cordingly bringing up the cavalry under Murat, he made a desperate push on the centre, and for a short time succeeded in forcing it. The Austrian reserve was now brought up; and the cuirassiers having formed in columns, charged with the most consummate skill and intrepidity, forcing every thing before them. The French cavalry were compelled to give way; and at the close of the day both armies remained on the ground on which the contest commenced.

On the 17th nothing was done. On the 18th the crown prince received a reinforcement from General Blucher of 30,000 men, infantry, cavalry, and artillery; with which it was arranged that he should attack the French on the Partha river, six miles northward of Leipsic, on the road to Torgau; while General Blucher was to retain his position near Leipsic, and endeavour to gain possession of that place. As the allied generals were well aware of Bonaparte's usual plan of bringing the whole of his force to bear on one point, it was agreed that, if he should have recourse to this measure, the allies were reciprocally to support each other, and to concert further movements.

The first operation was undertaken by the crown prince: that part of the French force which was opposed to him had taken up a strong position on the left bank of the Partha, with its right resting on the heights of Faucha, and its left towards Leipsic it was therefore necessary to force their right, and gain possession of these heights: in order to effect this, the Russians and Prussians in the crown prince's army were ordered to advance against them; while the Swedes endeavoured to effect the passage of the river at Plosen. The river was crossed with little opposition: and General Winzingerode, who commanded the Russians, took about 3,000 prisoners and some pieces of cannon at Faucha.

Before the infantry of the crown prince's army had sufficient time to make their flank movement, the French infantry abandoned the line of the river, and retired over the plain to

wards Leipsic, occupying the villages through which they passed, in order to protect their retreat.

Hitherto the allies met with very little resistance: but General Langeron, with part of General Blucher's army, having attempted to carry one of the villages on the road to Leipsic, which the enemy had occupied in strength, was opposed with great obstinacy: however, he at length carried it, but was driven back. As the possession of this village was of the utmost importance for the further movements and operations of the allies, General Blucher sent the most positive orders that it should be reoccupied at the point of the bayonet; and this was accomplished before it grew dark. There was attached to the crown prince's army a rocket brigade, which was brought into action with such effect as to paralize a solid square of infantry, which after one fire from Congreve's formidable weapons delivered themselves up as if panic struck.

About this period of the battle, 22 guns of Saxon artillery, 2 battalions of the same nation, and 2 Westphalian regiments of hussars, quitted the ranks of the French and joined the allies the artillery were immediately turned against them; and the crown prince headed the men in a charge against their former oppressors.

The immediate result of the success of the allies to the north of Leipsic was, that the communication was established between the grand attacks; and several officers from the Bohemian army took advantage of this circumstance to inform the crown prince of the operations which had occurred to the south of that place. In this direction, and to the south-east and south-west of Leipsic, the resistance of the French was much more determined and persevering than it was to the north: but the plan and arrangements of the allies were laid down with so much judgment and skill, and executed in such a masterly manner, that the French were at length compelled to retreat. In the battle of this day, the French lost at least 50,000 men in killed, wounded, and prisoners, besides 65 pieces of artillery.

Bonaparte was thus driven from every part of his position, into a circle within cannon shot of Leipsic, from whence a column had already begun its march towards the southwest. In the night the villages of Stetteritz and Probsteyda were abandoned, and occupied by the allies; but he still continued to hold Leipsic, and the villages connected with the suburbs, with a strong rear-guard towards the allies.

Bonaparte seems to have counted upon the presence of the Saxon electoral family, and the solicitations of the inhabitants to preserve the city, to gain time, and to provide for his own security, but he was disappointed. The Emperor Alexander received a flag of truce, sent in the name of the King of Saxony, offering to capitulate to save the town. His imperial majesty gave his answer aloud, in the hearing of many hundred officers, with remarkable force and dignity: he said, in substance, that an army in pursuit of a flying enemy, and in the hour of victory, could not be stopped a moment by considerations for the town; that, therefore, the gates must be immediately opened, and, in that case, the most strict discipline should be observed; that if the German troops in the place chose to join their countrymen in this army, they should be received as brothers; but that he considered any proposal sent, while Napoleon was at hand, as extremely suspicious, as he well knew the enemy he had to deal with; that, as to the King of Saxony personally, who had taken a line of determined hostility, he gave no answer, and declined making any communication.

