago, I shall not detail every conversation that flattered at the testimony he had borne to the uphas passed, but confine myself to that period, rightness of my conduct throughout.' Montholon "The night that the squadron anchored at the added,'One of the greatest causes of chagrin he back of Blerryhead, Bonaparte sent for me about feels in not being admitted to an interview with the ten, P. DI., and said lie was informed by Bertrand, that Prince Regent, is, that he had determined to ask as I had received orders to remove him to the Nor- a favour, your being promoted to the rank of rearthunlberland, and wished to know if that was the admiral.' To which I replied,'That would have case; on being told that it was, he requested that I been quite impossible, but I do not the less feel the would write a letter to Bertrand, stating I had such kindness of the intention.' I then said,'I am hurt orders, that it might not appear he went of his own that Las Cases should say I held forth any assuraccord, but that he had been forced to do so. I told ances as to the reception Bonaparte was to meet him I could have no objection, and wrote a letter to with in England.'-' Oh!' said he,' Las Cases is that effect, which your lordship afterwards sanc- disappointed in his expectations: and as he negotioned, and desired me, if he required it, to give him tiated the affair, he attributes the emperor's situation a copy of the order. to himself: but I can assure you, that he (Bonaparte) "After having arranged that matter, I was going to feels convinced you have acted like a man of honour withdraw, when he requested tile to remain, as he throughout.' had something ilore to say: he then began complain- "As your lordship overheard part of a conversaing of his treatment in being forced to go to St tion which took place between Las Cases and me Helena: among other things he observed,'They on the quarter-deck of the Bellerophon, I shall not say I made no conditions; certainly I made no con- detail it; but on that occasion, I positively denied ditions: how could a private man (uzparticulierJ having promised anything as to the reception of make conditions with a nation? I wanted nothing Bonaparte and his suite; and I believe your lordfrom them bhut hospitality, or (as the ancients ship was of opinion le could not make out the statewould express it) air and water. I threw myself nlent to you. It is extremely unpleasant for me to on the generosity of the English nation: I claimed be under the necessity of entering into a detail of a place sur lears jAyers, and my only wish was this sort; but the unhandsome representation Las to purchase a small estate, and end my life in Cases has made to your lordship of my conduct has tranquillity.' After inore of the satme sort of con- obliged nle to produce proofs of the light int which versation, I left him for the night. the transaction was viewed by Bonaparte as well as "Oiu the morning lie removed fromu the Bellero- his attendants. phion to thle Northumberland, lie sent for me again, "I again repeat, that Captain Gamnbier and Sartoand said(,'I have sent for you to express my grati- rius can verify the principal part of what I have tude foir your condtlct to ne, while I hlave been on stated, as far as concerns the charge made agaiilst board the ship you command. My reception in mne by Count Las Cases. England has been very different fIro what I ex- "I have the honour to he your lordship's pected; beat you throughout have behavecd like a i~cted; bri you throughou~t have. ehave* lik e a " Most obedient humblle servant, man of' honour; and I request you will accept yK thanks, as well as convey them to the officers and ship's company of tile Bellerophon' To { he Riglut eitn.' "Soon afterwards, Montholon came to me from nilt Keith,.t. B. Bonaparte; bet, to understand what passed between him and me, I must revert to a conversation that I had with Madame Bertrand on the passage from'Stan, il Plymoutll Sotlll, Rochefort. 15th August, 1815. "' It is not necessary to state how the conversation " MY LORD, commenced. as it does not apply to the present "I have read Captain Maitland's letter to your transaction; but she informed me that it was Bona- lordship, of the 8th instant, containing his observaparte's intention to present me with a box containing tions upon the assertions made on the preceding day his picture set with diamonds. I answered,'I hope by Count Las Cases; and I most fully attest the not, for I camnot receive it.'-' Then you will offend correctness of the statement he has made, so far as I APPENDIX. 847 relates to the conversations that took place in my presence. No. 11. "I have the honour to be your lordship's "Most obedient humble servant, MEMORANDUM OF THE ESTALISHIMENT AT LONG"G. R. SARTORIUS, WOOD. "Capt. of H. M. S. Slaney. fTo tbe Rigit Hon. Viscount Keith, G. C. B. GERAL BONAPARTE etc., etc., etc." GENERAL BONAPARTE.............. Followers. It happened that Captain Gambier's attestation to the above statement was not in Captain Maitland's General and Madame Bertrand......... 2 pIossessionJ; but, having obtained a copy of it fiom Children of ditto............... 3 the kindness of Mr Meike, secretary to Lord Keith, General and Madame Montholon....... 2 we can supply this additional piece of evidence to a Children of ditto................ 2 proof already so distinct in itself. General Gourganud................ 1 Count Las Cases.............. 1 "I have read the preceding letter (that of Cap- Monsieur Las Cases, his son........ I tain Maitland), and most fully attest the correct- Captain Piontowski............... 1 ness of what Captain Maitland has said, so far as Foreign Servants to General Boaaparte 12 relates to what occurred in my presence on the evening of the 14th of July. Marchand, Noverraz, (Signed) "ROBERT GAMBIER, Santini, Pierron, "Captain of H. M. Ship Mlyrmidon." Lepage, Archamnbanlt, 1. St-Denis, or Aly, Archambanlt, 2. Cypriani, Gentilini, No. 10. Rousseau, 1 female cook. Page 751. Bernard, wife, and son, foreign servants to General Bertrand................. 3 1 French female servant to General Montholon I STATES OF THERMoM rElR, as taken at Deadwood, Island of St Helena, during 12 calen- English Attendants. dar months, viz. from 1st Sept. 1820, to 31st 1 English gardener................ I Aug. 1821, inclhsive. English soldiers (servants)............ 12 1 boy, a soldier's son............. 1 THIS condensed view of the different states of the I English maid-servant to General Bertrand., ] thernlomreter was kept at Deadwood, twhich is just 2 English female servants to General Monone short mile from Longwood, and therefore ex- tholon............ 2 presses the exact temperature of the climate in Black servants................... 3 which lie lived, —milder, and more equable,certaialy, than rmost in the known world. In point of moisture, 50 Dr Shortt is not of opinion that St Helena differs British Officers attached to the establishmaterially friom any other tropical island of the same ment. exteht. l] is account of thle general state of health. a.noa te t s hs. ICaptain Poppleton, captain of the guard...3. ainaon- tlhe troops hias been alrealdy relrred to. Dr O'Meara, surgeon............... Servants..................... 3 Total. 55 MONTIS. REMARKS. 29th August, 1816. Of these persons, General Gonrgand, Madan e Montholon and her children, Count Las Cases and Sipt. 182), C i 6, Windb!loiting from S. E. his son, Piontowski and Santini, returned to Europe ()ct. do ( o. ),N.W. at different periods. N o v. (do. 7 et (C) 6,eireira;lyS. E. 6days froin N.W. Dec I. C("; i. iad ruoi S. E. Cypriani, the maitre-d'hbltel, died on the island. IJa. 18s1. 