Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

the centre, and with whom it was so fully peopled, were eager and anxious to commence any desperate undertaking, and plunge into fresh confusion and blood. Groups of people assembled in all quarters of the city, and its suburbs, and environs. Cries of rage, menacing gestures, threats of the most alarming description, cannon and musquets fired along the streets, the Boulevards, and from the bridges, filled the night with deeper horror, and the minds of the peaceable inhabitants with terror and alarm. The shops were shut-terror was at its height in the different quarters of the city. Nothing but the in mediate presence of the allied troops in the environs of Paris, and ready to enter it, could have prevented this fury from exerting its strength in scenes of confusion and blood. At length the entrance of the allied troops gave some assurance that order would be maintained in the place. Nevertheless, that was a matter of great difficulty. An exasperated, profligate, and unprincipled population, such as a great number of the inhabitants of Paris were, and these too increased, by deserters and traitors of all ranks and degrees, both from the army and from the provinces, threatened Paris with the severest calamities. Every where the allied troops and officers were insulted and ill treated, in order to produce quarrels with men weary of life, and thirsting only for blood. The patience of the latter was soon worn out, many lives were lost in consequence, till the strongest measures were taken to repress this intentional audacity. The Prussian troops, as they were the foremost to be abused, were the first to resist and resent it. Their guards were augmented-their forces were stationed so as they could assemble in force at any given point, upon the shortest notice; and cannon, loaded with grape shot, were planted on the bridges and public places; where, by night and by day, the artillerymen stood beside the pieces, with lighted matches. In the places, however, where only the national guards were stationed, the most daring movements took place. These were either afraid or unwilling to repress the violence of the multitude. In consequence of which, the King and the Royal Family were daily insulted in the most bitter and seditious language, even in the palace of the Thuilleries, till the better classes of society were banished from the neighbourhood of the place. Amongst the other remarkable

devices with which those furies annoyed those whom they disliked, was one which could only be hatched in the monkey brain of revolutionary fury; this was in wounding individuals, and by cutting, and throwing aqua fortis, and ink, in large quantities, upon the clothes of all well dressed females who made their appearance there, in order to banish them from the place. Severe measures were, however, resorted to, and these disgraceful assemblies were scattered; yet, still, Paris continued the scene of confusion and alarm, on the one hand, and the most thoughtless pleasure on the other-one set thought only on mischief— another how they might contrive pleasures to kill time.

Immediately after his entrance into his capital, Louis XVIII. appointed a new ministry, at the head of which was Talleyrand; St. Cyr was made Minister of War, and Fouche Minister of Police. For this station, the character of the latter, in one sense, certainly peculiarly fitted him; but the appointment of this man, one of the keenest and most ferocious of all the revolutionists, who, after exercising in these bloody times every cruelty, and who, subsequently, had been long the tool of tyranny, excited one general mark of reprobation and regret throughout Europe. Europe could not forget that this was the man who dee clared that death was an eternal sleep-who went about, in a systematic manner, to corrupt and destroy the morality and religion of France, the bitter consequences of which all had felt: nor could she forget that, only three months before, he was the foremost to welcome the usurper, to accept power and place under him, and which had occasioned so much trouble and bloodshed. He may, as it is said he did, have betrayed his former masterhe is capable of it. He may have rendered the Bourbons a service; but Europe could not be satisfied to see recalled to power men of this character, who would do any thing-whose principles had given her so much trouble, and occasioned her so much sorrow; and which, a second time, she had risen in arms to put down, and had put down. Of the secret which springs occasioned this proceeding, we are ignorant; but be these what they may, such things cannot make black white, nor evil good; and till these can do so, the massacres at Nantz, and the destruction of morality, must cover the head of Fouche with infamy, and his character with shame, though clothed in the richest folds of the Imperial

1

purple. The King also issued a deeree, electing and convoking the new Legislative Bodies; the number of the Representatives for each house of which, were considerably augmented in numbers, beyond those which formerly composed the sebodies under him. But few acts of importance were directed by him for some time, except now and then proclamations concerning the affairs of the interior, which are not interesting to the generalreader, as these concerned internal regulations, only interesting to the subjects of France. In the meantime, the Emper ors of Russia and Austria, together with the King of Prussia, arrived at Paris, to which Lord Castlereagh, on the part of Great Britain; also set out, and where negotiations for the future repose and security of Europe were immediately set on foot. Fresh armies continued to arrive at Paris, and in the neighbourhood of that city; and fresh corps were daily advancing from Germany, Italy, and England, and entering the French territory on the North and East. On the South also, a very considerable Spanish force, amounting to 80,000 men, were assembled on the Eastern and Western confines of the Pyrenees, ready and eager to enter the French territory. The allies continued to advance their armies in all directions. Along the shores of the Mediterranean, the Austrian and Piedmontese troops occupied Marseilles; and, crossing the Rhone, spread themselves over, and occupied the surrounding districts. From Lyons, the troops of the same nation extended themselves to the banks of the Upper Loire, behind which Suchet retired with the remains of his army. The Swiss army kept the country in awe, from the Jura mountains to the Saone, and occupied the department of the Doubs. Lecourbe concluded an armistice with the Austrian General Colloredo, by virtue of which, he also retired to the left bank of the Loire, and both Befort and Besancon were occupied by the Austrian troops. The Grand army under Schwartzenberg, composed of Russian, Austrian, and Bavarian troops, covered all the country along the Marne, the Seine, and the Yonne; and extending themselves to the Loire, stretched from Orleans, along that river, to the point where they came in communication with the Austrian army from Italy. Westward, the Prussian army extended from Orleans to Tours and Nantz, and on both banks

