CHAP. XLIV.

The Congress of Chatillon-Rupture of the Conferences -the Prussians repulsed-Battles of Brienne and Craonne-Capture of a Convoy-the Council of Regency-Departure of the Empress-Marmont's Defence of Paris-Capitulation of Paris-popular Expression in Favour of the Bourbons-Deputation to the Emperor Alexander.

MEANWHILE, a congress was opened at Chatillon-surSeine, at which were assembled the Duke de Vicenza on the part of France; Lords Aberdeen, Cathcart, and Stewart, as the representatives of England; Count Razumowsky on the part of Russia; Count Stadion for Austria; and Count Humboldt for Prussia. Before the opening of the congress, the Duke de Vicenza, in con formity with the emperor's orders, demanded an ar mistice, which is almost invariably granted during ne gotiations for peace; but it was now too late, the Allies had long since determined not to listen to any such demand. Instructed by the past, they resolved to continue their military operations during the time negotiations were going on, and required, on their part, that the propositions for peace should be immediately signed. But these were not the propositions of Frankfort. The Allies established as their basis the limits of the old French monarchy. They conceived themselves authorized in doing so by their success, and by their situation.

In order to form a just estimate of Napoleon's conduct during the course of these negotiations, it is especially necessary to bear in mind the organization he received from nature, and the ideas which that organization produced at a very early period of life. If the last negotiations of his expiring reign be examined with due attention and impartiality, it will appear evident, that the causes of his fall arose out of his character. I cannot range myself among those flatterers, who have accused the persons about him with having constantly dissuaded him from peace. A victim to his own duplicity and un bounded love of fame, he had no one at this period, at least, to blame but himself.

The plenipotentiaries of the Allies, convinced that these

renewed difficulties and demands on the part of Napoleon had no other object than to gain time, declared, that the Allied Powers, faithful to their principles, and in conformity with their previous declarations, regarded the negotiations at Chatillon as terminated by the French government. This rupture of the conferences took place on the 19th of March, six days after the presentation of the ultimatum of the Allied Powers, for the signing of which only twenty-four hours were at first allowed. The issue of these long discussions was thus left to be decided by the chances of war, not very favourable to the man who had Europe arrayed in arms against him. The successes of the Allies during the conferences at Chatillon, had opened to their view the road to Paris; while Napoleon shrunk from the necessity of signing his own disgrace. To this feeling alone his ruin is to be attributed, and he might have said, 'Every thing is lost but honour!' His glory is immortal.

The campaign of France obliged Napoleon to adopt a system of operations quite new to him. He, who had been accustomed to attack, was now compelled to stand on his defence, so that instead of having to execute a previously concerted plan, as when in the cabinet of the Tuileries he traced out to me the field of Marengo, his movements were all now dependent on those of his numerous enemies. When the emperor arrived at Chalons-sur-Marne, the Prussian army was advancing by the road of Lorraine. He drove it back beyond Saint Dizier. Meanwhile, the grand Austro-Russian army passed the Seine and the Yonne at Montereau; and even sent forward a corps which advanced as far as Fontainebleau. Napoleon then made a movement to the right, in order to drive back the troops which threatened to march on Paris; and, by a curious chance, he came up with the troops in the very place where his boyish days were passed, and those wild dreams indulged, which seemed to relate but to a fabled future. What thoughts and recollections must have crowded on his mind, when he found himself an emperor and a king at the head of a still powerful army, in the chateau of the Count de Brienne, to whom he had so often paid his homage! It was at Brienne that he said to me thirty-four years before, I will do your French nation all the harm I can.' Since then he had certainly changed

his mind; but it might be said, that Fate persisted in forcing the man, in spite of himself, to realize the intention of the boy. No sooner had Napoleon revisited Brienne, as a conqueror, than he was repulsed, and hurried towards his fall, which every moment was making a nearer approach.

I think it indispensable briefly to describe Napoleon's wonderful activity from the moment of his leaving Paris to the entrance of the Allies into the capital. But few successful campaigns, indeed, afforded our generals and the French army an opportunity of reaping so much glory as they gained during this great reverse of fortune. For it is possible to triumph, and to fall with glory, though honour itself be missed. The chances of the war were not doubtful, but certainly the numerous hosts of the Allies could never have counted on so long and brilliant a resistance. The theatre of the military operations soon approached so near to Paris, that the general eagerness for news from the army was readily satisfied; and upon any fresh intelligence of success on the part of the emperor, his partisans saw the enemy already driven from the French territory. Too well acquainted with the resolves and resources of the allied sovereigns, I was not for a moment led away by this delusion. Besides, events were so rapid and diversified in this war of extermination, that the guns of the Invalides announcing a victory, were sometimes immediately followed by the distant rolling of artillery, denoting the enemy's near approach to the capital.

