and they exactly suited his views. The French nation, was agitated with the deepest discontent, and the army feeling their glory was lost, openly expressed their dissatisfaction, which was considerably increased by above 300,000 prisoners of war, that returned home in a state of the greatest poverty. In fact, France resembled a large barrack of discontented soldiery. Nor did the conduct of Louis XVIII. who had ascended the throne, under the auspices of the conquerors of France, tend to conciliate the public mind. By pretending to have reigned nineteen years, and rejecting the charter presented by the Senate, he insulted the national pride, and excited the jealousy and fears of a numerous party, who, tired of the military despotism of Bonaparte, expected the establishment of a liberal government under the Bourbons; as it was hoped, they had from misfortune learned knowledge and moderation. But it was principally the injudicious zeal, which the Bourbons evinced in favour of the Clergy, that spread an alarm amongst the proprietors of national estates, who form four-fifths of the French landholders; and these were not inactive in exciting the apprehension of the peasantry, respecting the revival of feudal domination. Italy also exhibited the utmost agitation at the conventions of the congress of Vienna, while Murat, king of Naples, at the head of a well appointed army, formed a rallying point for those that wished to contend for Italian independence.

In this alarming state of affairs, the treatment which Bonaparte experienced, was eminently calculated to excite the sympathy of his enemies, and the indignation of his friends. After being torn from family and domestic affections, Maria Louisa and her son were deprived of the Duchies of Parma and Placentia, guaranteed to them by the treaty of Fontainbleau, and an exchange offered without her approbation. The pension promised Bonaparte, was withheld by the French government; and his life was attempted by assassins: it was even proposed at the congress of Vienna, to reniove him either to St. Lucia or St. Helena, though the

island of Elba had been assigned to him in perpetuity. These imprudent measures afforded Bonaparte a strong pretext for violating the treaty he had signed, and determined him to make a desperate effort to recover his dignity and his glory. This bold and desperate resolution he executed with a secrecy and address, that astonished all Europe.

On the 26th of February, at five in the evening, Bonaparte embarked on board a brig carrying 26 guns, with 400 men of this guard. Three other vessels which happened to be in the port, and which were seized, received 200 infantry, 100 Polish light-horse, and the battalion of flankers of 200 men. The wind was south, and appeared favourable; Captain Chaubard was in hopes that before break of day the isle of Capraia would be doubled, and that he should be out of the track of the French and English cruisers, who watched the coast. This hope was disappointed. He had scarcely doubled Cape St. Andre, in the Isle of Elba, when the wind fell, and the sea became calm; at break of day he had only made six leagues, and was still between the Isle of Capraia and the Isle of Elba, in sight of the cruisers.---The peril /appeared imminent; several of the mariners were for returning to Porto Ferrajo. Bonaparte ordered the voyage to be continued, having for a résource, in the last resort, to seize the French cruisers. Towards noon the wind freshened a little. At four in the afternoon he was off the heights of Leghorn; a frigate appeared five leagues to windward, another was on the coast of Corsica, and further off a vessel of war was coming right before the wind, in the track of the brig. At six o'clock in the evening, the brig, which had on board Bonaparte, met with a brig which was recognized to be Le Zephir, commanded by Captain Andrieux, Bonaparte gave orders to the soldiers of the guard to take off their caps, and conceal themselves on the deck, preferring to pass the brig without being recognized, and reserving to himself the measure of causing the flag to be changed, if obliged to have recourse to it. The two brigs

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passed side by side. The Lieutenant de Vaisseau Taillade, an officer of the French marine, was well acquainted with Captain Andrieux, and from this circumstance was disposed to speak him. He asked Captain Andrieux if he had commissions for Genoa; some pleasantries were exchanged, and the two brigs going contrary ways, were soon out of sight of each other, without Captain Andrieux having the least knowledge of who was on board this frail vessel.

During the night between the 27th and 28th, the wind continued fresh. At break of day, a 74-gun ship was observed, which seemed to be making for Saint Florent or Sardinia. The 28th, at seven in the morning, the coast of Noli was discovered, at noon Antibes, and at three on the 1st of March this small squadron entered the Gulph of Juan. Bonaparte ordered that a captain of the guard, with 25 men, should disembark before the troops in the brig, to secure the battery on the coast, if any one was there. This captain took into his head the idea of causing to be changed the cockade of the battalion which was at Antibes. But the officer who commanded at this place, caused the draw-bridge to be drawn up, and took the whole party prisoners. At five in the afternoon, the disembarkation was effected, and a bivouac established on the sea-shore until the moon arose. The following proclamation was immediately dispersed :

Gulph of Juan, March 1. Napoleon, by the Grace of God and the constitution of the Empire, Emperor of the French, &c. &c. &c.

