66 one fact alone, can we rely upon; and to state any reasons for our going to war. that is, that the Official French paper They do. not attempt to make out any has stated Napoleon to be at MACON or or grounds of war. They deal in vague asChalons, which is in the very heart of sertions, and in brutal and unprovoked France, and that no body of troops had abuse of Napoleon. They recommend yet appeared to stop him on his way to the marching of our Belgian army to Paris. This fact being undeniable, Paris; and, for what ?-Why," to save it follows, that his arrival at Paris, and "Paris from the audacious enterprizes of his restoration to the Imperial Crown, an infamous rebel.”—By the way, these are, at least, possible events; and, there are the very same writers, who urged fore, I shall lose no time in endeavouring the Allies to burn, and, not having sucto shew, that, if these events should take celed in that, to plunder this same Paris, place, England ought not, until sufficient which they now (vile hypocrites!) are so cause by him given, to make war upon anxious to save, and that, too, from the him and upon the nation who will have man, who had filled it with the very things now, in reality, chosen him for their so- of which they so laboured to cause it to vereign. The performance of this duty be plundered! Vile hypocrites!--But, is the more pressing as I see our Cos- rebel? Napoleon is no rebel. He was sack newspapers, especially the Times made sovereign of Elba. He owed no aland the Courier, labouring very hard legiance to the king of France. By soto work up the country to the temper of lemn treaty, to which England was a war, even before they know that Napo- party, he abdicated the throne of France, leon will get upon the throne, and before his legitimate possession of which had they can possibly have any grounds for before been acknowledged by Austria, believing that he will not be sincerely the Pope, Russia, Prussia, Sweden, Dendisposed to live at peace with us, if he mark, Bavaria, and, indeed, all the powdoes get upon the throne of France. Iters of the Continent. He abdicated that is notorious that we once made a peace throne on condition of receiving the with him. It is also notorious, that full sovereignty of Elba; and, he was as we would have made another peace with much a sovereign as the king of France him, if he would have consented to re- himself. Therefore, it is impossible that duce France to her ancient limits. Why, he can be a rebel. He says, that the then, should we not make peace with king of France has violated the treaty of him again? As I said before, the Bour-abdication; and, therefore, he comes bons may not only remain upon the with the openly declared intention of throne, but, they may be freed from all taking from that king his authority and apprehensions by the death of Napoleon, throne. His allegations may be false; who," coward" as our Cossack writers his enterprize may be really unjust; but describe him to be, has, at any rate, in the act, or the attempt, cannot make him the most deliberate manner, STAKED a rebel. He comes with the avowed obHIS LIFE upon the success of an en-ject of conquering France; and, I should terprize, which they have all along as- be glad to know what makes this object serted to have been wholly hopeless. more unlawful, or mere hateful, in him Yes; this "coward," even according to than in any ether conqueror.-The right their own accounts, was last seen march- of conquest is, in fact, in the law of naing from LYONS, at the head of 8 or tions, what the right of possession is in 9,000 men, at most, and advancing to- municipal law; and, the.gh the attempt wards Paris in the face of more than may be immoral, in the present instance, 100,000 royal troops, while 30,000 were it is certainly not unlawful; and, at any closing in upon his rear!--The Bour-rate, there is not the smallest pretence bons may not only remain upon the for calling Napoleon a rebel; for he owes throne, but may be freed from their dread | no allegiance to the king of France, and, of Napoleon, and that, too, without the therefore, cannot be a rebel.The aid of an assassin. But, on the other truth is, it is a struggle for the sovehand, Napoleon may be successful; and,reignty in France. There are two men therefore, it behoves us now, without contending for that sovereignty; and, it waiting for the result, to decide upon remains to be seen which of them will the important question of peace, or war. triumph. But, it is a question for the The Cossack writers do not attempt | French nation themselves to decide, and any one; that even the writer of the Times, will have the impudence to pretend, that Napoleon is not the chosen sovereign of the people of France? And, if it become an undeniable fact, that he is the sovereign chosen by the people of France; it follows of course, that, to make war upon him, without new provocation, IS TO ENDEAVOUR TO DICTATE BY FORCE OF ARMS A GOVERNMENT TO THE FRENCH NATION. This is so clear; it is so impossible to be misunderstood; that a new war against him would expose its authors to the just execration of all just men; of all who do not wish to see the world completely enslaved. Mr. WHITBREAD has, in the House of Commons, on Monday last, touched upon this important subject; and also upon the subject of Ferdinand's conduct in Spain. On the former he is reported to have spoken as follows: not for us to have any thing to do with. -On the part of Napoleon, never was a question more fairly, more generously, brought to issue.