by the Chamber with murmurs; and even by Ney himself with indignation. At this point farther investigation stopped, Ney, asserting that his defence being shackled, he would not allow his counsel to say any more. This, however was not true; except in so far as he was prevented from wandering into untenable and improper arguments for his exculpation. Having withdrawn, sentence of death was passed upon him, to be executed within 24 hours. He received the account of his fate with great firmness. The parting with his wife and family early next morning, particularly with regard to the latter, was most affecting. Whatever were his crimes; to such sympathies every heart must yield, and every bosom praise. After they were withdrawn from him for the last time, and after some reluctance expressed against it, he accepted the assistance of the Rector of St. Sulpice, in religious duties; and at eight in the morning of the 7th, he left his place of confinement, accompanied by the Rector already mentioned. He was carried to the grand alley of the garden of the Luxemburgh, which was fixed upon as the place of execution. Two hundred veterans accompanied the coach. Arrived at the spot, the Marshal embraced his confessor, gave him his snuff box to give to his wife, and some pieces of gold for the poor. He then advanced with a quick step to within eight paces of the wall. There he faced the detachment that was to fire; and taking off his hat with his left hand, and placing his right hand upon his heart, he cried out in a strong and loud voice, "Soldiers, I die innocent: I appeal to God and to posterity; but do your duty. Comrades, straight to the heart: fire!" The officer commanding gave the signal with his sword; and the Marshal fell dead, without a struggle. Twelve balls had taken effect; three in the head. The body, after having, according to military regulations, remained exposed for a quarter of an hour, was removed for interment. But few people were present at the execution, as it was generally supposed the plain of Grenelle would have been the spot chosen, and where a great crowd was collected. Thus terminated the life of Ney; a complete soldier, without any other qualification; loaded with the crime of treason, of a nature almost unprecedented: he fell unlamented by

the honourable part of mankind; a sad example of the want of principle, and the effects of a career of insatiable ambition.

Lavalette was the next person brought to trial. He was one of the first to join in the conspiracy; and it was through his means, and under his authority, that all the correspondence with Elba was securely carried on. It was very easily substantiated that he entered the Post-office on the 20th March, and took possession of the office "in the name of the Emperor, several hours before the King's government was dissolved." This he attempted to deny; as also having refused" with vehemence" to grant a passport to the Countess Ferrand, the wife of the Director, in order to enable her and her husband to leave Paris; he only, he said, for some time refused it for Ferrand to proceed to Lille, and perhaps in doing so he might have spoke “with too much vivacity." He was shewn several circular notes issued by him on that day, to be carried to the departments by couriers, and to be circulated in Paris, stating in substance that "Paris was tranquil; no civil war would take place. That enthusiasm, reigned in the capital for the Emperor's arrival, which would take place in a few hours." The Postmasters were also directed to give horses to none, but those who had an order from him or the Emperor. These documents he acknowledged; and with regard to the former, he said that he merely wrote them to prevent a civil war, which might have taken place had the couriers spread the alarm, that Paris was in confusion and commotion. His defence was foreign to the subject for which he was indicted; and was much the same in spirit, to those we have already detailed. He was found guilty, condemned to death, but appealed to the Court of Cassation against his sentence. This appeal was rejected. Every means to save him, by interceding with the King, was tried by his friends. It is said the King of Bavaria exerted himself greatly in his favour, perhaps owing to his connection with Eugene Beauharnois, the son of Josephine. To her niece, Lavalette was married. His wife, much to her honour, was also unwearied in her exertions to save him; and at last, when all hopes of forgiveness had vanished, and on the evening before the day intended for his execution, she succeeded in her heroic efforts of extricating him from immediate danger. Admitted into the prison

with her daughter, she changed clothes with her husband, and in that disguise he safely made his escape; while his noble wife remained in his place, where she was still detained when these sheets were put to press. Her husband, it is understood, has reached Bavaria in safety.