To the Army..

Soldiers!We were not conquered; two men risen from our ranks betrayed our laurels, their country, their prince, their benefactor.

"Those whom during twenty-five years we have seen traversing all Europe to raise up enemies against us; who have passed their lives in fighting against us in the ranks of foreign armies, cursing our fine France, shall they pretend to command and controul our eagles, on which they have not dared even to look ? Shall we endure that they should inherit the fruits of our glorious labour-that they should clothe themselves with our honours and

our goods that they should calumniate our glory? If their reign should continue, all would be lost, even the memory of those immortal days. With what fury do they pervert their very nature! They seek to poison what the world admires; and, if there still remain any defenders of our glory, it is among those very enemies whom we have fought on the field of battle.

Soldiers! in my exile I have heard your voice; I have arrived through all obstacles and all perils; your general, called to the throne by the choice of the people, and educated under your banners, is restored to you; come and join him.

'Tear down those colours which the nation has prescribed, and which for twenty-five years served as a rallying signal to all the enemies of France: mount the tri-coloured cockade; you bore it in the days of our greatness.

'We must forget that we have been masters of nations; but, we must not suffer any to intermeddle in our affairs.

'Who shall presume to be master over us? Who would have the power? Recover those eagles which you had at Ulm, at Austerlitz, at Jena, at Eylau, at Friedland, at Tudela, at Eckmuhl, at Essling, at Wagram, at Smolensko, at Moskow, at Lutzen, at Vurken, at Montmirail. Do you think that the handful of Frenchmen who are now so arrogant will endure to look on them? They shall return whence they came, and there, if they please, they shall reign, as they pretend to have reigned during nineteen years. Your professions, your rank, your glory-the possessions, the rank, the glory of your children-have no greater enemies than those princes whom foreigners have imposed upon us; they are the enemies of our glory, because the recital of so many heroic actions which have glorified the people of France fighting against them, to withdraw themselves from their yoke, is their condemnation.

The veterans of the armies of the Sambre and the Meuse, of the Rhine, of Italy, of Egypt, and of the West, of the grand army, are all humiliated: their honourable wounds are disgraced; their successes were crimes; those heroes were rebels, if, as the enemies of the people pretend, the legitimate sovereigns were in the midst of the foreign armies.

'Honours, rewards, affection, are given to those who have served against their country and us.

Soldiers! come and range yourselves under the standards of your chief: his existence is only composed of your's, his rights are only those of the people and your's; his interest, his honour, his glory, are no other than your interest, your honour, and your glory. Victory shall march at the charging-step: the eagle, with the national colours, shall fly from steeple to steeple, even to the towers of Notre-Dame. Then you will be able to shew your scars with honour: then you will be able to glory in what you

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have done: you will be the deliverers of this country. In your old age, surrounded and esteemed by your fellow-citizens, they will hear you with respect while you recount your high deeds: you will be able to say with pride:And I too was part of that grand army, which entered twice the walls of Vienna, those of Rome, of Berlin, of Madrid, of Moscow; and which delivered Paris from the foul blot which treason, and the presence of the enemy, imprinted on it.

Honoured be those brave soldiers, the glory of the country; and eternal shame to those guilty Frenchmen, in whatever rank fortune caused them to be born, who fought for twenty-five years with foreigners to tear the bosom of our country.

NAPOLEON.

At eleven at night Bonaparte issued orders to départ, and mounted on horseback. His small body of troops followed him, drums and music at their head, preceded by four fieldpieces and a superb carriage. He took the rout to Cannes, where his advanced guard had arrived some hours before. But the inhabitants of this place observed a most discouraging silence. From thence he proceeded to Grasse, which he did not enter, as the people did not appear favourable to his views. In order to faciliate his march, he left his cannon and carriage at the gate of this town, and on the evening of the 2d, arrived at the village of Cerenon, having marched 60 miles in the course of the first day.

The 3d, Bonaparte slept at Bareine; and on the 4th, he dined at Digne. On the 5th, he slept at Gap, with ten men on horseback and forty grenadiers. The inhabitants of the Lower Alps seemed to be struck with fear and surprise, and received him very coldly, while some of his men deserted, and others sold their necessaries in order to purchase clothes from the peasantry, in which, in case of a reverse of fortune, they might escape in disguise. Still, however, Bonaparte pushed on in proud confidence of success, and at Gap several proclamations were issued, amongst which, was one addressed to the French nation.