peut,' though this has been most anxiously denied. Bonaparte for a last effort, collected some battalions of the old and young guards, and led them on. But all in vain, for this feeble reserve was presently overthrown. The commanders, swept along by the flying torrent, had not a single file of men to rally to; and night coming on added to the confusion. Even the squadrons of service drawn up by the side of the Emperor were dispersed.

Seeing that the battle was lost, Bonaparte rode off with his general staff. The bridge and narrow road at Genappe, were so encumbered with military waggons, that it took above an hour to get through them. Three leagues beyond Charleroi he halted, and a tent was pitched upon a grassplat. A fire being kindled, and refreshments placed upon a chair, Bonaparte took the first for fourteen hours, standing with his back to the fire, with his hands generally behind him, conversing with a circle of nine, whose horses La Coste had been ordered to hold, till the party, about two in the morning, broke up, when each taking his horse, Bertrand gave La Coste a Napoleon d'or, which he exchanged, after a twenty-four hours fast, to refresh himself and family.

A Frenchman, in order to recommend himself to the suc cessful party, has published a narration of this campaign, wherein he labours to prove, that the monster Bonaparte,' acted as if he had lost his understanding.' But in opposition to the assertions of this unprincipled writer it is only necessary to adduce the testimony of the Duke of Wellington, who declared, that Bonaparte did his duty, and fought the battle with infinite skill, perseverance, and bravery-and this,' adds the noble Duke, 'I do not state from any personal motive of claiming merit to myself, for the victory is to be ascribed to the superior physical force and constancy of British soldiers."

A very few days after Bonaparte's departure to the army, one hundred and one discharges of artillery awoke the Pari

sians at an early hour, announcing the defeat of the Allies. But the bulletin was modest and reserved. However, on the following day the defeat of the united Prussian and English armies on the plains of Fleurus was published. The official account stated, that the defeat of the Prussians was so complete, that there was no expectation of further news of them for some time, and with respect to the English, we shall see, in the course of a day or two, what we shall do with them--The emperor is there!"

6

On the morning of the 20th June, after two days of painful surmise, and trembling expectation, it was whispered throughout Paris, The emperor is here!' No one deigned to inquire what was the fate of the army. His presence in Paris was a bulletin too unequivocal of its entire defeat to need further confirmation.

Bonaparte arrived in Paris at three in the morning, and assembled his counsellors. It was deemed by him necessary to try some master-stroke, which should counterbalance the effects of the defeat at Waterloo. After much deliberation, he thought that the evil impression made on the public mind, from the disaster occasioned by the panic of the army, would be best neutralized by marching upon the assembly, and proclaiming himself Dictator. Lucien, his brother, was peremptory also in this opinion; but there were persons of the council whose minds were not bound up to such a terrible feat. This discussion was not, however, so secret, but that some intimation of the project reached a member of the House of Representatives, who had been too early skilled in revolutions, not to feel that no time was to be lost.

M. de la Fayette, therefore hurried to the house, which had assembled at an earlier hour than usual, as the news of Bonaparte's arrival had circulated through Paris. He found the president occupied in correcting some defects of grammar in the procès-verbal of the preceding day. Leave your erratas,' he exclaimed, there is other matter for discussion;

N

hasten to open the sitting, and give me the parole.' 'Representatives,' said M. de la Fayette, it is now twenty-five years since I raised my voice in this tribune of liberty; the country is in danger, and can be saved by you alone. The sinister reports, which have circulated these two days past, are unhappily confirmed. It is you whom it behoves to rally the whole country around the national standard, the standard of 1789, of liberty, equality, and public order; it is to you to whom it belongs to defend the independence and the honour of France against the pretensions of the enemy.'

'A veteran in the cause of liberty, a stranger to the spirit of faction, I am come to propose to you the previous measures which the crisis into which the nation is plunged demands; I am assured that all my colleagues will feel their necessity.'

