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VI.

NARRATIVE

OF

THE BATTLES OF

QUATRE BRAS, LIGNY,

AND

WATERLOO.

BATTLE OF WATERLOO,

&c. &c.

No event ever struck Europe with more alarm and astonishment, than the sudden reappearance of Napoleon Buonaparte on the coast of France, in March 1815. With about 1100 men, and in the space of twenty days, he regained possession of the French capital, and of that throne, from which his own folly and ambition had, not a twelvemonth before, hurled him. In his own language, his motive for returning to France, was the alleged intention of his vanquishers to remove him from Elba to some place more remote; and it is not improbable that the Allied Powers had this step in view. But at the same time, if he had not been aware of the actual situation of France, he would hardly have ventured upon so hazardous an enterprise. The people in general, and the army in particular, were dissatisfied with the new order of things; and a grand conspiracy had been set on foot, and had received the applause and support even of those in

whom Louis had most confidence. The greatest precautions were taken by those in power, who belonged to this conspiracy, to remove the Royal troops to a distance, whilst those who were known to be favourable to Napoleon's cause, were brought from the Rhine and the Garonne, and planted on the very route which they were aware he must of necessity pursue. The French Government, in fact, seemed careless of the approaching crisis. It was rumoured, in November 1814, that Buonaparte had agents in almost every regiment of the line. The ministers were furnished with a list of the traitors engaged in the plot, and a copy of the cipher in which they corresponded. The informer of this important piece of news was to have received six thousand pounds for the discovery. He was, however, branded as an impostor, and accused of having invented the story of the plot, for the purpose of defrauding the Go

vernment.

On the fifth of March, the French Government received intelligence of the landing of Napoleon. The Ministers pretended to treat the enterprise with scornful indifference, saying, the invader would be immediately surrounded and taken. Louis, however, viewed the event in its proper light, and instantly predicted the most fatal consequences; yet, notwithstanding, he conducted himself with that firmness and prudence which became his high station. On the morning of the twentieth, he found it advisable to quit Paris. He wished to have remained until the last moment, or rather to have awaited the coming of the invader. But it was well for him that he abandon. ed the idea.

When it was known that Louis had left Paris, his departure encouraged all who were favourable to Napoleon to proclaim themselves. At noon, the national guard tore down the flag of the Bourbons mounted that of the usurper, and announced his approach. Napoleon entered Paris, almost without escort, and had nearly reached the Thuilleries before he was recognised, when the populace pressed around him, and entirely blocked up his passage. His officers then bore him in their arms into the palace, along the staircase, and into the state apartments, where his sisters, the Princesses Julia and Hortensia, and the officers of his household, were assembled to greet him. Such was the completion of this revolution, which had been reserved for an age, in which the French character had reached its acmé of versatility.

The King, meantime, with the household troops, and some chosen friends, took the road of Abbeville, for the Northern departments; and, after visiting Lisle Ostend and Brussels, fixed his residence at Ghent. Buonaparte, having thus far accomplished his designs, and every necessary arrangement being in train, directed his whole attention to the subject of a reconciliation with the foreign Powers. Pacific overtures were sent to the Allies; but several of these were returned unopened, while others were left unnoticed and unanswered. The Allies acknowledged the indubitable right of every people to choose their own form of government; but this right, like every other, had its limits, and could not be exercised to the injury or danger of every surrounding country; and as the return of Buona

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