71: Do. Do. The abb6 Bonavita, surgeon Antonlmarlchi, the Mar. do. 6C 7 67 Do. D)o. priest Vignali, anti two cooks, were sent out to St A ni do. 71 71 C Do. DO. ay rilo. 7d 7f C Do. I)o. Helena in 1819. uney do. 7 6,. Do. June do. 71 57 GenealS. E. 1 day westerly. The abbe returned to Europe in 1821, hating left Jnly do. 71 6Cr 7 g. Do. Aug. do. 68 64 O, Willdfron S.E. St Helena in the month of March of that year. Something happened to three of the servants, Pierron, Aly, andt Archanmbault, whiech cannot be (Ceotified by) THoAnAs SHORrr, now precisely ascertained. It is thoulglht, however, Physician to H. M. Forces, and that Pierron was sent away in consequence of some Principal Medical Officer at St Hlelena. quarrel about a female servant-Aly (probably) died, and one of the Archambaults wemit to America, General Bertrand's family in France. and the re 84-8 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. lations of his wife in England (the Jerninghams), self-possession on entering the presence of a man, were employed to send them out several servants, who had been at once the terror and wonder of the whose names cannot be ascertained. civilized world. The absence of attendants, and the other circumstances of high station, did not Extract from M2nzorial de Ste-HMlIne, par le seem to mle to have affected his individual greatness; Comte de Las Cases, vol. II, pp. 724: 8 vols., however elevated his rank had been, his actions 8vo, Par~is, 182I3-4. had been still beyond it. Even the mighty weapons which he had wielded were light to his gigantic "Dec. 1815. —La maison domestique de l'ea.pe- strength; the splendour of a court, the pomp, discireur, au dipart de Plymouth, se trouva cornposie pline, and numnber of his armies, sufficient to have encore de onze personnes. Je me fais un plaisir de constituted the personal greatness of an hereditary consacrer ici leuas noms; je le dois A leur devoue- monarch, scarcely added to the effect produced by ment. the tremendous, but fortunately ill-directed, energies "Quelque nombreuse que se trouvat cette maison, of his mind. Their absence, therefore, did not on pourrait dire cependart que, depuis notre depart diminish the influence of his individuality. I do not d'Augleterre, durant notre traversie, et depuis notre know that I ever before felt myself in the presence dibarquement a Ste-IHl6lne, elle avait cesse d'exis- of.a mind differing from mine, not in degree, but in ter pour lati. nature; and could have had but little disposition to gratify curiosity by inquiries into the motiies which Phad guided his conduct in the eventful transactions of Chambre. his life. I came prepared to listen and recollect, Marchand (Parisiesn), premier valet-de-clhambre, not to question or speculate. Lord Amherst having St-Denis (de Versailles), valeS-de-chambre, presented me, Napoleon began by saying, that my Noverraz (Suisse), idem, name was not unknown to him; that he understood Santini (Corse), huissier. I had been at Constantinople, and had a faint recollection of some person of my name having been emBouche. ployed in Russia.. I, in reply, said that I had been Cypriani (Corse), maitre-d'hotel, at Constantinople in my way to Persia. " Yes," Pierron (Parisien), officier, says he, " it was I who showed you the way to that Lepage, cuisinier, countrl. Eh bien, comment se porte meon ami le Rousseal (dte Fontainebleau), argentier. Shah? What have the Russians been doing lately in that quarter?" On my informing him that the result of the last war had been the cession of all the terriArchambault, ain6 (de Fontainebleau), piqueur, tory in the military occupation of their troops,-lhe Archambault, cadet (idem), idem, said, "Yes, Russia is the power now imost to be Gentiliri (Elbois), valet-de-pied. dreaded; Alexander may have whatever army lie pleases. Unlike the French and English, the subjects "'Des que nous nous trouva.mes tous renuis:ia of the Russian empire improve tiheir condition by Longwood, l'empereur voulut rigulariser tout ce qui becoming soldiers. If I called on a Frenchman to etait autour de lui, et chercha At employer chacun quit his country, I required him to abandon his hapde nous suivant la pente de son esprit. Conservant piness. The Russian, on the contrary, is a slave au grand mnarichal le commandement et la surveil- while a peasant, and becomes fiee and respectable lance du tout en grand, il confia A M. de IMontholon when a soldier. A Frenchman, leavingo his country, toIs les details domestiques; il donna au Giniral always changes for the worse, wvhile Gerinny, Couargaud la direction de I'6curie, et me riserva le France, and Italy, are all sulperior to the native detail des meibles, avec l'adiinistration interieure country of thie Russians. Their immense bodies of de ce qui nous serait fourni. Cette derniere partie Cossacks are also formidable; their mode of traveliue setoblait telletnent en contact avec les details ing;esembles the Bedouins of the desert. They domestiques, et je trouvais que l'unit6 sur ce point advance with confidence into the most ulknown redevait aetre si avantageuse au bien comnlmn, qu e je ions." He then related the following instance of me pritai le plus (pie je pus a m'en faire dipouiller; the extraordinary powers of vision possessed by the ce qui lne fut ni diflicile ni long." Arabs. When in Egypt, he took up his glass to examine an Arab, who was still at some distance. Before Bonaparte had, with the assistance of the No. 12. instrument, ascertained his appearance, a Bedouin, INTERIVJIEW BETWIXT NAPOLEON BONAPARTE AND standing near him, had so completely made him out, HIENRY ELLIS, ESQ., TILRD COMMISSIONER OF as to distinguish the dress of the tribe to which he LORD AHTIE RSTS EMIISASSY TO CHINA. belonged. " Russia," continued lie, " lias still her designs upon Constantinople. To obtain my consent e 80. to -his projects upon Turkey, was the great wish of ALTHOUGH, like others, I was familiar with the the Emperor Alexander, but in vain; I told hint 1 details of' Bonaparte's present situation, and might, never would allow the Greek cross to be added to therefore, be supposed to have become saturated the crown of the czars. Austria would uinite with with those sentiments of surprise, which such an Russia against Turkey, on condition of being allowed extraordinary reverse of fortune was calculated to to retain the provinces contiguous to her frontier. excite, —I must confess that I could boast but little France and England are the only powers interested in APPENDIX. opposing their schemes; I always felt this, and al- zils fol five years. This demand was reasonable, ways supported the Turks, although I hated them and could not, therefore, have been refused.1 I as barbarians. If' Russia," he added, " organizes observed that such a proceeding would not have Poland, she will be irresistible." Napoleon here been consonant with our political systemn, and that i took a rapid view of the military character of the the King of Portugal, aware of this, woutld have nations of Europe, and without reference to what resisted, the more especially as, when placed on he had just said respecting the Russians, declared the throne, he no longer wanted our assistance. the French and English were the only troops de- "The demand should have been made in the serving notice for their discipline and moral quali- first instance," said he, " when you might have ties. "The Austian and Prussian," he said, "were asked anything; but it is now too late; and you much inferior: in fact, real strength and efficiency Isave only to blame your ministers, who have totally were confined to the English and French." The neglected the interests of England. Russia, Ausremainder of his harangue (for his habit of not wait- tria, Prussia, have all been gainers; England alone ing for, or indeed listening to replies, renders con- has been a loser. You have even neglected that versation an inapplicable term), was employed upon poor kingdomll of HIanover. Why not have added the present state of England, which he considered three or four millions to its population? Lord was mlOst calamitous, and as produced by the im- Castlereagh, got among the monarchs, became a policy of mixing with continental affairs. The courtier, and thought more of their aggrandizement, dominion of the seas, and the maintenance of a than the claims of his country. Your good fortunes, monopoly of commerce, he considered as the et mes fautes, mes imprtedences, have brought only true foundation of our national prosperity. about a state of things which even Pitt never dared "Whatever might be the bravery of our troops, to dream of; and what is the result? your people their lirited number would for ever prevent us are starving, and your country is convulsed with from becomning a great military power. Volzs avez riots. The situation of England is most curious. toujours votre bravoure des siecles; mnais, avec She has gained all, and yet she is ruined. Believe quarante-cinq mille, vonzs ne serez janmais puis- the opinion of a man accustomed to conrsider polisance militaire.