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carried; as also were the nomination of two members of the executive commission, and the adjournment of Prince Lucien's proposal until the next day.

THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT.

giving battle after two days of continued fighting, would have condemned the general who suffered a vanquished enemy to retreat peaceably upon Brussels. Fortune has betrayed our efforts, and M. Carnot is represented to have giv- now the decision is regarded as unjusen his opinion against the abdication in tifiable. Posterity, which is more just, the council that decided that measure; will decide. I cannot sufficiently repeat but both he and M. Fouché are well it to the chamber, the last catastrophe known to have no other propensities to- ought not to discourage a nation great wards the imperial family, than such as and noble like ours, if we employ, in are excited by their love for the national this exigence, the requisite energy. This independence; which, although it may misfortune will but augment our glory: appear connected with the support of and what efforts will be thought to cost Napoleon, more to the soldier than to too much, by the true friends of their the statesman, must be supposed the country, in a moment when the sovereign motive of all the actions of both. Gen- whom we have but just proclaimed, eral Grenier is a decided constitutional- whom we have re-invested with all our ist. The Duke of Vicenza may, per- confidence, has consented to the greathaps, be called the most respectable per- est and most noble sacrifice? After the son of Napoleon's court, of which he has battle of Cannæ, the Roman senate voted long been the principal ornament, with- thanks to the vanquished general, beout losing any of that personal consider- cause he had not despaired of the reation which it is so difficult for a courtier public; and immediately set about reto retain. Originally a man of fortune pairing the disasters occasioned by his and family, he served the Emperor, not obstinacy and his errors. for advancement, but in compliance with his notions of the duty of a citizen, and the post he obtained rather received than conferred a dignity by being so supplied. The Bourbon faction in France, and the courts of Europe, have chosen to attach to his name the odium of a transaction in which he was not concerned; but, as he must attribute that obloquy to his im- Napoleon seeing the battle was lost, mediate connexion with the Emperor, and being borne away by the part of his who perhaps might have taken more body guard immediately about his perpains to acquit him of the charge, if by son, retired from the field with a few so doing he would not have condemned cavalry, and rode for some time in the his own deed, it is not surprising that he darkness, ignorant of the direction he should regard himself under very few was taking. The Duke of Bassano, obligations to his master, and that a no- who was with him, was asked by the tion should prevail of his personal inde- emperor if he knew where he was, and pendence, and of his having served the replied in the negative. The staff offimonarchy without being attached to the cers, with only one exception, advised man. Of Baron Quinette I know noth- the return to Paris; and my informant, ing; but, from the complexion of the the general who deprecated that fatal other four members of the commission, measure, assures me Napoleon was overespecially of the Duke of Otranto, it is persuaded against his better judgment to not to be imagined that Napoleon the hazard the experiment. In this case, Second will stand in the way of any ar- consent is not to be distinguished from rangements for the good of the nation in conviction-the fault and the consethis tremendous emergency. quence are the same. They reached Philipeville at five in the morning. Arriving at Paris, Napoleon repaired to the Elysée: he sent for the minister of war. The marshal attended the summons, and

GENERAL DROUET.

General Drouet spoke of the battle with impartiality; "those," said he, "who complained of the imprudence of

In a situation infinitely less critical, shall the representatives of the nation suffer themselves to be confounded and beaten down; and forgetting the dangers of their country in premature discussions, neglect the remedies which will ensure the safety of France?"

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THE RETURN TO PARIS.

