was said, befriended him, else how could he have escaped from an isle surrounded by her naval force? Prussia, therefore, alone, might be hostile and unappeased; but, unsupported by the other belligerent powers, Prussia must remain passive, or would soon be reduced to reason. The very pleasure in mortifying one, at least, of the late victors of Paris, gave a zest and poignancy to the revolution, which the concurrence of the other great states would, according to Buonaparte, render easy and peaceful. Such news were carefully disseminated through France by Buonaparte's adherents. They preceded his march, and prepared the minds of men to receive him as their destined master. On the 13th, Buonaparte recommenced his journey, and, advancing through Maçon, Chalons, and Dijon, he reached Auxerre on the 17th March. His own mode of travelling rather resembled that of a prince, who, weary of the fatigue of state, wishes to extricate himself as much as possible from its trammels, than that of an adventurer coming at the head of an army of insurgents to snatch a crown from the head of a lawful monarch who wore it. He travelled several hours in advance of his army, often without any guard, or, at most, attended only by a few Polish lancers. The country through which he journied was favourable to his pretensions. It had been severely treated by the allies during the military manœuvres of the last campaign, and the dislike of the suffering inhabitants extended itself to the family who had mounted the throne by the influence of these strangers. When, therefore, they saw the late emperor among them alone, without guards, enquiring, with his usual appearance of active interest, into the extent of their losses, and making liberal promises to repair them, it is no wonder that they should rather remember the battles he had fought in their behalf against the foreigners, than think on the probability that his presence among them might be the precursor of a second invasion. The revolutionary fever preceded Buonaparte like an epidemic disorder. The 14th regiment of lancers, quartered at Auxerre, trampled under foot the white cockade at the first signal; the sixth regiment of laucers declared also for Napoleon, and, without waiting for orders, drove a few soldiers of the household troops from Montereau, and secured that important post, which commands the passage of the Seine. The infectious disorder did not, however, reach the clergy. The Abbé Viart, vicar-general of the cathedral of Auxerre, had a remarkable interview with Buonaparte at that place. "You priests," said Buonaparte, "are all factious." "I know none of this diocese," answered the vicar-general, "who deserve such a reproach." "The peasants detest you." "If you will enquire among the superior classes of society, you will find we possess their confidence and esteem." "You speak of nothing but tithes." "It is, perhaps, the first time," was the reply, "that the word has been mentioned here, and it does not now come from the mouth of a priest." "Of a priest!" said Buonaparte; "it was I who established the fortune of the priesthood." "The benefit," replied Viart, "should not be forgotten, however inadequate that fortune has proved." "They have as ample provision as in other states of Europe," rejoined Napoleon. other states," replied Viart," their appointments may be aided by local resources; in France, as is well known, they cannot." "Priests ought to have no more; the gospel prescribes that they detach their thoughts from worldly things." "It prescribes the same self-denial to all men," replied the Abbé, firmly; "but the clergy would not complain of their poverty, did it not impede their usefulness among the rude common people, who contemn their indigence." "Enough, enough," said Buonaparte; "retire." At this angry expression, which he accompanied with a stamp, the vicargeneral signed the cross, and, saying Blessed be his name who humbleth us," left the apartment. Buonaparte was speedily consoled for the inflexibility of the churchman by a most remarkable instance of defection which took place ere he left Auxerre. When Louis cast his eyes around him for a general whose interest in the hearts of the soldiers might be opposed to that of Buonaparte, the name of Ney had not escaped him. This officer, bred to the trade of a cooper in the little village of Sarre Louis, had elevated himself, by his desperate bravery and military skill, to the rank of Mareschal, Duke, and Prince of Buonaparte's empire. He learned the rudiments of war as a partisan in a regiment of hussars, and retained, through his whole career, a tincture of that wild service. He was licentious in every particular, but brave to the most determined degree, active, skilful, unwearied, and ardent, and indisputably the best general of light troops in the French service. His name appears in the most brilliant campaigns of the revolution; and in Russia his gallantry preserved the reliques of Napoleon's army during their disastrous retreat, particularly at the battle of Krasnoe. On that occasion he forced his way, with a handful of men, through such disproportioned force of the Russians, that he appeared before Buonaparte when all had given him up for lost. Napoleon threw his arms around his neck, and exclaimed, that he no longer regret. ted his losses, since fortune had preserved his dear cousin, the undaunted Duke of Elchingen. Since the acces sion of the Bourbons, Ney had resided chiefly at his country seat of Coudreaux, and seemed estranged from the court, though it was much frequented by his wife. Upon the landing of Buonaparte, Ney was summoned to Paris by an aid-de-camp of the minister of war. On the 7th March he had a personal interview with Louis, and expressed himself in the strongest terms of devotion and fidelity. The Prince de Poix, who was present at the interview, deposed upon the Marechal's trial, that, in answer to the king's expression that he relied on his devoted faith, Ney stooped, and kissed with emotion the hand which Louis held out to