of which had shook Europe to her foundations, and covered her with misery and ashes, that formed the most prominent point in the great and decisive change so suddenly accomplished in Italy. It was a happy omen for Europe, of what might also be the case; with regard to France whose restless and arrogant disposition again challenged her united strength to the combat. Yet, in the face of all this, France persevered. To her situation and proceedings, it is now time again to turn our attention. "Never," said Caulincourt, "did any nation present a spectacle of a more awful unanimity."* This idle boast, held out to intimidate Europe, was destined to be of short duration. Though the efforts of a lawless military, had succeeded, for the moment, in overwhelming the adherents of Louis XVIII. in the South of France; still they were not extirpated. La Vendee, under the direction of La Roche Jacquelin, rose in arms to espouse the cause of their unfortunate Sovereign. These loyal people received a supply of arms and ammunition from Britain, and quickly dispelled this dream of " awful unanimity." In a short period, all the departments along the banks of the Loire, were either in arms, or remained careless of the contest which was to support the Usurper. In vain the French Journals attempted to conceal this important fact. The decrees issued, though couched in the most cautious and denationalizing language, and the measures taken, under whatever disguise they assumed, but tended more to confirm the public mind as to the extent of the evil. Concealment, however, soon became impossible. Blood was shed, and the march of considerable armies to the banks of the Loire, when Europe hung in threatning array around their frontiers, shewed, beyond the power of French sophistry to refute, that France was, to a certain extent a divided people. Of the operations in this quarter, we are, however, very much in the dark; except through the distorted medium of Bonaparte's Journals. According to these vehicles of falsehood, which occupation they follow, as suits their interests, every day saw important victories gained over these people. Yet the evil spread; and while its influence was felt around the banks of the Garonne, it touched on the other ▾ Caulincourt's letter to the Sovereigns of Europe, April 4th, 1815. hand, the shores of the English Channel. Commune after commune-city after city, were declared in a state of siege: and all the efforts of Travot, Corbineau, and Lamarque, with 25,000 men, were ineffectual to arrest the progress of the principles of these adherents of Louis. Much blood was here shed on both sides; but it is impossible, from the scanty materials which we now possess, to enter into any thing like a detailed account of the affairs in this quarter. Suffice it to say, that those principles continued to diffuse themselves over France. At Lyons, Bourdeaux, Marseilles, nay, even in Paris, and almost in every department of France, the public peace, as the adherents of Napoleon called it, was endangered or disturbed, by the cries of "Vive le Roi," and the appearance of the white cockade and the lily. Unfortunately, however, nearly all those who professed these principles were men without arms, many without property, and still more without influence.The Revolution had stripped them of all these, and conferred them upon its favourites; and hence, these men could do little under such circumstances to assist their lawful Sovereign.The will, however, remained; and that was a sufficient answer to all those who boldly asserted that the Bourbon family was totally forgotten, or universally hated in France. The severe and numerous decrees which the Usurper's Government were, from time to time, passing against their friends, and their principles, sufficiently shewed the alarm under which they lived with regard to both. In the departments already mentioned, much of the land had been confiscated during the Revolution, and many horrible butcheries there committed. This land wasof course given to those of the most violent Republican principles; and hence a great number professing Jacobinical principles are found in those provinces. These very readily entered into federal compacts amongst themselves, to unite and oppose either the Royalists or the allies. The tree of Liberty was planted in some places, the Red Cap made its appearance ir several, and the Republic or death was the cry in others.People trembled at the sight and hearing of those signals which recalled to their memories the blackest and cruelest page in the volume of history. Secret assassinations were begun, as during that awful period; and distrust, dissatisfaction, and alarm, per vaded almost every city and province in France. All this, however, was a matter of indifference to the army-they saw not the evil of it. It was their element-and they laughed at confusion and fear. The Jacobins on the other hand with their wonted audacity denied the fact; and asserted that discontent against the present measures, were confined to a few men of no consideration or worth. At last Fouche tore asunder this veil of falsehood and delusion, which the supporters and admirers of Bonaparte endeavoured to throw before the eyes of the world. The subject was not very pleasant for him to undertake. But necessity compelled him to make the disclosure. "Emigration," said he, “commences-correspondence is established with the exterior-is circulated within-committees are formed in towns-alarms are spread in the country parts. Real disorders appear to be the result of the manoeuvres that are observed. In one commune in the department of Gard, some individuals hoisted the white flag. Some armed bands have appeared in the departments of the Marne and Loire, and of the lower Loire. Women in Calvados tore down the tricoloured flag. Seditious cries are heard; some acts of rebellion have taken place in the North. In the departments of the Cotes du Nord, a Mayor has been massacred by the Chouans. These offences spread alarm in the places where they are committed."