of the Lower Loire; while the British, Hanoverian, and other troops under Wellington, extended themselves towards Britanny, and the coasts of the Channel, and also along the Seine, to its junction with the Ocean. Besides,these forces, strong divisions of troops of all the allied nations were assembled in and around Paris; while numerous corps kept up the communications with Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Switzerland'; and formidable divisions blockaded, besieged, or garrisoned all the fortified places, either in the interior of those parts of France, or on the frontiers. The Cossacks promenaded, round the environs, and in the streets of Paris; and the Prussians encamped around the Thuilleries, and in their most pleasant palaces; which they treated neither with reverence nor regard. Blucher even had the famous bridge of Jena mined, and the -match kindled which was to blow it up; when the arrival of his Sovereign, and the Emperor Alexander, prevented it; as they were induced, at the intercession of the King of France, to request him to spare it. This, however, was only granted, upon conlition that the name should be changed; and, accordingly, it was named the bridge of the Invalids. For this, the brave veteran was much censured, by all those who were tender of French humiliation. They maintained that the destruction of the bridge of Jena would not destroy the memory of that battle; of this there was no doubt; but the destruction of the monument raised to perpetuate that event, in. the proud capital of the victors, might convince the inhabitants thereof that victories gained in wars of ambition may be, most strictly and justly avenged.

In the meantime, one place after another continued to acknowledge the King, and submit to his authority. Amongst these, Marseilles and some of the cities in the South were the most prompt and decided. Severe commotions, however, accompanied with bloodshed, took place at Marseilles, as the people arose upon the garrison, and drove them out of the place, even before they had heard of the capture of Paris. Brune, however, returned with a stronger force, and again recovered possession of the place. The republican standard was displaced for the black flag, or covered with crape, as a mark of their sorrow for the events which had taken place, and their resolution never to submit to the Bourbons. The arrival, how

ever, of a British force, under Lord Exmouth and Sir Hudson Lowe, consisting of 3000 men from the Garrison of Genoa, on the 10th July, freed Marseilles from all further uneasiness. They were received and welcomed by all ranks with great enthusiasm and loyalty. Brune, with all his adherents in that quarter, took refuge in Toulon; which advantageous post he still held. This important place, however, he was forced to give up; after various negotiations with the British Officers and the Marquis de Riviere, commanding these provinces in the name of the King. In all these, Republican bad faith was, as usual, most conspicuous. Every procrastinating effort was made, merely to deceive and gain time; but all proved ineffectual. The British troops moved forward from Marseilles, to prevent his retreat from Toulon; and, after trying every manœuvre, he was at last compelled to give himself up to the Marquis de Riviere, to be sent to Paris accompanied with one aid-de-camp. Toulon, the forts, and the fleets, under the direction of Admiral Gantheaume, then hoisted the white flag; but the soldiers, consisting of six regiments of the line,* did it with great reluctance. Thus Toulon was delivered from the tyranny of Marshal Brune; who had committed great excesses in levying contributions in the neighbourhood. In his way to Paris, this man, generally detested by the people in the South, was attacked by the populace at Avignon; and after being nearly murdered by them, he shot himself. His body was dragged forth by the enraged multitude, and treated with every indignity, placed on a hurdle, and thrown into the Rhone. It is said that Marshal Brune was the individual who carried the bleeding head of the Princess Lamballe through the streets of Paris upon a pike on the night of the fatal 2d of September, 1792.

Murat, who was at Toulon, sent, on the 13th, an aid-decamp to Lord Exmouth, to request that, as King of Naples, he might be allowed to go on board one of the ships, in order that he might be conveyed to England. This was, however, refused; though he was offered an asylum on board any one in order to secure his personal safety. This, however, he declined, or, at least, did not accept; and, accordingly, when * Hudson Lowe's dispatch, July 24th, 1815.

« PreviousContinue »