-In sacrificing maritime affairs, we tical subjects: England should look wholly to were acting like Francis I. at the battle of Pavia, commerce and naval affairs; she never can be a whose general had made an excellent disposition of continental power, and in the attempt must be his army, and had placed forty-five pieces of cannon ruined. Maintain the empire of the seas, and you (an unheard-of battery at that time) in a situation may send your ambassadors to the courts of Europe that must have secured the victory: Francis, how- and ask what you please. The sovereigns are ever, his grand sabre a la main, placed l.inself at aware of yotur present distressed situation, and inthe head of his gendarmerie and( household troops, s!lt you." He repeated, " Forty-five thousand men between the battery and the enemy, and thereby will never make you a military power; it is not in lost time advantage his superiority of artillery gave the genius.of yollr nation. None but the very dregs him; tllhs," said he, "seduced by a temllporary of the nation enlist in yollr army; the profession is success, you are masking the only battery youi not liked." He would not listen to an observation possess, your naval pre-eminence.,While thiat respecting the great channel of supply from the nliremains, you Inay blockade all Emrope. I wvell litia to thle line, which lie seemed to confound with know thle effect of blockade. WVith two small the vollunteers.,woodentl machines, you distress a line of coast, and! Napoleon contimued his observations by saying, place a country in the situation of a body rubbed "'The suspension of the Habeas Coripus would not over with oil, and thus deprived of the natural prove a remedy fir the riots; people must have perspiration. I," says lie, "am now sifferling in fotod; the stagnation of commln-rce dimlinishes your nmy face fiomn this obstruction to perspiration, and exports, and your mannfacturtrs are starving. It is blockade has the same effect upon a nation. llhat absurd to describe the evils as temporary. VWelhave you gained by the war? you llave gained pos- lesley is right in that, the distress is general, and session of rmy person, anid had ai opportunity -,f must he lasting. Stopping the evils by sulspendling exhibiting an exnample of ungenlerousness. By plact- the Habeas Corpus, is applying topical reJnedies ing the Bourbons on the throne, youl have distui bed when the disease is in the system: topical remedies the legitimacy of kings, for I anl the natural sove- will onlyv remove topical elruption; the comlplaint reign of France. You conceived that none but Na- extenlds over the whole body.-There is not a man poleon colld shut the ports of Europe against you, of abilitv in the cabinet. Lord Chatham unlderstood bult now every petty sovereign insults you with the true interests of England when he said,'If we plohlibitory regnlations upon your commerce.-L'An- are just for tsventy-four hours, we must be ruined.' gleterre est chzcAue depuis qu'elle s'est mnlke des Immense extension of conlmerce, combined witls affaires due continent.-You should have been reductions and reforms, could alone have prevented aware of the advance I had made towards the ir- the present crisis in England. For his part, he provement of manufacture throughout my empire, wished that all was tranquil and settled, as that was and secured the repaymelt of your expenses during his only chance of being released." "A large t the war, by a forced extension of your trade. Who army," he remarked, "was moreover inconsistent placed thle King of Portugal on bis throne? Was with our free constitution, to which we were, with it not England'? Had you not, therefore, a right reason, so much attached." I remarked, that the to be reimbursed, and that reimbursement might superior importance to England of maritime conhave been found in the exclusive trade to the Bra- cerns was fully acknowledged by our ministers, and VOL. vI. 1Y7 | 850 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. that they would heartily rejoice in being enabled to extension of commerce could have enabled you to withdraw the British contingent in France (to which bear your immense taxes, and you made no effort to he seemed to have alluded); that the actual distress obtain it." Bonaparte miscalls English names and in England arose from the system of public credit; words more than any foreigner I ever before heard, by which the war had been supported, and the who had pretensions toa knowledge of the language; consequences of which were in their nature lasting; and notwithstanding his reading, and the attention that these consequences had been anticipated, and lie has probably paid to the subject, he seems little were not, it was to be hoped, irremediable. "Yes," acquainted with the nature of our domestic policy. said Napoleon, " your resources are great: but your His plans, like his practice, are all despotic, and are ruin, from persisting in your present policy, is cer- formed without adverting to constitutional restrictain. Your ministers have affected generosity, and tions. have ruined the country. In this generosity you have In his conversation with Lord Amherst, he dwelt departed from the system of your ancestors, who much upon his present situation; and expressed himt never concluded a peace without gaining, or at- self with great and unjustifiable bitterness respecting tempting to gain, some advantage; they were steady Sir H. Lowe. Lord Bathurst's speech had evidently merchants who filled their purses, but you have set annoyed him, and he expressed disappointment at up for gentlemen, and are ruined. Although the the countenance such language and treatment repeace, on the termination of the American war, was ceived from Lords Sidmouth and Liverpool, with honourable to France, for she compelled England to whom he affected to consider himself as having been acknowledge the independence of America, the formerly on terms of amicable intercourse. He said treaty in ]783 was fatal to French commerce; and such a man as Lord Cornwallis ought to have been how do you suppose that came to be concluded? placed in Sir H. Lowe's situation. It is difficult to The French ministers were fully aware of its in- conceive any complaints more unreasonable, than jtrions consequences, but England threatened war, those made by Bonaparte of Sir H. Lowe's conduct. and they had no money to defray the expenses." I There perhaps never was a prisoner so much reunderstood Bonaparte to say that this account was quiring to be watched and guarded, to whom so supported by Memoirs in the Buleau des Affaires much liberty and range for exercise was allowed. EtrangerLes. With an officer he may go over any part of the During the conversation, which, notwithstanding island; wholly unobserved, his limits extend four the variety of topics started, if not discussed, did miles-partially observed, eight-and overlooked, not occupy more than half an hour, there were fre-.tvelve. At night, the sentinels certainly close round quent repetitions of particular expressions; such as Longwood itself. The house is small, but well fur"L'Anyleterre est dichue; avec 45,000 hommes, nished; and altogether as commodious as the cirvous ne serez jamais puissance continentale." cumstances under which it was procured would Bonaparte never listened to any reply naturally admit. I can only account for his petulance and arising froln his observations, but continued his own unfounded complaints, from one of two motives,view