-Reader, I beg your attention to a plain, and, I am sure you will say, fair statement ofthe case. I beg you to divest yourself of all prejudice, and to take up the consideration of the case in the spirit of truth.-Napoleon was represented as a tyrant over the French; the Senate and the Corps Legislative denounced him as a tyrant, and described the people as most miserable under his sway. By the aid of a million of foreigners in arms, in, and on the borders of France: By the aid of an immense foreign army at Paris itself, the Bourbons were restored to the throne, and Napoleon placed in the Island of Elba. The Bourbons have had the rule of the kingdom for a year; they have, as we have been assured, behaved in a way exactly opposite to that of Napoleon. They have taken all his old generals into "He desired to animadvert very their pay and service; and, as we are briefly on the awful news which we told, they have made the people happy" had recently received from the contiand free. Now, then, says Napoleon, "nent of Europe. It was probable that I will put the truth of all these assertions "the sovereigns at Vienna had thought to the test. The people have had a "the exile of Elba gone for ever, and year's experience of the Bourbons. The" concluded that such hatred of him Bourbons have had the presses of France, "must exist in Enrope for his oppresEngland, and all Europe wherewith to "sion, that they might play any pranks abuse me for a whole year; wherewith" they pleased with perfect security: to excite a mortal hatred against me in" but their conduct had operated to rethe breasts of the people of France." produce him. He was aggrandised The Bourbons have had a standing army "by his enemies. He was dethroned of 200,000 tried soldiers; they are sur- "by himself. The Sovereigns had now rounded at Paris by 30,000 picked men;" reproduced him; and if he should they have all the Offices, all the mi-" again be seated on the Imperial Throne litary commanders, all the treasures of" of France, it would be ascribable in that great country in their hands; and, no small degree to the misconduct of what will I do! Why, I will land "those Powers. He desired to know whein France with only 1,000 men; and "ther the proclamation, stated to bę if the French nation do not, in spite" issued by Bonaparte at Bourgoing on of all the power of the Bourbons, place" the 8th of March, was genuine or not. me upon the throne in their stead, I will "Persons from Paris had informed him be content to perish in the enterprise." that it was so. The treaty of Fontain Was there ever any thing so brave as this "bleau made with him, as Emperor of conduct? Did ever man act so fairly, "France, gave him the sovereignty of nay with such excessive generosity, in "the Isle of Elba, settled Parma and Plabringing a question to issue?-If Napo-" centia on his wife and son, and provileon should fail; if he should be defeated, "ded a large pension for him and his and driven from France, or killed in" family. The noble lord had given a France; it will, by no means, be a proof," limited assent to it, and it was signed that the people were not for him; be" by Marshal Ney. He thought it wonld cause his adversaries have all the force "have been the best of policy to keep of the country in their hands; but, if he good faith with him, in order to mark should succeed; if he should place him- " the contrast between the conduct of self upon the throne, is it possible, that " the allies and his own, and to take 66 "away from him every possible pretext "He had detained the house so long "for disturbance. It appeared, how-" that he should now proceed to move # ever, from his statement, that the "an Address to the Prince Regent, "French government had never paid his praying his Royal Highness to commu"pension since he went to Elba. He "nicate to the House of Commons, such "also stated, that the stipulated provi-" information as might be afforded with"sion for his wife and son had not been" out inconvenience, respecting the pro"made, and was not to be allotted; ceedings of the Congress at Vienna." " and still farther, that an endeavour -I do not argue with Mr. WHITBREAD was made, under the authority of the in all he says here in favour of the King Congress, to force him from Elba to of France, nor in what he says respecting some more distant place. Was the what ought to be our wishes on the sub"noble lord ready to contradict all ject of Napoleon's enterprize. But, he "this? If not, what a case had been put put a very important question; and now " into his hands, and what an appeal we shall see the report of Lord CASTLEwas afforded to make to Marshal Ney REAGH's answer. It is as follows:-"who was now opposed to him! He" The hon. gentleman had asked what was sure that if he had any thing to "line of policy this country should say of the present King of France, adopt in regard to the convulsion by "Louis XVIII. in the way of reflecting "which France was at present agihis conduct, this was not the mo"tated. He (Lord C.) would give it "ment for doing so; but if a person in" as his opinion, that on the issue of the **his (Mr. W's) situation expressed his "contest depended the continuance of opinion on the subject, he would say, "all the blessings to which this country "that he felt the greatest respect for the" could look forward (hear, hear), and "conduct and character of Louis "that it never could be said that if Bon"XVIII. ever since his restoration to the " aparte were re-established in France "throne. He had conducted himself " England could look forward to tran"with great moderation, and had