NAPOLEON

CHAPTER LIV.

AGAIN TAKES THE FIELD-HIS DEFEATS-THE ALLIES AT PARIS-NAPOLEON ABDICATES-HIS ATTEMPT TO POISON HIMSELF.

ON January 1, 1814, Rowlandson published 'The double humbug, or the Devil's Imp praying for peace,' a picture in two parts. One represents Napoleon addressing the Senate from his throne, which stands on divers crowns : his friend, the Devil, being perched a-top. A soporific effect among his audience seems to be the outcome of his address, which is as follows: Extracts of Bonyparty's Speech, Sunday, 19 December, 1813. Senators, Counsellors of State, Deputies from the Department to the Legislative Body. Splendid Victories have raised the Glory of the French Arms, during the Campaign. In these weighty circumstances, it was my first thought to call you around me. I have never been seduced by prosperity. I have conceived and executed great designs for the Prosperity and the happiness of the world, as a monarch and a father. I feel that Peace adds to the security of Thrones and that of Families. I have accepted proposals, and the preliminaries. It is necessary to recruit my armies by numerous Levies, and an increase of Taxes becomes indispensable-I am satisfied with the sentiment of my people of Italy, Denmark, Naples, America, and the nineteen Swiss cantons; and have acknowledged the laws which England has, in vain, sought, during four centuries, to impose on France-I have ordered discharges of Artillery on my coming and leaving you.'

The other portion of the picture shows the powers of Europe, before whom Napoleon kneels, surrendering colours and crowns; all, save one of the latter (the French crown), and this he tucks under his arm. His deportment is abject, as is his speech: Gentlemen, Emperors, Kings, Rhenish Confederations, &c., &c., &c. Behold unto you a fallen Impostor, who has for many years been drunk, and intoxicated, with Ambition, Arrogance, and Insolence, who has foolishly and wickedly lost within a twelve Months, a Million of brave but deluded Frenchmen. Who has conceived the great and diabolical design of enslaving the world, and has lost all his friends except Yankee Maddison. Now, Gentlemen, to make amends for my sins, I solicit your pardon, and ask for Peace, on your own Terms, Gentlemen, and I will strictly adhere to all You may take all those Crowns back again, except the one belonging to the Bourbons. My Empress sends you also back the 20 flags I found in some of the Churches, in the course of my flight from Leipsig. As for the story, Gentlemen, of the Corporal and the blowing up the bridge, you must know 'twas a mere Humbug to gull the Lads of Paris.' Talleyrand also assures the crowned heads, that 'What my Master has said is true, so help me G-d. Amen.'

On January 21, 1814, Napoleon once more set out from Paris at the head of an army, and in this month he fought at Saint-Dizier, Brienne, Champ-Aubert, Montmirail, Chateau-Thierry-Nangis, and Montereau, but then the French arms were almost everywhere defeated. People could discern the beginning of the end. Meanwhile the caricaturist was busy.

'The Devil's Darling' is another by Rowlandson (March 12, 1814); but it possesses no merit, except the very excellent likeness of Napoleon. He is in swaddling clothes, and being dandled by the arch-fiend.

Wm. Elmes (the 'W. E.' of occasional caricatures) drew (March 21, 1814) John Bull bringing Boney's nose to the

THE DEVIL'S DARLING.

Grindstone'; but it is not a new subject, as there is a contemporary caricature of the Scots bringing Charles the Second's nose to the grindstone. Russia is turning the stone -the allied Powers looking on-and John Bull, who is performing the operation, says: 'Aye, Aye, Master Boney, I thought I should bring you to it one of these days. You have carried on the trade of grinding long enough, to the annoyance of your oppressed neighbours-One good turn deserves another-Give him a Turn brother Alexanderand let us see how he likes a taste.'

'The Allied Bakers, or the Corsican Toad in the hole' (April 1, 1814), is taken bodily from a French caricature,

'Le Tour des Alliés, ou le Corse près à être cuit,' although it bears on it 'G. H. inv Cruickshank fecit. The King of Prussia, Woronzow, and Blücher have a baker's peel, on which is a dish containing Boney, screaming, 'Murder, Murder,' as he is being put into the Allied Oven. Holland sits on the floor blowing the fire. A Frenchman, whose fickleness is shown by the weather-cock on his hat, is opening the oven door for his former master's destruction, saying: 'This door sticks! I don't think I shall get it open!' Blücher shouts, 'Pull away Frank,' you keep us waiting.' Woronzow says, 'In with it, Blucher,' and the King of Prussia's opinion is, 'I tell you what, Woronzow, the Hinges want a little Russia Oil.' Wellington, who is bearing a tray on which is a Soult pie and a Bordeaux pie, shouts out, Shove altogether, Gentlemen! D-n_me,

shove door and all in.'

Meanwhile, the allied Austrian, Russian, and Prussian troops had marched on to Paris, and, having defeated Marmont, March 30, 1814, the city was virtually at their mercy. Maria Louisa and the young King of Rome left Paris on March 29, and on the 31st the city capitulated, and the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia entered the city with the allied armies. Austria did not join them, probably out of deference to his paternal feelings. The 'Times' of April 6, 1814, thus gives the news of the capitulation :- Babylon the great is fallen! Paris, the proud city, the city of philosophy, has bowed her neck to the Conqueror.'

The Emperor of

'Boney forsaken by his Guardian Angel' (April 3, 1814) shows the Emperor kneeling, one crown already having been taken from him by the arch-fiend, who now is taking another from off his head. The flames of hell are

In the French original it is Tirez donc, Français, vous nous faites attendre!'

prominent in the distance. Bonaparte implores—' My Guardian Angel, my Protector, do not desert me in the hour of Danger.' But the Devil, exultant, says, 'Poh! Poh! you cannot expect to reign for ever; besides I want you at home, to teach some of the young Imps wicked

ness.'

On April 3 the fickle French destroyed their idol, for the Provisional Government declared Napoleon deposed, and his dynasty abolished.

On April 5 Bonaparte formally abdicated the throne of France; and, when we consider how long he had troubled the peace of this country, we can pardon the almost brutal exultation of the Times' of April 11:

'The most hateful of Tyrants has finished by proving himself the most infamous of cowards.

'Two Extraordinary Gazettes were published on Saturday; the latter of which contained BUONAPARTE'S renunciation of sovereignty, in the following terms:

The Allied Powers having proclaimed that the Emperor NAPOLEON was the only obstacle to the re-establishment of the peace of Europe, the Emperor NAPOLEON, faithful to his oath, declares that he renounces for himself and his heirs, the Thrones of France and Italy; and that there is no personal sacrifice, even that of his life, which he is not ready to make in the interest of France.

Done at the Palace of Fontainebleau the

April, 1814.

'Thus has the last act of this wretch's public life been marked by the same loathsome hypocrisy which characterised him throughout his guilty career. When he has been solemnly deposed by his own confederates; when the execrations of all France, and of all Europe, are ringing in his ears; when his last army is deserting him by thousands, and an overwhelming force of the Allies is approaching, to drag him to a shameful death, if he refuses the