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the Danes stood upon the defensive; but after suffering se verely in several attacks, and experiencing the mortifying coolness of their own people, the Danish general was compelled to sue for a cessation of hostilities, which ended in a treaty of peace on the following terms:- All conquests to be restored, except Heligoland.-Prisoners of war on both sides to be released.-Denmark to join the allies with 10,000 men, if England will give a subsidy of 400,000l. in the year 1814.-Pomerania to be ceded by Sweden to Denmark in lieu of Norway.-Stralsund still to continue a depot for English produce.-Denmark to do all in her power to abolish the Slave Trade.-England to mediate between Denmark and the other allies.'

The news of the defeat of Bonaparte was received in Holland with indescribable joy, and a revolution was immediately organized, by the principal gentlemen and merchants of Amsterdam. The French commandant, with his followers, accepted the offer of an unmolested retreat, and the cry of Oranje Boven, was re-echoed from every considerable town `in Holland. The citizens flew to enrol their names as volunteers; arms of every description were seized, and the French astonished, and terrified, fled in every direction. But the chief hopes of the Dutch seemed to be placed on England, where the account of this revolution was received with transports of joy. Troops, arms, and ammunition, were embarked with the utmost dispatch, in order to secure the chief places against the return of the French. The Prince of Orange also landed in Holland, on the 1st of December, and was received by the Dutch people with a degree of enthusiasm, such as the virtues of the House of Orange would naturally command. On his landing he issued a proclamation, pregnant with moderation and good sense. On arriving at the Hague, he took upon him, in consequence of an address from the principal actors in the revolution, the title of Sovereign Prince of the United Netherlands;' while measures were taken for assembling the deputies of the people, and framing

a new constitution. The French in the mean time abandoned Schowen, Breda, and Williamstadt. The latter place was taken by a party of Cossacks, who had entered Holland, and by their approach inspired the French with dread and alarm. Concluding that they were the advanced guard of a Russian army, the garrison retreated rapidly to Bergen-op-Zoom, leaving 600 prisoners in the hands of these active fellows.In short, never was a revolution effected with less bloodshed; although in one instance the French evinced their rage and disappointment in the cruelest manner.

Bonaparte was equally unfortunate in Italy. There the Austrian General Nugent, assisted by a detachment of English troops, and the fleet under Admiral Freemantle, forced the viceroy, after a series of engagements, to seek his safety in flight, with about 20,000 men, having lost an equal number in killed, wounded, and prisoners. But what must, under these circumstances, have wrung the heart of Bonaparte, was the defection of Murat, who concluded a treaty of peace with the allies on the 20th of February, after which he took possession of Rome in their name, and sent 6000 troops to join Count Nugent.

When Bonaparte retreated from Dresden, he left St. Cyr with 25,000 men in garrison, from what motive it is not easy to conjecture. Finding a retreat impossible, the French commander offered to capitulate on conditions that he and his troops should be permitted to retire to France, engaging not to serve during the war. These terms were acceded to by the Russian general, but Alexander refused to ratify them, or to grant any terms except those of unconditional surrender. St. Cyr, who was on his march, was offered the alternative of returning to Dresden, which he refused; submitting to necessity, and surrendering his army as prisoners of war.

The fortress of Dantzic, which had long resisted the attacks of the besieging army, capitulated to the Duke of Wurtemberg, after all hopes of relief had vanquished. The garrison of 11,800 men were sent to Russia, except such as were sub

ject to the allied powers, and who were placed at the disposal of their respective sovereigns. The exactions of the French had reduced the most respectable inhabitants from a state of affluence to comparative indigence. But they received every assistance from the English, and the other allies employed in the siege.

The states of Hesse, Darmstadt, Nassau, and Baden, hastened to throw off the yoke of Bonaparte, and having renounced the confederation of the Rhine, implored the mediation of the British ministers at Frankfort, with the allied powers, expressing at the same time a desire to join the alliance. Other states followed their example, and thus was effected the complete dissolution of that formidable confederacy, instituted by Bonaparte for the double purpose of proving either an impregnable bulwark to France in the event of foreign invasion, or the instrument in his hands of the subju'gation of the rest of Europe.

While these operations were going on, in various parts, against the great enemy to the repose of Europe, Britain had additional cause of exultation, in the brilliant triumphs of the Marquis of Wellington, in the south-west of France.After the battle of Vittoria, the British and their confederates mounted the Pyrennees, where the French made a most desperate attempt to maintain the strong positions they occupied; and all the military skill of Marshal Soult, who succeeded in the command of the army, was exerted to retard the progress of Wellington, and to save Pampeluna. But all efforts were unavailing when opposed to the courage of the British army. Soult was driven with great loss from all his positions, the French garrison of Pampeluna was compelled to surrender, and St. Sebastian was taken by storm, by the army under Sir Thomas Graham, after exhibiting instances of gallantry and devotion, never surpassed in the military annals of any people. The gallant Wellington, having thus secured his rear, descended into France, where he established his winter-quarters,

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after addressing a proclamation to the French, honourable to himself and the government under whose auspices he acted.

While the state of the weather and the roads rendered active military operations impossible, Soult was indefatigable in strengthening his position in front of St. Jean de Luz, in disciplining his troops, and collected every thing necessary for the complete equipment of his army. However, in the beginning of November, the noble marquis began his operations, by attacking Soult's positions, which he completely turned, the French being of course obliged to abandon their whole line, which they had fortified with much care and labour; while the British pursuing their success, established themselves in the rear of their right, Soult was thus compelled to retreat to a strong position in front of Bayonne, which during six months had been entrenched with great labour.The combined army approached this position about the middle of December, when the French made repeated and desperate attacks upon the right, under Lieutenant-general Sir John Hope, in all of which they were repulsed with great loss, and so desponding were the prospects of the French, that two regiments, that of Nassau and Frankfort, came over to the allies, and Soult retreating before inferior numbers took shelter in his entrenched camp.

4 H

CHAP. XLVIII.

DISSOLUTION OF THE RHINISH CONFEDERACY-NEUTRALITY OF SWITZERLAND REJECTED-INVASION OF FRANCE -BONAPARTE PREPARES TO RESIST-FAILS IN ROUSING THE NATION TO ARMS-LEAVES PARIS-ATTACKS BLUCHER AT TRANNES-RETREATS ACROSS THE AUBE

CHALONS TAKEN BY THE ALLIES-BLUCHER BEATEN

BY BONAPARTE-ADVANCE AND RETREAT OF SCHWART

ZENBERG.

THE allies having collected their columns at Frankfort, drawn closer the bonds of the confederacy, and received an assurance of liberal assistance from England, prepared to attack the lion in his den. The French had retained a position at Hockheim, and was employed in restoring the old lines, which passed from the tête-de-pont at Cassel, round that position, and back to the Rhine. Marshal Prince Schwartzenberg determined to put a stop to this work, and to occupy the position himself. With this view an attack was made, in which the lines were carried by assault. Four pieces of cannon were taken, and the commander of the town, the aidde-camp of General Guilemeau, various officers, and several hundred men, were made prisoners.-The remainder of them (the corps of General Bertrand) retreated upon Costheim and Cassel, and occupying the intervening wooded ground, maintained for the rest of the day, a sharp tirailleur fire, but in which they must have suffered much, as the Austrian cannon played on them from a height above their position, and other guns on the left bank of the Maine threw their fire in flank. The sight of the Austrian flag, again waving victorious over the Rhine, and of the great military dépôts of the French,

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