evin- quillity. On the result of that contest, "it depended whether the world could on " 66 ced a discriminating, gentlemanly, and "honourable feeling. (hear). He be" <lieved that what had been done well in France, had been owing to the King himself; and that what had been "done wrong, was attributable to his "advisers. If it should please God that" "he should be dethroned, he believed "that his conduct would have little to return to that moral system which could "ensure the happiness and prosperity of "nations, or should be compelled to revert to that military system which Bonaparte's domination compelled other nations to adopt. Were that man restored in France, he should be glad to know how the continent of Enrope could avoid being again convert"ed into so many armed nations, as the only security for their independence. On the issue, then, of the present confest, on the success of the Bourbons, it depended whether we could look for"ward to the restoration of the natural order of things; or return to that artificial state from which we had so recently escaped. He trusted that ProVIDENCE would conduct this country and Europes through the remainder of its difficulties. The noble lord then "congratulated the house on the general de with it. He hoped that if the "House of Bourbon prevailed, which "all must wish, there would be moder-" "ation in France; but that, if that "should not be the case, there would be peace in England. He hoped all the" "Powers would learn what were the "" effects of misconduct. If the Bonr"bons remained, the lesson might yet "be beneficial. Should Bonaparte "succeed, he hoped, if it was possible" "to impress the lessons of moderation upon him, by the experience of re"verses,that he would find his interest in practising them, and that, thereby, peace would continue. Not a peace of partition and barter, and traffic of "human creatures; but one in which the interests of subjects in general "should be consulted as well as the ? interests and objects of Goverúment. adoption of representative governments "in the different states of Germany. and said that with regard to the statesgeneral of Hanover in particular, their ́ deliberations ligd been conducted with a degree of moderation, talent, and prudence, that did them credit, A great deal had been done to promote | ground for our making war upon that the happiness of nations, and if Bon- nation, or on the successful rival of the aparte was not suffered to intercept present rulers.-Lord CASTLEREAGH'S "the prospects which were arising, never language does not amount to a declara"could Europe look forward to bright- tion, that we shall be plunged into a war "er days than those which it might now against Napoleon, if he should be placed anticipate. The noble lord sat down upon the throne; and, I am very glad, "amidst loud applause."-Here is a good that it does not, but, I wish it had been deal to remark upon; but, here is NO plain in the negative; for, I am fully ANSWER to Mr. WHITBREAD's ques- convinced, that such a war would be tion. He asked, whether Napoleon's the most calamitous that we ever saw, complaint was just? whether the treaty drawing into it, as I am sure it would, a of Fontainbleau had not been violated? war with America, or the instant ruin of whether the pension had not gone un- our trade and commerce, which, though paid? whether a plan was not in agitation the nation could exist without them, are, to remove him from Elba? This, none of at this time necessary to enable us to all this, was answered by Ld. CASTLE- pay the taxes absolutely necessary to REAGH, who contented himself with giv- discharge the interest of the Debt.ing an opinion, that Napoleon and the Only think of a new war in the present Bourbons between them held in their situation of our finances! Only think of hands the power of making England an annual expense of more than 100 happy or miserable for ages, perhaps, to millions sterling! If Napoleon attacks us. come. This is comfortable, to be sure; If he attempts to injure England, let us but, it is no answer to Napoleon's Pro- fight him as long as we have the means clamation. Well, but, Spain? What did of purchasing powder and ball. But, if his lordship say about Spain ?-Mr. he is ready to live in peace with us; peace WHITBBEAD had complained of the con- and friendship with him and bis people duct of Ferdinand: and what was the let us have. Perhaps all this reasoning answer of Lord Castlereagh? why this, and all this protesting may be rendered as the reports in the newspapers say:- wholly unnecessary by the events which "The noble lord then briefly alluded to will be announced to us, long before this "the affairs of Spain, and contended, paper will go to the press; but, as the "that painful and disgusting as the pro- Cossack writers had begun to cry out "ceedings of one party in that country for war beforehand; I think it right to were against the other, we had no cry out for peace beforehand. right to call that government to ac- It is now Wednesday afternoon, and we "count for its proceedings. He had are told, that Napoleon was at AUTUN every reason to suppose, that the on Thursday, the 16th instant, in spite Spanish government wished to cherish of all the forces in his front and in his "a friendly connection with this coun- rear. It is now said, that he has 15,000 try; nor was there any reason to sus- men after all the desertions from his 8 or pect, that what was called the family 9,000! He is a strange man indeed! compact, at least in its offensive parts, This clearly proves, that there is no "would be renewed with France. Look-reliance to be placed in the newspaper "ing then, generally, at the foreign relations of the country, he thought them highly satisfactory."