would be made "willingly, and with a modest energy;" and, if their "misfortunes should increase," the army would become the "rallying point of all Frenchmen, even of the most violent royalists." He called upon them to unite, and never to separ ate; and to follow the "touching" example of the Vendeans, whe had offered to join them, laying "aside all resentments," to prevent the "dismemberment of the country." He concluded, by calling upon them to be Frenchmen; and informing them, that the wish just expressed" was the sentiment which always reigned exclusively in his soul."* This, however, did not fully convince the army, who remained obstinate; much to the satisfaction of Davoust and their other leaders, who were jealous of the King's intentions, and durst not trust his word. Time, however, pressed. He was without any regular means of supplying the wants of his troops, and the army must either acknowledge the King; and bow to his authority, unconditionally, or contend against the allied armies in battle. According ly, with great reluctance, this submission was announced, and the white cockade hoisted. In doing this, said Davoust to the army, I know" I demand from you a great sacrifice; we have all been connected with these colours for these twenty-five years; but the interests of our country demands this sacrifice." He called upon them to defend their "unhappy country in the name of Louis XVIII." and to follow the example of the Vendeans, who had agreed to unite with them to "combat the enemies of France." Several bodies of the troops, however, still refused to obey; and, under Excellmans, and Lefebre Desnouettes, continued a sort of maurauding life, living by contributions and requisitions, where these could be got.. At last, after much difficulty, they were compelled to submit; the Generals afterwards taking themselves off into concealment, in order to avoid the King's decree for their degradation and arrest. The command was taken from Davoust, and given to Macdonald, when the whole army was disbanded, and a new army organized from the wreck of the old. This royal army was to consist of 86 legions of infantry of three battalions each; eight regiments of foot artillery; four regiments of horse artillery; a regiment of royal carrabineers; six regiments of cuirassiers; ten regiDavóust's proclamation, Orleans, July 10th, ↑ Do. July 16th. ments of dragoons; twenty-four regiments of chasseurs, and six regiments of hussars;* the whole forming a mass of 200,000 men, larger than any force necessary for the defence of thecountry, had it been free from internal convulsions. The army under Suchet soon followed the example of the army of the Loire; and next, that under Clauzel, which were also disbanded and sent to their homes. In the meantime, the white flag appeared on all the sea ports and principal towns; the people acquiescing in the change. In several places, however, this did not take place without bloodshed with the troops; and for a long period afterwards, continued brawls took place between the two parties, which kept the minds of the peaceable in a constant state of terror and alarm. Still, however, many places refused to acknowledge the King, amongst which was Huninguen, under the infamous Barbnegre. The place was, however, besieged and taken by the Austrians; the garrison, to the surprise of every one, being allowed to retire behind the Loire. In other places the French garrisons hoisted the white flag, and also a red one; in consequence of the allies continuing to press their surrender, and they refusing to give them up to the foreign armies. Amongst these, Valenciennes, and several other places on the frontier of the Netherlands, suffered much. It was a strange and unacountable spectacle to see these places attacked and defended, while peace and good will seemed to reign betwixt the armies in the field, and the Government of France, and all the allies. While these things were going on in various parts of France, the great leader of all the mischief, and chief cause of all the confusion, was endeavouring to make his escape out of France, with the intention of going to America. He had left Paris on tho 29th June, with a numerous retinue, and much property; and taking the road by Tours, he directed his route to Rochfort. It was evident he travelled quite at his ease; and not only so, but that every facility was afforded him. Every where, it was said, he was welcomed with acclamations, and treated with the same respect as if he had been still Emperor. He reached Rochfort, on the 3d of July, in safety; and immediately began to make preparations for his departure, in two fri Decree of the King, July 16th, 1815, gates, La Suale and La Meduse. Every thing was embarked, and ready for a start; but, unfortunately, every avenue for escape was closed against him. Already, eleven British ships of war lined the coast in such a manner, that no vessel of any description could put to sea without being brought to by them. This vigilant force was under the command of Captain Maitland of the Bellerophon of 74 guns. Bonaparte remained at the House of the Prefect, Becker, till the 8th, when he went on board the frigate, La Suale, at ten o'clock in the evening. He, however, durst not venture to put to sea. Next day he landed and inspected the fortifications of the Isle d'Aix, probably with the intention of defending himself there against any immediate attack. On the 10th, the winds were favourable; but the short night, and it also being moonlight at the time, left the frigates no hope to escape. He had sent on board the Bellerophon to solicit permission to pass, as he said he was only waiting for his passports from England. This was, however, refused; and he was informed, that the moment that the frigates attempted to come out, they would be