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found him in his bath; he was eating a he would have taken advantage, even bouillon, and saluted the minister with subsequently to that event, of any revothe information that he wanted 300,000 lution which the federates might have men, and more money. He had taken hazarded in his favour. On Friday the 12,000,000 of francs, partly his own 23d,the day after the abdication was notitreasure, in specie, into Belgium; in- fied to the chambers, and the day when tending to open the war magnificently, it was first placarded in Paris, the emisand to pay for every thing on demand; saries of the police discovered a plot to nearly the whole was seized, with the seize the military depôts, to arm the imperial equipages, by the Prussians. suburbs, march to the Elisée, and reThe marshal's answer was not satisfac- establish the imperial throne. The vitory, and the emperor ordered a council gilance of Fouché prevented the scheme of ministers to be called. It is said that from being carried into effect; the whole in the meanwhile, Prince Lucien recom- of the national guard of Paris were put mended him instantly to return to the under arms late in the evening, and rearmy; and, in case of any refractory mained on duty all the night; no attempt conduct on the part of the chambers, to at arrest was made until the signal of leave them to the disposal of a battalion. the conspiracy; a gun fired near the bar- When the council assembled, the em- rier of St. Antoine, gave an opportunity peror was plainly told by some of them, of seizing the ringleaders, who advanced that he must abdicate. Two of the first to the concerted scene of action, members of the chamber of represen- and were secured to the number of atatives, one of them being his own min- bout two hundred. Napoleon was reister, Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely, moved the next morning to Malmaison, and the other the General Solignac, the oradle of all his greatness, which was urged the same measure. Napoleon neglected when he accepted, and, like a started at the word, and turned pale; faithful friend, receives him when he reand at first gave them positively to un- signs the crown. He must soon bid it derstand that he would never comply. his last adieu. He does not appear to His words were to this purport," I do have carried with him to his retreat such not think that things are come to that regrets as he might have been expected extremity." But he soon recovered him- to command from the government and self, and entered calmly into the dis- the chambers. No provision has been cussion; which ended in a determination made for him; and there has been a to feel the pulse of the two chambers, by threat that Count Mollien, minister of a communication through the ministers the treasury, is to be arraigned by the and Prince Lucien. chambers for having disbursed certain Napoleon hesitated to execute that sums of money from the public purse for act on which he was resolved, until a re- his relief. The count declares, that he peated notification of the impatience of has not given him a single franc; but the chamber, in the morning sitting, con- honestly adds, that he regrets it was out vinced him that he might compromise of his power to succour the abdicated his dignity by a longer delay. I re- emperor in his distress. Malmaison is ceived positive information, and that, besieged by personal creditors and through two intermediate persons, from friends, who have nearly exhausted the Napoleon's own mouth, that actual vio- small stock of money which remained lence was employed before he would from his private fortune after the disaster consent to step for the last time from the of Waterloo. The imperial family, the throne; and that a deputation of repre- staff-officers, chamberlains, servants, and sentatives, of whom General Marescot other dependants, even the tradesmen of was one, declared they would not quit the imperial closet until the abdication was signed.

NAPOLEON'S RETIREMENT, It is still believed that Napoleon intended to make the succession of his son a condition of his abdication, and that

the court, crowd the antechamber of
their imperial debtor; and the last dis-
tress of the lowest individual, is the first
calamity of him who was
«Yesterday a king, and born with kings to

strive."

An extreme carelessness and genero

seems

sity in pecuniary matters, is one of the and played and talked with her infant. characteristics of Napoleon; he is inca- Alexander with his usual kindness, A pable of refusing an application for fondness for children is another of his money. He will carry from Malmaison peculiarities; he was accustomed at Elba only fifteen thousand louis d'ors. It to invite M. de Bertrand's young family mean and ridiculous to couple to dine with him almost every Sunday, these considerations with the name of and seldom suffered them to depart withsuch a man; but, during his varied ca- out a small present of money or sweet. reer, he has been in situations in which meats, which he put in his pocket for the such considerations have been suggested occasion. I do not think these feelings even to himself. In those private letters, incompatible with the appearance of the in his own hand, written to his first wife, utmost unconcern, and all the demonwhen he was commander-in-chief of the strations of the coldest heart, when his army of Italy, which I have before men- situation is such as to make indifference tioned as having read, he gives an ac- not only justifiable, but to give it an air count of the small fortune left him by his of heroism. Napoleon was exceedingly father (I think either 8 or 12,000 francs) affected when he took leave of his moth-and enters, besides, once or twice into er and sister on quitting Elba; so much some details relative to this patrimony, so, indeed, as to say, "I must go now, and the state of his purse; and, what is or I shall never go.' But the same man, perfectly conformable, to his character, when the beautiful Duchess of gently reproaches Josephine for having took leave of him for the last time, after inade no demands upon him. The ex- his abdication, and burst into tears at cess of affection and esteem with which bidding him adieu, looked at her unhe talks of his brothers in those letters, moved, and saw her depart without a and which some think has degenerated single expression of sorrow or regard. into a failing with him, adds another He received the intimation of the faithtrait, a fit companion to his generosity. ful Bertrand, that he would never quit Even, since he has been emperor, al- him, but follow him into exile or to though he has never been in an English death, with the same unthankful silence; prison, like Theodore, nor in English thinking, perhaps, the acknowledgments pay, like Maximilian, he has known what it is to suffer from scantiness of revenue; for, in the latter days of his abode at Elba, the grand master of his little palace retrenched the expences of his table, by changing his favourite chambertin for the wine of the country; an economy to which he consented readily, and with a smile. Officers of all nations, who had belonged to his armies, resorted to his rock, and begged to serve him with such earnestness, that although he stated to them frankly the smallness of his means, some accepted of twenty-five and thirty francs a month, rather as a pledge of his regard, than as a remuneration of their offices. He will now be obliged to exert whatever philosophy, nature, or experience, may have enabled him to lay up in store for a reverse Already he has recovered his wonted calm, even in the midst of the embarrassments of Malmaison, and in the uncertainties of his fate, I learnt from his friend, Madame V—, who breakfasted with him yes terday, that he was perfectly tranquil, will not destroy myself, for I think it