-Very good, my lord; and, I beseech you, let us apply the same doctrine to France. Let us not talk of war against Napoleon, while he gives no proof of hostility towards us. I grant, that the re-establishment of the Inquisition in Spain is no ground for our going to war with Ferdinand; no ground for our interfering in the domestic affairs of that country; but, then, I hope, that you will be pleased to grant me, in return, that the change of rulers in France, if such change should take place, is no accounts. According to these accounts more than 100,000 regulars, besides national guards and volunteers, were on foot in pursuit of him more than ten days ago; and yet he proceeds without a single shot being fired at him!-A short time will put an end to all speculation. Thursday afternoon, The great question is decided. Napoleon has entered Paris without a single shot being fired, except in the way of rejoicing, or the least opposition shewn to his resump. tion of all his former power and dignity. His whole journey has, in fact, been a triumph.-Every where he was greeted with acclamations, not only by the mili-rising power and greatness, for the base tary, but by the inhabitants, men, wo- purpose of exciting hostile attempts men and children. All seem to have against her; even when all hopes from considered his return a jubilee, as a de- this source failed, how often, and how liverance from some terrible calamity, as anxiously did they endeavour to create the greatest of blessings which could be a civil war in that country, by the unconferred on any people. The hopes principled and insidious advice which of those men of blood, who were confi- they gave the Bourbons, to withdraw·· dent that Napoleon could not reach their confidence from those men, who the capital, but over the slaughtered alone were distinguished for talents, and bodies of the National Guards, have been upon whom only the nation could rely for ever blasted.-Even the household in the hour of danger. The seeming roops of the unfortunate Louis, the tens tranquillity, which was about to diffuse of thousands of Volunteers who assembled itself over Europe, had disappointed the round him, and the "lives and fortune sanguinary hopes of these men of blood; "men," who swore that they would spend but these feelings were not eradicated. heir last shilling, and shed the last drop They were only put aside as a reserve, of their blood in defence of his person to be ready, when an opportunity ocand government. These all deserted him, cured, of being again brought into action. and rendered homage to the man whom The return of Napoleon, they now conthey had, only a few moments before, de sider that opportunity; and instead of trounced a rebel and a traitor. Napo- uniting with thirty millions of people leon will know how to estimate the loyalty in hailing an event, which, if the soveof these supporters of ancient insti- reigns of Europe studied their true in"tutions."—It is to the people that he terests, might be rendered conducive to owes every thing. It was the people general happiness, they hold it up to view who at first called him to the throne of in no other light than as a signal to unFrance. It is the voice of the people, sheath the sword, to replunge this coun now more united and fervent than ever, try into all the horrors of interminable which re-echoes that call; and as long as war, and to draw the allied powers into he retains a firm hold of their affections, a new union, similar to that fatal union which he can only do by making their which was formed in the carly part of happiness his principal care, no power on the revolution, which roused the whole› earth, I am persuaded, can shake the population of France, and enabled them stability of his throne. Never, indeed, so effectually to defeat the projects, and in the whole history of the world, was to battle all the attempts of their invaders.» there a monarch, with a competitor for The Courier, already anticipating the the crown in possession of the capital, fruits of this, to them, promising irarvest,' who obtained the prize with so much exultingly exclaims-" now we shall have ease, or was so cordially received, as. Na- "reason to bless that delay in the marche poleon has been, even by the friends of" of the Congress, which many were dishis rival-Will so many proofs of the entire devotion of a whole nation, not satisfy the fiends of war, that this wonder-ful man is in reality the sovereign of their" choice? What better evidence would these wretches have of the fact?-Or rather, do they not shut their eyes against all evidence? Do they not cousider war their harvest, to bring about which they would sacrifice every principle of høner and of justice, if it can be supposed that they possess any: Can it be forgotten. how eager they were, when they thongirt the power of the Bourboùs re-established, to involve France in a new war with her neighbours!—How they insulted that gallant nation; how they endeavoured to sow the seeds of jealousy as to her posed to blame. Had they terminated. "their proceedings last Autumn, the "monarchs would have returned home→→ their troops would have been reduced"to the peace establishment, and the Conquerors of Paris would have been "in Poland, and in Russia, in Styria or "in Hungary. But they are on the full war footing—all yeady to art at once.- IN A FORTNIGHT WE SHALL SEE “THEM AGAIN ON THIS SIDE THE |