Revolutionary Junta, as they had done before, quickly freed them from this, and thereby insured the gratitude of the Parisians. "All the merchants," said the Moniteur, "rejoice that they are no longer obliged to shut their shops on Sundays. Trade will no longer be shackled: and the workman, who has no other day but this to make his little purchases, will no longer be obliged to sacrifice a part of his time, devoted to labour, for this purpose." * What a blessed Revolution!—what a great deliverance-but how feeble were the ties which here bound the receiver of such grateful gifts to the giver of them. It was the interest of the most immoral people in Europe.

Such were the first blessings and favours of Napoleon's second reign, and such the joy and gratitude of the inhabitants. of Paris, in particular, at the receiving the same. The latter fact is an important circumstance, and deserves serious consideration, as it marks the character of the nation, at least, that part of it which had so long troubled Europe, and which was now again to extend its sway over France. It designates them as a set of men divested of those principles, which had hitherto guided and governed mankind; and who regarded not, those ties which had hitherto been the bonds of amity between civilized nations. It marked them, as a people whose conduct could only be guided by their interest and their power. But if the feelings of the people of Paris, were so much gratified by the return of those principles, and that Government, which Europe had so much cause to dread, their vain and giddy senses were also gratified by a return of those shews of military parade and bustle, which had so often been the harbingers of wo to Europe, and tended to divert their minds in the midst of their own misfortunes. These things again became the order of the day. It pleased their volatile dispositions: and while it shewed them resistance was vain, it saved them the trouble of thinking, if they ever wished to consider, seriously, where the means might be found to free themselves of the system. They order these things with great effect in France. At this moment it was the first employment of the Emperor. Scarcely

• Moniteur, Paris, March 23d, 1815..

had sleep fled from his eyelids, than the first time his footsteps crossed the threshold of his palace, after his return, he was engaged in this delightful employment. “On the 21st at one o'clock, the Emperor reviewed all the troops. composing the army of Paris. The whole capital was witness of the feelings of enthusiasm and attachment, which animated these brave soldiers. All had reconquered their country! all were relieved from oppression!" * While thus engaged in gratifying Parisian vanity, and in overawing Parisian disaffection, the Emperor, no doubt, considered himself as great as ever; and accordingly, without much hesitation, he boldly threw down the guantlet of defiance to Europe. "Soldiers," said he, "the throne of the Bourbons is illegitimate. The imperial throne can alone guarantee the rights of the people, and especially the first of our interests, that of our glory, Soldiers, we will march to chase from our territories, those Princes, the auxiliary of the foreigner; the nation will not only second our wishes, but follow our impulse. We will not interfere in the affairs of foreign nations, but wo to them that shall interfere with ours." This speech was received with unbounded acclamations, and oaths, to defend the national colours, in such a manner that " traitors, and those who should wish to invade our territories, can never support the sight of them." The plain meaning of all this French rhapsody, when turned into sober English, was neither more nor less than, I know I have broken the treaty which I have made with Europe-I am certain she will march against me-but I now set her at defiance-The French army swears to regain its glory, and to support me therefore, wo to them who shall dare to call us to an account for what we have done.Such, in reality, were his sentiments; and such, no doubt, were the feelings which he wished to scatter over Europe. Europe, however, took up the matter very differently; and to that subject it is now time to call the attention of the reader.

Leaving the tyrant in midst of his creatures, to be their head or their tail, as circumstances turned up; let us turn our attention to the effect which his arrival in France, and his enthroneOfficial Journal, March 22d, 1815. ↑ Do.

da.

ment once more in Paris, produced on the minds of the nations of Europe.

Napoleon!-Napoleon le Grand! proclaimed the servile press of Paris. Napoleon!-Napoleon le Grand! echoed his former friends, advocates, and admirers throughout Europe; and particularly in Britain. It was life from the dead-Is the hero returned?-can we believe it?-Yes, certainly-then wo to the Congress, and its imbecile members.-Napoleon is awaked more powerful than ever-he will subjugate Europe in a campaign-he will walk over the course; and the French eagle's will soon wave over the spires of the Kremlin--perhaps the tower of London-while the whole of this springs from our corrupted system and the incapacity and folly of the British ministry. Such were the discordant notes with which the feelings of Europe were, for a while, again doomed to be annoyed, through the medium of part of the free press of Britain. Congress, American treaties, which dishonoured the nation, Saxony, Genoa, and even Ferdinand, were all forgotten for the moment. Bonaparte afforded better materials; and that much injured country, France, free and happy when under his sway, now called forth all their powers, engrossed all their understanding and all their humanity. Nothing else was thought of-nothing else talked of. Napoleon-Napoleon le Grand, became the topic of the Senate and of the alehouse; of the warrior, who trembled at nothing, and the nervous female, who trembled at every thing.