of the subject lie was discussing; he seemed either lie wishes by their means to keep alive interest little studious in arrangement, but poured out his in Europe, and more especially in England, where ideas with a rapidity of language almost equal to the he flatters himself he has a party; or his troubled rapidity of their succession in the mind. His style mind firids an occupation in the tracasseries which upon political subjects is so epigrammatic and tran- his present conduct gives to the governor. If the chant, that in a man whose actions had not been latter be the case, it is in vain for any governor to correspondent, it would look like charlatanerie. unite being on good terns with him, to the performBonaparte must be allowed to be eloquent, and ance of his duty. Bonaparte in concluding the possesses that species of oratory well adapted for a observations which he thought proper to address to popular assembly, or for influencing persons already me, made a Imotion with his hand to Lord Amherst prepared to look up to him. Upon the former, his for the introduction of Captain Maxwell and tthe point would produce impression; and a sort of gentlemen of' the embassy. They entered, accolmoracular confidence, in which he abounds, would panied by Generals Bertrand, Montholon, and command the conviction of the latter. His manner, Gourgand. A circle under the direction of the on the whole, was pleasing, and had a mixture of grand marshal was formed, and Lord Amherst simplicity anrd conscious superiority which I never having presented Captain Maxwell, Bonaparte said, before witnessed. The expression of his counte- " I have heard of you before-you took one of mny nance is more intellectual than commanding: and frigates, the Pauline; vous etes un mkchiant; well, his person, so far from being overgrown with corpu- your government can say nothing about your losing lency, seems fuilly equal to the endurance of the the ship, for you have taken one for them before." gleatest exertion. I should say that he was as fit as He observed of Lord Amherst's son, that he must ever to go through a campaign, and that, considering resemble his mother, and good-humouredly asked his age, he was not unusually corpulent. I have him what he had brought from China, whether a omitted to mention an illustration made use of by bonnet or a mandarin. He inquired of MrM'Leod, Bonaparte, in speaking of the conduct of the English the surgeon of the Alceste, how long hie had served, ministers at the congress. " You were," said he, and if he had been wounded; repeating the question "like the dog in the fable, who dropt the piece of in English. On Mr Abel being introduced as naturmeat in the water, while looking at his own image. alist, he inquired if lie knew Sir Joseph Banks, Yoa had the commerce of the world, and you took saying that his name had always been a passport, ao precautions to retain it. Nothing but a great and that, even during the war, his requests had APPENDIX. 851 always been attended to. He wished to know if to be attributed to the treason of Marmont, AugeMr Abel was a member of the Royal Society, or reau, Talleyrand, and La Fayette. was a candidate for that honour. Bonaparte ap- I forgive them-may the posterity of France forpeared to be tinder some erroneous impression re- give them like me! specting a son of Sir J,. Banks having gone on an 7. I thank my good and most excellent mother, expedition to the coast of Africa. Mr Cook's name the cardinal, my brothers Joseph, Lucien, J6rome, led him naturally to inquire whether he was a de- Pauline, Caroline, Julie, Hortense, Catarine, Euigene, scendant of the celebrated Cook, the navigator, for the interest which they have continued to feel for adding, " he was indeed a great man." Dr Lynn me. I pardon Louis for the libel which he publishhaving been presented as a physician, was asked at ed in 1820: it is replete with false assertions and what university he had studied: "At Edinburgh," falsified documents. being the reply; " Ah! are you a Brunonian in 8. I disavow the Manuscript of St Helena, and practice, and do you bleed and give as much mer- other works, under the title of Maxiis, Sayings, etc., cury as our St Helena doctors?" To Mr Griffiths, which persons have been pleased to publish for the the chaplain (whom he called aumonier), he put last six years. These are not tile rules wlhich have some questions respecting the state of religion in guided my life. I caused the Duke d'Enghien to be China: he was answered a kind of Polytheism. arrested and tried, because that step was essential Not seeming to understand this word spoken in to the safety, interest, and honour of the French English, Bertrand explained, Pluralit6 de Dieux. people, when the Count d'Artois was maintaining, "Ah, Pluralit6 de Dieux! Do they believe," he by his confession, sixty assassins at Paris. Under resumned, "in the imtnmortality of the soul? " "They similar circumstances, I would act in the same way. seem to have some idea of a future state," wm the reply. He then asked to what university he belonged; and jokingly said to Lord Amherst, you 1. I bequeath to my son, thle boxes, orders, and must get him a good living when you go home; other articles; such as my plate, field bed, saddles, adding, "' I wish you may be a prebendary." He spurs, chapel plate, books, linen, which I have been then inquired of Mr Hayne, how and where he had accustomed to wear and use, according to the list bein educated? On being told that he had been annexed (A). It is my wish that this slight bequest educated at home by his father, he immediately may be dear to him, as recalling the memory of a turned away; and having now said something to father, of whom the universe will discourse to him. each, he dismissed us. 2. I bequeath to Lady Holland the antique Cameo which Pope Pius VI. gave me at Tolentino. No. 13. 3. I bequeath to Count Montholon two millions of francs, as a proof of my satisfaction with the filial BONAPARTE'S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT. attentions which he has paid to me during six years, and as an indemnity for the losses which his residence Page 798. at St Helena has occasioned. 4. I bequeath to Count Bertrand five hundred This 15th April, 1821, at Longwood, Island of St Helena. thousand francs. This is my Testament, or Act of my last Will. 5. I bequeath to Marchand, my first valet-de-chambre, four hundred thousand francs. The services NAMOLEON. NA' OLEON. which he has rendered to me are those of a friend; it is my wish that he should marry the widow, sis1. I DIE in the apostolical Roman religion, in the ter, or daughter of an officer of my Old Guard. bosom of which I was born, more than fifty years 6. Item. To St-Denis,'one hundred thousand since. francs. 2. It is my wish that my ashes may repose on the 7. Item. To Noverraz, one hundred thousand banks of the Seine, in the midst of the French francs. people, whom I have loved so well. 8. Item. To Pierron, one hundred thousand francs. 3. I have always had reason to be pleased with 9. Item. To Archambault, fifty thousand francs. rmy dearest wife, Maria Louisa. I retain for her, to 10. Item. To Cursor, twenty-five thousand francs. my last moment, the most tender sentiments.-I 11. Item. To Chandellier, idem. beseech her to watch, in order to preserve my son 12. To the Abbe Vignali one hundred thousand from the snares which yet environ his infancy. francs. It is nmy wish that he should btuild his 4. I recommend to my son, never to forget that house near the Ponte Novo di Rostino. lie was born a French prince, and never to allow 13. Item. To Count Las Cases one hundred hinmself to become an instrument in the hands of the thousand francs. triumnvirs who oppress the nations of Europe; he 14. Item. To Count Lavalette one hundred thouought never to fight against France, or to injure her sand francs. in any manner; he ought to adopt my motto- 15. Item. To Larrey, surgeon-in-chief, one hun"Everything for the French people." dred thousand firancs.