of gratitude have neither value nor dignity in the day of distress. His friends here say now, what was said last year in England--he ought not to have survived his defeat. Those who think their own characters somewhat implicated in the conduct of their hero, would fain have seen him close his career in a manner worthy of their champion and their king, and which should not belie their admiration of his person, and their allegiance to his cause. Finding that he has been deserted both by victory and death, they think that he should renew his search for the only one of the two blessings now within his reach; they see in his captivity, or flight, a compromise of their own characters; and, though they must consent to survive his glory, would lament to be the sharers of his shame. It is impossible but that the thought of exerting that convenient privilege of ancient heroism must have suggested itself to his mind. In fact, it has, for he said to his aide-de-camp, Count

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very wrong to endeavour to make any change in our destinies."

NOTE. The Princess Hortense, his daughter-in-law, saw Napoleon as he got into his carriage; he was calm, she reports, and in good spirits, at his departure. I saw the princess this morning, and must say that she was entirely so.

patient intrepidity of the British infantry was not to be overcome by the desperate effort made, late in the evening, with tired troops, when the battle was a drawn one, and when the English would have been happy to be left in possession of their ground. One of the Emperor's aide-de-camps says, that he was unI must here mention, that although the worthily betrayed; but I was unable to selation given of the last days at Mal- get a single fact to the proof of this, maison was communicated to me by a except that the officer who was sent to person who had just quitted the spot, order Marshal Grouchy to co-operate yet I have received from another eye- on the right of the army, went four witness a different story. He told me, hours out of his way, for fear of the that in his last visit there was no cham- Prussian patroles; the assigned cause berlain, no courtiers attendant upon Na- both condemns and acquits the messenpoleon, and only Count Labedoyere and ger. Some of the personal staff of Naanother aide-de-camp, were habitual vi- poleon were struck with what they sitants. The number of impatient cred- thought obstinacy of the last attack upitors was diminished, by the same au- on the strong position of the English; thority, to two generals. And he inform- and General Haxo was beginning to ed me, that the Princess Hortense quit remonstrate" Mais, Sire," when the ted the place half an hour before Napo- Emperor gave him a flap with his glove leon got into his carriage; adding that in the face-" Taisez-vous, mon ami, the emperor was exceedingly affected voila Grouchy qui vient de nous donner when he took leave of the aide-de-camp de ses nouvelles." They were Bulow's above alluded to, and embraced him cannons which he mistook for Grouchy's, four times on stepping into his carriage. and which he announced as such to Ney It may belong to this note to state, that by Labédoyère. The marshal fought perhaps I have not given the exact spirit with his accustomed bravery, and having of the words made use of by Napoleon, had three horses killed under him, was when he declared he would not destroy seen in advance of the line, with his himself; the expression was this sword drawn, and on foot, attended by "Quelque chose qui arrive, je n'avance- a single corporal, who at last bore him rai pas la destinée d'une heure." I take away, exhausted and covered with conalso this occasion of stating my firm tusions, from the scene of carnage.opinion, founded on the best authority, How dreadful must have been the rout, that after his abdication he had no in- may be collected from the confession of tention of recovering his power, and that the marshal, who tells us that he, the whatever plot existed (if any did exist) second in command, arrived alone, toto replace him, was concerted indepen- tally ignorant of what had become of the dently of him. Emperor of the army, at Marchiennes sur Pont, at four o'clock in the morning. He says, that he concluded the Emperor to be either taken or killed. The last sight the marshal had of him was when he was conducting the four regiments of the middle guard, in person to the attack.