* The rigorous decrees and merciless police of Bonaparte, did not, however, succeed in crushing the troubles -on the contrary they served but to exasperate, and the mischief complained of continued to increase. "Sire," said Fouche, "I must tell you the truth! The conspiracy extends from the coasts of the Channel to the Mediterranean. It rests upon the Cevennes in order to extend itself to the banks of the Rhone, by the revolts which may be excited in some parts of Languedoc and Provence. It agitates Marseilles, Thoulouse, and Bourdeaux. It has raised the peaceful cultivators of the whole of the territory enclosed between the Loire, La Vendee, the Ocean, and La Thouet. Bands lay waste, the Morbihan, some parts of the departments of the Ille and Villaine, the Cotes du Nord, and the Sarte. The coast of La Manche, Dieppe, and-Havre, have been agitated by seditious movements-throughout Fouche's report, May 7th, 1815. the 15th division insubordination is general. Caen has twice been troubled by the Royalist's re-actions; and in some districts of the Orne, bands are forming as in Britanny and Mayenne.' Such was the situation of that France which Caulincourt impudently proclaimed, as being joined in the "most awful unanimity.” Such the situation of a country, which Napoleon informed the world "at no period of history displayed more unanimity or more energy."+ Rigorous laws were in existence, and rigorous orders were issued, to enforce these, in order to check that spirit of disaffection to Napoleon's authority. But these either could not or would not be put in execution. This appears from a circular letter from the Minister of Justice, Cambaceres, addressed to the Attorneys General, practising in the Imperial Courts. In this, he reminds them, in a style that would have done honour to 1793, that the Correctional Police, "pursues offenders without relaxation, to the last asylum on which justice seizes them; and the public administration ought never to leave them, until the vengeance of the law be fully satisfied. The crimes to which I call your attention, are those, in favour of which it is sometimes attempted to excite an imprudent compassion. That feeling ought, however, to give way, on the view of the consequences, which the impunity of such offences might produce. The repression of crimes is the most essential attribute of public administration. Its action in this respect has unfortunately for some time been relaxed. This apathy ought to cease."‡ While Bonaparte was for ever harping upon his most anxious wish to maintain peace, consonant to the honour, the interests, and the glory of France; he was most assiduously and most indefatigably preparing for war. "We all wish for peace," said he," and we are all ready for war. In case of war every thing promises to us a happy termination." While thus buoying up the minds of those who wished for peace with the hopes of its continuance, he took care at the same time to inflame the passions of the nation for war, by pointing out the certainty of success. However, as he was not quite so ready as he made * Fouché's report, June, 1815.-from Moniteur of the 20th. Paris, May 11th, 1815. ⇓ Do. do. Europe believe, and as "circumstances were serious," it was necessary by some means or other to amuse the minds of the people of France, and particularly those of Paris; and prevent them from contemplating too narrowly the prospect and the danger before them. For this purpose nothing seemed so proper and well adapted as the web of a new Constitution. It took of course some time to prepare it, as it was to be of Imperial excellence; and though there were excellent workmen in Paris, for this species of manufacture, noted for their ingenuity and expedition in the business, yet the delay could easily be accounted for from the fineness of the article. In the meantime, while the manufacture proceeded, Napoleon ruled supreme; and every measure proposed by him, must be put in immediate execution. When the time came for producing the article, it would then, he conceived, be easy to pick a fault in it, which would require some time to alter; and, in the meantime, the army was rapidly increasing, which, if necessary, could lend a hand to help the nation to put on this new robe should it not fit exactly. Accordingly the Imperial machinery was set to work; and, in process of time, the document which was to consolidate all the interests, the present glory, and future destinies of France, made its appearance, in form of a decree from Bonaparte, bestowing upon his people, of his free-will, this blessed boon. Thus, in the very outset of the matter, adopting the course for which his adherents had declared that the most just of Revolutions, had hurled the Bourbons from the throne forever, namely, for bestowing upon the people a Constitution, instead of receiving one from them. Of this new farce at Paris, and trick practised upon France, it is unnecessary to dwell at any length. It was pretty similar to the twenty Constitutions, which during twenty-five years, had preceded it almost annually in France, except during the two years when the Guillotine was their Constitution. Like the rest, it was made to be broken; and professing liberty it contaimed the seeds of the most abject and absurd slavery. According to this document, the French people delegated their rights to the dynasty of Napoleon, as long as it should be known, providing he governed them according to the laws made, I was going to say by the unanimous voice of the national * Paris, May 11th, 1815, |