The emperor had left Paris on the 25th of January, at which time the Emperors of Russia and Austria, and the King of Prussia, were assembled at Langres. Napoleon rejoined his guard at Vitry-le-Français. On the second day after his departure he drove before him the Prussian army, which he had forced to evacuate Saint Dizier. Two days after this the battle of Brienne was fought, and on the 1st of February, between 70 and 80,000 French and allied troops stood face to face. On this occasion the commanders on both sides incurred great personal risks, for Napoleon had a horse killed under him, and a Cossack fell dead by the side of Marshal Blucher.

A few days after this important engagement, Napoleon entered Troyes, where he stayed but a short time, and

then advanced to Champ Aubert. At this latter place was fought the battle which bears its name. The Russians were defeated, General Alsufieff was made prisoner, and 2,000 men and thirty pieces of cannon fell into the hands of the victors. The prisoners were sent to Paris, as a proof of the emperor's success. This battle took place on the 10th of February, and at this period it is scarcely an exaggeration to say, that the French army had every day to sustain a conflict, and frequently on different points. After the battle of Champ Aubert, the emperor was under such a delusion as to his situation, that while supping with Berthier, Marmont, his prisoner General Alsufieff, and others, he said, Another such a victory as this, gentlemen, and I shall be on the Vistula.' Finding that no one replied, and observing by the countenances of the marshals that they did not share his hopes, I see how it is,' he added, every one is growing tired of war; there is no longer any enthusiasm. The sacred fire is extinct.' Then rising from table, and stepping up to General Drouet, with the marked intention of paying him a compliment, which should at the same time reflect censure on the other marshals, General,' said he, patting him on the shoulder,' is it not true that we only want a hundred men like you to ensure success?' Drouet replied, with equal presence of mind and modesty, Rather say 100,000, Sire.' This anecdote, so characteristic of Napoleon, was related to me by the two principal persons who were present on the occasion.

But Napoleon now began to have other subjects of inquietude, besides the fate of battles. He was not ignorant that, since the beginning of February, the Duke d'Angouleme had arrived at Saint Jean de Luz, whence he had addressed a proclamation to the French armies in the name of his uncle Louis XVIII.; and he speedily heard of the arrival of the Count d'Artois at Vesoul, on the 21st of February, which place he did not leave until the 16th of March following.

Meanwhile hostilities were maintained with increased vigour over a vast line of operations. How much useless glory did our soldiers not gain in these conflicts! But in spite of prodigies of valour the enemy's masses advanced and approximated to a central point, so that this war might be compared to the battles of the ravens

and the eagle in the Alps. The eagle kills them by hundreds, every stroke of his beak is the death of an enemy, but still the ravens return to the charge and press upon the eagle, until he is literally overwhelmed by the number of his assailants.

Towards the close of February, the Allies were in retreat on several points-but their retreat was not a rout. After experiencing reverses, they fell back without disrder and retired behind the Aube, where they rallied, and obtained numerous reinforcements, which daily arrived, and soon enabled them to resume the offensive.

Still Napoleon continued to astonish Europe, leagued as it was against him. At Craonne, on the 7th of March, he destroyed Blucher's corps in a contest which was very warmly disputed, but the victory was attended with great loss to the conqueror. Marshal Victor was seriously wounded, as well as Generals Grouchy and Ferrière.

The latter days of March were but a continued series of misfortunes to Napoleon. On the 23d, the rear-guard of the French army suffered considerable loss. To hear of attacks on his rear-guard must, indeed, have sounded harshly to Napoleon, whose advanced guard had so often led on his grand army to victory. Prince Schwartzenberg soon passed the Aube, and marched upon Vitry and Chalons. Napoleon, counting on the possibility of defending Paris, threw himself with the rapidity of the eagle on Schwartzenberg's rear, passing by Doulevant and Bar-sur-Aube. He pushed forward his advanced guard to Chaumont, and there saw the Austrian army make a movement which he took for a retreat-but it was no such thing. The movement was directed on Paris, while Blucher, who had again occupied Chalonssur-Marne, marched to meet Prince Schwartzenberg; and Napoleon thinking to cut off their retreat, was himself cut off from the possibility of returning to Paris. Every thing then depended on the defence of Paris, or, to speak more correctly, it was just possible, by sacrificing the capital, to lengthen out for a few days longer the existence of the shadow of the empire, now fast disappearing from the view. On the 26th, was fought the battle of Fere Champenoise, where, valour giving way to numbers, Marshals Marmont and Mortier were obliged to retire upon Sezanne, after sustaining considerable loss.