-He is the nmost virtuous man 5. I die prematurely, assassinated by the English I have known. oligarchy and its *'*. The English nation wvill not 16. Item. To General Brayer, one hundred thoube slow in avenging me. sand fiancs. 6. The two unfortunate results of the invasions of 17. Item. To General Lefe6vre Desnouettes, France, when she had still so many resources, are one hundred thousand francs. 852 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 18. Item. To General Drouot, one hundred thou- was in 1814; including the palaces of Rome, Flosand francs. rence, and Turin. All- this furniture was purchased 19. Item. To General Carnbrone, one hundred with moneys accruing from the civil list. 4. The tholrsand francs. proceeds of my houses in the kingdom of Italy, 20. Item. To the children of General Mouton such as money, plate, jewels, furniture, equipages; Duvernet, one hundred thousand francs. the accounts will be rendered by Prince Eugtne-, 21. Item. To the children of the brave Labe- and the steward of the crown, Campagnoni. doyvre, one hundred thousand francs. NAPOLEON. 22. Item. To the children of General Girard, 2. I bequeath my private domain, one half to the killed at Ligny, one hundred tho:sand francs. surviving officers and soldiers of the French army 23. Item. To the children of General Chartrand, who have faight since 1792 to 1815, for the glory} one hundred thousand francs. and the independence of the nation. The distri. 24. Item. To the children of the virtuous Gene- bution shall be made in proportion to their appointral Travost, one hundred thousand francs. ments upon active service. One half to the towns 25. Item. To General Lallemand the elder, one and districts of Alsace, of Lorraine, of Franchehundred thousand francs. Comte, of Burgundy, of the Isle of France, of 25. Item. To Count Rdal, one hundred thousand Champagne, Forest, Dauphine, which may have francs. suffered by either of the invasions. There shall be 27. Item. To Costa di Basilica, in Corsica, one previously deducted from this suam, one million for hundred thousand francs, the town of Brienne, and one million for that of 28. Item. To General Clausel, one hundred Mery. thousand francs. I appoint Counts Montholon, Bertrand, and Mar29. Item. To Baron de Menneval, one hundred chand, the executors of my will. thllosand francs. This present will, wholly written with my own 30. Item. To Arnault, the author of Marius, one hand, is signed, and sealed with my own arms. hundred thousand francs. (L. S.) NAPOLEON. 31. Item. To Colonel Marbot, one hundred thousand friancs. I engage him to continue to write in LIST (A). defence of the glory of the French armies, and to confound their calumniators and apostates. Afixed to my Will. 32. Item. To Baron Bignon, one hundred thou- Longoo, Island of St Helena, this 15th April, 1821. sand francs. I engage him to write the history of French diplomacy, from 1792 to 1815. 1. 33. Item. To Poggi diTalaro, onehundred thou- 1. The consecrated vessels which hat e been in sand francs. use at my chapel at Longwood. 34. Item. To Surgeon Emery one hundred thou- 2. I enjoin the Abhb6 Vignali to preserle tlenl, sand francs. and to deliver theni to my son, when he shall reach 35. These sums will be raised from the six the age of sixteen years. millions which I deposited on leaving Paris in 1815; and from the interest, at the rate of five per II. cent, since July, 1815. The account will be settled 1. My arms, that is to say, my sword, that which with the banker by Counts Montholon, Bertrand, I wore at Austerlitz, the sabre of Sobieski, my and Marchand. dagger, my broad-sword, my hanger, my two pair 36. Whatever that deposit may produce beyond of Versailles pistols. the sumrn of five million six hundred thousand francs, 2. My gold traveling-box, that of which I made which have been above disposed of, shall be distri- use on the morning of Ulm and of Austerlitz, of buted as a gratuity amongst the wounded at the battle Jena, of Eylau, of Friedland, of the Island of Loof Waterloo, and amongst the officers and soldiers bau, of the Moskwa, of Montmirail. In this point of the battalion of the Isle of' Elba, according to a of view, it is my wish that it may be precious in the scale to he determined upon by Montholon, Ber- eyes of my son. (It has been deposited with Count trand, Drouot, Cambrone, and thesurgeon Larrey. Bertrand since 1814.) 37. T'hese legacies, in case of death, shall be paid 3. I charge Count Bertrand with the care of to the widon's and children, and, in default of such, preserving these objects, and of conveying themn to shall revert to the bulk of my property. my son, when he shall attain the age of sixteen III. years. 1. My private domain being my property, of which no French law deprives me, that I am aware 1. Three small mahogany-boxes, containing, the of, an account of it will be required from the Baron first, thirty-three snuff-boxes, or comfit-boxes; the de la Bouillerie, the treasurer thereof. It ought to second, twelve boxes with the imperial arms, two amount to more than200,000,000 of francs: namely, small eye-glasses, and four boxes found on the 1. The portfolio containing the savings which I made table of Louis XVITI. in the Tuileries, on the 20th during fourteen years out of my civil list, which of March, 1815; thle third, three snuff-boxes; ornaamounted to more than 12,000,00.0 per annum, if mented with silver medals, for the personal uses of my memory be good. 2. The produce of this port- the emperor; and sundry articles for the use of the folio. 3. The fiurniture of my palaces, such as it toilet, according to the lists numbered I, II, III. 2. Ma field-bed, which I used in all my campaigns. 4. My two seals (one French), contained in box { 3. My field-telescope. No. III. 4. My dressing-box, one of each of my uniforms, 5. The small gold clock which is now in my beda dozen of shirts, and a complete set of each of my chamber. dresses, and generally of everything used in my toilet. 6. My wash-stand, its water-jug, etc. 5. My wash-hand stand. 7. My night-table, that which I used in France, 6. A small clock which is in my chamber at and my silver-gilt bidet. Longwood. 8. My two iron bedsteads, my mattresses, and my 7. My two watches and the chain of the empress's coverlets, if they can be preserved. hair. 9. My three silver decanters, which held my eau8. I charge Marchand, my principal valet-de- de-vie which my chasseurs carried in the field. charrbre, to take care of these articles, and to con- 10. My French telescope. vey them to my son, when he shall attain the age of 11. My spurs, two pair. sixteen years. 12. Three mahogany boxes, Nos. I., II., III., conIV. taining my snuff-boxes, and other articles. 13. A silver-gilt perfuming pan. 1. My cabinet of medals. 2. My plate, and my Skvres china, which I used LIST 11. at St Helena. Body Linen. 3. I charge Count- Montholon to take care of 6 Shirts. these articles, and to convey them to my son, when 6 Handkerchiefs. he shall attain the age of sixteen years. 6 Cravats. 6 Napkins. 6 Pair of silk stockings. 1. My three saddles and bridles, my spurs, which 6 Black stocks. I used at St Helena. 6 Pair of under stockings. 2. My fowling pieces, to the number of five. 2 Pair of cambric sheets.3. I charge my huntsman, Noverraz, to take care 2 Pillow cases. of these articles, and to convey them to my son, 2 Dressing gowns, when he shall attain the: age of sixteen years. 2 Pair of night drawers. 1 Pair of braces. VI. 4 Pair of white kerseymere breeches: and vests. 1. Four hundred volumes, selected from those in 6 Madras. my library, which I have been accustomed to use 6 Flannel waistcoats. the most. 4 Pair of drawers. 2. I charge St-Denis to take care of them, and to 6 Pair of gloves, convey them to my son, when he shall attain the age I Small box filled- with my snuff. of sixteen years. 1 Gold neck-buckle. 1 Pair gold knee-buckles. contained i the littl LIsT (A). 1 Pair gold shoe-buckles. 1. None of the articles: which have been used by LIST TII. me shall be sold: the residue shall be divided Clothes. amongst the executors of my will and my brothers. 1 Uniform of the Chasseurs. 