In the meantime, while the negotiations for peace continued to be actively carried on at Paris, the troops belonging to the countries most remote from France, began to make preparations to quit that country. Previous to this, however, they were assembled according to their different nations, and reviewed by their respective Sovereigns, accompanied by the other Sovereigns and chiefs of Europe, assembled in France. The Russians were the first collected for that purpose. The number of troops brought forward by this power was immense. Two hundred thousand had entered France, with 700 pieces of artillery; 100,000, under Witgenstein, were on the frontiers; 60,000 under Beningsen, and 70,000 reserve guards and grenadiers, were either ready or marching to the same point. On this occasion 160,000 were assembled on the plains of Vertus. On an elevated spot, from which the eye could take in the whole army, the Sovereigns, the Generals, and their attendants stood. The army went through the manœuvres to the satisfaction of the beholders; and were thanked by their Emperor, for their bravery and good conduct. On the following day a solemn thanksgiving took place; and at which all the army, the Sovereigns, and the Generals, assisted. On the declivity of Mount Cormant, at a little distance from the spot where the troops had manoeuvred on the preceding day, were erected seven altars; that where the Sovereigns were, was more elevated than the others, which stood nearer to the plain of Etrechy. The army having formed in seven squares, one side of which was open, the infantry without arms and the cavalry on foot, and with the feelings and look of humility befitting men when they approach the Almighty, advanced to these altars. At a general signal all the squares put themselves in motion, and marched in the order in which they were formed, each towards its respective altar; which, when the troops had halted, was on the open side of the square. Divine service began, and

ended at the same moment, at all the altars. The whole ceremony was grand and affecting. This done, these brave men commenced their march, in columns, to re-cross the Rhine; which, by the end of October, all those had done which were for some to do so. They left France praised as much as they formerly were blamed. Even the Cossacks were represented as the kindest and most gentle people imaginable. The Emperor Alexander, after having visited Brussels, the immortal field of Waterloo, and then the review of the Austrian troops at Dijon, set out for Berlin, where he was received with enthu siasm and respect; and from whence he proceeded to Warsaw, where he was welcomed as King of Poland, with general joy and satisfaction. From this he continued his march to Petersburgh, from whence he had been absent about three years. On the 13th December, he reached his capital. Before entering his palace, he went to the Church of Casan to return thanks to Heaven, for his happy return. Whether he and his gallant bands may again be re-called to the south of Europe, by the unruly spirit of French ambition, time must determine. But in the meantime we may rest assured, that the repose of southern Europe is not, and cannot be, a matter of indifference to Russia. The Emperor of Austria, having in a similar manner reviewed the principal part of his forces assembled at Dijon, set out to visit his Italian dominions, and the mighty states there united to his great Empire. He was met in Italy, by the Empress, who had left Vienna for that purpose; and together, they visited in great state, Milan, Venice, and other places in Italy. In the meantime, the Austrian troops began to evacuate France. The King of Prussia also set out for his dominions, and after him a great part of his army. Blucher remained with the remainder; but he and the chief part of these, soon after quitted France. A great part of the troops of the German states also followed their footsteps. Wellington and his British force, alone remained for some time undiminished in numbers; but the greater part of these also began to leave France, and during the month of December, to arrive in their native country. A certain number of the troops from each state remained, and were destined to remain in France.

The attention of Europe had, for some time, been directed. to the meeting of the French new Legislature, in order to see what measures they would follow, to heal the wounds of a distracted country. Their meeting also was generally understood to be the period intended for disclosing the terms of peace. Every argument had been exhausted, and delay created in adjusting this important matter. The allied troops evacuating France were commanded to halt, which soon brought matters to a conclusion. At length the Legislature met, and the King with a heavy heart, communicated to them that this important document was ratified, and wanted only some diplomatic formalities to enable him to lay before them the extent of the sacrifices demanded of them, as a punishment for their turbulent conduct, and as a security for the future repose of Europe. These diplomatic formalities having been at last gone through, the treaties were submitted to the French Legislature, and made public. Considering what France had so shortly been, these were severe and humiliating; but taking strict justice for our guide, far otherwise. In communicating these documents to the Chambers, the Duc de Richelieu disclosed the disagreeable fact, that the Ministers had been forced to conclude the Convention as it was, "after having exhausted all the means of discussion and resistance which could be suggested, because "the disposition of the Ministers of the powers" and their "determination, was irrevocably fixed" on this point. Recurring to the re-appearance of Bonaparte; he described in just language, the alarm and indignation of Europe, " at this terrible appearance." A common instinct of preservation, instantaneously concentrated on the same object, all the fears, all the hatred, all the interests, of the alarmed nations. The rivalry of politics was forgotten; all the products of agriculture, of commerce, of all kinds of property, have been offered in sacrifice; all ages and sexes, all classes of the population, have been led away by the same impulse, and more than a million of soldiers precipitated themselves upon our frontiers." With that vanity, however, characteristic of the nation, he stated that the allies were ill informed of the true feelings of the French nation with regard to Napoleon, for " without doubt, such a display of force was not necessary" to put down his