fare." The insincerity of Bonaparte had exhausted the patience of those who once hoped that he might eventually yield: the difference between his professions and his practice destroyed every vestige of confidence, and induced the allied powers to insist upon his expulsion from the throne of France. It was not at first a war for the restoration of the Bourbons, but, by a deceitful and dangerous policy, Bonaparte turned the fury of the strife against himself, and rendered his fall the necessary result of the triumph of his opponents. Sanguinary engagements were fought under the very walls of Paris, but the struggle had now become hopeless. It was unequal from the moment that the Allies succeeded in concentrating their forces, and only by the greatest heroism had it been maintained so long by the French. The capital surrendered on the 31st of March. Napoleon, who, after an indecisive battle at Arcis-sur-Aube on the 21st, had turned aside with the intention of threatening the rear of the allied armies and cutting them off from their communications, no sooner received intelligence of the threatening aspect of affairs around his capital than he set off to its relief. On arriving in the neighbourhood, the tidings of its fall reached him, as well as of the departure of his wife and son to Blois, and he very reluctantly withdrew to Fontainebleau. The Allies made their entrance into Paris on the 31st, and were, according to the testimony of those who witnessed the scene, received with joy and enthusiasm. "Towards England," says Lord Burghersh, + "the most undisguised sentiments of respect and friendship were constantly manifested.” A proclamation was issued declaring that neither Napoleon nor any of his family would be treated with. By a Senatus Consultum, dated April 1st, a Provisional Government was appointed, with Talleyrand at the head. § On the 3rd of April the Conservative Senate declared and decreed :-"1. Napoleon Bonaparte has forfeited the throne, and the hereditary right established in his family is abolished. 2. The French people and the army are released from

"British and Foreign State Papers, 1812-1814," vol. i. part ii. p. 912. +"Memoir," part viii. p. 253.

Thibaudeau. "L'Empire," vol. vi. chap. ci. p. 642. State Papers, 1812-1814," vol. i. part ii. p. 947.

§ "British and Foreign

HIS ABDICATION.

341

their oath of fidelity towards Napoleon Bonaparte. 3. The present decree shall be transmitted by a message to the Provisional Government of France, conveyed forthwith to all the departments and the armies, and immediately proclaimed in all the quarters of the capital." A similar resolution was on the same day adopted by the

legislative body. By a Senatus Consultum of the 6th of April, the exiled King was recalled, and the old order of things in a great measure restored. The people began to clamour against their fallen favourite, and with his declining fortunes his friends quickly deserted him.

Bonaparte sent emissaries to Paris to learn how affairs were going on, and the unfavourable accounts he received excited his anger to the highest pitch. He resolutely declared that he would not resign, and issued a proclamation to his troops, calling upon them to assist in the deliverance of the capital. Some of his marshals and old

* See the Moniteur, April, 1814, and "British and Foreign State Papers, 1812-1814," for these and other State papers relating to the transactions of the period.

generals refusing to assist in such a scheme, he at length yielded, and signed the following abdication :—

"The allied powers having proclaimed that the Emperor Napoleon is the real obstacle to the re-establishment of peace in Europe, the Emperor Napoleon, faithful to his oath, declares that he is ready to descend from the throne, to quit France, and even to lay down his life for the good of his country, which is inseparable from the rights of his son, and from those of the regency in the person of the Empress, and the maintenance of the laws of the empire. "Done at our palace of Fontainebleau, April 4th, 1814.

"NAPOLEON."

When, however, his commissioners reached Paris, they found that the abdication in favour of his son would not be accepted. Dreadful scenes occurred upon the communication of this unpalatable intelligence to Napoleon, and he talked of rekindling the strife, and dictating terms with the sword; he forgot, however, that he was no longer the powerful chief at the head of his battalions, but the deserted, if not defeated, monarch. The defection of many who had risen by his favour increased his indignation, and added fuel, as it well might, to his passion. Reduced to the last extremity, he penned a second abdication in the following words :

"The allied powers having declared that the Emperor Napoleon was the only obstacle to the re-establishment of a general peace, 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, not even that of life itself, which he is not willing to make for the interest of France.

"Fontainebleau, April 6, 1814.

"NAPOLEON."

On the 11th of April the Treaty of Fontainebleau was signed between the Emperor Napoleon, Russia, Austria, and Prussia; of this the third article, which relates chiefly to the subject of our memoir, is the most important, and it reads thus:-"The isle of Elba,