The first of these propositions was to declare that the independence of the country is threatened; the second, that the house shall declare itself permanent; that all attempts to dissolve it are high treason, and that any one who shall be guilty of this crime shall be immediately arraigned as a traitor to his country. The third proposition consisted of thanks to the army, and the national guard; the fourth was an invitation to the minister of the interior to convoke the staff officers of the national guard, and procure arms for every citizen who should be called to serve in it; the last was an invitation to the ministers to repair to the House, and answer all questions that should be made them.

No explanation was demanded by any member of the cause of these alarming propositions; it was sufficient that they were made by M. de la Fayette, and that Bonaparte was in Paris. The three first of these motions were immediately converted into laws. The national guard flocked round the assembly without waiting a law; but the ministers obeyed the summons of the chamber with less alacrity.

The plans of policy offered by the ministers and Lucien Bonaparte did not satisfy the deputies, and Napoleon was told,

that a rising ferment among the deputies would infallibly compromise his dignity: and indeed, the National Representation were so worked upon during the remainder of the day, and in the night, that in the morning the president and the emperor's best friends came and besought him to abdicate, as the only means left of saving France! The emperor, though far from being convinced, came to a speedy decision:-- The honour and glory of France have been the objects of my life,' said he; 'you know it; and it shall not be said that my personal interests shall ever stand in the way of their attainment; may you succeed without me; I abdicate; may the allies have been really sincere in their communication.' He then dictated the following:--DECLARATION OF BONAPARTE TO THE FRENCH. Paris, June 23.

'Frenchmen! in commencing a war for maintaining the national independence, I relied on the union of all efforts, of all wills, and the concurrence of all the national authorities. I had reason to hope for success, and I braved all the declarations of the Powers against me.

'Circumstances appear to me changed. I offer myself as a sacrifice to the hatred of the enemies of France-may they prove sincere in their declarations, and really direct them only against my power! My political life is terminated; and I proclaim my Son, under the title of Napoleon II. Emperor of the French.

'The present Ministers will provisionally form the Council of the Government. The interest which I take in my son, reduces me to invite the Chambers to form, without delay, the Regency by a law.

Unite all for the public safety, in order to remain an independent nation.

The Assembly having sent a deputation to offer him their thanks for this communication, he received them, surrounded by all the great officers of his household, and those of his guard, with all the pomp suitable to the imperial dignity of which he was about to be deprived. His figure and deportment were calm; he said that a great disaster had happened, but that the territory was yet untouched; he spoke of the sacrifice which he made, at the desire of the chamber, to

public circumstances, and to his tenderness for his son. The deputation withdrew, observing the most respectful ceremonies, promising to mention to the Assembly that part of his message that related to his son.

Bonaparte thus surrendered his authority though surrounded by soldiers, and the Fédérés, who incessantly cried 'Vive Napoleon!' while thousands of the citizens crowded to his palace, exclaiming give us arms, we are ready to support our emperor.' The troops concentrated before Paris, amounting to 50,000 men, also continued the old cry of Vive l'empereur !" But Napoleon, instead of taking advantage of the strong feeling exhibited in his favour, and making another bold effort to retrieve his fallen fortunes, caused the following address to be distributed amongst the troops :-

"Napoleon to the brave Soldiers of the Army before Paris.

'Soldiers !-While obeying the necessity which removes me from the brave French army, I carry with me the happy certainty that it will justify, by the eminent services which the country expects from it, the praises which our enemies themselves have not been able to refuse it. Soldiers! I shall follow your steps, though absent; I know all the corps, and not one of them will obtain a single advantage over the enemy, but I shall give it credit for the courage it shall have displayed. Both you and me have been calumniated: men, very unfit to appreciate our labours, have seen in the marks of attachment which you have given me, a zeal of which I was the sole object.

'Let your future successes tell them that it was the country above all things which you served by obeying me, and that if I have any share in your affection, I owe it to my ardent love for France, our common mother.

'Soldiers! some efforts more and the coalition is dissolved; Napoleon will recognise you by the blows which you are going to strike.

'Save the honour, the independence of the French. Be to the last the same men that I have known in you for these last twenty years, and you will be invincible.

'(Signed)

NAPOLEON.'

After Napoleon's abdication, five persons were named to take the supreme command. These were Fouché, Carnot,