The account of his arrival in France spread with the rapidity of lightning through every land. Europe beheld in it the approach of fresh misery and confusion. She was well aware, that for her there was neither peace nor security while he remained in France. The moment that the intelligence of his landing reached Paris, messengers, as has been noticed, were dispatched in all directions. The regular intercourse with France was very soon suspended from all countries; and that ill fated kingdom became almost totally isolated from the rest of the world. Mankind, in every country, seemed eager to shun all kind of intercourse with them, as if they had been infected with the pestilence, or labouring under insanity. The accounts of his escape reached the Congress with great rapidity. Mr.

Grattan, son of the celebrated Irish member of that name, happened to be in Elba at the time. He immediately proceeded to Florence, and communicated the fact to Lord Burghersh, who, without delay, transmitted it to the Duke of Wellington, the British Plenipotentiary at Vienna. The intelligence reached Vienna on the 7th. The bare fact was sufficient to dispel the pleasing hopes of tranquility to Europe. The voice of the trumpet again called upon her population to arms; and while the terrible blast swept along the bosom of the Danube, it filled with fear the banks of the Rhine, and echoed along the waves of the Wolga. The magazines of war were a gain opened. The Austrian troops, dispersing over the empire, in order to be disbanded, were again collected, and marched off with the utmost speed to Italy, and to the Rhine. The Russian armies marching through Poland to their homes, were commanded to halt, and prepare to turn their faces once more to Paris. The Prussian armies were directed to press forward to the Netherlands. Those which were there stationed, and all those in the neighbourhood of the Rhine, were ordered to cross that river, and to take their station from Luxemburgh to Namur, along the French frontier. The British, Hanoverian, and Belgian troops, stationed in Belgium, were directed to assemble on the frontiers of France, from Namur to Ostend. All the fortresses along this line were begun to be put in a state of defence. The troops of Bavaria, and those of the other inferior German powers, were commanded to line the French boundary, from Thionville to Basle; while the Piedmontese occupied the passes of the Alps, and an English force took possession of Monaco, on the Mediterranean, at the extremity of the maritime Alps, and near the French boundary on that side. Battalion after battalion, and army succeeding army, were put in motion, and ordered to press forward to this immense line from every part of Europe. In Britain, the greatest activity was displayed. The navy was augmented, and a powerful fleet dispatched to the Mediterranean; and another got ready to resume its station, off Brest. Re-enforcements of troops, and military stores of all descriptions, were forwarded every day to the Netherlands. A message from the Prince Regent, to both Houses of Parliament,

calling upon the legislature to take such measures as they in their wisdom might conceive necessary for the exigency of the moment, was cheerfully answered; and without a dissentient voice, these bodies authorised the executive government to take every measure to support the national honour, and the national security. Some cavilling was made by the leading members of opposition, in cautioning government not to interfere with the internal affairs of France; but as this was distinctly disclaimed, on the part of the ministers, so none could attempt to deny that the moment required that the strength of Great Britain should be prepared to watch the progress of the fresh alarms and commotions which had burst upon Europe. The nation at large eagerly seconded their representatives, and the views of the executive government. Some few there were who chose a different and a more ignoble course, from motives which they only could judge of; but of their conduct and arguments we shall have occasion to say more in the sequel. At this moment, their weak cavillings or mischievous advices were drowned amidst the better feelings of our nature, which were called forth into action throughout Europe.

Fortunately for Europe, none of the nations in it had yet had time to disarm their former military array. The consequences of which was, that the former mighty coalition, in all its parts, not only remained unbroken, but was strengthened by the better organization of the resources of all that part of Germany from the Elbe to the Rhine, and from the frontiers of Switzerland, northward to the German Ocean; and in Italy, along the whole course of the Po, and throughout Piedmont, down to the Mediterranean. Throughout the vast extent of Europe, and amongst her numerous population, every nation and every individual had equally suffered from the galling ef fects of French tyranny, and the grinding spirit of French ambition. With an ardour, which such wrongs as they had suffered could only call forth and sustain; they had marched to the combat, and in defiance of all opposition from the talents, and utmost efforts of the Great nation, planted their victorious banners on the turrets of Paris. But their oppressors had, nevertheless, suffered nothing; certainly little in comparison of what they