2. Marchand shall preserve my hair, and cause a I Ditto Grenadiers. bracelet to be made of it, with a gold clasp, to be 1 Ditto National Guard, sent to the Empress Maria Louisa, to my mother, 2 Hats. and to each of my brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, 1 Green-and-grey great coat. the cardinal, and one of larger size for my son. 1 Blue cloak (that whicl r had at Marengo). 3. Marchand will send one pair of my gold shoe- 1 Sable green pelisse. buckles to Prince Joseph. 2 Pair of shoes. 4. A small pair of gold knee-buckles to Prince 2 Pair of boots. Lucien. 2 Pair of slippers. 5. A gold collar-clasp to Prince J6rome. 6 Belts. NAPOLBON. LIST L Inventory of my effects, which Marchand will LIST (B). take care oJf and convey to mty son. take care of and convey to my sol. Inventory of the' effects which I left in posses1. My silver dressing-box, that which is on my sion of Monsieur le Count de Turenne. table, furnished with all its utensils, razors, etc. 2. My alarm-clock: it is the alarm-clock of Fre- 1 Sabre of Sobieski. It is by mistake inserted in derick II. which I took at Potsdam (in box No. III). List A. It is the sabre 3. My two watches with the chain of the empress's which the emperor wore at hair, and a chain of my own hair for the other watch: Aboukir, which is in the Marchand will get it made at Paris. hands of the Count Bertrand. 8f4: LIFE OF NAPO:LEON BONAPARTE. I Grand collar of the Legion of Honour. Italy or at the distribution of the inheritance of his 1 Sword, of silver gilt. mother. 1 Consular sword. 1. Out of these two millions, I bequeath to Count 1 Sword, of steel. Bertrand 300,000- francs, of which he will deposit 1 Velvet belt. 100,000 in the treasurer's chest, to be disposed of ac1 Collar of the Golden Fleece. cording to my dispositions in payment of legacies 1 Small traveling-box of steel. of conscience. i Silver night-lamp. 2. To Count Alontholon, 200,000 francs, of which 1 Handle of an antique sabre. he will deposit 100,000 in the chest, for the same 1 Hat of Henry IV. and a cap. The lace of the purpose as above-mentioned. emperor. 3. To Count Las Cases, 200,000, of which he will 1 Small cabinet of medals. deposit 100,000 in the chest, for the same purpose as 2 Turkey carpets. - above-mentioned. 2 Mantles, of crimson velvet, embroidered, with 4. To Marchand, 100,000, of which he will devest and small-clothes. posit 50,000 in the chest, for the same purpose as I give to my son the sabre of Sobieski. above mentioned. Do. the collar of the Legion of Ho- 5. To Count Lavalette, 100,000. nour. 6. To General Hogendorl, of Holland, my aideDo. the sword, silver gilt. de-camp, who has retired to the Brazils, 100,000. Do. the consular sword. 7. To my aide-de-camp, Corbineau, 50,000. Do. the steel sword. 8. To my aide-de-camp, Caffarelli, fifty thousand Do. the collar of the Golden Fleece. francs. Do. the hat of Henry IV. and the cap. 9. To my aide-de-camp, Dejean, 50,000. Do. the golden dressing-box, for the 10. To Percy, surgeon-in-chief at Waterloo, teeth, which is in the hands of 50,000. the dentist. 11. 50,000: that is to say, 10,000 to Pierron, my To the Empress Maria Louisa, my lace. maltre-d'hotel; 10,000 to St-Denis, my head chasTo Madame, the silver night-lamp. seur; 10,000 to Noverraz; 10,000 to Cursor, my clerk To the cardinal, the small steel traveling-box. of the kitchen; 10,000 to Archambault, my overseer. To Prince Eugene, the wax-candlestick, silver 12. To Baron Menneval, 50,000. gilt. 13. To the Duke d'Istria, son of Bessieres, fifty To the Princess Pauline, the small cabinet of me- thousand francs. dais. 14. To the daughter of Duroc, fifty thousand francs. To the Queen of Naples, a small Turkey carpet. 15. To the children of Labedoyere, 50,000. To the Queen Hortense, a small Turkey. carpet. 16. To the children of Mouton Duvernet, 50,000. To Prince Jer6me, the handle of the antique sabre. 17. To the children of the brave and virtuous geTo Prince Joseph, an embroidered mantle, vest, neral Travost, 50,000. and small-clothes. 18. To the children of Chartrand, 50,000. To Prince Lucien, an embroidered mantle, vest, 19. To General Cambrone, 50,000. and small-clothes. 20. To General Leftbvre Desnouettes, 50,000. 21. To be distributed amongst such proscrihed April 16th, 1821. Longwood. persons as wander in foreign countries, whether they TIzis is a Codicil to my Will. may be French, or Italian, or Belgians, or Dutch, or Spanish, or inhabitants of the departments of 1. It is my wish that my ashes may repose on the the Rhine, at the disposal of my executors, 100,000. banks of the Seine, in the midst of the French 22. To be distributed amongst those who sufpeople, whom I loved so well. fered amputation, or were severely wounded at 2. I bequeath to Counts Bertrand, Montholon, Ligny, or Waterloo, who may be still living, acand to Marchand, the money, jewels, plate, china, cording to lists drawn up by my executors, to:~4hom furniture, books, arms, and generally everything shall be added, Camnbrone, Larrey, Percy, and Emthat belongs to me in the island of St Helena. ery. The Guard shall he paid double; those of This codicil, entirely written with'my own hand, the island of Elba, quadruple; two hundred thouis signed, and sealed with my own arms. sand francs. (Lb. 8.) NAPOLEON. This codicil is written entirely with my own hand, signed, and sealed with my arms. This 24th April, 1821. Longwood. NAPOLEON. This is my Codicil, or Act of my last Will. Out of the settlement of my civil list of Italy, suchThis 24th April, 181, at Longwood. as money, jewels, plate, linen, equipages, of which This is a third Codicil to my Will of the 151h of the viceroy is the depositary, and which belonged April. to me, I dispose of two millions, which I bequeath to my most faithfull servants. I hope that, without 1. Amongst the diamonds of the crown which acting upon the credit of any account, my son Eu- were delivered up in 1814, there were some to the gene Napoleon will pay them faithfully. He cannot value of five or six hundred thousand francqs not forget the forty millions which I gave him either in belonging to it, but which forumed part of my private APPENDIX. 855 property; repossession shall be obtained of them, for the care which that brave general took ot us in order to discharge my legacies. when we were lieutenant and captain under his 2. I had in the hands of the banker Torlonia, at orders. Rome, bills of exchange to the amount of two or 1 2. Item. To the son or grandson of General Du-!hree hundred thousand francs, the produce of my! gommier, who commanded in chief the army of revenues of the island of Elba, since 1815. Thei Toaion, the sum of one hundred thousand francs. S:eur de Peyrusse, although no longer my trea- We under his orders directed that siege, and consurer, and not invested with any character, possessed manded the artillery: it is a testimonial of renlemhimself of this sum. He shall be compelled to re- brance for the marks of esteem, ofaffection, and of store it. friendship, which that brave and intrepid general 3. I bequeath to the Duke of Istria three hundred gave us. thousand francs, of which only one hundred thou- 3. Item. We bequeath one hundred thousand sand francs shall be reversible to his widow, should francs to the son or grandson of the deputy of the the duke be dead at the payment of the legacy. It Convention Gasparin, representative of the people is my wish, should there be no inconvenience in it, at the army of Toulon, for having protected and that the duke may marry Duroc's daughter. sanctioned with his authority, the plan which we had 4. 1 bequeath to the Duchess of Frioul, the given, which procured the capture of that city, and daughter of Duroc, two hundred thousand francs: which was contrary to that sent by the Committee should she be dead at the payment of this legacy, of Public Safety. Gasparin placed us, by his p.ronone of it shall be given to the mother. tection, uinder shelter from the persecution and 5. I bequeath to General Rigaud (to him who ignorance of the general officers who commanded was proscribed), one hundred thousand francs. the army before the arrival of my friend Dugomnirer. 