The heavy cannon and columns of attack were ordered to advance. In the mean time, the prince royal attacked and stormed the city on the other side, a Prussian corps being the first in the square.

General Toll, who had been sent with the Saxon flag of truce to ensure the correct delivery of the message, was, at that moment, in the Elector of Saxony's apartment, and, running out, called to the Saxon guards to lay down their arms, which they instantly did; their example being followed

by the Baden and Wurtemburg troops. The action continued some time in the farther part of the town, and, before it ceased, the emperor and the king entered with the field marshal, and met the prince royal at the door of the Elector of Saxony's quarters. The Elector of Saxony appeared at the balcony, and bowed to the allied sovereigns, but they did not deign to notice him.

The result of this splendid victory was summed up, by the crown prince :- The allied armies have taken 15 generals, and amongst them Generals Regnier and Lauriston, commanding corps d'armee. Prince Poniatowski was drowned, in attempting to pass the Elster. The corpse of Dumourestier, Chief of the Staff of the 11th corps, was found in the river, and more than 1000 men were drowned in it. The Duke of Bassano escaped on foot. Marshal Ney is supposed to have been wounded. More than 250 pieces of cannon, 900 caissons, and above 15,000 prisoners, have fallen into the hands of the allies, besides several eagles and colours. The enemy has abandoned here more than 23,000 sick and wounded, with the whole of the hospital establishment. The total loss of the French army must amount to near 60,000 men.— According to every calculation, the Emperor Napoleon has been able to save from the general disaster not more than 75,000 to 80,000 men. All the allied armies are in motion to pursue him, and every moment are brought in prisoners, baggage, and artillery. The German and Polish troops desert from their standards in crowds; and every thing announces that the liberty of Germany has been conquered at Leipsic.'

It will now be curious to examine Bonaparte's account of this affair. He asserted in his bulletins that the allies were foiled in every attack. Even at 3 o'clock p. m. !' says he,

the victory was ours, as well on this side against the army of Silesia, as on the side of the emperor against the grand army. But at this instant the Saxon army, infantry, cavalry, and artillery, and the Wurtemberg cavalry, passed over in a body to the enemy. Of the Saxon army there remained only Ge

neral Zeschan, the commander in chief, and 500 men. This act of treason not only caused a vacancy in our lines, but also delivered up to the enemy the important debouche confided to the Saxon army, who carried their infamy so far as instantly to turn their 40 pieces of cannon against the division of Durutt. A moment of disorder succeeded; the enemy passed the Partha, and marched upon Reidnitz, which they occupied; they were now therefore only half a league from Leipsic. The emperor sent his horse guards, commanded by General Nansouty, with 20 pieces of artillery, to take in flank the troops that were advancing along the Partha to attack Leipsic. He proceeded in person with a division of the guards to the village Reidnitz. The promptitude of these movements restored * order. The village was re-taken, and the enemy driven to a great distance. The field of battle remained entirely in our power, and the French army remained victorious in the field of Leipsic, as they had in those of Wachan. At night fall, the fire of our cannon had, at all points, repulsed that of the enemy to the distance of a league from the field of battle.The generals of division Visl and Rochambeau fell gloriously. Our loss on this day may be estimated at 4000 men killed and wounded; that of the enemy must have been considerable in the extreme. They took no prisoners from us, and we took from them 500 men.

'At six in the evening, the emperor ordered his dispositions for the following day. But, at seven o'clock, Generals Sor-" bier and Dulanloy, commanding the artillery of the army and of the guards, came to his bivouac to inform him of the expenditure of the day; 95,000 cannon balls had been fired. They informed him that the ammunition in reserve was exhausted, and that there remained only 16,000 cannon balls; that this would scarcely suffice for a cannonade of two hours, after when no ammunition would remain for ulterior events; that the army had in five days fired upwards of 220,000 cannon balls, and that a further supply could only be furnished at Magdeburg or Erfurt. The state of things rendered neces