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NEY.

SIEGE OF PARIS.

A letter of Marshal Ney to the Duke of Otranto, in which he vindicates himself from the aspersions industriously cast against him by the Emperor's personal friends, is making a great noise. Napoleon's generalship is by no means spared in this letter, which is certainly At three o'clock this morning a canwell written, and which is, moreover, 'nonading was heard, sometimes loudly, believed to give a fair representation of sometimes faintly, which continued till that terrible battle. The marshal told five. The fire of distant musquetry was our friend -, yesterday, what he also heard, in the direction of St. Denis; says in his letter, that the reports of trea- but at eight o'clock neither cannon nor son, and cries of alarm, were utterly un- small arms were distinguishable; and an founded. The day was lost because the officer of engineers assured me at nine

o'clock that he had received permission duke has refused the armistice, demanded by the Prince of Eckmuhl, in civil terms; the hero Blucher, in language which it was thought for the honour of France not to publish. The following passages are most prominently polite. "Paris and France are in my hands; I am come to help the honest men against the rogues. I warn you not to treat Paris as you treated Hamburgh.”

to quit his post at la Vilette-a suspension of arms having been agreed upon with the allies. Other reports said that the battle was still raging, and that the Prussians were beaten and in flight. Walking into the town, I found for the first time the shops shut, and large patroles of the national guards parading the streets, in every direction; many soldiers of the line were loitering about, singly, and in small parties of three and four, which did not give cause to suspect that the decisive battle had taken place. The Tuilleries' gardens and boulevards are crowded with well drest people, chiefly ladies; but there is not the slightest show of any disturbance; however, two men were killed yesterday for crying Vive le Roi.

No disturbance took place in the city last night; and the wounded and the peasants' carts being removed from the square Vendôme, this quarter of the town appears more in its usual state than it did yesterday. The number of national guards on duty amount to 12,000. The steps of the palace of the representatives are covered with troops, who are on duty all night. The grenadiers of the eleventh legion petitioned the chamber to-day to order that such of the guard as wished to serve, might have the requisite posts assigned them: the chamber referred this petition to the government. The popular journals complain, that no measures are taken to arm the federates; and, indeed, Count Thibaudeau, in the house of peers, two days ago, hinted that this measure was advisable, and would be adopted, were it not for certain pusillanimous inclinations which had crept into the government and the chambers.

The affair of General Excelmans at Versailles yesterday, appears to have been more considerable than was supposed. The town has been retaken by the French, and two regiments of Prussian cavalry destroyed. This was announced to the chambers by a message from the Tuileries. A communication from the government has also announced "That news has arrived from the plenipotentiaries, treating for an armistice, at the head-quarters of Lord Wellington that the negotiations continue, but that the results are not yet known." The

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Notwithstanding the continuation of hostilities, the hopes of the patriots are elevated by the affair at Versailles. The horses of the Prussians were paraded in the Place de la Concorde, and a squadron of cavalry galloped to the Tuileries with two standards taken in the action. Cannonading, and even musquetry, have been very distinctly heard all the evening; and from the hill, above the palace of the King of Rome, the smoke of a fusillade very clearly seen.

Every thing is perfectly tranquil in the town; the gardens of the Tuileries are more frequented than usual; and, from the Boulevard Montmartre to the Chinese Baths, there are no less than twenty cabinets for the readers of the journals, who assist their speculations by the numerous maps of the seat of war, that is to say, the villages near Paris, which are hung upon every stall. The Français and the Opera-house are shut, but the other playhouses still continue open. The number of the peasants who have been driven in by the enemy amount, it is said, to at least thirty thousand. Their little carts loaded with mattresses and household furniture, in which are seated the women and children and aged are still seen traversing the streets. Where they find an asylum I know not. No apprehension is yet entertained for the failure of provisions; 1200 oxen yesterday entered Paris from the fair of Poissy, and a great number of Lorrain provisioncarts have also arrived.

It was known early this morning that there had been partial actions yesterday at Nanterre, at Sèvres, and upon different points on the right bank of the Seine, between Neuilly and Argenteuil; that Versailles had been retaken, and the bridge of Choissy occupied by the Prussians. The Prussians and English passed the night in intrenching themselves in the wood of Meudon and Ver

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