LIFE OF NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. CHAPTER I. Buonaparte's arrival at Paris.—The two Chambers assemble, and adopt resolutions, indicating a wish for Napoleon's Abdication.-Buonaparte holds a General Council.-Fouché presents to the Representatives Napoleon's Abdication, which stipulates that his Son shall succeed him.-Carnot's exaggerated report to the Peers, of the means of defencecontradicted by Ney.-Stormy debate in the Peers on the Abdication Act.-Both Chambers evade formally recognising Napoleon II.-Provisional Government appointed.-Napoleon required to retire to Malmaison.-His offer of his services in the defence of Paris rejected. He is placed under the surveillance of General Beker.-Means provided at Rochefort for his departure to the United States.-He arrives at Rochefort on 3d July.-The Provisional Govern◄ ment attempt in vain to treat with the Allies, or to excite the French to resistance.—The Allies advance to Paris, and, an armistice being concluded, enter it on 7th July.—Chamber of Peers disperse, and the Members of the other Chamber are excluded from the place of meeting.—Louis XVIII. re-enters Paris on 8th July.—Reflections upon this second Restoration of the Bourbons. IMMENSE as the direct and immediate consequences of the battle of Waterloo certainly were, being the total loss of the campaign, and the entire destruction of Napoleon's fine army, the more remote contin gencies to which it gave rise were so much more important, that it may be doubted whether there was ever in the civilized world a great battle followed by so many and such extraordinary results. That part of the French army which escaped from the field of Waterloo, fled in the most terrible disorder towards the frontiers of France. Napoleon himself continued his flight from Charleroi, in the neighbourhood of which was his first place of halting, and hurried on to Philippeville. From this point, he designed, it was said, to have marched to place himself at the head of Grouchy's army. But no troops of any kind having been rallied, and Charleroi having been almost instantly occupied by the Prussian pursuers, a report became current that the division was destroyed, and Grouchy himself made prisoner. Napoleon, therefore, pursued his own retreat, leaving orders, which were not attended to, that the relics of the army should be rallied at Avesnes. Soult could only succeed in gathering together a few thousands, as far within the French territory as Laon. Meanwhile, Buonaparte, travelling post, had reached Paris, and brought thither the news of his own defeat. On the 19th of June the public ear of the capital had been stunned by the report of a hundred pieces of cannon, which announced the victory at Ligny, and the public prints had contained the most gasconading accounts of that action; of the forcing the pas sage of the Sambre, the action at Charleroi, and the battle of Quatre-Bras. The Imperialists were in the highest state of exultation, the Republicans doubtful, and the Royalists dejected. On the morning of the 21st, the third day after the fatal action, it was at first whispered, and then openly said, that Napoleon had returned alone from the army on the preceding night, and was now in the palace of Bourbon-Elysée. The fatal truth was not long in transpiringhe had lost a dreadful and decisive pitched battle, and the French army, which had left the capital so confident, so full of hope, pride, and determination, was totally destroyed. Many reasons have been given for Napoleon's not remaining with his army on this occasion, and endeavouring at least to bring it into a state of reorganization; but the secret seems to be explained by his apprehension of the faction of Republicans and Constitutionalists in Paris. He must have remembered that Fouché, and others of that party, had advised him to end the distresses of France by his abdication of the crown, even before he placed himself at the head of his army. He was aware, that what they had ventured to suggest in his moment of strength, they would not hesitate to demand and extort from him in the hour of his weakness, and that the Chamber of Representatives would endeavour to obtain peace for themselves by sacrificing him. "He is known," says an author already |