him, exclaiming, "I hope to bring him to your majesty in a cage of iron. His destination was to command an army of reserve, which, it was imagined, his interest with the troops might render wor * Mademoiselle Ney was the second daughter of Mademoiselle Auguié, waiting-woman to Marie Antoinette, and so faithful to her mistress that she precipitated herself from a high window upon hearing of the queen's execution, and died in consequence. But she was also the niece of a certain Mademoiselle de Compans, who kept a boarding-school near St Cloud, an institution favourable, it was said, both to the politics and pleasures of Buonaparte. Ney, upon his trial, endeavoured to explain away this phrase. He admitted he had said something about an iron cage, but only meant that Buonaparte deserved such a reward for his temerity. But it was a favourite expression with the Marechal. He said to Monsieur Dranges de Bourcia, the sub-prefect of Poligny, that Buonaparte should be attacked like a wild animal, and brought in a cage of iron to Paris. "A tumbril would do better," said the sub-prefect. "By no means," answered Ney, ❝ you do not understand the Parisians; they must have a sight of him through the bars." thy of trust, for the purpose of seconding the efforts of Monsieur, who had just departed from Lyons. For this purpose, he went to Besançon, where, on the 11th March, he learn ed the occupation of Lyons by Buonaparte, and the defection of the troops stationed in that city. He continued to assemble troops from the various neighbouring garrisons, as if to assume a position for attacking Buonaparte on flank and rear when he should move forward upon Paris. To those who objected the bad disposition of the soldiers, and remarked that he would have difficulty in inducing them to fight, Ney answered determinedly, "They shall fight; I will take a musket from a grenadier and begin theaction myself;-I will run my sword to the bilt in the first who hesitates to follow my example." To the 'minister at war he wrote, that all were daz zled by the activity and rapid progress of the invader; that the invader was favoured by the common people and the soldiers, but that the officers and civil authorities were loyal, and he still hoped "to see a fortunate close of this mad enterprize." In the night between the 13th and 14th, he received in private an emissary from Buonaparte, with a letter, in Bertrand's hand-writing, summoning him as "the bravest of the brave," a name which Buonaparte sometimes gave to Ney, to join the imperial standard. On his trial he affirmed, that this was his first communication with Buonaparte since his exile; but it is certain that he had formerly represented his return as an event long arranged by himself and the other marechals. At any rate, if, hitherto, he had served the king with good faith, his fidelity gave way exactly five days after he had parted from Louis with professions of such profound devotion. On the morning of the 14th, he communicated to Generals Bourmont and Lecourbe his intention to join Buonaparte. It was in vain that these officers warmly urged him to remain stedfast in his duty; his resolution was formed. An order of the day, or proclamation, informed the soldiers under his command, that the cause of the Bourbons was lost for ever, and that the marechal, who had often led them to victory, was now about to march them to join the immortal phalanx which the emperor was conducting to Paris, there to establish for ever the happiness of France. This proclamation was received by the soldiers with shouts of Vive l'Empereur; Buonaparte's colours and standard were instantly displayed, and his adherents took the license of pillaging several houses in the place. But the superior officers regarded the conduct of Ney as an act of gross dishonour and treachery. Bourmont, Lecourbe, the Marquis de la Genetiere, and others, even his own aid-de-camp, the Baron Clouet, left the army in disgust. Another officer of rank gave a yet stronger testimony against this act of unparalleled trea son. He came before Ney, and thus addressed him: "It is easier for a man of honour to break iron than to break his word;" then snapping his sword asunder, he threw it at the marechal's feet. "To prove what I say, there lie the fragments of the sword with which I came to fight under your orders." He then turned his back on the marechal, and left the town. Ney, unmoved by the scorn thus poured on him, proceeded to carry his treachery into effect, and joined Buonaparte, who received him with open arms. His defection did incalculable mischief to the king's cause, by showing that the very highest rank in the army was infected by the same spirit of treason which possessed the common soldiers. All was now apprehension at Paris. False intelligence, communicated by the telegraph, had announced the destruction of Buonaparte before Lyons, This served for the moment to paralize the efforts of the royalists, when every moment was precious, and, when discovered, it spread discouragement, by shewing that the public channels of intelligence were in possession of the enemy. The return of Monsieur, with the melancholy intelligence of the occupation of Lyons, at once dispersed the vain hopes which this annunciation had spread through the royalists, and which rendered the real calamity doubly astounding. The last stake for the kingdom was now to be played: The king attended the sitting of the Chamber of Deputies on the 16th of March, where he was received with lively tokens of respect and afféction. He reminded them of his labours for the benefit of France; of the honourable peace which he had procured for her when resistance was no longer available. "I fear not," he said, "for myself. What can befall me better at the age of sixty than death in defence of my kingdom! It is for France I fear, to which he, who is now approaching, brings the scourge both of civil and foreign war. Let us rally around our constitutional charter, which I here swear to maintain. Let the concurrence of the chambers give