6. I bequeath to Boisnod, the intendant commis- 4. Item. We bequeath one hundred tholsand sary, one hundred thousand francs. francs to the widow, son, or grandson, of our 7. I bequeath to the children of General Letort, aide-de-camp, Muiron, killed at our side at Arcola, who was killed in the campaign of 1815, one hun- covering us with his body. dred thousand francs. 5. Item. Ten thousand francs to the stubaltern 8. These eight hundred thousand francs of le- officer Cantillon, who has undergone a trial, upon gacies shall be considered as if inserted at the end the charge of having endeavoured to assassinate of Article 36 of my testament, which will make the Lord Wellington, of which he was pronounced inno. legacies which I have disposed of, by my will, cent. Cantillon had as much right to assassinate amount to the sum of six million four hundred thou- that oligarchist, as the lattei had to send me to sand francs, without comprising the donations which perish upon the rock of St Helena. Welliv!gton, I have made by my second codicil. who proposed this outrage, attempted to justify This is written with my own hand, signed, and himself by pleading the interest of Great Britain. sealed with my arms. Cantillon, if he had really assassinated that lord, (L. S.) NAPOLEON. would have excused himself, and have been justifled by the same motives, the intelrest of France, (On the outside, nearly at the centre, is written:), (On the side nearlt the, is writte:) to get rid of a general, who, moreover, had violated This is my third codicil to my will, entirely written the capitulation of Paris, and by that had rendered with my own hand, signed, and sealed with my himself responsible for the blood of the martyrs arms. Ney, Labhdoyere, etc.; and for the crime of hlav(The words are intermixed with the signa- ing pillaged the museums, contrary to the text of tures of Bertrand, Monthllolon, Marchand, the treaties. Vignali, with their respective seals, and a 6. These four hundred and ten thousand francs piece of green silk runs through the centre. shall be added to the six million four hundred thouOn the upper left corner are the following sand of which we have disposed, and will make our directions:) legacies amount to six million eight hundred and ten To be opened the same day, and immediately thousand francs; these four hundred and ten thouafter the,penling of my will. sand are to be considered as forming part of our NAPOLEON. testament, article 3G; and to follow in everything (Withll some fragments of the signatures of the tl same course as the other legacies. ubove-namned witnesses.) 7. The nine thousand pounds sterling which we gave to Count and Countess Montholon, should, if they have been paid, be deducted and carried to.This 24th of April, 181. Longwood. the account of the legacies which we have given to: This is afourth Codicil to my Testament. him by our testament. If they have not been paid, our notes of hand shall be annulled. By the dispositions which we have heretofore 8. In consideration of the legacy given by our made, we have not fulfilled all ourobligations; which will to Count Meontholon, the pension of twenty has decided us to make this fourth codicil. thousand francs granted to hiis wife, is amulletd. 1. We bequeath to the son or grandson of Baron Count Montholon is charged to pay it to her. Dutheil, lieutenant-general of artillery, and for- 9. The administration of such an inheritance, merly lord of St-Andr6, who commanded the school until its final liquidation, requiring expenses of' oft of Auxonne before the Revolution, the sum of one fices, of journeys, of missions, of consultations, and t hundred thousand francs, as a memento of gratitude of lawsuits, we expect that our testamentary exe 856 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. cutors shall retain three per cent upon all the le- widow, children, or grandchildren, one hundred gacies, as well upon the six million eight hundred and thousand francs. ten thousand francs, as upon the sums contained in 8. To Duroc's daughter, one hundred thousand. the codicils, and upon the two hundred millions of 9. To the son of Bessieres, Duke of Istria, one the private domain. hundred thousand. 10. The amount of the same thus retained, shall 10. To General Drouot, one hundred thousand. he deposited in the hands of a treasurer, and dis- 11. To Count Lavalette, one hundred thousand. bursed by drafts from our testamentary executors. 12. Item. One hundred thousand; that is to say, 11. If the sumrn arising from the aforesaid de- twenty-five thousand to Pierron, nly maitre-d'hotel: ductions be not sufficient to defray the expenses, twenty-five thousand to Noverraz, my huntsman; provision shall wie made to that effect, at the ex- twenty-five thousand to St-Denis, the keeper of my pense of the three testamentary executors and books; twenty-five thousand to Santini, my former the treasurer, each in proportion to the legacy door-keeper. which we have bequeathed to them in our will and 13. Item. One hundred thousand; that is to say, codicils. forty thousand to Planta, my orderly officer; twenty 12. Should the sums arising from the before- thousand to Hebert, lately housekeeper of Rammentioned subtractions be more than necessary, bouillet, and who belonged to my chamber in Egypt; the surplus shall be divided amongst our three twenty thousand to Lavign6, who was lately keeper testamentary executors and the treasurer, in the of one of my stables, and who was my jockey in proportion of their respective legacies. Egypt; twenty thousand to Jeanet Dervieux, who 13. We nominate Count Las Cases, and in de- was overseer of the stables, and served in Egypt fault of him, his son, and in default of the latter, with me. General Drouot, to be treasurer. 14. Two hundred thousand francs shall be distriThis present codicil is entirely written with our buted in alms to the inhabitants of Brienne-le-Chahand, signed, and sealed with our arms. teau, who have suffered most. NAPOLEON. 15. The three hundred thousand friancs remaining, shall be distributed to the officers and soldiers of my This 24th April, 1821. Longwoed. guard at the island of Elba, who may be now alive, or to their widows or children, in proportion to their This is any Codicil or Act of my Last Will. appointments; and according to an estimate which shall be fixed by my testamentary executors: those Upon the funds remitted in gold to the Empress who have suffered amputation, or have been severely Maria Louisa, my very dear and well beloved wounded, shall receive double: the estimate of it to spouse, at Orleans, in 1814, she remains in my be fixed by Larrey and Emery. debt two millions, of which I dispose by the pre- This codicil is written entirely withmy own hand, sent codicil, for the purpose of recompensing my signed, and sealed with my arms. most faithful servants, whom moreover I recommend NAPOLEON. to the protection of my dear Maria Louisa. 1. I recommend to the empress to cause the in- (On the back of the Codicil is written:) come of thirty thousand francs, which Count Ber- This is my codicil, or act of my last will, the exetrand possessed in the Duchy of Parma, and upon cution of which I recommend to mny dearest wife, the the Mont Napoleon at Milan, to be restored to him, Empress Maria Louisa. as well as the arrears due. (L. s.) NAPOLEON. 2. I make the same recommendation to her with regard to the Duke of Istria, Duroc's daughter, (Attested by the following witnesses, whose seals and others of my servants who have continued are respectively affixed:) faithful to me, and who are always dear to me: she MONTIOLON, knows them. BERTRAND, A piece of green silk. 3. Out of the above-mentioned two millions, I MARCHAND. bequeath three hundred thousand francs to Count VIGNALt Bertrand, of which he will lodge one hundred thousandd in the treasurer's chest, to be employed in th Codicil legacies of conscience, according to my dispositions. 4. 