attacked. Bonparte next proposed to escape in a Danish ship; but this would have been equally impracticable; and an attempt in two Chasse Marees, of about twenty tons each, which had come from Rochelle, on the night of the 12th, and in which he was to embark, and to be carried to the Danish vessel waiting for him at a distance, seemed to promise no hopes of better success. These plans also were abandoned. From the 11th to the 12th, Bonaparte learned from his brother Joseph, the entrance of the King into Paris, and the dispositions of the Chambers. To the last moment, it is said, he cherished the idea that they would recal him; but he was disappointed. Danger now pressed upon him from a side where he never expected to meet any. He could no longer remain in France in safety; and he saw no possibility of making his escape to America. He now felt in his own person, and in the moment of his severest distress, what a British blockade was. Every avenue being thus shut against him, but one refuge remained, which was to surrender himself to the British. For this purpose, Becker and Savary, Counts las Casas and Allemand, were sent • Devigney's letter to the minister of the Marine and Colonies. on board the Bellerophon on the 14th, where it was agreed that: Bonaparte and his suite should be received on the following day. The whole went on board the French brig Epervier; and on the morning of the 15th she proceeded to the Bellerophon, which received the whole on board, and where Bonaparte was at last secure from escape or from personal danger. He at first wished to make terms with Captain Maitland; but he was told that the latter could agree to none-that all he could do was to receive and "convey him and his suite to England, there to be received in such a manner as his Royal Highness the Prince Regent may deem expedient."* Previous to going on board, or before sailing from Basque roads, Bonaparte wrote a letter to the Prince Regent, in which he informed him, that "exposed to the factions which divided his country, and to the enmity of the great powers of Europe, he came like Themis tocles to throw himself upon the hospitality of the British nation." Under the protection of the British laws, he said, he placed himself, which he claimed from him as the most "powerful, the most constant, and most generous, of all his enemies."† This letter was dispatched by the Slaney sloop of war, and arrived in England before him. On the 16th July, about 1 P. M. the Bellerophon, with this important company on board, set sail for England; but, owing to light and baffling winds, it was the afternoon of the 24th before she reached Torbay; which, when she did, she found the most peremptory orders not to allow any communication with the shore. The moment, however, that it was known that the Bellerophon had this mighty prisoner on board, thousands of boats, and many thousands of people, thronged about the vessel, to get a glimpse of the man, who had formerly awed the world, and humbled all but those in whose power he now was. The concourse of spectators was immense, and continued to increase as long as the vessel remained with Bonaparte on board of her. Several accidents happened, and lives were lost by the oversetting of boats in their anxiety to get near the ship. From the time he came on board the Bellerophon, this extraordinary man was treated with the greatest respect; but soon after his arrival it was in ⚫ Maitland's dispatch, Basque roads, July 14th. timated, that he could only be treated with the deference due to a captive General. On board he spent his time in reading, writing, and conversing with those around him, inquiring concerning the use of every thing he saw about the ship, and seemed quite at his ease and contented. He was very anxious to get ashore; and had made himself certain that he would be allowed to remain in England. He was, however, mistaken. A different course had been determined on by the British Government and Continental powers, with regard to this dangerous being. These resolved that he should forthwith be sent to St. Helena, an island in the midst of the Atlantic ocean, and in the middle of the Southern Torrid Zone, about 4000 miles from Europe. Of the suite of 60 persons, who had come from France with him, only the following persons were to be allowed to accompany him, viz. Bertrand and Madame Bertrand with their children, Count and Countess Monthelon and child, Count Las Cassas, General Gorgaud, nine men and three women servants. All the others were to be sent back to France. When this intelligence was notified to Bonaparte he was very dissatisfied, and those in his suite were thrown into consternation. But the mandate was imperious, and must be obeyed. Against it, however, Napoleon protested, in the strongest manner; and it appears from this document, that the disregard for truth which he had so often shewn, and which had governed all his actions, had not forsaken him. The present, like many other of those documents which had been issued by him, was calculated to keep a door open for future events, even where present facts had prevented all possibility of gainsaying the proceedings with him. In this memorable document, he said, he protested solemnly in the name of heaven and of men against the violation of his most sacred rights, by the forcible disposal of his person and his liberty. With that daring perversion of human reason, for which he had been so remarkable, he asserted, that he "came freely on board the Bellerophon,"-that “he was not the prisoner," but "the guest of England." He stated broadly, that the British Government had laid a snare for him, by directing the captain of the Bellerophon to receive him; and that in doing so they had "sullied their honour and their flag." If the act of sending him to St. Helena was consum |