authority and impulse to our just defence, and the termination of the war will shew what a great nation, loyal to its monarch and laws, can do for their protection." This touching appeal, rendered yet more affecting by the benevolent looks and impressive delivery of the aged monarch, was received with shouts of " Long live the king, we are his for life and death!" Monsieur, in his own name, and that of the princes of his house, swore fidelity to the king and the charter; and the brothers threw themselves into each other's arms as he concluded the oath. The hall echoed with the most enthusiastic acclama tions, and it seemed impossible but that such bursts of loyalty must have been followed by the most active and zealous exertions. Laws were hastily passed for the satisfaction of such grievances as the army had complained of; for calling out the population to arms; for recompensing those who should effectually serve the king; for pardoning those whom the invader had deluded; and for declaring the irrevocability of the national domains, and affording security against the re-establishment of tithes or feudal services. These were wise and provident measures, so far as they went to organise resistance to the immediate danger: but in so far as they were calculated to obviate the suspicions of the soldiers and proprietors of national domains, they were impolitic, since the application of such remedies seemed to acknowledge that ground had actually existed for the calumnies by which those suspicions had been excited. Louis next reviewed the garrison of Paris. The troops of the line, amounting to 6000 men, received him in silence indeed, but with respect. They were ordered to march upon Melun, and a part of the national guard was embodied with them. Other troops were assembled at the same point, and the royal army, in point of numbers, appeared to double that which was marching toward Paris under Buonaparte; but the afflicting news of the treachery of Ney, shewed how little dependence could be placed on the regular troops. The point of confiding in them, was the subject of a warm discussion at a general council held in the Tuilleries, in which the presence of the king did not prevent the generals and nobles present from using the most intemperate language towards each other. Louis retired in despair, well aware that this disunion shewed of itself the fallen state of his fortunes. He now made preparations for retiring from his capital, without even awaiting the issue of the meeting betwixt Buonaparte's army and the troops at Melun. What indeed could be expected from them, after the successive revolts of Grenoble, Lyons, and Lons le Saulnier! The king departed from Paris at one o'clock on the morning of the 20th. The national guard thronged around him, and asked permission to spend their lives in his defence. Tears and sobs burst from the crowd, who, even at this hour, surrounded his car riage. "Dry your tears, my friends," said the good monarch, "I will soon return to you!" Escorted by his household troops, and attended by his family, he took the road to Lisle. In the morning, a proclamation, placarded through the city, informed the Parisians that the king was gone to seek, in another part of his kingdom, not better subjects than they, but such as were more favourably situated to serve his cause. The session of the two chambers was declared to be closed until the king should announce to them his provisional seat of government. The garrison of Lisle had shortly before declared for the emperor, under D'Erlon, (president of the court-martial by whom Excelman was acquit ted), and had actually left the city in order to march to join him. The disposition of the inhabitants, and of the adjacent country, was excellent, and there was no doubt that the king might have maintained this last asylum within the French territory, if Marechal Mortier had not caused these revolted troops of the line to re-enter the city. He had no sooner done so, than he informed the king that he could not be responsible for their fidelity. After Louis had spent some hours in vainly attempting to conciliate the soldiery, Mortier at length insisted on his quitting Lisle, himself escorting him to the gates, to save him, he pretended, from the fury of the soldiers, excited by the report that the Duke of Berri was on the point of arriving with the household troops to possess himself of the city, The unfortunate monarch, thus compelled to a second exile, departed to Ostend, and from thence to Ghent, The misfortunes which had attend- where he established his banished ed Louis during the greater part of court. The Duke of Berri, with the his life, continued to pursue his jour- household troops, and many volunteers ney. Every where he was received who had joined them, pursued a march by the citizens with shouts of wel- which every instant rendered more pecome, but with sullen silence by the rilous, from the revolt of the various armed soldiery, who alone could effec- garrisons in French Flanders. This tually have assisted him. The house- unfortunate band of loyalists included hold troops marched by Amiens, while boys who bore arms for the first time, Louis himself hastened to secure Lisle, and old men whom zeal had summonthe strongest fortified town in France, ed forth, though almost unfit for serby possession of which he could have vice. The orders of march transmitopened the gates of the kingdom to ted to them by the king were interhis foreign auxiliaries, or formed a cepted by the enemy, and while unplace of arms, while he assembled certain in what direction to proceed, around him the more faithful part of they were closely pursued and hahis subjects. This plan was defeat- rassed by a body of light cavalry uned by the conduct of Mortier, who, der Gaillebois, colonel of that 14th regiwhile maintaining a seeming allegiancement of lancers which revolted near to the king, contrived, to serve most Montereau, an officer whom the Duke effectually the cause of his old master. of Berri had loaded with favours. |