1 bequeath two hundred thousand to Count Mousieur Lafitte, I remitted to you, in 1815, at Montholon, of which he will lodge one hundred the moment of my departure from Paris, a sum of thousand in the treasurer's chest, for the same pur- near six millions, for which you have given me a pose as above-mentioned. receipt in duplicate, I have canceled one of the 5. Itemn. Two hundred thousand to Count Las receipts, and I charge Count Moutholon to present. Cases, of which he will lodge one hundred thousand you with the other receipt, in order that you may in the treasurer's chest, for the same purpose as pay to him, after nly death, the said sum, with inabove-mentioned. terest at the rate of five per cent. from the ist of 6. Item. To Marchand one hundred thousand, of July, 1815, deducting the payments which you have which he will place fifty thousand in the treasurer's been instructed to make by virtue of my orders. chest, for the same purpose as above-mentioned. It is my wish that the settlement of your account 7. To Jean Jerome Levie, the mayor of Ajaccio may be agreed upon between yol, Count Montholon, at the commencement of the Revolution, or to his Count Bertrand, and the Sieur Marchand; and this _______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________' APPE N D IX. 9857 settlement being made, I give you, by these pre- tenant, parlez-moi de vous). I hesitated, for I was sents, a complete and absolute discharge from the not prepared for that question, and took small, insaid sum. terest in the subject. He proceeded,' Have- you I also, at that time, placed in your hands a box, a pension?' I said I had.'Is it sufficient? Do containing my cabinet of medals. I beg you will you want any extraordinary succour?'-By this time give it to Count Montholon. I had recovered myself, and said,' That his! majesThis letter having no other object, I pray God, ty's goodness left me no personal- want; that all my Monsieur Lafitte, to have you in his holy and good cares, all my interest in life, were centered in my keeping. child, whom I now gave, up to- his majesty's serNAPOLEON. vice.' He answered,' Be tranquil then on his acLongwood, Island of St Helena. count-be perfectly tranquil concerning him' (Soyes the 25th April, 1821. done tranquille csur son compte-soyez parfaitement tranquille sur lui). I perceived a little half 7th Codicil, smile when I said' my child,' (mon enfant); 1 should have said'my son.' I knew it, but forgot. —He had Monsieur le Baron la Bouillerie, treasurer of my stopped so long, that a crowd had gathered, and private domain, I beg you to deliver the account were crushing on, crying Vive l'empereur! They and the balance, after my death, to Count Mon- drove in the guard, and there came a horse very tholon, whom I have charged with the execution of close to me. I was frightened, and retiring; but he my will. called to stay where I was-' Restez, restez la.' This letter having no other object, I pray God, Whether it was for my safety, or that he wanted to Monsieur le Baron la Bouillerie, to have you in his say more, I cannot tell; but more it was impossible holy and good keeping. to say, for the noise. I was close to the carriage NAPoLaoN. door, and the guards on horseback close behind me, Longwood, Island of St Helena, and indeed I was trembling. He saluted the people, the 25th April, 1821. and directed that two Napoleons a-piece should be given to the old women, and women with little children, who were holding out their hands. He eNo 14. then drove on, and, in going, nodded to me two or INTERVIWE BETWEEN BBONPARTE AND T three times with affectionate familiarity, saying, PINTERVIEW BTWEONB~ FONAPARTE. A"TMWOW 1'Your child shall be well naturalized,' (Votre enfant sera bien naturalise), with a playful emPage 792. phasis on the words votre enfant. IN vindication of what we have said in the text The youth was admitted to the cavalry school of respecting the ready access afforded by Napoleon, St-Cermain, and the following is an account of Nawhen emperor, we may refer to the following inter- poleon visiting that seminary:esting extract from the Memoirs of Theobald "The emperor frequently visited the school of Wolfe Tone, already quoted. It is the account infantry at St-Germain, reviewed the cadets, and given by his widow of an interview with the emperor, gave them cold collations in the park. But he had and it is only necessary to add, by way of introduc- never visited the school of cavalry since its establishtion, that Mrs Tone having received a pension from ment, of which we were very jealous, and did all in the French government after her husband's catas- our power to attract him. Whenever he hunted, the trophe, became desirous, in addition, to have her cadets were in grand parade on the parterre, crying, son admitted into the military school at St-Germain. Vive l'empereur, with all their young energies; Being discountenanced in her pretensions by the he held his hat raised as he passed them; but that minister at war, she was advised to present her was all we could gain. Wise people whispered that memorial to the emperor himself. The following is he never would go whilst they were so evidently a very pleasing account of the scene that took place expecting him; that lie liked to keep them always betwixt them, in which we give Napoleon fill credit on the alert; it was good for discipline. The genefor acting from his feelings of generosity towards the ral took another plan, and once allowed no sign of iwidow and orphan of a man who had died in his life about the castle when the emperor passed-it service:- was like a deserted place. But it did not take neither; he passed, as if there was no castle there. It "Very soon, the carriage with the emperor and- was d6sespgrant. When, lo! the next day but one empress drove into the circle; the horses were after I had spoken to him, he suddenly galloped into changed as quick as thought, but I stept up, and the court of the castle, and the cry of the sentinel, presented the book and memorial. He took them, L'empereur! was the first notice they had of it. and, handing the book to his hcuyer, opened the lie examined into everything. All were in undress, paper I have said it commenced by recalling Tone all at work, and this was what he wanted. In the to his memory. When he began, he said'Tone!' military schools, the cadets got ammunition-bread, with an expressive accent-' I remember well' (Je and lived like well-fed soldiers; but there was great n'en souviens bien). He read it all through, and outcry in the circles of Paris against the bread of two or three times stopped, looked at me, and -the school of St-Germain. Ladies complained that bowed, in reading it. When he had finished, he their sons were poisoned by it; the emperor thought said to me,' Now, speak to me of yourself' (Main- it was all nicety, and said no man was fit to be an I OL. vi. 108 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.:doer who:could not eat ammunition.bread. How- majesty not to take his contract from him, and he ever, beng there, he asked for a loaf, which was would give good bread in future; at which the embrought, and he saw it was villanous trash composed peror broke into a royal and imperial passion, and of pease, beans, rye, potatoes, and everything that threatened to send him to the galleys; but, suddenly would make flour or meal, instead of good brown turning round, he said,' Yes, he would allow him wheaten flour. He tore the loaf in two in a rage, to keep his contract, on condition that, as long as it and dashed it against the wall, and there it stuck lasted, he should furnish the school with good white like a piece of mortar, to the great annoyance of those household bread (pain de manage), such as was sold whose duty it was to have attended to this. He or- in the bakers' shops in Paris;-that he might chuse dered the baker to be called, and made him look at that, or lose his contract;' and the baker thankfully it sticking. The man was in great terror first at the promised to furnish good white bread in future, at emperor's anger, but, taking heart, he begged his the same price." THE ENI,