rapid flight he is losing from his wallet all the things entrusted to him-Italy, Holland, Switzerland, the Rheinbund, &c. His flight from Leipsic was well caricatured, and one episode, the premature blowing up of the bridge over the Elster, came in for severe comment. Colonel Montfort had orders to blow up the bridge, which was mined, as soon as the last of the troops had passed over. He, however, entrusted this duty to a corporal and four miners. The corporal, hearing shouting and cannonading, thought the allies were in possession of the city and pursuing the French forces. He therefore fired the bridge, which blew up, cutting off the retreat of four corps d'armée, and more than 200 cannon. Of course, the men so circumstanced had no option but to yield themselves as prisoners, after many had been driven into the river and drowned. VOL. II. M At Dresden still our hero staid, Because to budge he was afraid, NAPOLEON'S FLIGHT FROM LEIPSIG. And when he did, it was to meet The bridge here, as the story goes, Who was, perhaps, too tender hearted. For to a captain, (so we've heard) And he a corporal employ'd, By whom the bridge should be destroy'd; When, helter skelter, up it flew ! It seems the truth cannot be traced; Either the corp'ral was in haste, Bonaparte's Bridge, to the Tune of This is the House. that Jack built' (December 1, 1813), supposed to be drawn by la Nourrice du Roi de Rome, is in eight compartments,' which are thus described :— This is the bridge that was blown into air. These are the Miners who had the care This is the Corporal stout and strong, Who fired the Mine with his match so long, This is the Colonel of Infantry, Who ordered the Corporal stout and strong This is the Marshall of high degree Who whispered the Colonel of Infantry To order the Corpora!, &c. This is the Emperor who scampered away, And left the Marshall of high degree To whisper the Colonel, &c. These be the thousands who cursed the day, Which made him an Emperor, who scampered away, &c These are the Monarchs so gen'rous and brave, To thousands & thousands who cursed the day, &c. CHAPTER LII. NAPOLEON'S RETURN TO PARIS-HIS RECEPTION. 'GRASP all Lose all-Atlas enraged-or the punishment of unqualified ambition' is the title of a picture (December 1, 1813) which represents Atlas, who is kneeling down, preparing to drop the whole world on Napoleon. The latter, who has been touching those parts of the earth which are in his possession, and boasting, 'France be mine! Holland be mine! Italy be mine! Spain and Poland be mine! Russ, Prussia, Turky, de whole world vil be mine!!!!' staggers back, exclaiming, 'Mons. Atlas, hold up, dont let it fall on me.' Atlas, whose look is fearful, says, 'When the Friends of Freedom, and Peace, have stopped your shaking it on my shoulders, and got their own again, I'll bear it. Till then you may carry it yourself, Master Boney.' Russia and Prussia are rushing away in fright. Says one, 'By Gar 'tis true, 'tis fall on you Head! votre Serviteur! we no stop to be crush vid you.' This very clever caricature portrait of Napoleon was published by Ackermann, 101 Strand, on December 1, 1813. It is in the form of a broadside, and contains the following letterpress: NAPOLEON the FIRST and LAST, by the wrath of Heaven Emperor of the Jacobins, Protector of the Confederation of Rogues, Mediator of the Hellish League, Grand Cross of the Legion of Horror, Commander in Chief of the Legions of Skeletons left at 165 Moscow, Smolensk, Leipzig, &c. Head Runner of Runaways, captured enemies by the Bayonet; First Grave Digger for burying alive; Chief Gaoler of the Holy Father and of the King of Spain, Destroyer of Crowns, and Manufacturer of Counts, Dukes, Princes, and Kings; Chief Douanier of the Continental System, Head Butcher of the Parisian, and Toulouese, Massacres, Murderer of Hofer, Palm, Wright, nay of his own Prince, the noble and virtuous Duke of Enghien, and of a thousand others; Kidnapper of Ambassadors, High Admiral of the Invasion Praams, Cup Bearer of the Jaffa Poison, Arch Chancellor of Waste paper Treaties, Arch Treasurer of the Plunder of the World, the san |